Over the course of the last two seasons, both the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons found themselves off to relatively surprising hot starts. Last year’s Pistons took a 14-8 head start, and finished the season going 25-35 over their final 60 games. The Magic began their 2017-18 campaign by winning eight of their first twelve games; they then managed to only scrape together seventeen more W’s come season’s end.
Both the Pistons and Magic are hoping to escape similar fates this year. Detroit’s 13-7 and Orlando’s 9-8 start this year were a bit higher than most outside observers expected, but it was clear that each team had a legitimate shot at making the playoffs - and both clubs are heavily invested at accomplishing that goal this season.