NBA Power Rankings Week 19: April review and the rising Phoenix Suns

4. Philadelphia 76ers

Last Week: Beat Oklahoma City Thunder 121-90, Beat Atlanta Hawks 127-83, Beat Atlanta Hawks 126-104

This Week: 5/2 at San Antonio Spurs, 5/3 at Chicago Bulls, 5/5 at Houston Rockets, 5/7 vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 5/8 vs. Detroit Pistons

Because it seems unlikely at this point that Joel Embiid will be able to surpass the MVP momentum Nikola Jokic has built, it feels worthwhile to focus on just how dominant that Philadelphia 76ers big man has been over the course of the year (and specifically this month). This is the type of season that, in most years, would have qualified as the MVP of the league. With the margin as close between Embiid and Jokic as it was, the unfortunate injury luck may be enough to undo it.

In April, Embiid posted a line of 27.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. Perhaps more impressive, Embiid averaged these numbers in just 29.2 minutes per game. He has found a way to exert a dominant force on his opponents in a limited amount of time, the mark of a true superstar.

Embiid will be tasked with playing even more in postseason games. If the stats translate to his projected per-36 minute numbers (33.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.2 steals on the season), the Sixers likely have a chance to make it further than they have with this core. Seeding is all that is left to be decided.