By the numbers: NBA's top five teams in terms of net rating
We take a look at the NBA's top five teams based on NBA.com's net rating statistic — the difference between offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) and defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions).
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1. Golden State Warriors (+12.8)
No. 1 in our Week 5 power rankings. No. 1 in the standings. No. 1 in net rating. Makes sense, right? Led by the three-headed monster of Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors' boast an offensive rating of 114.8 — up 2.3 points from last year's mark. And while their defense has taken a bit of a step back without center Andrew Bogut as an anchor, they still rank 10th in the league with a rating of 102.0.
2. Toronto Raptors (+10.2)
It may be early on in the season, but the Raptors — riding the NBA's longest active winning streak (six games) — are proving to be a legitimate threat to take their second straight trip to Eastern Conference finals. Led by a dynamic backcourt duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors' 113.8 offensive rating ranks second in the league, as does their 48.0% field goal percentage.
3. Los Angeles Clippers (+10.0)
In a bit of a funk, the Clippers have dropped four of their last six games after jumping out to a 10-1 start. A 16-6 record and third-place spot in the West is nothing to wrinkle your nose at, though. Nor is the NBA's fifth-ranked offense (109.4 offensive rating) and top defense (99.5 defensive rating).
Gallery: Week 5 NBA power rankings
4. Utah Jazz (+6.6)
Despite the fact that three of their starters — George Hill, Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors — have all missed time because of injury, the Jazz have been one of the NBA's top teams on both ends of the floor, and if they keep it up, they could be fighting for one of the West's top four seeds come April. Their 107.5 offensive rating ranks eighth, while their 101.0 defensive rating ranks fourth.
5. San Antonio Spurs (+6.1)
The Spurs have won 11 of their past 12 games and sit in second place in the West with a 16-4 record — on pace for a second straight 65-win season. Their plus-6.1 net rating is 1.6 points higher than the sixth-place Cleveland Cavaliers, though it's worth noting that the Spurs finished in the top three in net rating in each of the past five seasons.
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