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NBA Power Rankings Week 9: The slide of the Los Angeles Lakers

By Corey Rausch

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a play during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Staples Center on February 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 18: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a play during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Staples Center on February 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

team. 110. . 13-16. Previous: 18th. Miami Heat. 18

Last Week: Lost to LA Clippers 125-118, Lost/OT to Golden State Warriors 120-112, Beat Sacramento Kings 118-110, Beat Los Angeles Lakers 96-94

This Week: 2/22 at Oklahoma City Thunder, 2/24 vs. Toronto Raptors, 2/26 vs. Utah Jazz

Slowly but surely the Miami Heat are starting to compile some victories. They are certainly not the team that made it to the NBA Finals last year (at least not yet) but forcing the Golden State Warriors to overtime before securing wins against the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers is progress.

Kendrick Nunn was the Kendrick Nunn of the beginning of last season against the Lakers last night and is the kind of player the Heat need when some of their other options (looking at you Tyler Herro and Kelly Olynyk) do not have things going. He hit 10 of his 14 shots and finished with 27 points while providing some much-needed aggression.

Jimmy Butler has been on a tear since coming back from COVID-19 and is looking like an All-Star. He may not get named to the bench due to his extended absence but his numbers are absurd, including three straight triple-doubles. Once the team gets healthy (they truly miss Goran Dragic and would like to see something out of Avery Bradley) they will be much easier to judge. Finding themselves back in the hunt for the postseason is all that matters until then. The Heat have already fully shown what they are capable of when they make it into the playoffs.