After One Week, Three Teams Look Strongest

The word of the week is "inconsistency."

The Blazers handle the Rockets just fine at home, but can't stop them in Houston? The Raptors upset the Cavs, but can't beat the Grizzlies? The Pistons smoke those Grizzlies, but can't beat the Thunder or Bucks? And the Thunder win in Detroit, but can't make a shot against the Blazers at home?

Those kinds of results can make a difficult task of sorting out the middle of the pack in the initial Power Rankings of the 2009-10 season. Fortunately, there are a few teams that make sorting out the top and bottom pretty easy.

After six days of basketball, we've got five undefeated squads (there were seven at this time last year), but three of them clearly had better weeks than the other two. The Celtics have been crushing teams, the Magic are winning despite the absences of key players, and the Nuggets beat both of their Northwest Division rivals. So that's your top three after Week 1.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Kings, Knicks and Nets have looked pretty awful, each losing to a team that lost at least 47 games last season. And the Grizzlies are the first winner of the Worst Defensive Team in the League award. So congratulations to them.

Remember, we threw out the preseason rankings and started from scratch. We don't think the Cavs are worse than all 14 teams ahead of them, but based on their performance this past week (which included a loss to the Raptors), they belong at No. 15.

• Preseason Rankings: Time to end the speculation

Spring Forward Team of the Week: Boston (4-0)
Fall Back Team of the Week: New Jersey (0-3)

High jumps of the week: Miami (+15), Milwaukee (+9), Phoenix (+6)
Free falls of the week: Cleveland (-13), Portland (-6), 3 teams (-5)

East vs. West: The East leads 5-4 (.556) in inter-conference games.

Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)
Off: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
Def: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
The league averages through Sunday are 95.6 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes and 103.7 points scored per 100 possessions.

NBA.com's Power Rankings are just one man's opinion and are released every Monday during the season. If you've got an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, send him an e-mail. You can also follow him on twitter.

