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Orlando Magic Power Rankings Roundup: Picking off the scraps

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Nov 19, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Seth Curry (30) controls the ball against Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (11) as guard Justin Anderson (1) looks on during the second half at Amway Center. The Magic won 95-87. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Seth Curry (30) controls the ball against Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (11) as guard Justin Anderson (1) looks on during the second half at Amway Center. The Magic won 95-87. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bismack Biyombo, Orlando Magic, Justin Anderson, Seth Curry, Dallas Mavericks
Nov 19, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Seth Curry (30) controls the ball against Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (11) as guard Justin Anderson (1) looks on during the second half at Amway Center. The Magic won 95-87. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic have not been overly impressive in scoring two victories last week and beginning a slow climb up the power rankings. But wins are wins.

The Orlando Magic season has hit a strange rhythm of inconsistency — yes, that is consistent inconsistency.

The first week, they struggled and look poor. The next week, they looked like world beaters scoring their first wins and returning to .500. The next week, they looked like they could not throw a rock in the ocean or stop anyone from doing so. And last week, they began to establish their firm base on the defensive end.

As many are quick to point out, the Magic banked up some wins against some relatively weak competition. The Magic’s two wins last week came with Anthony Davis sitting out for the New Orleans Pelicans and with Dirk Nowitzki out for the Dallas Mavericks. There was still a devastating blowout loss too.

It may very well overshadow the fact the Magic have the best defensive rating in the league since Nov. 11 and appear to be looking stronger on the defensive end. The Magic backed that up with a great performance against the Milwaukee Bucks — at full strength. Perhaps the Magic’s defense is for real.

Regardless of who the Magic played or how those wins came, the Magic did largely take care of business last week. They do not have a “bad loss” and continue to win games they are supposed to win. That counts for something, even if they are not super impressive in the process.

The schedule remains light this week. With the Bucks game out the window, the Magic take on conference bottom feeders in the Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards before a return date with the Bucks on Sunday. Then the real fun begins with the December road trip.

For now, the Magic are picking off teams in a light part of the schedule, doing exactly what they have to do. And building their identity.

Power rankings across the Web are still a little lukewarm on the team, likely because the Magic have not been able to run away from these poor teams. But wins have helped them continue to climb.