The NBA is off to one of the weirdest starts in league history. The standings are all over the place, and a lot of teams that were supposed to be great are struggling.
A big part of this can be attributed to offense around the league hitting historic lows. Numbers are down across the board, and both the players and teams are feeling the effects.
Stars such as Trae Young, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, and Devin Booker have struggled out of the gate. In turn, their teams are not nearly as high in the standings as they’d like to be.
Even teams such as the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets have gotten off to rough starts this season. Most teams are struggling to see the same success they have had in previous years.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: A weird start to the season had led to weird results
That being said, some teams are thriving this season. The Philadelphia 76ers haven’t slowed down at all, and interestingly enough, their three-point shooting seems to have improved for some reason.
In addition, teams such as the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers are beginning to turn things around. This past week was a huge one for some of the top teams in the league.
Another interesting development is the depth of the Eastern Conference. A lot of teams that were expected to be in the lottery have emerged as potential play-in hopefuls (shoutout to the Cavaliers and Raptors).
Overall, the NBA power rankings could look a lot different this week than they did just a week ago. So, without further adieu, where does your favorite team rank in this week’s power rankings?
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 30. Detroit Pistons
Last week: (0-4) – @ BKN (L), vs. MIL (L), vs. PHI (L), vs. BKN (L)
Offensive rating: 96.5 (30th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 108.4 (20th in NBA)
The biggest storyline for the Detroit Pistons this past week was that Cade Cunningham finally made his debut. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been playing as well as some fans want him to.
His shooting splits are in the dirt right now, but sometimes rookies struggle right out of the gate. Even though he was the number one pick, it’s important to be patient.
Regardless, the Pistons have looked awful so far this year, and their offense is a big reason for that. They are shooting under 30 percent from three on the year (27.7 percent) and just can’t seem to get things going.
Going 0-4 last week didn’t help their case, but they went through a gauntlet of insanely tough opponents. Even so, there aren’t many bright spots on the roster right now.
Season outlook: Being this low in the power rankings isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the Pistons. They were projected to be a lottery team going into the season, and that’s a good thing for them. The only real goal Detroit should have right now is to help Cunningham get things going a bit after a slow start.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 29. New Orleans Pelicans
Last week: (0-3) – @ PHX (L), @ SAC (L), @ GSW (L)
Offensive rating: 101.8 (24th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 112.5 (28th in NBA)
The New Orleans Pelicans may be the most disappointing team of the season so far. Losing Zion Williamson hurt them, but there’s no reason for them to be this bad this year.
They have an All-Star-level player in Brandon Ingram (although he’s missed the last four games), Jonas Valanciunas is playing incredible, and decent supporting pieces in Devonte’ Graham, Nickel Alexander-Walker, and Josh Hart (who has also been dealing with an injury).
Injuries aside, it doesn’t even seem like the Pelicans are putting up a fight half the time. Last week, they lost their three games by a combined total of 66 points. That is absolutely unacceptable.
Getting Williamson back could help in theory, but with his ongoing foot injury along with the poor shape he’s been seen in, it’s looking like he may not even suit up at all this season.
Season outlook: As of now, it’s looking like the New Orleans Pelicans are destined for a lottery pick. Their only win so far this season came against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and it took 20-point games from three of New Orleans’ top players to get it done.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 28. Houston Rockets
Last week: (0-4) – @ LAL (L), @ LAL (L), @ PHX (L), @ DEN (L)
Offensive rating: 99.7 (28th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 106.3 (14th in NBA)
The Houston Rockets’ season is going to be defined by their youth and the trades they make at the deadline. Both of those things are going fairly well right now.
Christian Wood looks great, and could honestly be a trade candidate at the deadline if they want to enter a full-on rebuild. Meanwhile, Jalen Green has picked things up after a slow start, and Alperen Sengun still looks solid.
At the same time, Eric Gordon is playing so well that Houston could get a solid return for him in a trade. The same can be said for DJ Augustin as well.