	TEAM (PRESEASON)	REC.	BREAKDOWN
1	Boston (4)	4-0	Pace: 92.4 (26), Off: 108.8 (10), Def: 88.0 (1) No team has looked as dominant as the Celtics, though their only real efficient offensive game was Friday's win over the Bulls. Defensively, they're back to where they were two seasons ago, or maybe even better. That Garnett guy makes a difference, you know.
2	Orlando (3-0)	3-0	Pace: 94.4 (19), Off: 120.1 (1), Def: 108.5 (21) If the Orlando offense is this efficient without Rashard Lewis and without Vince Carter for a game and a half, they could be scary good, because the defense will come around. Two games against Detroit this week give them a chance to exorcise some demons.
3	Denver (7)	3-0	Pace: 98.4 (8), Off: 116.5 (2), Def: 109.0 (24) It was hard to imagine how the Nuggets were going to improve on last season. Then Carmelo Anthony, who shot just 44 percent last year, went and scored 113 points in the first three games, including two big wins over the Jazz and Blazers. We see it now.
4	L.A. Lakers (1)	2-1	Pace: 99.7 (4), Off: 99.3 (18), Def: 99.0 (9) Andrew Bynum has continued his improved play from the preseason, but the Lakers still miss Pau Gasol, who is probably out at least another week. With a light November schedule (17 of their first 21 games at home), he should take his time getting back.
5	Miami (20)	3-0	Pace: 95.3 (17), Off: 107.0 (12), Def: 92.0 (2) When the Heat were talking about a renewed Jermaine O'Neal before camp started, you had your doubts. The Raptors were saying the same a year ago. But O'Neal put up 22 and 12 in each of his first two games and Miami suddenly looks pretty good.
6	Dallas (8)	2-1	Pace: 94.6 (18), Off: 97.9 (25), Def: 93.7 (3) Friday's win over the Lakers displayed how good the Mavs can be defensively. Kobe Bryant was off, but it was due in part to the number of good defenders (Marion, Ross, Kidd) that Dallas was able to throw at him. Add Josh Howard to the list when he returns.
7	Phoenix (13)	3-0	Pace: 103.6 (2), Off: 113.3 (3), Def: 103.0 (12) The Suns are off to a strong start and the offense looks sharp (Steve Nash had 34 assists in the last two games), but wins over the Clippers, Warriors and T-Wolves don't prove much. A five-game trip that gets started in Miami on Tuesday will tell us more.
8	San Antonio (5)	2-1	Pace: 93.3 (22), Off: 111.1 (6), Def: 100.7 (11) The Spurs looked sharp in wins over the Hornets and Kings, but came up empty in Chicago on Thursday. They're in the middle of a four-day break before they visit Portland and Utah for a tough back-to-back. The San Antonio bat population gets a break too.
9	Atlanta (10)	2-1	Pace: 101.0 (3), Off: 108.9 (8), Def: 104.3 (13) Friday's win over the Wizards was an early statement, but the Hawks didn't put up much of a fight against the Lakers on Sunday. A visit to Portland on Tuesday will be another test of their mettle. Through three games, Josh Smith has yet to attempt a 3 pointer.
10	Washington (11)	2-1	Pace: 94.1 (20), Off: 111.3 (5), Def: 104.5 (14) Andray Blatche is now wearing No. 7, to symbolize his new every-day commitment to his job. It's paying off so far, as he's averaging 21.0 points on 28-for-39 shooting, filling in for Antawn Jamison. Caron Butler is hurt too, but is expected to play Tuesday.
	TEAM (PRESEASON)	REC.	BREAKDOWN
11	Philadelphia (15)	2-1	Pace: 98.6 (7), Off: 113.1 (4), Def: 108.8 (23) Lou Williams was pretty efficient in his first week as the starting point guard, shooting 64 percent with a 15/2 assist-turnover ratio. But the Sixers' defense is not at its usual level just yet. They've given up 29 points or more in six of the 12 quarters they've played.
12	Portland (6)	2-2	Pace: 91.8 (27), Off: 103.5 (14), Def: 100.5 (10) After giving up 111 points to Houston in a slow-paced game Saturday, the Blazers showed some defensive improvement Sunday. Or the Thunder were just trying to build a bigger house of bricks than them. The two teams combined to shoot 37 percent.
13	Houston (18)	2-1	Pace: 97.6 (11), Off: 104.5 (13), Def: 105.9 (16) Saturday's win over the Blazers proved that the Rockets can still beat good teams. But they've got to do it more with offense this year, and Trevor Ariza and Aaron Brooks aren't going to shoot 9-for-14 from 3-point range often. Ariza's 33 points was a career high.
14	Utah (9)	1-1	Pace: 99.2 (6), Off: 108.8 (9), Def: 106.2 (18) With a tough early schedule, injuries (again) are not what the Jazz need. But with Mehmet Okur out Friday, Kyrylo Fesenko held his own (10 points in 20 minutes) against the Clippers. And for now, it's good to have both Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap around.
15	Cleveland (2)	2-2	Pace: 92.8 (24), Off: 100.8 (15), Def: 97.5 (6) After a rough start to the season, the Cavs got an assist from the schedule. The Wolves and Bobcats are here to help you when you're down. Delonte West's return on Saturday seemed seamless, but they're still a long way from integrating Shaq.
