By NBA Insiders / ESPN, 2026-11-04 20:00:00
NBA新赛季才进行两周，伤病和意外崛起在联盟各处引发震荡，各队的故事线已经天翻地覆。
费城76人开局便压制各路对手——而且过程中还乐在其中。与此同时，卫冕冠军纽约尼克斯在开局0胜3负后，正试图重新爬回联盟顶级行列。
西部才是真正开始升温的地方。俄克拉荷马城雷霆和明尼苏达森林狼都在应对核心球员的伤病，这让孟菲斯灰熊的泰·杰罗姆等球员得以早早影响球队战绩。洛杉矶湖人的卢卡·东契奇早早打出MVP级别的表现，过去两场分别砍下42分和45分后丝毫没有减速的迹象。而波特兰开拓者在贾·莫兰特因伤缺阵的情况下，正证明阵容深度才是让球队在全联盟脱颖而出的关键。
在本赛季第二期实力榜中，我们的NBA专家们用四个词形容每支球队2026-27赛季的开局，并分析事情为何顺利——或为何不顺。
注：球队排名基于我们的评审团成员（ESPN的贾马尔·科利尔、迈克尔·C·莱特、蒂姆·麦克马洪、戴夫·麦克梅纳明、文森特·古德威尔、扎克·克拉姆、本·戈利弗、克里斯·里姆和安东尼·斯莱特）对各队位置的判断。
跳转至球队：
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS
1. 休斯顿火箭
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 7胜1负
- 上期排名： 4
- 接下来的比赛： vs. MIN（11月4日）、@ PHX（11月7日）、vs. DEN（11月9日）
范弗利特的影响无可估量。在凯文·杜兰特加盟后的首个赛季，火箭在失去场上指挥官弗雷德·范弗利特 (Fred VanVleet) 的情况下几乎群龙无首——他在训练营开始前遭遇了赛季报销的膝伤。如今他回归了，火箭变成了一支更沉稳、更有条理的球队。范弗利特调度进攻、调动防守为队友在舒适位置创造出手机会，并控制失误，激活了拥有联盟最佳进攻效率（121.2）的休斯顿进攻体系。
火箭还明智地签下另一名老将控卫马库斯·斯马特作为持球保险，当范弗利特在背靠背第二场轮休时，斯马特可以顶替首发。——迈克尔·C·莱特
2. 底特律活塞
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 6胜1负
- 上期排名： 3
- 接下来的比赛： vs. PHI（11月4日）、vs. LAL（11月8日）、vs. WAS（11月9日）
三分球进步了。 活塞以窒息式防守闻名，这一点没有改变，他们的对手场均失分和防守效率均列联盟第一。开局阶段看似进步的，是他们的三分投射。
凯德·坎宁安延续着季后赛的三分手感，命中率高达生涯新高的37%；而赛季中期从芝加哥转会而来后一度挣扎的凯文·许尔特，如今投出了相当可观的38.5%（他上赛季25场比赛命中率仅29%）。邓肯·罗宾逊的三分命中数排联盟第四，全队三分命中率也升至第六（38.1%）。他们2025-26赛季单场三分命中数最高纪录是18记，而新赛季头两周他们已经两次追平这一纪录。——文斯·古德威尔
3. 费城76人
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 7胜1负
- 上期排名： 5
- 接下来的比赛： @ DET（11月4日）、@ CLE（11月6日）、@ CHI（11月8日）、vs. BOS（11月10日）
泰瑞斯·马克西的个人秀。 马克西是费城目前最好的球员，而他的队友中包括两位前MVP勒布朗·詹姆斯和乔尔·恩比德，以及总决赛MVP杰伦·布朗。这位25岁的球员领跑76人得分榜，并凭借爆发式的第四节表现屡屡在关键时刻带队取胜。他以场均11.0分领跑联盟第四节得分。
“我只是觉得他现在——以一种不自大、甚至谦逊的方式——知道自己真的非常非常出色，”主帅尼克·纳斯谈到马克西时说，“而我不确定以前一直是这样。”——克里斯·里姆
4. 波士顿凯尔特人
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 5胜2负
- 上期排名： 8
- 接下来的比赛： vs. MIL（11月4日）、@ CHA（11月6日）、@ MIL（11月8日）、@ PHI（11月10日）
他们会没事的。 凯尔特人今年休赛期交易了刚打出生涯最佳赛季的年度最佳阵容前锋布朗，换来36岁的保罗·乔治——考虑到乔治状态明显下滑，这笔回报多少令人意外。
但赛季前两周，乔治无缝融入凯尔特人，球队看起来已是东部争冠者。乔治场均得到20.7分、6个篮板和5次助攻。主帅乔·马祖拉近日称赞乔治的影响“超越了进攻端的表现”，并特别提到他的领导力。——里姆
5. 圣安东尼奥马刺
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 5胜2负
- 上期排名： 9
- 接下来的比赛： vs. DAL（11月4日）、@ SAC（11月6日）、@ POR（11月7日）、@ PHX（11月9日）
仍在磨合之中。 马刺赛季前就预料到，新首发阵容需要经历一些磕磕绊绊，但主帅米奇·约翰逊决心坚持到底。渐渐地，这套阵容开始兑现约翰逊在考虑是否将他们组合在一起时所看到的前景。
当然，维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 是这一切的核心，圣安东尼奥那些充满活力的后卫们正找到更多办法让他在更靠近篮筐的位置接球出手。文班目前领跑联盟空接扣篮命中数，场均3.8次，是其他任何球员平均水平的两倍多。——莱特
6. 孟菲斯灰熊
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 6胜1负
- 上期排名： 14
- 接下来的比赛： vs. IND（11月4日）、vs. OKC（11月6日）、@ TOR（11月9日）
克莱曼的“信念”得到验证。 上赛季交易截止日后，灰熊总经理扎克·克莱曼表达了对送走核心球员后剩余阵容的信心——此前一个夏天送走德尚特·贝恩，之后又送走小贾伦·杰克逊，而这套阵容原本被预期将连续多年争冠。
