The Nets started the season down in the power rankings dumps but Marc Stein, who had them at #27, and John Schuhmann, who had them at #25, have taken notice of their two nail biting wins over the Pistons and Kings (as well as their blowout loss to the Heat) and moved them up to #21. Kurt Helin, who had them at #28 last week, has them at #20 now.
Of the Nets, Stein writes, "Let's let the Nets enjoy the moment for a minute: They're just the fourth team in history to open a season 2-0 after winning fewer than 20 games in the previous season" and the first since Elvin Hayes joined the Rockets in 1968. Schuhmann looks ahead and sees trouble: "10 of their 15 November games are on the road, and three of the home games are against Orlando, Atlanta and Portland. Maybe more important than the Ws has been the play of Derrick Favors, who's averaging a double-double."
In other "rankings" news, Brook Lopez was one of the finalists in the NBA's Player of Week honor.
- Power Rankings: Early unbeatens on the rise - Marc Stein - ESPN
- East contenders provide a fascinating Week 1 - John Schuhmann - NBA.com
- NBA Power Rankings, where the top still looks like last year’s finals - Kurt Helin - NBC Sports
- Power Rankings: First impressions feeling about a year old - Dave Del Grande - CBS Sports
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NBA Power Rankings, Week 1: Now With Real Basketball, Still Led By Lakers, Heat - Christopher Clark - SB Nation
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Nets' Brook Lopez a finalist for Eastern Conference Player of the Week - Colin Stephenson - Nets Blast