Week 8 Power Rankings: Cavs Reign Supreme as Grizzlies Make Top 5 Entry

Get ready because Week 8 is going to be huge!

For eight teams, it could come with a trip to Las Vegas for the Emirates NBA Cup semifinals.

For all 30 teams, Week 8 is “Practice Week,” with multiple days off and opportunities to get in the practice gym and figure some things out. We’re past the one-quarter mark of the season, where records can be considered pretty real. But there’s still a lot of basketball to be played.

Players need rest and coaches need practice time, and everybody (including the teams competing for the Cup) will get some of that in the next seven days.

Plus-Minus Players of the Week

Right Way: Kevin Huerter (SAC) was a plus-65 in four games last week.Wrong Way: Deandre Ayton, Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons (POR) were all a minus-70 in three games last week.

Teams of the Week

Make It Last Forever: Minnesota (3-1) — The Wolves may have found their defense.Something Just Ain’t Right: Portland (0-3) — You just can’t lose to the Jazz by 42 points.

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East vs. West

The West is 56-41 (.577) against the East in interconference games, though the East was 8-6 last week.

Schedule strength through Week 7

Toughest: 1. Washington, 2. New Orleans, 3. UtahEasiest: 1. Cleveland, 2. Memphis, 3. OrlandoSchedule strength is based on cumulative opponent record.

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Movement in the Rankings

High jumps of the week: Miami (+6), Atlanta (+4), Memphis (+4), Minnesota (+4)Free falls of the week: L.A. Lakers (-6), San Antonio (-6), Portland (-5)

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Week 8 Team to Watch

Houston — The four Western Conference teams in the NBA Cup quarterfinals are all in top five of the conference overall, having won at least 60% of their games so far. Of the four, the Rockets have the most to prove and the most to gain, especially because they’re 0-2 against their quarterfinals opponent. That opponent is the Warriors, who they’ll host on Wednesday.

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Previously…

Last week: Cavs back at No. 1; Rockets surge into Top 5The archive: NBA.com Power Rankings

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)

The league has averaged 112.7 points scored per 100 possessions and 99.8 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes this season.

* = Emirates NBA Cup game

NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, contact him via Bluesky.