All that being said, the Rockets are not a good basketball team this season. They are too young and inexperienced, and that, unfortunately, leads to losing a lot of games.
Season outlook: Similar to the Pistons, being low in the power rankings is a good thing for the Rockets. They are looking to rebuild around their young core, and adding another top lottery talent is the best way to do that. They are headed straight for a top-five pick this season.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 27. Orlando Magic
Last week: (1-2) – @ MIN (W), vs. BOS (L), vs. SAS (L)
Offensive rating: 101.7 (25th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 110.4 (27th in NBA)
Despite the poor record, the Orlando Magic have a few good things going for them. Namely, both Cole Anthony and rookie Franz Wagner have been playing insanely well.
Orlando’s week was highlighted by a big-time win over the Timberwolves in which Anthony looked amazing. He had 31 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists in the victory.
Their team is extremely young, and therefore they probably won’t end up winning a ton of games. This is another team that is fully focused on developing their young players.
Teams are also anxiously awaiting the return of players such as Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac. The Magic have had a tough time with injuries in recent years.
Season outlook: Just like most of the teams down in this realm of the rankings, the Magic don’t really care about their record. They simply want to let their young guys flourish. A trip to the lottery is all but certain for Orlando this season, and that’s exactly what they want.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 26. Oklahoma City Thunder
Last week: (1-2) – @ LAC (L), @ LAL (W)
Offensive rating: 98.0 (29th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 108.9 (22nd in NBA)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is single-handedly carrying the Oklahoma City Thunder up these power rankings. He has been absolutely incredible for the past few games.
Not only did he put up a solid performance against the Clippers, but he led the Thunder to a huge upset win over the Lakers. He’ll be the face of that franchise for years to come.
The Thunder have other promising young players, too, such as Josh Giddey and Lu Dort. However, their clear plan is to tank for a few years and acquire draft picks.
That being said, they have been more competitive than some may have thought so far this year. Still, though, they aren’t good enough to be any higher on this list.
Season outlook: Until a legitimate second star emerges next to Gilgeous-Alexander, this team is going to find themselves towards the top of the lottery. They have what seems like a million picks, so their plan of “tanking to the top” is as clear as day. They’ll be a bottom-three team in the West.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 25. San Antonio Spurs
Last week: (1-2) – @ IND (L), vs. DAL (L), @ ORL (W)
Offensive rating: 105.8 (19th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 104.5 (11th in NBA)
The San Antonio Spurs have been a super weird team to account for in the past few seasons. They don’t have a good enough roster to compete, but Gregg Popovich is still one of the greatest head coaches of all time.
San Antonio does have a pretty nice young squad this year, though. Of course, that young core is led by defensive-minded point guard Dejounte Murray.
Murray had a great stretch of games this past week, capped off with a 20-point, 11-rebound, seven-assist game in their win vs. the Magic.
In addition, players such as Keldon Johnson and Jakob Poeltl deserve a shoutout as well. Johnson is scoring the ball well, and Poeltl is one of the most underrated defenders in the league.
Season outlook: As mentioned, it’s usually tough to gauge how good the Spurs will be by the end of the season. That being said, the more-than-likely outcome this year is that they end up back in the lottery. A rebuild could be on the horizon in San Antonio, that is, if it hasn’t already begun.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 24. Minnesota Timberwolves
Last week: (0-3) – vs. LAC (L), vs. LAC (L), vs. ORL (L)
Offensive rating: 100.5 (27th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 103.9 (9th in NBA0
The Minnesota Timberwolves got off to a very hot start to this season. Unfortunately, they have cooled down significantly since then, thus sending them down in the rankings.
Minnesota’s season has been highlighted by the play of Karl-Anthony Towns, who looks absolutely phenomenal so far this year. Second-year man Anthony Edwards has looked solid, too.
