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NBA Power Rankings Week 8: The Phoenix Suns are rising

By Corey Rausch

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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

156. . 10-17. Previous: 23rd. Cleveland Cavaliers. 27. team

Last Week: Lost to Phoenix Suns 119-113, Lost to Denver Nuggets 133-95, Lost to Portland Trail Blazers 129-110

This Week: 2/14 vs. LA Clippers, 2/15 at Golden State Warriors, 2/17 vs. San Antonio Spurs

The clock has officially struck midnight for the Cleveland Cavaliers, losers of six in a row. Even with the majority of their lineup back (Kevin Love remains missing in action), the Cavs cannot get back to their winning ways and are continuing to look more and more like the team they were projected to be before the season began.

The biggest news of the week came with the move to start Jarrett Allen and Andre Drummond together, bucking the trend of increasingly small lineups across the league by playing two centers together. Unsurprisingly this has not led to too much in terms of production.

It has worked individually for Allen, as he led the team in scoring this week (18.0 per game). On the other side, Andre Drummond is struggling, posting averages of 9.0 points and 8.3 rebounds a night. The guards are struggling as well with limited space to be found to create driving lanes. Any early-season optimism has mostly dissipated, only to be replaced by the unfortunately normal feeling that tends to surround the post-LeBron James Cavaliers: indifference.

Nothing is likely to change with the Cavaliers until the trade deadline and buyout season come to pass. This roster is not working and that is to be expected with two big men anchored in the paint.