克莱曼于6月送走了最后一名球员贾·莫兰特。但在那个二月的日子，克莱曼谈到了他对“转向更年轻建队思路”的“信念”，并称这“不会是一个拖沓的五年过程”。也许他是对的——在卡梅隆·布泽尔和塞德里克·考沃德等年轻人承担重要角色、加上状态回暖的泰·杰罗姆的助力下，孟菲斯开局6胜1负。——莱特
7. 洛杉矶湖人
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 6胜2负
- 上期排名： 6
- 接下来的比赛： @ SAC（11月4日）、vs. POR（11月6日）、@ DET（11月8日）、@ ATL（11月9日）
卢卡手感火热。对这位斯洛文尼亚神射手来说，很难想象有比这更好的赛季开局：以场均38.3分领跑联盟得分榜，三项命中率为49.7%/42.7%/88.7%。周一他砍下42分大胜热火后，扬尼斯·阿德托昆博公开感叹，东契奇或许不只是在确立自己当今最佳得分手的地位，而是在冲击篮球史上最伟大的得分手。
对洛杉矶来说最令人振奋的是，高分伴随着胜利。湖人开局6胜2负。——戴夫·麦克梅纳明
8. 波特兰开拓者
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 5胜1负
- 上期排名： 10
- 接下来的比赛： @ PHX（11月4日）、@ LAL（11月6日）、vs. SA（11月7日）、vs. OKC（11月10日）
没有贾照样前进。 当批评者质疑波特兰休赛期交易来莫兰特是否适合拥挤的后场时，现代NBA多一份深度总是值得的。无数球队都在为开局阶段核心球员的伤病而挣扎，但开拓者在仅打四场比赛后就因腿筋拉伤失去莫兰特，却依然保持着良好势头。周一客场大胜丹佛的比赛中，德尼·阿夫迪亚和达米安·利拉德让进攻持续运转。
与此同时，斯库特·亨德森顶替莫兰特进入首发，加强了波特兰的外线防守，老将朱·霍勒迪则作为无私的第六人表现出色。——本·戈利弗
9. 克利夫兰骑士
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 4胜3负
- 上期排名： 13
- 接下来的比赛： @ OKC（11月4日）、vs. PHI（11月6日）、vs. NYK（11月7日）、@ CHA（11月9日）
仍在寻找自我。 好消息是克利夫兰胜多负少；坏消息是骑士在此过程中并不顺畅，尤其是佩顿·沃森与新队友的磨合颇为挣扎。克利夫兰还有充足的时间找回状态，但目前的答卷喜忧参半，而非一片大好。——扎克·克拉姆
10. 俄克拉荷马城雷霆
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 5胜2负
- 上期排名： 1
- 接下来的比赛： vs. CLE（11月4日）、@ MEM（11月6日）、vs. WAS（11月7日）、@ POR（11月10日）
伤病不断累积。 四名最佳防守阵容球员——杰伦·威廉姆斯、卡森·华莱士、切特·霍姆格伦和亚历克斯·卡鲁索——的伤病，让雷霆失去了他们的一大进攻利器。过去四场比赛，雷霆场均利用失误仅得11.8分，同期排名联盟倒数第三。
相比之下，雷霆在过去三个赛季的利用失误得分上均领跑全联盟。——蒂姆·麦克马洪
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11. 明尼苏达森林狼
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 5胜3负
- 上期排名： 2
- 接下来的比赛： @ HOU（11月4日）、@ NO（11月6日）、vs. UTAH（11月8日）
早日归来吧，Ant。 森林狼在缺少安东尼·爱德华兹的情况下苦苦支撑，他在接受膝盖手术后预计将缺阵两个月。没有这位门面后卫，森林狼在负于勇士和马刺的比赛中难以延续新近养成的轻松氛围。不过明尼苏达确实拿下了快船和雄鹿——两支预计的垫底球队——保住了水面之上。
今夏签下五年1.12亿美元合同的阿约·多苏穆，将有机会在顶替爱德华兹首发期间证明自己的价值。——戈利弗
12. 金州勇士
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 5胜3负
- 上期排名： 27
- 接下来的比赛： vs. MIA（11月5日）、vs. ORL（11月7日）、vs. NO（11月9日）
亚克塞尔·伦德堡来了。 这位6月选秀的第11顺位新秀，在进入NBA的头两周里已经砍下26分、26分、31分和37分。他最近一次爆发包括6记三分，出现在库里和德雷蒙德·格林轮休、球队战胜洛杉矶快船的比赛中。这支勇士刚在0胜3负的开局后突然豪取五连胜，五连胜后库里被问到有什么变化。
“Yax（亚克），”库里说。勇士上赛季整个赛季都没能取得过五连胜。勇士选中了一位24岁、身高6英尺10英寸的全能侧翼，他立刻看起来就像NBA前30级别的球员。
“这改变了一切，”主帅史蒂夫·科尔说。——安东尼·斯莱特
13. 达拉斯独行侠
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 4胜3负
- 上期排名： 22
- 接下来的比赛： @ SA（11月4日）、vs. UTAH（11月6日）、vs. BKN（11月8日）、vs. IND（11月9日）
弗拉格正在起飞。 库珀·弗拉格向精英得分手的攀升在周一负于此前未尝胜绩的国王的比赛中遭遇颠簸，这位19岁小将全场19投仅3中。不过弗拉格本赛季仍场均得到25.2分。
NBA历史上20岁及以下场均得分达到这一水准的球员只有：勒布朗·詹姆斯、卢卡·东契奇、凯文·杜兰特和锡安·威廉姆森。——麦克马洪
14. 多伦多猛龙
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 4胜3负
- 上期排名： 7
- 接下来的比赛： @ DEN（11月4日）、@ MIL（11月6日）、vs. MEM（11月9日）
又一次没有卡哇伊的日子。 在今年休赛期通过交易重新得到伦纳德后，猛龙已经不得不面对伦纳德的现实：这位联盟最佳球员之一却因左膝肿胀持续缺阵。
