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The 2020-21 NBA season will be entering its third week in the coming days and though fortunes have been mixed, the NBA Power Rankings have remained mostly true to expectation. Throughout the past fortnight, fans have been able to gauge what their side's year may entail.
For the LA Lakers and LA Clippers, this appears to be another battle for the top two positions in the West. Meanwhile in the East, the picture remains unclear as favorites, the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, have had a stuttering start.
NBA Power Rankings 2020-21: Outlining the current top ten
The NBA Power Rankings will continue to fluctuate as the season continues, especially for sides who have had an easier start than others. Despite this, there have been numerous teams who have emerged from the opening fortnight with impressive records and whose offseason moves are proving fruitful early on.
Let's have a look at who the current top 10 are in our NBA Power Rankings.
#10 Boston Celtics
2020-21 Record: 4-3
Upcoming fixtures: Toronto (away), Miami (away), Washington (home), Miami (home)
The Boston Celtics have made an inconsistent start to the 2020-21 NBA season so far. In their double-header over the weekend, they were almost swept by the Detroit Pistons. Despite starting worse-off than expected, the Celtics have had to handle a challenging opening 7 fixtures without point guard Kemba Walker and were still able to record an impressive win against Milwaukee.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have continued their form of last season and are currently carrying the Celtics offensively. Without sufficient depth, though, coach Stevens will be eager for Walker to return if Boston are to make their expected successful playoff run.
#9 Indiana Pacers
2020-21 Record: 4-2
Upcoming fixtures: New Orleans (away), Houston (home), Phoenix (home)
After being mentioned among several NBA Power Rankings Top 10's prior to the start of the season, the Indiana Pacers have lived up to expectations. Their offense has been firing on all cylinders with impressive early showings from Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon to support franchise leader Victor Oladipo.
As predicted in the offseason, Indiana will be relying on their roster staying injury-free if they are to improve on their playoff finish. The announcement that T.J. Warren would miss a significant period of the year as a cause of surgery was a major blow and is therefore a reason they don't rank higher on our NBA Power Rankings.
#8 Miami Heat
2020-21 Record: 2-3
Upcoming fixtures: Oklahoma (home), Boston (home), Washington (away), Boston (away)
Riding high off of their Finals appearance, the Miami Heat were expected to continue their form among NBA Power Rankings this season. They have, however, suffered an unsteady start with the biggest worry being Jimmy Butler's ankle.
Star forward Butler was unavailable for the Heat's double-header against the Bucks, in the first of which they were blown out the gym before recovering to win the second.
Miami will be looking at its perimeter scorers to step up after uneven offensive performances thus far.
#7 Utah Jazz
2020-21 Record: 4-2
Upcoming fixtures: Brooklyn (away), New York (away), Milwaukee (away), Detroit (away)
The Utah Jazz will again be among the competitors in the West to finish with home court advantage this season. So far, they have notched road victories in Portland, Oklahoma, and San Antonio while edging out the LA Clippers at home.
Among the Jazz's strong starting unit, Mike Conley has been proving his worth, averaging 20.3 points per game and 5 assists so far.
Ahead of the Jazz lies a difficult road journey that includes Eastern heavyweights Brooklyn and Milwaukee. The Jazz currently rank 14th in defensive rating and 2nd overall for rebounds allowed, two aspects of their game that will be hugely tested ahead of these matchups.
#6 Phoenix Suns
2020-21 record: 5-2
Upcoming fixtures: Toronto (home), Detroit (away), Indiana (away)
The Suns are currently riding high at the top of the Western Conference with a 5-2 record. They have the best defensive rating in the West and second overall only to Philadelphia.
As expected, their 'Big Three' have been performing well with Devin Booker averaging 21 PPG and DeAndre Ayton grabbing 10.7 boards a game.
Of the veterans the Suns were able to pick up in the offseason, none have been as influential as Chris Paul. An All-Star on 10 occasions, Paul has shown he has the ability to be a leader in Oklahoma and is doing so again with Phoenix's young stars.
After they finished 8-0 in the bubble, the Suns were the first side this year to reach 5 wins and will be aiming to disrupt the West's elite come the end of the season.
#5 Brooklyn Nets
2020-21 record: 3-4
Upcoming fixtures: Utah (home), Philadelphia (home), Memphis (away), Oklahoma (away)
The Brooklyn Nets were among the favorites in NBA Power Rankings to start the season and remain so despite their uninspiring start.
Even with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving's combined 58 points, it still wasn't enough to lift the Nets over an inferior Washington Wizards side.
Their defense has proven it will improve to support their high scoring output on the other end. However, shooting has been sporadic and DeAndre Jordan hasn't performed as well as Steve Nash will have hoped.
A team that is likely still working to find its flow with KD returning will come good despite the loss of starter Spencer Dinwiddie to injury. Although, resting their superstars during double-headers may prove more and more difficult should the record not improve much beyond .500.
#4 Milwaukee Bucks
2020-21 record: 3-3
Upcoming fixtures: Detroit (home), Detroit (home), Utah (home), Cleveland (home)
Inconsistency has epitomized Milwaukee over the past few postseasons and unfortunately for fans, their 3-3 record shows the trait all too clearly. Ahead of them lies a string of winnable home fixtures, where currently they are 2 for 2.
Milwaukee have started strongly from beyond the 3-point line, making more than 20 from deep in 3 games. Giannis' minutes have been watched in blowout victories and Khris Middleton is recording career-high points and assists.
The positives that the Bucks can draw from their opening games should soon provide more consistency which deems them as favorites to top the Eastern Conference.
#3 Philadelphia 76ers
2020-21 record: 5-1
Upcoming fixtures: Charlotte (home), Washington (home), Brooklyn (away), Denver (home)
Under new coach Doc Rivers, the Philadelphia 76ers have started the season strongly and eased past opposition they would expect to be beating - apart from their game in New York. Their Eastern Conference rivals have struggled with this.
Where others have failed to capitalize on opportunities, the Sixers have defended resolutely. Therefore, even though their offense is yet to get going, they have been able to fall back on their defense which stands atop the NBA.
The fact that Philadelphia are winning games while the likes of Ben Simmons suffers from his shooting percentage is a good sign.
#2 LA Clippers
2020-21 record: 5-2
Upcoming fixtures: San Antonio (home), Golden State (away) x2, Chicago (home)
The Clippers overcame an obstinate Phoenix Suns on Sunday night to record their fifth win of the season. In the fixture, Paul George continued his form which looks as though the forward may be returning to his peak, averaging 25 points and 5 assists.
A masked Kawhi Leonard returned to the fold after the Clippers suffered the franchise's heaviest defeat in history to the Mavericks. The former DPOY helped his side comfortably beat the Timberwolves and Trail Blazers.
Although lacking concentration, the Clippers have been able to hold onto leads and have taken some early-season scalps. beating the Lakers and Nuggets.
#1 LA Lakers
2020-21 record: 5-2
Upcoming fixtures: Memphis (away), San Antonio (home), Chicago (home), Houston (away)
In their two toughest matchups that they have played, against the Clippers and Trail Blazers, the Lakers have lost both which may worry coach Vogel. Despite this, the LA Lakers still sit atop our NBA Power Rankings and are favorites to win back-to-back titles.
The Lakers roster is deeper than last season and possesses more talent. Combined with All-Stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers contain too many weapons with which to hurt their opponents which will prove enough to beat the majority of the league this season.
On the road, the Lakers are continuing their fine form from their championship-winning year by going 3-0 so far.
