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NBA Bubble Power Rankings 2: More games, more change

By Corey Rausch

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 08: LA Clippers players celebrate their victory against the Portland Trail Blazers at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 8, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 08: LA Clippers players celebrate their victory against the Portland Trail Blazers at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 8, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

. 46-24. Previous: 9th. Denver Nuggets. 6. team. 73

Last Week: Beat/OT Oklahoma City 121-113, Beat San Antonio 132-126, Lost to Portland 125-115, Beat/2OT Utah 134-132
This Week: Monday vs. Lakers, Wednesday vs. Clippers, Friday vs. Toronto

What a difference Jamal Murray makes. The success of this week boils down to much more than that for the Denver Nuggets, but Murray’s return raises their ceiling back to conference finals contender. He blew past his minutes limit in the double OT thriller against the Jazz and looked the part of the future All-Star, even if he looked winded at times.

Not the only young star prospect to show out for Denver, Michael Porter Jr. has shown this week why he was a top-three prospect in his draft class prior to suffering multiple back injuries. So far in the bubble, he is averaging 25.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Finally getting legitimate starter minutes, he is making teams pay for not being fully prepared for him.

The fact that we got this far in the Nuggets section and have not mentioned Nikola Jokic or a win over the Thunder should be telling as to how good of a week it was for Denver. The team is playing well as a whole and is starting to pull away from the pack for the three seed.

Denver has a tough week ahead against three of the top four teams in the league. With plenty already locked up, there is no telling who they will be facing in the playoffs. Either way, they will be game to face anyone.

Previous: 2nd. Los Angeles Lakers. 5. team. 20. . 51-18

Last Week: Beat Utah 116-108, Lost to Oklahoma City 105-86, Lost to Houston 113-97, Lost to Indiana 116-111
This Week: Monday vs. Denver, Thursday vs. Sacramento

The Los Angeles Lakers just cannot get on the same page so far in Orlando. They are 2-4 in the bubble and honestly have not even looked that good. LeBron James was going through an offensive slump but finally broke out of it against the Pacers. Unfortunately, this was the queue for Anthony Davis to go 3-of-14 from the field.

The Lakers were an elite offensive and defensive team coming into the restart but so far have been mediocre at best. The alarms should not be sounding yet though. For a decade we have watched LeBron James teams struggle at some point during the season before making a run to the Finals and making the fans wonder why they ever questioned their team.

It is a given that this is the worst time for a slump to occur, right as the playoffs are about to start. But the Lakers currently only have rhythm to play for. If they come out struggling in the first round against whichever team makes it through the play-in game, then it is time for true concern.

For now, they just move down the rankings. At least there is a rumor that Rajon Rondo may be able to join the team soon. Even if the team has been better without him during the initial season, LA needs every defensive guard they can get against the likes of the Blazers or the Rockets.