尽管如此，猛龙依然保持漂浮，这要归功于斯科蒂·巴恩斯——他场均抢断2.1次排联盟第九，场均得分24.4分排第13——以及一套历史级的窒息防守，场均迫使对手20.9次失误领跑全联盟。——里姆
15. 丹佛掘金
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 3胜3负
- 上期排名： 12
- 接下来的比赛： vs. TOR（11月4日）、@ IND（11月7日）、@ HOU（11月9日）
一枝独秀。 在去年四月首轮惨遭伤病缠身的明尼苏达森林狼淘汰所暴露的诸多问题中，贾马尔·穆雷的低迷或许最具破坏性。他在那轮系列赛中投篮命中率35.7%、三分命中率26.2%，并在12分出局的第六场中17投仅4中。新赛季开局，那段记忆似乎已被冲刷干净。穆雷是联盟目前最火热的得分手之一，场均27.3分，三分命中率超过50%。
即便如此，掘金仍是一支摇摇晃晃的3胜3负球队，进攻表现相当平庸——考虑到他们仍有尼古拉·约基奇坐镇内线。他们上赛季以121.2的进攻效率领跑全联盟，目前以112.6排在第16位。——斯莱特
16. 华盛顿奇才
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 4胜3负
- 上期排名： 18
- 接下来的比赛： vs. ATL（11月4日）、@ ATL（11月6日）、@ OKC（11月7日）、@ DET（11月9日）
两位AD表现亮眼。 安东尼·戴维斯是华盛顿目前最好的球员，场均23.0分和9.1个篮板；而AJ·丹巴察——这位老将内线姓名首字母与他相同的年轻人——在进入NBA的前三场比赛中场均19分、命中率50%。到目前为止，这正是华盛顿对两位状元秀所能期待的一切。——克拉姆
17. 纽约尼克斯
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 3胜4负
- 上期排名： 16
- 接下来的比赛： vs. CHI（11月4日）、@ CLE（11月7日）、vs. MIL（11月10日）
米卡尔·布里奇斯之问。 布里奇斯的离奇开局仍在继续，周一晚对阵篮网他只打了16分钟。样本虽小，但他的得分和效率都处于生涯最低，连三分出手数也在下降。尼克斯曾刻意帮他找状态，但似乎徒劳无功。
“他只需要继续打球，”尼克斯主帅迈克·布朗说，“每个人在赛季中都会经历起伏，显然现在才赛季初，所以他得找到自己的节奏。”
“当你陷入低谷时，你得找到一两件可以依靠的东西。”——古德威尔
18. 亚特兰大老鹰
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 4胜4负
- 上期排名： 15
- 接下来的比赛： @ WAS（11月4日）、vs. WAS（11月6日）、vs. BKN（11月7日）、vs. LAL（11月9日）
善用形势。 战绩表会显示亚特兰大在过去一周击败了克利夫兰和印第安纳。但战绩表不会显示的是：克利夫兰当时正处于背靠背第二场，而印第安纳只有6名健康球员。步行者成为自1948年波士顿凯尔特人以来，首支在赛季如此早期只剩6名可用球员的球队。——鲍比·马克斯
19. 迈阿密热火
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 2胜5负
- 上期排名： 24
- 接下来的比赛： @ LAC（11月4日）、@ GS（11月5日）、@ SAC（11月8日）、@ UTAH（11月10日）
没有防守，就没有机会。一支拥有扬尼斯·阿德托昆博和巴姆·阿德巴约的球队，不该拥有全联盟第四差的防守。但赛季前两周，迈阿密在五场失利中场均丢掉125分。
周一负于湖人的比赛中，迈阿密丢掉138分，创赛季新高。这是热火队史第十次（也是本赛季第二次）单场失分至少130分。——马克斯
20. 夏洛特黄蜂
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 3胜5负
- 上期排名： 17
- 接下来的比赛： @ BKN（11月4日）、vs. BOS（11月6日）、vs. CLE（11月9日）
他们需要自己的后卫。 科比·怀特周一在赛季首秀中只打了16分钟，而康·克尼普尔尚未完成首秀，缺少这套首发后场，黄蜂的进攻大受影响。肖恩·詹姆斯（命中率28%，三分22%）和丹尼斯·施罗德（命中率37%，三分18%）在两人缺阵期间首发，但对对方防守几乎没有构成威胁。——克拉姆
21. 奥兰多魔术
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 2胜5负
- 上期排名： 20
- 接下来的比赛： @ PHX（11月5日）、@ GS（11月7日）、@ SAC（11月10日）
没有主场气质。 客场击败纽约和多伦多的两场胜利证明，奥兰多有能力与东部强队抗衡。但在主场打球就是另一回事了。常规赛第二周收官阶段，魔术接连在主场负于波士顿和华盛顿。
他们目前主场0胜4负，是五支尚未取得主场胜利的球队之一。他们的主场净胜分仅好于密尔沃基、夏洛特和布鲁克林。——马克斯
22. 新奥尔良鹈鹕
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 3胜4负
- 上期排名： 26
- 接下来的比赛： vs. UTAH（11月4日）、vs. MIN（11月6日）、@ LAC（11月8日）、@ GS（11月9日）
没有德章泰，也没问题。在令人担忧的0胜4负开局后，新奥尔良周一加时爆冷击败此前不败的孟菲斯，取得没有后卫德章泰·穆雷（个人原因）情况下的三连胜。尽管鹈鹕主帅贾马尔·莫斯利赛季初排出了以穆雷和杰里迈亚·菲尔斯为首的偏小个首发后场，但在穆雷缺阵期间，球队的进攻效率提升了近10分。
赫伯特·琼斯和卡尔洛·马特科维奇在连胜期间为焕然一新的首发阵容增加了身高和多样性，等穆雷回归后，莫斯利将面临一些艰难的抉择。——戈利弗
23. 印第安纳步行者
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 2胜6负
- 上期排名： 11
- 接下来的比赛： @ MEM（11月4日）、vs. DEN（11月7日）、@ DAL（11月9日）
