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

Last Week: Lost to Dallas Mavericks 124-73, Beat Minnesota Timberwolves 124-101, Beat Portland Trail Blazers 128-105, Lost to the Utah Jazz 106-100

This Week: 1/3/2021 at Phoenix Suns, 1/5/2021 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 1/6/2021 at Golden State Warriors, 1/8/2021 at Golden State Warriors

It is quite a challenge to be positive about the LA Clippers. Sure, they have impressive victories over the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Portland Trail Blazers. They also lost by 51 points to the Dallas Mavericks and again to the Utah Jazz to end the week.

While some other teams can be afforded time to figure things out and be forgiven for inconsistencies, the Clippers have painted themselves into a corner with their mouths. Yes, the loss to the Mavs came without Kawhi Leonard but let’s be real. The fact that they did not narrow the gap in the second half (instead it even grew by a point) is telling. The team seems to lack something.

After a season last year where they at times looked dominant, at others looked disjointed and ultimately ended with disappointment, the NBA at large was hoping to see something different. This Clippers team looks to be much the same that they were last year. They have overwhelming talent on the surface.

Luke Kennard will not get talked about enough, but his playmaking is worthy of attention and might be the best in that regard for this team. Paul George will look like a former MVP candidate on some nights and it will be hard to see him at all in others. It will be impossible for NBA Twitter to unseen whatever that mask that Kawhi Leonard donned was.

This is likely too scathing of a review for a team with championship potential, especially given some of the other odd losses taken by other teams. Such is the burden of expectations unmet.