NBA Power Rankings: After Sixers Split Their Games, Opinions Split Too

Last week's power rankings were not too friendly to the Sixers after they went 1-3. This week, the Sixers showed improvement, going 2-2, but results in power rankings were split. 

This past week
Monday and Wednesday's games against the Pistons and Spurs resulted in losses, but the Sixers rebounded with two wins against the Magic and Heat. Jahil Okafor in the first three games of the week averaged 14.3 point per game before being benched as trade rumors heated up. 

Dario Saric caught fire in the last four games of the week, averaging 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists. 

T.J. McConnell hit the game-winning shot against the Magic on Friday night, ending a five-game losing streak. He averaged 8.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in the last four games. 

Nerlens Noel led the team with 19 points in the 117-109 victory over the Heat Saturday night. He has averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the last four games. 

What's next this week?

• Tonight in Charlotte to play the Hornets (7 p.m./CSN). 

• They will visit the Celtics on Wednesday (7:30 p.m./CSN)

• Back to Philadelphia for the Wizards on Friday (7:30 p.m./ CSN)

• Saturday in New York to play the Knicks (7 p.m./CSN)

How are they ranked?
ESPN's Marc Stein has not moved the Sixers from the 20 spot they were ranked in last week. He focused in on Embiid's chances of winning Rookie of the Year, given how many games he is projected to play -- "the fewest games total ever registered by a Rookie of the Year ‎is Patrick Ewing's 50 games in 1985-86," he wrote. "Embiid, who's ailing anew, has played 31 games to date. The Sixers have 26 games left on their schedule after the All-Star break, but realistically only 21 of those will be available to Embiid when you factor in Philly's five remaining back-to-backs. Gonna be close!"

Bleacher Reports' Grant Hughes dropped the Sixers from 18 to 21. He was a little harsher on the team in the absence of the Rookie of the Year candidate. 

"Philadelphia can't score at all without him, and defending the rim against interior size of any kind is virtually impossible. In light of how frail Embiid's absence has revealed the Sixers' supporting cast to be, it makes perfect sense that they're treating his knee bruise cautiously. A little throwback to the tanking days of old will help Philadelphia's odds of adding supporting stars in the 2017 draft."

Sports Illustrated's Jeremy Wood saw some improvement in the Sixers, moving them up from 26 to 25. All he could ask is why Embiid was dancing shirtless at a Meek Mill concert in Philadelphia this past week with a slightly torn meniscus. 

Wood isn't alone when questioning that decision. 

Finally, Matt Moore of CBS Sports dropped the Sixers one spot, 21 to 22. Moore poked fun at the ability of McConnell's performance this season in the form of a satire television show.

"My favorite indie TV series right now is 'T.J. McConnell Does Things' in which a player who you would look at and think has no place in the NBA consistently makes things happen to create wins for a franchise without its best player. It stars T.J. McConnell and can be found exclusively on League Pass."