NBA Power Rankings: Week Three
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Cleveland Cavaliers: 6-1 (No movement)
The bad news is the Indians did not win the World Series. The good news is there may be another championship coming to Cleveland in the next couple of months. No, it will not be from the Browns.
2. Los Angeles Clippers: 6-1 (Up two spots)
The Clippers look incredible early on in the season. Their only loss has come against Russell Westbrook and his Thunder team. Their last victory was a 32 point drubbing against the helpless Pistons. Chris Paul looks like the same player he was three years ago, maybe even better. The Clippers are scary good.
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Golden Warriors Warriors: 5-2 (No movement)
The Warriors look indestructible one day against the Thunder, and very vulnerable against the Lakers the next day. Which Warriors team will show up when the games get a little more important down the stretch?
4. San Antonio Spurs: 5-2 (Down two spots)
The Spurs went 2-2 this week but are still 5-2 on the season. They did look a bit shaky during their ugly loss to the Clippers, but no one should be worried. Coach Pop is still running the team, and by the looks of their upcoming schedule, they may be able to win 10 straight.
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Oklahoma City Thunder: 6-1 (No movement)
How amazing was it to watch Westbrook block Kevin Durant out there on Thursday night? Losing to the Warriors is nothing to be ashamed of. Clearly, the Thunder’s loss isn’t on their mind anymore, as they beat their next two opponents by a combined score of 32. Keep doing you, Westbrook.
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Toronto Raptors: 4-2 (No movement)
Just as everything looked to be going very smoothly for the Raptors, they go on and lose to the lowly Kings. The good news is, they are sitting at 4-2 with DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry as focused as ever.
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Utah Jazz: 5-3 (Up two spots)
Well, Gordon Hayward is back and it doesn’t look like he’s missed one minute of basketball. The Jazz are firing on all cylinders and their defense looks to be one of the best in the league once again. They look poised to challenge for home court advantage in the playoffs.
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Charlotte Hornets: 5-1 (Up six spots)
The Hornets haven’t had the most difficult schedule in the NBA, but they are taking advantage by beating the teams they should be beating. Kemba Walker looks better than he’s ever looked, especially in their 22 point victory over the struggling Pacers.
- Atlanta Hawks: 5-2 (Down two spots)
Paul Millsap looks great as always and Dwight Howard keeps on impressing. However, the Hawks will need Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore to be a lot better in order to keep up with the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
10. Portland Trail Blazers: 5-3 (Up two spots)
After a slow couple of games to start the season, the Trail Blazers seem to be picking it up. Damian Lillard is continuing his rise as one of the best point guards in the NBA while C.J McCollum seems to be okay with the No. 2 role on offense. With Al-Farouq Aminu getting banged up in last night’s game, Portland will need Evan Turner to turn things around and finally start playing well.
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Boston Celtics: 3-3 (Down three spots)
Jaylen Brown looks like he is going to be a very promising player in the future, but Celtics fans probably cannot wait for Al Horford and Jae Crowder to recover from their injuries.
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Houston Rockets: 4-3 (Up four spots)
James Harden has three games with at least 30 points and 15 assists this season. To put how incredible that is into perspective, here’s a stat: it only happened four times all of last season where any player had 30 points and 15 assists in a game.
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Chicago Bulls: 4-3 (Down three spots)
The Bulls win three in a row and look like one of the best teams in the league. The Bulls lose three in a row and look like one of the worst teams in the league. They then they go and beat the Magic by 32 points. This team is very confusing, and this may be the story all season long.
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Detroit Pistons: 4-3 (Down one spot)
After going 4-2 and looking really good while doing so, the Pistons went into Los Angeles and lost to the Clippers by 32 points. At least Andre Drummond showed up, posting a double double in the blowout.
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Memphis Grizzlies: 4-4 (Up one spot)
The Grizzlies may actually end up over .500 if all their players can stay healthy. However, that may be one of the biggest ifs in the NBA.
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Milwaukee Bucks: 4-3 (Up three spots)
The Bucks seemed to be on their way to a 5-2 record, but a horrific showing in overtime to the then-winless Mavericks prevented that. On a good note, every time the Greek Freak steps onto the court, it is going to be must-see TV.
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Indiana Pacers: 3-4 (Down seven spots)
What is going on with the Indiana Pacers? They just can’t seem to get the chemistry going. Jeff Teague hasn’t looked like the player the Pacers thought they were getting this offseason. However, if all goes right, the Pacers will be fine in the long run.
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Los Angeles Lakers: 4-4 (Up eight spots)
So the Lakers have actually looked pretty good this season. That’s what happens when you bring in a great coach like Luke Walton to jump start a rebuilding process. Even Nick Young is playing well. Everybody wins!
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Orlando Magic: 3-4 (Up six spots)
After losing three in a row to start the season, the Magic reeled off three straight wins, albeit against three weaker opponents. With a tough four game stretch coming up, we may see what this team is really about.
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Denver Nuggets: 3-4 (Up two spots)
The Nuggets beat down a good Celtics team in Boston, with Emmanuel Mudiay scoring 24 points in the first half. That’s the good news. The bad news is Mudiay finished the game with 30.
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New York Knicks: 3-4 (Down one spot)
The Knicks offense has gotten better since the first week of the season but they must get the ball to Kristaps Porzingis more often. They need to realize that he is the future of this organization.
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Sacramento Kings: 4-5 (Up two spots)
Did anyone guess the Kings would beat the Raptors in Toronto after losing their first four games of their Eastern Conference road trip? Didn’t think so. The Kings have now won two in a row after beating the Pelicans last night. DeMarcus Cousins likes his new coach.
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Miami Heat: 2-4 (Down six spots)
The Heat look a bit worse than average right now, plain and simple. Justise Winslow needs to get his shooting in check if the team want to win more ball games.
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Phoenix Suns: 2-6 (Up four spots)
They may not be getting many wins in Phoenix, but they should be enjoying watching their team play. T.J Warren has looked really good in the early goings and Devin Booker is starting to heat up. The future looks bright.
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Minnesota Timberwolves: 1-5 (Down six spots)
The Wolves may not be ready to make the playoffs this year after all; but they definitely should not be playing this bad. Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins look good, but a nine point loss to the Nets should not happen to a team with this much potential.
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Washington Wizards: 1-5 (Down two spots)
The Wizards shouldn’t be this bad and they aren’t actually this bad. Bradley Beal is starting to get hot and John Wall can’t be asked to do much more than he’s already doing. Things should start to turn around sooner than later in Washington.
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Dallas Mavericks: 2-6 (Down five spots)
The Mavs have won two in a row and Harrison Barnes may actually be the player the organization thought they were getting this offseason. There is reason to be optimistic in Dallas.
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Brooklyn Nets: 3-4 (Up two spots)
The Nets moved up two spots in this weeks power rankings and are only one game behind .500 very early on the season. That’s got to be a win, right Brooklyn fans?
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New Orleans Pelicans: 0-8 (Down two spots)
Anthony Davis is getting it done every time he takes the floor, but there is no way he is actually enjoying playing basketball right now. No other Pelicans starters scored more than five points in last night’s matchup. Things may get worse before they get better in New Orleans.
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Philadelphia 76ers: 0-6 (No movement)
Another number one overall pick at the end of the season would look real nice next to Joel Embiid. At least the 76ers are only five and a half games back of a playoff spot right?
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