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James Harden is a Brooklyn Internet, lastly answering the most important query hovering over the early a part of this NBA season. The following query is how Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving share the court docket. The Nets answered a part of it in Harden’s debut Saturday night time towards the Orlando Magic, as The Beard recorded a 32-point triple-double and KD added a season-high 42 factors.
The league’s latest huge three has Brooklyn on the rise. However let’s not overlook in regards to the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, who’re rolling and displaying no indicators of relinquishing their No. 1 spot in these rankings.
Be aware: All through the common season, our panel (ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Eric Woodyard, Royce Younger and Ohm Youngmisuk) is rating all 30 groups from high to backside, taking inventory of which groups are enjoying one of the best basketball now and which groups are trying most like title contenders.
Earlier rankings: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2020-21 file: 11-3
Earlier rating: 1
Issues are going so properly for the defending champions — off to an 11-3 begin whereas rating first in defensive effectivity and fifth in offensive effectivity — you could not blame Kyle Kuzma when he really entertained a current query in regards to the “D” phrase: dynasties. “We’re attempting to get to that plateau and peak to proceed to win championships,” Kuzma mentioned, including that LeBron James can present some expertise in that realm for the brand new guys to comply with. “A troublesome, lofty purpose, however I feel that is what all of us put out to do.” — McMenamin
This week: GSW, @MIL, @CHI
2. LA Clippers
2020-21 file: 10-4
Earlier rating: 2
Paul George declared he had no selection however to return again “with vengeance” from final postseason’s debacle. And he continued his torrid capturing begin, punctuating it with a forceful dunk in a dominant victory over his former Pacers crew on Sunday. Kawhi Leonard appears stronger and extra explosive with every sport. The 2 stars helped the Clippers go 4-0 this previous week regardless of Lou Williams lacking two video games and Patrick Beverley and Serge Ibaka out for one sport every. And Ty Lue’s crew nonetheless hasn’t reached full potential. — Youngmisuk
This week: SAC, OKC, OKC
3. Milwaukee Bucks
2020-21 file: 9-4
Earlier rating: 3
After a 2-3 begin, the Bucks are rolling once more. Milwaukee racked up three victories this week, and it has dropped only one sport in its previous eight contests. The Bucks topped Luka Doncic and the Mavericks on Friday to win a season-high 4 straight video games. Reigning two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo completed with 31 factors and 9 rebounds towards Dallas regardless of going 1-for-10 from the free throw line, which represented the worst free throw share in franchise historical past (minimal of 10 makes an attempt), in keeping with the Elias Sports activities Bureau. — Woodyard
This week: @BKN, LAL, WAS, ATL
4. Boston Celtics
2020-21 file: 8-4
Earlier rating: 6
Sure, the Celtics noticed their five-game successful streak snapped by the Knicks on Sunday. But when Kemba Walker is ready to keep spry and wholesome — and he appeared that manner within the 20 minutes he performed in his season debut — Boston shall be thrilled. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been excellent to date this season, however for the Celtics to get the place they hope, they’re going to want Walker at his greatest. That is why Walker saying he was pain-free was all that mattered on Sunday. — Bontemps
This week: @PHI, @PHI, CLE
5. Philadelphia 76ers
2020-21 file: 9-5
Earlier rating: 4
Philadelphia is now 9-2 this season when Joel Embiid performs and 0-3 when he sits. That two of these losses got here on the highway towards groups the Sixers ought to’ve crushed — the Cavaliers and Grizzlies — is a trigger for some concern. Embiid has arguably been the league’s MVP to date this season, however Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris and supporting gamers needs to be sufficient to win video games towards non-playoff groups. — Bontemps
This week: BOS, BOS, @DET
6. Brooklyn Nets
2020-21 file: 8-6
Earlier rating: 11
