Orlando Magic star details Jayson Tatum friendship ahead of playoffs

As the Magic clinched the No. 7 seed in the NBA Playoffs, they immediately get a tough foe in the reigning champion Celtics. The Magic fought through injuries and inconsistency throughout the season as they made it to the playoffs for the second straight year.

Plus, there will be the Paolo Banchero vs. Jayson Tatum angle. The two share a relationship as Duke products, and Tatum has taken Banchero under his wing to teach him the pro life. But now they face off in the playoffs where the lights are brightest and seasons are on the line.

“I’ve known Jayson since I was going into college,” Banchero told reporters in Orlando. “I see him every summer. A guy that I’m very familiar with. One of the guys I go to for advice and stuff like that. Obviously, now, we’re competing. The best way for me to show my respect is to give him my best effort and go at him as much as I can. I’m excited for the matchup and I’m just excited to be in the playoffs in general.”

The Magic were expected to be a playoff team after going 47-35 last season to finish fifth in the East. But they endured injuries to Banchero and Franz Wagner, both missing significant time, among others. Now, both guys are back for a squad that finished with second-best defensive rating in the league during the regular season.

However, how the Magic generate consistent offense will be the big question. Even though they blew out the Hawks in the play-in tourney, there were stretches where the Orlando offense stagnated. Going up against another stout defensive team in the Celtics will be a challenge as the Magic finished 27th in offensive rating.

The Magic will gear up to open the playoffs Sunday at TD Garden. They got to this stage, but now it’s about picking up victories against the champs.

“Facing the champs, it’s a great opportunity,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “It’s a great opportunity to see and play against the best team in the league. That’s what I think you have to look at it from last year, they’re the champs still until somebody beats them. I think what they do, there’s a lot challenges and we have to find a way to figure that out.”