NBA Power Rankings Week 4: The Brooklyn Nets are in the house

</div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Lost to Utah Jazz 96-86, Lost to Milwaukee Bucks 110-101, 1/15 vs. Washington Wizards (POSTPONED), Beat Miami Heat 120-100</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 at Miami Heat, 1/20 at Atlanta Hawks, 1/22 vs. Houston Rockets, 1/23 vs. Philadelphia 76ers</p> <p>The Detroit Pistons finally land in the bottom spot on the power rankings but they still found a way to end the week with a win against a playoff team again. Two weeks ago they knocked off the Boston Celtics. Last week it was the red-hot Phoenix Suns who fell victim to the upstart Pistons. Now the Miami Heat are the newest victim.</p> <p>Even if the Pistons are the worst team in the league, they are not an easy out. Jerami Grant is still on the same streak from last week of 20 plus points per game and is making a case for Most Improved Player and All-Star consideration. Even if the record is terrible, he has been that good.</p> <p>Isaiah Stewart is a ball of energy and already one of the most effective offensive rebounders in the league. He is also a pest and has earned himself some famous enemies such as the reigning two-time MVP. He is the exact kind of guy the Pistons faithful will love.</p> <p>Derrick Rose looked great in the final game of the week and is exactly what the Detroit Pistons need as they struggle to keep playmakers in the lineup. If the Pistons can keep competing every night, winning one out of every four games and the young guys stay solid, fans will have to be happy.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 29 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421036" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421036" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1291450762.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1291450762.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1291450762-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="29" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Minnesota Timberwolves" data-team-id="86" data-meta-a="3-8" data-meta-b="Previous: 28th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">29 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Minnesota Timberwolves <span class="score">3-8</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">28</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Ftimberwolves.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Beat San Antonio Spurs 96-88, Lost to Memphis Grizzlies 118-107, 1/15 vs. Memphis Grizzlies (POSTPONED)</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 at Atlanta Hawks, 1/20 vs. Orlando Magic, 1/22 vs. Atlanta Hawks, 1/23 vs. New Orleans Pelicans</p> <p>The news came as game time was approaching and it was the kind of bummer you keep hoping to avoid. Karl-Anthony Towns, who just returned from injury this week, has tested positive for COVID-19. It is a brutal blow to KAT after seeing so much tragedy this past year. Further compounding the negativity of the week, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ final game was postponed.</p> <p>Of the games they did play, the Timberwolves split the results. Against the San Antonio Spurs, they committed on defense and did enough offensively to put the upstart Spurs away. D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley combined for 51 points. In the loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, with Towns back, the big three were even better. Towns and Russell each had 25 points and Beasley had 28. The rest of the team did not contribute enough and the Grizzlies overcame them.</p> <p>Keep an eye on Naz Reid. The second-year center is a mammoth of man and is becoming increasingly effective. He rebounds well (4.3 in 19.5 minutes per game) and is making the most of his opportunities. That’s more than fans could say about the two games this week for Anthony Edwards. He struggled mightily, shooting a painful 7.1 percent from the floor this week.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 28 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421038" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421038" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1065,w_1598/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1295396747.jpeg" alt="" width="1598" height="1065" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295396747.jpeg 1598w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295396747-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1598px) 100vw, 1598px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1598px;">(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="28" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Washington Wizards" data-team-id="142" data-meta-a="3-8" data-meta-b="Previous: 30th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">28 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Washington Wizards <span class="score">3-8</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">30</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fwizards.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Beat Phoenix Suns 128-107, 1/13 vs. Utah Jazz (POSTPONED), 1/15 vs. Detroit Pistons (POSTPONED)</p> <p>This Week: 1/17 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (POSTPONED), 1/18 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (POSTPONED), 1/20 at Charlotte Hornets, 1/22 at Milwaukee Bucks</p> <p>Even with such a big win in their only game of the week, it is almost impossible to feel positive about the Washington Wizards. They have had four consecutive games postponed due to an outbreak that spread through the team. It was only a matter of time given the outbreaks that have spawned from Wizards games to other teams over the last few weeks.</p> <p>Even beyond the COVID-19 news, it was a rough week for the Wizards. Russell Westbrook was sidelined for the game against the Phoenix Suns on Monday and has since been ruled out for three to four weeks after suffering a setback related to his quad injury. Thomas Bryant tore his ACL against the Miami Heat on Saturday, ending his season.</p> <p>Monday was a positive though. As injury-depleted as they were, the Wizards rotation finally seemed to be falling into place. Bradley Beal dropped 34 points, just under his season average of 34.9 (best in the league). Davis Bertans is slowly becoming more efficient (6-of-10 from the field).</p> <p>Unless they add someone out of the free agent pool, the Wizards will be relying heavily on the veterans Robin Lopez and Raul Neto. Neto in particular has been quietly effective this season in ways that do not show much in the stat sheet. He is tenacious and tough. He makes plenty of smart passes that fit the common term of hockey assist. Washington may be slowly figuring things out if they can ever get back on the court.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 27 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421039" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421039" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1295877704.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295877704.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295877704-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="27" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Sacramento Kings" data-team-id="84" data-meta-a="5-8" data-meta-b="Previous: 25th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">27 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Sacramento Kings <span class="score">5-8</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">25</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fkings.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Beat Indiana Pacers 127-122, Lost to Portland Trail Blazers 132-126, Lost to LA Clippers 138-100</p> <p>This Week: 1/17 vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 1/20 at LA Clippers, 1/22 vs. New York Knicks</p> <p>Even with the LA Clippers missing some of their depth, they were able to go deep into their bench to dominate the Sacramento Kings, capping off another losing week for a team used to such stretches. When the only King to have a markedly good game is Marvin Bagley III, you know you are in trouble.</p> <p>In their win against the Indiana Pacers, you could see the vision of how this team could work. Harrison Barnes had an efficient 30 points on 14 shots. Richaun Holmes feasted on the offensive glass (six offensive rebounds) and all nine players that logged minutes had at least seven points. De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield were able to play more loosely and find their rhythm within the offense and beat one of the best teams in the league.</p> <p>These stretches of effective basketball simply do not last under Luke Walton. With a collection of role players who cannot seem to string together consecutive good games and a star in Fox who has not quite figured out how to be the primary scorer for a team winning games, losses will continue to pile up. If you are looking for something to be happy about, at least the fathers of the former lottery picks seem to have logged off Twitter for the time being.