Chris Paul and Phoenix are 2nd in the West with a record of 7-3.
Week 3 was when the coronavirus pandemic really hit the NBA. We saw COVID-related absences (some positive tests, some contact-tracing quarantines) all across the league, affecting both the schedule and the quality of play.
Kevin Durant missed three games and Bradley Beal had to isolate over the weekend. The Mavs had to leave three guys in Denver and the Sixers had just seven healthy players on Saturday, starting two rookies that you probably never heard of. The Bulls have been missing a few rotation players, the Celtics lost most of their frontline last week, and Miami-Boston on Sunday became the second postponement of the season.
This is what we knew could happen with the season being played outside of a bubble. We can hope that, because we’re 17 days past Christmas, this is the peak of pandemic-related absences around the league. But we don’t know what’s around the corner, and every case (both in and outside the NBA) is reason for concern.
COVID-19 cases weren’t the only bad news from last week. Three players — Atlanta’s Bogdan Bogdanovic, Orlando’s Markelle Fultz and Washington’s Thomas Bryant — were lost to nasty knee injuries. In positive news, the Magic’s Mo Bamba finally made his season debut after contracting the virus in the summer.
The games go on. And we’ll do our best here to focus on the basketball, knowing that health and safety remain the top priorities as we navigate the 2020-21 season.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
- Right Way: CJ McCollum (POR) was a plus-59 in three games last week.
- Wrong Way: Marvin Bagley III (SAC) was a minus-67 in four games last week.
Teams of the Week
- Make It Last Forever: Oklahoma City (3-1) — Break up the Thunder (again)! They went 4-1 on a five-game road trip.
- Something Just Ain’t Right: Sacramento (1-3) — The Kings got a narrow win over the Bulls, but lost their other three games (one to the 2-7 Raptors) by a total of 78 points.
East vs. West
- The West is 26-19 (.578) against the East in interconference games after going 15-10 last week.
Schedule Strength through Week 3
- Toughest: 1. Memphis, 2. Charlotte, 3. Detroit
- Easiest: 1. Atlanta, 2. Orlando, 3. L.A. Lakers
- Schedule strength is based on cumulative opponent record, and adjusted for home vs. away and days of rest before a game.
Movement in the Rankings
- High jumps of the week: Charlotte (+11), Golden State (+10), San Antonio (+10)
- Free falls of the week: Atlanta (-11), Cleveland (-9), Sacramento (-8)
Week 4 Team to Watch
- Denver — The Nuggets have won four of their last five to climb back to .500. And they have a few good tests of what might be an improving defense this week. They’ll finish their three-game trip in Brooklyn on Tuesday before returning home to begin a three-game homestand with games against the Warriors (Thursday) and Jazz (Sunday).
Previous Power Rankings
- Last week: Sixers, Suns and Jazz climb into the Top 5
- This time last year: Jazz, Rockets enter Top 5; Nets prepare for difficult stretch — Russell Westbrook scored 34 points in his return to Oklahoma City, but the Rockets got trounced by the Thunder. Devin Booker scored 30-plus in seven straight games and the Warriors were the only winless team in 2020. Jimmy Butler and T.J. Warren exchanged pleasantries, Chris Paul nutmegged Isaiah Hartenstein, Carmelo Anthony hit a game-winner in Toronto, and DeMar DeRozan threw a hammer down on Chris Boucher.
- The archive: NBA.com Power Rankings
Stats Key
Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)
OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)
The league has averaged 101.2 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes and 109.6 points scored per 100 possessions this season.
NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, send him an e-mail or contact him via Twitter.