On the flip side, D’Angelo Russell has been struggling to shoot efficiently. In a weird twist of fate, the Wolves have been riding the coattails of their defense this year.
The dagger that sealed their fate in the power rankings this week was a blowout loss to the Magic, who are actually lower than them on this list. Losing to a team that young and inexperienced is an absolute killer.
Season outlook: The Timberwolves should be in a place where they are competing for the playoffs by now – but they are not. They’re still super young, but Towns is only getting older. It’s only a matter of time before he gets fed up and wants to leave (or at least that’s what his like Tweets told us).
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 23. Indiana Pacers
Last week: (2-1) – vs. SAS (W), vs. NYK (W), @ POR (L)
Offensive rating: 109.2 (8th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 109.9 (25th in NBA)
The Indiana Pacers were one of the many teams who got off to a rough start to the season. However, they have been picking up the pace again lately.
They went 2-1 last week, including a solid win over the New York Knicks. Indiana’s loss to the Trailblazers isn’t ideal, but it was only by four, so it’s not the end of the world.
Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis are leading the team in scoring, but rookie Chris Duarte is the story of the season for them so far. He’s been an elite three-point shooter for them, which is something they desperately needed.
Caris LeVert recently returned to the lineup as well, which is giving them a much-needed boost. He’s been scoring in double digits on a nightly basis for them
Season outlook: The Pacers are always a team who tries to fight for the playoffs but never ends up making much noise once they get there. Despite this, their organization refuses to hit the rebuild button. It could be a long year for Indiana fans.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 22. Sacramento Kings
Last week: (2-2) – @ DAL (L), @ UTA (L), vs. NOP (W), vs. CHA (W)
Offensive rating: 111.7 (5th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 109.4 (24th in NBA)
The Sacramento Kings were 2-2 last week, but their two wins were against teams that have been struggling lately. In fairness, though, the win vs. the Hornets was an absolute blowout.
Harrison Barnes has been leading the charge for Sactown. He’s been an absolute sharpshooter for them and is their go-to guy when it comes to late-game scenarios.
De’Aaron Fox continues to struggle, but a lot of players are finding the same issues due to the new rule changes. Davion Mitchell picked up the pace during the Charlotte game, too.
They sit at 5-5 on the year and continue to be one of the more mediocre teams in the league. In true mediocre fashion, the Kings remain at the number 22 spot in the rankings this week.
Season outlook: Unfortunately for Kings fans, this might be another season where they are unable to make the playoffs. Their current playoff drought is the longest in the entire league. It’s particularly frustrating for Sacramento because they are actually trying to win games, but they just can’t seem to put things together.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 21. Cleveland Cavaliers
Last week: (3-0) – @ CHA (W), vs. POR (W), @ TOR (W)
Offensive rating: 106.1 (18th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 106.1 (12th in NBA)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the hottest teams in the league. Unfortunately, they were only able to jump up two spots from last week’s rankings, despite their recent success.
First off, their three wins are all by three points or less. This shows some serious grit and toughness, but it’s not like they’re blowing teams out of the water.
The Cavs are also a super young squad, which is fun but also leads to the belief that this level of success isn’t sustainable. That being said, Evan Mobley truly is a fun player to watch.
Some fans may be upset that the Cavaliers aren’t above some other teams on this list, but they need to do a bit more before that happens. Maybe they’ll take a jump next week.
Season outlook: Despite the recent success, the Cavaliers still projet to be a lottery team. Looking through the lens with recency bias will only get fans’ hopes up for nothing. However, a play-in bid isn’t completely off the table, though it is probably unlikely.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 20. Charlotte Hornets
Last week: (1-3) – vs. POR (W), vs. CLE (L), vs. GSW (L), vs. SAC (L)
Offensive rating: 110.6 (6th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 113.3 (30th in NBA)
This might be one of the biggest drop-offs of any team from last week to this week. The Charlotte Hornets were one of the hottest teams in the league to start the year, but they have come down to earth in a big way.
