'Every Game Counts': Magic Poised to Finish Season Strong

The Orlando Magic aims to finish out the season with a high playoff seed this year.

Unlike recent seasons, the Orlando Magic is expected to make the playoffs outright instead of competing for a Play-In Tournament spot. There has been a change of culture in Orlando this season, largely thanks to the emergence of Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero as legitimate stars.

The Magic rides solid defense and smart, team basketball. There is no flash, just hard-nosed, physical basketball. While the rest of the NBA is abandoning defense, embracing it has worked for the young Magic.

Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

But the season isn't over yet. There is still plenty of basketball to be played, and in the final stretch, Orlando can make or break their playoff chances, and fight for a better seed. In an unfamiliar position, Wendell Carter Jr. explained how the Magic would shift its mindset.

"It's just a lot more attention to detail each game," Carter Jr. said. "Not that it wasn't before, but I mean...we're making every game matter, every game counts, no matter who we're playing against. And just trying to give ourselves a really good shot to go into the playoffs being a good seed."

The Magic, which peaked as the two seed earlier in the season, now sits as the eighth seed, firmly in the Play-In Tournament. With plenty of games left to play, the Magic will aim to get a more favorable position and possibly matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, or Philadelphia 76ers, who have all shown weakness recently.

Magic 'Diving Back' to Defense in Final Stretch of Season

"Anywhere in that five, six, seven range I feel is very achievable for us," said Carter Jr. 

The Magic are back in action tomorrow night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.