It’s been a topsy-turvy NBA season so far, as even the Los Angeles Lakers, with their roster designed to minimize losses, started 2-2 before winning four in a row. One of the MVP favorites, Luka Doncic, has struggled in the early going as Dallas has stumbled to a 3-4 start amid questions about Doncic’s game fitness in the first week. Phoenix has emerged as an intriguing contender as well. In the East, the Philadelphia 76ers, of all teams, lead the standings, with Cleveland storming out to a 4-3 start, even with the mighty Milwaukee Bucks. LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets started 2-2 but have dropped three in a row. Where are these teams right now?
Don’t miss our latest power rankings as you consider your NBA betting in pro hoops.
NBA News: Power Rankings for January 6
#1 Los Angeles Lakers
Well, that didn’t take much. Dump money on LeBron and AD, and off you go. Bringing in Dennis Schroder was a smart move, and the Lakers are now 3-0 away from home. The defense is even showing up, as Memphis only scored 58 points after the first quarter on Sunday.
#2 Los Angeles Clippers
How did the Clippers respond after losing to Dallas at home by 51 points? They beat the Timberwolves and the Trail Blazers by a combined 46 points, and then they got 39 points out of Paul George in a win over Phoenix.
#3 Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers haven’t played anyone tough yet, but starting Thursday, they play Brooklyn, Denver, Atlanta and Miami twice, ending the easy skating for new coach Doc Rivers.
#4 Brooklyn Nets
You still have to play some defense in the NBA, as the Nets have found while dropping to 4-4. They scored 122 points against Washington on Sunday – and lost by one.
#5 Milwaukee Bucks
Did you know that the Bucks already have three games in which they have made at least 20 three-pointers? That just happened twice a year ago.
#6 Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler’s ankle is a concern; he played 27 minutes in a loss to Dallas and did not hoist a single shot. They also lost to Milwaukee by 47 in the front end of a back-to-back home set.
#7 Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton are scoring less, but the team is winning more, thanks to gerater balance on offense. Cameron Payne and Cameron Johnson have been solid off the bench.
#8 Utah Jazz
Mike Conley has been a nice addition, scoring 20.3 points per game and posting a +57 to lead the team so far.
#9 Indiana Pacers
T.J. Warren needs surgery for a stress fracture in his left foot, which is a huge blow. The Pacers started 3-0 but then dropped two of three this past week.
#10 Boston Celtics
Boston visited Detroit over the weekend and almost got swept. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have been stellar, but the roster will need some depth to make a playoff run, even with a healthy Kemba Walker.
#11 Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta put up 141 in a game against Brooklyn but still lost by four; but they beat the Nets by 18 two days later. Trae Young is getting to the free throw line as the Hawks offense continues to cook.
#12 Portland Trail Blazers
Another year, another set of questions for the Portland defense, as they gave up 62 points to Steph Curry on Sunday. Enes Kanter and Carmelo Anthony are getting heavy minutes, and they can’t guard right now.
#13 New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans routed Oklahoma City by 33 and held off the Raptors. Their defense is new this year, as they have shut down the lane and want you to shoot from the outside. So far, it’s working.
#14 Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic got a 33-point triple-double against Houston to get Dallas its third win. Moving Willie Cauley-Stein into the starting lineup in place of Dwight Powell made the Mavs much bigger and solved some rebounding woes.
#15 Denver Nuggets
Michael Porter Jr put up 30 points, ten boards and two blocks against Sacramento but is now on the shelf with health and safety protocol issues. Nikola Jokic is averaging a triple-double, though, and Jamal Murray is starting to heat up.
#16 Orlando Magic
Markelle Fultz started out red-hot but is going just 13 of 43 from the floor over the last three games. They play seven of 10 on the road.
#17 Houston Rockets
John Wall put up 50 points in a pair of wins over Sacramento, also posting 15 assists, four steals and three blocks. It looks like that Achilles tear didn’t take away his athleticism.
#18 Toronto Raptors
Toronto started 1-4 but could have won all five games. Pascal Siakam has started out just as cold as he was in the bubble.
#19 Cleveland Cavaliers
Collin Sexton continues to emerge as a terrific talent in the East. He put up 27 in a 96-91 win over Atlanta, now with 11 straight games in which he scored at least 20 points.
#20 San Antonio Spurs
Even when the Spurs are in rebuilding mode, don’t overlook them, because Gregg Popovich is still the best coach in the Association.
#21 Sacramento Kings
Rookie Tyrese Haliburton had a nice 10.6 points per game average, but he’s out for at least a week with a bone bruise in his left wrist.
#22 Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry found his scoring touch. Now it’s time for Kelly Oubre Jr to find his. So far, he has launched 30 shots from downtown…and made two.
#23 Memphis Grizzlies
With Ja Morant (ankle sprain), Jaren Jackson Jr (meniscus surgery) and Justise Winslow (left hip) on the shelf, the Grizzlies will struggle for a while.
#24 Minnesota Timberwolves
This is still a very young team, and losing Karl-Anthony Towns (wrist) for an extended period of time is just the latest setback.
#25 Washington Wizards
The Wizards beat Minnesota without Russell Westbrook, and then they beat the Brooklyn Nets. They started 0-4 but could start rising.
#26 New York Knicks
The Knicks have already beaten Indiana and Milwaukee this season, playing solid defense without a lot of quality defenders.
#27 Charlotte Hornets
Oh, that defense. The Hornets permitted 235 points in losses to Memphis and Philadelphia.
#28 Oklahoma City Thunder
Al Horford and George Hill are playing well, and the team has been mostly competitive. However, they’re just marking time until the trade deadline.
#29 Chicago Bulls
The Bulls will have a lot more depth once COVID-19 leaves the locker room.
#30 Detroit Pistons
Jerami Grant has looked solid, with five straight games of at least 20 points, keeping his Rookie of the Year odds promising.
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