2016-17 NBA Power Rankings: Week 2 Reminds Us To Never Doubt The Spurs
Gerald Bourguet
Oct 29, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (middle) during the national anthem before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
In Week 2 NBA Power Rankings, we shouldn’t have doubted the San Antonio Spurs, while the Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers and Charlotte Hornets are on the rise.
Oct 29, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (middle) during the national anthem before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
It’s only taken six days, but the opening week of the 2016-17 NBA season has already provided more quality games than the first eight weeks of NFL action.
No matter where your sports allegiances lie, however, professional basketball is back and there has been plenty to enjoy over the first week or so. From massive 50-point explosions to triple-doubles to a ton of competitive games, the NBA’s strong start made it that much more difficult to differentiate where every team in the league stacks up.
In an effort to do so, however, we’re back with Week 2 NBA Power Rankings to sort through the first six days of the season.
Are the Golden State Warriors in trouble? Are teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers not as good as we thought? And is there any reason to remove the Cleveland Cavaliers from the top spot?
Here’s a look at power rankings and highlights from the first week of NBA action.
Oct 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) punches the back post in reaction to his foul against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder won 103-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren (12) drives to the basket in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo (5) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) argues an officials call during the first quarter of a game against the Golden State Warriors at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) ceebtrets after he makes a three pointer against the Miami Heat during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) controls the ball against Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) grabs the loose ball in front of Charlotte Hornets forward Spencer Hawes (00) during the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) goes to the basket past Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) dribbles the ball past Milwaukee Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) in the fourth quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
October 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) controls the ball against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes (40) drives to the basket against the Houston Rockets during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) dribbles the ball as Portland Trail Blazers forward Mason Plumlee (24) defends in the first quarter at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) controls the ball around Philadelphia 76ers forward Richaun Holmes (22) 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 29, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) dunks the ball during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks won 111-104. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) dunks against the Dallas Mavericks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Dallas 130-121 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. The Kings won 106-103. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade (3) talks with referee Mark Lindsay (29) during the first half against the Indiana Pacers at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) reacts after dunking against the Portland Trail Blazers in the second half at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
October 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) moves the ball up court against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (34)) takes a shot over Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after defeating the Phoenix Suns 113-110 in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) shoots from the foul line during the third quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Atlanta Hawks won 104-72. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) celebrates after making a three point shot in overtime against the Washington Wizards at FedExForum. Memphis defeated Washington 112-103. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots over Los Angeles Clippers forward Wesley Johnson (33) in the second half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Charlotte Hornets center Roy Hibbert (55) dunks as Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) and guard Rashad Vaughn (20) look on during the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) drives the ball against Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) in the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) is greeted by center Jonas Valanciunas (17) and forward Pascal Siakam (43) after making a basket against Detroit Pistons in the second half at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) in the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Kevin Durant (35) during the fourth quarter of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 122-114. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dunks the ball as New Orleans Pelicans point guard Tim Frazier (2) defends during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles the ball as Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll (5) defends during the third quarter at Air Canada Centre. The Cavaliers won 94-91. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
