2014-15 NBA Power Rankings Week 7: Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets Best Teams
Welcome to another edition of NBA Power Rankings.
The Southwest division is dominating Week 7, and the Eastern Conference has yet to make an appearance in our power rankings. This week, three teams from Texas made the list.
Here are the top five teams in the NBA after seven weeks of play:
1. Golden State Warriors
One thing is for sure: these Warriors came out to play.
The Warriors have been by far the best team in the league this season with an outstanding 21-2 record, and they've won their last 16 consecutive games. It might be time for the '95-'96 Chicago Bulls to watch out for their record of 72 wins. Stephen Curry is the leading candidate for the Most Valuable Player award this season, averaging 23.7 points per game. At the rate Curry is going, he may become the greatest three point shooter ever, even better than Ray Allen or Reggie Miller. Klay Thompson has become the most underrated player in the NBA today averaging 21.7 points per game. With Steve Kerr as their head coach, the Warriors rank top 10 in both offense and defense.
2. Memphis Grizzlies
As long as Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are in Memphis, the Grizzlies will always be a top tier defensive squad. With a 19-4 record, the Grizzlies have the best record in the Southwest division. Veteran All-Star Vince Carter has been providing valuable minutes off the bench this season. The Grizzlies still lack three-point shooting, but their interior game and defense is among the best in the league. The Grizzlies are currently riding a four-game win streak, and they will face the Warriors at home on Tuesday night. Get your popcorn ready.
3. Houston Rockets
With Dwight Howard back in action from his knee injury, the Rockets are clear for lift off.
James Harden leads the NBA in scoring with 26.3 points scored per game, just ahead of LeBron James. The Rockets play in a tough division, but this team is trying to make the playoffs for the third consecutive season under head coach Kevin McHale. With Trevor Ariza, Jason Terry and Harden hitting perimeter shots, the Rockets now rank first overall in 3-points shots made this season. The Rockets aren't the best passing team, as they rank 27th in assists per game. Could a trade for New York Knicks point guard Jose Calderon be a possibility?
4. San Antonio Spurs
The defending NBA Champions have been pretty inconsistent this year. On the positive sign, they handed the Grizzlies their only home loss of the season, beat the Warriors on the road and defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland. These Spurs are road warriors. Unfortunately, they have lost to some mediocre teams. Danny Green has been red hot from downtown, and Tim Duncan remains a rebounding machine. As usual, head coach Gregg Popovich has chosen to rest his players frequently, particularly Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Duncan. The good news for the Spurs is, Brazilian big man Tiago Splitter is back in the lineup.
5. Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks currently sit in fourth place in the Southwest division with a 17-8 record. The Mavericks are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and they have the best offense in the league today. Averaging 110 points per game, the Mavericks lead the league in scoring with their balanced attack. Tyson Chandler, Dirk Nowitzki, Chandler Parsons and Monta Ellis are all averaging more than 10 points per game. Chandler has been blocking everything this season, even Marreese Speights' shoe. The Mavericks are trying to make the playoffs for the 14th time in 15 seasons.
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