Orlando Magic Daily
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Orlando Magic Power Rankings Roundup: Signs of progress

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 1, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) drives past Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) drives past Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards
Mar 5, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) drives to the basket against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 115-114. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

John Schuhmann, NBA.com

. (51-11). Previous: . Golden State Warriors. 1. team. 41

New York Knicks. 27. team. 27. . (25-38). Previous:

28. team. 38. . (23-40). Previous: . Orlando Magic

"Among lineups that have played at least 50 minutes since the break, only the Houston starters (plus-34.4 points per 100 possessions) have been better than the Orlando starters (plus-22.0), even though the four perimeter guys in the Magic lineup are a combined 20-for-78 (26 percent) from 3-point range over their five games. They all played big in Friday’s win over Miami and Aaron Gordon certainly looks more comfortable at the four, but Nikola Vucevic (sore Achilles) missed Sunday’s loss in Washington, where the Magic blew a 17-point, second-half lead."

Previous: . Los Angeles Lakers. 29. team. 20. . (19-44)

The Orlando Magic have done some nice things since the NBA trade deadline. There is no getting around this. The team looks aesthetically more pleasing and is generally more effective, despite that pedestrian 2-4 record.

Indeed, even in Monday’s loss to the New York Knicks, all the Magic starters had a positive plus/minus. Orlando’s starters are dominating.

The Magic are one of the more improved teams in the league since the All-Star Break. Granted, they did not have anywhere to go but up considering where they were this season. But these are all positive signs for the team moving forward.

Looking at the early lineup data, the Magic’s lineup of Elfrid Payton, Terrence Ross, Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic is posting a +22.0 net rating including an 115.6 offensive rating (awesome!) and a 93.6 defensive rating (also awesome!).

The Magic’s starting lineup works. It is just too bad they cannot play it for 48 minutes.