As All-Star weekend in Orlando rapidly approaches, both the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic hold on to their lofty perches in the top ten on Tom Ziller's NBA Power Rankings. The Heat knocked Chicago out of the top spot after an impressive road trip, which saw them win three games in three nights. Of the No.1-ranked Heat, Ziller writes:
The Heat are on quite the little string, sweeping a five-game road trip (all with double-digit wins) that included a back-to-back-to-back ... then busting up a solid Orlando club by 12 on Sunday. Thursday's game against the Knicks will be must-watch stuff.
While the Heat may have blown out the Magic on Sunday afternoon in Miami, Stand Van Gundy's club continues along in Ziller's top ten. The Magic have dealt all year with rampant Dwight Howard rumors but continue to win as the mid-way point of the season approaches. The story, of course, continues to be Howard:
The Magic are plugging along until the trade deadline, when a decision on Dwight Howard will be needed. Boosters in L.A. and Brooklyn who want Orlando to make a move will be reminding us often of what happened to Cleveland and Toronto when their stars walked as free agents.
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