The Magic Insider

Rival's injury setback makes it easier for Magic in Southeast

Ethan J. Skolnick|
Feb 11, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (1) defends Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) during the second half at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Feb 11, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (1) defends Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) during the second half at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images

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Most observers and odds-makers have the Orlando Magic a significant favorites in the Southeast division, such as that matters.

The NBA doesn't incentivize division titles as it once did, and the Southeast isn't exactly a gauntlet, with the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets in eternal rebuilding modes. Last season, Orlando won it with a 41-41 record, one game ahead of the Atlanta Hawks and four ahead of the Miami Heat. That was the sixth time the Magic have finished first since the division was formed in 2004, compared to 12 for Miami. The Hawks have won twice, the Wizards once -- and the Hornets never.

Still, the Magic and Heat in particular are linked this year, facing each other to open the preseason (in Puerto Rico) and then to open the regular season in Orlando on October 22.

And now the Heat will be compromised.

Friday's news that Heat All-Star guard Tyler Herro will be out for roughly eight weeks -- or about the first 15 games of the season -- means that Miami will be even more challenged to score against a Magic defense that gave it trouble last season. And now the Magic have added Desmond Bane to become more dynamic on the offensive end.

It is possible that the Magic could bury the Heat in the division race by the time Herro returns. And that the Hawks, after adding Kristaps Porzingis and getting Jalen Johnson back from injury to assist Trae Young, will become the bigger threat.

No matter what, don't expect any sympathy from the Magic, who were submarined last season by the lengthy absences of each of their three most important players -- Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs. Herro, while having a history of injuries, played 77 games last season.

Anthony Black is the only returning Magic player who played more (78).

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Ethan J. Skolnick
ETHAN J. SKOLNICK

Ethan has covered all major sports -- in South Florida and beyond -- since 1996 and is one of the longest-tenured fully credentialed members of the Miami Heat. He has covered, in total, more than 30 NBA Finals, Super Bowls, World Series and Stanley Cup Finals. After working full-time for the Miami Herald, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Bleacher Report and several other outlets, he founded the Five Reasons Sports Network in 2019 and began hosting the Five on the Floor podcast as part of that network. The podcast is regularly among the most downloaded one-team focused NBA podcasts in the nation, and the network is the largest independent sports outlet in South Florida, by views, listens and social media reach. He has a B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University and an M.S. from Columbia University. TWITTER: @EthanJSkolnick and @5ReasonsSports EMAIL: fllscribe@gmail.com

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