NBA Power Rankings: Hot or Cold Edition

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Jan 10, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) defends Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

25. Orlando Magic

Previous: No. 25

Record: 14-27

Last Week: 1-3

Verdict: Cold

Like many teams in this tier of the rankings, the Orlando Magic are a team with more upside than present-day ability. Nikola Vucevic should be an All-Star and Tobias Harris is producing at a similarly high level.

Unfortunately, 14-27 is 14-27.

Optimistically, the Magic are only 3.5 games back of the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. With Vucevic playing at an extraordinary level and Victor Oladipo flashing his upside as a scorer, those wins could be achieved.

Whether or not that happens, the Magic have a bright future.

Harris, Oladipo and Vucevic are producing at a high level and Elfrid Payton is playing a strong brand of defense. With a competent general manager, Orlando’s a star scorer away from being a force.

That upside was proven and established with a 121-114 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Next: Rapidly Improving Core