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NBA Bubble Power Rankings Week 3: Toronto Raptors on the rise

By Corey Rausch

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 10: A view of ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex during a lightning storm following a game between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks at The Field House on August 10, 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 10: A view of ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex during a lightning storm following a game between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks at The Field House on August 10, 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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NBA bubble, power rankings, Toronto Raptors
NBA bubble, power rankings, Toronto Raptors (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) /

25-47. Previous: 22nd. Washington Wizards. 22. team. 142.

Last Week: Lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-103, Lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 126-113, Beat the Boston Celtics 96-90

On a positive note, the Washington Wizards did not lose ever game in the bubble. They saved the time for their first win until their last game in the bubble, playing against a shell of the Boston Celtics. If they had not won a game where the Celtics leading scorer was Javonte Green somehow the time in the bubble would have felt even worse.

All this negativity aside there were still positives to take away from the Wizards’ time in the NBA bubble. Troy Brown Jr., Thomas Bryant and Jerome Robinson looked like the kind of blocks they can build around in the future.

For Robinson averaging 14.6 points may not feel like much. For a guy averaging 5.0 points for the season, though, it shows that there is the potential for something there. He can be a complimentary guard off the bench for a team with two All-Star guards returning next season.

The season may be over for the Wizards, and even Wizards fans are unlikely sad to see it come to an end. It was a lost season for a franchise hoping for better. Now the team will look to bring back Davis Bertans and reintegrate John Wall back into this team.

69. . 30-42. Previous: 18th. New Orleans Pelicans. 21. team

Last Week: Lost to the San Antonio Spurs 122-113, Lost to the Sacramento Kings 112-106, Lost to the Orlando Magic 133-127

It is impossible to call the Orlando experience for the New Orleans Pelicans anything short of a monumental disappointment. Even without buying into the conspiracy theory that the NBA did what they could to get the Pelicans into the playoffs (they did not) the hype was there and New Orleans fell flat.

Related Story. 25 best players to play for the New Orleans Pelicans. light

Alvin Gentry was fired on Saturday, surely in no small part due to the pitiful effort the Pelicans put forth in Orlando. The hype was likely to take some people down with it should losses start to pile up. At least if they had presented a competitive effort in those losses then maybe things would be different.

On the other hand, it is impossible to blame them for not pushing Zion Williamson in hopes of making it into play-in scenario just to face the Lakers in the first round. There was no reason to be shortsighted in the first year that David Griffin is changing the nature of this franchise.

This summer will be very telling about the direction that they go in next. Brandon Ingram is entering restricted free agency so this roster is about to get much more expensive. The team will have to look to replace E’Twaun Moore and Derrick Favors. For a team with all the upside, this eight-game stretch only created questions.