NBA Power Rankings: Week Five

7. Houston Rockets (Up 1)

Houston was 4-0 this week and won all games by six points or more. They dealt the San Antonio Spurs their first home loss of the season and rode out of Memphis with another impressive win.

Omer Asik is at least playing significant minutes again and while he still wants out, the consensus is strong that GM Danny Ferry is asking too steep a price in trade talks for the Turkish center.

ORtg: 109.3, DRtg: 100.7

8. Denver Nuggets (Up 4)

Remember the Nuggets were stuck down in the lower reaches of the rankings? Now they sit 10-6 on the season after winning six consecutive games.

The Nuggets’ point guard duo, Ty Lawson and Nate Robinson, have the unparalleled ability to hit improbable shots in important moments. Robinson did exactly that in nailing back-to-back three-pointers in crunch time against the Raptors to seal their sixth in a row.

ORtg: 105.0, DRtg: 102.4