NBA Power Rankings Week 20: Philadelphia 76ers streaking

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

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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

4. Phoenix Suns

Last Week: Beat Oklahoma City Thunder 123-120, Beat/OT Cleveland Cavaliers 134-118, Lost to Atlanta Hawks 135-103, Beat New York Knicks 128-105

This Week: 5/9 at Los Angeles Lakers, 5/11 at Golden State Warriors, 5/13 vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 5/15 at San Antonio Spurs, 5/16 at San Antonio Spurs

The race between the Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz for the top seed in the Western Conference is likely to come down to the final game of the season. The Jazz have a two-game lead over the Suns but Phoenix has been better of late, specifically due to the absence of Donovan Mitchell. The close games to start the week against the Thunder and Cavaliers were bothersome but the game against the Knicks was a big boost.

Mikal Bridges is one of the unheralded stories of the season for the Phoenix Suns. He has developed into a secondary scoring threat, oftentimes being more of an impact shooting the ball than Chris Paul or Deandre Ayton. He is also an elite defensive player, on track to make the All-Defense team this season. This is not meant as a slight for Ayton or Paul.

The veteran guard has entered the MVP conversation, albeit in a misguided fashion. Ayton is quietly developing into a post threat and will be given a chance that he is ready to do that full time in the playoffs. Figuring out if he can be relied on for both sides of the ball on the biggest stage is possibly even more important than this final week of seeding push.