Orlando Magic Power Rankings Roundup: Sinking toward the bottom
Marc Stein, ESPN.com
team. 156. A team that ranks as one of the three best in the league in the catch-and-shoot business, alongside Houston and Golden State, just added catch-and-shoot maestro <strong><a rel=. (28-8). Previous: . Cleveland Cavaliers. 1
Leave it to <strong><a rel=. (15-26). Previous: . Los Angeles Lakers. 27. team. 20
38. The Magic’s January schedule isn’t quite as demanding as Oklahoma City’s, but it’s close. Eleven of this month’s 16 games are on the road, which has to be daunting even if you buy into the notion that Orlando — 9-9 away from the Amway Center and 7-13 on its home floor leading into a 16-point drubbing by the Lakers — is a better team on its travels. We’ll see if folks in the Magic Kingdom are still saying that after this six-game trip against Western Conference opposition. Following Sunday night’s defeat at Staples Center, <strong><a target=. (16-23). Previous: . Orlando Magic. 28. team
Previous: . Miami Heat. 29. team. 110. The return of <strong><a rel=. (11-28)
It is indeed a critical time in the Orlando Magic’s season right now. There is no getting around it. January proved to be the turning point for the Magic last year and it will again this year. As it is really every year as teams begin to assert themselves and hit a second gear as the calendar turns.
The Magic have to find that second gear fast. And they will have to do it on the road.
The first half of the road schedule has been friendly to Orlando as the team has gone 9-9. But that record is quickly getting put to the test.