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NBA Power Rankings: Will the Lakers ever win again?

By Ian Levy

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 22: Patty Mills #8 of the San Antonio Spurs scores on his jumper in front of LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers to take a 143-142 lead during overtime at Staples Center on October 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 22: Patty Mills #8 of the San Antonio Spurs scores on his jumper in front of LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers to take a 143-142 lead during overtime at Staples Center on October 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 18: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during a timeout in the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center on October 18, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bulls 127-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 18: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during a timeout in the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center on October 18, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bulls 127-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

7. team. 93. . . Previous: 6th. Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers have slowly picked up steam after a rough second half on opening night against the Boston Celtics. Joel Embiid has been fantastic after a rough opener against Al Horford and Baynes and their defense has, as expected, been very good. However, Ben Simmons has looked out-of-sorts and the overlap with Markelle Fultz is clearly an issue right now.

Fultz is just 5-of-20 on jumpers so far and defenders aren’t guarding him behind the 3-point line. His tendency has been to drift into the same driving lanes Simmons is looking to leverage and drawing extra defenders into Embiid’s orbit in the low-post. The 76ers have been -12.9 points per 100 possessions when Embiid, Fultz and Simmons are on the floor together. Swap in J.J. Redick’s off-ball gravity as a shooter for Fultz and that number jumps to +25.5. If Fultz can start making jumpers this pattern could change in a hurry, but for now, it’s a big issue.

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