NBA Power Rankings: LA Lakers knocked off top spot while Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets continue to climb

#7 Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo

2020-21 record: 11-8

Upcoming fixtures: Portland (home), Indiana (home), Cleveland (away), Cleveland (away)

Previous Top-10 ranking: 5th (↓2)

As one of the season's biggest disappointments so far, the Milwaukee Bucks are nowhere near perfect and have a long way to go if they are to reach the NBA Finals. It took 54 games last year until the Bucks had lost 8 matches yet they fell twice on the road this week to New Orleans and Charlotte. As a result, they find themselves on an 11-8 record and 3rd in the East.

Milwaukee are still scoring at an elite rate and rank third in the league for offensive rating. However, for a side that boasted the best defense last season, they have struggled to contain even the weaker NBA sides.

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#6 Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray

2020-21 record: 12-8

Upcoming fixtures: Detroit (home), LA Lakers (away), Sacramento (away)

Previous Top-10 ranking: 8th (↑2)

After a rocky start to the season, the Denver Nuggets look to have returned to their best, going 7-3 in their last ten matchups. This was topped by a standout display against the Jazz on Sunday, ending their opponents 11-game win streak.

💥 JOKER ties his CAREER HIGH! 💥47 POINTS and 12 boards on 17-26 shooting for Nikola Jokic as the @nuggets win at home. pic.twitter.com/phRMpaUxo7

— NBA (@NBA) February 1, 2021

Nikola Jokic is putting up staggering numbers this season, with a double-double in every matchup, including 47 points and 12 rebounds against Utah. The Serbian center is the Nuggets defining player and often overpowers his opponents as arguably the top big man in the league. Keeping their MVP candidate fit is vital if the Nuggets are to gain home-court advantage.

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#5 Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn Nets teammates James Harden and Kevin Durant

2020-21 record: 13-9

Upcoming fixtures: LA Clippers (home), Toronto (home), Philadelphia (away)

Previous Top-10 ranking: 9th (↑4)

Though the Nets may eventually pay for their lack of defense, they are more often than not blowing their opponents out of the water on the other end. Harden, Durant and Irving combined for 89 points on the road in Atlanta, in which Brooklyn gave up 128 points yet still came away with a win.

Kyrie Irving.#NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/DnfJsKheeT

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 1, 2021

Winning 7 of their last ten has lifted the Nets up to second in the East and back up into the Top 5 in our NBA Power Rankings. They are now firmly in position to take the top spot as many predicted they would when Harden came to town.

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#4 Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale

2020-21 record: 15-5

Upcoming fixtures: Detroit (home), Atlanta (away), Charlotte (away), Indiana (away)

Previous Top-10 ranking: 3rd (↓1)

Sunday's loss in Denver was underwhelming by the Utah Jazz's recent high standards. After going on an 11-game winning run, the Jazz remain 2nd in the West and 5th for both offensive and defensive efficiency.

The Jazz have scoring talent across the board though and could prove to be a thorn in LA's best throughout the season. Bojan Bogdanovic, after starting slowly from surgery recovery has re-discovered his scoring form, recording 29 points in the loss against the Nuggets.