Week 4 NBA Power Ranking – Big shifts on the ladder while OKC Thunder clings to middle rung

Philadelphia 76ers

Offense: (106.7) 18th
Defense: (103.6) – 9th
Net: (plus +3.1) – 11th

Record: 8-5
Games Week 4: (2-2) Wins vs. Cavaliers twice, lost vs. Magic, Thunder
Games Week 5 (4 games): Wed, Nov. 20 vs. Knicks | Fri, Nov. 22 vs. Spurs | Sat, Nov 23 vs. Heat

It took four weeks but the 76ers are showing the holes in the roster and more specifically how much they miss Jimmy Butler. It’s not necessarily Jimmy Buckets’ presence to take the winning shots – Joel Embiid is more than capable of taking over that task.

Rather, it’s the combination of Butler knowing innately how to keep the team calm while retaining their aggression. And, it’s him being able to take over the primary playmaking role without turning over the ball.

The losses to tough defensive teams and problems winning on the road speak to the fact this squad still is young and continues to demonstrate the typical failings of a predominantly young squad and their best players being among the youngest on the team.

And, that’s not even touching on the Ben Simmons red flags which are like a flashing neon light as he can’t be trusted to close games. If Embiid is hurt or is smothered by opposing defenses Philly cannot rely on Simmons being the secondary option, or the third, or the fourth — that is a huge problem!

Much like I felt the Bucks losing Brogdon was a terrible decision the 76ers paying Tobias Harris as much as they did when they lost Jimmy Butler is in the same realm. The fact he’s shooting 25.5 percent from the perimeter is a major problem.

Granted, isolate on the starting five and it’s not like opponents even care about the perimeter. They play Simmons to cut off his drives and even Josh Richardson and Al Horford aren’t concerning as they shoot 31.3 percent and 31.7 percent respectively on slightly under five attempts per game.

Perhaps most telling is the 76ers have played four teams who rank top 10 defensively and lost to all of them except the Celtics and that was on opening night.

What happens in the upcoming schedule will define who this team can be starting on Saturday the 23rd. Over their next 21 games from that point forward the 76ers will face 12 of the top 10 defenses and follow that with an improving Rockets defense and the Thunder who already beat them making for 14 tough games out of 23.