伤病魔咒再度来袭。 泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿因腿筋伤势至少缺阵两周，这已经够糟了。周一，印第安纳的整套首发五人全部缺阵——尽管那只是背靠背第二场——让人回想起上赛季哈利伯顿的伤病引发全队伤病潮的情景。
印第安纳必须熬过这段赛季初的艰难期，并寄希望于重演两年前的剧本。步行者曾在12月中旬胜率不足五成，随后在1月打出一波强势反弹，一路杀入总决赛。——贾马尔·科利尔
24. 菲尼克斯太阳
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 1胜4负
- 上期排名： 19
- 接下来的比赛： vs. POR（11月4日）、vs. ORL（11月5日）、vs. HOU（11月7日）、vs. SA（11月9日）、vs. LAC（11月10日）
谁来抢篮板？ 太阳的场均篮板数排联盟第29位，每晚只抢到39.6个篮板。与之相关的是，菲尼克斯的对手场均进攻篮板（14.2个）排联盟第27位。这两项数据共同导致太阳的防守效率垫底，每100回合失124分。
赛季开始前我们就知道中锋位置是这套阵容的软肋，但目前的情况比预期还要糟糕。——麦克梅纳明
25. 洛杉矶快船
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 1胜6负
- 上期排名： 23
- 接下来的比赛： vs. MIA（11月4日）、vs. NO（11月8日）、@ PHX（11月10日）
六连败。 在以25分大胜萨克拉门托国王开启赛季后，快船连输六场，场均净负12.7分。
他们的进攻举步维艰。头号得分手达里厄斯·加兰场均20.1分，命中率43.5%；二号得分手八村塁场均13.4分，命中率仅36.9%。也许下一场对阵热火正是他们所需要的——考虑到热火目前的防守有多糟糕（联盟第27位）。——麦克梅纳明
26. 犹他爵士
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 1胜6负
- 上期排名： 21
- 接下来的比赛： @ NO（11月4日）、@ DAL（11月6日）、@ MIN（11月8日）、vs. MIA（11月10日）
劳里·马尔卡宁开局缓慢。 犹他需要马尔卡宁找回全明星状态。这位7英尺长人场均16.5分，投篮命中率仅38.5%，三分命中率34.3%。更糟的是，马尔卡宁正努力寻找节奏之际，又遭遇右手（投篮手）腕部扭伤。——麦克马洪
27. 芝加哥公牛
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 1胜6负
- 上期排名： 25
- 接下来的比赛： @ NYK（11月4日）、vs. PHI（11月8日）
重建的开始。 这就是重建第一步的样子。公牛知道，当新管理层今夏上任时，他们还有很长的路要走，而赛季开局也印证了这一点。
他们在前七场比赛中仅取得一胜，面对艰难赛程（对阵拥有卡哇伊·伦纳德的猛龙、两战波士顿，本周晚些时候还将再次面对尼克斯和76人）缺乏足够的竞争力。芝加哥的进攻和防守效率均排在联盟倒数第五，除了凯莱布·威尔逊的强势开局外，目前几乎没有太多顺利的事情。——科利尔
28. 密尔沃基雄鹿
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 1胜6负
- 上期排名： 28
- 接下来的比赛： @ BOS（11月4日）、vs. TOR（11月6日）、vs. BOS（11月8日）、@ NYK（11月10日）
谁能撑过整个赛季？ 在夏天交易走超级巨星后，雄鹿的阵容明显处于过渡期且磨合不佳。密尔沃基正在寻找新的定位，而 roster 上如此多新面孔的情况下，赛季开局并不令人鼓舞。
那么，密尔沃基接下来将如何继续改造阵容？迈尔斯·特纳、凯尔·库兹马和泰勒·希罗等雄鹿老将——他们与布赖登·伯里斯这样的年轻核心（第10顺位新秀）不在同一时间线上——的未来又将如何？——科利尔
29. 布鲁克林篮网
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 1胜6负
- 上期排名： 29
- 接下来的比赛： vs. CHA（11月4日）、@ ATL（11月7日）、@ DAL（11月8日）
打得有心气。 目前对篮网你大概只能这么说。他们曾在末段领先，也曾奋力拼搏。但有时——比如周一——布鲁克林会变得有些散乱，或过度依赖朱利叶斯·兰德尔把球队从泥潭中拉出来，结果反而陷入流沙效应。
不过积极的一面是，篮网近40%的得分来自三分线外，排名联盟第三，场均14.3记三分命中数排第七。——古德威尔
30. 萨克拉门托国王
- 2026-27赛季战绩： 1胜6负
- 上期排名： 30
- 接下来的比赛： vs. LAL（11月4日）、vs. SA（11月6日）、vs. MIA（11月8日）、vs. ORL（11月10日）
新秀毫不怯场。 这是小达里厄斯·阿卡夫进入NBA前七场的出手次数：24、26、23、20、26、25、21。所有人都以为重建中的国王会给这位19岁控卫最大的开火权。阿卡夫欣然接受，一脚油门踩到底。他的前四场比赛效率不高，但过去三场令人鼓舞——合计72投35中，外加一场14次助攻。
阿卡夫最近一场比赛还带领此前0胜6负的国王取得首胜。他在达拉斯砍下25分，并在最后五分钟连得7分锁定胜局，其中包括一记迎着库珀·弗拉格命中的致命三分。——斯莱特
由生成式 AI 翻译，翻译内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
查看原文：NBA Power Rankings: Summing up all 30 teams' starts
NBA Power Rankings: Summing up all 30 teams’ starts
Just two weeks into the NBA season, storylines have been flipped as injuries and surprise surges reverberate around the league.
