Tracking the Power Rankings

[scott]

Look out now, but despite everyone's theories about how the league and the media hate us... folks are taking notice and we might even be the new darlings.

Thought it would be good to have a thread to post all the various power ranking updates.

The first one is out and NBA.com has us jumping from #15 to #8 (please note, the NetRtg, ORtg, DRtg and Pace definitions at the bottom of this post, so that everyone is on the same page)

Power Rankings, Week 2: Warriors, Spurs, Lakers rise up

The Thunder stay in the lead, but the Warriors, Lakers and Pistons are all rising to open 2025-26.

www.nba.com

Last Week:15↑
Record: 3-0

OffRtg: 120.2 (4) DefRtg: 104.7 (2) NetRtg: +15.5 (1) Pace: 97.1 (28)

The Spurs were one of just two 3-0 teams in Week 1, thrashing the Mavs before holding on for clutch wins against New Orleans and Brooklyn. Victor Wembanyama is a new man, and he averaged 33.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and six blocks over the three wins.

Three takeaways

• Wembanyama’s offensive aggression has carried over from the preseason, with 40 (62%) of his 65 shots having come in the paint, up from a rate of just 37% last season. Through his first two seasons, Wembanyama had one game with at least seven dunks. He had seven in both of the Spurs’ first two games this year, adding three more on Sunday.
• Dylan Harper scored at least 13 points off the bench in all three games and came up huge in the win over the Nets on Sunday afternoon, registering 20 points, six rebounds, eight assists (with zero turnovers) and two steals. All eight of his buckets came in the paint, with three big drives down the stretch after the Spurs blew a 26-point, third-quarter lead. They closed with Harper and Keldon Johnson on the floor instead of starters Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes.
• Over the three games, the score in the restricted area was Spurs 154, opponents 72. Those opponents shot 12-for-26 (46%) at the rim when Wembanyama was there to protect it.

Coming up: Amazingly, the Spurs have never started a season with five straight wins. They’re 60% of the way there as their win over Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon began a stretch where they’re playing 10 of 13 games at home. Wembanyama’s recognition of double-teams could be critical against the Raptors’ aggressive defense on Monday night.

Week 2: vs. TOR, vs. MIA, @ PHX

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OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)
Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)

 

[Neuromancer]

The NBA media is definitely lubed up with cheeks spread for Victor. All he has to do is do what he's been doing and Spurs will get a lot love and he will be in the MVP discussion. DPOY is a given for him as long as he plays 65 games

 

[SpursFan86]

Yeah, the days of us being ignored by the media are over. Wemby highlights and posts are continuously getting insane amount of views on social media and the league has to recognize that he's the biggest thing to happen since LeBron.

We should enjoy this period, tbh. We're probably not far off from the time where things flip and suddenly everyone is hyper-critical and wanting to hate on Wemby. Right now he's everyone's darling but it won't be long before people are questioning his ability to carry a team, his conditioning, etc etc.

 

[inagra]

clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/2025-26-nba-power-rankings-week-1-spurs-rise-mavericks-crumble
Spurs jumped from 13 to 3

nytimes.com/athletic/6753888/2025/10/27/nba-power-rankings-knicks-warriors-lakers/
Spurs jumped from 17 to 12

okcthunderwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/thunder/2025/10/27/nba-power-rankings-thunder-host-ring-night-wemby-looks-unstoppable/86916288007/
Spurs open at 2

 

[TimmyBuckets]

Honestly we should be top 3 in the league not top 5 in the west lol

 

[RC_Drunkford]

Yeah, the days of us being ignored by the media are over. Wemby highlights and posts are continuously getting insane amount of views on social media and the league has to recognize that he's the biggest thing to happen since LeBron.

We should enjoy this period, tbh. We're probably not far off from the time where things flip and suddenly everyone is hyper-critical and wanting to hate on Wemby. Right now he's everyone's darling but it won't be long before people are questioning his ability to carry a team, his conditioning, etc etc.

they will start to hate him once we win 2 chips in a row and there's no one there to stop him from a threepeat

 

[ambchang]

We are likely a bit overrated now. Weak competition out of the gates made us look better than we really are.

Issues handling wemby double teams, spacing, passing, 3 pt defence. A well prepared and disciplined team will make short work of us.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

We are likely a bit overrated now. Weak competition out of the gates made us look better than we really are.

Issues handling wemby double teams, spacing, passing, 3 pt defence. A well prepared and disciplined team will make short work of us.

So I guess going 74-8 is off the table?

In truth all around the horn this will be a season growing pains for the players and the HC.. But this is fun so far..