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Orlando Magic Power Rankings Roundup: Reasons to believe?

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 20, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and center Bismack Biyombo (11) high five against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 112-96. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and center Bismack Biyombo (11) high five against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 112-96. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Marc Stein, ESPN.com

41. As recently as Thanksgiving, Golden State ranked 15th in the league in defensive efficiency. Now? The Dubs are No. 1 leaguewide in offensive and defensive efficiency, which is a monumental double that no team has pulled off over an entire season since <strong><a rel=. (38-6). Previous: . Golden State Warriors. 1. team

team. 27. Who else feels for <strong><a rel=. (19-26). Previous: . New York Knicks. 26

27. team. 38. Sunday’s assignment in Orlando, with what essentially was a 9 a.m. tipoff time for a group of Warriors who had been on the road for only three nights to that point, always struck me as perhaps the toughest assignment of Golden State’s brutal schedule last week. It was the first time that the Warriors were forced to start a game at noon Eastern time since March 1995 — also in the Magic Kingdom — and it looked as though the hosts might really be able to take advantage. Or so it appeared for a good quarter and a half. The Magic eventually couldn’t cope with the Warriors’ traditional third-quarter eruption and slumped to 1-4 since Orlando’s nice win in Portland on Jan. 13.. (18-28). Previous: . Orlando Magic

84. <strong><a rel=. (16-27). Previous: . Sacramento Kings. 28. team

The Orlando Magic clearly had some advantages with Sunday’s noon start for the Golden State Warriors. The Magic took a 10-point lead in the first half and took advantage of some of the Warriors’ turnover problems.

Alas, Golden State proved too much in the third quarter. That is what that team does. The Warriors make a defense pay for every mistake. No mater the time.

It probably does not help the Miami Heat picked off the Warriors the next night.