NBA Week 4 Power Rankings: Cavs stumble, Jazz soar
team. 81. . 7-7. Previous: 11th. Toronto Raptors. 10
The Toronto Raptors are 7-7, are without their best player in Pascal Siakam for an extended stretch, and just lost two straight games to supposed tanking squads in the Pacers and Thunder. So why are they this high? They have the league’s ninth-best net rating and are sixth in SRS, which takes into account strength of schedule. They have wins over the Cavaliers, Heat, 76ers, Hawks and Bulls already. This group might fade slightly in the next two weeks, but their combination of long athletes is continuing to flummox opponents.
Memphis Grizzlies. 9. team. 211. . 9-4. Previous: 10th
At this point, you could probably rank the next seven teams in nearly any order. This is the second-best tier, the group of teams that look solidly on track for a playoff berth and have well-performing teams surrounding at least one big-time star. For the Grizzlies that is Ja Morant, making his case to be on the MVP ballot, with Desmond Bane pushing for an All-Star berth of his own. When Jaren Jackson Jr. returns this group could be lethal.
7-6. Previous: 5th. New Orleans Pelicans. 8. team. 69.
There have been some growing pains as the Pelicans find a balance with their four offensive pillars, and nearly everyone has missed some time with injuries. Yet the result has been the league’s sixth-best net rating and an offense right around top-5 in the league. Zion Williamson looks healthy, Brandon Ingram looks sharp, and Herb Jones is one of the league’s few perimeter difference-makers.
7. team. 79. . 7-5. Previous: 8th. Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic. Doncic, Luka. Mr. Luka Doncic the First. How many different ways can you say Luka Doncic, because he has been the everything for this Dallas Mavericks team thus far. He is leading a competitive field with 34.4 points per game, chipping in 8.7 rebounds, 8.1 assists and two steals per game. The Mavs have faced a tough schedule and come out looking quite good. Is it sustainable? That’s a fair question to ask, and we’ll probably get our answer.
Previous: 4th. Portland Trail Blazers. 6. team. 34. . 9-4
The first team to race out in front this season, the Portland Trail Blazers faced two weeks without Damian Lillard and managed to weather the storm, going 2-2 and pulling out a two-point road win against the Phoenix Suns. They followed that with a Josh Hart buzzer-beater in Miami, and against a top-5 schedule they are a robust 9-4. Jerami Grant is killing it as the co-star, the defensive pieces are coming together, and so far their top-10 defense is holding up.