2016-17 NBA Power Rankings: Cavaliers Or Warriors On Top In Week 1?
Gerald Bourguet
Sep 26, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) poses for a photo during media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
With the 2016-17 NBA season set to begin Tuesday night, here’s a look at Week 1 of HoopsHabit’s weekly NBA Power Rankings.
Sep 26, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) poses for a photo during media day at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
After months of waiting, the 2016-17 NBA season is finally set to get under way!
With an opening night docket of Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs, it’s only a matter of hours before professional basketball fans get to scratch their summer-long itch.
Over the last few months, we’ve agonized over NBA draft results, handed out free agency grades, poured over NBA Summer League results, read way too much into training camp and preseason storylines and filled the rest of our free time with NBA Awards predictions, season previews and pretty much every other manner of speculation you could think of.
With the offseason reaching its merciful end today, however, it’s time to take one final look at where every team stands heading into the new campaign.
Without further ado, here’s a look at Week 1 NBA Power Rankings for the 2016-17 season.
Oct 8, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dunks the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) reacts during the first half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Ontario, CA, USA;Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) reacts against the Denver Nuggets at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; (From left) Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe , guard Devin Booker and guard Brandon Knight pose for a portrait during media day at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) celebrates with guard Ty Lawson (10) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) attempts a shot over Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Philadelphia 76ers defeat the Miami Heat 113-110. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) moves the ball against Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews (23) at the Kohl Center. Milwaukee defeated Dallas 88-74. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Bossier City, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Buddy Hield (24) and forward Anthony Davis (23) and guard Tim Frazier (2) and guard Lance Stephenson (5) walk onto the court after a time out against the Dallas Mavericks during a game at CenturyLink Center. New Orleans won 116-102. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) and Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) talk against the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) reacts after a play in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 101-75. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade (3) reacts during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) dunks against Miami Heat forward Willie Reed (35) during the second quarter at KFC! YUM Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) dribbles the ball during a game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) in action against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) gets ready to check into the game against the Chicago Bulls at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Atlanta defeated Chicago 97-81. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) talks with guard Kemba Walker (15) during the second half of the game against the Miami Heat at the Spectrum Center. Hornets win 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) talks with head coach Mike D’Antoni during the second half of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Toyota Center. The Grizzlies defeat the Rockets 134-125. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles the ball as Utah Jazz center Boris Diaw (33) defends during the first half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Trail Blazers won 88-84. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2016; Tulsa, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) points into the stand in game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first quarter at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) and guard Monta Ellis (11) high five against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes (40) shoots a layup against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) gets defended by Toronto Raptors center Lucas Nogueira (92) during the fourth quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Raptors won 103-92. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) and guard Mike Conley (11) react against the Orlando Magic during the second half at FedExForum. Memphis beat Orlando 102-97. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) and forward Gordon Hayward (20) talk mid court during the first half of the game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Phoenix Suns 104-99. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2016; Greensboro, NC, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) huddles with teammates during a timeout in the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Greensboro Coliseum. The Celtics won 107-92. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) drives to the basket during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) dribbles the ball during the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12, left) and Kawhi Leonard (2, right) talk on the bench during the second half against the Houston Rockets at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
October 21, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrate after Curry made a three-point basket during the second quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) brings the ball up court in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
