NBA Power Rankings: Week 2
We are a week into the NBA Season and the Denver Nuggets have not won a game and the Clippers are 2-1 without Kawhi, oh and the Boston Celtics are still really good.
1 - Boston Celtics
The defending champs have started the season 3-0 and tied the record for most threes made in a game in their opening win over the Knicks. But they also missed about 20 in a row trying to break the record.
2 - Oklahoma City Thunder
The power house in the West, the OKC Thunder have also started the season 3-0. They won their first two games by a combined 34 points, despite shooting poorly from three. I do really hope these top two teams aren’t the same in the power rankings all year
3 - Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers make a huge jump in the power rankings after also starting the season 3-0. Their offense is looking elite and the depth is allowing them to stagger which of their best players are on the court.
4 - Los Angeles Lakers
Is JJ Reddick already a top coach in the NBA? His plan, feed Anthony Davis seems pretty damn simple to me. But the Lakers are 3-0 for the first time in a long time and AD has 30+ point games in all three of those wins.
5 - New York Knicks
Alright the Knicks got blown out in the opener against the Celtics, who definitely wanted to show they were still the top dog. A bounce back win over the Pacers where they limited Haliburton to 0 points was pretty impressive.
6 - Minnesota Timberwolves
I love Anthony Edwards, if you haven't watched Starting 5 on Netflix (no free ads) you should watch it just for him. After losing on opening night to Bronny James and the Lakers, they bounced back for two good wins, they will just need to figure out their defensive plan.
7 - Dallas Mavericks
Usually the Mavs win when Luka Doncic scores 40+ but not when the rest of the team doesn’t help him out. I do expect the Mavericks to get better as they gel more with Klay. The Mavs have an elite offense that doesn’t turn the ball over that often, a recipe for success.
8 - Phoenix Suns
Another big update for y’all, Kevin Durant is still an elite scorer. They will need to figure out their best closing lineup, they were awful in games last year when down in the 4th quarter. Bradley Beal is already missing games…..
9 - Denver Nuggets
Are we already worried in the mile high city? The biggest problem, their bench. Dario Saric has been awful, Russell Westbrook not much better. Do they make some trades at the deadline to get more depth?
10 - Los Angeles Clippers
The Inuit Dome (I know it’s a dumb name) looks like a party and the Clippers have surprised folks with a 2-1 start and wins over the Nuggets and Warriors. James Harden is leading the way with some elite passing, maybe Kawhi can just not play for a while?
11 - Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are 2-1 despite not really having a set lineup yet. Desmond Bane has been playing the most minutes and Jaren Jackson Jr is back. If they can figure out their system, watch out. They need to stay healthy.
12 - Orlando Magic
The Magic started out with relatively easy wins over the Heat and Nets, before getting destroyed by the Grizzlies. That might just be showing how the Eastern Conference is a little weak. Big games with the Cavs and Pacers this week.
13 - Golden State Warriors
Good News for the Warriors, they started 2-1. Bad News, Steph left the home opener with an ankle injury. As we all know the Warriors go as Steph goes. They play back to back games at Chase Center against the Pelicans this week, how weird.
14 - Philadelphia 76ers
Tyrese Maxey is a one man show right now. Paul George and Joel Embiid have not played yet, and not really sure if they will be available this week either. They need Embiid, there is nothing really else to say about it.
15 - Indiana Pacers
The Pacers win games by outsourcing their opponents, because they don’t play defense. If they don’t score they don’t win. Tyrese Haliburton has been awful from behind the arc and turnovers have been an issue for Indiana. It doesn't get any easier with Orlando and Boston on the schedule this week.
P.S. I am only doing the top 15 teams, if you want me to talk about you; be better, it’s that simple.