Not only did they go 1-3 last week, but two of their losses were huge blowouts. Their losses to the Warriors and Kings saw them lose by a combined 52 points.
The real culprit as to why they are losing is their lack of defense. Their offense has looked solid, but they currently have the worst defense in the league in terms of defensive rating.
Miles Bridges continue to be the star of the show for them, but they’re getting solid contributions across the board. It’s their defense that’s just been killing them lately.
Season outlook: One rough week doesn’t mean the Hornets can’t compete for a playoff spot, but things are a lot less certain than they were a week ago. If they don’t get their defensive issues ironed out, then they might struggle to achieve their playoff goals.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 19. Atlanta Hawks
Last week: (1-3) – vs. WAS (W), @ BKN (L), vs. UTA (L), @ PHX (L)
Offensive rating: 107.9 (11th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 110.2 (26th in NBA)
After a run to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Atlanta Hawks have been having a tough go of things. They picked up a solid win to start the week, but then followed it up with three straight losses.
Granted, they have been playing some tough opponents, but they took Ls nonetheless. Trae Young has been affected heavily by the new NBA rule changes.
He even made sure to let his thoughts be known about the subject. Clearly, those changes, among other things, are affecting how well the Hawks have been playing.
They drop a decent amount in the rankings this week as they currently sit at 4-6 on the year. There’s plenty of time to turn things around, but things are looking rough at the moment.
Season outlook: The Hawks should be a playoff team this year, and they very likely will be. A lot of great teams around the league are dealing with some early-season struggles. That being said, if they don’t turn things around soon, it won’t be long before people start to question whether or not their ECF run last year was a fluke.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 18. Portland Trailblazers
Last week: (2-3) – @ CHA (L), @ PHI (L), @ CLE (L), vs. IND (W), vs. LAL (W)
Offensive rating: 110.4 (7th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 109.0 (23rd in NBA)
The Portland Trailblazers are having a rocky season so far this year. They started off last week with three straight losses, but then followed that up with two wins.
Their win against the Lakers seems particularly impressive, but LeBron James did not play and Anthony Davis only played around eight minutes due to a non-COVID-related illness.
Damian Lillard has been having a rough shooting year, so it has been up to CJ McCollum to carry the load. As usual, their offense has been solid, but they are struggling to defend.
They only end up falling a couple of spots in this week’s rankings, but they need to stay consistent now. Building on this current win streak should be their goal.
Season outlook: When Lillard committed to staying with the team, they should have had championship aspirations. However, that’s not quite how things turned out. Lillard is struggling, and the team as a whole is looking just like it has in recent years – a playoff team, but nothing more.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 17. Boston Celtics
Last week: (2-2) – vs. CHI (L), @ ORL (W), @ MIA (W), @ DAL (L)
Offensive rating: 104.5 (20th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 106.3 (13th in NBA)
The Boston Celtics have been super disappointing so far this season. They picked things up a bit last week, but a Luka Doncic dagger killed them last night.
Their high point of the week was a dominant victory over the Miami Heat, but their low point was a devastating loss vs. the Chicago Bulls. One was super good, but the other was a horrendous loss.
Boston has also been having some internal issues this past week. Marcus Smart called out Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown publicly, leading to a supposed “players only” meeting.
Last week was actually one of the best weeks of Boston’s season so far, but a terrible loss to Chicago and some internal issues still hurt their ranking. That, along with other teams playing super well last week, caused the C’s to fall.
Season outlook: This should have easily been a playoff year for the Celtics, but Tatum’s struggles have hurt them mightily. Throw in an injury to Jaylen Brown, and this team is in the danger zone. Regardless, they should still make the play-in at the very least, and one good week could see them skyrocket up these rankings.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 16. Memphis Grizzlies
Last week: (2-1) – vs. DEN (W), vs. DEN (W), @ WAS (L)
Offensive rating: 107.2 (16th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 112.7 (29th in NBA)
The Memphis Grizzlies have been solid this year, mostly because Ja Morant has been playing out of his mind. He’s not only the frontrunner for Most Improved Player, but he could be a sleeper MVP candidate.