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 26 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421040" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421040" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2200,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1295574831.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2200" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295574831.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295574831-768x528.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="26" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Chicago Bulls" data-team-id="24" data-meta-a="4-8" data-meta-b="Previous: 21st" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">26 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Chicago Bulls <span class="score">4-8</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">21</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fbulls.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Lost to LA Clippers 130-127, 1/12 vs. Boston Celtics (POSTPONED), Lost/OT Oklahoma City Thunder 127-125</p> <p>This Week: 1/17 at Dallas Mavericks 1/18 vs. Houston Rockets, 1/22 at Charlotte Hornets</p> <p>Two games, two close losses for the Chicago Bulls and the frustration is setting in. Zach LaVine is playing at an All-Star level again this year but the team as a whole is unable to close out games and climb the rankings.</p> <p>LaVine has had four 30 point games in a row, highlighted by a 45 point outburst that almost led to an upset win against the LA Clippers. He is fourth in the league in scoring and is growing visibly annoyed with the confusion of his teammates on the court. He seems ready to stop just putting up good numbers and to start winning games. Unfortunately, Chicago is not the place for that.</p> <p>The most consistent young player of late has been rookie Patrick Williams, who was looked at as a raw player who would develop over time. He has been very effective early this season and that at least is something to be celebrated.</p> <p>While the fit of the rest of the roster continues to be confusing, at least the new regime hit on their fourth overall pick.  Until a trade is made to do right by Zach LaVine and reset the makeup of this roster, that may be the only positive to take away from this season.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 25 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421043" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421043" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1295421259.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295421259.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295421259-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="25" data-rank-type="team" data-name="New Orleans Pelicans" data-team-id="69" data-meta-a="4-7" data-meta-b="Previous: 24th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">25 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>New Orleans Pelicans <span class="score">4-7</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">24</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fpelicans.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: 1/11 at Dallas Mavericks (POSTPONED), Lost to LA Clippers 111-106, Lost to Los Angeles Lakers 112-95</p> <p>This Week: 1/17 at Sacramento Kings, 1/19 at Utah Jazz, 1/21 at Utah Jazz, 1/23 at Minnesota Timberwolves</p> <p>Tied for the longest losing streak in the NBA with our next team, the New Orleans Pelicans had a predictably tough week. Playing against the two teams from Los Angeles is a steep challenge for even the best teams. The Pelicans are not among those at this point.</p> <p>Having Zion Williamson and Eric Bledsoe miss the against the LA Clippers as well as Lonzo Ball miss both was a recipe for further disaster. Nickeil Alexander-Walker exploded for 37 points and eight rebounds against the Clippers and helped keep the game close. Unsurprisingly, he cooled down later in the week.</p> <p>The Pelicans are just not on the same page. There are plenty of talented players here but they do not quite fit the modern NBA. Brandon Ingram is slightly less efficient this year and there continue to be worries if he and Williamson are the right pairing of talent to maximize both of their abilities. Surrounding them with the right complementary players as they figure it out will be essential. To this point, Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams are not that. The apparent drop off from JJ Reddick is not helping matters either.</p> <p>Another down year may be ultimately good for the Pelicans. Their most important players (Ingram, Williamson, Ball) are all 23 years old or younger. They have time to figure it out for the long term. For the short term, however, this has been a tough watch.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 24 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421044" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421044" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1295998174.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295998174.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295998174-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="24" data-rank-type="team" data-name="New York Knicks" data-team-id="27" data-meta-a="5-8" data-meta-b="Previous: 11th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">24 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>New York Knicks <span class="score">5-8</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">11</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fknicks.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Lost to Denver Nuggets 114-89, Lost to Charlotte Hornets 109-88, Lost to Brooklyn Nets 116-109, Lost to Cleveland Cavaliers 106-103</p> <p>This Week: 1/17 at Boston Celtics, 1/18 vs. Orlando Magic, 1/21 at Golden State Warriors, 1/22 at Sacramento Kings</p> <p>The other team with a five-game losing streak, the New York Knicks seem to be struggling just as soon as everyone wanted to celebrate what a fun story they have been so far this season. The issue for the team currently is that a week ago most of the roster seemed to be gelling together and clicking against the lower-tier teams in the league. This week was a different story.</p> <p>Only Julius Randle excelled throughout the week, averaging 24.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists a night over the four games. RJ Barrett continues to struggle to string together good games. One night he will look like the number three overall pick from a year ago (20 points on 12 shots against the Cavaliers to end the week) but that is typically after a couple of duds (combined 20 points while shooting 29.0 percent from the filed against the Charlotte Hornets and Denver Nuggets).</p> <p>Things may start looking up in terms of on court product, if not in the standings. Obi Toppin came back this week. As he works his way back into the rotation, it will be intriguing to see something out of the number eight pick in this year’s draft. The Knicks other first round selection, Immanuel Quickley, has already done just that. Over this week he averaged 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game and has looked better than his numbers indicate. As he continues to develop his feel for the NBA speed, he will continue to shine on the court.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 23 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421045" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421045" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1295880282.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295880282.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295880282-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="23" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Cleveland Cavaliers" data-team-id="156" data-meta-a="6-7" data-meta-b="Previous: 22nd" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">23 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Cleveland Cavaliers <span class="score">6-7</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">22</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fcavaliers.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Lost to Memphis Grizzlies 101-91, Lost to Utah Jazz 117-87, Beat New York Knicks 106-103</p> <p>This Week: 1/17 at Washington Wizards (POSTPONED), 1/18 at Washington Wizards (POSTPONED), 1/20 vs. Brooklyn Nets, 1/22 vs. Brooklyn Nets</p> <p>Essentially all of the good news for the Cleveland Cavaliers came off the court this week. They were without Darius Garland and Collin Sexton all week which led to disjointed games with no guards in the starting lineup.</p> <p>In fact, against the Grizzlies the only lead ball handler that saw minutes was the newly signed (and since released) Yogi Ferrell. Andre Drummond missed the second game of the week in what seemed in hindsight like an attempt to conserve his energy to put on a show against the helpless New York Knicks.