NBA Power Rankings Week 11: All-Star break edition

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 09: Kyrie Irving #11 and James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on February 09, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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69. . 15-21. Previous: 23rd. New Orleans Pelicans. 24. team

Last Week: Beat Utah Jazz 129-124, Lost to Chicago Bulls 128-124, Lost to Miami Heat 103-93

This Week: 3/11 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 3/12 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

While the focus of this week’s ranking is to look back on the first half as a whole more than an individual weeks’ worth of games, this week was the perfect encapsulation of why the season has been so frustrating for the New Orleans Pelicans. Beating the Utah Jazz felt like the kind of win that changes the trajectory of your season. Zion Williamson made going directly at Rudy Gobert at the rim look simple. Turning around and losing back-to-back games against the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat set them right back.

Stan Van Gundy has stumbled upon a creative offensive attack built around Williamson running the offense. His numbers are stunning: 25.6 points (15th in the league), 7.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game with a true shooting percentage of 65.0. He is not even 21 years old yet. The evolution of his game comes with a level of confident dominance that is impossible for even the top defenders in the league to contain.

The rest of the roster needs work but there are bright spots. Brandon Ingram is growing increasingly comfortable as the number two option and was a borderline All-Star in his own right. Lonzo Ball is back to the player before the season paused last season (38.7 percent on 7.8 3-point attempts per game) and is earning the contract extension the team has been debating on. Josh Hart is a quality wing off the bench that should not be underestimated. Now they just have to get consistent.