NBA Power Rankings Week 3: Are the Golden State Warriors back?

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 04: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors is congratulated by teammates after he made a three-point basket against the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center on January 04, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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7-3. Previous: 1st. Los Angeles Lakers. 1. team. 20.

Last Week: Beat 108-94 Memphis Grizzlies, Beat Memphis Grizzlies 94-92, Lost to San Antonio Spurs 118-109, Beat Chicago Bulls 117-115

This Week: 1/10 at Houston Rockets, 1/12 at Houston Rockets, 1/13 at Oklahoma City Thunder, 1/15 vs. New Orleans Pelicans

It may be easier to be critical of the Los Angeles Lakers if they were not the reigning champions. They drop about a game a week and are often closer with lesser opponents than skeptics would like to see. Alex Caruso missed two games and Kentavious-Caldwell Pope missed the entire week. So this is not a complete Lakers team. So why are they still at the top?

Simply put, they feel like the only true contender. They may regularly be going through the motions but those motions are enough to be the best team in the regular season and then they will be able to be on the same page come the postseason.

Only two players are playing more than 32 minutes per game (Lebron James at 33.3 and Anthony Davis at 32.8). Davis is playing like a possible Defensive Player of the Year again and James is the consummate leader this team needs. Dennis Schroeder has been about everything LA could ask for and has been relied upon more than you would like given the aforementioned absences.

Montrezl Harrell has seen a dip in overall production but his rebounding rate is up and he has changed the entire dynamic of their reserve unit. When the rest of the guards get back, the depth will thrive. For once, the Lakers are not the most talked-about team in the league. For now, they stay taking care of business.

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