</p> <p>Drummond looked like the All-NBA performer of a few years ago, posting a line of 33 points, 23 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. He was dominant the Cavaliers were able to take a win without much contribution from anyone else.</p> <p>Reinforcements are coming this week in the form of newly acquired Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince. This was a no-brainer trade for Cleveland, even if the fit is not clear from the start. Drummond may have been auditioning for a new team on Saturday but that is fine too. This is a lost season as long as Sexland is missing games. The future play of bringing in Allen for essentially nothing is a win.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 22 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421046" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421046" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296073010.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296073010.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296073010-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="22" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Orlando Magic" data-team-id="38" data-meta-a="6-7" data-meta-b="Previous: 20th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">22 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Orlando Magic <span class="score">6-7</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">20</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fmagic.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Lost to Milwaukee Bucks 121-99, 1/13 at Boston Celtics (POSTPONED), Lost to Boston Celtics 124-97, Lost to Brooklyn Nets</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 at New York Knicks, 1/20 at Minnesota Timberwolves, 1/22 at Indiana Pacers</p> <p>The Orlando Magic saved their best game of the week until last but that does not mean it was enough by any stretch. Cole Anthony is slowly taking to his role as the primary initiator on offense now that Markelle Fultz is out for the year but his efficiency is rough to start. Jordan Bone is playing far more minutes than any team should be comfortable playing Jordan Bone.</p> <p>Nikola Vucevic at least had a solid week, putting 28 points on the Milwaukee Bucks and then 34 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks against the Brooklyn Nets to keep his team in the game. Many injuries up and down the roster make things extremely difficult for the Magic to overcome.</p> <p>We could be getting close to the time the Magic consider selling off some of their useful veterans to teams actually in contention. With Fultz and Jonathan Isaac missing the year and continued nagging issues with Chuma Okeke and Mo Bamba, this could be the year to bottom out. Whether they ultimately choose to or not, it may happen naturally as they seem to lose another player each game. Terrence Ross and Vucevic can only do so much.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 21 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421047" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421047" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296425644.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296425644.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296425644-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="21" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Toronto Raptors" data-team-id="81" data-meta-a="4-8" data-meta-b="Previous: 27th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">21 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Toronto Raptors <span class="score">4-8</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">27</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fraptors.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Lost to Golden State Warriors 106-105, Lost to Portland Trail Blazers 112-111, Beat Charlotte Hornets 111-108, Beat Charlotte Hornets 116-113</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 vs. Dallas Mavericks, 1/20 vs. Miami Heat, 1/22 vs. Miami Heat</p> <p>A split week for the Toronto Raptors is possibly the best week they’ve had in the season. They are still clearly not the team of last season but they are slowly starting to look better. If either of the one-point losses to the Portland Trail Blazers or Golden State Warriors had gone the other way, there would have been cause for more optimism.</p> <p>It is not hyperbolic to say possibly the biggest reason for their reemergence has been the exemplary play of Chris Boucher. He is fourth in the league in the single-season jump in scoring average, behind only Jerami Grant, Christian Wood and Malik Beasley. His leap is real and admittedly it is the leap that many expected for OG Anunoby coming into this season. The forward has 20 or more points in five games in January, including three games in a row.</p> <p>The guards are still great and deserve recognition as well. Pascal Siakam is starting to get slightly more consistent as the offensive load is being spread around slightly more judiciously. Even Stanley Johnson is starting to find his niche, which are words nobody never thought they would even consider. Such is the wizardry of Nick Nurse.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 20 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_420359" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-420359" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1294649525.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1294649525.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1294649525-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="20" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Oklahoma City Thunder" data-team-id="149" data-meta-a="6-6" data-meta-b="Previous: 23rd" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">20 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Oklahoma City Thunder <span class="score">6-6</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">23</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fthunder.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Beat Brooklyn Nets 129-116, Lost to San Antonio Spurs 112-102, Lost to Los Angeles Lakers 128-99, Beat/OT Chicago Bulls 127-125</p> <p>This Week: 1/17 vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 1/19 at Denver Nuggets, 1/22 at LA Clippers</p> <p>Someone needs to tell the players on the Oklahoma City Thunder that they are supposed to be tanking for Cade Cunningham. Because up until this point, they are one of the most enjoyable hodgepodges of young players that are winning as many games as they are losing.</p> <p>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the most talked about name and with good reason. Just over this last week, he averaged 25.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists a game with shooting splits of .632/.500/.821. He capped off the week with a 33-point, 10-assists performance to outlast the Chicago Bulls in overtime. Fortunately for the Thunder, the amusement of this season goes beyond just the evolution of SGA.</p> <p>Lu Dort is shooting 43.1 percent on 5.4 3-point attempts per game. Some thought this was a fluke of the first week of the season but a month in and it has continued. Hamidou Diallo has gotten more confident and has multiple 20 point games this season. Rookies Aleksej Pokusevski and Theo Maledon are starting to get more comfortable.</p> <p>The Thunder are facing a tough slate of games this week, going up against two MVP candidates and the LA Clippers. The record may start to slide but do not count the young kids from Oklahoma City out. They come to compete every night.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 19 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421048" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421048" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1124,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1295999012.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1124" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295999012.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295999012-768x540.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="19" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Charlotte Hornets" data-team-id="170" data-meta-a="6-8" data-meta-b="Previous: 14th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">19 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Charlotte Hornets <span class="score">6-8</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">14</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fhornets.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Beat New York Knicks 109-88, Lost to Dallas Mavericks 104-93, Lost to Toronto Raptors 111-108, Lost to Toronto Raptors 116-113</p> <p>This Week: 1/20 vs. Washington Wizards, 1/22 vs. Chicago Bulls</p> <p>Just when those on the outside looking in were starting to feel positive about the direction the Charlotte Hornets were taking, the wheels seemed to fall off. After a strong win against the New York Knicks, the Hornets have now lost three straight.