The more things change the more they seem to stay the same in the NBA. It didn’t take long for the Golden State Warriors to figure out how to maximize the potential of their starting five and now that they have they will be tough to slow down in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks have both had their share of struggles over the past couple of weeks but it isn’t as though any of the other top teams from the Eastern Conference have taken advantage to move past them in the standings or in our Power Rankings. Here is a look at the top-five teams in the NBA right now.
Golden State Warriors
Last Week: 1
NBA Championship Odds: -120
The Warriors extended their season-high win streak to nine with a 149-106 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in which they dishes out a franchise-record 47 assists. It’s sage to say that Golden State has established a higher level of chemistry over the past couple of weeks and that this team is beginning to understand how to maximize its immense potential. Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson each had at least 26 points in that win over LA while Draymond Green had five points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. Better ball movement and an unprecedented talent level has the Warriors performing at an incredible efficiency right now and the scary part is that they should only continue to get better as the season continues.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Last Week: 2
NBA Championship Odds: +300
Cleveland has won five of its last six to improve to 11-2 and it seems as though it will be the same story throughout the season with this team. The Cavaliers can dominate when they want to turn it up but they will still slip every once in a while with a relatively poor effort. The key remains finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference and as long as this team stays healthy Cleveland should have no problem clinching home court advantage for the playoffs.
Los Angeles Clippers
Last Week: 3
NBA Championship Odds: +1400
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Clippers’ dominant defense is the fact that they have allowed just 91.4 points per 100 possessions when DeAndre Jordan is on the floor. LA needs to be able to play at an elite level on defense and they have done exactly that to this point, which is a big reason why they are a franchise-best 6-0 on the road to open the year. The Clippers are on a four-game win streak and in addition to their stout defense they are getting strong offensive contributions across the board at the offensive end. Blake Griffin has averaged a team-high 21.3 points per game while Chris Paul and J.J. Redick in particular have both played at a high level through the first two months. LA has all of the tools to be a true contender in the Western Conference and right now we are seeing how dangerous they can be.
San Antonio Spurs
Last Week: 4
NBA Championship Odds: +800
All of that talk about something being wrong with the Spurs has quieted in a hurry as they have put together nine straight wins despite head coach Gregg Popovich calling out his team’s lack of focus. Popovich ripped in to his team following a home win over the Dallas Mavericks and yet you wouldn’t think there is a problem just by glancing at the current standings. Kawhi Leonard is coming in to his own as an elite player as he has averaged 25.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game this season while remaining one of the league’s best defensive players. The key question for San Antonio remains what type of production they can get from point guards Tony Parker and Patty Mills as they will need to improve their play at the position in order to compete with the top teams in the Western Conference once the postseason rolls around. Parker is getting up there in years while Mills has his limitations, so it will be interesting to see what the Spurs do to address the position.
Atlanta Hawks
Last Week: 5
NBA Championship Odds: +4000
Atlanta owns the second-best record in the Eastern Conference thanks in big part to the fact that they have allowed just 98.7 points per game this season, which is the best mark among East teams currently in a playoff position. For all of the criticism he has received over the years, Dwight Howard has actually been the perfect fit for the Hawks as the interior presence that can clog the lanes and dominate on the boards. Howard has averaged 14.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 1.71 blocks per game and Atlanta will certainly need him to stay healthy. Meanwhile, Dennis Schroder has more than held his own as the team’s starting point guard while Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kent Bazemore have provided more than enough support in the Hawks backcourt. A three-game losing streak wasn’t pretty, but Atlanta got back on track with a double-digit road win over the Indiana Pacers and should have no problem building on that victory with a four-game road trip that includes stops at Utah, Los Angeles and Phoenix over the next seven days.
