Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell have led Utah to an 18-1 record since early January.
The Utah Jazz were pretty healthy. By Feb. 5, their nine best guys had missed a total of eight games, four from Joe Ingles and two each from Donovan Mitchell and Derrick Favors. It achieved their 18-5 record at that point, but compared to other teams, they were happy in terms of health.
Then they lost Mike Conley, the man who led the league in the on-and-off difference at the time, with the Jazz being 23.6 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor (+17.7) than they were at him was. from the floor (-5.9). And a problem with the thigh muscle Conley has had in the last four games.
But the Jazz just kept rolling and beating four good teams to run their current winning streak to seven games, which was tied for the second longest winning streak of the season so far. The longest was, of course, the series of 11 games of the Jazz that preceded it.
So yes, the Jazz are ultimately number 1 in the Power Rankings. And they have three more tough games on the program this week, which the Sixers will host on Monday and then face the Clippers twice in Clifford. About by no. 1 to come out is one thing. Staying there is another.
Plus-minus players of the week
Teams of the week
- Make it forever: Portland (4-0) – The Blazers turn lemons into lemonade.
- Something is just not right: Houston (0-4) – All four were losses to teams that lost records, and three of the four were with 22 points or more.
East versus West
Plan power up to week 8
- The most difficult: 1. Detroit, 2. Denver, 3. Oklahoma City
- Easiest: 1. Orlando, 2. Philadelphia, 3. Toronto
- The strength of the schedule is based on the cumulative record of the opponent, and adjusted for home and away and rest days before a match.
Movement on the rankings
- Highlights of the week: Dallas (+6), Miami (+5), Detroit (+4), Phoenix (+4)
- Free fall of the week: Houston (-9), Sacramento (-5), Cleveland (-4)
Week 9 team to watch
- Toronto – The birds of prey made some hay with a 5-1 stretch, but took a step back with losses to the Celtics (who struggled themselves) and Wolves (eternal battle). So it feels like a big week, and it offers some old rivals and an opportunity to get back one of the games they dropped last week. The Raps have a two-game series in Milwaukee on Tuesday and Thursday. Then they visit Minnesota on Friday and return to Tampa on Sunday for a game against the Sixers.
Previous power rankings
- This time last year: Lakers return to No. 2 as regular season starts – The Sixers hold Al Horford, Spencer Dinwiddie a replay winner of the game in Indiana, and the Nets also put an end to the Raptors’ 15-game winning streak. The last game before the All-Star break was one of the best games of the season, with Jayson Tatum scoring 39 points to help the Celtics beat the Clippers in double overtime. Buddy Hield won the 3-point game, Derrick Jones Jr. edge Aaron Gordon in the Dunk Contest, and Kawhi Leonard was the MVP of an exciting, Elam-Ending, All-Star Game.
Statistics Key
Tempo: Possession by 48 minutes (league rankings)
OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (league rankings)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (league rankings)
NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (league rank)
The league averaged 100.1 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes this season and 111.1 points per 100 possessions.
The Power Rankings of NBA.com, which are released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. Email him if you have a ranking issue, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann. contact him via Twitter.