NBA Power Rankings: Week 5
1. Toronto Raptors 17-4 UP 1
Toronto continues to win games handily and takes over the top ranking this week. Kawhi Leonard has been a monster for the team this season. Kyle Lowry has been flying under the radar but has been spectacular as well, leading the team in assists in all but one game for the Raptors this year. Toronto has games against Memphis, Golden State and Cleveland this week.
2. Golden State Warriors 14-7 DOWN 1
Golden State finished the week with two wins, notably beating the Kings by just one point in a game that Kevin Durant dropped 44. The team has been severely hurt by Steph Curry’s absence, on and off the court. The Warriors look to get back on track with games against Orlando, Toronto and Detroit this week.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder 12-7 SAME
Sam Presti somehow turned Carmelo Anthony into Dennis Shröder this summer. That should earn him executive of the year with the way Shröder has already helped the team. Shröder came off the bench and scored 32 points to help Oklahoma City beat the Warriors by 28 Wednesday. The Thunder look forward to an easy week with games at home against Cleveland and Atlanta.
4. Milwaukee Bucks 14-5 SAME
Milwaukee has played much better after a small slump, winning four of their last five including a notable 43-point win over Portland. Giannis Antetokounmpo has scored over 30 points in each of his last three games played and leads the team with 26.8 points per game on the season. The Bucks play Charlotte, Chicago and New York this week.
5. Memphis Grizzlies 12-7 UP 4
Memphis saw its five-game win streak come to an end this week with an overtime loss to the Clippers. The Grizzlies look really good right now. The only question for them is if Marc Gasol and Mike Conley can stay healthy the whole season. Memphis takes on Toronto, Brooklyn and Philadelphia this week.
6. Los Angeles Lakers 11-8 UP 6
Los Angeles seems to be figuring it out lately, winning seven of its last nine. LeBron James has been his usual self, leading the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals this season. The Lakers have a four-game week against Denver, Indiana, Dallas and Phoenix.
7. Portland Trail Blazers 12-8 DOWN 2
Portland had a rough week, losing to the Bucks by 43 and the Warriors by 28. The Blazers need someone outside of their “big three” to start scoring or the team will continue to be just a good regular season team. Portland plays the Magic, Nuggets and Spurs this week.
8. Philadelphia 76ers 14-8 SAME
Markelle Fultz reportedly wants a trade away from the 76ers and has gone to see a hand and shoulder specialists because he believes something is wrong there. The man has had weird things happen since being drafted. The 76ers at least got their third star that Fultz was projected to be from the Wolves with Jimmy Butler. Philadelphia takes on the Knicks, Wizards and Grizzlies this week.
9. Houston Rockets 9-9 UP 1
Houston somehow lost to Cleveland in a game that James Harden had 40 points in. The Rockets have placed Carmelo Anthony in exile, but he didn’t seem to be their problem. Houston has a busy week with games against Washington, Dallas, San Antonio and Chicago.
10. Los Angeles Clippers 13-6 UP 3
Los Angeles has won six of seven, three of which have come in overtime. DeAndre Jordan’s departure to Dallas has been marginalized by the stellar play of Montrezl Harrel, who is putting up 15.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game this season. The Clippers play Phoenix, Sacramento and Dallas this week.
11. Denver Nuggets 13-7 DOWN 5
Denver finished its week with three-straight wins. The Nuggets now have four players averaging over 16 points per game. The team is still waiting on Isaiah Thomas to come back as well. Denver has a slow week with two games, the Lakers and Trail Blazers.
12. Indiana Pacers 11-8 DOWN 1
The Pacers have dropped two-straight but did manage to blowout Utah on Monday. Bogdan Bogdanovic has led the team in scoring in its last three games, picking up the slack while Victor Oladipo hasn’t played as well. Indiana has a four-game road trip this week at the Jazz, Suns, Lakers and Kings.
13. Boston Celtics 10-10 DOWN 6
Boston has slumped lately, losing four of five. The Celtics have played great defense, ranking second in defensive efficiency, but their offense has been horrendous, ranking 27th in offensive efficiency. Boston plays New Orleans, Cleveland and Minnesota this week.
14. New Orleans Pelicans 10-10 UP 2
The Pelicans lost three-straight to end the week, notably against New York and Washington, two terrible teams. The team is not giving Anthony Davis much help this season at all. New Orleans takes on the Celtics, Wizards, Heat and Hornets this week.
15. Detroit Pistons 10-7 UP 2
Detroit lost on the road to Houston by two before beating it at home in overtime and closing the week with a victory over Phoenix. Blake Griffin or Andre Drummond have led the Pistons in points and rebounds in every game this season. Detroit has a three-game homestand this week against New York, Chicago and Golden State.
