NBA Power Rankings Week 6: Are the Los Angeles Lakers on top?

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers disputes a personal foul called against him during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 30, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Lakers defeat the Celtics 96-95. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

5. team. 147. . 13-8. Previous: 5th. Brooklyn Nets

Last Week: Beat Miami Heat 98-85, Beat/OT Atlanta Hawks 132-128, Beat Oklahoma City Thunder 147-125

This Week: 1/31 at Washington Wizards, 2/2 vs. LA Clippers, 2/5 vs. Toronto Raptors, 2/6 at Philadelphia 76ers

If there were any doubts the Brooklyn Nets were for real, the offense had to assuage some of those concerns. No matter what you want to make of the Thunder defense, 147 points in a regulation game is astounding. Without Kevin Durant on the court, nine Nets finished in double figures.

All three stars averaged more than 20 points per game this week and they are coalescing quicker than could have been expected. The role players are falling into place around them. Bruce Brown is growing before fans’ eyes, blossoming into the role he was born to play.

The Nets are slowly improving as a rebounding team as well. They have climbed to tenth in the league. As Brooklyn crawls up the defensive rating rankings (up to 23rd), their championship chances steadily improve. If they can improve to a middle-of-the-pack team with an offensive assault such as this, their chances at the top prize are real. Currently, they rank only behind the Milwaukee Bucks in offensive rating and that is while the three All-Stars are getting used to playing together.

The Brooklyn Nets are on the path to greatness. With showdowns against the LA Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers, we may just get a preview of what that looks like this week.