The 140: NBA Power Rankings, Week 3 - Grizzlies reign, Lakers & 76ers tied at No. 30

Another Tuesday, another edition of The 140, theScore's weekly - and excellent - NBA power rankings. You know the drill: Each team gets 140 characters or fewer, because life's way too short. 

1. Memphis Grizzlies (10-1)
(Last Week: 2)

The Rockets have the better defense, but the Grizzlies blew them out in a battle of 9-1 teams Monday, and have won 20 in a row at home.

2. Houston Rockets (9-2)
(Last Week: 3)

Houston hit 104 3-pointers through eight games, a NBA record. What happens when they go cold from beyond the arc? (Hint: they lose.)

3. Golden State Warriors (8-2)
(Last Week: 1)

When life gets me down, I try and remember that Steph Curry exists.

There's more: 

4. Portland Trail Blazers (8-3)
(Last Week: 4)

Yeah, eight of 11 at home, but the opposition's been tough. And they scored 84 points in a half against a team that wasn't the 76ers.

5. Chicago Bulls (8-3)
(Last Week: 7)

A laugher* schedule, sure, but they sent Toronto a message, are 6-0 on the road, and doing it without D-Rose. Take it away, Tom Thibodeau*:

6. Toronto Raptors (8-2)
(Last Week: 5)

Toronto's the only team in the NBA with a top-seven offense and defense, but they had to beat the Bulls. Sorry, Raptors truthers. 

7. Dallas Mavericks (8-3)
(Last Week: 13)

Some soft opposition, but what the Mavericks are doing cannot be ignored:

"Straight murdering" is a phrase I need to use more often.

8. Washington Wizards (8-3)
(Last Week: 10)

Bradley Beal comin'. 

9. San Antonio Spurs (6-4)
(Last Week: 9)

The Spurs went 3-1 since the last edition of The 140, and Gregg Popovich remains The Greatest of All Time:

10. Sacramento Kings (6-4)
(Last Week: 8)

The "Boogie Board" is something that exists, and the world is a better place for it:

Boogie for MVP. 

11. Cleveland Cavaliers (5-4)
(Last Week: 12)

Once upon a time in 2010 in Miami, LeBron James and the Big Three started their first season together 5-4. Things turned out okay.

12. New Orleans Pelicans (5-4)
(Last Week: 15)

The answers to the questions "How?" and "Why?" are the same: Anthony Davis. 

And here's The Best Anthony Davis Tweet of the Week:

13. Miami Heat (5-4)
(Last Week: 6)

The Heat all of a sudden look like a team that lost LeBron James and can't rely on Dwyane Wade, the oldest 32-year-old on the planet. 

14. Phoenix Suns (5-4)
(Last Week: 14)

The Suns are 14th for the third week in a row. There's something to be said for consistency. 

15. Los Angeles Clippers (5-4)
(Last Week: 11)

What the f**k? From fifth to 11th to 15th. It's time to panic.

16. Milwaukee Bucks (5-5)
(Last Week: 18)

Milwaukee can't score, and while it's only been 10 games, the Bucks have the second-best defense in basketball. 

Yep. 

17. Atlanta Hawks (5-4)
(Last Week: 17)

Life is all about how you respond to adversity spelling mistakes:

Best Twitter account in basketball. 

18. Indiana Pacers (4-7)
(Last Week: 24)

The Pacers playing top-10 defense is so Pacers. Almost peak Pacers. 

19. Orlando Magic (5-7)
(Last Week: 26)

A 3-1 week and the return of Victor Oladipo has the Magic leaping seven spots. I want to believe. 

20. Charlotte Hornets (4-7)
(Last Week: 20)

Let's be real: Nothing matters but Lance Stephenson slapping himself in the face.

21. Brookly Nets (4-6)
(Last Week: 16)

Other than the Lakers, there isn't a team more people enjoy watching struggle than the Nets. What a mess. 

22. Oklahoma City Thunder (3-8)
(Last Week: 21)

I want to believe the Thunder's defense, ranked ninth in the NBA, can keep them afloat until KD and Russell return. I'm a dreamer. 

23. Utah Jazz (4-7)
(Last Week: 22)

The Jazz gave us this, and I can't be anything but grateful:

24. Boston Celtics (3-6)
(Last Week: 19)

The Celtics lost all three of their games since the last 140, so put on "I Believe I Can Fly," thank Jeff Green, sit back, and relax:

25. Denver Nuggets (3-7)
(Last Week: 28)

The Nuggets scored eight points in the second quarter vs. the Knicks on Sunday, then beat the Cavs on Tuesday. You figure it out.

26. Detroit Pistons (3-8)
(Last Week: 25)

You cannot lose to the Magic at home. Ever. 

27. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-7)
(Last Week: 23)

The Timberwolves are rebuilding. They're young. They're supposed to stink. So it's only right that they're ranked higher than the Knicks.

28. New York Knicks (3-8)
(Last Week: 27)

Down by two vs. the Magic in the 4th, clock winding down, you've got no choice but to put the ball in Carmelo Anthony's J.R. Smith's hands. 

T30. Los Angeles Lakers (1-9)
(Last Week: 29)

Last-place tie! In the time it took to read The 140, Kobe took 37 shots and missed 22. Not because he wanted to, because he had to. Also:

T30. Philadelphia 76ers (0-10)
(Last Week: 30)

This is what watching the 76ers has come to: 

Forget about the score, the ridiculous 38-point, second-quarter lead. Those are print newspapers.