One sport in and the James Harden commerce is trying fairly nice for the Nets. Harden and Kevin Durant mixed for a cool 74 factors, with Harden having a triple-double in his Nets debut. Durant has scored 25 or extra in 9 straight video games and is averaging greater than 30 factors a sport. The firepower feels fairly Demise Star-ish for Brooklyn proper now. Nevertheless it all comes with a caveat, as Kyrie Irving‘s anticipated return to the lineup is coming. Durant and Irving make a terrific duo. Durant and Harden make a improbable duo. However what sort of trio do Durant, Harden and Irving make? Flamable is a phrase that involves thoughts. — Younger
This week: MIL, @CLE, @CLE, MIA
7. Utah Jazz
2020-21 file: 9-4
Earlier rating: 9
Utah has received its previous 5 video games, matching the Lakers for the league’s longest lively successful streak. Jordan Clarkson, an early Sixth Man of the Yr contender, has averaged 20.8 factors with a 64.7 true capturing share through the streak. The Jazz are permitting solely 100.4 factors per 100 possessions through the roll, which incorporates highway wins over the Bucks and Nuggets. — MacMahon
This week: NOP, NOP, GSW
8. Phoenix Suns
2020-21 file: 7-4
Earlier rating: 5
Thanks to 3 consecutive postponements, Phoenix will go every week between video games once they tip off Monday towards the Grizzlies. On Sunday, Suns coach Monty Williams mentioned the crew was simply ready to listen to again from the league final week to see once they might lastly get again collectively. — Lopez
This week: @MEM, @HOU, DEN, DEN
9. Indiana Pacers
2020-21 file: 8-5
Earlier rating: 7
It was an fascinating week for the Pacers, to say the least. For starters, Saturday’s sport at Phoenix was postponed due to ongoing contract tracing inside the Suns’ squad. Then, Indiana turned a part of a four-team blockbuster commerce, touchdown Caris LeVert whereas giving up Victor Oladipo, solely to be taught LeVert could be out indefinitely after an MRI found a small mass on his kidney. — Woodyard
This week: DAL, ORL, TOR
10. Dallas Mavericks
2020-21 file: 6-6
Earlier rating: 10
Luka Doncic has triple-doubles in 4 of the Mavs’ previous six tilts. He missed triple-doubles by one help and one rebound within the different video games. His averages in that six-game span: 31.5 factors, 12.2 rebounds and 11.8 assists. Doncic now has 29 profession triple-doubles, tying Grant Hill for fifteenth all time, yet another than Michael Jordan. — MacMahon
This week: @TOR, @IND, @SAS, HOU
11. Denver Nuggets
2020-21 file: 6-7
Earlier rating: 13
Nikola Jokic is having an MVP-like season with 5 triple-doubles in 13 video games. And he missed 4 others by one rebound or one help. However coach Michael Malone continues to attend for the Nuggets to succeed in full power. Jamal Murray is attempting to shake off an aching elbow, Michael Porter Jr. stays sidelined by COVID-19 and Gary Harris simply returned from a two-game absence. The Nuggets are getting nearer to discovering their rhythm. — Youngmisuk
This week: OKC, @PHX, @PHX
12. Portland Trail Blazers
2020-21 file: 8-5
Earlier rating: 12
One other season brings one other hostile scenario the Blazers should endure. Jusuf Nurkic shall be out not less than eight weeks due to a damaged wrist, thinning the crew’s entrance line and placing much more strain on its backcourt. Portland dodged extra issues with CJ McCollum‘s foot harm solely being a pressure, however he might miss a while, as properly. In order it goes for the Blazers: It simply means Damian Lillard must do some carrying. — Younger
This week: SAS, MEM, MEM, NYK
13. San Antonio Spurs
2020-21 file: 7-6
Earlier rating: 15
It was an enormous week for Spurs second-year man Keldon Johnson. It wasn’t till the bubble final season that Johnson actually got here into his personal, averaging 14.1 factors and 5.0 rebounds in eight video games in Florida. He has picked up the place he left off, averaging 14.5 factors per sport and seven.2 rebounds to date this marketing campaign. Final week, Johnson posted a career-high 29 factors towards Houston and dedicated only one turnover in three video games. — Lopez
This week: @POR, @GSW, DAL, WAS
14. Golden State Warriors
2020-21 file: 6-6
Earlier rating: 14
At .500 heading right into a showdown with LeBron James and the Lakers on Monday, the Warriors proceed to have up-and-down moments because the younger group adjusts to enjoying with Stephen Curry. The excellent news: Andrew Wiggins has began the season with a greater defensive edge than in years previous. The dangerous information: Kelly Oubre Jr.’s capturing woes proceed to hamper the offense. — Friedell
This week: @LAL, SAS, NYK, @UTA
15. Miami Heat
2020-21 file: 4-7
