Orlando Magic Power Rankings Roundup: Epitome of youth

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Jan 12, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) goes up for a basket against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic’s up-and-down nature in the power rankings is yet another sign of their youth. Maybe things are moving forward though.

The roller coaster ride of the Magic is a weekly thing now. It is a within the week thing now actually.

Orlando put together two really strong back-to-back games last week with the wins over Chicago on the road and Houston at home Wednesday. This team had become a revelation with its fast-breaking style and ability to work together at a heightened pace. It may have caught some teams by surprise at that early stage, but it was no doubt a success and the team seemed committed to running it through thick and thin.

Things crashed back to earth a bit as the Grizzlies outlasted the Magic, slowing them down some and frustrating them as the game waned.

Then the Thunder game… Oh, the Thunder game.

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It is best not to talk about it. But the way Oklahoma City eviscerated Orlando on Sunday tends to stick in your mind. And with power rankings due out Monday, that is going to make voters stay guarded with the Magic.

And who could blame them? This team has been so incredibly up and down it is very difficult to get any sense of who they are on a game-to-game basis. Consistency is not the hallmark of a young team.

That will be the excuse for now. Or the reason everyone uses to keep expectations for the Magic low.

We will always have this though:

Let’s see where the Magic end up in the power rankings this week.

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