The Philadelphia 76ers have dominated their opponents early – and are having some fun in the process. Meanwhile, the reigning champion New York Knicks are attempting to claw themselves back into the top echelon after starting the season 0-3.
It’s in the West where things have started to heat up. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves are dealing with injuries to their stars, making way for players such as the Memphis Grizzlies’ Ty Jerome to have an early impact in his team’s standings. The Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic is making an early MVP case and doesn’t seem to be slowing down after scoring 42 and 45 points in his past two games. And the Portland Trail Blazers, sans Ja Morant as he deals with an injury, are showing that depth is what will set teams apart across the league.
In our second iteration of Power Rankings since the season started, our NBA insiders assigned four words to describe each team’s start to 2026-27, and break down why things are – or are not – working.
Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN’s Jamal Collier, Michael C. Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Vincent Goodwill, Zach Kram, Ben Golliver, Kris Rhim and Anthony Slater) think teams belong.
Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 28
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS
1. Houston Rockets
- 2026-27 record: 7-1
- Previous ranking: 4
- Next games: vs. MIN (Nov. 4), @ PHX (Nov. 7), vs. DEN (Nov. 9)
VanVleet’s impact is immeasurable. The Rockets navigated the choppy waters of Kevin Durant’s first season nearly rudderless without floor general Fred VanVleet, who sustained a season-ending knee injury before the start of training camp. Now that he’s back, Houston is a calmer, more organized team. VanVleet directs traffic, manipulates defenses to set up teammates for shots in their preferred spots and limits turnovers, catalyzing a Houston offense with the league’s best rating (121.2).
Wisely, the Rockets added ballhandling insurance with another veteran point guard in Marcus Smart, who can start in VanVleet’s place when he sits the second night of back-to-backs. – Michael C. Wright
2. Detroit Pistons
- 2026-27 record: 6-1
- Previous ranking: 3
- Next games: vs. PHI (Nov. 4), vs. LAL (Nov. 8), vs. WAS (Nov. 9)
3-pointers have improved. The Pistons have developed a reputation for stifling defense and it hasn’t changed, being first in points per game against and defensive rating. What has seemed to improve early is their 3-point shooting.
Cade Cunningham is carrying over his playoff 3-point shooting with a career-high 37%, and Kevin Huerter, who struggled after coming from Chicago at midseason, is at a more-than-respectable clip of 38.5% (he shot 29% in 25 games last season). Duncan Robinson is No. 4 in makes, and the team collectively has risen to No. 6 in percentage (38.1). Their season high in triples in a game in 2025-26 was 18, a mark they’ve matched twice in the first two weeks. – Vince Goodwill
3. Philadelphia 76ers
- 2026-27 record: 7-1
- Previous ranking: 5
- Next games: @ DET (Nov. 4), @ CLE (Nov. 6), @ CHI (Nov. 8), vs. BOS (Nov. 10)
The Tyrese Maxey Show. Maxey has been Philly’s best player while being on a team with two former MVPs, LeBron James and Joel Embiid, and a Finals MVP in Jaylen Brown. The 25-year-old leads the Sixers in scoring and has buoyed them late in games this season with explosive fourth quarters that have kept them winning. He leads the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring (11.0).
“I just think he now feels – like in a nonarrogant and even a humble way – he knows he’s really, really good,” coach Nick Nurse said of Maxey. “And I’m not sure that was always the case.” – Kris Rhim
4. Boston Celtics
- 2026-27 record: 5-2
- Previous ranking: 8
- Next games: vs. MIL (Nov. 4), @ CHA (Nov. 6), @ MIL (Nov. 8), @ PHI (Nov. 10)
They’ll be just fine. The Celtics traded All-NBA forward Brown fresh off his best season for 36-year-old Paul George this offseason, a return that came as somewhat of a surprise considering George appears to be declining.
But through the first two weeks, George has fit in with the Celtics seamlessly as the team has looked like a contender in the Eastern Conference. George is averaging 20.7 points, six rebounds and five assists. Coach Joe Mazzulla recently praised George’s impact for being “beyond what’s happening on the offensive end,” pointing to George’s leadership. – Rhim
5. San Antonio Spurs
- 2026-27 record: 5-2
- Previous ranking: 9
- Next games: vs. DAL (Nov. 4), @ SAC (Nov. 6), @ POR (Nov. 7), @ PHX (Nov. 9)
Still working through kinks. San Antonio expected that, coming into the season, it would have to work through some hiccups with its new starting lineup, but Spurs coach Mitch Johnson is committed to seeing it through. And slowly, the group is starting to deliver on the promise Johnson saw when pondering whether to put them all together.
