Big move up NBA Power Rankings in Week 4 for Houston Rockets
By Phil Watson
. 4-9. Previous: . Atlanta Hawks. 29. team. 125
Last week: Won at Denver 125-121, lost at Phoenix 128-112, lost at Clippers 150-101, lost at Lakers 122-101
This week: Wednesday vs. Milwaukee, Friday at Detroit, Saturday vs. Toronto
The Atlanta Hawks got their week off to a flying start with a big win at Denver, but ended it with three straight lopsided losses to finish their Western trip with a 1-4 record.
The 150 points the Hawks surrendered to the LA Clippers on Saturday night marked the second-most points the franchise has ever allowed in a regulation game, exceeded only by the 156 the Hawks surrendered to the Cincinnati Royals on Dec. 5, 1969. Atlanta did allow 168 in a quadruple-overtime loss to the Bulls on March 1 of this year.
Trae Young continued to leave scorched earth in his wake, averaging 28.5 points, 9.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 36.3 minutes per game last week, shooting 45.5 percent overall and knocking down 38.2 percent from deep (13-for-34). But he also averaged 5.5 turnovers per game, including eight in Sunday’s loss to the Lakers.
Young went off for a season-high 42 points in the Monday win over the Nuggets, adding 11 assists while hitting 8-of-13 from behind the arc. For the season, Young is averaging 27.0 points, 8.6 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 33.8 minutes a night, shooting 44.7 percent overall and hitting 36.9 percent on 8.6 3-point attempts per game.
211. . 5-8. Previous: . Memphis Grizzlies. 28. team
Last week: Won at San Antonio 113-109, won at Charlotte 119-117, beat Utah 107-106, lost to Denver 131-114
This week: Tuesday vs. Golden State, Saturday vs. Lakers
ran off three consecutive wins this week before they careened back to Earth in a loss to the Nuggets on Sunday that featured the host Grizzlies trailing by as much as 33 points and getting worked over 44-17 in the second quarter alone.
The blowout took a little of the luster off what was the best week of the season for Memphis, with rookie sensation Ja Morant hitting a game-winner at Charlotte and Solomon Hill making a game-saving defensive play to beat the Jazz.
Jonas Valanciunas had a terrific week, averaging 15.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 25.6 minutes per game, knocking down 68.3 percent overall and making 2-of-5 from deep.
That’s not too bad for a guy who has been denied a championship ring from the Raptors. Valanciunas was one of three players dealt to Memphis at the deadline in the trade that sent Marc Gasol to Toronto.