They took home two huge wins vs. the Nuggets last week, who are a pretty solid team. Unfortunately, a blowout loss to the Wizards was not a great way to cap things off last week.
Outside of Morant, Memphis has been getting solid production from second-year wing Desmond Bane. His scoring numbers are way up this year.
They are a super gritty team that is ahead of schedule in their rebuild. However, due to the success of other teams, Memphis actually falls in this week’s rankings.
Season outlook: This should be another year where the Grizzlies are able to make noise in the play-in. Reaching the playoffs outright is a solid goal, but the play-in seems like the more realistic occurrence. Regardless, they will be a tough out in the postseason.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 15. Toronto Raptors
Last week: (2-1) – @ NYK (W), @ WAS (W), vs. CLE (L)
Offensive rating: 107.7 (13th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 103.4 (7th in NBA)
When the season was first getting underway, the Toronto Raptors looked awful. They started the year 1-4 and it was looking like they had a one-way ticket to the lottery.
Well, things have turned around significantly in Toronto since then, and they added onto it last week with a 2-1 record. For a team that many pegged as a lottery team, they look really good.
The play of rookie Scottie Barnes has a lot to do with that, but the team as a whole has just been very solid. OG Anunoby is another name that deserves some serious credit.
Pascal Siakam should be back very soon, and this team could surprise people. They jump up a few spots in this week’s power rankings.
Season outlook: Before last season, the Raptors were a perennial playoff team. Last year’s failures and then losing Kyle Lowry this offseason made most people believe they’d be bad this year. Now, they are looking like a potential play-in team at the very least.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 14. Los Angeles Lakers
Last week: (2-2) – vs. HOU (W), vs. HOU (W), vs. OKC (L), @ POR (L)
Offensive rating: 107.4 (14th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 107.2 (16th in NBA)
Los Angeles Lakers fans would have never expected to see their favorite team this far down in any power rankings when the year started, but here we are.
LeBron James is injured at the moment, and Anthony Davis left the game last night due to a non-COVID-related illness. That game resulted in a blowout loss to the Trailblazers.
On top of that, Russell Westbrook still continues to struggle mightily. The Lakers are getting all of the bad parts of Westbrook’s game right now, and not much of the good.
Instead of still being the defensive juggernaut they have been in the past couple of years, they are actually a subpar defense. They continue to slide in the power rankings.
Season outlook: Realistically speaking, the Lakers still have the star power to make a deep playoff run. That being said, they have some serious issues they need to iron out. If they want to have any chance of winning a title with this Big 3, things have to change in a big way moving forward.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 13. Washington Wizards
Last week: (1-2) – @ ATL (L), vs. TOR (L), vs. MEM (W)
Offensive rating: 107.7 (12th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 104.0 (10th in NBA)
The Washington Wizards were one of the bigger surprises to start the season. They have cooled off a bit since then, but they’re still a very solid team this year.
As of now, it seems as though they won the Russell Westbrook trade. The depth it provided them with has allowed them to be a much more complete basketball team.
Even as Bradley Beal continues to struggle with efficiency, the team is putting together solid wins. Players such as Montrezl Harrell and Kyle Kuzma have played huge roles.
A 1-2 week isn’t ideal, but their win vs. the Grizzlies was a huge one. They end up moving up a couple of spots, mainly due to other team’s ongoing struggles.
Season outlook: Going into the year, the Wizards projected to be a lottery team, and Beal was supposedly going to request a trade. Now, it looks like they could fight for a spot in the play-in. Maybe Beal ends up staying in Washington longer than most expected.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 12. LA Clippers
Last week: (3-0) – vs. OKC (W), @ MIN (W), @ MIN (W)
Offensive rating: 103.3 (22nd in NBA)
Defensive rating: 100.2 (3rd in NBA)
Going into the season, a lot of people thought the LA Clippers would struggle without Kawhi Leonard. Well, they were right, but the team picked things up a bit last week.
