Southeast Division

Orlando Magic Power Rankings - 2011-12

Power Ranking
WEEKRECORDRANKCOMMENT
Week 1736-2817You have to believe that the Magic -- even in this beaten-down, Dwight-less state -- will get the win they need against Charlotte to at least lock up the No. 6 seed. Totally self-centered aside: The committee (of one) happened to be in Philadelphia for what might go down as Dwight's last-ever game with the Magic.
Week 1635-2519With only one game left against a team that has nothing to play for (Charlotte at home on April 25) and Dwight Howard (back injury) possibly out for all six of the games still left on the schedule, Orlando remains at risk for dropping from the seed it wants (No. 6) to seventh or eighth in the East.
Week 1533-2317Dwight Howard's decision to relinquish his right to opt out of his contract at season's end was supposed to bring peace to the Magic Kingdom for the rest of this season at the very least. How long did the happiness last? Thanks to Stan Van Gundy's shootaround candor, here's your answer: Not even a month.
Week 1432-2111You can see it coming. The Magic were in the driver's seat to finish third in the East and avoid Chicago until Round 3, only to leave the distinct impression with their last three Ls that they're quite capable of slippage. Which makes you wonder, when it comes to SVG, if he even wants to keep coaching Team Roller Coaster.
Week 1331-186Progress? The Magic have beaten Phoenix and Cleveland since the shame of scoring just 59 points in last Monday's home loss to the Rose-less Bulls. If you remember how ugly things got after the season's other sub-60 showing -- teetering toward implosion after an 87-56 loss in Boston -- this 2-0 spurt seems significant.
Week 1229-175I still say the smart play for the Magic is trading Dwight after the season if he won't commit beyond 2012-13. But these rankings, remember, always factor in the present in equal measure with the big picture. And there's no denying that getting him to delay free agency for a year is a certifiable short-term coup.
Week 1127-155Give it up to Florida's other team, too: Amid all the chaos and speculation that has consumed the Magic for the past 95 days since the lockout ended, they're one of only five teams in the league to post a winning record in every calendar month this season along with the Bulls, Heat, Thunder and Lakers.
Week 1024-1410If you believe the GM grapevine: After an 11-4 February, Orlando is serious about rolling the dice and keeping Dwight past the trading deadline, figuring that a 10 percent chance of changing his mind (but also potentially losing him for nothing in free agency) beats what they can get in a trade for him.
Week 922-138The Magic outright shocked the world by not falling to pieces after that January wobble when they sandwiched two crushing losses to Boston around a no-show in New Orleans. Deciding not to trade Dwight now and praying he can be persuaded to re-sign in July, believe it or not, would actually be less of a surprise.
Week 820-129It has been suggested that a certain young Knicks guard can be counted on to divert some All-Star Weekend spotlight away from a certain local star whose free agency beckons in July. Not so sure about that one. Quite a test for Linsanity to see what sort of dent it can put into the long-awaited ASW frenzy over Dwight's future.
Week 717-1113Dwight & Co. followed up that nice win in Indy by pounding mighty Miami ... and then losing their fourth straight encounter to a Horford-less Hawks team they can't seem to beat anymore. With the trade deadline just a month away now, something tells me they'll continue to be a Disney World roller coaster.
Week 615-916The crazy talk about "big changes" has died down some now that the Magic's roller-coaster season is back on the upswing after a nice W in Indy stretched their modest win streak to three, but let's be clear here: Orlando can't fire Stan Van Gundy -- no matter what -- because he's their star asset if/when Dwight bolts.
Week 512-820Wasn't it just one Monday ago that the Magic were actually feeling sneaky good about their chances of making one last run in an East with D-Rose ailing and only six teams above .500? Must feel like a year ago after what SVG aptly described as Orlando's worst week since he started coaching there in 2007.
Week 411-48It's not just Ryan Anderson shooting lights out: Hedo's doin' it under the radar, too. And as noted in the Weekend Dime, Dwight has debunked any notion of trade uncertainty impacting his production, on course to be just the NBA's second 20-and-15 man since Moses in 1982-83.
Week 38-311Wednesday's win in Portland was Orlando's first W of significance in a start that has to be graded on a curve. Before you buy into the idea that things are settling down in the Magic Kingdom, bear in mind that the composite record of its eight victims is 31-69.
Week 26-312Dwight Howard was probably due for the sort of foul-trouble nightmare he endured in Sunday's stroll past Sacramento. In the season's first five games, by contrast, Dwight racked up only 13 fouls. Better yet: DH12's been hit with only one T in nine games.
Week 14-15After his usual Christmas dud, Dwight Howard became the first player since Dennis Rodman in 1997 with back-to-back games with at least 24 boards. No signs yet, then, of DH12 checking out to try to force Orlando to trade him. Yet.
Preseason52-3012Mark it down: Orlando will come to its senses between now and the March 15 trade deadline and trade Dwight to ensure it doesn't lose another franchise big man Shaq-style without compensation. It just might happen later rather than sooner.
Training Camp20-120It has been suggested that a certain young Knicks guard can be counted on to divert some All-Star Weekend spotlight away from a certain local star whose free agency beckons in July. Not so sure about that one. Quite a test for Linsanity to see what sort of dent it can put into the long-awaited ASW frenzy over Dwight's future.

Orlando Magic