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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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
NBA, 76ers (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

29. Cleveland Cavaliers

Last Week: Lost/OT to Phoenix Suns 134-118, Lost to Portland Trail Blazers 141-105, Lost to Dallas Mavericks 110-90

This Week: 5/9 vs. Dallas Mavericks, 5/10 vs. Indiana Pacers, 5/12 vs. Boston Celtics, 5/14 at Washington Wizards, 5/16 at Brooklyn Nets

Ideally, the Cleveland Cavaliers would be playing out the string, hoping to showcase Kevin Love to potentially move off from him in the offseason. The former All-Star has been far from professional and even made it known that he would enjoy the notion of heading back home to play for the Portland Trail Blazers. As the Cavaliers spiral down the standings, Love’s value on and off the court is somehow plummeting even faster.

Further complicating the issue, reports continue to persist that teammates are less than thrilled about playing with Collin Sexton, the ostensible future leader of the team. Sexton (averaging 24.4 points, 4.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game this season) looked like an All-Star in the early parts of the season but now the rebuild is the focus again.

The Cavaliers are entering the final week of the season with just 21 wins, stuck in a glut of teams with the fourth-best lottery odds.  Losers of nine in a row, Cleveland is truly tanking at this point but if the Minnesota Timberwolves or Detroit Pistons fail to do their part and win a game it may all end up being for naught. If they fall anywhere in the top five they should be able to add the missing piece to their young core.