2019-20 NBA Power Rankings: Philadelphia 76ers stall on top-10 fringe

The Mavericks have dropped to the seventh seed, but Luka Doncic remains a top-10 player and burgeoning MVP candidate. His presence alone will make Dallas a tricky matchup in the postseason, not to mention the regular season.

The strength of OKC’s roster was never in doubt. No one expected Chris Paul to return to All-Star form, but even so, the Thunder always had enough talent to compete. The question was whether or not the core would stick together all season. That question was answered at the deadline, and OKC now has a real chance to make noise in the postseason.

Oh, Philly. The speculation over Ben Simmons’ injury has reached a fever pitch, and it’s clear the star point guard will miss extended time. Not great. The Sixers lack a survivable replacement, so the load now falls on Joel Embiid’s shoulders. He will need to carry the Sixers to contention.

Even in Simmons’ absence — even as Al Horford crumbles into dust — the Sixers are not a cake-walk matchup. One can lament the road woes all day, but the Sixers are still 27-2 at home. There is a clear ability to dominate in one arena. If the Sixers evolve to a point of not forgetting how to shoot on the road, things could turn around fast.

The Sixers’ season has the potential to go in several different directions.