Could the Orlando Magic end their seven-year playoff drought and make the postseason? BetOnline.ag seems to think they have a good shot, as they have placed the Magic's playoff odds at -500.
Orlando is currently one loss behind the Miami Heat for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Magic are also just one loss behind the Brooklyn Nets, who are slotted in at No. 7 at the moment.
The catch is that Orlando has the easiest remaining schedule of the three teams.
That's not to say that the Magic don't have any tough games remaining, as they will battle the Toronto Raptors on the road on Monday night and also have an away matchup scheduled with the Boston Celtics next Sunday, but their other three games will consist of home contests against the lowly New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks and a season finale on the road against the Charlotte Hornets.
Now, keep in mind that by time the Magic play the Celtics in the second-to-last game of the season, Boston might be resting some guys. The key word is “might,” as the C's are also battling for home-court advantage in the first round, but given the Celtics' track record throughout the season, they have seemed to prioritize health over seeding.
But the Heat will have to play the Celtics twice (Monday and Wednesday) followed by road games against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Raptors. Miami will then face the Philadelphia 76ers at home before taking on the Nets on the road to end the season.
Brooklyn, meanwhile, has two games remaining against the Milwaukee Bucks and matchups against the Raptors and Indiana Pacers before closing out the season against Miami.
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