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NBA Power Rankings Week 20: Philadelphia 76ers streak in the penultimate week

By Corey Rausch

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 02: Ben Simmons #25 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers react in front of Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz at the Wells Fargo Center on December 2, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 02: Ben Simmons #25 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers react in front of Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz at the Wells Fargo Center on December 2, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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NBA, 76ers (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
NBA, 76ers (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

22. Chicago Bulls

Last Week: Lost to Philadelphia 76ers 106-94, Beat Charlotte Hornets 120-99, Beat Boston Celtics 121-99

This Week: 5/9 at Detroit Pistons, 5/11 vs. Brooklyn Nets, 5/13 vs. Toronto Raptors, 5/15 at Brooklyn Nets, 5/16 vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The Chicago Bulls will need a small miracle to close the gap and make it to the play-in. Chicago ended their week three games behind the 10-seeded Washington Wizards with only five games remaining on their schedule. With two matchups against the Brooklyn Nets and one against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Bulls are likely to be eliminated from contention early in the week.

The post-tradeline landscape has not been flattering for the Bulls, especially after they pushed all their chips in to make a push for the postseason. While this is exactly what the league wants (teams going for it rather than tanking), Chicago may rue the day they decided to give up on a couple of first-round picks. Unless the Bulls move up into the top four of the draft they will be losing their pick this season.

Ultimately, the Bulls may have overestimated how close they really were to pushing the top teams in the conference on a consistent basis. It does not help that All-Star Zach LaVine has only played 12 games since then, but even with him on the court, the Bulls only won five games. Given that the best they can home for it to finish with the seventh-best lottery odds, the Bulls may be looking at more of the same next season.