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Orlando Magic Power Rankings Roundup: Hold on to the glimpses

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 8, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) dribbles up the court during the first half against the Boston Celtics at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated Boston Celtics 103-98. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) dribbles up the court during the first half against the Boston Celtics at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated Boston Celtics 103-98. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic
Mar 8, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) dribbles up the court during the first half against the Boston Celtics at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated Boston Celtics 103-98. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

The buzz around the Orlando Magic in the Power Rankings this week centers around one man — Elfrid Payton.

Believe it or not, we are less than a month from the end of the season. Eighty-two games goes by in a flash and the Magic have just 10 of them left. It is always incredible to think how quickly these seasons go.

And right now, it looks like there are reasons to be excited for the season to keep going. Elfrid Payton is starting to emerge. Victor Oladipo is starting to make a star turn and blossom as a primary option (although he still has his hiccups). And Aaron Gordon is healthy for the first time all season, he said.

For these young players, it stinks it took 70 games to figure it all out, but it seems even worse and crueler to cut them off just as they are getting things going. It feels time for the season to end, but at the same time it feels like several Magic players are just getting going.

Suffice it to say, April until October is going to be a time of restlessness for the Magic. Even amid all the changes that are expected to take place.

For now, the Magic remain maddeningly inconsistent.

For every great play and game from Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo that secures a landmark win against the Playoff-bound Portland Trail Blazers, there seems to be a frustrating game from Nikola Vucevic or another injury that sets the team back and leads to Sunday’s disaster against the Nuggets.

Such is life at the bottom of the standings.

Let’s go around the league and take a look at the Power Rankings:

Next: Matt Dollinger, Sports Illustrated