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NBA Power Rankings: The Boston Celtics are back, baby

By Ian Levy

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 6: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics looks on before the game between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at TD Garden on December 6, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 6: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics looks on before the game between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at TD Garden on December 6, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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MEMPHIS, TN – DECEMBER 8: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on December 8, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN – DECEMBER 8: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on December 8, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Lakers. 9. team. 20. . 17-10. Previous: 12th

This was another week of LeBron James proving just how little his ceiling has been lowered by age. Through four games, and three Laker wins, he averaged 31.3 points, 9.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds, shooting 52.8 percent from the field and 40 percent from the line. He also benefited from strong performances by the surrounding cast with Josh Hart, Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope chipping in 31-of-80 3-point shooting (38.8 percent).

The turnaround of the Lakers has slipped under the radar to some degree (this is their first week in the top 10 of these power rankings) because there is still so much that seems to be going wrong. Brandon Ingram is out with a sprained ankle and neither he nor Lonzo Ball has taken the leap that one might have expected from playing alongside LeBron. You can take it as either heartening or discouraging that this team still isn’t playing as well as it could.

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