Magic NBA Power Rankings: Orlando Making Leap?

With the Orlando Magic keeping their core group together plus a couple of key acquisitions, could they be poised to make some noise this season?

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley has taken a different sort of approach to the team's roster, as he wants to maintain consistency and keep the same core group. This could be one of the many factors that could lead to the Magic making a jump this season.

In his NBA Power Rankings released on Monday, Marc Stein ranked all 30 teams. The Magic found themselves near the middle of the list at 19 on the list, and Stein cited the team as one of the Eastern Conference teams that could make a jump this season.

The Orlando Magic keeping its same core group will help the team maintain consistency and build chemistry / © Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY

"The Magic, like the Pacers, are a popular pick to take a leap into the East’s top eight, which is largely a nod to the potential already flashed by Paolo Banchero (who doesn't even turn 21 until Nov. 12) and Franz Wagner (who just helped Germany on an improbable run to the FIBA World Cup crown)," Stein writes. "Whether it actually happens for Orlando, after just two trips to the playoffs in the last 11 seasons, will likely hinge on the quality of guard play it generates and how it addresses its larger need for more dependable perimeter shooting."

Stein cites the guard play for the Magic as one of the things that could make or break this season for the team. Good play is going to be expected from Banchero and Wagner, but the turning point could be the rest of the roster and how well the new players that have come in this season can integrate into the scheme.

The Magic will get its first chance to prove that a leap can be taken this season as the team opens its season against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled 7 p.m. from the Amway Center.