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

By Corey Rausch

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)
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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147. . 10-8. Previous: 2nd. Brooklyn Nets. 5. team

Last Week: Beat Milwaukee Bucks 125-123, Lost/2OT to Cleveland Cavaliers 147-135, Lost to Cleveland Cavaliers 125-113, Beat Miami Heat 128-124

This Week: 1/25 vs. Miami Heat, 1/27 at Atlanta Hawks, 1/29 at Oklahoma City Thunder

The quick overreactions to the losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers were fun, if not empty. Expecting a Brooklyn Nets team without anyone down low and is integrating three ball-dominant offensive players into the same offense to immediately be the best team in the league is not fully accepting how the process works.

The Brooklyn Nets are arguably the most talented team in the league. It is going to take time for them to hit their full potential. There will be growing pains. Also, the Cavaliers could just be a terrible matchup for a team not willing to play Bruce Brown when Collin Sexton is going nuclear and there is no one down low to keep Jarrett Allen and Andre Drummond from feasting on the glass.

Every game for the Nets is going to be entertaining, to say the least. There is very little defense but even the best defensive teams are left helpless against this offensive onslaught. So far this season the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers rank eighth and second in defensive rating and they allowed 125, points, 135 points in double overtime and 113 points to Brooklyn this week.

James Harden is so far playing well alongside Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving is playing well alongside James Harden and Kevin Durant is capable of playing well alongside bags of dirt. Harden needs to get better at picking his spots when he shares the court with Irving but the offense is explosive. Betting on talent is always a safe bet.