Just a few weeks ago, the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic appeared to be on similar paths. Neither team was expected to seriously contend for the Eastern Conference Playoffs but, in a wide open setting, both provided reasons for optimism with early-season play and a glimpse of what could potentially be in the offing. Since then, however, the Pacers and Magic have flown in (completely) opposite directions.
As noted last week, Indiana remains one of the positive stories of the young season and, well, Orlando does not. Since starting the campaign with an 8-4 record, the Magic are a dismal 3-16 to compile an 11-20 overall mark and, while injuries to Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier have not helped matters, the downturn began with a relatively healthy crew in place. There are multiple issues with the current make-up of the club but a bottom-five defense (No. 27 overall according to Cleaning The Glass) remains the most glaring. Given the roster, it makes little to no sense that Orlando would be that porous in stopping opponents from scoring and, in short, they simply can’t afford to be.
The flashes of brilliance from Gordon (averaging 18 and 8 with encouraging efficiency), strong play from free agent addition Jonathon Simmons and even effectiveness from Nikola Vucevic stand out as positives from the still young season. Still, that combination isn’t translating to real, on-court success right now and even with a manageable deficit in the standings, it is tough to foresee a real charge to March and April from this club. The Magic aren’t the most depressing team in the league by any means but it felt like improvement was so close and it simply hasn’t been sustained just yet.
Where does Orlando land in this week’s Dime Power Rankings? Let’s explore.
1. Golden State Warriors (24-6, Last week — 1st)
They needed an extra period to do it but the Warriors spoiled Kobe Bryant’s jersey retirement night with yet another win. That is nine consecutive victories for Golden State and, in the continued absence of Stephen Curry, that is wildly impressive. There is inherent respect already to keep them in this spot but the play has been great as well.
2. Houston Rockets (25-4, Last week — 2nd)
The Rockets just keep winning… but so do the Warriors. Houston actually has the best statistical profile in the NBA to this point but, with the top dog keeping pace, they have to stay at No. 2 for me. It should be noted, though, that there is plenty of room for argument in that the Rockets are cooking right now.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (23-8, Last week — 3rd)
LeBron and company have accumulated just one loss since Nov. 9 and, somehow, that is flying under the radar with the way that Houston is playing. The Cavs don’t have the best record in the East but any consternation about their 5-7 start is long gone. Now, we all wait for Isaiah Thomas to return.
4. Toronto Raptors (20-8, Last week — 6th)
This will be a stunner for some but a quick look at the numbers should explain it. Toronto’s net rating (+8.4 per 100 possessions) is in a tier of its own behind Houston and Golden State and they are just playing extremely well. Obviously, the Celtics are getting more attention and that makes sense but sleeping on the Raptors would be unwise. They’ve been great.
5. Boston Celtics (26-7, Last week — 5th)
Boston is very good and their latest Houdini routine on Monday was another example. Something in my brain won’t allow full buy-in to the level of their current record but the Celtics are talented and well-coached. That is a helpful combination toward success.
6. San Antonio Spurs (21-10, Last week — 4th)
Kawhi Leonard is back and, even if the Spurs aren’t quite operating at full steam yet, no one is worried about them. This is just the epitome of a good, safe basketball team. Fade them at your own peril.
7. Detroit Pistons (17-13, Last week — 16th)
Good luck trying to figure out the Pistons. Detroit did win its last three games to find its footing but, prior to that, Stan Van Gundy’s team was completely out of whack and we’re basically just splitting the difference.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (18-13, Last week — 8th)
The Wolves would have come in at No. 7 if not for a home loss to the Suns. That’s just not a game this team can afford to lose and, if anything, they might be overachieving when compared to their actual profile as a group right now.
9. Oklahoma City Thunder (15-15, Last week — 18th)
After struggling all season, the Thunder are starting to actually win close games. That isn’t the cure to everything that ills Oklahoma City but it should help to provide stabilization for a team with a lot of uncertainty at the moment.
10. Portland Trail Blazers (16-14, Last week — 14th)
I think Portland is good? Maybe? Perhaps? I’m sure I could be talked out of this but that is how you end up at No. 10 and in the middle of a bizarre tier of teams.
11. Washington Wizards (16-14, Last week — 11th)
It is almost underappreciated how maddening the Wizards have been. Washington has no business being on pace for something like 43 victories but, alas, here we are. Are they better than this? Probably, but until the consistency arrives, they’ll hang around this area.
12. Denver Nuggets (16-14, Last week — 10th)
Denver is staying afloat without Paul Millsap and with Nikola Jokic at less than 100 percent health. That is impressive in a number of ways and a testament to the depth and talent on this particular club.
13. Indiana Pacers (17-14, Last week — 7th)
After a bit of recognition last week, the Pacers promptly lost three of four games with the only win coming over the Nets. We can’t have nice things, apparently.
