NBA Power Rankings Week 1: The rise of the Brooklyn Nets

Last Week: Beat Golden State Warriors 125-99, Beat the Boston Celtics 123-95

This Week: 12/27/2020 at Charlotte Hornets, 12/28/2020 vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 12/30/2020 vs. Atlanta Hawks, 1/1/2021 vs. Atlanta Hawks

If this is what the healthy version of the Brooklyn Nets are going to look like, the rest of the NBA needs to be hoping for a change back to last season’s injury luck. Anyone who worried about the fit given the ball dominance of their star players has to be feeling silly after two impressive blowouts.

Doing that to the Golden State Warriors is one thing given their defensive woes. The Boston Celtics are another animal and the Nets made them look nearly pedestrian. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant combined for 66 points on 37 shots against Boston, but it was the ball movement that is making everything click. The ball whirls around the key before the best shot is taken, oftentimes from the aforementioned All-NBAers. Caris LeVert looks tailor-made for the sixth man role. If this continues, it will be tough to keep them out of the top spot for long.

Last Week: Lost to LA Clippers 116-109, Beat Dallas Mavericks 138-115

This Week: 12/27/2020 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 12/28/2020 vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 12/30/2020 at San Antonio Spurs, 1/1/2021 at San Antonio Spurs

Even with a loss on the resume, it is not enough to bump the reigning champions out of the top spot. Going against a motivated LA Clippers squad on an emotional night such as the ring ceremony can be a forgivable loss before even considered the immense roster turnover and the way the Los Angeles Lakers continued to fight back. Then Christmas Day happened.

The outcome against the Dallas Mavericks was not in doubt early in the second quarter. Anthony Davis looked to be staking his claim as the new best player in the league. Dennis Schroder and Montrezl Harrell were noticeably more comfortable in their second game with the team. If the biggest issue the team has at the moment is Marc Gasol finding his way, that says it all. The depth behind LA’s top two stars is overwhelming.