Latest Power Rankings Place Warriors at #2

The Golden State Warriors have a league-best 8 wins and 1 loss. They boast the #1 net rating and defensive rating in the NBA. They are the top scorers, shooters from deep, and have the most assists. They’re 3rd in both rebounds and steals, and 2nd in field goal percentage allowed as well as three-point percentage allowed. Steph Curry is playing below his usual standard, Klay Thompson and James Wiseman are both injured, yet the Warriors are still the top dog in the West.

But for some reason, ESPN decided that a team ranked 3rd in their own BPI stat is the #1 this week: The Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers, who have been without all-star point guard Ben Simmons and likely will be without him for a long while and are now possibly losing Joel Embiid for a few games due to health and safety protocols, are 8-2 and at the top of the East. Philly should be getting a lot credit for how they’ve stepped up in Simmons’ absence, but they have not had a better start to this season than Golden State.

The biggest knock on the Warriors is their strength of schedule so far. They play the Atlanta Hawks tonight, and played their first two games against the Lakers (widely considered the best team in the West to start off the season, let’s not forget that) and the Clippers (who, in spite of losing Kawhi, still have all-world scorer Paul George and an excellent supporting cast). They’ve also played a fringe contender in the Grizzlies (who they lost against), and beat the Hornets who have had a surprisingly solid start to this season behind Miles Bridges’ drastic improvements.

But when we look at the Sixers schedule, it’s not all that different. They’re biggest game so far was the Nets, who didn’t start too hot before KD and Harden found their rhythm, and they lost. The only notable wins they have are the Hawks and the Bulls (twice), both solid teams, but not contenders like the Lakers and Clippers were projected to be. The Sixers have not had a harder schedule just because they played Brooklyn and the Knicks: If anything, it’s pretty even to start the season.

This is a very good Warriors team that is not playing to its full potential. The Sixers are cracked right now, and likely won’t finish the season as good as they seem unless they manage to flip Simmons for an all-star who fits better (the most recent rumor is Jaylen Brown). While they will have tests ahead of them, the Dubs should be able to win the next few upcoming games before seeing the Nets at home during Thanksgiving week. The Sixers are a very solid team, but the Warriors are palpably better. It was a major upset when they beat the Lakers on opening night, and it appears plenty of people are more than happy to play revisionist and start hating on them again.

Just like in 2015, the Warriors are off to a hot start. And just like in 2015, other fans just hate how good they are at basketball. This team is constructed for a championship run and could feasibly finish the homestand tonight with a statement win to show everyone else that they’re legit. Not that anyone with sense would doubt that, but you can’t always win on that front.

(Photo credit: Andrew D. Bernstein / Getty Images)