NBA Power Rankings Week 8: The Phoenix Suns are rising

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 31: Mike Conley #10 of the Utah Jazz drives into Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns during a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 31, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

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13-12. Previous: 6th. Boston Celtics. 9. team. 18.

Last Week: Lost to Phoenix Suns 100-91, Lost to Utah Jazz 122-108, Beat Toronto Raptors 120-106, Lost to Detroit Pistons 108-102

This Week: 2/14 at Washington Wizards, 2/16 vs. Denver Nuggets, 2/17 vs. Atlanta Hawks, 2/19 vs. Atlanta Hawks

This was a very rough week for the Boston Celtics. If not for a much-needed victory against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, the week would have been wholly negative. Losing to the extremely shorthanded Detroit Pistons evaporated any of the goodwill the Toronto win had generated.

Jaylen Brown missed the game against the Phoenix Suns so an excuse can be made there for a close loss. Everyone is losing to the Utah Jazz so that was unfortunately to be expected. But combining everything together makes for a negative feeling around the team.

The biggest issue the Boston Celtics are currently facing is the overall deterioration of Kemba Walker’s game. Walker missed the game against the Pistons, but in the three games he played his numbers were not impressive: 14.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists a game with a 43.4 true shooting percentage. That is good for second-worst on the team of anyone who played meaningful minutes.

Boston needs more consistent play from Kemba Walker for them to get back to title contention. Because even with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown playing at an All-Star level, that may not be enough to carry them.