NBA Power Rankings: Week 2
It has been a pretty quiet first week in the NBA season, really not much has happened. Oh wait, just an FBI led arrest of an active NBA Head Coach, who is also a hall of famer, and an active NBA player. Oh yeah and 4 dudes already have dropped a 50 burger, and if Luka had hit one free throw it would have been 5.
1 - Oklahoma City Thunder
Last: #1
Well, the Thunder have started their quest to repeat by starting 4-0. They have won two double OT games including a great game opening night against the Rockets. I am already fed up watching SGA foul bait on every drive. Jalen Willaims hasn’t even played yet!
2 - Denver Nuggets
Last: #3
Aaron Gordon is who we all expected on this team to drop 50 right? Yes, they blew a 4th quarter lead to the Warriors, but I still think this is the 2nd best team in the West. It helps too that the Nuggets have the best schedule in the NBA based on rest and rest advantage.
3 - Golden State Warriors
Last: #11
An opening night win against the Lakers where Luka had a fantastic game is a good start for the Warriors. Yes, they lost to Portland who is going through it on multiple levels, but this Warrior team is good as long as they can hold up throughout the year.
4 - San Antonio Spurs
Last: NR
Welp, the Spurs are here. Wemby is a top 5 player in the NBA and can be the best player in the NBA by the end of the year. That first game against Dallas, with AD guarding him, was disgusting. I can’t believe the Spurs went from David Robinson, to Tim Duncan to Wemby.
5 - Cleveland Cavaliers
Last: #2
Remember last year when the Cavs started like 17-0 and just ran the East from there on out? Well they lost opening night to the Knicks, fair enough they aren’t super healthy to start the season. Once they are healthy, the offense should have more options and be more dynamic.
6 - New York Knicks
Last: #5
The Knicks started great with a win over Cleveland but even with 37 from Jalen Brunson, my least favorite star to watch in the NBA, they could not beat the Heat. This was the problem last year at times, it was Brunson and then who?
7 - Los Angeles Lakers
Last: #13
Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard. Dalton Knecht, Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic. Oh wait, maybe its two Charizards. Austin Reaves has been on FIRE to start the season and with Luka out dropped 51 against the Kings on Sunday night and followed that up with 41 against the Blazers Monday night.
8 - Minnesota Timberwolves
Last: #8
Anthony Edwards is out for a bit with an injury, and the Wolves are just an average team when he is not in the lineup. The overall numbers on both ends of the court aren’t great for the Wolves, but remember they started slow last year also.
9 - Detroit Pistons
Last: #12
Not great losing to the Bulls to start the season, but Chicago has started strong. Wins over Houston and Boston are good quality wins. Already a top 10 defensive team to start the season, and they get a game in Mexico City this week which is fun.
10 - Milwaukee Bucks
Last: #14
Giannis is on my fantasy team and is putting up monster numbers. 36 points, 16 boards, and 7 assists is a crazy stat line to average to start the season for the Greek Freak. Getting some of their role players back will help, with Kevin Porter Jr, Kyle Kuzma and Cole Anthony missing time to start.
11 - Los Angeles Clippers
Last: #7
Losing to Utah by 21 to start is not great for a Clippers team that is so lucky NBA players love to gamble to take the storyline away from Kawhi. The interior defense has not been great to start and they are turning the ball over at the worst rate in the league, I expect both of those to get better.
12 - Philadelphia 76ers
Last: #10
The 76ers are 3-0 to start the season, such a better start than last year that they never really recovered from. Embiid has already missed a game and is averaging just 20 minutes a game, and he is already throwing a fit. VJ Edgecombe scoring 34 is the most by a rookie in their debut in the last 66 years.
13 - Chicago Bulls
Last: NR
Teams that share that United Center are off to a great start after we said they would suck. Both the Bulls and Blackhawks are playing well to start their respective seasons. The Bulls are 3-0 and those are quality wins against the Pistons, Magic and Hawks, all projected top 6 teams this year.
14 - Miami Heat
Last: NR
The Heat we thought were in a weird spot to start the season, no real super star but not an awful team looking for a top draft pick. They are 2-1 to start and got good wins over the Grizzlies and Knicks. So far they have the 3rd rated defense in the association.
15 - Memphis Grizzlies
Last: #15
The Memphis Grizzlies are off to a strange start. They gave up 146 to the Heat and were down by 40+ at one point. Ja Morant has played in all three games and rookie Cedric Coward has been fantastic to start his career. Can they keep it up?