Donovan Mitchell and Jazz are putting together a string of 8 consecutive wins to start the week.
It is week 6, the time when we reached half of the first half schedule (on Wednesday) and when 25% of the complete schedule of 1,080 games, 2020-21 will have been played. This will be Friday, unless several other games are postponed.
The pole position is usually when teams can make a real determination of where they are. But things are obviously different this season. Not only have there been prolonged postponements and absences due to the coronavirus, but this is the first season of the new play-in rules.
So, instead of drawing just one line after the first eight teams in each conference, we have to imagine two lines: one that separates the first six from the rest of the group and another for the teams in play from seventh to 10th place. This makes everything more cloudy, especially in the East, where the current champions of the conference are in 13th place, 6-9. Only five teams in the East have winning records and 13th place Miami Heat is just a game and a half behind sixth place Cleveland Cavaliers.
The situation in the West is a little clearer and perhaps much more worrisome for the New Orleans Pelicans, who are between 5 and 10 and 14th place. Where things are really interesting is at the top, where LA Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz have only four defeats.
These three teams top the ranking this week, with the champions remaining at the top for the sixth week in a row, after a big victory in Milwaukee. They will play with the other two teams at the top of the Eastern standings this week, while Jazz will have some great games within the conference.
Most-less players of the week
Teams of the week
- Make it last forever: Philadelphia (3-0) – The Sixers are 9-0 when they had Seth Curry and Joel Embiid available, and the Lakers are coming to town.
- Something is just not right: New Orleans (0-3) – Pelicans lost two games to red-hot Jazz, but ended their six-game trip with a loss in Minnesota, losing by up to 18 points to a team that was 3-11 and missing their two ex-All-Stars.
East x West
Schedule strength through week 5
- Harder: 1. Charlotte, 2. Oklahoma City, 3. Memphis
- Easier: 1. Orlando, 2. Philadelphia, 3. Atlanta
- The strength of the schedule is based on the opponent’s cumulative record and adjusted for home vs. visitor and rest days before the game.
Classification movement
- High heels of the week: Denver (+6), five teams (+5)
- Free falls of the week: New Orleans (-9), Phoenix (-6), Three teams (-4)
Week 6 team to watch
- Dallas – The Mavs, who are in ninth place, are expected to get some bodies back this week as they face the most important period of their first half schedule. They receive the Nuggets on Monday before leaving for two games in Utah on Wednesday and Friday. Then, they return home for two games against the Suns on Saturday and next Monday.
Previous power ratings
Statistics key
Rhythm: Possession for 48 minutes (League Ranking)
OffRtg: Points scored for 100 possessions (League Ranking)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Ranking)
NetRtg: Points differential per 100 possessions (League Ranking)
The league averages 100.7 possessions (per team) every 48 minutes and 109.8 points scored per 100 possessions this season.
NBA.com Power Rankings, published every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have any problems with the rating, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, send him an email or contact him via Twitter.