The Sixer Sense
Fansided

NBA power rankings: COVID stifles Sixers’ mojo

By Christopher Kline

Seth Curry, Georges Niang, Sixers Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Seth Curry, Georges Niang, Sixers Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 10
Next
Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

NBA power rankings — Magic, Thunder, Timberwolves

  • 27. Orlando Magic (3-8)

Fresh off beating the top-ranked Jazz, Orlando has some real spunk. That’s what you want to see out of a young, rebuilding group. The Magic won’t win a ton of games, but they compete hard and have a wealth of capable young talent to build around. Franz Wagner is arguably a top-3 Rookie of the Year candidate right now, while Cole Anthony has taken a substantial second-year leap. Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz’s eventual returns could make Orlando a real handful later in the year.

  • 26. Oklahoma City Thunder (3-6)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is making his All-Star case early and often, with several big performances already on his resumé this season. OKC has beaten the Lakers twice, and plays with a spunk and energy similar to the aforementioned Magic. This is a team that loves to compete, and Josh Giddey is another fringe Rookie of the Year candidate worth monitoring. His feel for the game is far ahead of the curve, and OKC has a treasure trove of young athletes around him.

  • 25. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-6)

A red-hot start has been met with the Wolves’ customary fall from grace. The energy around Minnesota’s franchise is not great, and there’s a real urgency to build a contender around Karl-Anthony Towns. Both he and Anthony Edwards look primed to deliver on their promise, but the rest of the roster has to step up.