The latest SBNation NBA power ranks have been released and the Sixers are continuing to hover around the same spot they've been for a few weeks. Certainly not amongst the elite of the East (Boston, Chicago, Miami) but they're right there with the likes of the Knicks & Hawks.
↵↵↵13. Philadelphia 76ers (32-30, Prev: #12) -- With a frontcourt upgrade -- looking at you, Spencer Hawes -- Philadelphia could be a legitimately dangerous team in the next couple years, provided that Elton Brand maintains his production. The sad thing is that with Samuel Dalembert, who Philly traded for Hawes and Andres Nocioni, Philly could be dangerous this season.
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In hindsight, I'd say it's impossible to argue with the analysis here. There's little doubt that Sam Dalembert's defensive prescence in the middle would make this better this year. You have to wonder whether Ed Stefanski thought this team would be as good as it has been so quick in the Doug Collins era. Had he anticipated this turnaround, he may well have elected to hang on to Sam for a year rather than flip his expiring contract for a development-type player like Hawes.
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