NBA Power Rankings: Week Five
1. Los Angeles Clippers: 13-2 (No movement)
After beating the Toronto Raptors, the Clippers are now off to their best start in franchise history. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin may be the best one-two punch in the NBA.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers 10-2 (No movement)
The Cavs have not played since Friday, but still find themselves in first place in the Eastern Conference. In other news, it looks like no team in the East will be able to knock them out come playoff time once again. Quick fun fact: The Cavaliers have the second worst net rating in the NBA without Lebron James. Trailing only the Sixers.
3. Golden State Warriors (No movement)
The Warriors find themselves trailing the Clippers for first place in the West by only half a game. It may not be very long until we see them take over that number one spot. If they do, they might not look back ever again.
4. San Antonio Spurs 11-3 (No movement)
Almost a quarter way through the season and Greg Popovitch’s Spurs look like the same old team. Everyone on the court seems to be finding a way to make things happen, with Kawhi Leonard leading the way.
5. Memphis Grizzlies 9-5 (Up ten spots)
And somehow just like that, the Grizzlies are riding a five game win streak. They have beaten some quality opponents in that span, including the Jazz, Clippers and Hornets. An even more impressive feat considering all the injuries they have had to endure.
6. Houston Rockets 9-5 (Up five spots)
Honestly, the Rockets are probably more than happy with their 20th ranked defense this season. Many people thought they would be ranked dead last by now. James Harden for MVP.
7. Atlanta Hawks 9-5 (Down two spots)
The Hawks have looked pretty good early on, but a mini three game losing streak probably wont bode well for them and their fans. Especially an 18 point drubbing against the Pelicans in Atlanta.
8. Toronto Raptors 8-6 (Down two spots)
The Raptors have now lost four of their last five games. To be fair, three of those losses have come against arguably the three best teams in the league. The Cavaliers, Warriors and the Clippers. Still, you got to beat the best to be the best.
9. Charlotte Hornets 8-6 (Down two spots)
Just like the Hawks, the Hornets are now on a mini losing streak, with one of those loses coming to the Pelicans. No hate towards the Pelicans, but if the Hornets want to prove they are one of the East’s best teams, they have to win games against inferior opponents.
10. Chicago Bulls 9-6 (Up two spots)
Jimmy Butler is having his best season to date, while feasting on opponents. The Bulls schedule has not been the toughest so far, but who cares? As long as they take care of business.
11. Boston Celtics 8-6 (Up three spots)
The Celtics finally have something going for them. They recently got Jae Crowder and Al Horford back from injury and have looked like a completely different team with them on the court. Celtics fans should feel very relieved.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder 8-7 (Down three spots)
Russell Westbrook already has five triple doubles this season. The rest of the league has five combined. Just think about that for a second. Ya, he’s pretty good.
13. Los Angeles Lakers 8-7 (Up one spot)
It has been really fun to watch the Lakers be competitive this year, but fans have to wonder how long they keep this up. Realistically, they are a couple of years away from being legit playoff contenders, but who knows. That’s why we play the games.
14. Portland Trail Blazers 7-5 (No movement)
Something seems to be missing from this Trail Blazers team. One game they look great, the next game they look like a completely different team and get blown out. It probably doesn’t help that Damian Lillard has been extremely inconsistent so far this season.
15. Utah Jazz (Down seven spots)
The Jazz seem to be missing George Hill right about now. This was the year the year were supposed to take a big leap and make some noise. A month into the season, they find themselves under .500.
16. New York Knicks 7-7 (Up three spots)
Kristaps Porzingis is the only piece holding the Knicks in a playoff spot right now. While Carmelo Anthony is playing well, more from him and Derrick Rose would do a lot into actually bringing this team into the postseason.
17. Indiana Pacers 6-7 (Down one spot)
Oy vey. The Pacers are dealing with injuries they really don’t want to be dealing with right now. With Paul George and possible six man of the year C.J Miles on the shelf, they need more than Jeff Teague to start stepping up.
18. Milwaukee Bucks 6-7 (No movement)
Giannis Antetokounmpo is doing something no player has ever done. He is averaging 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks so far this season. Is the Greak Freak top 10 in the league yet?
19. Orlando Magic 6-8 (Up one spot)
The Magic are tied for last place in offensive rating. It’s not surprising to hear that stat when you watch them play. Everyone on the team seems to be struggling right now.
20. Denver Nuggets 6-8 (Up one spot)
The Nuggets may not be playing the best basketball right now, but there have been a couple of positives so far. Wilson Chandler has looked very good off the bench, while Jamal Murray finally looks like he is picking up his offensive game.
21. Detroit Pistons 6-9 (Down four spots)
The good news is that Reggie Jackson is probably coming back any day now. The bad news is that no other starter other than Andre Drummond is getting it done right now.
22. Miami Heat 4-9 (Up four spots)
Why does it feel like at least 10 teams in the league have major injuries? The Heat are dealing with injuries to Justise Winslow, Goran Dragic and Dion Waiters. At least Hassan Whiteside has looked like the player everyone thought he would without Dwyane Wade.
23. Sacramento Kings 5-9 (No movement)
Anyone else see that snapchat of Demarcus Cousins? He went crazy after Kanye West left his own concert after 15 minutes. That video was the greatest thing to come out of Sacramento this year.
24. Washington Wizards 4-9 (Up three spots)
How about that 42-point performance by Bradley Beal? He may have not gotten it done with peripheral stats, but maybe his performance will motivate the rest of the team. If they can find better team chemistry, the Wizards may actually be able to go somewhere.
25. Minnesota Timberwolves 4-9 (Down three spots)
The T-Wolves are now sitting at 4-9 and can’t seem to get anything going. Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins are playing well right now, but if they want any chance of making the playoffs, Zach Lavine and Ricky Rubio are going to have to step up their game.
26. New Orleans Pelicans 5-10 (No movement)
The Pelicans are a perfect 3-0 since Jru Holiday returned to action. Coincidence or not? Maybe, but it has taken a load off of Tim Frazier’s back and it seems to be impacting him in a positive way. Recently, he’s been playing outstanding basketball.
27. Philadelphia 76ers 4-10 (Up three spots)
The 76ers defeated the heat two nights ago. That’s not even the best part. With the win, they snapped a streak of 108 consecutive games without back-to-back wins, the longest streak in NBA history.
28. Phoenix Suns 4-11 (Down three spots)
The Suns are 0-3 against the Sixers the past two seasons. Can things possibly get worse? Maybe losing to the Nets by 18. Oh wait, they already did that.
29. Brooklyn Nets 4-9 (Down five spots)
Just as the Nets actually started to look like a real NBA team, they go and lose four in a row. Once again it looks like it’s going to be a very long season down in Brooklyn.
30. Dallas Mavericks 2-11 (Down one spot)
It’s going to be a sad sad day when the Mavs don’t finish with at least an even record. Look at the bright side. If they go at least 39-30 the rest of the season, they would avoid their first losing season in 17 years.
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