2. Memphis Grizzlies (9-2): Rudy Gay is playing like he wants to make his first All-Star Game. Wins against both NBA finalist in the same week make Memphis a strong contender early on.
3. Los Angeles Clippers (8-5): Has Clipperland ever looked this good? DeAndre Jordan has improved tremendously, Jamal Crawford is making opponents look silly on the court and most importantly, the Clippers are winning.
4. Miami Heat (10-3): Ironically, Miami’s three losses were against the teams that sit above them in this week’s power rankings. Other then that, Miami’s is smooth sailing. D-Wade needs to get his foot right first.
5. San Antonio Spurs (11-3): If a couple breaks go San Antonio’s way they would be atop the power rankings this week. Instead they round out the top five. That doesn’t take away how spectacular Tim Duncan has played early on.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder (10-4): Kevin Durant achieved his first career triple double against the Golden State Warriors and followed that up with 35 points in a overtime win against the Clippers. The moral of the story OKC will go as far as KD can take them.
7. Los Angeles Lakers (7-7): New coach. New attitude. The Lakers look inspired and motivated. Heck, they could have kept Bernie Bickerstaff as the interim head coach. Mike Brown had to go but with that 113-97 loss to the Kings, D’Antoni is officially on the clock.
8. Brooklyn Nets (7-4): Five straight wins followed by back-to-back losses. West Coast trips are real momentum killers, huh? Can’t get back to Brooklyn soon enough.
9. Milwaukee Bucks (6-5): Milwaukee is defying the critics early on. The backcourt that nobody expected to work is working out. Brandon Jennings is finally playing at a normal pace.
10. Boston Celtics (7-6): Okay we can blame the 20-point loss to the Detroit Pistons on fatigue. At least Rajon Rondo’s assist streak didn’t suffer. So far this season, the Celtics have not played with that trademark passion we are so accustomed to seeing from the Green Team.
11. Dallas Mavericks (7-7): OJ Mayo is helping fans in Big D forget about Jason Terry. Mayo’s looked good early on. More good news for Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki hopes to return by mid-December. Can the Mavs continue to hold down the fort?
12. Philadelphia 76ers (7-6): Keep Andrew Bynum away from bowling alleys. Meanwhile without Bynum, the Sixers looked strong in impressive wins against Utah and Toronto.
13. Atlanta Hawks (8-4): If Martell Webster’s tip-in happens just a moment sooner, Atlanta would of dropped lower then 13. I don’t know what to make of this Atlanta Hawks team just yet.
14. Utah Jazz (7-7): Utah is one of those teams I assume will make a deal any day now. Now the question is, who goes – Paul Millsap or free agent-to-be Al Jefferson?
15. Chicago Bulls (6-6): How much longer can you have Nate Robinson lead your team? D-Rose is still a ways away. Maybe it’s time to give the rookie Marquis Teague a shot.
16. Charlotte Bobcats (7-5): This can’t be real. The Charlotte have tied their win total from last previous season. Looks like first year coach Mike Dunlap’s influence has made a big difference early on.
17. Golden State Warriors (8-6): Still without big man Andrew Bogut, the Warriors are winning due to the early emergence of rookie Harrison Barnes who had an impressive 19 points and 13 rebound night in a win against the Hawks last week.
18. Denver Nuggets (7-6): Denver is off to a rocky start but I expect the Mile High club to get rolling soon. This team has too much talent to be a mediocre regular season team.
19. Minnesota Timberwolves (5-7): Kevin Love gave Minnesota fans something to be thankful for early on with his surprise return. Love’s 34 points and 14 rebounds were impressive for a guy coming off a hand injury.
20. Portland Trail Blazers (6-6): Portland’s new look team has not forged an identity just yet. For a guy that has been apart of the Blazers’ growing pains, LaMarcus Aldridge needs to raise his game to another level to ensure that Portland’s season does not turn for the worst.
21. Indiana Pacers (6-8): The Indiana Pacers have the honor of being the most disappointing team at the three-week point of the season. Why can’t Roy Hibbert dominate night in and night out?
22. Houston Rockets (6-7): Toney Douglas has replaced Jeremy Lin during crunch time. The Royce White situation is as baffling as ever, and my condolences are sent to Kevin McHale and his family.
23. Phoenix Suns (6-7): The Suns are hanging in games they have no business of winning. That’s a good sign for a team that was projected to lose 60-plus games.
24. Orlando Magic (5-7): 11 games into the post Dwight era and you can’t be mad at this start, and not trading for Bynum looks smarter and smarter everyday.
25. Cleveland Cavaliers (3-10): Bad news for Cavs fans, Kyrie Irving will miss the next month with a broken index finger. More bad news for Cavs fans, your season is officially over.
26. Toronto Raptors (3-11): If I can compliment the Raptors on one thing it would be that they compete every night. Too bad they play in the toughest division in the league and injury woes have hampered them so far.
27. New Orleans Hornets (3-8): New Orleans is in the midst of a five game losing streak. Anthony Davis didn’t lose five games all of last season with the Kentucky Wildcats.
28. Detroit Pistons (3-11): A 20-point win and a road win will bring you up from 29 to 28 in power rankings for sure.
29. Sacramento Kings (4-9): I find this team very riveting. If DeMarcus Cousins gets his act together and stays away from announcers, Sacramento could find themselves in the playoff hunt.
30. Washington Wizards (0-11): Bradley Beal has yet to know what the satisfaction of a hard earned NBA win feels like. Beal and the Wizards came close against the Hawks but win number one was not in the cards. Nené is back and John Wall is on track to return soon. A Wizards fan can dream.
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