Power Rankings, Week 7: Cavs back at No. 1; Rockets surge into Top 5

 A Quarter of the Season Down: Who'sHot and Who's 

 

  L We're already a quarter of the way through the NBA season!  

 After Monday's games, 

we'll have seen a big chunk of the total games played this year.

 

What Does a Strong Start Mean?

When a team wins a lot of games early in the season, it's a good sign.  

  

Over the past 20 years,

 most teams that won 11 or more of their first 20 games made it to the playoffs.   

 On the other hand,

 teams that won fewer than nine games usually didn't make it.

 

Western Conference: A Tight Race

This year, many Western Conference teams have had strong starts.  

   Nine teams,

including some that missed the playoffs last year, have won at least 11 of their first 20 games.  

 

 The Denver Nuggets, 

who are just a bit behind, could join this group this week.  

 With so many good teams, 

the Western Conference is going to be very competitive.

 Eastern Conference: Some Teams Need to Improve

 In the Eastern Conference, the New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers, 

 

who both made the playoffs last year, haven't had great starts.

 They need to improve quickly or they might miss the playoffs this year.   

 However, 

both teams have shown in the past that they can turn things around and make the playoffs even after a slow start.

 

Time to Turn Things Around

    For teams that haven't had a good start, now is the time to make changes and improve.   

  If they don't, it will be harder to make the playoffs later in the season.