If the NBA playoffs started today, the Knicks and Magic would face off in the first round. And while the outcome of the series is impossible to determine now, Shaquille O’Neal firmly believes that the Orlando Magic would end the series in a clean sweep.
“Orlando’s gonna sweep them,” said Shaq on the set of Inside the NBA this week. “Orlando will win that series! Orlando will win that series…”
It’s no surprise that Shaq is siding with the Magic here, especially considering they just retired his jersey number. He played with the franchise for the first stretch of his career and even led them to the Finals in 1995. Since his departure, the Magic have struggled to win consistently, but this year has proven to be different for a variety of reasons.
Unlike the West, the Eastern Conference is mostly set at the top, with the Celtics currently holding a 12-game lead for the first seed. The Knicks, amid a series of devastating injuries, have fallen to 5th in the Conference and hold just a two-game lead over the Miami Heat, who are fighting hard to avoid the play-in tournament.
At full strength, the Knicks are capable of competing with the best, and a lot of fans feel good about their recent string of moves. Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson have an undeniably stacked roster that is flexible at every position.
But with their two leading frontcourt players compromised (Randle and Anunoby), do the Knicks stand a chance against a team like the Magic? The debate rages on.
While still unproven in the playoffs, Orlando has been one of the top feel-good stories of the season, and they don’t appear to be an easy out this year. For now, while a first-round sweep may be wishful thinking, they can surely win some playoff series this year if they play to their full potential.
The Orlando Magic Are A Darkhorse Contender
The Magic started off this season very strong before experiencing a major drop-off. While regression is to be expected for younger teams on the rise, Orlando was able to stabilize down the stretch and pull themselves together to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Now, at 4th in the East, the Magic have an opportunity to not just secure a playoff berth but to secure home-court advantage in round one for the first time since the Dwight Howard era.
The key to victory for the Magic rests on the shoulders of Paolo Banchero, who is coming off his first season as an NBA All-Star. If he can bring his best and prove his skills as a leader, it will go a long way in making the Magic a highly feared adversary in the East and throughout the entire NBA.
No matter what the expectation is for Orlando, former Magic legend Shaquille O’Neal speaks with a certain level of confidence about them that has put everyone on notice and the pressure has never been higher for them to live up to the hype.
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