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If you’ve been visiting our site often over the past couple weeks, you’ll see a good amount of pictures of Luka Doncic. This is rightfully so, because the young Slovenian wonder has the Mavericks in the thick of the playoff race in the Western Conference, lighting the basketball world on fire. Dallas went 4-0 last week, beating up on three weaker opponents before taking down James Harden and the Rockets on the road. Now, the Mavs and Doncic get the real test this week, facing both the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers. We’ll see if Doncic can get his season averages up to a clean 30-point triple-double.
The Lakers remain on top at No. 1 having won seven in a row. The Bucks are also streaking behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, also winners of seven straight games. It would appear at this point there’s a three-man race for NBA MVP between LeBron, Giannis and Luka. I’ve got the Clippers rounding things out in the top 3 now that Paul George is back and Kawhi Leonard seems to be over his knee injury.
I dropped the Celtics down because while they played fine on their road trip all things considered, I just think they’ll start to take a back seat to some of the more elite teams in the NBA. Boston will always be good in the regular season because of discipline and coaching, but I don’t know if the Celtics are better than some of the top teams out West.
The Rockets were also dropped down a bit after losing three straight. They’ll go as far as James Harden will take them this season it seems. Sure, Russell Westbrook will have his moments, but Houston is built to succeed in the playoffs, not so much now.
Anyway, here are my NBA Power Rankings for Week 6 of the 2019-20 season:
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| Team | Record | Schedule | Trending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Record | Schedule | Trending |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 14-2 | @ SAS, @ NOP, vs. WAS, vs. DAL | -- |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 13-3 | vs. UTA, vs. ATL, @CLE, vs. CHA | Up 2 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 12-5 | @ DAL, @ MEM, @ SAS, vs. WAS | Up 2 |
| Denver Nuggets | 12-3 | vs. WAS, @ SAC | Up 4 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 11-5 | vs. LAC, @ PHX, @ LAL | Up 8 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 11-5 | @ TOR, vs. SAC, @ NYK, vs. IND | Up 5 |
| Toronto Raptors | 11-4 | vs. PHI, vs. NYK, @ ORL, vs. UTA | Up 2 |
| Houston Rockets | 11-6 | vs. MIA, vs. ATL | Down 5 |
| Boston Celtics | 11-4 | vs. SAC, vs. BKN, @ BKN, @ NYK | Down 7 |
| Miami Heat | 11-4 | vs. CHA, @ HOU, vs. GSW, @ BKN | Down 4 |
| Utah Jazz | 11-5 | @ MIL, @ IND, @ MEM, @ TOR | Down 4 |
| Indiana Pacers | 9-6 | vs. MEM, vs. UTA, vs. ATL, @ PHI | -- |
| Brooklyn Nets | 8-8 | @ CLE, @ BOS, vs. BOS, vs. MIA | Up 5 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 8-8 | @ ATL, @ SAS, vs. MEM | -- |
| Phoenix Suns | 8-8 | vs. WAS, vs. DAL | Down 5 |
| Sacramento Kings | 7-8 | @ BOS, @ PHI, vs. DEN | Up 3 |
| Orlando Magic | 6-9 | @ DET, @ CLE, vs. TOR, vs. GSW | Down 1 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 6-11 | vs. LAL, @ OKC, vs. OKC | Up 4 |
| Washington Wizards | 5-9 | @ DEN, @ PHX, @ LAC, @ LAL | Up 9 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 6-11 | LAL, MIN, LAC, @ DET | Up 3 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 5-10 | @ GSW, @ POR, vs. NOP, @ NOP | Down 1 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 5-10 | @ IND, vs. LAC, vs. UTA, @ MIN | Down 7 |
| Chicago Bulls | 6-11 | vs. POR, @ GSW, @ POR | Up 3 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 5-12 | @ CHI, vs. OKC, vs. CHI | Down 3 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 6-11 | @ MIA, vs. DET, @ DET, @ MIL | Down 8 |
| Detroit Pistons | 5-11 | vs. ORL, @ CHA, vs. CHA, vs. SAS | Up 1 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 5-11 | vs. BKN, vs. ORL, vs. MIL | Down 2 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 4-12 | vs. MIN, @ MIL, @ IND, @ HOU | Down 4 |
| New York Knicks | 4-13 | @ TOR, vs. PHI, vs. BOS | -- |
| Golden State Warriors | 3-14 | vs. OKC, vs. CHI, @ MIA, @ ORL | -- |