Of course, Victor Wembanyama is at the center of it all, and San Antonio’s dynamic guards are finding more ways to get him shots closer to the basket. Wembanyama currently leads the NBA in made alley-oops, averaging 3.8 per game, more than twice the average of any other player. – Wright
6. Memphis Grizzlies
- 2026-27 record: 6-1
- Previous ranking: 14
- Next games: vs. IND (Nov. 4), vs. OKC (Nov. 6), @ TOR (Nov. 9)
Kleiman “conviction” is confirmed. After last season’s trade deadline, Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman expressed confidence in what was left in Memphis after jettisoning key players – Desmond Bane the previous summer and later Jaren Jackson Jr. – from a roster previously expected to contend for years to come.
Kleiman moved the final player, Ja Morant, in June. But on that February day, Kleiman discussed his “conviction” in “pivoting to a younger build” that was “not going to be some drawn-out five-year process.” Perhaps he was right, considering Memphis’ 6-1 start behind young players such as Cameron Boozer and Cedric Coward taking on major roles alongside a resurgent Ty Jerome.– Wright
7. Los Angeles Lakers
- 2026-27 record: 6-2
- Previous ranking: 6
- Next games: @ SAC (Nov. 4), vs. POR (Nov. 6), @ DET (Nov. 8), @ ATL (Nov. 9)
Luka’s on a heater It’s hard to imagine a better start to the season for the Slovenian sharpshooter, leading the league in scoring with 38.3 points per game on percentage splits of 49.7/42.7/88.7. After he scored 42 in a rout of the Heat on Monday, Giannis Antetokounmpo wondered aloud whether Doncic wasn’t just establishing himself as the best scorer in today’s game, but rather the best to ever put the ball in the basket in the history of the game.
Most encouraging for L.A., the points have come with wins. The Lakers are 6-2 out of the gates. – Dave McMenamin
8. Portland Trail Blazers
- 2026-27 record: 5-1
- Previous ranking: 10
- Next games: @ PHX (Nov. 4), @ LAL (Nov. 6), vs. SA (Nov. 7), vs. OKC (Nov. 10)
Rolling along without Ja. While critics of Portland’s offseason trade for Morant questioned his fit in a crowded backcourt, it pays to have extra depth in the modern NBA. Countless teams are struggling to cope with early-season injuries to key players, but the Blazers have maintained their positive momentum despite losing Morant to a strained hamstring after only four games. Deni Avdija and Damian Lillard kept the offense humming throughout a convincing road win over Denver on Monday.
Meanwhile, Scoot Henderson has stepped into Morant’s starting spot to bolster Portland’s perimeter defense, and veteran Jrue Holiday has thrived as a selfless sixth man. – Ben Golliver
9. Cleveland Cavaliers
- 2026-27 record: 4-3
- Previous ranking: 13
- Next games: @ OKC (Nov. 4), vs. PHI (Nov. 6), vs. NYK (Nov. 7), @ CHA (Nov. 9)
Still figuring themselves out. The good news is Cleveland has more wins than losses; the bad news is the Cavaliers haven’t looked that smooth in the process, with Peyton Watson in particular struggling to jell with his new squad. Cleveland has plenty of time to find its form, but the early returns are mixed rather than overwhelmingly positive. – Zach Kram
10. Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2026-27 record: 5-2
- Previous ranking: 1
- Next games: vs. CLE (Nov. 4), @ MEM (Nov. 6), vs. WAS (Nov. 7), @ POR (Nov. 10)
Injuries are adding up. The injuries to four All-Defensive players – Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso – have robbed the Thunder of one of their offensive superpowers. The Thunder have averaged only 11.8 points off of turnovers in the past four games, which ranks third to last in the league during that span.
By contrast, Oklahoma City led the NBA in points off of turnovers in each of the past three seasons. – Tim MacMahon
ESPN Illustration
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
- 2026-27 record: 5-3
- Previous ranking: 2
- Next games: @ HOU (Nov. 4), @ NO (Nov. 6), vs. UTAH (Nov. 8)
Come back soon, Ant. The Timberwolves are hanging tough without Anthony Edwards, who is expected to sit out two months after undergoing a knee procedure. Without their franchise guard, the Timberwolves struggled to sustain their newfound happy-go-lucky vibes during losses to the Warriors and Spurs. But Minnesota did take care of business against the Clippers and Bucks – two projected bottom-dwellers – to keep its head above water.
Ayo Dosunmu, who signed a five-year, $112 million contract this summer, will get the chance to prove his worth while starting in place of Edwards. – Golliver
12. Golden State Warriors
- 2026-27 record: 5-3
- Previous ranking: 27
- Next games: vs. MIA (Nov. 5), vs. ORL (Nov. 7), vs. NO (Nov. 9)
Yaxel Lendeborg has arrived. The No. 11 pick in June’s draft has already scored 26, 26, 31 and 37 points in his first two weeks in the NBA. His latest outburst, which included six 3s, came in a win over the LA Clippers in which Stephen Curry and Draymond Green rested. This Warriors team just followed an 0-3 start with a sudden five-game surge, and Curry, after the fifth straight win, was asked what changed.
“Yax,” Curry said. The Warriors didn’t win five straight all of last season. The Warriors drafted a 24-year-old, 6-foot-10 power wing who has immediately looked like a top-30ish player in the NBA.
“Changes everything,” coach Steve Kerr said. – Anthony Slater
13. Dallas Mavericks
- 2026-27 record: 4-3
- Previous ranking: 22
- Next games: @ SA (Nov. 4), vs. UTAH (Nov. 6), vs. BKN (Nov. 8), vs. IND (Nov. 9)
Flagg is taking off. Cooper Flagg’s ascent to becoming an elite scorer hit a speed bump in Monday’s loss to the previously winless Kings, when the 19-year-old went 3-of-19 from the field. Flagg is still averaging 25.2 points this season.
