The Sixer Sense
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NBA power rankings: Are the Sixers contenders right now?

By Christopher Kline

Joel Embiid, Sixers (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Joel Embiid, Sixers (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

NBA power rankings — Trail Blazers, Kings, Celtics

  • 21. Portland Trail Blazers (2-2)

In what is music to every Sixer fan’s ears, Portland has gotten off to an extremely rough start under new head coach Chauncey Billups. There’s no reason for panic — they’re .500, and Damian Lillard won’t shoot 34 percent from the field all season — but the Blazers’ new offensive and defensive schemes haven’t clicked into place yet. In spite of that, CJ McCollum has been lights out. Anfernee Simons’ leap to legitimate contributor will help the bench significantly.

  • 20. Sacramento Kings (2-2)

The Kings have one of the best backcourts in basketball, with the addition of Davion Mitchell only strengthening their group of perimeter creators. That, combined with a red-hot start from Harrison Barnes, has put Sacramento on the map. It hasn’t been the smoothest ride, with a couple impressive wins over Portland and Phoenix is enough to warrant cautious optimism.

  • 19. Boston Celtics (2-3)

The Celtics have Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, which is all you need on some nights. Al Horford has also looked more like his old self, while Robert Williams continues to block every shot in sight. Despite all that, Boston has started the season on the wrong foot, with Brown citing post-COVID complications and the revamped bench unit inflicting severe stress on the Celtics fanbase.