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Orlando Magic Power Rankings Roundup: Staring into the abyss

By Philip Rossman-Reich

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
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 /
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Serge Ibaka, Orlando Magic, Wesley Matthews, Dallas Mavericks
Nov 19, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) drives into and fouls Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. The Magic won 95-87. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Marc Stein, ESPN.com

(34-6). Previous: . Golden State Warriors. 1. team. 41. As the Warriors brace for the challenging week ahead, they’ve been resting at home since Thursday night’s drubbing of Detroit. That game featured Golden State’s ninth 40-point quarter of the season, including two in one game against the Lakers. Golden State is now 8-0 when it posts 40-plus points in a single quarter, 12-0 when it totals 25 or more fast-break points, 13-0 when <strong><a rel=

27. <strong><a rel=. (18-23). Previous: . New York Knicks. 26. team

27. team. 38. The Jazz were 0-9 this season after falling behind by at least 15 points before Saturday night, when the Magic squandered a seemingly healthy cushion in the SLC to waste one of the best games we’ve seen from Elfrid Payton (28 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists) and squelch any momentum that might have started to percolate after <strong><a rel=. (17-25). Previous: . Orlando Magic

28. team. 110. As time goes on, it would appear to make more and more sense for Miami to keep <strong><a rel=. (11-30). Previous: . Miami Heat

It does feel like the other shoe is about to drop for the Orlando Magic. Their trades are coming. They seemingly have to if this team wants to recoup any of its lost value and reshape itself yet again for a Playoff push in 2018 — or a refocus on its young players. This season, with all the eggs in one basket, is quickly looking like a lost year.

Orlando’s stumble against the Utah Jazz is a crushing blow. It almost assures the team a losing road trip and might have been part of a hangover in Monday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets. And it shows the Magic falling out of the Playoffs.

It seems the most obvious thing for the Magic to do right now is begin testing the Serge Ibaka market. But perhaps that will not be the only thing the team does in what is expected to be an active trade deadline — and perhaps beyond.