The only players in NBA history to average that many points at age 20 or younger: LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant and Zion Williamson. – MacMahon
14. Toronto Raptors
- 2026-27 record: 4-3
- Previous ranking: 7
- Next games: @ DEN (Nov. 4), @ MIL (Nov. 6), vs. MEM (Nov. 9)
Life without Kawhi, again. After reacquiring Leonard in a trade this offseason, the Raptors have already been forced to deal with the reality of Leonard: one of the league’s best players who has been consistently sidelined because of left knee swelling.
Still, the Raptors have remained afloat thanks to Scottie Barnes, who is ninth in steals per game (2.1) and 13th in scoring (24.4), and a historically suffocating defense that leads the league with 20.9 turnovers per game. – Rhim
15. Denver Nuggets
- 2026-27 record: 3-3
- Previous ranking: 12
- Next games: vs. TOR (Nov. 4), @ IND (Nov. 7), @ HOU (Nov. 9)
A lone bright spot. Among several problems that emerged for the Nuggets in last April’s first-round flameout to the injured Minnesota Timberwolves, Jamal Murray’s lack of production was perhaps the most destructive. He shot 35.7% in the series, 26.2% on 3s and petered out in a 12-point elimination Game 6, missing 13 of 17 shots. That memory appears flushed to open the season. Murray is one of the hottest scorers in the NBA, averaging 27.3 points and making more than 50% of his 3s.
Even so, the Nuggets are a wobbly 3-3, with a remarkably average offense, considering they still have Nikola Jokic manning the middle. They led the NBA with a 121.2 offensive rating last season. They’re currently 16th at 112.6. – Slater
16. Washington Wizards
- 2026-27 record: 4-3
- Previous ranking: 18
- Next games: vs. ATL (Nov. 4), @ ATL (Nov. 6), @ OKC (Nov. 7), @ DET (Nov. 9)
The ADs look great. Anthony Davis has been Washington’s best player, averaging 23.0 points and 9.1 rebounds, and AJ Dybantsa – whose two initials are the same as the veteran big man’s – has averaged 19 points on 50% shooting in his first three games in the NBA. That’s everything Washington could have wanted from the two No. 1 picks so far. – Kram
17. New York Knicks
- 2026-27 record: 3-4
- Previous ranking: 16
- Next games: vs. CHI (Nov. 4), @ CLE (Nov. 7), vs. MIL (Nov. 10)
The Mikal Bridges question. The curious case of Bridges continues to start the season, culminating in him playing only 16 minutes against the Nets on Monday night. It’s a small sample size, but he’s averaging career lows in scoring and efficiency, and even his 3-point attempts are down. The Knicks made a concerted effort to get him going, but it seemed futile.
“He’s just got to keep playing,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. "Everybody goes through those ups and downs throughout the course of the season, and obviously, it’s the beginning of the season right now, so he’s got to find his way.
“When you’re in a funk, you got to find one or two things to hold your hat on.” – Goodwill
18. Atlanta Hawks
- 2026-27 record: 4-4
- Previous ranking: 15
- Next games: @ WAS (Nov. 4), vs. WAS (Nov. 6), vs. BKN (Nov. 7), vs. LAL (Nov. 9)
Taking advantage of circumstances. The standings will show Atlanta winning games against Cleveland and Indiana in the past week. What won’t appear is Cleveland playing in the second night of a back-to-back and Indiana having only six healthy players. The Pacers became the first team to have six players available this early in the season since the 1948 Boston Celtics. – Bobby Marks
19. Miami Heat
- 2026-27 record: 2-5
- Previous ranking: 24
- Next games: @ LAC (Nov. 4), @ GS (Nov. 5), @ SAC (Nov. 8), @ UTAH (Nov. 10)
No D, no chance. A team with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo should not have the fourth-worst defense in the NBA. But through the first two weeks of the season, Miami has given up an average of 125 points in their five losses.
In their loss to the Lakers on Monday, Miami gave up 138 points, its most this season. This was the 10th time in franchise history (and the second time this season) the Heat have given up at least 130 points. – Marks
20. Charlotte Hornets
- 2026-27 record: 3-5
- Previous ranking: 17
- Next games: @ BKN (Nov. 4), vs. BOS (Nov. 6), vs. CLE (Nov. 9)
They need their guards. Coby White played 16 minutes in his first game of the season Monday while Kon Knueppel has yet to debut, and the Hornets’ offense has suffered without that starting backcourt. Sion James (28% shooting, 22% on 3s) and Dennis Schroder (37% shooting, 18% on 3s) started in their absence but didn’t do much to put pressure on opposing defenses. – Kram
21. Orlando Magic
- 2026-27 record: 2-5
- Previous ranking: 20
- Next games: @ PHX (Nov. 5), @ GS (Nov. 7), @ SAC (Nov. 10)
No home-court identity. The two road wins against New York and Toronto proved that Orlando can compete with the top teams in the East. Playing at home is a different story. The Magic capped the second week of the regular season with home losses to Boston and Washington.
They are now 0-4 and one of five teams without a home win. They trail only Milwaukee, Charlotte and Brooklyn with the worst point differential in home games. – Marks
22. New Orleans Pelicans
- 2026-27 record: 3-4
- Previous ranking: 26
- Next games: vs. UTAH (Nov. 4), vs. MIN (Nov. 6), @ LAC (Nov. 8), @ GS (Nov. 9)
No Dejounte, no problem. After a concerning 0-4 start, New Orleans’ stunning overtime victory over previously unbeaten Memphis on Monday was its third straight win without guard Dejounte Murray (personal reasons). Though Pelicans coach Jamahl Mosley opened the season with an undersized starting backcourt featuring Murray and Jeremiah Fears, his team’s offensive efficiency has improved by nearly 10 points during Murray’s absence.
