NBA Power Rankings: Week 4
Week 4 of the NBA Power Rankings, let’s list off who is hurt. Ja Morant, Paolo Banchero, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball, Kristaps Porzingis, Khris Middleton, Chet Holmgren, Joel Embiid, CJ McCollum, Tyrese Maxey, Aaron Gordon, Dejounte Murray, Scottie Barnes, and Jimmy Butler.
1 - Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs are 11-0, the best start to a season since the championship Warriors teams in the middle of the 2010’s. They had a couple of close calls, but this team has an elite offense, that is shooting the ball like crazy. How far can they take this start?
2 - Boston Celtics
The Celtics are still an elite team and they were missing one of their superstar duo in Jaylen Brown for the past 4 games. Boston has been a bit sloppier to start this year than last, but they are still the best shooting team and a great defensive team.
3 - Phoenix Suns
The Suns started the season with an 8-1 record and Kevin Durant was an early MVP candidate. He is now out for some time with a calf strain, this was always the worry with the Suns. KD has been leading this team in a lot of close games to start the season, how will they fare without him?
4 - Oklahoma City Thunder
Similar to the Suns, the Thunder lost one of their most important and James’s favorite players, Chet Holmgren. He is out for at least 2 months with a hip fracture(I double checked, he is not an elderly person). With other bigs still out, the Thunder will need to lock up on defense.
5 - Golden State Warriors
Okay, do we call the Warriors for real? They went 2-1 in a gauntlet of Boston, Cleveland and OKC. Steph Curry is back and their defense is playing at an elite level. Is this team ever not going to be good? Klay Thompson makes his return to the bay this week.
6 - Denver Nuggets
Here come the Nuggets, they have won five in a row and guess what Nikola Jokic is still the best player in the NBA. Aaron Gordon is still going to miss some time with an injury, but they are looking better as of late.
7 - Memphis Grizzlies
When this Grizzlies team gets healthy and more consistent they are going to be a real threat. They are 7-4 to start the season and 3 of those losses have come against the Nets and Bulls. Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart and Ja Morant are already missing time though.
8 - Los Angeles Lakers
This might be a little biased, but after going 1-4 on their 5 game road trip the Lakers bounced back and beat the Sixers and Raptors. I know those teams are missing key contributors and aren't playing well, but the Lakers are 5-0 at home and are on a winning streak.
9 - Minnesota Timberwolves
I think the Western Conference has about 35 teams that are 6-4. The Wolves have really bounced back from a sluggish start to their season. The defense isn’t quite at the level as it was last year. Anthony Edwards has made more threes to start a season than anyone in history not named Steph Curry, so that is pretty cool.
10 - Los Angeles Clippers
Oh look at another Western Conference team that is 6-4. They have won 4 straight games which also included a 26 point comeback. It annoys me to say it, but the Clippers might just be proving everyone wrong, they have a top 5 defense and they have had a huge jump in their defensive rebounding.
11 - Houston Rockets
Please tell me if I have said this before, a Western Conference team with a 6-4 record. The Houston Rockets are going to stick around all year with teams with bigger superstars and better over teams. The Rockets have an underrated defense that can keep them in games while their young stars figure it out offensively.
12 - Sacramento Kings
Don’t call it a pattern, but the Kings are also 6-4. To be honest in these power rankings teams 8-12 are about as interchangeable as can be. The Kings are playing well and had a big win over the Suns to close out last week. Domas Sabonis had just the 2nd ever perfect triple double (no missed shots or turnovers), he is incredible.
13 - Indiana Pacers
The Pacers are 5-5 and they are in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference, which would put them in 11th in the West. Their offense has turned it around after a slow start, after falling short against Charlotte. With some teams in the East underperforming they have a good chance to still end up as a top 4 seed.
14 - Dallas Mavericks
Honestly the Mavericks are probably better than this, but because they are sitting at .500 they go to the bottom of these rankings. They lost twice this weekend to the Suns and Nuggets by a total of 3 points. They are a top 10 offense and a top 10 defense, they will be better.
15 - New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are 4-5 and they have the association's second ranked offense, that should tell you where they stand. They have just not been good during clutch time and I would assume that will get better. Top 4 in the East is the goal.
P.S. I am only doing the top 15 teams, if you want me to talk about you; be better, it’s that simple.