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

By Corey Rausch

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)
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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Clippers. 3. team. 77. . 15-5. Previous: 2nd

Last Week: Beat Oklahoma City Thunder 108-100, Lost to Atlanta Hawks 108-99, Beat Miami Heat 109-105, Beat Orlando Magic 116-90

This Week: 1/31 at New York Knicks, 2/2 at Brooklyn Nets, 2/3 at Cleveland Cavaliers, 2/5 vs. Boston Celtics

The LA Clippers are off to such a hot start that they were even able to weather the issues of health and safety protocols. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard each missed two of the four games this week, including the loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Going 3-1 this week while dealing with those kinds of issues regardless means they are staying right near the top.

Stunningly, the leading scorer for players who played in all four games was Reggie Jackson. One of the last players to sign during the offseason is now finding himself as an irreplaceable part of this roster, as hard as that may be to believe. Lou Williams and Luke Kennard have struggled with the other in the lineup, averaging 10.5 points and 7.8 points per game, respectively, this week.

The Clippers are off to a similar elite start to last season. They are top-10 in offensive and defensive rating to this point, one of only three teams that are in the top 10 of both. The other two are coming up on this list, hammering home just how elite this company is. While the post-season will ultimately be what determines the fate of the Clippers, this is an important step forward.