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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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(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

16. Memphis Grizzlies

Last Week: Lost to New York Knicks 118-104, Beat Minnesota Timberwolves 139-135, Lost to Detroit Pistons 111-97, Beat Toronto Raptors 109-99

This Week: 5/10 vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 5/11 vs. Dallas Mavericks, 5/13 vs. Sacramento Kings, 5/14 vs. Sacramento Kings, 5/16 at Golden State Warriors

The Memphis Grizzlies are actually in a good position entering the final week of the season, sitting at ninth in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies have a two-game lead on the struggling San Antonio Spurs while sitting just half a game behind the Golden State Warriors to move up to eight. With a comparatively easy week ahead of them, the Grizzlies have a chance to only need one game in a play-in scenario to make it back to the playoffs.

Playing twice against the Sacramento Kings, once against the New Orleans Pelicans and one against the Warriors gives the Grizzlies control over the situation, being able to eliminate two of the chasers for the 10th seed and making up the difference between themselves and the Warriors in head-to-head fashion.

To get there, the Grizzlies will need to get even more out of their top two players, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. Morant averaged a solid 19.3 points, 6.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game but remains slightly too inefficient (29.4 percent from distance) and turnover-prone (4.0 per game this week) to be considered truly elite. Jackson is still working his way back from injury and while he has been fine but the team has not been good with him in the lineup, winning just two of the eight games.