2016-2017 NBA Previews – Magic Odds
Looking for 2016 Orlando Magic Predictions? We’ve got your back. Orlando enters the 2016-17 NBA season with its eyes on the playoffs. This franchise hasn’t made the postseason since the 2012-13 campaign, but with a relatively new look about it, this shouldn’t be considered a lofty goal despite the current drought.
Orlando Magic Season Preview
Head Coach: Frank Vogel
2015-16 Record: 35-47
Orlando Odds to NBA Title: +20000
Orlando Odds to Win Conference: +5000
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
Click here for ALL of our 2016 Team By Team NBA Season Previews
Orlando Magic Strengths:
The Magic are now without guard Victor Oladipo, but the team brought over Serge Ibaka in the trade that sent the Indiana product to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ibaka gives this team an excellent shot-blocker down low, and a big man who can help spread the floor with an improved jumper.
Sticking with the frontcourt, one of this team’s strengths is big men. Nikola Vucevic, a true 7-footer, averaged 18.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 51 percent from the floor and establishing a personal efficiency rating (PER) of 21.15.
Orlando also added Bismack Biyombo to the rotation this summer following his impressive postseason showing with the Toronto Raptors.
Check out the free sports picks from Cappers Picks experts today!
Along with the aforementioned bigs, you’ve got a young stud and near-Slam Duck champion Aaron Gordon. The former Arizona Wildcat hasn’t quite lived up to the Blake Griffin comparisons that followed him as he entered the Association, but he’s shown potential to be a productive piece and more than just a finisher at the rim.
Evan Fournier, while not falling into the big man category, gives this team another strength: outside shooting. At 23 years old, he averaged 15.4 points on 38.9 percent shooting from behind the arc last season.
Orlando Magic Weaknesses:
As much talent as this team has in the frontcourt, you have to wonder who the odd man out is going to be. This team would much prefer an “embarrassment of riches” to a “logjam” in that category, but the truth is that this group may be forced to swing a trade at the deadline if it’s struggling to find an appropriate number of minutes for each talented player.
Adding Jeff Green in free agency this summer didn’t help that.
[dfads params=’groups=226&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
With Oladipo gone, Elfrid Payton is going to have a chance to make a name for himself. Unfortunately for the Magic, he’s yet to show much consistency when given an opportunity.
Youth across the board is also likely to give this team headaches at time this season, as inexperience often sticks out more than potential when a team is attempting to return to the playoffs.
Check out the free NBA basketball picks from Cappers Picks experts today!
Orlando Magic Betting Prediction: 39-43
One thing we didn’t mention as a strength or weakness is new head coach Frank Vogel. At this juncture, it’s tough to tell which category he’ll fall into.
On the optimistic side, he’s coached teams with postseason experience, including the Paul George-led groups that challenged LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference championship. He also brings with him a defensive mindset that would help any team across the league on that side of the floor.
On the downside, this team has seen numerous head coaching changes in the last handful of years and none has resulted in immediate success.
Vegas has set the over/under for Orlando at 37.5. The addition of Ibaka and the (hopeful) progression of Payton should push this team over.
Although the Magic could surprise us all and be way ahead of schedule in their rebuild, we’re picturing them fighting for the final spot in the playoffs as the regular season winds down.
2016 NBA Gambling
What do you think about our 2016 Orlando Magic predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in the 2016-2017 NBA Season!
The 2016 NBA futures betting season is here in full force! If you like to bet on NBA hoops, you are in the best possible place for online betting. CappersPicks.com has NBA odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find weekly NBA basketball lines up for early games as well.
Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds today! Click to view more 2016/17 NBA Predictions.