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As we often see early in the season, there are big moves up and down the rankings this week as teams settle in (and schedules start to balance out). Unfortunately, injuries are knocking too many teams down the ladder.
1. Houston Rockets
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Record: 6-1
Ranking last week: No. 3
Games this week: Boston, Minnesota, at Phoenix
Last season, Houston’s offensive spacing was often a mess. This season, with the return of Fred VanVleet, moving Amen Thompson to more of an off-ball role, everything has looked much better — Houston has a 121.1 offensive rating, best in the league. VanVleet said this week that he has asked to play more minutes next to Reed Sheppard, something we have only seen for 13 minutes so far this season. The Rockets, unsurprisingly, picked up their fourth-year option on Sheppard this week, keeping him with the team through 2028, and he is extension-eligible this summer if the sides can agree on a number.
2. Detroit Pistons
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Record: 5-1
Ranking last week: No. 2
Games this week: at Charlotte, Philadelphia, Los Angeles Lakers
Detroit’s front office wanted to add shooting this offseason and we’re seeing the impact on the court: The Pistons are taking six more 3-pointers a game and hitting them at a higher percentage, 36.3% this season. Amazingly, they are shooting 39.2% on above-the-break 3s. Jalen Duren remains out with a hamstring strain, but so far Paul Reed (13.8 points and 7 rebounds a game, shooting 67%) and John Collins (9.2 points, 7.2 rebounds) have stepped up and thrived next to Cade Cunningham.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
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Record: 6-1
Ranking last week: No. 5
Games this week: Chicago, at Detroit, at Cleveland, at Chicago
The Philadelphia 76ers keep getting off to slow starts — they have a -15.9 net rating in the first quarter — then somehow climbing out of the hole to get the win. Through seven games, the 76ers have a +20.9 net rating in the fourth quarter (second best in the league). That manifests in things such as the 13-0 run late against Charlotte to secure the win this past week. This feels like a team winning on its impressive talent so far but without the…
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Publish date : 2026-11-02 13:00:00
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