Sure, all three wins were against subpar opponents, but wins are wins in the NBA. The Clippers took care of business when they needed to, which is a lot harder than it sounds.
Paul George is putting up numbers similar to his near-MVP year in Oklahoma City. He’s stepping up in a big way with Leonard likely sidelined for the entire season.
They’ve been getting solid contributions from their depth pieces as well. Their recent success allows them to make a big leap in the rankings this week.
Season outlook: As mentioned, a lot of people believed the Clippers would struggle with Leonard out. While that is true to some degree, they should still easily be a play-in team at the very least. In reality, they could probably be a low-end playoff team this year.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 11. Milwaukee Bucks
Last week: (1-2) – vs. UTA (L), @ DET (W), vs. NYK (L)
Offensive rating: 106.5 (17th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 107.5 (18th in NBA)
To be honest, this ranking is probably a bit generous for how poorly the Milwaukee Bucks have been playing this season. They are in the bottom half of the league on both ends of the floor.
The only reason they are still ranked so high is that they just won the NBA Finals. That crutch will only take them so far, though, and they could easily start plummeting down these rankings soon.
Khris Middleton, like many other players around the league, has been struggling to shoot the ball well. Even Giannis Antetokounmpo’s numbers are down a bit from previous years.
The Bucks are simply having a rough go of things so far this year. As a result, their ranking takes a significant hit compared to last week.
Season outlook: Similar to the Lakers, the Bucks have the star power to compete for a championship this year, especially since they just won a title last year. Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the league, and the Bucks could ramp things up again at any time.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 10. Denver Nuggets
Last week: (1-2) – @ MEM (L), @ MEM (L), vs. HOU (W)
Offensive rating: 101.6 (26th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 100.1 (2nd in NBA)
Having the reigning MVP on the team definitely helps the Denver Nuggets, but they’ve been having a pretty weird season. Nikola Jokic is putting the team on his back to some degrees once again this year.
He’s putting up numbers that are arguably better than his MVP numbers from last season. Despite this, the Nuggets still took two Ls to the Grizzlies last week.
Will Barton has also been having a great year for the Nuggets. His performance has made up for a lackluster start to the season by Michael Porter Jr.
Denver is just hovering around .500 on the season, but they have the makings of a really solid team. However, they do end up falling one spot in this week’s rankings.
Season outlook: With Jamal Murray out, this team’s ceiling is seriously lowered. Having Jokic is great, but they are still missing an All-Star-caliber player. They’ll be a solid playoff team and have the potential to win a series or two this year.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 9. Dallas Mavericks
Last week: (3-1) – vs. SAC (W), vs. MIA (L), @ SAS (W), vs. BOS (W)
Offensive rating: 103.2 (23rd in NBA)
Defensive rating: 107.4 (17th in NBA)
The numbers say the Dallas Mavericks shouldn’t be as good as they are, but here we are. They are third in the Western Conference and putting together a winning season.
The key to that formula is very clearly superstar Luka Doncic. He is going to be a perennial MVP candidate for years to come, and will always have the Mavs in the playoffs.
Just last night he hit a monster, game-winning shot to take down the Boston Celtics, who were looking to win their third straight game. They blew a huge lead, but still managed to hold on.
Their consistent ability to grind out wins has elevated their position in the power rankings. Doncic, alongside Jalen Brunson, helped the team jump up 11 whole spots this week.
Season outlook: With Doncic on the tea, truly anything is possible. They have been taken out in Round 1 two years in a row via seven-game series. It’s only a matter of time before Doncic breaks out and wins a playoff series, and this very well could be the year.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 8. New York Knicks
Last week: (1-2) – vs. TOR (L), @ IND (L), @ MIL (W)
Offensive rating: 112.4 (4th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 108.5 (21st in NBA)
The New York Knicks are another team that started off the season hot but has since cooled down. They went 1-2 last week, but their one win was a huge blowout vs. the Bucks.
