Orlando Magic: Race for the Second Seed

With 14 games left, the Orlando Magic are just a half-game back from the injured Boston Celtics and will look to make a run for the Eastern Conference's second seed.

Boston fans must be thinking to themselves, "This guy is crazy...there is no way the 'soft' Magic will take our spot and end the season with a better record than the Celtics."

But guess what, Boston fans? It is going to happen. It is inevitable.

On Feb. 21, it was reported that Kevin Garnett would miss two to three weeks due to a strained muscle in his right knee.

On March 10, the Boston Herald stated that Garnett would miss another week because of his injury.

Then, on March 15, the Boston Globe reported that Garnett was looking forward to playing this Friday, but now sources say that he is unlikely to play tomorrow.

Besides KG's uncertain status, the C's also have to worry about Leon Powe being expected to miss the next two weeks because of a sprained knee and Ray Allen's elbow injury appearing to be more serious than first suspected.

Recent injuries clearly put Boston's future in jeopardy.

Their remaining schedule consists of 13 games, in which they will battle the San Antonio Spurs (this Friday), Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks (twice), Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

But onto the team that will assume their place, the Orlando Magic.

After losing All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson to a season-ending injury, it looked like all hope was lost. The team dropped games to the Indiana Pacers and the New Orleans Hornets (by a score of 117-85, bad enough for their worst loss of the season).

But since Rafer Alston joined the team and replaced Nelson in the starting lineup, the Magic have a record of 11-4 and have returned to form.

Orlando has an extremely easy schedule ahead, as they play nine of their 14 remaining games against teams under .500. Plus, the team's two hardest match-ups (against Boston and the Cleveland Cavaliers) are both at home.

With a healthy roster, all signs point to the Magic ending the season in second place.

That's not just an opinion; it's a fact.