Golden State More

1. Golden State Warriors (Record: 5-1; last week’s rank: 1): The Warriors are winning sloppily, averaging 22.5 turnovers per game with just one contest with less than 20.









Memphis More

2. Memphis Grizzlies (Record: 6-1; last week’s rank: 2): The Grizzlies have allowed less than 95 points per game in six straight contests. The streak should continue against the Lakers on Tuesday.









Houston More

3. Houston Rockets (Record: 6-1; last week’s rank: 3): Ex-NBA big man Josh Powell is committed to his new player development coaching job with the Rockets and has turned down job offers to play overseas.









Toronto More

4. Toronto Raptors (Record: 6-1; last week’s rank: 11): Dwane Casey needs three wins to pass Lenny Wilkens (113) and become No. 2 on Toronto’s coaching wins list. Sam Mitchell is first with 156.









Los Angeles More

5. Los Angeles Clippers (Record: 4-2; last week’s rank: 7) While forward Blake Griffin’s jumper has improved, he has yet to reach double figures in rebounds and had one board Wednesday against the Warriors.









Chicago More

6. Chicago Bulls (Record: 5-2; last week’s rank: 6): Injuries are still haunting Derrick Rose, who is questionable for Monday’s game against Detroit and has missed the past two contests.









Miami More

7. Miami Heat (Record: 5-2; last week’s rank: 9): Newcomer Luol Deng had not scored more than 20 points in a game for the Heat before exploding for 30 in a win over Dallas on Sunday.









Washington More

8. Washington Wizards (Record: 5-2; last week’s rank: 14): Bradley Beal is wearing a splint on his surgically repaired wrist, but he is shooting and could be back by month’s end.









San Antonio More

9. San Antonio Spurs (Record: 2-3; last week’s rank: 4): The reigning champs have dropped two straight games and have a tough road back-to-back starting tonight against the Clippers followed by the Warriors.









Cleveland More

10. Cleveland Cavaliers (Record: 2-3; last week’s rank: 5): Cleveland has already dealt with adversity with tough losses, chemistry issues and Dion Waiters’ “big misunderstanding.”









Brooklyn More

11. Brooklyn Nets (Record: 4-2; last week’s rank: 19): Brooklyn’s Bojan Bogdanovic’s 22 points against Orlando on Sunday are the most by a rookie this season. This rookie class is starting slowly.









Portland More

12. Portland Trail Blazers (Record: 4-3; last week’s rank: 10): Describing his twin brother/Nets center whom he faces Saturday, Brook Lopez playfully told the New York Post, “Robin is an idiot.”









Dallas More

13. Dallas Mavericks (Record: 4-3; last week’s rank: 8): Newcomer Chandler Parsons is off to a tough start, averaging 13.6 points on 39.1 percent shooting.









Sacramento More

14. Sacramento Kings (Record: 5-2; last week’s rank: 17): An excellent start lost some momentum with a loss Sunday to the injury-plagued Thunder, who were without Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.









Phoenix More

15. Phoenix Suns (Record: 4-3; last week’s rank: 13): The Suns are a hard team to figure out. They beat Golden State and San Antonio but lost to Utah and Sacramento.









New Orleans More

16. New Orleans Pelicans (Record: 3-2; last week’s rank: 12) Perhaps an early MVP candidate matchup when New Orleans’ Anthony Davis plays against Cleveland’s LeBron James on Monday.









Utah More

17. Utah Jazz (Record: 3-4; last week’s rank: 21): Keep an eye on rookie guard Dante Exum, who has played well the past two games, averaging 10 points, five assists and 2.5 rebounds.









Boston More

18. Boston Celtics (Record: 3-3; last week’s rank: 22): Tradition in sports is always better left alone. Such is the case with the hard-on-the-eyes gray uniforms the Celtics unveiled last week.

Story continues