Magic 2016-17 Schedule: Top Games, Championship Odds and Record Predictions

Sure, a 35-win 2015-16 season isn’t much to get excited over, but for the Orlando Magic, it’s a vast improvement after winning 25, 23 and 20 games in their three previous campaigns.

But there will be a new man at the helm in Orlando as former Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel takes over for Scott Skiles, who stepped down shortly after the Magic’s 2015-16 season ended. It will now be up to Vogel to resume the team’s quest for relevance in the Eastern Conference. 

With the league releasing its schedule on Thursday, here is some important information for Magic fans to watch for. 

2016-17 Details

Season Opener: Wednesday, Oct. 26 vs. Miami Heat, 7 p.m. ET

Championship Odds: 100-1 (via Odds Shark)

Full Schedule: NBA.com 

Top Matchups

Miami Heat

Season Opener: Wednesday, Oct. 26 at Amway Center, 7 p.m. ET

First games don’t necessarily mean much to teams that will be on the fringe of contention for a playoff spot. But after the departure of Skiles, it’s imperative that Vogel gets the Magic off on the right foot. 

Skiles was a charter member of the Magic as a point guard who spent five seasons with the team, which made his sudden resignation after only one year such a difficult moment for Orlando fans, per Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel:

This was one of the darkest days in Magic history; not nearly as significant as Shaq and Dwight [Howard] leaving, but much more shocking. You see, this wasn’t just any coach who quit on the franchise after just one season; this was Scotty Skiles—one of the most beloved former players in franchise history.

Vogel might have 10 fewer years of head coaching experience compared to Skiles, but he put together winning seasons with the Indiana …

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