16. Minnesota Timberwolves 9-11 UP 2
The Wolves are 5-2 since trading Jimmy Butler and were 4-9 with him on team. Karl-Anthony Towns looks much more engaged, which is what the team needs to win. Minnesota plays this week against Cleveland, San Antonio and Boston.
17. Utah Jazz 9-11 DOWN 2
Utah seems to be lost this season. The team had the NBA’s top defense last year and are just 14th this season. Utah has got to figure out its defense before it falls too far out of the playoff race. The Jazz have play Indiana at home this week before three road games against Brooklyn, Charlotte and Miami.
18. San Antonio Spurs 9-10 DOWN 4
San Antonio has lost three of four after its hot start. The Spurs are just 21st in defensive rating, which is very unlike a Greg Popovich team. The Spurs take on Chicago and Minnesota on the road before two home games against Houston and Portland to end the week.
19. Sacramento Kings 10-10 UP 1
Marvin Bagley III finally had a good game for the Kings, posting 20 points and 17 rebounds in a one-point loss to Golden State. Bagley has not lived up to the hype the team gave him as the second overall pick in June’s draft. Sacramento has a light week against the Clippers and Pacers.
20. Orlando Magic 10-10 UP 2
Orlando ended its two-game skid by beating the Lakers on the road. The Magic have surprised everyone this year, possibly due to the great coaching of Steve Clifford. Orlando has three road games this week against Golden State, Portland and Phoenix.
21. Charlotte Hornets 9-10 DOWN 2
Kemba Walker followed his 60-point performance with 43 points against Boston Monday that helped the Hornets to a win. Walker needs scoring help, as he is scoring over double the amount of any other player on the team. Charlotte lives at home this week against Milwaukee, Atlanta, Utah and New Orleans.
22. Dallas Mavericks 9-9 UP 1
The Mavericks have won six of seven and are playing much better as of late. Luka Doncic looks like a steal for them, leading the team in scoring and putting up over five rebounds and four assists per game as well. Dallas has a hard week with games against Houston and both Los Angeles teams.
23. Brooklyn Nets 8-13 DOWN 2
Caris LeVert’s injury will allow other Nets to show coach Kenny Atkinson what they can do while LeVert is out. The Nets need someone to step up scoring, wherever it comes from. Brooklyn takes on the Jazz, Grizzlies and Wizards this week.
24. Miami Heat 7-12 UP 1
Miami has gotten inconsistent play all over the board this season. Hassan Whiteside had a great game Tuesday with 29 points and 20 rebounds, good for his second 20-20 game of the year. Whiteside is now one of three players with multiple 20-20 games on the season. Miami has three home games this week against Atlanta, New Orleans and Utah.
25. Washington Wizards 7-12 DOWN 1
Washington’s disarray blew up in a practice this week where players reportedly went at each other hard with words. John Wall was fined an undisclosed amount by the team for shouting obscenities at coach Scott Brooks. Who gets traded first? Washington plays Houston, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Brooklyn this week.
26. New York Knicks 7-14 UP 1
New York has been experimenting with lineups all season and it hasn’t worked very well for them. The team is still young and seems to have found three solid players in last season’s draft, Mitchell Robinson, Alonzo Trier and Kevin Knox. The Knicks take on Detroit, Philadelphia and Milwaukee this week.
27. Chicago Bulls 5-15 DOWN 1
Zach LaVine has surprisingly lived up to his giant contract received from Chicago in the offseason. The rest of the Bulls team, aside from rookie Wendell Carter Jr., have severely underperformed. The Bulls need Lauri Markkanen back soon. Chicago takes on San Antonio before finishing the week with three road games at Milwaukee, Detroit and Houston.
28. Phoenix Suns 4-15 SAME
The Suns are the only team in the West that has no chance to make the playoffs. The team needs to find a point guard quick so Devin Booker can go back to what he does best, scoring. At least DeAndre Ayton has played well so far. Phoenix plays against the Pacers, Clippers, Magic and Lakers this week.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers 4-14 UP 1
J.R. Smith decided he didn’t want to be with the Cavaliers anymore and joined a list of players in exile. Cleveland won its next two games, notably against the 76ers and Rockets. The Cavs gained a ranking this week because Atlanta has been so dreadful. But Cleveland is still awful. The Cavaliers play Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Boston and Toronto this week.
30. Atlanta Hawks 4-16 DOWN 1
The Hawks lost 10 games in a row this month. The only good thing to happen to this team lately is Vince Carter scoring his 25,000th point on a dunk at the end of a game. Atlanta starts a three-game road trip against Miami, Charlotte and Oklahoma City.