2016-17 NBA Power Rankings: Bulls, Grizzlies Rise In Week 5
Gerald Bourguet
Nov 16, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) celebrates after a three point basket in the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Grizzlies won 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
In Week 5 of our 2016-17 NBA Power Rankings, the Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers are on the rise.
Nov 16, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) celebrates after a three point basket in the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Grizzlies won 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The 2016-17 regular season isn’t even a month old yet, and already we’ve seen plenty of week-to-week fluctuation in our NBA Power Rankings.
Teams that seemed like borderline threats to miss the playoffs like the Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies are starting to prove they’re trustworthy, the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks are attempting to find themselves, and injuries have once again devastated high hopes for the Utah Jazz.
The title contenders are right at the top where we assumed they’d be, but there’s plenty of parity to go around outside of our power four teams — the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers.
The question is, where does everyone wind up after another full week of NBA action that included blowouts, new milestones and plenty of upsets? Here’s a look at our Week 5 2016-17 NBA Power Rankings.
Nov 18, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews (23) and forward Harrison Barnes (40) and guard Seth Curry (30) check the scoreboard during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at the American Airlines Center. The Grizzlies defeat the Mavericks 80-64. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) shoots a layup against the New York Knicks during the second half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dunks after the whistle against the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) walks off the court after being ejected from the game during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 120-104. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (left) looks on next to Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (right) during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Nets won 122-104. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) talks to his teammates in the second half of their game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) dunks over Philadelphia 76ers guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (20) during the fourth quarter at Target Center. The Timberwolves defeated the 76ers 110-86. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dion Waiters (11) reacts after being fouled during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 96-73. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts after being fouled by the Toronto Raptors during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. The Kings won 102-99. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) high fives center Nikola Vucevic (9) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Amway Center. The Magic won 89-82. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd (right) talks with Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova (left) during the second half against Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 96-73. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) looks to shoot the ball during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Pistons won 106-95. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 120-104. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Trey Lyles (41) goes up for a shot during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Memphis won 102-96. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) gestures after a three point basket during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks won 104-94. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Per @nbawowy KP at 5, Melo at 4 (56 mins) per 36 KP: 22.5 points, 60.5TS%, 10.3 reb Melo 29.6 pts, 63TS%, 8.4 reb https://t.co/l9K9DdXZMS
November 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Louis Williams (23) moves the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) advances the ball upcourt against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Jeff Teague (44) shoots the ball while Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) and guard Jordan McRae (12) defend in the second half of the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. the Indiana Pacers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-93. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Anthony Morrow (2) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) react after a play against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) goes to the basket as Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) defends during the third quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) reacts after being called for a foul during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center the Sacramento Kings defeated the Toronto Raptors 102 to 99. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) reacts to hitting a three-point shot at the first-half buzzer against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) yells at the officials during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) reacts to a foul call in the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. The Hornets defeated the Hawks 100-96. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) reacts to a basket in the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at Spectrum Center. The Hornets defeated the Hawks 100-96. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) pushes the ball up court during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Sacramento Kings 110-105. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) goes to the basket past Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and guard J.R. Smith (5) talk on the bench in the first half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. the Indiana Pacers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-93. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
November 19, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Jamal Crawford (11) celebrates with forward Blake Griffin (32) after scoring a basket against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
