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NBA Bubble Power Rankings Preview: Looking at week one

By Corey Rausch

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers is fouled by Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 112-103 Lakers win at Staples Center on March 08, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers is fouled by Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 112-103 Lakers win at Staples Center on March 08, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brandon Dill/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brandon Dill/Getty Images) /

211. . 32-33. Previous: 16th. Memphis Grizzlies. 17. team

Maybe I am being too negative on the Memphis Grizzlies, but the loss of Justice Winslow seems like the final nail in the coffin of my belief in them locking down that playoff spot. It should unfortunately come as no surprise. As much as Winslow shows promise and was a worthwhile gamble for the Grizzlies to take, health has been the holdup on him throughout his career.

To go from bad to worse, Memphis starts off the gauntlet with Portland, a team nipping at their heels for the final playoff spot. Portland may be 3.5 games behind, but this is the perfect opportunity to close that gap.

The Grizzlies got the win in their previous meeting, but that was on an uncharacteristically cold night for Damian Lillard and a career night from Brandon Clarke. Adding Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkic to the mix will not make things any easier for the Grizzlies to replicate a W. At least the announcement that the awards cut off with the pre-bubble games should lock up the Rookie of the Year for Morant.

38. . 30-35. Previous: 17th. Orlando Magic. 16. team

After seeing some scrimmage action, the Orlando Magic look even better than expected. Scrimmages only count for so much, but we are grasping at very little to differentiate from week to week at this point. Aaron Gordon specifically has looked very good and looks to be healthier than he was most of the season coming into the restart

While Gordon has decreased his scoring this year, he is slowly improving the rest of his game. His overall line this year is still promising, averaging 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. If he can play more like he has in the scrimmages thus far, we may be seeing a whole new version of Gordon in this smaller sample.

Luckily for Orlando, they are coming back with one of the easier first opponents, starting with the Nets. Gordon played more of a complementary role in their first meeting this season and did it well, going for 11 points, 14 rebounds and two steals.

In the second meeting, however, it was all Gordon with 27 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal. He hit three of his four long-distance shots and shot 68.8 percent from the floor overall. If that is the Gordon we see this week (and this summer), that can start to change the equation for the Magic. They are unlikely to make it out of the first round, but being competitive is a good next step.