</p> <p>Gordon Hayward had a bad game and then a missed game. Devonte’ Graham is simply not the same player he was a year ago. Though there was one thing that was even more glaring for this team that does not bode well.</p> <p>There were times during the game against the Dallas Mavericks that Boban Marjanovic looked unstoppable on both ends of the floor. He would disrupt every shot that came in range of the basket and there was no size on the opposing roster that could even try to express the fact that he is essentially immovable.</p> <p>Moving away from some of the hate surrounding this ranking, LaMelo Ball is even better than advertised. He is leading all rookies in total points, rebounds, assists and steals. He will be the face of the franchise before long and it is not just hype. He is good at everything but shooting. If that ever develops, this is the kind of pick that can transform a franchise.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 18 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421049" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421049" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2784,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1230627122.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2784" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1230627122.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1230627122-768x668.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="18" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Houston Rockets" data-team-id="169" data-meta-a="4-7" data-meta-b="Previous: 19th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">18 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Houston Rockets <span class="score">4-7</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">19</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Frockets.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Lost to Los Angeles Lakers 120-102, Lost to Los Angeles Lakers 117-100, Beat San Antonio Spurs 109-105, Lost to San Antonio Spurs 103-91</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 at Chicago Bulls, 1/20 vs. Phoenix Suns, 1/22 at Detroit Pistons, 1/23 at Dallas Mavericks</p> <p>The month of chemistry on the edge of implosion is finally over. After getting bludgeoned twice by the Los Angeles Lakers, James Harden went to the press conference and made matters even worse. Now, he has been shipped out and the Houston Rockets are waiting for the rest of their roster to become available.</p> <p>Christian Wood has continued to be the shining star of this roster as others have gone in and out of the lineup. Of the top three scorers for the season, only Christian Wood played in all four games for the Rockets (Harden obviously got traded and John Wall has been sidelined in final two games of the week) and he has made the case clear that he is ready to dominate.</p> <p>Over these four games, Wood posted a monster line of 23.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.5 assists per game. His 3-point shot is finally starting to come around as well (45.0 percent on 5.0 attempts per game this week) making his offensive repertoire all the more explosive.</p> <p>The team will be more filled out pretty soon. John Wall, Eric Gordon and Danuel House are still out of the lineup. As is the newly acquired Victor Oladipo. When they are able to field their lineup, it will be easier to judge this team. Until then, you have to feel good for guys like DeMarcus Cousins who have made it clear that this change is exactly what they needed.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 17 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421050" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421050" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2369,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296549974.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2369" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296549974.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296549974-768x569.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="17" data-rank-type="team" data-name="San Antonio Spurs" data-team-id="29" data-meta-a="7-6" data-meta-b="Previous: 18th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">17 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>San Antonio Spurs <span class="score">7-6</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">18</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fspurs.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Lost to Minnesota Timberwolves 96-88, Beat Oklahoma City Thunder 112-102, Lost to Houston Rockets 109-105, Beat Houston Rockets 103-91</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 at Portland Trail Blazers, 1/20 at Golden State Warriors, 1/22 vs. Dallas Mavericks</p> <p>To get an idea of just how even-spread the offensive load is for the San Antonio Spurs, just look at the statistical breakdown for the week. Over four games, 10 players got minutes. Six of those players averaged between 12.0 points and 18.5 points per game and no one on the team was at less than 5.3 points per game.</p> <p>While something like this makes it tough for any single player to jump off the stat sheet for someone casually checking in on the young guys, it goes to highlight the sharing of the basketball that has been a trademark of theirs for years. Lonnie Walker IV and Keldon Johnson set themselves apart the most this week, however, so they deserve some extra attention.</p> <p>Walker dropped 25 and 24 points in back to back games against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder and has shown some of the potential that saw him get drafted in the first round a few years back. Keldon Johnson had his own 29 point eruption this week.</p> <p>This was always the issue with drafting someone like Devin Vassell with their lottery pick this season, but here is to hope the Spurs find a way to get him more minutes soon. Yes, he plays the same position as many of the other young pieces but the potential is so promising. This year is all about potential for the San Antonio Spurs.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 16 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421051" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421051" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1125,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1293805556.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1125" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1293805556.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1293805556-768x540.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="16" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Memphis Grizzlies" data-team-id="211" data-meta-a="6-6" data-meta-b="Previous: 26th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">16 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Memphis Grizzlies <span class="score">6-6</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">26</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fgrizzlies.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Beat Cleveland Cavaliers 101-91, Beat Minnesota Timberwolves 118-107, 1/15 at Minnesota Timberwolves (POSTPONED), Beat Philadelphia 76ers 106–104</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 vs. Phoenix Suns, 1/20 at Portland Trail Blazers, 1/22 at Portland Trail Blazers</p> <p>A 3-0 week and the face of the franchise is back weeks earlier than expected? Yes, please. The Memphis Grizzlies quietly had a very good week and are back on track to competing for a play-in spot. Reintegrating Ja Morant will do that for a young franchise.</p> <p>Morant being back gives stability to the rest of the team. Tyus Jones is a solid back up but bringing him off the bench gives options to that unit while adding a scoring punch to the starters. The rookies also looked to blossom a little with Morant back. Xavier Tillman and Desmond Bane combined for 25 points against the Philadelphia 76ers and are acquitting themselves well as role players on this team.</p> <p>Jonas Valanciunas and Dillon Brooks played better this week. While they did not excel in the final game, the team can continue to come together as Morant reintegrates himself. There is something here but the connection of so much young talent when they are in and out of the lineup takes time. This is what makes the week the Grizzlies had this season so impressive. It did not matter that they were not consistently on the same page. The talent was enough to overcome the teams they were playing.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 15 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421052" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421052" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296791584.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296791584.