NBA Power Rankings Week 5: Los Angeles Lakers remain the team to beat; Houston Rockets rise

It may be hard to believe, but Week 5 of the 2019-20 season is already here. There have been plenty of talking points during the first month of the season, and the dramatic decline of the Golden State Warriors has provided us with one of the most open title races in recent memory.

Plenty of teams around the NBA have impressed as they look to replace the Warriors at the top, and here we will take a look at the top 10 teams heading into Week 5 of the season.

#10 Miami Heat - Current Record: 9-3

The Heat have opened the season with a 9-3 record

Following an excellent opening week to the season, many predicted that the Miami Heat's form would quickly evaporate. However, Erik Spoelstra's team continue to defy expectations with a 9-3 record.

Jimmy Butler is averaging career highs in rebounds, assists, and steals, while Bam Adebayo and Kendrick Nunn continue to impress. With games against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls to come, Miami will remain among the top teams in the East for at least another week.

#9 Utah Jazz - Current Record: 8-4

Rudy Gobert wants to play a bigger role for the Jazz

The Utah Jazz started the week with wins over the Warriors and Brooklyn Nets, but ended Week 4 with a surprise defeat to the struggling Memphis Grizzlies. Nevertheless, the Jazz remain the only team in the West with an unbeaten home record and they have four winnable games over the next seven days.

#8 Toronto Raptors - Current Record: 8-4

Pascal Siakam is among the leading candidates to be named Most Improved Player

The Toronto Raptors wrapped up their five-game road trip by losing to the Dallas Mavericks, although they still came away with 3 wins thanks to big performances against the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers, and Portland Trail Blazers.

They now have winnable home games against the Charlotte Hornets and Orland Magic coming up. However, while Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet have been excellent, injuries to Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka have left them with an ongoing lack of depth.

#7 Denver Nuggets - Current Record: 9-3

Jamal Murray has stepped up as Nikola Jokic continues to struggle

We are a month into the season and Nikola Jokic isn't quite right, but the Denver Nuggets have still managed to win nine of their opening twelve games. With Jokic struggling, Jamal Murray scored a career-high 26 first-half points against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, and the 22-year-old finished the game with 39.

Jerami Grant is also making more of an impact from the bench, and the Nuggets remain on the rise.

#6 Philadelphia 76ers - Current Record: 8-5

Joel Embiid and the Sixers have struggled after making an excellent start

The Philadelphia 76ers opened the season with a 5-0 record, but the preseason Eastern Conference favorites have struggled over the past two weeks. Back-to-back defeats to the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder added to their concerns, but the Sixers returned to form last night as they crushed the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Tobias Harris also enjoyed his best game of the season, and Philadelphia should be able to regain some form over the next week.

#5 Houston Rockets - Current Record: 10-3

James Harden is enjoying another historic season with the Rockets

After making an unconvincing start to the season, the Houston Rockets finally hit their stride last week as they picked up wins over the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Rockets now possess the NBA's longest winning run at 7, and James Harden is averaging 39.5 points, 7.8 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game. If Russell Westbrook can improve his shooting, Houston will be a real threat in the playoffs.

#4 Milwaukee Bucks - Current Record: 9-3

Giannis Antetokounmpo has raised his game following his MVP winning season

Khris Middleton's injury came as a blow to the Milwaukee Bucks as they were just starting to hit form, but another big week from Giannis Antetokounmpo was enough for Milwaukee to finish Week 4 with a 3-0 record.

Through 12 games, Antetokounmpo is averaging 30.1 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 6.5 assists - and the Bucks are now just one win away from topping the East.

#3 Los Angeles Clippers - Current Record: 8-5

The Los Angeles Clippers have impressed during the opening weeks despite missing Paul George

The Los Angeles Clippers experienced a tough fourth week of the season as they lost to the New Orleans Pelicans and Houston Rockets, but Paul George's return from injury is a huge boost. In his home debut, PG13 dropped 37 in just 20 minutes against the Atlanta Hawks, and over the coming week, we should finally get our first glimpse of the Paul George-Kawhi Leonard partnership.

#2 Boston Celtics - Current Record: 10-2

Kemba Walker has been impressive following his move from the Charlotte Hornets

When Gordon Hayward was lost to injury for six weeks, it looked as though the Boston Celtics would struggle to keep up their excellent start. However, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have stepped up, while Kemba Walker continues to prove that he is a more than adequate replacement for Kyrie Irving.

A loss to the Sacramento Kings snapped their winning streak at 10. However, despite the defeat, the Celtics have still been the most impressive team in the East.

#1 Los Angeles Lakers - Current Record: 11-2

LeBron James is among the NBA's leading MVP contenders after four weeks of the new season

Despite making plenty of changes during the offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers have been remarkably consistent during the first month of the season, making an impressive 11-2 start to the season.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis have clicked instantly, while the Lakers have been further boosted by the return to fitness of Kyle Kuzma and Rajon Rondo.

They face the Oklahoma City Thunder twice before ending Week 5 against the Memphis Grizzlies, and it is difficult to envision anything other than three more wins.