Earlier rating: 8
At 4-7, the Warmth’s bubble hangover continues to get somewhat worse every week. On high of an absence of consistency, they’re combating accidents and coronavirus-related protocols that saved Jimmy Butler and Avery Bradley out of Saturday’s blowout loss to the Pistons. The Warmth do not wish to make excuses — however they have a lot in the meanwhile. — Friedell
This week: DET, @TOR, @TOR, @BKN
16. Oklahoma City Thunder
2020-21 file: 6-6
Earlier rating: 24
When you had been a crew ranked twenty ninth in offense, 18th in protection and twenty eighth in internet ranking, you would not suppose it was enjoying .500 basketball, proper? However that is what the Thunder are, getting again to 6-6 after their 22-point comeback towards the Bulls on Friday. OKC has discovered a option to win plenty of shut video games, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shining in them. Towards Chicago, he completed with a career-high 33 factors and 10 assists and made a flurry of huge performs within the fourth quarter. — Younger
This week: @DEN, @LAC, @LAC
17. Orlando Magic
2020-21 file: 6-7
Earlier rating: 16
The Magic limped to an 0-3 file this week, with losses to 3 of one of the best groups within the East (Milwaukee, Boston and Brooklyn). Not solely did the schedule do them no favors, the Magic are nonetheless coping with the emotional affect of guard Markelle Fultz‘s season-ending ACL tear. — Friedell
This week: @NYK, @MIN, @IND, CHA
18. New Orleans Pelicans
2020-21 file: 5-7
Earlier rating: 18
The Pelicans ended a five-game dropping streak on Sunday night time with a win over the Kings. New Orleans’ week began with a postponement in Dallas earlier than two losses in Los Angeles, to the Clippers and the Lakers, with out level guard Lonzo Ball. In his absence, Nickeil Alexander-Walker stepped up, averaging 19.3 factors, 5.3 rebounds and a couple of.7 assists whereas capturing 57.1% from 3. Oh, and Zion Williamson remains to be doing Zion issues. In Sunday’s win over Sacramento, Williamson turned the youngest participant up to now 35 seasons to have not less than 30 factors whereas capturing not less than 85% from the sector and going excellent from the free throw line. — Lopez
This week: @UTA, @UTA, @MIN
19. Toronto Raptors
2020-21 file: 4-8
Earlier rating: 20
Toronto lastly obtained itself headed in the proper route with a pair of nail-biting victories over the Hornets this week. If the Raptors had been in a position to do something in need of catastrophe in shut video games over the primary few weeks of the season, they’d doubtless be .500 or higher. Nonetheless, Toronto goes to want to get extra from facilities not named Chris Boucher shifting ahead. Aron Baynes, specifically (4.3 factors per sport on 37.5% capturing), has been a disappointment to date. — Bontemps
This week: DAL, MIA, MIA, @IND
20. Memphis Grizzlies
2020-21 file: 6-6
Earlier rating: 27
Ja Morant recovered from a Grade 2 ankle sprain sooner than anticipated, returning in lower than three weeks. The Grizzlies managed to go 4-4 within the eight video games that their younger star missed. Xavier Tillman, the No. 35 choose within the 2020 NBA draft, is proving he’s an instantaneous high quality rotation participant. He has a team-best plus-13.3 internet ranking in 20 minutes per sport. — MacMahon
This week: PHO, @POR, @POR, SAC
21. Cleveland Cavaliers
2020-21 file: 6-7
Earlier rating: 23
Andre Drummond has been placing up enormous numbers, topping his 26-point, 24-rebound efficiency in a loss on the Bucks with a 33-point, 23-board effort in a house win versus the Knicks six days later. We’ll see how lengthy that manufacturing will final, because the Cavaliers traded for 22-year-old Jarrett Allen this week, after getting concerned within the James Harden deal. With Allen, Drummond and JaVale McGee making a glut at heart, many imagine the Cavs aren’t completed making strikes. — McMenamin
This week: @WAS (postponed), BKN, BKN, @BOS
22. Charlotte Hornets
2020-21 file: 6-8
Earlier rating: 21
After a win over the Knicks on Monday, the Hornets misplaced three straight to shut the week, together with a pair to a Raptors crew that has struggled to start out the season. It additionally was a shaky week for rookie LaMelo Ball, who went 15-for-46 through the four-game stretch. — Friedell
This week: WAS, CHI, @ORL
23. New York Knicks
2020-21 file: 6-8
Earlier rating: 22
