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Orlando Magic Power Rankings Roundup: What are we selling?

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Nov 14, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel reacts to a foul call in the second half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana Pacers beat the Orlando Magic 88-69. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel reacts to a foul call in the second half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana Pacers beat the Orlando Magic 88-69. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Matt Moore, CBS Sports

77. Straight up, this team reminds me of the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. From the aging point guard to the star power forward whose impact is overlooked, to how everyone has dismissed them because of past playoff performances. All the way down. In November of 2011, I said the Mavericks were playing like a legitimately dangerous playoff team. Then Nowitzki got hurt and everyone overlooked them for six months. Don’t lose sight of how this team is playing, not just in terms of wins, but the style and fun energy they’re playing with.. (10-1). Previous: . L.A. Clippers. 1. team

27. This is not a totally worthless team, so that’s a plus. They just have these stretches where the entire thing completely falls apart. They’re like the cooky machine of a zany scientist in one of those 1970’s Disney films whose wild contraptions keep failing.. 4-6. Previous: 20th. New York Knicks. 21. team

Previous: . Orlando Magic. 22. team. 38. Got their best win of the season Sunday vs. the Thunder. I still can’t buy into this team but just when I think they’re going off the cliff, they pull themselves back.. 4-7

Sure, they’ve had another irritatingly predictable spate of injuries, and their prized second-year point guard’s biggest problem involves dribbling and not giving it to the guys wearing the other laundry, and their frontcourt is such a logjam you think Michael Malone might be just spinning a random wheel on the sideline for rotations. But other than that, things are pretty good in Denver.. 3-7. Previous: . Denver Nuggets. 23. team. 73

Hard to argue here. The Magic are doing enough to show flashes of everything their talent can be still, but the fit is still far from perfect. Far from perfect.

Statistically, the Magic have the second worst net rating in the league, almost certainly weighed down by three blowout defeats including two last week. And their offensive and defensive rating are in the bottom five.

Those are all signs of a team not headed for the Playoffs, but certainly destined for the lottery. It suggests the Magic’s record is better than it is.