With all the attention surrounding the revamped Miami Heat, the struggling Boston Celtics and the resurgence of the Chicago Bulls not many people have given much credit to the Orlando Magic this season. Not only have the Magic flown under the radar this season, but they have gotten arguably the best season out of their All-Star center in Dwight Howard.

There is no question that Dwight Howard is the best all-around center in the league today, but this season he has played so well that he has actually gotten a lot of consideration as a candidate for the NBA MVP. With the Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose being this season’s frontrunner for the MVP, Howard will most likely miss out on the award, but he will almost certainly win Defensive Player of the Year honors once again.

Heading into the playoffs, the Orlando Magic will have to face off against Joe Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks once again in a Southeast division showdown. Even though the Hawks are an extremely talented young team with All-Stars Al Horford and Joe Johnson leading the way, they still seem to be missing one or two pieces to the puzzle in order to compete with the best of the best in the Eastern Conference.

With the Miami Heat getting all the attention in the Southeast division this season and for good reason, the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks aren’t considered to be too much of a threat to the big boys ahead of them in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but they might be able to a bit of splash in the later rounds.

Even though the Atlanta Hawks might be able to give Dwight Howard and company a run for their money, the Orlando Magic should advance to the second round of the playoffs with relative ease.

Prediction: Orlando Magic advance in five games 4-1

Eastern Conference Playoffs online sportsbooks odds:

DSI Sportsbook:
Spread: Atlanta Hawks +8 & Orlando Magic -8
Moneyline: Atlanta Hawks +355 & Orlando Magic -425
Over/Under: Atlanta Hawks 110 Orlando Magic 110 under (179)

Bookmaker Sportsbook:
Spread: Atlanta Hawks +8 & Orlando Magic -8
Moneyline: Atlanta Hawks +355 & Orlando Magic -425
Over/Under: Atlanta Hawks 110 Orlando Magic 110 under (179)

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