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NBA Playoff Power Rankings Week 1: A touch of chaos to start the playoffs

By Corey Rausch

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 21: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates with Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors after making a half court shot against the Brooklyn Nets to end the first half in game three of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 21, 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 21: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates with Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors after making a half court shot against the Brooklyn Nets to end the first half in game three of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 21, 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) /

. Brooklyn Nets. 16. team. 147. .

Last Week: Lost to Toronto 134-110, Lost to Toronto 104-99, Lost to Toronto 117-92

The Cinderella run is unfortunately coming to an end for the Brooklyn Nets. They had the unfortunate task of going up against the defending NBA Champion Toronto Raptors in the first round at much less than full health.

Joe Harris has left the bubble, making a team lacking depth even more shallow. After looking like a star in the seeding games, Caris LeVert has been made to look much more ordinary against the elite Toronto defense. This in no way devalues what he did in those games. This says much more about the Raptors than him.

Give all due credit to the Nets. They fought in the bubble to get here. They made things close in Game 1. Maybe they will steal a single game this afternoon, but that is unlikely.

. . . Philadelphia 76ers. 15. team. 93

Last Week: Lost to Boston 109-101, Lost to Boston 128-101, Lost to Boston 102-94

The Philadelphia 76ers showed some signs of life and fight in the loss on Friday before the Boston Celtics finished the game on a 10-0 run to steal Game 3. This could have been the last kick of a team in need of a serious overhaul. The fact that they canceled Saturday’s practice ahead of what could be the last game of their season says it all.

This team looked like it had fully given up in Game 2. So did the aforementioned run to end Game 3. The unfortunate truth for this team is there is no one easy fix.

The front office has handed out a number of questionable contracts. Brett Brown has not inspired much confidence as a leader or a tactician. Joel Embiid has put up great numbers but not much else. Tobias Harris and Al Horford are drastically underplaying their contracts. This will be an interesting offseason, to say the least.

Just to hammer home that Harris/Horford point, they’re making a combined $59 million this season. Harris is averaging 14.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game in these playoffs on shooting splits of .333/.000/.733. Horford is chipping in 5.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 blocks a night on shooting splits of .400/.000/.667. In a word, yikes.