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296791584-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="15" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Atlanta Hawks" data-team-id="125" data-meta-a="5-7" data-meta-b="Previous: 17th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">15 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Atlanta Hawks <span class="score">5-7</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">17</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fhawks.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Beat Philadelphia 76ers 112-94, 1/13 at Phoenix Suns (POSTPONED), Lost to Utah Jazz 116-92, Lost to Portland Trail Blazers 112-106</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 1/20 vs. Detroit Pistons, 1/22 at Minnesota Timberwolves</p> <p>The Atlanta Hawks have been a mess ever since the information came out about a division in their locker room. They have only won one out of their last seven games and the win came against an underhanded Philadelphia 76ers squad.</p> <p>Trae Young is specifically drifting off, as evidenced by his four-point performance against the Utah Jazz. He has also had games with seven points and seven turnovers and 15 points with five turnovers. He has begun to crater after looking like an early season MVP candidate on one of the more fun stories in the league.</p> <p>Losing Bogdan Bogdanovic for an extended period of time is another nail in their coffin. The Hawks have gotten almost nothing out of their highly lauded offseason acquisitions and he was the most recent one to head out of the lineup. Onyeka Okongwu debuted in Friday’s game and while there is promise there it is going to take time to get him up to speed.</p> <p>The seat is starting to get hotter under Lloyd Pierce. Whether that is fair or not, the expectations were high coming into their season and the hot start only increased said expectations. The team really needs to hash out their issues and get back on track.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 14 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421053" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421053" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1066,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1230592310.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1066" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1230592310.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1230592310-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="14" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Golden State Warriors" data-team-id="41" data-meta-a="6-6" data-meta-b="Previous: 10th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">14 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Golden State Warriors <span class="score">6-6</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">10</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fwarriors.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Beat Toronto Raptors 106-105, Lost to Indiana Pacers 104-95, Lost to Denver Nuggets 114-104, 1/15 at Phoenix Suns (POSTPONED)</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 at Los Angeles Lakers, 1/20 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 1/21 vs. New York Knicks, 1/23 at Utah Jazz</p> <p>The Golden State Warriors may have caught the most fortuitous postponement yet. After surviving against the Toronto Raptors to start the week they find themselves on a two-game losing streak. The basketball looks much better than it did a few weeks ago but the inconsistencies persist.</p> <p>Not from Steph Curry. He is averaging 28.4 points per game and is the only reliable offensive weapon on a nightly basis. Draymond Green continues to drive culture and make the team better but he is not a threat to score the ball.</p> <p>This was always the issue once it was clear the other offensive options were going to be Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Oubre Jr. and James Wiseman. The two former players have been varying degrees of solid but have never been the definition of consistent. Wiggins has been closer to that this year and is quietly having a solid impact. Eric Paschall has not been in the lineup enough. When he is, the role he is playing this year is perfect for the All-Rookie teamer from a season ago.</p> <p>The Warriors are slowly figuring things out and it should always have been expected to take time. They are integrating many new players in addition to the return of the former two-time MVP. The Warriors are competitive and Curry will give them a chance on any night.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 13 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421055" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421055" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1294223455.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1294223455.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1294223455-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="13" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Phoenix Suns" data-team-id="66" data-meta-a="7-4" data-meta-b="Previous: 5th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">13 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Phoenix Suns <span class="score">7-4</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">5</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fsuns.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Lost to Washington Wizards 128-107, 1/13 vs. Atlanta Hawks (POSTPONED), 1/15 vs. Golden State Warriors (POSTPONED), 1/16 vs. Indiana Pacers (POSTPONED)</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 at Memphis Grizzlies, 1/20 at Houston Rockets, 1/22 vs. Denver Nuggets, 1/23 vs. Denver Nuggets</p> <p>The Phoenix Suns are a victim of the week they have had, or did not have. They faced significant health and safety issues leading to three games being postponed. If you are only going to have one game in a week and wish to maintain a high ranking for the week, that one game cannot be a blowout loss to one of the worst teams in the league.</p> <p>The common story in the losses for the Suns this season have been that Chris Paul and Devin Booker are great and everyone else on the team struggles. Mikal Bridges was fine, but after the start of the season he has had fine was below expectations. Such is the issue with raising expectations.</p> <p>Deandre Ayton is the real mystery here. A year ago, the issues were on the defensive end while he thrived as a secondary offensive threat. The production has completely flipped so far this season. Therefore it is clear that it is not a matter of if he can contribute on either end of the floor; rather, he has to figure out how to be effective on both sides in the same game.</p> <p>Again, this ranking is an unfair representation of where the Suns stand. It simply indicates that they only played one game this week and basing their weekly ranking on their weekly output results in a slide down the rankings. Trust that when they are healthy enough to get back on the court, they will rise back up.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 12 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421056" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421056" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296156314.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296156314.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296156314-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="12" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Miami Heat" data-team-id="110" data-meta-a="4-7" data-meta-b="Previous: 9th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">12 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Miami Heat <span class="score">4-7</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">9</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fheat.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: 1/10 at Boston Celtics (POSTPONED), Lost/OT Philadelphia 76ers 137-134, Lost to Philadelphia 76ers 125-108, Lost to Detroit Pistons 120-100</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 vs. Detroit Pistons, 1/20 at Toronto Raptors, 1/22 at Toronto Raptors, 1/23 at Brooklyn Nets</p> <p>Another team claimed by the issues of COVID-19, the Miami Heat have been without most of their roster for most of the week. Bam Adebayo was able to come back against the Detroit Pistons. That also happened to be their worst loss of the week. Go figure.</p> <p>There is not much to really be critical of however. The team is just not themselves at the moment and will not be until they get more of their talent back. Kendrick Nunn not being the player he was at the beginning of last season. Duncan Robinson broke 20 points in each game this week. Gabe Vincent has shown something given the opportunity to get some minutes with so many players out of the lineup.</p> <p>KZ Okpala is another beneficiary of those being on the sidelines and he is acquitting himself well. All of this could be for naught in a few weeks when the team is back together. For now, that is all there is to review. The Heat are struggling with the quick turnaround after a deep playoff run and have been hit hard by pandemic issues. As those fade with time the wins should come back. For now, they are simply middle of the pack.