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

Last Week: Lost to Indiana Pacers 108-107, Beat Indiana Pacers 1116-111, Beat Memphis Grizzlies 126-107, Lost to Detroit Pistons 96-93

This Week: 1/3/2021 at Detroit Pistons, 1/4/2021 at Toronto Raptors, 1/6/2021 at Miami Heat, 1/8/2021 vs. Washington Wizards

The past week has been a mixed bag for the Boston Celtics, even beyond the fact that they split their four games. They dropped the first game against the Indiana Pacers without Victor Oladipo in the fold. That outing was followed up with beating a fully loaded Pacers squad, handing them their first loss of the season.

Against the Memphis Grizzlies, it quickly turned into the Jaylen Brown show. He dropped a blistering 42 points on the short-handed Grizz. Brown is the focus of this week for this section. He has clearly taken a step forward this season as the secondary scorer without Kemba Walker in the lineup. The fact that he is able to be the primary offensive weapon on nights that Jayson Tatum doesn’t have it going is essential to Boston’s success.

Far from a finished project, the Celtics seem to be a team in need of a move of sorts over the course of this season. Walker’s eventual return will be key to tying the roster together but they need more.

Tristan Thompson is great on the glass most times but was obliterated by Mason Plumlee and Isaiah Stewart against the Pistons. Peyton Pritchard is going to be a fan favorite for his tenacity but his current important role off the bench for this team is telling of their lack of depth.