NBA Power Rankings Week 2: The rise of the Atlanta Hawks
By Corey Rausch
. 5-1. Previous: 5th. Philadelphia 76ers. 2. team. 93
Last Week: Lost to Cleveland Cavaliers 118-94, Beat Toronto Raptors, 100-93, Beat Orlando Magic 116-92, Beat Charlotte Hornets 127-112
This Week: 1/4/2021 vs. Charlotte Hornets, 1/6/2021 vs. Washington Wizards, 1/7/2021 at Brooklyn Nets, 1/9/2021 vs. Denver Nuggets
Make all the jokes you want about Joel Embiid in a hazmat suit or Ben Simmons finally hitting a 3-pointer. Doing so only misses the point that the Philadelphia 76ers are surging and look to be the team that everyone expected them to be last season.
As disheartening as the loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers was at the time, it was downright palatable after seeing some of the other spreads this week. They then rattled off their next three wins against Eastern Conference playoffs hopefuls by a combined 46 points.
It is funny what just a little shooting will do for a team. Seth Curry has thus far provided more than just a little shooting. He has been downright impressive in terms of overall scoring and has opened things up for everyone on the roster to get better looks. Even the zombified Danny Green came alive on Saturday night with 13 points and three triples.
There is so much to love about this team and it starts with leadership from the front office, head coach and star players. The 76ers are carrying themselves differently this season and seem to have taken the unceremonious end to their bubble experience personally. That is bad news for whatever playoff hopefuls stand in their way as they continue to build their chemistry.