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 11 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421057" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421057" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296786616.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296786616.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296786616-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="11" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Portland Trail Blazers" data-team-id="34" data-meta-a="8-5" data-meta-b="Previous: 13th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">11 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Portland Trail Blazers <span class="score">8-5</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">13</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Ftrailblazers.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Beat Toronto Raptors 112-111, Beat Sacramento Kings 132-126, Lost to Indiana Pacers 111-87, Beat Atlanta Hawks 112-106</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 1/20 vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 1/22 vs. Memphis Grizzlies</p> <p>As good as the record was this week for the Portland Trail Blazers, the injuries really take some of the shine away. First it was Jusuf Nurkic who went down in the loss against the Indiana Pacers with what turned out to be a fractured wrist that will keep him out of the lineup for eight weeks. Then against the Atlanta Hawks, CJ McCollum went out with an ankle injury.</p> <p>These are the same issues that derailed the Portland Trail Blazers last season and seeing them crop up again will only bring more questions about if the team should pull the trigger on a trade to change the makeup of their team. Damian Lillard has been fantastic, posting a line of 26.9 points (sixth in the league) and 6.8 assists (11th) per game but without much help the team will undoubtedly struggle.</p> <p>Pretty soon the magnifying glass will shift to Robert Covington. The highly lauded offseason addition is struggling, finishing in single digits scoring in all but two games so far in January. The most glaring example was against Atlanta, when he shot a frigid 1-of-13 from the field. With Nurkic and McCollum out of the lineup for extended amounts of time, someone needs to step up and help Lillard.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 10 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421060" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421060" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296065493.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296065493.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296065493-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="10" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Denver Nuggets" data-team-id="73" data-meta-a="6-6" data-meta-b="Previous: 16th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">10 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Denver Nuggets <span class="score">6-6</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">16</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fnuggets.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Beat New York Knicks 114-89, Lost to Brooklyn Nets 122-116, Beat Golden State Warriors 114-104</p> <p>This Week: 1/17 vs. Utah Jazz, 1/19 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 1/22 at Phoenix Suns, 1/23 at Phoenix Suns</p> <p>Other than a loss against a masterful performance by Kevin Durant and the Nets, the Denver Nuggets seemed to get back on track this week. Nikola Jokic has made it clear that he wants to be in consideration for the MVP award this season and so far his case is clear.</p> <p>He goes back and forth with James Harden and Russell Westbrook for the league lead in assists (currently 10.4 per game). They are the only players in the league posting double figures in that category. Like his guard colleagues, Jokic fills the stat sheets in many ways.</p> <p>Jokic is also top-10 in rebounds (11.2) and top 25 in points (24.2) He is hyper efficient and an offense unto himself. If the rest of his teammates were performing to their expected levels more frequently, the team would not be hovering around .500 at this point.</p> <p>Defense is the biggest issue facing this team but some nights they are able to score enough for that to not matter. If it is a night that Jamal Murray is on, the Nuggets are nearly unbeatable. For now they are working to make that more of a reality. They have enjoyed the contributions of 29 year old rookie Facundo Campazzo and the passes he whips makes even his All-NBA teammates blush.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 9 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421061" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421061" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_988,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296246434.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="988" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296246434.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296246434-420x260.jpeg 420w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296246434-768x474.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="9" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Dallas Mavericks" data-team-id="79" data-meta-a="6-5" data-meta-b="Previous: 15th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">9 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Dallas Mavericks <span class="score">6-5</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">15</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fmavericks.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: 1/11 vs. New Orleans Pelicans (POSTPONED), Beat Charlotte Hornets 104-93, Lost to Milwaukee Bucks 112-109</p> <p>This Week: 1/17 vs. Chicago Bulls, 1/18 at Toronto Raptors, 1/20 at Indiana Pacers, 1/22 at San Antonio Spurs, 1/23 vs. Houston Rockets</p> <p>Even with a split 1-1 record for the Dallas Mavericks this week, it is tough to not be starting to feel positive about them. Before the loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, they had won four games in a row and, more importantly, have welcomed back All-Star Kristaps Porzingis.</p> <p>All the hype that was surrounding this team in the preseason became a little clearer in the first game welcoming back the center from Latvia. The Mavericks handled a previously hot Charlotte Hornets team and the final scoring margin does not indicate just how much better the team from Texas was that night. Losing to the Bucks by three on the road is nothing to scoff at either.</p> <p>The Mavericks have a monstrous five-game week ahead but only one is against a contending team. The offense should get back on track now that Porzingis is back. Luka Doncic has been too involved in isolation basketball but with his running mate back that should trend down to a more healthy level. Now they just need to get back Josh Richardson and they should be firing on all cylinders. If they can stay healthy, the flashes of offensive brilliance have already been clear. The Mavericks are coming.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 8 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421063" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421063" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296743782.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296743782.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296743782-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="8" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Philadelphia 76ers" data-team-id="93" data-meta-a="9-5" data-meta-b="Previous: 7th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">8 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Philadelphia 76ers <span class="score">9-5</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">7</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2F76ers.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Lost to Atlanta Hawks 112-94, Beat/OT Miami Heat 137-134, Beat Miami Heat 125-108, Lost to Memphis Grizzlies 106-104</p> <p>This Week:  1/17 at Oklahoma City Thunder, 1/20 vs. Boston Celtics, 1/22 vs. Boston Celtics, 1/23 at Detroit Pistons</p> <p>The Philadelphia 76ers are slowly getting all of their players back in the fold and were a major factor in the trade that shook the league this week. Some of the results are tough to fully understand as the team has been ravaged by issues with health and safety protocols.</p> <p>In the loss against the Atlanta Hawks, Joel Embiid played but Danny Green was the only other normal starter in the lineup. Against the Memphis Grizzlies, Embiid was out. Ben Simmons has not been the All-NBA talent this season that the team needs him to be. Hopefully, now that the James Harden trade rumors are past them, maybe he will be able to get back on track.</p> <p>The rookies are starting to come alive given the opportunity. Tyrese Maxey was good enough to earn a spot in the starting lineup while Seth Curry is out and looks to be the type of offensive playmaker they have missed for years. Isaiah Joe is starting to heat up as a scorer off the bench.