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The Orlando Magic have remained relatively quiet in free agency after a 29-win season to fans frustration. Somehow Las Vegas like this lack of activity as it sets over/under totals.

Online betting website BetOnline recently released their NBA Over/Under totals ahead of the new season. Despite the lack of free agency activity, they have the Magic at 40.5 wins in 2018, almost 12 more than last season’s 29-win total. Furthermore, Orlando is tied with the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons. It, somehow, puts the Magic squarely in the Playoff race in the depleted Eastern Conference.

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The 40.5 is an interesting number for me. I see the Magic as something like a 38-win team, and I suspect many here see the Magic as much worse. But even 38 wins means I would bet on the under.

Thoughts?

Under! 20-62 here we come!


Michael Porter Jr or bust

it's because how east looks. Bulls, Pacers and Nets will be terrible, Knicks can be terrible. Pistons and 76ers are question marks, Hornets will win 30-35 games and at the end of a day somebody has to make playoffs in conference where you already know conference finals members, Celtics and Cavs.

I do think the Magic are closer to the 35-win Skiles team than the 29-win Vogel team, but I am extremely hard pressed to see 41 wins here as presently constructed.

The Payton-Fournier-Ross-Gordon-Vucevic post All-Star break starting lineup was actually pretty effective with a +18 in 410 minutes. Swap out Biyombo for Vucevic and they were still effective, +13 in 105 minutes.

The issue is/was the bench. If they can upgrade the Augustin-Watson-Hezonja-Green-Biyombo bench unit that was a -22 in 115 minutes last year, they'll likely be better than people expect.

I expect Isaac to be better than Green was, so that's one upgrade.

Hezonja seemingly can't be worse than last year, so that could *potentially* be two upgrades.

They could sign a couple of one-year deal free agents right now that would likely be better than Augustin and Watson too, so that could be bench upgrades three and four.

Plus this doesn't factor in potential trades.

The Magic winning 40 games is absurd. The East is bad, but it's not so bad that the Magic sneak into post season discussion. The first 4 teams in the East are still decent and Detroit, Milwaukee and Miami are leap years ahead of the Magic.


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I could envision a scenario where we win 41 games. I mean we did have several players (Fournier, Vucevic, and even Ross) with what I would consider "down" years. If they bounce back they probably boost us a few games. If the defense finds it's mojo this year and we're more consistent on that end, maybe that bumps us a few games. Poorer competition in the conference helps. But to reach 41 wins we'd probably need one of Gordon or Payton to have a true breakout year. Maybe Isaac is more ready than people think and is able to contribute right away. Maybe Mario finally finds a groove and becomes a consistent outside threat.

If all (or maybe even half) of those things happen? Sure. Could surprise a lot of people. But I wouldn't make that bet in a hundred years.

I'd definitely bet the under if I weren't a Magic fan.

There are several teams east and west that could potentially be really bad. It's sick or swim time for this core group elf, ag, Nik, Evan, t Ross, biz, and Mario. They looked better last year after the trade playing a different style and pace. A little more growth from elf, ag along with more consistency from Evan, tross, biz, a step up in play from Mario and Nik hitting more 3s at an affective rate and they could surprise the league. Never mind getting rookie of the year performance from Isaac. That's not too much to ask for is it. Lol

Anyway we do have one thing going for us. Several teams are in turmoil with alot of players moving on to different places. For the first time in a long time we now have the same group coming back with very little turnover with the same coach coming back. To top it off the young players now have some experience.

To be completely honest I'd be pretty happy with 40 wins.

We 'MUST' end up the next season 20-62. We must get the No. 1 pick!

NBAchamps2017 wrote:We 'MUST' end up the next season 20-62. We must get the No. 1 pick!

Shouldn't you change your screen name BTW?

What did Vegas have for us last year? Anyone remember?

Hopefully I can find a bookie with such odds where I live, betting on the Magic winning less than 40 games this season should be easy money.

We have no stars or even players who are close to stars and our bench is hilariously bad. I'd be amazed if we win even 35 games.

I just don't see the Magic winning 41 games. It's very, very close to the same team that was on the floor last year and won 29 games. I'm going into next season with the expectation that the Magic are going to just see what they have on the roster and make decisions for next offseason.

Since when is vegas in the business of giving away free money??
41 wins? really?? Isaac would have to be 2013-14 Kevin Durant for us to have a shot at a winning record in 2017, and even then its iffy with the way the bench is setup right now

41 wins? WTF. I'm in total disbelief. Would be ecstatic.

Wonder what the logic is behind that number. I hope our young guys do great but nothing suggests we will be a good team.

This seems like the right time to become a betting man.


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41 seems unrealistically high, but people expecting 20 wins are going to be sadly mistaken I think.

As presently constructed, this feels like a 33-34 win team.

Knightro wrote:41 seems unrealistically high, but people expecting 20 wins are going to be sadly mistaken I think.

As presently constructed, this feels like a 33-34 win team.

That's why we need to ship out Biz, Fournier, Vucevic and Augustine. Tank for Porter Jr!

Orlando will be better than last season.

Voted under. We'll be picking in the Top 5 again. Strap in.