How would playoffs affect draft?
While postseason hopes are getting dimmer, play-in victories could doom the chance for a top-4 pick
Third-quarter stumbles in backto-back games further diminished the Orlando Magic’s already dwindling playoff hopes.
The Magic were outscored a combined 70-37 in the third quarters of losses to the Raptors (Friday) and the Rockets (Sunday). As a result, Orlando (18-39) sits 5½ games out of 10th in the Eastern Conference as of Monday with 15 games to play.
But while the Magic drift away from the postseason with each loss, the movement potentially pushes them closer to a top-four draft position. In terms of the draft lottery standings, the Magic were fourth as of Monday, trailing the Timberwolves by 3½ games, the Rockets by three games and the Pistons by one game.
Under those standings, the Timberwolves, Rockets and Pistons each would have a 14% chance to get the No. 1 pick. The Magic would have a 12.5% chance.
Orlando also holds Chicago’s first-round pick, which is top-four protected.
But what if the Magic make a run and secure a play-in spot? How would that affect their draft status?
The 10 NBA teams that finish in spots 11-15 in their respective conferences will not participate in any postseason games and are automatically part of the draft lottery.
The 7-10 seeds from both conferences will compete in a playoff play-in tournament, where the four teams eliminated enter the draft lottery as well to make it 14 teams total. The draft lottery teams will then be ranked inversely according to their records.
For example, if the Magic were to secure the 10th seed and a play-in game, they would play the ninth seed. If they lost, they would enter the lottery.
If they won, they would go on to play the loser of a seven/eight seed game. If the Magic then lost that game, they would enter the lottery. If they won, they would enter the playoffs and be considered the eighth-place team in the conference for the purposes of the draft selection order, according to an NBA spokeswoman.
The Magic cannot finish higher than eighth in any scenario.
In the meantime, the final 15 games of the regular season present opportunities for players. With such a young core now in place and a slew of injuries to veterans, players such as Donta Hall and Robert Franks — both on 10-day contracts — and two-way guard Devin Cannady can use the last few weeks to show off more and perhaps find a permanent spot with the Magic.
With Terrence Ross (back spasms) and James Ennis (sore calf) missing Sunday’s game against the Rockets, Cannady was among those who benefited. He missed all three of his shot attempts while recording two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 15 minutes.
“I got an opportunity last night; hopefully have some more opportunities moving forward,” Cannady said of the Houston game. “There’s some things, obviously, I have to clean up on the defensive end and where to be positionally, but I have a lot of trust in the organization and people have trusted me, so with that kind of opportunity, and with this kind of group, it’s a great opportunity to grow and to learn in a really short window.”
Hall, meanwhile, was signed to add frontcourt depth and has given the Magic defensive energy with rim protection and rebounding.
“A huge opportunity, honestly,” Hall said of the remaining games. “I’ve been on what, three, four teams now as I’m two years in, and it’s a big opportunity to get another 10-day to come here and show what I got, show what I have. It’s a huge opportunity.”
Magic coach Steve Clifford said evaluating players in the closing weeks requires more attention to detail and a broader perspective as circumstances vary from team to team. Statistics tend to be inflated as players step into bigger roles, or some teams — like Orlando — are rebuilding while others are trying to lock down a playoff spot.
“I learned this a long time ago, you’ve always got to be careful the last 10, 15 games of the year,” Clifford said. “Some teams are trying harder to win than other teams. I mean it’s just the way that it is. To me, you just have to understand where you’re at, what you’re trying to do. And then you do your best evaluation from there.”
The next chance to evaluate comes Tuesday when the Magic take on the surging Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. with a live broadcast on Bally Sports Florida.
Orlando will play without Ross and Michael Carter-Williams, who’s expected to miss significant time because of an ankle sprain, while Ennis and Otto Porter Jr. (left foot pain) have been listed as out on the injury report.
Clifford said Ross, who was a late scratch Sunday, couldn’t even make into the practice facility Monday because of his back spasms and will not travel to Atlanta.
“He’s really locked up,” Clifford said.
Former Magic shooting guard Evan Fournier went through two bouts with back spasms that forced him to miss 14 games earlier this season. The Magic will face a Hawks team that has taken off since Nate McMillan took over as coach March 1 after Lloyd Pierce was fired. Atlanta was 14-20 and sat 11th in the East at the time, then proceeded to win its next eight games, starting with a comeback victory March 2 in Orlando just before the All-Star break. Atlanta has gone 17-6 under McMillan and had climbed to fourth in the East.