NBA Power Rankings, Week 2

The small sample size of the NBA’s opening week usually provides an interesting look at the standings. The start of the 2021-22 season was no different.

The Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets, two teams that missed the Eastern Conference playoffs last season, are each off to 3-0 starts. (The latter spoiled the Brooklyn Nets’ home opener on Sunday.) Meanwhile, New York Knicks’ fans were already calling for a championship run after a season-opening double-overtime win over the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden.

In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers finally notched their first win of the season, overcoming Ja Morant’s 40-point outburst Sunday night. And behind Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors are off to a 3-0 start.

Which teams are rising and falling after the first week of NBA action? We’re running through all 30 teams.

Note: Throughout the regular season, our panel (Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin and Ohm Youngmisuk) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which teams are looking most like title contenders.

1. Milwaukee Bucks
2021-22 record: 2-1
Previous ranking: 2

An opening-night win against the Nets reminded the league why the Bucks are the defending champs. Milwaukee made a statement to blitz Brooklyn to start the season behind 32 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists from Giannis Antetokounmpo. Injuries have depleted the Bucks’ rotation early on, but Jrue Holiday and Rodney Hood both returned Saturday. Brook Lopez (back soreness) will miss at least Monday’s game against Indiana. — Collier

This week: @IND, MIN, SAS, UTA

2. Utah Jazz
2021-22 record: 2-0
Previous ranking: 5

Hassan Whiteside, the former maximum-contract big man who joined the Jazz for the minimum, is off to an encouraging start as Rudy Gobert’s backup. He had a total of 14 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks in 34 minutes in the first two games, when Utah…