NBA Power Rankings Week 7: The revenge of the Los Angeles Lakers

Last Week: Lost to Los Angeles Lakers 107-99, Lost to Dallas Mavericks 122-116, Lost to Utah Jazz 112-91, Beat Toronto Raptors 132-121

This Week: 2/10 at Dallas Mavericks, 2/12 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 2/13 vs. Indiana Pacers

This was always going to be a brutal week for the Atlanta Hawks. They have had plenty of issues with health and were facing down the top teams in the Western Conference, a reeling Dallas Mavericks squad in desperate need of a win and the improving Toronto Raptors. The fact that the week ended with one win turned into a minor miracle.

John Collins, Trae Young and Clint Capela have been quite good. Collins was actually the best player for the Hawks this week, something that is a rare statement for this team. Against the Dallas Mavericks, he looked like a star, putting up 35 points and 12 rebounds. He was the leading scorer for Atlanta and did what he could to keep the team in games.

All that praise aside, it is telling that the one win of the week came in a game where he was tied as the third leading scorer and Clint Capela and Trae Young were clearly better. Capela does not get enough hype around the league but he is having a great start to the season. He has had double-digit rebounds in every game this season except for his first appearance, where he grabbed nine. He is leading the league in rebounds and isn’t slowing down soon.