NBA Power Rankings set up for epic Milwaukee Bucks-Los Angeles Lakers clash
By Phil Watson
Last week: Won at Golden State 110-102, won at Phoenix 115-108, lost to Milwaukee 127-114, beat Washington 128-111
This week: Monday vs. Miami, Wednesday at Oklahoma City, Friday at Cleveland, Saturday vs. Sacramento
The Memphis Grizzlies, while juggling the health status of rookies Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke, didn’t have a bad week at all last week, going 3-1 and getting consecutive road wins at Golden State and Phoenix. Prior to that, the Grizzlies had lost nine of 10.
Jaren Jackson Jr. shot well, averaging 24.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 steals in 28.5 minutes per game, shooting 57.1 percent overall and hitting 45.7 percent on 8.8 3-point attempts a night. Jackson went nuclear in Friday’s loss to the Bucks, scoring a career-high 43 points. Still, it wouldn’t hurt for a 6-foot-11 guy to maybe get one offensive rebound in four games.
Last week: Lost to Detroit 105-103, lost at Milwaukee 127-112, lost at Philadelphia 116-109
This week: Sunday vs. Orlando, Tuesday vs. Brooklyn, Wednesday at Minnesota, Friday at Golden State
The New Orleans Pelicans‘ descent to the depths of the Western Conference continued unabated last week, with a narrow loss at home to the Pistons before road losses at Milwaukee and Philadelphia running their losing streak to 11 games, tying a franchise record set twice previously in a single season (Nov. 23-Dec. 14, 2004, and Dec. 5-22, 2012).
Despite the struggles, Brandon Ingram continues to bring it just about every night, scoring 32 points in the loss at Philadelphia and going for a double-double at Milwaukee. In the three games last week, Ingram averaged 29.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 34.3 minutes per game, shooting 50.0 percent overall, dropping 36.4 percent (8-of-22) from deep and going 20-for-22 at the foul line.