NBA Power Rankings Week 2: The rise of the Atlanta Hawks

Last Week: Beat Milwaukee Bucks 130-110, Beat Cleveland Cavaliers 95-86, Lost to Toronto Raptors 100-83, Beat the Indiana Pacers 106-102

This Week: 1/4/2021 at Atlanta Hawks, 1/6/2021 vs. Utah Jazz, 1/8/2021 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

New York Knicks, playoff contender decimator? While it is still so early in the season, it is hard to imagine the Knicks getting wins against one of the hottest teams in the league as well as the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers at any point in the season, let alone over a six-day span. They were a Toronto Raptors get-right game away from an undefeated week. What is happening?

Tom Thibodeau getting something out of Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton and RJ Barrett seems to be that something. Randle struggled against the front line of the Pacers but has otherwise looked like the offensive threat the team was hoping to get when they lavished him with a lucrative contract two summers ago.

Payton has been the clear answer at point guard for a team begging for one with rookie Immanuel Quickley missing time. Barrett especially looked impressive on Saturday with 25 points on 4-of-5 shooting from deep. If he can string more games like that together, he may be realizing the potential that had him go number three overall in the 2019 Draft.

The fact that this team is getting wins without their top draft pick, Obi Toppin, is somewhat mystifying. It does not seem like they should be taking these games but they end up walking away with a comfortable W. Check back next week to see if things start making more sense.