A look ahead at the month of December for the Magic
After starting the season in October an alarming 0-2, in which the Magic averaged just 84 1/2 points, the Magic used a favorable November schedule to get back on the right track and establish themselves as a top three team in the East. The Magic went 13-2 in November, including 7-2 at home and 6-0 on the road. Only four of the teams the Magic played in November currently have an at or above .500 record. The Magic are 13-4, with the third-best record in the East, and the 4th-best record in the NBA.
Things will get tougher for the Magic in December. With a tougher schedule on tap, the Magic will be without starting shooting guard Mickael Pietrus (thumb) and key reserve Keith Bogans (thumb) for several more weeks. Starting point guard Jameer Nelson (hip) will be out for at least the next week. To make matters worse, another key reserve, center Tony Battie, hurt his ankle against Indiana Saturday and his status for this week is not yet known.
The Magic play 15 games the month of December, nine on the road and six at home. Eight of those games will be against teams currently over .500, seven against teams under .500. On the road, the Magic will play five games against winning teams (Boston, Portland, Phoenix, Utah, and Detroit), and four games against losing teams (LA Clippers, Golden State, Minnesota, Chicago). At home, the Magic will play three games against winning teams (San Antonio, LA Lakers, New Orleans), and three games against losing teams (Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Golden State).
The Magic have a five game, eight day western road trip from the 8th to the 15th, including two sets of back-to-backs, and they will play six games in an eleven day stretch from the 12th to the 22nd. Their longest homestand is four games from the 18th through the 25th. The Magic will play on Christmas Day for the first time in five years as they host New Orleans in a nationally televised game on ESPN at noon.
Optimistic view of how the Magic might do this month: 11-4
Pessimistic view of how the Magic might do this month: 7-8
Things get started Monday night as the Magic travel to play the World Champion Boston Celtics.
Things will get tougher for the Magic in December. With a tougher schedule on tap, the Magic will be without starting shooting guard Mickael Pietrus (thumb) and key reserve Keith Bogans (thumb) for several more weeks. Starting point guard Jameer Nelson (hip) will be out for at least the next week. To make matters worse, another key reserve, center Tony Battie, hurt his ankle against Indiana Saturday and his status for this week is not yet known.
The Magic play 15 games the month of December, nine on the road and six at home. Eight of those games will be against teams currently over .500, seven against teams under .500. On the road, the Magic will play five games against winning teams (Boston, Portland, Phoenix, Utah, and Detroit), and four games against losing teams (LA Clippers, Golden State, Minnesota, Chicago). At home, the Magic will play three games against winning teams (San Antonio, LA Lakers, New Orleans), and three games against losing teams (Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Golden State).
The Magic have a five game, eight day western road trip from the 8th to the 15th, including two sets of back-to-backs, and they will play six games in an eleven day stretch from the 12th to the 22nd. Their longest homestand is four games from the 18th through the 25th. The Magic will play on Christmas Day for the first time in five years as they host New Orleans in a nationally televised game on ESPN at noon.
Optimistic view of how the Magic might do this month: 11-4
Pessimistic view of how the Magic might do this month: 7-8
Things get started Monday night as the Magic travel to play the World Champion Boston Celtics.
posted by Mike from Illinois @ 6:58 PM
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