Herbert Jones and Karlo Matkovic have added more size and versatility to the new-look starting lineup during the winning streak, leaving Mosley with some difficult decisions once Murray returns. – Golliver
23. Indiana Pacers
- 2026-27 record: 2-6
- Previous ranking: 11
- Next games: @ MEM (Nov. 4), vs. DEN (Nov. 7), @ DAL (Nov. 9)
Injury bug bites again. It wasn’t bad enough that Tyrese Haliburton is out for at least two weeks because of a hamstring injury. Indiana’s entire starting five sat out Monday’s game, albeit the second night of a back-to-back, giving the Pacers visions of last season when injuries to Haliburton started a wave throughout the roster.
Indiana will have to survive this early-season slog and hope for a throwback to two years ago. The Pacers were under .500 in mid-December before turning their season around in January with a run that carried them to the Finals. – Jamal Collier
24. Phoenix Suns
- 2026-27 record: 1-4
- Previous ranking: 19
- Next games: vs. POR (Nov. 4), vs. ORL (Nov. 5), vs. HOU (Nov. 7), vs. SA (Nov. 9), vs. LAC (Nov. 10)
Who’s doing the rebounding? The Suns are 29th in the league in rebounds per game, securing only 39.6 boards a night. In related news, Phoenix is 27th in opponent’s offensive rebounds allowed per game (14.2). Both are contributing to the Suns ranking dead last in defensive rating, allowing 124 points per 100 possessions.
We knew the center position was a soft spot for this roster heading into the season, but it has been even worse than expected so far. – McMenamin
25. LA Clippers
- 2026-27 record: 1-6
- Previous ranking: 23
- Next games: vs. MIA (Nov. 4), vs. NO (Nov. 8), @ PHX (Nov. 10)
Six-game losing streak. After routing the Sacramento Kings by 25 points to start the season, the Clippers lost their next six straight by an average margin 12.7 points.
Their offense has been hard to come by. Their leading scorer, Darius Garland, is averaging 20.1 points on 43.5% shooting, and their second-leading scorer, Rui Hachimura, is averaging 13.4 points on just 36.9% shooting. Maybe their next game against the Heat will be just what they need – considering how rough the Heat’s defense has been so far (27th in the league). – McMenamin
26. Utah Jazz
- 2026-27 record: 1-6
- Previous ranking: 21
- Next games: @ NO (Nov. 4), @ DAL (Nov. 6), @ MIN (Nov. 8), vs. MIA (Nov. 10)
Lauri Markkanen’s slow start. Utah needs Markkanen to return to his All-Star form. The 7-footer is averaging 16.5 points and shooting only 38.5% from the field, including 34.3% from 3-point range. It doesn’t help that Markkanen is now dealing with a sprained right (shooting) wrist as he attempts to establish a rhythm. – MacMahon
27. Chicago Bulls
- 2026-27 record: 1-6
- Previous ranking: 25
- Next games: @ NYK (Nov. 4), vs. PHI (Nov. 8)
Beginning of a rebuild. This is what step one of a rebuild looks like. The Bulls knew they had a long way to go when their new front office arrived this summer, and the start of the season has confirmed as much.
They have one win in their first seven games and haven’t been super competitive against a tough schedule (they played Toronto with Kawhi Leonard, Boston twice, and will face the Knicks and Sixers for a second time later this week). Chicago ranks in the bottom five in both offensive and defensive efficiency and, outside of Caleb Wilson’s strong start, not much has gone right so far. – Collier
28. Milwaukee Bucks
- 2026-27 record: 1-6
- Previous ranking: 28
- Next games: @ BOS (Nov. 4), vs. TOR (Nov. 6), vs. BOS (Nov. 8), @ NYK (Nov. 10)
Who survives the season? After trading their superstar over the summer, the Bucks have an ill-fitting roster that is clearly in transition. Milwaukee is looking for a new identity and the start of the season has not been encouraging with this many new players on the roster.
So, how will Milwaukee continue to remake its roster going forward? What does the future hold for some Bucks veterans, including Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma and Tyler Herro, who are not on the same timeline as some of the Bucks’ other young players, namely No. 10 pick Brayden Burries? – Collier
29. Brooklyn Nets
- 2026-27 record: 1-6
- Previous ranking: 29
- Next games: vs. CHA (Nov. 4), @ ATL (Nov. 7), @ DAL (Nov. 8)
Playing with good intentions. That’s about all you can say about the Nets at this point. They’ve held late leads, they’ve competed. At times, like Monday, Brooklyn gets a little scattered or too heavily dependent on Julius Randle to retrieve the team from the muck and it has a quicksand effect.
But on the positive side, the Nets rank No. 3 in the NBA with nearly 40% of their scoring coming from 3-point range, and No. 7 in makes at 14.3 per game. – Goodwill
30. Sacramento Kings
- 2026-27 record: 1-6
- Previous ranking: 30
- Next games: vs. LAL (Nov. 4), vs. SA (Nov. 6), vs. MIA (Nov. 8), vs. ORL (Nov. 10)
The rookie isn’t shy. Here are Darius Acuff Jr.'s shot attempts in his first seven NBA games: 24, 26, 23, 20, 26, 25, 21. Everyone assumed the rebuilding Kings would give their 19-year-old point guard the ultimate green light. Acuff has accepted, slamming down the gas pedal. His first four games were inefficient. His past three have been encouraging – 35-of-72 overall plus a 14-assist effort.
Acuff’s most recent outing also led the previously 0-6 Kings to their first win. He had 25 points in Dallas and closed it out with a flurry, scoring seven in the last five minutes, including a dagger 3-pointer over Cooper Flagg. – Slater
By NBA Insiders / ESPN