</p> <p>Finally, not enough can be made about the play of Shake Milton off the bench. He is truly in the role he was meant for last season. He is coming off games of 24 points, 31 points and 28 points. Getting healthy is the most important thing for the Philadelphia 76er.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 7 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421064" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421064" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1853,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1230608069.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1853" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1230608069.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1230608069-768x889.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="7" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Utah Jazz" data-team-id="118" data-meta-a="8-4" data-meta-b="Previous: 12th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">7 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Utah Jazz <span class="score">8-4</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">12</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fjazz.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Beat Detroit Pistons 96-86, Beat Cleveland Cavaliers 117-87, 1/13 at Washington Wizards (POSTPONED), Beat Atlanta Hawks 116-92</p> <p>This Week: 1/17 at Denver Nuggets, 1/19 vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 1/21 vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 1/23 vs. Golden State Warriors</p> <p>The Utah Jazz are one of the hottest teams in the league, owners of a four-game winning streak. This week was about their four top guards finally being efficient at the same time. If that can happen consistently, the Jazz are a threat to beat anyone in the league, using borderline playoff teams and worse to figure that out if the ideal first step.</p> <p>Donovan Mitchell finally had a great week, averaging 27.0 points a night and shooting 52.8 percent from the field (60.0 percent from long range). Jordan Clarkson looks to be making a case to be in the discussion for Sixth Man of the Year, leading all primary reserve players in 17.1 points per game. Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic are both starting to be effective game in and game out.</p> <p>Mitchell and Bogdanovic have been the two players struggling to be efficient so far this season but they were both great this week in that regard. When that happens, the Jazz are a different offensive team. Conley, Clarkson and Rudy Gobert do the same thing game in and game out but need their wing leaders to bring it for them to have a chance. So far they are, and they should continue to pile up the wins as long as that happens.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 6 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421065" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421065" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296159415.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296159415.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296159415-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="6" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Boston Celtics" data-team-id="18" data-meta-a="8-3" data-meta-b="Previous: 4th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">6 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Boston Celtics <span class="score">8-3</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">4</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fceltics.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: 1/10 vs. Miami Heat (POSTPONED), 1/12 at Chicago Bulls (POSTPONED), 1/13 vs. Orlando Magic (POSTPONED), Beat Orlando Magic 124-97</p> <p>This Week: 1/17 vs. New York Knicks, 1/20 at Philadelphia 76ers, 1/22 at Philadelphia 76ers</p> <p>If you are only going to get to play one game in a week after three others are postponed because you do not have enough players to fill an active roster, it is good to do so the way the Boston Celtics did Friday against the Orlando Magic. Even without much of their normal firepower, they were able to take care of the Magic in short order and move on to the next one.</p> <p>Jaylen Brown was unsurprisingly their highest scorer with Jayson Tatum out of the lineup. Perhaps more surprising, Semi Ojeleye was not far behind him. Ojeleye dropped 18 points on the Magic, one of his rare positive offensive appearances. Daniel Theis appeared in a game he did not start in for the first time in years. Overall, just a strange game to cap off a strange week for the Celtics. At least they kept the winning streak alive.</p> <p>The Celtics only do not rise because one game is not enough to compare to the rest of the teams in their stratosphere. Whether or not that is fair, it is a loaded crop at the top so they need to do more to stand out. Hopefully next week they will be able to play more of their games.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 5 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421066" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421066" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296547275.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296547275.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296547275-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="5" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Indiana Pacers" data-team-id="100" data-meta-a="8-4" data-meta-b="Previous: 6th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">5 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Indiana Pacers <span class="score">8-4</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">6</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fpacers.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Lost to Sacramento Kings 127-122, Beat Golden State Warriors 104-95, Beat Portland Trail Blazers 111-87, 1/16 at Phoenix Suns (POSTPONED)</p> <p>This Week: 1/17 at LA Clippers, 1/20 vs. Dallas Mavericks, 1/22 vs. Orlando Magic</p> <p>Before the news broke on Saturday about a mass identified on the kidney of Caris LeVert that was revealed during a post-trade MRI, the Indiana Pacers had a case as the best team in the Eastern Conference. They are even better than they were last season, ranking in the top-10 in offensive rating and top-five in defensive rating. The Pacers have looked like a dominant force with Victor Oladipo in and out of the lineup.</p> <p>For the sake of gushing about the trade, let’s assume that Caris LeVert is not kept out of the lineup deep into the season. LeVert is coming from a situation with two ball-dominant All-Stars, limiting his chances to feeding on second units. He is about to join two All-Star-level players who are constantly looking to make their teammates better and are what efficiency looks like in the dictionary. Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon have been great this year. Instead of having a backcourt mate who no longer fits in, they have one ready to blossom into another star.</p> <p>The fit is perfect and the trade is a home run for a team weighing the risk of losing their former face of the franchise for nothing in free agency. Now they have one of the most enticing young players in the league under contract and he is on the same timeline as the rest of their core. Add in the block party that Myles Turner is throwing every night (league-leading 4.2 per game) and the Pacers are a dangerous team.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 4 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421067" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421067" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2200,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296772322.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2200" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296772322.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296772322-768x528.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="4" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Los Angeles Clippers" data-team-id="77" data-meta-a="9-4" data-meta-b="Previous: 8th" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">4 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Los Angeles Clippers <span class="score">9-4</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">8</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fclippers.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Beat Chicago Bulls 130-127, Beat New Orleans Pelicans 111-106, Beat Sacramento Kings 138-100</p> <p>This Week: 1/17 vs. Indiana Pacers, 1/20 vs. Sacramento Kings, 1/22 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder</p> <p>An undefeated week has vaulted the LA Clippers back into the top seeds of the conference and the team is starting to look like what they were expected to be. Patrick Beverly, Lou Williams and Reggie Jackson all missed games, limiting the production from LA’s guard rotation. Luckily Paul George and Kawhi Leonard appeared in all three and they made their presence known.