16	Oklahoma City (21)	2-1	Pace: 90.4 (28), Off: 98.5 (22), Def: 94.0 (4) The Thunder had 13 more turnovers than they did assists in Sunday's pitchers' duel with the Blazers. Their defense has been very solid to start the season, but it will be tested when they host the Lakers on Tuesday and Magic on Sunday.
17	Chicago (12)	1-2	Pace: 92.7 (25), Off: 96.7 (28), Def: 107.1 (19) They got a nice win over the Spurs, but the Bulls' offense has looked pretty anemic so far. Are they missing Ben Gordon? Maybe, but they also played three top defensive teams. Games against Milwaukee, Cleveland and Charlotte this week will be similar.
18	Milwaukee (27)	1-1	Pace: 95.5 (16), Off: 95.3 (29), Def: 96.4 (5) It didn't take long for Brandon Jennings to turn heads. He came a rebound and an assist shy of a triple-double debut. Let's start the campaign to get him and Russell Westbrook in a game of full-court one-on-one (with a 6-second shot clock) at All-Star Weekend.
19	New Orleans (14)	1-2	Pace: 93.5 (21), Off: 99.8 (17), Def: 107.7 (20) Before Sunday, the Hornets weren't looking like a team that could hang with the Celtics. But then Rajon Rondo ticked off Chris Paul and Peja Stojakovic got hot. Still, they didn't have enough down the stretch. If an 11-year vet can be an X-factor, Stojakovic is one.
20	Toronto (16)	1-2	Pace: 97.5 (12), Off: 110.8 (7), Def: 113.2 (29) The euphoria of beating the Cavs on opening night has died down after losses to the Grizzlies and very shorthanded Magic. Now, after hosting the Pistons on Wednesday, the Raps hit the road for seven of eight. The November schedule will likely put them in a hole.
	TEAM (PRESEASON)	REC.	BREAKDOWN
21	Detroit (17)	1-2	Pace: 89.2 (30), Off: 98.7 (19), Def: 97.6 (7) With the additions of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, the Pistons should be more potent offensively. But after a sharp debut in Memphis and playing without Richard Hamilton, they shot just 40 percent in losses to the Thunder and Bucks over the weekend.
22	L.A. Clippers (19)	0-4	Pace: 97.8 (10), Off: 97.4 (27), Def: 105.4 (15) The Clippers are clearly the best team without a win, victims of a tough schedule. They hung around with the Lakers, Suns, Jazz and Mavs, but couldn't finish. They scored just 27 total fourth-quarter points in the last two. The schedules gets much easier this week.
23	Memphis (28)	1-2	Pace: 96.2 (14), Off: 108.1 (11), Def: 116.4 (30) Allen Iverson is set to make his Grizzlies debut Monday, a night after O.J. Mayo dropped 40 in Denver. Sunday may have been the last time Mayo gets 25 shots for quite a while, but it won't be the last time Hasheem Thabeet fouls out in 12 minutes.
24	Golden State (23)	0-2	Pace: 106.3 (1), Off: 97.8 (26), Def: 108.7 (22) It's still to be determined if Anthony Randolph is a future star, but to declare him the third-string power forward before the first game seems a bit nutty, Nellie. Randolph got the start in Game 2, but played just 25 minutes as the Suns blew out the Warriors.
25	Charlotte (22)	1-2	Pace: 89.3 (29), Off: 83.8 (30), Def: 98.4 (8) Looking at the Bobcats' offensive numbers will make you shudder: 37 percent shooting, 9-for-41 from downtown and 19.5 turnovers per 100 possessions. They've scored 13 points or less in four different quarters, including one against the Knicks' defense.
26	Minnesota (29)	1-2	Pace: 99.5 (5), Off: 98.5 (21), Def: 106.2 (17) The Wolves won a game in which they shot less than 37 percent from the field on Wednesday. Only five teams did that all of last season. Jonny Flynn has been the starter, but Ramon Sessions got the bulk of the PG playing time in Sunday's loss in Phoenix.
27	Indiana (24)	0-2	Pace: 97.9 (9), Off: 98.1 (24), Def: 110.4 (26) Dahntay Jones was supposed to help the Pacers' defense. Not only is that not happening, but Jones has committed nine turnovers in two games. Indiana had 25 turnovers Wednesday in Atlanta, and shot 4-for-23 from downtown Friday against the Heat.
28	New York (25)	0-3	Pace: 96.7 (13), Off: 99.9 (16), Def: 111.8 (27) With Danilo Gallinari having already hit 18 threes, we can admit that Mike D'Antoni calling him "the best shooter I've ever seen" wasn't that far-fetched. Whatever D'Antoni said about his team becoming better defensively is another story.
29	New Jersey (26)	0-3	Pace: 95.6 (15), Off: 98.4 (23), Def: 109.2 (25) The Nets looked great for the first 36 minutes of their season. Then they blew a 19-point lead to the Wolves, lost to the shorthanded Magic, and got blown out by the shorthanded Wizards. And Devin Harris is out for a few more games.
30	Sacramento (30)	0-3	Pace: 93.0 (23), Off: 98.6 (20), Def: 111.8 (28) The coaching change clearly hasn't done anything for the Kings' defense. It can't be easy to go into your home opener (Monday against Memphis) already with an 0-3 record, and perhaps without Tyreke Evans, who is day-to-day with a sprained right ankle.