Knicks at Magic: A Q&A With an Orlando Expert
It's a trap!
The New York Knicks' quest to clinch a playoff spot continues on Wednesday night but a lingering aura of desperation could begin to surface, however, if they drop their third in a row. Things appear to work in their favor, as they face an Orlando Magic team on the cusp of elimination (7 p.m. ET, MSG/NBA TV) from postseason contention but they've already fallen to a depleted Minnesota Timberwolves team on Monday while Wednesday saw them drop another offensive explosion in Miami.
Thursday marks the third and final meeting between the Knicks and Magic this season and New York (42-32) has taken the first showdowns. What sort of challenge do the Magic (30-43) have in them? All Knicks spoke with Jeremy Brener of The Magic Insider to conjure up some intel ...
Q: The Magic appear destined to miss the playoffs for the third straight season. What signs of hope have emerged from yet another lost cause?
JB: This team is learning to play together. Given the fact the Magic held the No. 1 pick, playoffs weren't an expectation for this team. However, the team has already improved its record and already won 30 games with nine to go. That's definitely a sign of progress and there's hope in the fact that Paolo Banchero is only 20 years old and Franz Wagner turns 22 this offseason.
Q: If the Magic can't make the playoffs, they'll surely impact the eventual bracket with seven games against top-seven competition over their final nine. What makes them such a dangerous trap game opponent?
JB: The Magic make you earn everything. The team may be on the outside looking in, but a lot of its losses have been tight finishes. If some of these tight losses go the other way, we could be talking about a matchup tonight with two playoff teams. Expect a close game if the Magic is playing.
Q: Where has Orlando made the biggest leap in year one-to-two in the Jamahl Mosley era?
JB: The team is healthier, that's been the biggest change. Earlier in the season when the team wasn't healthy, Orlando fell to the bottom of the standings at 5-20. Since then, Orlando has a 25-23 record.
Q: Is there anything short of Jalen Brunson's arrival the Magic can take from the Knicks' resurgence to help them on their own path?
JB: Jalen Brunson was the missing piece to the puzzle for New York because he brings a lot to the table individually and he helps make his teammates better. If the Magic can find a similar piece in the draft or free agency this offseason, it could be the difference between returning to the playoffs or another trip to the lottery.
Q: Who wins tonight's game and why?
JB: I've got the Magic in this one. The Knicks are coming off a tough loss last night while the Magic is rested. Orlando also still has a mathematical chance of qualifying for the play-in while the Knicks are nestled in their spot in the standings.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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