Last year, it was their defense that was winning them games. This year, however, the tables seem to have turned, as their offense is significantly better than their defense.
The addition of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier likely has a lot to do with this. Neither are great defensive players, but they bring a lot to the table on offense.
RJ Barrett deserves a shoutout, too, as he has seemingly taken a huge leap this year. Regardless, a 1-2 record last week has the Knicks falling one spot in the rankings.
Season outlook: After a crushing first-round exit last year, Knicks fans are hungry for more playoff action. This is a team that should not only make the playoffs but make some noise, too. They could give an opponent some real trouble in the first and second rounds.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 7. Phoenix Suns
Last week: (3-0) – vs. NOP (W), vs. HOU (W), vs. ATL (W)
Offensive rating: 107.3 (15th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 107.9 (19th in NBA)
The Phoenix Suns have really started to ramp things up as of late. They are on a three-game win streak and looking to keep up that momentum moving forward.
Devin Booker really struggled to start the year but has begun to pick things up. He put up 38 points vs. the Hawks last night in a win, which should be a huge confidence booster.
Chris Paul and Mikal Bridges have also been great for the Suns this year. Paul is putting up career-high assist numbers, and Bridges is scoring the ball better than ever.
Even though two of the teams they beat were bottom-tier teams, three wins in a row is still an impressive feat. It was enough to help them jump up five spots in the power rankings.
Season outlook: Getting back to the NBA Finals should obviously be the goal for the Suns. However, that could prove to be a very tough task. They’ll easily be a playoff team, but past that, they are going to have to work insanely hard to replicate the success they had last year.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 6. Brooklyn Nets
Last week: (3-0) – vs. DET (W), vs. ATL (W), @ DET (W)
Offensive rating: 104.0 (21st in NBA)
Defensive rating: 102.8 (5th in NBA)
After a poor start to the season, the Brooklyn Nets are finally beginning to turn things around. Albeit, still without point guard Kyrie Irving, but things are turning around nonetheless.
Kevin Durant is playing out of his mind this season and it just seems like the guy can’t miss. Well, that is something he’s done throughout his career, but this just seems like he’s taking things up a notch.
James Harden is also finally breaking out of his slump. He’s another one of the many players who was heavily affected by the NBA’s new rule changes.
This is another case where a team that is known for one part of their game (offense) is actually getting things done on the other end (defense) instead. Their 3-0 week last week helps them jump up a couple of spots in the rankings this week.
Season outlook: With Durant and Harden leading the way, the ceiling for this team will always be an NBA championship. Adding Irving to that mix would definitely help, but it’s not really a necessity. They’ll have to work harder without him, but this team can still compete for a title.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 5. Chicago Bulls
Last week: (1-2) – @ BOS (W), @ PHI (L), @ PHI (L)
Offensive rating: 108.9 (10th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 103.6 (8th in NBA)
After the offseason they had, a lot of people thought the Chicago Bulls would be a pretty solid team. No one realized how good they would actually be.
They got off to a super hot start but have since come back down to earth a little bit. A 1-2 week last week was rough, but the two losses were to the 76ers, so it’s a bit understandable.
DeMar DeRozan is the most surprising part of their season, as he’s playing some of the best basketball of his career. He and Zach LaVine are leading this team to the promised land right now.
They’re getting things done on both ends of the floor, but the 1-2 week does hurt them a bit in the power rankings. They fall, but only one spot from last week.
Season outlook: With the amount of talent and depth on the Bulls roster, they could make some noise in the playoffs. After missing the postseason for the past four years, they will almost certainly be back this year. Now it’s just a matter of how far their stars can take them.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 4. Golden State Warriors
Last week: (2-0) – vs. CHA (W), vs. NOP (W)
Offensive rating: 109.2 (9th in NBA)
Defensive rating: 96.0 (1st in NBA)
The Golden State Warriors have the best defense in the NBA right now and it isn’t particularly close. Their defensive rating is 96.0 and the second-best defense has a rating of 100.1.
