NBA Power Rankings week 8 – OKC Thunder cling to middle, trade market opens up

Offense: (105.2 ) – 25th
Defense: (106.5) –  12th
Net: (minus -1.2) – 17th

Games Week 8: (1-3) Won vs. Pelicans, lost to Bucks, Lakers, Rockets
Games Week 9 (4 games): Tues. at Jazz | Weds. at Nuggets | Fri. at Blazers

A great week of beating up on lower-tier teams in week seven was followed by a thumping by upper-tier teams in week eight.

Fortunately, two things went right for Orlando in week eight as they got back their big man Nikola Vucevic who is the key to their offense.  That his return coincided with the absolute offensive breakout in New Orleans (133 points) to begin a four-game road trip is partially coincidence.

For as much as the Magic offense was missing in action, they’ve excelled from the perimeter. In the month of December, they are shooting the deep ball at the highest efficiency (40.7 percent) and connecting on 12 made triples per game. With Vuc back in the fold that bodes well for the club who already possess a solid defense with the ever improving Jonathan Isaac leading the way.

Week nine Orlando will get more tests against elite clubs – this time in the West as they face the Jazz, Nuggets (in a brutal back to back set) and the Blazers on Friday.

The Magic get a bit of a breather after the road trip playing seven of their next nine at home and then hit the road again for a rough six-game Western Conference road trip that finishes on trade deadline day (February 6th).

Will Jeff Weltman and John Hammond make a move to get a point guard at the deadline or are they invested in Fultz long term? We shall see.