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

Last Week: Lost to Atlanta Hawks 128-120, Lost to Golden State Warriors 116-106, Beat Boston Celtics 96-83

This Week: 1/3/2021 vs. Boston Celtics, 1/4/2021 at Milwaukee Bucks, 1/6/2021 at Milwaukee Bucks, 1/8/2021 vs. Phoenix Suns

The Detroit Pistons finally got a win to cap off the week. They have looked competitive in every game so far and have given the fans who are watching hope for the future. With Blake Griffin missing two of the games this week and Derrick Rose missing one, some of the younger players on the roster were hoisted into the spotlight.

Saddiq Bey looks ready and is contributing from beyond the 3-point arc. Isaiah Stewart is a bundle of untamed energy. Killian Hayes looks to be the least ready but still shows flashes in terms of passing and defensive effort. Things take time but Detroit is at least fun bad when they embrace the youth. Josh Jackson and Jerami Grant have been revelations and are giving more confidence to fans who want to believe in Troy Weaver.

All that positivity aside, the team is not going to win many games. The overall talent level is just not there relative to the rest of the league. The issue with having three young rookies getting significant minutes is that the team will tend to be mistake-prone.

Things get worse when veterans like Rose are also in a slump to start the season. Their schedule is brutal over the coming weeks so they will likely be piling up Ls.