NBA Power Rankings: Week 4 (2021-22)
As the NBA enters its fourth week of the regular season the contenders and pretenders are becoming clearer. However, there is a confluence of factors muddying the earlier season results: New Wilson-manufactured game ball, the comeback of fans at all 30 NBA arenas, an irregular offseason break, etc.
That said, there’s plenty of data to source for assigning power ratings in the NBA. Let’s rank the NBA squads through the first three weeks of action.
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NBA Power Rankings: Week 4
| Team | Rank | Upcoming Opponents | Records & Net Rating |
| Golden State Warriors | 1 | Timberwolves, Bulls, @Hornets, @Nets | 9-1 SU, 6-3-1 ATS, 3-7 O/U & 13.2 nRTG |
| Utah Jazz | 2 | Hawks, Pacers, Heat | 7-3 SU, 6-4 ATS, 3-7 O/U & 9.3 nRTG |
| Miami Heat | 3 | @Lakers, @Clippers, @Jazz, @Thunder | 7-3 SU, 7-3 ATS, 5-5 O/U & 9.0 nRTG |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 4 | Bucks, Raptors, @Pacers | 8-3 SU, 7-4 ATS, 3-8 O/U & 7.6 nRTG |
| Chicago Bulls | 5 | Mavericks, @Warriors, @Clippers, @Lakers | 7-3 SU, 7-3 ATS, 4-6 O/U & 6.9 nRTG |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 6 | Trail Blazers, Heat, Timberwolves, Bulls | 5-4 SU, 5-4 ATS, 3-6 O/U & 4.1 nRTG |
| New York Knicks | 7 | Bucks, @Hornets, Pacers | 7-4 SU, 6-5 ATS, 6-5 O/U & 2.0 nRTG |
| Dallas Mavericks | 8 | @Bulls, @Spurs, Nuggets | 7-3 SU, 3-7 ATS, 1-7-2 O/U & -2.3 nRTG |
| Washington Wizards | 9 | @Cavaliers, @Magic, Pelicans | 7-3 SU, 7-3 ATS, 4-6 O/U & 4.1 nRTG |
| Phoenix Suns | 10 | Trail Blazers, @Grizzlies, @Rockets, @Timberwolves | 6-3 SU, 5-4 ATS, 3-6 O/U & 0.1 nRTG |
| Brooklyn Nets | 11 | @Magic, @Pelicans @Thunder | 7-4 SU, 5-6 ATS, 2-9 O/U & 0.2 nRTG |
| Denver Nuggets | 12 | Pacers, Hawks, Trail Blazers, @Mavericks | 6-4 SU, 4-6 ATS, 2-8 O/U & 2.9 nRTG |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 13 | @Clippers, @Suns, @Rockets, @Nuggets, Raptors | 5-5 SU, 4-6 ATS, 3-7 O/U & 2.8 nRTG |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 14 | Hornets, Suns, @Pelicans, Rockets | 6-4 SU, 7-3 ATS, 5-5 O/U & -4.2 nRTG |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 15 | @76ers, @Knicks, @Celtics, @Hawks | 4-6 SU, 4-6 ATS, 2-8 O/U & -1.7 nRTG |
| Toronto Raptors | 16 | @Celtics, @76ers, Pistons, @Trail Blazers | 6-5 SU, 5-6 ATS, 5-6 O/U & 2.7 nRTG |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 17 | Heat, Timberwolves, Spurs, Bulls | 6-5 SU, 3-8 ATS, 6-5 O/U & -0.9 nRTG |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 18 | Wizards, Pistons, Celtics, Celtics | 7-4 SU, 8-3 ATS & 4-7 O/U & 1.8 nRTG |
| Boston Celtics | 19 | Raptors, Bucks, @Cavaliers, @Cavaliers | 4-6 SU, 5-5 ATS, 4-5-1 O/U & -1.8 nRTG |
| Indiana Pacers | 20 | @Nuggets, @Jazz, 76ers, @Knicks | 4-7 SU, 6-5 ATS, 4-7 O/U & -0.6 nRTG |
| Atlanta Hawks | 21 | @Jazz, @Nuggets, Bucks, Magic | 4-7, 3-8 ATS, 6-5 O/U & -3.6 nRTG |
| Sacramento Kings | 22 | @Spurs, @Thunder, @Pistons | 5-6 SU, 6-5 ATS, 4-7 O/U & 1.4 nRTG |
| Charlotte Hornets | 23 | @Grizzlies, Knicks, Warriors | 5-7 SU, 5-7 ATS, 9-3 O/U & -3.6 nRTG |
| San Antonio Spurs | 24 | Kings, Mavericks, @Lakers | 3-7 SU, 6-4 ATS, 4-5-1 O/U & 0.7 nRTG |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 25 | @Warriors, @Lakers, @Clippers, Suns | 3-6 SU, 2-7 ATS, 2-7 O/U & -3.9 nRTG |
| Houston Rockets | 26 | Pistons, Trail Blazers, Suns, @Grizzlies | 1-9 SU, 5-4-1 ATS, 3-7 O/U & -7.1 nRTG |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 27 | @Pelicans, Kings, Nets, Heat | 3-6 SU, 5-4 ATS, 2-7 O/U & -9.1 nRTG |
| Orlando Magic | 28 | Nets, Wizards, @Hawks | 3-8 SU, 4-7 ATS, 6-5 O/U & -7.2 nRTG |
| Detroit Pistons | 29 | @Rockets, @Cavaliers, @Raptors, Kings | 1-8 SU, 3-6 ATS, 3-6 O/U & -11.9 nRTG |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 30 | Thunder, Nets, Grizzlies, @Wizards | 1-10 SU, 4-7 ATS, 3-8 O/U & -11.1 nRTG |
Abbreviation Key
SU: Straight-up | ATS: Against the spread | O/U: Over/Under | nRTG: Net Rating
Notables
Chicago Bulls (Ranked fifth)
The Bulls won the offseason by adding wing DeMar DeRozan and guards Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso to a squad that was in playoff contention until the final month last season. So far, Chicago’s new players are helping cash checks the front office wrote. DeRozan is fifth in points per game (26.9 PPG), Caruso is fifth in steals per game (2.3), and Ball has kept the offense organized.
Milwaukee Bucks (Ranked 15th)
Whoa! How come the reigning NBA champion with a two-time MVP who’s yet to enter his athletic prime is ranked in the middle of the pack? Well, it’s because of a cluster of injuries as Milwaukee is currently missing three starters: C Brook Lopez, SF Khris Middleton, and SG Donte DiVincenzo.
Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo still being his dominant self, the Bucks had lost five of their past six games entering play Tuesday. Once Milwaukee gets healthier there’s no doubt the Bucks will immediately jump atop my power rankings. But, I have to call it as I see it. And Milwaukee is ranked 19th in net rating and 22nd in spread differential.
Atlanta Hawks (Ranked 21st)
Atlanta’s appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals was one of the biggest surprises from last season. The Hawks got a ton of love this offseason from gamblers and NBA pundits. But, Atlanta has struggled to match the offseason hype. The Hawks have the fourth-worst defensive efficiency and the fifth-worst spread differential. Also, Atlanta doesn’t have the injury excuse. The Hawks’ top-seven players in minutes per game have only missed a combined two games.
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