NBA Power Rankings: Magic Riding Middle After All-Star Break
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ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic are beginning their second half tonight when they travel to face the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Magic are hoping to go from the middle of the pack to the top with 27 games remaining on their schedule.
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They also hope to break away from the middle of CBS Sports' power rankings, where they sit at No. 15, two spots higher than the previous edition.
"The offense still hasn't come around but the Magic have become an elite defensive team, fifth in the league at the All-Star break," CBS Sports writes. "They've managed to achieve that level of efficiency while being relatively average in terms of rim protection, a credit to their long, switchable defenders who can contest shots and limit penetration. In related, hopeful news, Jonathan Isaac has played 37 games this season, and the Magic have a minuscule defensive rating of 100.7 when he's on the floor.
The Magic is hopeful that with Isaac healthy, they can boast one of the best defenses in the NBA.
Orlando plays in Cleveland tonight before visiting the Detroit Pistons on Saturday and the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday for another back-to-back.
