Orlando Magic Weekly Power Rankings

Not easy to rank a team that has beaten the Bucks, Raptors, Pacers and Warriors, but lost to the Bulls, Knicks and Cavaliers.

But here is where the power ranking experts have placed the unpredictable Orlando Magic (excluding their loss to the Sixers).

Click on each publication for the full ranking...

ESPN - Magic jump from 19 to 17

The Magic have won nine of their past 12 games to surge into a tie for eighth in the East, including impressive wins over the Warriors, at the Bucks and at the Raptors. Their only stumbling blocks of late have been teams deep in the lottery, as their most recent losses have been to the Bulls, Knicks and Cavaliers. After their next game in Philadelphia on Tuesday, the Magic play seven straight games against teams on pace for the lottery. -- Andre Snellings

CBS Sports - Magic drop from 17 to 18

Preseason projected win total: 27.6. Currently on pace for: 37.8. Difference: +10.2 wins. Just Steve Clifford, doing what he does with young and developing teams. In the past 10 days, the Magic have beaten the Raptors, Warriors and Pacers but lost to the Bulls, Knicks and Cavaliers. Huh? -- Reid Forgrave

NBA.com - Magic remain at 16

Since Feb. 1, the Magic have climbed from 11th to eighth in the East with the league’s best defense, the league’s best point differential per 100 possessions (plus-9.4), and wins over the Bucks, Raptors, Warriors and Pacers. After they visit the Sixers on Tuesday, they will have a couple of days off and then play seven straight games against teams that are currently under .500. But in the last 10 days, the Magic also have losses to the Bulls, Knicks and Cavs that are keeping them from looking like a sure thing to end their six-year playoff drought. In their losses in New York and Cleveland last week, Terrence Ross shot 2-for-22 and the Magic were outscored, 70-34, in the fourth quarter. -- John Schuhmann

The Athletic - Magic jump from 22 to 19

Is Jonathan Isaac the key to Orlando Magic making the playoffs?

As the Magic have made a huge playoff push in the month of February, Isaac has shown his worth in plenty of ways. He’s been all over the place on defense, swarming the perimeter while also staying tethered to protecting the rim. He’s made shots efficiently, even knocking down 38.6 percent of his 3-pointers on over four attempts per game. When Isaac is on the court for the Magic, they look like a dominant team since February. That’s mostly because they have been one. They’re outscoring opponents by 12.7 points per 100 possessions with Isaac on the floor since the start of February. They’ve still been pretty good (+5.5) without him on the floor, but the dominance with him has been encouraging.

The Magic have an extremely easy schedule the rest of the way. Although figuring out if they’ll play to the level of their competition seems to muddy the waters a bit. They had exciting wins over Golden State and Indiana sandwiched by losses to the Knicks and Cavaliers. They’ll hope this missteps are just minor speed bumps in trying to make the postseason for the first time since Dwight Howard was still on the team. Isaac, though, keeps the versatility of what Steve Clifford preaches on defense. If he keeps hitting shots, we’ll see that net rating impact continue to shine. -- Zach Harper

Sports Illustrated - Magic drop from 16 to 17

17: Consecutive points surrendered to the Cavaliers at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth

The Magic are getting really good at winning games they probably shouldn’t and losing games they have no business losing if they want to go to the playoffs. These last few weeks should be interesting. -- Khadrice Rollins

UPROXX - Magic drop from 14 to 15

Every time I get excited about the Magic, they lose a game they shouldn’t lose. This week, it was Orlando beating the Warriors and Pacers before losing to the Cavaliers by 14 points. Your guess is as good as mine. -- Brad Rowland

Rotoworld - Magic at 17

It’s been a bizarre ten days for the Magic. Over Orlando’s last six games, they lost to three of the league’s worst teams (Bulls, Knicks and Cavs). Yet, during that same stretch, they have beaten three of the league’s best teams (Warriors, Pacers and Raptors). -- Tommy Beer