Our first power rankings of the 2019-20 season; where do the Philadelphia 76ers land?
After a blistering 5-0 start to the season, the Philadelphia 76ers have stumbled in recent weeks. With the NBA landscape beginning to shape up, it’s time to analyze where all 30 teams stand — and, in a more specific lens, where the 8-5 Sixers fit into the picture.
The young season has brought with it a number of surprises. The Lakers and Celtics are atop their respective conferences. The Suns are winning basketball games. The Warriors are sole owners of the league’s worst record. A lot has changed since 2018-19.
Similar to last season, you can expect weekly updates to our power rankings. This is the first iteration of many.
The Warriors are down Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, while D’Angelo Russell and Draymond Green haven’t exactly been healthy. The result has been a dreadful start for a young, inexperienced Golden State squad. They’re the worst team in basketball right now.
At some point in the future, stars will return and things will normalize for Golden State. It might not happen until 2020-21, though, and the immediate future remains bleak. Whether Curry returns or not, the playoffs might be out of reach this season.
The Knicks are a mess. Shocking. Despite flashes from Julius Randle and Marcus Morris, not to mention R.J. Barrett’s strong first impression, the Knicks lack guard play in a league centered on the perimeter. It’s not pretty right now.
The Pelicans have dealt with prolonged injuries to Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and others. They just haven’t been healthy enough to build consistent winning habits. With a full rotation, New Orleans has firepower and the foundation of an elite defense. Until everyone is healthy, though, expect the struggles to continue.
We, as basketball enthusiasts, await Zion’s return.