The Knicks had been in a position to break a five-game dropping streak in Boston on Sunday. Tom Thibodeau’s crew is missing in expertise, however he has the Knicks enjoying onerous, and he’s giving the younger guys (together with RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson and Immanuel Quickley) a bunch of minutes. If that retains up, the Knicks will get quite a bit out of this season, irrespective of the place their file winds up. — Bontemps
This week: ORL, @GSW, @SAC, @POR
24. Houston Rockets
2020-21 file: 4-7
Earlier rating: 17
Houston did not land a younger franchise cornerstone within the James Harden commerce, choosing Brooklyn’s provide headlined by a historic haul of draft picks over a package deal with the 76ers’ Ben Simmons because the centerpiece. However the Rockets may need added a constructing block once they signed 25-year-old heart Christian Wood, who is prospering in his first season as a full-time starter, averaging 23.2 factors and 10.9 rebounds per sport. — MacMahon
This week: @CHI, PHX, @DET, @DAL
25. Atlanta Hawks
2020-21 file: 5-7
Earlier rating: 19
Since successful 4 of 5 to start out the season, it has been powerful sledding for the Hawks. Atlanta has misplaced six of its previous seven, with the lone victory coming final Monday towards a short-handed 76ers squad that was nonetheless battling absences due to well being and security protocols. Over these seven contests, Hawks level guard Trae Young averaged solely 17.9 factors per sport whereas capturing 32.8% from the sector — and simply 7-of-37 from 3-point vary. — Lopez
This week: MIN, DET, @MIN, @MIL
26. Sacramento Kings
2020-21 file: 5-9
Earlier rating: 25
A commanding 43-point, 13-assist, 4-steal sport from De’Aaron Fox wasn’t sufficient to maintain the Kings from dropping their third straight sport on Sunday. The loss to the Pelicans capped a 1-3 week that Sacramento began with a powerful win over Indiana however included an embarrassing 38-point drubbing by the Clippers. In a little bit of a silver lining, Marvin Bagley III had one in all his best video games as a professional in that New Orleans loss, placing up 26 factors and 10 rebounds in a season-high 36 minutes. — McMenamin
This week: @LAC, NYK, @MEM
27. Chicago Bulls
2020-21 file: 5-8
Earlier rating: 26
With a brand new head coach and a revamped entrance workplace, there are rising pains in Chicago — along with COVID-19 hitting the crew onerous, with Chandler Hutchison and Tomas Satoransky lately testing constructive. On the basketball court docket, nonetheless, Billy Donovan mentioned it bluntly after his crew blew a 22-point lead in Friday’s time beyond regulation loss to the Thunder: The Bulls “do not know the way” to win but. Zach LaVine was placing up career-best numbers by 12 video games, averaging 28.3 factors, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists. — Woodyard
This week: HOU, @CHA, LAL
28. Minnesota Timberwolves
2020-21 file: 3-8
Earlier rating: 28
It has been simply an unfair season to date for the Wolves, with Karl-Anthony Towns‘ current constructive COVID-19 end result one other merchandise so as to add to the pile. Their 2-0 begin feels prefer it occurred 5 years in the past, as they’ve now misplaced eight of their previous 9 video games. Their schedule lightens a bit over the subsequent couple of weeks, however after all that coincides with Cities’ new absence. — Younger
This week: @ATL, ORL, ATL, NOP
29. Washington Wizards
2020-21 file: 3-8
Earlier rating: 29
After dropping Russell Westbrook for not less than every week as a consequence of a quad harm, Washington put collectively its greatest complete effort in a rout of Phoenix on Monday. However then every thing got here to a halt as a consequence of COVID-19. The Wizards have had 4 consecutive video games postponed, with six gamers testing constructive and three extra gamers in well being and security protocols as of Friday. — Youngmisuk
This week: CLE (postponed), @CHA, @MIL, @SAS
30. Detroit Pistons
2020-21 file: 3-9
Earlier rating: 30
Friday’s sport towards the Wizards was postponed in Motown because of the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols. Nevertheless, Detroit adopted up with a 20-point win in Miami on Saturday for its first highway victory of the season. Jerami Grant continues to shine. He posted 24 factors, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks and a couple of steals towards Miami to change into the primary Piston with a 20-5-5-2-2 stat line sport since Andre Drummond in December 2019. — Woodyard
This week: @MIA, @ATL, HOU, PHI
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