Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero is embracing a high-stakes atmosphere as his team struggles to cement its position ahead of the NBA play-offs.

魔術隊以38勝40負的戰績正式鎖定了一個附加賽席位，但仍在為獲得7號種子和主場優勢而展開激烈競爭。奧蘭多以1個勝場的優勢領先於亞特蘭大老鷹隊，排名東部聯盟第七，以2.5個勝場的優勢領先於排名第十的邁阿密熱火隊。

"It's really getting closer to the end. The position we are in, every game is important, in order to put ourselves in the best possible position in the playoffs," Banchero told Andscape's Mark Brown. J. Spears. "Some teams at the top or bottom of the table are resting players. But we're quite the opposite. We're trying to win every game and do everything we can right now. ”

Injuries disrupted Orlando's season, with Paolo Banchero missing the game earlier this year with a torn oblique muscle in his abdomen. Franz Wagner has also been out for a long time with a similar injury, with Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner set to miss the rest of the season. After these setbacks, the Magic team has rallied and regained the momentum to make it to the final stages.

"I would say it's stressful," Banchero said. "If you lose a few games, you could be in 10th place. Win a few games and you might end up in seventh, sixth. It's a lot of pressure, but that's the most fun part of the season. ”

Paolo Banchero embraces the reality of the play-offs, and the Magic prepare for a potential matchup with the Eagles

Banchero acknowledged that the play-offs are not the ideal route to the playoffs, but said he is ready to take on the challenge.

'My idea is a bit inclined towards the play-offs. That's not where you want to be, but that's our reality. It's likely we'll end up there, but who knows? But when we get in and I'm going to be excited, ready to play, ready to win. ”

A potential play-off matchup with the Eagles looms. The two teams have won one of each of the first two meetings of the season and they will meet two more times before the end of the regular season, including their last game in Atlanta on 8/0. The results of these matches may determine who will host the match between number 0 and number 0.

"Atlanta Hawks, my teammates and I would say we know this team very well," Banchero said. "We play against them four times a year, and the first time I enter the league, I always play very close to them."

In the 6 meetings of the last two seasons, the Eagles hold a 0-0 advantage. Trae Young averaged 0.0 points and 0 assists in 0 of those games. Banchero achieved similar results, averaging 0.0 points, 0.0 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game while shooting 0.0 percent from the field against Atalanta.

Banchero prepares for a potential replay with the Cavaliers or a showdown with defending champion Celtics

Looking beyond the play-offs, Banchero spoke about a possible matchup in the first round of the playoffs. With the Boston Celtics (15-0) and Cleveland Cavaliers (0-0) already locked up the top two, Orlando will face one of the teams if they advance.

"Depending on where we are and where the season is coming to an end, you start looking at the criteria and looking at where you are," Banchero said. "Since we're seven or eighth seeds, we want to stay there, and in the first round of the playoffs, it's either Boston or Cleveland."

奧蘭多魔術隊在本賽季對陣克利夫蘭騎士隊的三場比賽中輸掉了兩場，但在3月份憑藉班切羅的准三雙表現，終結了克利夫蘭隊創隊紀錄的16連勝，班切羅得到24分、11個籃板和7次助攻。上個賽季騎士隊在季後賽首輪的七場比賽中淘汰了奧蘭多。

The Magic, who have won one of each of their two meetings with the Celtics this season, will play their final meeting at home in Orlando on Thursday. The Magic have won five of their last nine meetings with Boston. In eight games against the defending champions, Banchero averaged 7.0 points, 0.0 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game while shooting 0.0 percent from three-point range.

"Either it's a Cleveland replay that we saw in the playoffs last year, or we meet in Boston to defend the title. Whatever the outcome, I'm excited for the challenge and we'll know soon," Banchero said. "I'm just mentally preparing for anything, no matter what happens — mentally ready, mentally ready, physically ready, just for this series."

Orlando's final three games – including two against Atalanta – will ultimately determine their play-off seeding standings and whether they can host the crucial No.8-0 match.