POWER RANKINGS

WEST 1. Suns

After a blistering 6-1 start, they dropped off and lost four of their next six but no real concerns here. Chris Paul and Cameron Johnson have been missing, and the Suns still own a Top 5 offense and defense, with the highest net rating in the West. Devin Booker has been typically terrific to start the season.

2. Blazers

Damian Lillard missed five of Portland’s first 12 games but that didn’t stop this group from having one of the most surprisingly good starts against one of the toughest schedules. The Blazers have made a habit of falling behind — trailing by double digits in six of their 10 wins — that they’ll want to clean up but they’re already proving they’ll be a hard out in the West.

3. Nuggets

Two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic leads a Top 5 offense but it’s the other end that’s giving them problems as they’re through the opening month with a defense ranked in the bottom 10 of the NBA. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are still trying to find their stride, and the Nuggets are still searching for some good wins.

4. Jazz

Danny Ainge insists he’s pleasantly surprised by Utah’s incredible start even after he moved on from the Donovan Mitchell/Rudy Gobert era and stripped down the roster. Tanking? At least the Jazz players haven’t looked interested in that after a stunning 10-3 start led by Lauri Markannen and a hungry supporting cast of Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton and even old friend Kelly Olynyk. Three consecutive losses suggest the parade may bottom out, but this is still a fun story.

5. Grizzlies

Ja Morant remains absolutely ridiculous, and already has a long highlight tape to boast a month into the season. He’s playing at an MVP pace, but he’s still waiting for his supporting group to be fully healthy. Jaren Jackson finally returned this week which should give a lift to an underperforming defense, and he’ll need some time to find a rhythm. But the Grizzlies also just lost Desmond Bane for multiple weeks after he was playing at an All-Star level to start the season.

6. Mavericks

For a team boasting an MVP favorite in Luke Doncic, the Mavericks have been frustratingly inconsistent. They’ve had some good wins — including the Blazers and Grizzlies — but they’ve also suffered recent losses to the Magic, Wizards and Rockets. A tough stretch ahead will reveal more about this team. After two this weekend with the Nuggets, they have road games against the Celtics and Bucks coming up this week.

7. Pelicans

Zion Williamson’s return has reaped benefits, but New Orleans is finding ways to win without him, as evidenced by their win this week over the Grizzlies as the star big man sat out. The Pelicans are a sneaky darkhorse in what has been a jumbled West if Williamson can stay healthy and their defense — ranked in the top 10 of the league early on — can stay consistent enough to complement one of the best offenses in the NBA.

8. Kings

Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic were leading the Kings the last time they made the playoffs. It’s been a while. De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis are running this squad and look primed to put Sacramento in the postseason for the first time since 2006. They’re impressing with the No. 2-ranked offense in the NBA — highlighted by this week’s 153-point effort against the Nets — but their bottom five defense will need improvement for them to stay in the picture.

9. Clippers

Kawhi Leonard returned on Thursday after missing 12 games, playing just 25 minutes in the Clippers’ win over the Pistons, and they’ll hope his return can start solving their early-season problems. The Clippers entered Friday tied for the worst offense in the NBA with the Lakers — which is not good company to have right now.

10. Warriors

After Klay Thompson was ejected from an opening week game against the Suns, Devin Booker said the Warriors star was continuously bragging about his four championships. Golden State seems to be stuck in the past to start the year. Steph Curry is continuing to play at an MVP level but the Warriors are wasting it so far, seeming to lack motivation after winning the championship last season. Expect a turnaround at some point — there’s still five months left, and this group is simply too experienced and talented to be this lethargic throughout a full season. But there’s plenty of work to be done, especially on the defensive end, and until it does, there will be questions asked of this aging core — just like last season — and if their glory days are over.