Week 3 NBA Power Rankings

Another great week in the NBA, plenty of close gut wrenching games to go along with some surprising blow out wins. Some teams that aren't supposed to win are winning and playoff teams are looking like basement dwellers.

1. Boston Celtics 7-1 (1) - No new number one this week and I don't expect it to change anytime soon. The Celtics have been great on the defensive side of the ball with the exception of their first loss of the season to the surprising retooled suns.

2. L.A. Lakers 6-1 (2) - Tough week for the champs with two overtime time wins on the road, at OKC and Houston. The Lakers are taking care of business even without Gasol and Bynum. They have a legitimate chance to repeat as the best in the NBA.

3. Phoenix Suns 6-1 (13) - The Suns are playing well over the expectations. Winning 3-4 on the road this week with wins coming at Boston and Miami it's still too early for this but, could they be legitimate contenders in the west? We will know more after this week with a trip to visit the Lakers.

4. Miami Heat 5-1 (8) - D. Wade is looking like the early favorite for the NBA MVP averaging 28 ppg. Miami gets a look at the reigning MVP this week when the fighting LeBrons hit South Beach this week.

5. Orlando Magic 5-2 (3) - Oklahoma City made the Magic look slow beating them up with dominate defense. Expect more from Orlando this week.

6. Denver Nuggets 5-2 (4) - Denver's schedule not getting much easier this week but if the rest of the team gives Carmelo a hand this team could go far.

7. Cleveland Cavs 4-3 (5) - Still not on track. The Cavs have not looked like a championship team so far this year and things don't get better for them this week with a two game road trip to Florida.

8. Atlanta Hawks 5-2 (9) - A great win against the Nuggets at home. Crawford and Johnson could make some noise in the East.

9. Dallas Mavericks 4-2 (7) - It's still too early to know what the Mavs are made of. Could be December before we find out. Dallas has a fairly easy November schedule to pad their record.

10. Houston Rockets 4-2 (16) - The Rockets' transition game may be best in NBA. This team loves to run and push the tempo. Very impressive start with no McGrady or Ming. They get a chance for revenge against Kobe's Lakers with a trip to L.A. this week.

11. Portland Trailblazers 4-3 (10) - Not the start I was expecting from the Blazers but still have high expectations for the club. They have a five game road trip but if they can get past Atlanta it could be a good trip.

12. Chicago Bulls 4-2 (15) - The Bulls walk away with a controversial win at Cleveland giving Chicago fans something to take their minds off of the Bears.

13. San Antonio Spurs 2-3 (6) - The Spurs not exactly taking the NBA by storm with a tough opening schedule. Duncan and Parker will find a way to tighten this team up and make a playoff run.

14. Toronto Raptors 3-3 (17) - May have Toronto a little high but it's more about teams looking bad than the Raptors looking good.

15. OKC Thunder 3-3 (18) - The Thunder keep surprising this season. A big win against the Magic, winning by 28 with hot shooting and smothering D. The Rockets are the only team to confuse this defense so far. If Westbrook can get a handle on the turnovers this team could bring the playoffs to the rowdy fans of OKC. The next 3-4 come against the Clippers and the Kings.

16. Philadelphia 76ers 3-3 (11) - The 76ers are not looking to promising so far....but did we really expect them to?

17. Charlotte Bob Cats 3-3 (21) - The Bobcats lost three on the road to quality teams, no shame in that. It's a good thing Charlotte is playing good at home because the Magic coming in off of a blowout loss to the Thunder.

18. Milwaukee Bucks 3-2 (25) - We will have to wait to see what the Bucks are made of.

19. Detroit Pistons 3-4 (20) - Even with their big offseason moves the Pistons looking like.....well last year's Pistons.

20. L.A. Clippers 3-4 (28) - The Clippers are on a three game winning streak after starting the season with four straight losses. Blake Griffin can't get back soon enough, he will miss the teams trip to his hometown this week when the Clippers travel to OKC.

21. Utah Jazz 2-4 (12) - Playoff teams don't lose at home to the Kings.

22. N.O. Hornets 2-5 (14) - Who dat? At least New Orleans fans have the Saints.

23. Indiana Pacers 2-3 (22) - Indiana hasn't even been in the game with a good team yet. With the Celtics coming in this week I don't think that will change.

24. Washington Wizards 2-5 (19) - Washington could improve this season. There are sparks of hope in their 2-5 start including a win at Dallas.

25. Sacramento Kings 3-4 (30) - Tough schedule coming up for the Kings. We will see if they deserved moving out of the cellar.

26. N.Y. Knicks 1-6 (23) - It's a good thing for Knick fans than no one is helping Chris Paul. I don't know why they think LeBron would want to play for a team this bad.

27. Minnesota Timberwolves 1-6 (26) - Looks like another last place Northwest division finish for the wolves.

28. Memphis Grizzlies 1-6 (27) - I don't understand how the Grizzlies sell tickets.

29. Golden State Warriors 1-4 (29) -- Could be in the bottom spot soon with a 6 game road trip on the way.

30. New Jersey Nets 0-7 (24) - Sorry I just can't rank anyone below a team with no wins.

I know a lot of people aren't going to agree with this week's rankings. And I'm sure I'm wrong about some of these teams but they will have to prove that.

Sources

All schedules are from ESPN.com