Orlando Magic Power Rankings Roundup: Just enough hope
Marc Stein, ESPN.com
41. The Warriors’ OT loss at Sacramento is bound to generate some overreaction, given that any Warriors loss usually does. It’s tough to get too worked up about the slip-up when they have such a great shot to join the 1995-96 Bulls on the short list of teams to lead the league in both offensive and defensive efficiency in the same season — Golden State is No. 1 offensively and narrowly down to No. 2 defensively as we speak — and sport the impressive average nightly point margin numbers detailed above. The Dubs have now won nine consecutive games against the Clippers (by an average margin of 13.1 PPG) and got there with their 33rd game already this season with at least 30 assists. No team in league history had previously recorded 33 such performances through its first 50 games of the season.. (43-8). Previous: . Golden State Warriors. 1. team
66. <strong><a rel=. (16-35). Previous: . Phoenix Suns. 27. team
Fun game introduced this week by own our Kevin Pelton both in podcast and print form: Who would you choose as the All-Star representative from the 12 teams that don’t have one assuming the NBA employed a system like baseball or hockey where every team had to have at least one All-Star. As Professor Pelton rightly notes, none of those other 12 teams has you scuffling for a suggestion like the Magic, which tells you what sort of season it’s been in Central Florida. I suppose <strong><a rel=. (20-33). Previous: . Orlando Magic. 28. team. 38
The noise made on the Lakers’ behalf Thursday night at the Verizon Center certainly annoyed the Wizards, but the Lakers — with their 29th-ranked defense — really are a team you want to see in your building. L.A. has dropped 12 consecutive road games dating to a Dec. 16 triumph at Philadelphia, which leaves them just five more losses shy of an unwanted franchise record after last season’s Lakers dropped 16 in a row on the road in one miserable stretch. Five of the Lakers’ next six games, while we’re on the subject, happen to be on the road, but four of them come against sub-.500 teams (Knicks, Pistons, Bucks and Suns). In other news: Does <strong><a rel=. (17-36). Previous: . Los Angeles Lakers. 29. team. 20
This was a question we took up on Orlando Magic Daily closer to All-Star selections. We ultimately settled on Serge Ibaka.
No, Ibaka has not had the breakout season everyone hoped for. But he has been the Magic’s best all-around player. He is averaging a career high in points. And when he is engaged defensively, he is as dominant as ever.
That will not stop the trade winds from blowing. It seems inevitable the Magic will trade Serge Ibaka in the next two weeks before the trade deadline.