On top of that, Stephen Curry is nothing short of incredible. He led the league in scoring last year, finished top-three in MVP voting, and has now slowed down one bit.
They’re even getting some solid contributions from their supporting pieces. Players such as Damion Lee and Jordan Poole are playing huge roles for them.
All that being said, the Warriors haven’t played many playoff-caliber teams yet this year. They end up falling one spot in the power rankings this week.
Season outlook: Golden State’s ceiling will entirely depend on how good Klay Thompson looks upon his return. If he’s at full strength and playing well, this is a championship-caliber team. They took two years off, but the Warriors might just be back.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 3. Utah Jazz
Last week: (3-1) – @ MIL (W), vs. SAC (W), @ ATL (W), @ MIA (L)
Offensive rating: 114.4 (2nd in NBA)
Defensive rating: 103.3 (6th in NBA)
For the second year in a row, the Utah Jazz project to be one of the best regular-season teams in the NBA. Their success hinges on two key elements of the game – great shooting and great defense.
They do both of those things extremely well, and it leads to a boatload of success for Utah. They have a great roster, tons of depth, and solid star power.
Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are having solid seasons, and the rest of their roster is playing their part, too. They’ve only lost two games all year as a result.
One of those losses was just last night, as they fell to the Miami Heat. Unfortunately for them, that one loss played a part in them falling one spot in the rankings.
Season outlook: The story has always been the same for the Jazz. They are an elite regular-season team, but they can never get things done when the playoffs come around. Maybe this year will be different, but from the looks of things, it might be another year of the same for the Jazz.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 2. Miami Heat
Last week: (2-1) – @ DAL (W), vs. BOS (L), vs. UTA (W)
Offensive rating: 113.0 (3rd in NBA)
Defensive rating: 101.3 (4th in NBA)
The Miami Heat have looked absolutely dominant at times throughout this season. Though they took one of their only two losses last week to the Celtics, they also picked up a win vs. the Jazz.
That’s a statement victory for them, especially considering it was coming off of a blowout loss. They have a winning mentality, and as corny as that sounds, it’s crucial to being a successful team in the NBA.
Jimmy Butler will be in MVP talks if he continues to play like this, and the same can be said for Tyler Herro and the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Miami’s offense is alright, but they hang their hat on the defensive end. While the one loss last week isn’t the end of the world, they do end up falling one spot and are no longer the top team in the power rankings.
Season outlook: People seem to forget that the Heat were in the NBA Finals just one calendar year ago. They are the real deal and have only improved since then. There’s absolutely no reason not to consider Miami true Finals contenders because that’s exactly what they are.
Week 3 NBA power rankings: 1. Philadelphia 76ers
Last week: (4-0) – vs. POR (W), vs. CHI (W), @ DET (W), @ CHI (W)
Offensive rating: 115.4 (1st in NBA)
Defensive rating: 106.4 (15th in NBA)
The Philadelphia 76ers look amazing this season. Sure, the defense isn’t as good as it was last season, but their improved offensive production is more than making up for it.
The crazy part about it all is that Joel Embiid is only putting up around 20 points per game. Philadelphia is getting contributions from a ton of different places.
The spacing on the team is insane, too. They rank first in the entire NBA in three-point percentage so far this year (39.4 percent). The amount of shooting on this team is incredible.
It’s almost as if putting elite shooters around Embiid leads to a ton of success. Interesting how this is the first year the NBA has really seen that. Wonder what changed.
Season outlook: With the way this team is playing now, there’s no reason they can’t contend for an NBA championship this season. Embiid, Tobias Harris, and the rest of the squad are locked and loaded. This team is going to be a very scary group to deal with come playoff time.