NBA 2022/23, on Wednesday, 22.03.2023
German basketball fans like to inquire about the performance of the Floridians. After all, the two Berlin boys Moritz and Franz Wagner are under contract with them.
Both are predicted to have a great future and in my Magic Wizards tip I already see another opportunity for the brothers to play themselves even further into the limelight tonight. For the Capital Bullets are a truly grateful opponent.
This is not the end of the day, but it will be difficult for the Magic to realise their goal for the season. The air for a participation in the play-offs is getting thinner just a few weeks before the end of the regular season.
Furthermore, the Floridians have lost six of their last eight NBA games, which also reinforces my suspicion that they will probably not be able to go one better.
Especially since Orlando’s physical problems seem to be playing a bigger and bigger role. Head coach Jamahl Mosley’s young squad is starting to feel the strain of an 82-game NBA season compared to college basketball.
Even so, I see the Magic ahead tonight. Unlike the Wizards, the home side has a ton of talent and the ability to beat much stronger teams from time to time.
Washington, on the other hand, I can’t remember a single regular-season game in which they beat a top team. Orlando, meanwhile, felled its last giant just a few days ago – a 113-108 win over the Clippers.
Nevertheless, they were unable to crown their trip to the City of Angels with a narrow 105-111 loss to the Lakers two days later. Still, performances like this are encouraging for the upcoming season.
Further, the Magic have had a day off and can now play the upcoming duel at home in the small but nice Amway Center.
This is two important factors for the basement duel against the Wizards, on the one hand to fill up the energy reserves and on the other hand to let the young players feel the support of their own fans.
The Blue and Whites have plenty of talent anyway, and with Washington they are now facing a franchise that should definitely be able to beat them. The guests from the capital are very predictable and anything but frightening in their performances.
The Capital Bullets – as the visiting team is nicknamed – have lost seven of their last nine NBA games, with the only two wins coming against the worst team in both conferences.
There is really no great art to defeating the Detroit Pistons these days, who have a horrendous record of 16-56. Washington also has little talent in the long term and should therefore not be able to suddenly rise above itself against Orlando.
Admittedly, the direct comparison could be a deterrent at first, as the Wizards have won each of the last seven NBA duels between the two teams. But the bloodletting at the beginning of the season was big…
On the betting markets, the current Magic Wizards odds express that the hosts are minimally favoured with odds averaging 1.87 to 1.95.
The guests have – as already mentioned – only a few highly talented players in the squad. This shortage of up-and-coming youngsters is also reflected in the fact that a 27-year-old shipped in from Australia “had” to be allowed to make his NBA debut at the weekend.
Xavier Cooks made his debut in Saturday’s 118-132 loss to the Kings and recently played in the National Basketball League (NBL) there.
He’s certainly a passable player, but he’s certainly not the kind of player who can promise the visitors a rise like that of the Magic in the years to come. The Floridians have other calibres in their ranks!
Summary: I’ve seen some great performances from Orlando this season, especially my successful NBA picks against the Celtics, as they have allowed me to collect some big money.
I expect the Floridians to participate in the play-offs as early as next year, but they will probably not be able to do so this year.
But just before the end of the Regular Season – at home and after a short breather – I expect an outstanding performance tonight, especially from Franz Wagner, which will visibly impress the Capital Bullets.
My Magic Bullets tip: Orlando keeps the upper hand!
