Orlando Magic Power Rankings Roundup: Staring into the abyss

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Jan 16, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (11) reacts in pain after being injured on a hard foul during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 125-112. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic season seems to be teetering and everyone seems to know it. The small signs of positivity are subsumed with the worry of fading chances.

The Orlando Magic departed for their six-game, 11-day road trip with some optimism. They had played a spirited game against the Houston Rockets and had reason to be encouraged as they headed out West. The Magic have banded together on the road before and could find some consistency away from Amway Center.

The first game seemed like a good confidence builder and the Magic were not facing the absolute best on this West Coast trip. Escape with a .500 or winning record and the team could keep its head above water and stay in the Playoff race.

For sure, the West Coast trip would be the Magic’s last chance to prove they could turn the corner before the team inevitably had to make decisions. Decisions about trades and whether to buy or sell at the deadline — not to mention any seat warmers they would need to purchase for their general manager.

There was pressure, but optimism.

All that began to cook and snuff out the optimism very quickly in this road trip. The first week of the road trip did not go as planned. The Magic lost that seemingly winnable game to the Los Angeles Lakers in a lifeless defensive effort. Orlando seemed to reel it back, fighting the LA Clippers to the end, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers and then taking the Utah Jazz to the end.

That 13-0 run that cost the Magic the game in Salt Lake City seemed a bigger harbinger. The optimism and hope seemed to be dwindling if not snuffed outright.

And that leaves big questions for the Magic the rest of the season. The first half to the season has not gone as planned, of course. The team had only 17 wins through 41 games. That would put them on pace to win fewer games than last year. And that certainly would not be enough to make the Playoffs in the Eastern Conference (although, it is looking like it is competitive in the Western Conference).

Orlando is slowly losing grip on its season. The team has not gained much traction or much momentum. And the question now becomes: What happens next?