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Entering week 6 of basketball action, the Western Conference teams are dominating the top spots in our NBA Power Rankings.
We have seen the continuation of some impressive winning streaks from the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers, while the recent performances of the Memphis Grizzlies and the Denver Nuggets have helped them climb into our top 10.
NBA Power Rankings 2020-21: Top ten risers and fallers as league enters week 7
Our NBA Power Rankings have seen plenty of movement this week as the conference pictures become clearer, with the favorites moving away from the chasing pack.
#10 Memphis Grizzlies
2020-21 record: 7-6
Upcoming fixtures: San Antonio (Away)
Previous Top 10 ranking: N/A
Entering the NBA Power Rankings for the first time are the Memphis Grizzlies.
After a 2-6 start, the Grizzlies are soaring from a 5-game winning streak that saw them record impressive performances against Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Phoenix.
With Ja Morant back in the fold, the Memphis Grizzlies can be genuine contenders for a playoff place. They have the second-best defensive rating in the league as well as the most steals.
Now that they have been slapped with more postponements by the league due to health and safety protocols, fans will be hoping their momentum doesn't shift when they return to the floor on Saturday.
#9 Brooklyn Nets
2020-21 record: 10-8
Upcoming fixtures: Miami (home), Atlanta (away), Oklahoma (away), Washington (away)
Previous Top 10 ranking: 8th (↓1)
While this week proved to be a mixed bag for the Brooklyn Nets' new-look team, the franchise's stars flourished on offense, overcoming two of their future playoff rivals, the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks.
In between these two matchups came a 2-game series in Cleveland in which the Cavs prevailed in both, thus dropping the Brooklyn Nets down in our NBA Power Rankings.
Steve Nash is going to have a huge task ahead of him to get the Nets organized defensively. In the 4 games this week, the Nets conceded 121 points per fixture in regular time (the first loss in Cleveland went to OT). They are looking to plug this hole by bringing in additional rebounding and size before the trade deadline.
Despite their defensive woes, when Brooklyn have had their three stars on the floor together, they have looked electric and have an offensive rating of 125.7.
#8 Denver Nuggets
2020-21 record: 9-7
Upcoming fixtures: Dallas (away), Miami (away), San Antonio (away), Utah (home)
Previous Top 10 ranking: N/A
The Denver Nuggets are also newcomers to the NBA Power Rankings.
What began as a 1-4 start has rapidly progressed into the Nuggets winning 8 of their past 11 games. Nikola Jokic is dominating every opponent and is averaging MVP-calibre numbers, with 25.8 points, 12 rebounds and 9.6 assists.
Jamal Murray has been fighting off elbow soreness but was able to hit a buzzer-beater in Phoenix to send the game they would later win into overtime.
Throughout their recent run, the Nuggets have averaged 9th overall defensively, an aspect of their game we were used to seeing in last year's playoffs but had been missing at the start of the season.
#7 Portland Trail Blazers
2020-21 record: 9-6
Upcoming fixtures: Oklahoma (home), Houston (away), Chicago (away)
Previous Top-10 ranking: 9th (↑2)
A side that has faced injury woes in the past continues to suffer as both CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic are out for the Portland Trail Blazers currently. All eyes have, thus, been on Damian Lillard to carry his team, a task he has most certainly been up to.
Lillard scored 35+ points in three games this week, lifting the Blazers up to 4th in the West, with a 39-point piece in a win over the New York Knicks on Sunday.
#6 Boston Celtics
2020-21 record: 9-6
Upcoming fixtures: Chicago (away), San Antonio (away), LA Lakers (home)
Previous Top-10 ranking: 5th (↓1)
Despite facing numerous injury and coronavirus setbacks this season, the Boston Celtics have managed to ride through it all and are now on the other side, having sustained their hopes of challenging for the Eastern Conference top spot.
Jayson Tatum is expected to return this week, as soon as the Chicago game, giving coach Stevens his best starting line-up. Even without their superstar, the Celtics demolished the Cavaliers, scoring 141 points in the process. The game against the LA Lakers on Saturday will be their biggest test yet.
#5 Milwaukee Bucks
2020-21 record: 10-6
Upcoming fixtures: Toronto (away), New Orleans (away), Charlotte (away)
Previous Top-10 ranking: 3rd (↓2)
Though still early in the season, Milwaukee Bucks fans won't help but feel trepidation at the prospect of another disappointing postseason for their team.
After 16 games, the Bucks are one of only two teams that haven't beaten a side with a positive record yet. Despite having the best defense last season, Milwaukee watched as Brooklyn's stars and LeBron James put on scoring clinics against them this week.
On a positive note, the Bucks ranked 1st in offensive rating this week but need to find a way to overcome the best opponents if they are going to have any success this season.
#4 Philadelphia 76ers
2020-21 record: 12-5
Upcoming fixtures: Detroit (away), LA Lakers (home), Minnesota (away), Indiana (away)
Previous Top-10 ranking: 6th (↑2)
Having a full acumen of players available again, the Philadelphia 76ers are dominating at the top of the Eastern Conference and are beginning to separate themselves from their opponents.
Philadelphia went 3-0 this week, with two wins over the Boston Celtics in which Joel Embiid flat-out bullied his opponent.
The center scored 80 points across the ties and looks to have taken his game to a new level this season, which will prove vital in the 76ers' postseason efforts.
#3 Utah Jazz
2020-21 record: 12-4
Upcoming fixtures: New York (home), Dallas (home), Dallas (home), Denver (away)
Previous Top-10 ranking: 4th (↑1)
The Utah Jazz's two biggest stars, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, have faced their fair share of criticism this season. However, they have proven their critics wrong in the best possible way.
The Jazz are the flavor of the week and are the in-form side on an 8-game winning streak, gradually rising up our NBA Power Rankings.
Over the course of the streak, the Utah Jazz have beaten 7 of their opponents by double digits and ranked in the top three on both ends of the floor.
With three home games up next, it wouldn't be surprising to see them jump the Los Angeles powerhouses atop the conference.
Despite getting off to a slow start, Donovan Mitchell has averaged 29 points across the last three games on a shooting percentage of 73.
#2 LA Clippers
2020-21 record: 13-4
Upcoming fixtures: Atlanta (away), Miami (away), Orlando (away), New York (away)
Previous Top-10 ranking: 2nd (-)
Despite being at the top of the Western Conference, the LA Clippers just miss out on our top spot in the NBA Power Rankings. Ty Lue's men have taken advantage of a favorable run and built up a 7-game winning streak.
Although Paul George and Patrick Beverley didn't finish the Clippers' encounter on Sunday, Kawhi Leonard was able to lift his side over Oklahoma.
The 2x champion has started to increase his productivity and averaged 32 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3 steals in the last 3 games. There is excitement among the Clippers camp that this year could be different.
#1 LA Lakers
2020-21 record: 13-4
Upcoming fixtures: Cleveland (away), Philadelphia (away), Detroit (away), Boston (away)
Previous Top-10 ranking: 1st (-)
The LA Lakers pip their city rivals to the top of our NBA Power Rankings yet again after holding the league's best offensive team, the Milwaukee Bucks, to one of their least efficient games of the season.
Anthony Davis burst out of his scoring slump on Saturday with 37 points against the Bulls after having 5 games with sub-20 point box scores.
LeBron James and co. also face a tough stretch of games against Eastern Conference opposition this week, facing both the 76ers and Celtics.
By next Monday, we should have a more serious gauge of how the Lakers are looking this season.
