NBA Power Rankings 18: A new top team as the playoffs approach

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147. . 40-20. Previous: 5th. Brooklyn Nets. 5. team

Last Week: Lost to Miami Heat 109-107, Beat New Orleans Pelicans 134-129, Lost to Toronto Raptors 114-103, Beat Boston Celtics 109-104

This Week: 4/25 vs. Phoenix Suns, 4/27 at Toronto Raptors, 4/29 at Indiana Pacers, 4/30 vs. Portland Trail Blazers

There is a real chance the Brooklyn Nets are never healthy this season. James Harden has suffered a setback in his rehab and is now out indefinitely. Kevin Durant continues to leave the games early with injury issues. Yet, the Nets are still impressive, this week splitting their games and taking control of the top seed in the east.

Even without ostensibly their top two players, six Nets averaged double-digits in scoring. Kyrie Irving leads the way as the only All-Star available to play. This week, the mercurial guard averaged 23.8 points, 9.0 assists, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He is doing things with the Nets roster that he failed to do with the Boston Celtics: making everyone better.

Joe Harris has played at an All-Star level for much of the season, shooting an absurd 48.1 percent from distance this week. Landry Shamet and Bruce Brown are the perfect role players to play alongside any combination of the stars on the team. Blake Griffin has been solid, continuing to be one of the best in the league at drawing charges. Give Harden and Durant all the time they need to get healthy. The Nets will just remain dominant in the interim.