In the Eastern Conference standings, the Philadelphia 76ers maintain a strong lead despite dropping back-to-back games over the weekend. They did, however, somewhat fall in the most recent NBA power rankings as a result of this.
Each week, the staff at NBA.com updates the power rankings for each of the league’s 30 clubs. They dropped one spot from No. 6 to No. 7 after suffering defeats at the hands of the Utah Jazz and New York Knicks. The LA Clippers, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and OKC Thunder are notable teams that are in front of them.
The Sixers are far ahead of the competition in third place, according to the standings. On their heels, though, are a diverse group of teams. Currently tied for fourth place at 21-15 are the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks. The Milwaukee Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, are in second place, but their lead over the Sixers is still just one game.
To rank in the top ten in both offense and defense is a clear indicator of a contender in the NBA. Right now, the Sixers are hitting this mark. They now boast the third-best defense and the fifth-best offense in the league. They are only behind the Boston Celtics in the NBA with a net rating of 8.5.
The Sixers are now taking advantage of a favorable schedule break. They had three days off before heading out on a quick road trip to play the Atlanta Hawks. Following that, they’ll play host to the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and Sacramento Kings, three tough Western Conference clubs. As the regular season draws closer to its halfway point, the Sixers should find this to be a decent test.