14. Milwaukee Bucks (15-13, Last week — 9th)
Speaking of teams that can’t have nice things, the Bucks have fallen short in three straight contests and Milwaukee was one of Chicago’s victims. To be fair, Giannis and company lost by just four points at Houston in their most recent game but we still have to dock them.
15. New York Knicks (16-14, Last week — 19th)
The Knicks would have jumped more if not for a ghastly, 18-point loss in Charlotte but this is a choice to be positive about New York right now. They are better than anyone could have possibly thought, especially in light of Tim Hardaway Jr.’s extended absence.
16. New Orleans Pelicans (15-15, Last week — 12th)
This is the perfect example of a .500 basketball team. New Orleans doesn’t get there in a “normal” way given the presence of two legitimate stars but the supporting cast is brutal enough to balance that talent out in a less than ideal way. Fortunately, a .500 club this season doesn’t look so bad when considering teams in their general vicinity.
17. Philadelphia 76ers (14-15, Last week — 15th)
The triple-OT loss to Oklahoma City on Friday might have been the best game of the season and we aren’t going to punish Philly for losing it. Coming back and losing to Chicago in the next game? That isn’t so great.
18. Miami Heat (15-15, Last week — 13th)
There were mitigating circumstances for Miami’s loss to Atlanta on Monday. The Heat are battered with injuries and, by tip-off, they were “supposed” to lose. Still, the uneven nature of this roster right now offers more questions than answers.
19. Utah Jazz (14-17, Last week — 17th)
Rudy Gobert is gone again and Utah has dropped six of seven. Remember the wild optimism that appeared just a short time ago? Fortunately, this is the end of a tier that they probably can’t fall out of but that isn’t much of a consolation.
20. Charlotte Hornets (11-19, Last week — 22nd)
The Hornets are maddening in an anonymous way. I promise this makes sense.
21. Los Angeles Clippers (11-18, Last week — 20th)
It’s tough to make anything of the Clippers right now but their active three-game losing streak comes against teams with .500-or-better records and that is important context. No one believes this club can stay afloat long enough for Blake Griffin to save them but they might be the best of the bottom tier.
22. Los Angeles Lakers (10-18, Last week — 21st)
There is no shame in losing to the Cavs and Warriors in back-to-back games and that is what the Lakers have done. If anything, Los Angeles fought valiantly on Monday and nearly toppled Golden State, providing a window of optimism for Luke Walton’s team.
23. Phoenix Suns (11-21, Last week — 27th)
Phoenix’s catches a bump after following up five straight losses with two straight wins. Moreover, those victories came on the road (with one against Minnesota) and, well, there had to be a ceiling on the No. 24 team in these rankings.
24. Chicago Bulls (9-20, Last week — 28th)
I have absolutely no idea how to process six straight wins from this Bulls team. Chicago’s roster remains a mess but, with Nikola Mirotic back on board, something clicked and they are simply playing much better. This kind of pace is obviously not real but they aren’t the 3-20 team now either.
25. Brooklyn Nets (11-18, Last week — 23rd)
Three straight defeats send Brooklyn tumbling a bit. Honestly, it wasn’t the fact that the Nets were unsuccessful in grabbing wins but more so the way in which they lost, especially to Toronto and Indiana.
26. Sacramento Kings (9-20, Last week — 29th)
The Kings did beat the Suns this week but that close-fought home win wasn’t enough to overcome peripherals that are still cringe-worthy. Sacramento is playing better and that needs to be stated for the record but there is a long way to go here.
27. Orlando Magic (11-20, Last week — 25th)
This might be harsh punishment for the Magic but they’ve earned it recently. Orlando fans can take solace in the future with Aaron Gordon (and Jonathan Isaac) on board but it’s not a lot of fun at the moment.
28. Memphis Grizzlies (9-21, Last week — 24th)
This is a dreadful basketball team right now. Mike Conley will miss at least two more weeks and, without him, the Grizzlies are 2-15 with the most recent victory coming by a (very) narrow margin at home against the woeful Hawks. If healthy, no one thinks Memphis would be this bad but they really are at the moment.
29. Atlanta Hawks (7-23, Last week — 30th)
The Hawks were actually favored to win on Monday and that is what happens when a team hosts the Miami Heat on an evening when only nine players (none of whom were named Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside or James Johnson) were available. Atlanta did hold serve in that spot to avoid the basement but this is still a team that FiveThirtyEight comfortably projects as the league’s worst.
30. Dallas Mavericks (8-23, Last week — 26th)
A home loss to the Suns sealed the fate of the Mavs this week. Of course, they were greatly aided by the Hawks actually winning a basketball game on Monday but Dallas has lost three straight and a half-game lead in the standings wasn’t enough to dodge the bullet. Sorry, Dirk.
