Power Rankings, Week 13: Nets, Sixers and Lakers hold Top 5 spots despite key injuries
NBA TV debates whether Joel Embiid’s injury could potentially benefit Philadelphia.
As we dive into the jam-packed second half of the season, some situations around the league call for patience.
The Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers are forced to play the waiting game due to injuries to their key players – Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid, respectively. Although upcoming marquee games are important for seeding, they are not worth risking a playoff series in May or June. The presence of these three players could be the deciding factor between an early elimination and securing a championship.
The Lakers are having difficulty scoring in the absence of Davis. In contrast, the Nets, backed by James Harden and Kyrie Irving, are not facing such challenges. The performance of the Sixers without Embiid is about to be revealed, even though they managed a smooth victory over a strong team without him this past Sunday.
Despite missing their stars, all three teams are among the top five in this week’s Power Rankings. Two of these teams, the Lakers and Sixers, are set to face challenges from fellow contenders – Phoenix and Milwaukee – this week.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
- Right Way: Danny Green (PHI) was a plus-69 in three games last week.
- Wrong Way: Jarrett Allen (CLE) was a minus-56 in two games last week.
Teams of the Week
- Make It Last Forever: Atlanta (3-0) — The Hawks remain undefeated under Nate McMillan.
- Something Just Ain’t Right: Cleveland (0-2) — The Cavs scored an anemic 82 points on 98 possessions against the team (New Orleans) that ranks 28th defensively.
East vs. West
- The West is 124-107 (.537) against the East in interconference games, but the East was 5-4 last week (its fourth straight winning week).
Schedule strength through Week 12
- Toughest: 1. Detroit, 2. Dallas, 3. Washington
- Easiest: 1. Phoenix, 2. New York, 3. Milwaukee
- Schedule strength is based on cumulative opponent record, and adjusted for home vs. away and days of rest before a game.
Movement in the Rankings
- High jumps of the week: Indiana (+5), Oklahoma City (+3), Charlotte (+2), Miami (+2)
- Free falls of the week: Toronto (-5), Washington (-5), Denver (-4)
Week 13 Team to Watch
- New Orleans — Did the Pelicans make a breakthrough with a big win over the Clippers on Sunday? We’ll find out this week as they play Games 2-4 of a stretch of eight straight against teams with winning records. They’re in Portland for a two-game series on Tuesday and Thursday, and complete the three-game trip in Denver on Sunday.
Previous Power Rankings
- Last week: Nets climb to No. 1; Lakers, Bucks exit Top 5
- The archive: NBA.com Power Rankings
Stats Key
Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)
OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)
The league has averaged 100.0 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes and 111.4 points scored per 100 possessions this season.
NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, send him an e-mail or contact him via Twitter.