</p> <p>Kawhi Leonard averaged 30.0 points, 6.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals a game over the weak. Paul George might have been even better, posting a line of 27.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists a game. This is what the team was advertised to be. Two of the premier forwards in the league wreaking havoc on defenses not equipped to handle their excellence. Marcus Morris, Sr. returned last week and has added an extra punch to the bench.</p> <p>Keep an eye on Luke Kennard. With the rest of the guard rotation missing time, and even with them in the lineup, Kennard continues to be one of the best playmakers on the team and is finally playing with elite talent. His production has not caught up to his talent so far this season. As he earns more opportunities he will flourish. Continue to shoot 50.0 percent from 3-point range and those opportunities should come more frequently.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 3 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421068" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421068" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2102,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296244819.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2102" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296244819.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296244819-768x504.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="3" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Milwaukee Bucks" data-team-id="89" data-meta-a="9-4" data-meta-b="Previous: 2nd" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">3 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Milwaukee Bucks <span class="score">9-4</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">2</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fbucks.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Beat Orlando Magic 121-99, Beat Detroit Pistons 110-101, Beat Dallas Mavericks 112-109</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 at Brooklyn Nets, 1/21 vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 1/22 vs. Washington Wizards</p> <p>The Milwaukee Bucks are quietly taking care of business. They bludgeoned the reeling Orlando Magic and then played the Detroit Pistons for the third time in 10 days. The score was closer than the game was as the reserves for the Bucks let the lead slip away. The game against the Dallas Mavericks is the real test the team needed.</p> <p>Free throws plagued the Bucks, missing 13 of the 25 they attempted. If they shot even an average rate, the game would have been a statement of the league. The Bucks are better than last season despite the extra losses they have collected this year. There is a toughness off the bench in the form of Bobby Portis that was not there a year ago and it is a palpable difference.</p> <p>Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton are continuing their path to All-NBA recognition again (Middleton was robbed of this designation but should not be again). Jrue Holiday does the dirty work and is the perfect fit here.</p> <p>The biggest issue with the team currently is Mike Budenholzer’s compulsion to continue playing Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Hopefully a buyout candidate or one of the rookies will take his minutes in due time. Clearly, this is a good problem to have for a team on pace to compete for the best record in the league for a third straight season.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 2 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421069" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421069" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296761956.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296761956.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296761956-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="2" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Brooklyn Nets" data-team-id="147" data-meta-a="8-6" data-meta-b="Previous: 3rd" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">2 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Brooklyn Nets <span class="score">8-6</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">3</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fnets.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Lost to Oklahoma City Thunder 129-116, Beat Denver Nuggets 122-116, Beat New York Knicks 116-109, Beat 122-115 Orlando Magic</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 1/20 at Cleveland Cavaliers, 1/22 at Cleveland Cavaliers, 1/23 vs. Miami Heat</p> <p>If Saturday night is a preview of things to come, the rest of the league should be keeping a close eye on the Brooklyn Nets. There were plenty of instances of sloppy integration, which is to be expected when bringing in someone like James Harden. Even if he had played with Kevin Durant nearly a decade ago, it will take time to get back on the same page.</p> <p>Given that, if an off game is 32 points, 14 assists, 12 rebounds, four steals and a block for Harden and 42 points (season-high) five assists, four rebounds, two blocks and two steals for Durant then it is scary to imagine what happens when the team is clicking on all cylinders. Add Kyrie Irving to the mix and this should be the most dynamic offensive force in the league.</p> <p>The Nets made a huge gamble this week and it will take time to see if it pays off with a title. They still only have one big man in their regular rotation and he looks cooked against Nikola Vucevic. Irving is reportedly joining the team eventually and until then everything is up in the air. Nothing will be completely determined until the playoffs.</p> <p>For now, though, the Brooklyn Nets look to be the most potent challenger in the league. Before the trade, it felt like there was a clear gap between the top team in the league and the rest. Now it at least feels like someone has a chance to reach those heights.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Number 1 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421070" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-421070" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1284,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1296633120.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1284" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296633120.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1296633120-768x616.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="1" data-rank-type="team" data-name="Los Angeles Lakers" data-team-id="20" data-meta-a="11-3" data-meta-b="Previous: 1st" data-inner-content=""> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">1 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Los Angeles Lakers <span class="score">11-3</span> </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">1</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Flakers.png"> </div> </div> </div> <p>Last Week: Beat Houston Rockets 120-102, Beat Houston Rockets 117-100, Beat 128-99 Oklahoma City Thunder, Beat New Orleans Pelicans 112-95</p> <p>This Week: 1/18 vs. Golden State Warriors, 1/21 at Milwaukee Bucks, 1/23 at Chicago Bulls</p> <p>This week the Los Angeles Lakers decided that they did not just have to coast. It was time to flex on some of the also-rans in their conference. The Lakers have scored at least 112 points in six straight games. Their average margin of victory this week was 20.25 points.</p> <p>Over the last week, the Lakers have six players average double figures in scoring, led as always by LeBron James. His overall line is even more impressive: 22.8 points, 7.5 assists, 7.3 rebounds in just 29.4 minutes per game. He may not get the award due to other more tantalizing stories but the case against James being an MVP is increasingly flimsy.</p> <p>For now, he will have to accept being the best player in the world on the best team in the league. The Lakers are the favorites for the title despite the earth-shaking trade in the Eastern Conference and with good reason. Until another team proves to be up to the challenge of facing down James and Anthony Davis, this is where they belong.</p> <p>Not every week will look this dominant but they do not have to. That is the benefit of having Dennis Schroder and Montrezl Harrell behind your dominant stars. Many a night during the regular season they will be able to carry the team to wins. This week it just so happened that the Lakers decided to dominate.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Each NBA team's best trade ever" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2019/10/16/nba-teams-best-trade-franchise-history/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/17/nba-power-rankings-week-4-brooklyn-nets-house/"https://hoopshabit.com/2019/10/16/nba-teams-best-trade-franchise-history/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Each NBA team's best trade ever </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—>">