NBA Power Rankings Week 1: Lakers woes and other first impressions

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the basketball court together during the second half of a preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

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Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies. Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images /

Previous: 17th. Memphis Grizzlies. 12. team. 211. . 2-0

Last Week: (W) over Cleveland, (W) over LA Clippers

The Boston Celtics were the biggest fallers of this week’s Power Rankings, dropping from 12th to 17th, and the Memphis Grizzlies swapped places with them as the biggest risers. They have looked very good through two games, with Ja Morant absolutely balling out thus far.

The third-year point guard is ready for his All-Star moment. He is averaging 32.5 points per game to go along with seven assists and four rebounds. He has made a whopping 24 2-point field goals in two games; he is tied with the reigning MVP Nikola Jokic for first in that area, with bigs and forwards filling the list below him. He even had a nasty block of Lauri Markkanen that deserves mention as well.

The Grizzlies haven’t played a top-tier contender, but they have two comfortable wins and one of those against a team most picked to finish above Memphis this season. They aren’t consolidating anything; they are a deep team on the rise.

First Impression: The new starters. Although their roster core has not changed much from last season, this team does have three new starters. Steven Adams is bowling opponents over by racking up 11.5 rebounds per game, including 5.5 offensive rebounds per game (second before Jakob Poeltl). Second-year wing Demond Bane is averaging 20.5 points per game and showing off a whole bag of tricks as much more than a spot-up 3-and-D wing. De’Anthony Melton is finally getting his day in the sun as well, putting up 21 points per game, hitting 57.1 percent of his 3-pointers and is a combined +32 in two games.