Why Magic's Division Title, Postseason Security is Valuable for Growth

INDIANAPOLIS – A season ago, winning 47 games allowed the Orlando Magic to dream big for their follow-up campaign.

Possible homecourt advantage. A potential top-four seed. The Magic's first playoff series win in 15 years.

But four weeks ago, when Wendell Carter Jr. sat by himself in the Minnesota Timberwolves' visitors' locker room, Orlando's starting center was processing his team's increasingly likely scenario far different from what they originally imagined.

That evening, the Magic had squandered an 11-point fourth-quarter advantage to fall to 31-37 with 14 games left to play. Because of unfortunate luck with injuries and mighty struggles to find offense and rhythm consistently, admittance back to the playoffs – a place the Magic feel they should be taking residence in – was only going to be possible through the Play-In Tournament.

Speaking with reporters, he'd chuckled at the idea despite being the one to bring it up. Regardless, the NBA is unforgiving, and opponents took advantage of Orlando's compounding obstacles.

"It was strange for us this season, for sure," Carter told Magic on SI Friday, reflecting on both that conversation and the year that's been following the team's morning shootaround in Indianapolis.

Yet, his reflection comes from a more positive place now. Because in a season that's tested the Magic physically and mentally in ways this core previously hadn't been, Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley's team still secured a second consecutive Southeast Division title and locked in the No. 7 seed in the Play-In Tournament with Wednesday's win over Boston.

Now, while Orlando waits to learn its opponent for Tuesday's No. 7-8 Play-In game, Friday's matchup at Indiana and Sunday's finale at Atlanta to close the regular season are inconsequential standings-wise because of it.

All is not last, after all.

"It goes to show you it's all about perspective," said Carter, who's one of several Magic and Pacer regulars sitting out Friday's game. "No matter how we look at the season ... Winning the division title, that's not an easy thing to do. We figured it out. We rolled out a lot of different lineups, we won games we weren't necessarily supposed to. I think it helped us out in the long run."

More: Magic-Pacers Injury Report, Friday, Apr. 11

As of Friday morning, Magic players have missed 236 total games this season because of injury. Then, considering 149 absences belong to Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Moe Wagner – Orlando's top four scorers – the task the Magic have had to tackle on their road back was that much taller.

"Every point in the season, guys had the understanding that this wasn't going to be easy, that we were going to have to continue to work through our struggles and injuries and everything," said Banchero, who sat out 34 games with a torn right oblique but is resting Friday in Indianapolis. "For us to still win the division, I think it's a big accomplishment."

Added Banchero: "It just shows that this league is hard, so you have to prepare and be ready for challenges that are faced throughout the season. Every season isn't going to be perfect; you're not going to be healthy through every season. So, I think us being able to deal with the injuries and the setbacks, that's only made us stronger."

Franz Wagner said Wednesday that the Southeast title is something they've now come to expect. How they managed to meet that benchmark for a second consecutive season despite a very different journey to get there is worth noting, though.

"It speaks to our character, to the chemistry of the group," Wagner said, who sat 20 games himself with a less severe version of Banchero's right abdominal muscle tear.

"We were on an upward trajectory, and I think this year is the first year we had a little bit of pressure and maybe not everything went the way we thought it would before the year, but I think that's part of progress as well ... I think the biggest thing is we stuck together, and hopefully it can help us in the coming years."

In the NBA, where a sizable portion of business is focused on what's next, linear year-to-year growth is rare. Teams seldom go from bottom-feeder to perennial contender without hitting roadblocks along the way. In the span of three seasons before this one, Orlando has advanced from a pushover to player in the Eastern Conference.

The Magic unequivocally wanted more from this regular season to further that forward. Whether it be by factors controllable or not, the No. 7 seed and homecourt in the Play-In, not playoffs, is what they got.

"We're not satisfied, but we're living with our reality," Carter said.

That reality has seen a group grow through its adversity and still collect some milestones along the way. And, a year that's seen most of their goals robbed from them still nets the Magic a wide range of possibilities, including the chance to test its mettle – and learn lessons – from the postseason.

That's as vital for this season as it is coming ones.