Orlando Magic Fail To Make The NBA Playoffs

The Orlando Magic have made the playoffs for two consecutive seasons now, but after their only good move this offseason was drafting Cole Anthony, they are not set up to make the playoffs again. Other teams like the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks have all drastically improved this offseason and will likely bump the Magic out of a playoff spot. 

Outside of Nikola Vucevic, the Orlando Magic do not really have a guy you can rely on to score when needed. Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier and Terrence Ross are all great role players, but in today’s NBA, you need two big time, All-Star level players to be a legit playoff time and given that the Eastern Conference is not as easy as it has been in past year, there are no sure things in terms of playoffs teams anymore. 

Teams will really have to fight to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference this year, which is why the Orlando Magic will not make the playoffs. They do not have enough weapons offensively to keep up with some of these other teams in the East and losing one of their best defenders for the season in Jonathan Isaac will heavily impact them as a defensive team.

Last year, the Magic ranked 5th in the NBA in least points surrendered per game to their opponents, but did have their struggles defending the three-point line. Expect to see them struggle to defend the perimeter once again this year, but also struggle to defend the paint due to Isaac not being there. 

Their two best shot blockers are Jonathan Isaac and Mo Bamba and who knows when Bamba will be able to play, as he is dealing with complications from having COVID-19 earlier in the year. With their best defensive player out and no shot-blockers to protect the paint, the Orlando Magic will decline as a defensive team this year, which will ultimately hold them out of playoff contention.