The Orlando Magic were sinking like a ship after the first week. A few wins in a row though has them floating a little bit more now.
Last week, the Orlando Magic were about as low as they could be. They were 0-3 and were nearly blown out in all three games. Things were looking bad for the new-look Magic. They did not look like they could function on either end of the floor.
That will get you pretty low in the NBA power rankings. And the way the Magic lost to the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers certainly did not provide much confidence.
Then last week happened.
The Magic scored a win over the Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards all in somewhat similar defensive fashion. They kept the game close and gutted it out with stellar defense in the fourth quarter.
At the very least, it looked like a sign that this thing could come together. Getting back to 3-3 after that terrible 0-3 start showed a lot of fight and grit.
Maybe all those good feelings got knocked down a peg as the Chicago Bulls ran the Magic out of United Center on Monday. That bad team from two weeks ago still exists in some way. So too does the good team.
The teams the Magic beat last week are not the cream of the crop at all. Philadelphia is not likely to make the Playoffs. Sacramento has more talent but is not likely to make it either. And Washington looks like a mess at the moment.
The Bulls were the first real test the Magic had since rediscovering their identity and they failed it pretty miserably.
Even before the Chicago game, it was fair for the league to have a fair amount of skepticism about this team. And that is reflected in this week’s Power Rankings Roundup, even as the Magic returned to .500.
Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated
Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated is pretty much spot on with his early analysis that the Magic will not score many points. They will not score many points this season. The offense has been bad this year — they are 26th in the league in offensive rating so far.
The Magic were good enough to get back to .500. But without an increase in their offensive rating and a decrease in their defensive rating, the Magic’s place near .500 will be precarious.
Orlando has won games against teams in its weight class so far. The Bulls are not that kind of team. But Wednesday’s opponent, the Minnesota Timberwolves, is a little bit more in their wheelhouse.
Gerald Bourget, Hoops Habit
Aaron Gordon is a nice saving grace? It seems like he provides one dunk highlight per game. That should be enough to keep people watching.
The Orlando Magic though are, analyzed correctly, very inconsistent at the moment. The defense comes and goes and it carries the offense with it. Or maybe it is the other way around? It is hard to tell much with this team.
John Schumann, NBA.com
It is very true Frank Vogel is still figuring out the best combinations and the best lineups for his team. He has used Bismack Biyombo and Nikola Vucevic interchangeably as needed. He has used Jeff Green late. He has had to figure out which levers to pull.
The defense though remains a big concern. Serge Ibaka’s struggle on the defensive end is causing the team’s defensive rating to sink. That is the big thing the Magic have to resolve within their lineups more than anything. Orlando has to be a good defensive team to succeed.
Brandon Jefferson, FanSided
FanSided is not particularly high on the Magic are are ready to pack things in after two weeks and one really bad performance against the Chicago Bulls.
There are certainly big questions. And it does seem like the front court is a little too crowded. That could resolve itself in the trade market in a few months. The team has a lot of mismatched pieces.
But this team requires patience too. The Magic can play well, they just have not done it consistently yet.
Marc Stein, ESPN.com
Jeff Green has already proven himself to be something of a lightning rod for Magic fans. They alternately are done with him or are ready for him to start over Aaron Gordon. Such is the life of following Jeff Green.
Stein’s story though about Wayne Drehs and what Green went through though are something to remember.
Matt Moore, CBS Sports
Indeed wins are wins. That is ultimately what matters. it does not matter how you get them. There is no such thing as an ugly wins.
The Magic though are winning plenty ugly. Maybe that is ultimately what they want to do. But the team has had to win some ugly, ugly games so far this year. And gut them all out.
There is still a long way to go and this team can still come together. Last week proved it. But then again, Monday’s game proved something too.
Next: Orlando Magic must put talk to action
This team is still seeking an identity.