Power Rankings, Week 1: Lakers, Bucks and Nuggets start season on top
The defending champs have a revamped roster surrounding LeBron James and Anthony Davis this season.
It’s been only 10 weeks since the Los Angeles Lakers won the 2019-20 NBA championship. But the 2020-21 season is already here. Protocols are in place, precautions will be taken, and a vaccine is on the way, but we’re doing this without a bubble. Cross your fingers.
If there are no hiccups, this will be a fascinating season, even if one team is seen as a strong favorite. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are back. Zion Williamson is healthy. Giannis Antetokounmpo is committed to Milwaukee. Luka Doncic is the next big thing. The Miami Heat are looking to build on a bubble run, the Denver Nuggets are ridiculously fun to watch (and also very good), and the LA Clippers have reputations to salvage. The Lakers still have LeBron bleeping James and Anthony bleeping Davis.
We got a little taste of things to come in an abbreviated preseason. Those results and stats get thrown out on Tuesday, but not everything from the preseason should be dismissed. Within the numbers and film are some hints at what’s to come over the next seven months. When Duncan Robinson, having played 161 minutes as a rookie, started the Heat’s first preseason game last year and immediately launched a 3-pointer on his first touch, we knew that something was up.
The real stuff starts on Tuesday with one heck of a double-header on TNT: Warriors-Nets at 7 p.m. ET and Clippers-Lakers at 10 ET. Three days later, we have a monster, five-game Christmas slate on ABC and ESPN.
All those marquee games will go a long way in shaping next week’s Power Rankings. Before we get started for real, the champs are at the top, followed by Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets, who look as ready for the season to start as any team in the league.
Plus-Minus Players of the Preseason
- Right Way: Ja Morant (MEM) was a plus-79 in four preseason games.
- Wrong Way: Cody Martin (CHA) was a minus-59 in four preseason games.
Teams of the Preseason
- Make It Last Forever: Brooklyn (2-0) — Kevin Durant. In a game that counts. Against Stephen Curry and the Warriors. Tuesday. 7 p.m. ET. TNT.
- Something Just Ain’t Right: Boston (0-2) — Maybe it was just gamesmanship against a pair of division rivals. Maybe it was the sage.
Movement in the Rankings
- High jumps of the preseason: Denver (+2), Philadelphia (+2), Toronto (+2)
- Free falls of the preseason: Houston (-3), Portland (-3)
Week 1 Team to Watch
- LA Clippers — Is this a “championship-or-bust year” for the Clips? Maybe not with Paul George signed for another four years. Still, the Clips have expectations and their schedule begins with a fascinating trio of games. They’ll be there on Tuesday as the Lakers get their rings. On Christmas, they’re in Denver to face the team that ended their season. And then they return to Staples Center to host Luka Doncic and the Mavs on Sunday afternoon.
Previous Power Rankings
- Offseason: Bucks atop the East | Lakers lead the West
- This time last year: Bucks make statement; Heat enter Top 5 — The season was nine weeks old and teams had played between 27 and 33 games. The Bucks beat the Lakers behind five 3s from Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Thunder won two straight games that they trailed by 26 and 24 points. The Raptors topped that, becoming the first team in almost 10 years to win a regular season game (against Dallas) it trailed by 30. LeBron James dropped a dime behind his head, Donovan Mitchell threw one down on Nikola Vucevic, and Kevin Love met Ja Morant.
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 averaged 100.8 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes and 110.1 points scored per 100 possessions last 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.
