[ad_1]
Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell have led Utah to an 18-1 record since early January.
The Utah Jazz had been pretty healthy. Until February 5, their top nine guys had missed a total of eight games, four by Joe Ingles and two each by Donovan Mitchell and Derrick Favors. It got them their 18-5 record by then, but compared to other teams they had been lucky when it came to health.
Then they lost Mike Conley, the guy who at the time was leading the league in on-off differential, the Jazz having been 23.6 points per 100 possessions better with him on floor (+17.7) than they had never been with him. on the ground (-5.9). And a hamstring problem has knocked Conley out of each of the last four games.
But the Jazz kept rolling, beating four good teams to lead their current seven-game winning streak, tied for the second longest winning streak of the season so far. The longest, of course, was the Jazz’s 11-game streak that preceded it.
So yes, the Jazz are finally n ° 1 in the Power ranking. And they have three more tough games on the schedule this week, hosting the Sixers on Monday and then facing the Clippers twice in Los Angeles. Getting to # 1 is one thing. Staying there is another.
Over-Under Players of the Week
Teams of the week
- Make it last forever: Portland (4-0) – The Blazers continue to turn lemons into lemonade.
- Something is wrong: Houston (0-4) – All four losses were for teams with losing records, and three of four were 22 points or more.
East vs. West
Program the strength until week 8
- The hardest: 1. Detroit, 2. Denver, 3. Oklahoma City
- The easiest: 1. Orlando, 2. Philadelphia, 3. Toronto
- Schedule strength is based on the opponent’s cumulative record, and adjusted for home versus away and days off before a match.
Movement in the rankings
- High jumps of the week: Dallas (+6), Miami (+5), Detroit (+4), Phoenix (+4)
- Free falls of the week: Houston (-9), Sacramento (-5), Cleveland (-4)
Team of the week 9 to watch
- Toronto – The Raptors were making hay with a 5-1 stretch, but took a step back with losses to the Celtics (who were struggling on their own) and Wolves (eternal struggle). So it feels like a big week, and it brings old rivals and the chance to pick up one of those games they gave up last week. The Raps will have a two-game series in Milwaukee on Tuesday and Thursday. Then they will visit Minnesota on Friday and return to Tampa for a game against the Sixers on Sunday.
Previous power rankings
- This time last year: Lakers return to No.2 as regular season enters stretch run – Sixers benched Al Horford, Spencer Dinwiddie struck a receding game winner in Indiana, and the Nets also ended 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 move past the Clippers in double overtime. Buddy Hield won the contest in 3 points, Derrick Jones Jr. bordered Aaron Gordon in the Dunk Contest, and Kawhi Leonard was the MVP of an exciting, Elam-Ending, All-Star Game.
Statistics key
Pace: Possessions every 48 minutes (league rank)
OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (league rank)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (league rank)
NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (league rank)
The league has averaged 100.1 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes and 111.1 runs scored per 100 possessions this season.
NBA.com’s Power Rankings, published every Monday of the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have a problem with the ranking, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, send him an email or contact him via Twitter.
[ad_2]
Source link