2021 NBA playoffs power rankings: Are the Sixers real contenders?

The Philadelphia 76ers hold a 2-1 series lead over the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. With only eight teams remaining in the NBA playoffs, it’s time to rank the contenders left on the board. The general thesis is simple: the better the championship odds, the better the ranking.

This season, for the first time in roughly a decade, neither LeBron James nor Stephen Curry will participate in the NBA Finals. This season is hopefully an example of parity to come in the NBA, with several high-level contenders paving paths to the postseason.

Here’s how the eight remaining teams shake out.

2021 NBA playoffs power rankings — 8. Atlanta Hawks

After stunning the Sixers in Game 1, the Hawks have dropped two in a row and are on the verge of letting the series slip out of reach. Philadelphia is clearly the better team — Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are the two best players on the court, and the Sixers have made several critical adjustments after Game 1’s series of miscues.

The Hawks are not in the second round by chance. Atlanta is a good team with a bright future and a lot of solid pieces. Trae Young has proven his mettle on the biggest stage, while the likes of Bogdan Bogdanovic and Clint Capela seem to be perfect Robins to his Batman. Atlanta has the firepower to give Philadelphia problems, but a locked in Sixers team is hard to bet against.

Atlanta is the lowest seed remaining in the playoffs, and while they have experienced remarkable success under Nate McMillan, it’s hard to justify any spot but last when ranking the eight remaining teams. The Hawks simply lack the experience and overall readiness to sit among the NBA giants.

Expect the Hawks to be right back in this conversation next season — they’re a team on the rise, and have the financial flexibility to make some moves this summer. For now, we can appreciate the flashes and put our money on the Sixers so long as Embiid is on the floor.