NBA Power Rankings: LeBron’s struggles; Raptors’ early dominance

NBA Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
NBA Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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NBA New Orleans Pelicans Anthony Davis (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

3. New Orleans Pelicans (4-1)

The New Orleans Pelicans have been surprisingly impressive through the first two weeks of the season. Anthony Davis has been an absolute monster, and Nikola Mirotic has gotten off to an extremely hot start too.

There were questions about this team heading into the season after losing Boogie Cousins and Rajon Rondo, but I feel like those have been quieted down. And you really have to credit Davis, who appears to make everyone around him better.

And I’m not sure we’ve actually seen that recently from anyone other than LeBron James. I’m genuinely not sure Kevin Durant has that type of impact on his teammates. The Pelicans are good and to suggest that this team would just willingly move Davis at the trade deadline is dubious. We can put that narrative away.