NBA Western Conference Power Rankings: How Low Are the Lakers?

With each NBA team already getting five or six games under their belt, it's time to break out the power rankings.

Let's look at the Western Conference, where things are tight at the top and the race for the seventh and eighth playoff spots could be worth keeping an eye on all season.

Do the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks crack the rankings?

Where do Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers stand?

It's time to take a look.

8. Utah Jazz

With a solid frontcourt, the Jazz have won back-to-back games and sit at 3-3 on the season.

Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are leading the team in almost every offensive category and Utah can stay competitive in the West if they keep rebounding and playing defense.

7. Memphis Grizzlies

Things have changed in Memphis with the injury to Zach Randolph, but the Grizzlies are still a 3-3 team and still have some talent.

Rudy Gay is back and playing at a high level and he will have to continue to do so for the Grizzlies to remain in the playoff picture until Randolph returns.

6. Los Angeles Clippers

The new-look Clippers have won three of their first five games and when they are going good, they are fun to watch.

But when they aren't rolling, it's clear they still have a lot to learn about each other.

Depth is still a question, but this team is likely one on the rise.

5. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are currently only a .500 team and have some questions surrounding them.

Kobe Bryant's wrist will remain a question, as is the amount of shots he's been hoisting up.

Andrew Bynum has been a beast since his return, though, and they have to find a way to get the young center more touches on a consistent basis.

4. San Antonio Spurs

At 5-2, the Spurs are off to a great start and likely would be higher if it weren't for the injury to Manu Ginobili.

Defense is a trademark as always, as the Spurs are allowing barely over 90 points per game.

Something to keep an eye on, though, is their play on the road. All five of the Spurs wins have come at home, while both their losses have come on the road.

3. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are deep and talented and off to a 5-2 start.

Six different Nuggets are averaging double figures and they are the highest-scoring team in the Western Conference at 103.3 points per game.

Make no mistake about it, Denver can contend in the West.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

At the end of the day, the Thunder are probably the best team in the West, but they sit at No. 2 for now.

Kevin Durant is off to another fantastic start, but coach Scott Brooks would like to see more from Russell Westbrook as a point guard.

The defense as a whole needs some tweaking as well. Allowing 98 points per game could be a cause for concern.

1. Portland Trail Blazers

It's time to take Portland seriously.

They've gotten off to an impressive 5-1 start and have wins already over the Thunder, Nuggets and Lakers.

They can score and do an excellent job of crashing the glass.

LaMarcus Aldridge and Gerald Wallace are off to very good starts and the Jamal Crawford signing has given them exactly what they needed off the bench.

This team is very good.