Winners of 5 straight and standing at 6-2, the Brooklyn Nets are 12th in Marc Stein’s fifth Power Rankings rendition (training camp, preseason, and one per week during the regular season), moving up six spots from last week’s rankings. Though I haven’t checked this, I’m going to assume higher than any ranking they held last season. A five-game winning streak and a .750 record might catapult the Nets higher, but Stein is bearish on the team’s success:
The victims in this five-game winning streak have a composite record of 13-27. The most impressive win of the five came against the Rondo-less Celtics at home. Yet there is some noise coming out of Brooklyn courtesy of some encouraging flashes from an improving (we think) Brook Lopez.
Six of the Nets’ next nine opponents rank in the top 10 of Stein’s power rankings, including borough rival Manhattan/New York Knicks at #2. The Memphis Grizzlies — the only team to beat the Knicks, rank #1.
Read more: ESPN.com — Power Rankings: Grizzlies New No. 1
