NBA Power Rankings: Jazz are dominant again; Lakers are bad bad

Utah Jazz (Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports)
Utah Jazz (Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA
NBA Cleveland Cavaliers (Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)

16. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are, by definition, one of the hottest teams in the NBA at the moment. They’ve three games in a row and are looking better with every day that passes. I’m not sure if they’ll be able to hold onto a top 10 spot in the East this season, but they’re a team that should offer a bit of intrigue with the amount of youth and talent that they have on the roster.

15. Charlotte Hornets

Just when it seems like the Charlotte Hornets were going to emerge as a true rabble-rouser in the Eastern Conference, they turn around and drop three games in a row. There’s still .500 and technically near the top of the East, but if they don’t fix their league-worst defense they aren’t going very far this season.