
5. Boston Celtics (7-3)
Rounding out the top-5 of our NBA Power Rankings are the Boston Celtics. Yet again, the Celtics find themselves near the top of the Eastern Conference despite another offseason of roster turnover.
For this team, it’s all about Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. The young duo has stolen the mantle of best young pairing in the league, and they’re still not even close to their primes. Factor in a revamped rotation, and a stalwart on the sidelines in Brad Stevens, and the Celtics are playing top-notch basketball. Hopefully, their string of game postponements due to COVID-19 doesn’t completely ruin this young team’s momentum.
6. Phoenix Suns (7-4)
The Suns have slipped a little from their red-hot start, but that doesn’t change the fact that they’re one of the best teams in the NBA to start the season.
The trio of Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and DeAndre Ayton has been as advertised while the rest of the Suns’ rotation is filled with shooting and defensive specialists. In many ways, this Suns roster almost feels like one of those elite Spurs teams from the 2000s. That’s probably because Monty Williams is doing such a great job blending roster’s talent on the sidelines. Expect these Suns to continue their run to a top-4 seed in the Western Conference.
7. Indiana Pacers (7-4)
The Indiana Pacers have made all the right moves so far this season, and that’s landed them at number 7 in our NBA Power Rankings.
New head coach Nate Bjorkgren has shot life back into the Pacers’ offense, allowing Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner to co-exist better than they ever have. In addition to the frontcourt resurgence, Malcolm Brogdon is quietly having a career year too. Now, it’s time to see if this team can get even better now that a disgruntled Victor Oladipo is in Houston and the young Caris LeVert joins this Pacers squad. Can they stay this hot? We’ll see.