NBA Power Rankings Week 5: How good are the Utah Jazz?

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 21: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz in action during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 21, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

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27. . 8-9. Previous: 24th. New York Knicks. 15. team

Last Week: Beat Boston Celtics 105-75, Beat Orlando Magic 91-84, Beat Golden State Warriors 119-104, Lost to Sacramento Kings 103-94

This Week: 1/24 at Portland Trail Blazers, 1/26 at Utah Jazz, 1/29 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Three wins this week has the New York Knicks feeling good again. The best part about the improvements this week is it was in large part due to a strong week from second-year star RJ Barrett. Against three playoff contenders (and the Sacramento Kings) he posted a line of 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. He is thriving in this new role and has made a subtle shift from last season.

Last season, Barrett would find difficulty stringing together strong performances, as is the case for many rookies. He would look like a future star one game and then disappear for a few games. The trend has flipped this season as he is contributing efficiently more often than not. Simply doing that more consistently is enough to get the fans excited about what Barrett could be.

The rest of the roster is coming together too. Alec Burks returned this week, out of the lineup since Dec. 27. He brings some much-needed shooting (an inflated 52.2 percent on 4.6 attempts from distance per game this year) and helps bump some of the lesser Knicks out of the lineup.

Julius Randle continues to look like an All-Star (20.8 points, 15.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.0 assists per game this week) and Mitchell Robinson is continuing to improve. Rookies Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley get better by the game.