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)
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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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

93. . 18-9. Previous: 4th. Philadelphia 76ers. 6. team

Last Week: Beat Sacramento Kings 119-111, Lost to Portland Trail Blazers 118-114, Lost to Phoenix Suns 120-111

This Week:  2/15 at Utah Jazz, 2/17 vs. Houston Rockets, 2/19 vs. Chicago Bulls

The team that everyone loves to hate and criticize reared its head this week. The Philadelphia 76ers dropped two of their three games and fans who love looking for a reason to question just how good they are jumped right into the action.

The truth is, losing by a combined 13 points to the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers on the road is something many teams will do. Beating the Sacramento Kings when they did was impressive, even if people may forget in a few weeks that the Kings were red hot at the time.

Against the Kings, the entire roster showed out. Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid and Seth Curry each broke 20 points. Ben Simmons, Shake Milton and Furkan Korkmaz were also in double figures and Dwight Howard posted a solid eight points, nine rebounds and two blocks. This was the kind of effort that top teams put forward to stop a team on a winning streak.

Embiid has still been a problem night in and night out. This week, he posted a line of 31.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. He is the constant for the Sixers as they continue to pursue a championship. Ben Simmons is quietly playing great basketball but Embiid remains the true leader of the team.