The Golden State Warriors continue their run at No. 1 in the TSN.ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets.
The Warriors aren't missing a beat, despite injuries to big men, just turning up their offence another notch to overcome any defensive slippage.
Among this week's big climbers, the surprising Atlanta Hawks are up from 10 to five, while the Oklahoma City Thunder jump from 14 to six with the return of Kevin Durant.
Further down the list, the Detroit Pistons, winners of seven straight, have vaulted from 27 to 20.
Sliding this week, the Toronto Raptors fall from five to 10 after three straight losses and the Cleveland Cavaliers, minus LeBron James, drop from 11 to 15.
Golden State Warriors
Record: 28-5 This Week: 1 Last Week: 1
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PPG
109.2
-
PAPG
98.3
-
DIFF
+10.9
-
FG%
.483
-
OPP FG%
.419
Five straight wins, by an average margin of 23 points, underscores that the Warriors aren't too concerned about their currently thin frontcourt, in part due to the contributions of Marreese Speights, who averaged 16.6 points per game, on 57.6% from the field, in those five wins.
Key Injuries: C Andrew Bogut (knee), PF Festus Ezeli (ankle).
Denver Nuggets
Record: 16-20 This Week: 21 Last Week: 20
-
PPG
101.8
-
PAPG
103.5
-
DIFF
-1.7
-
FG%
.435
-
OPP FG%
.446
Winners of three straight, the Nuggets also secured valuable draft picks from Cleveland in exchange for C Timofey Mozgov, who was easy enough to trade, given the development of rookie Jusuf Nurkic, averaging 11.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game in the past five.
Key Injuries: G Randy Foye (quad), C JaVale McGee (leg), SF Danilo Gallinari (knee).
LA Lakers
Record: 11-25 This Week: 25 Last Week: 26
-
PPG
101.6
-
PAPG
108.2
-
DIFF
-6.6
-
FG%
.439
-
OPP FG%
.472
In his past five games, SG Kobe Bryant has averaged 12.2 field goal attempts per game, and is still averaging 20.8 per game for the season, but with Kobe's reduced shot volume, Nick Young has shot more. That may not be a good thing, as Swaggy P is shooting 31.6% from the field in the past five games.
Key Injuries: PG Steve Nash (back), PF Julius Randle (leg).