NBA Power Rankings: Nets and 76ers move past off-court issues, Warriors rise to the top

After three weeks of the 2021-22 NBA season done, we’re starting to see some trends that give us a more clear picture of how teams are performing. There are still some variables which will take time to normalize, although most teams appear to be starting to settle into a rhythm. Here’s some of the notable teams trending up and down through three weeks

The Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets have put aside the off-court drama involving their stars. The 76ers have settled into a nice rotation, with Joel Embiid showing why he was an MVP finalist last season. The Nets have had some early trouble but are now winners of five straight with the Magic, Pelicans and Thunder coming up. The Golden State Warriors are still not at 100 percent with James Wiseman and Klay Thompson out, but that hasn’t stopped this team from looking like the title favorite through the first three weeks. The Cleveland Cavaliers are another team trending up after going on a four-game win streak.

The Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans are struggling to find their form, largely due to injuries. The Lakers have lost two games to the rebuilding Thunder this season, and LeBron James is dealing with a new injury. The Pelicans are down their top two players, and the rest of the roster is still developing. Both teams could have uneven seasons, although the Lakers have a better chance of turning things around once their stars get healthy.

Let’s take a look at Chinmay Vaidya’s power rankings for Week 4 of the NBA season.