NBA Power Rankings: Reality begins to set in for LA Lakers, Brooklyn Nets

Los Angeles Lakers Russell Westbrook (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Los Angeles Lakers Russell Westbrook (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
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Miami Heat
Miami Heat Jimmy Butler (Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports)

20. Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have some of the best talent in the league. On paper, they should absolutely be a contender in the Eastern Conference. Through the first few games of the season, the Nets haven’t been that.

They look like a team that doesn’t want to play with each other and one that appears to be on its last legs. Perhaps reality is indeed setting in for the Nets.

19. Miami Heat

After an offseason of inactivity, you can’t really be surprised with how the Maimi Heat has performed to start this season.

The Heat has struggled out of the gate. This is generally a franchise that doesn’t love purgatory. The question is, how will they try to get out of it? If they continue to struggle this season, it’s hard to imagine that they don’t try to make a move.