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

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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5. team. 93. . 20-10. Previous: 6th. Philadelphia 76ers

Last Week: Lost to Utah Jazz 134-123, Beat Houston Rockets 118-113, Beat Chicago Bulls 122-105

This Week: 2/21 at Toronto Raptors, 2/23 at Toronto Raptors, 2/25 vs. Dallas Mavericks, 2/27 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

All of the talk surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers tends to revolve around Joel Embiid, and with good reason. He is one of the leading candidates for the MVP award and the only loss this week for the Sixers came with Embiid out of the lineup. Ben Simmons showed the world, albeit in a loss, that he needs to be thought of on the same level.

It is commonplace to criticize Simmons. Such is the struggle of a player who does not shoot 3-pointers. When you are not filling up the scoring column, casual fans tend to ignore what is going on. So against the Utah Jazz, Simmons did just that. He posted a line of 42 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, one steal and one block. He did everything he could to get the win without the team’s MVP against what has been the best team in the league.

Not to be outdone, Embiid capped off the week with a 50-point, 17-rebound, five-assists, four-block and two-steal signature performance against the Chicago Bulls. Embiid is the first Sixer to score 50 points since Allen Iverson, continuing to build his legend as a Philadelphia sports icon. The losing streak is over and while plenty of other Eastern Conference contenders falter, the Sixers remain dominant.