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NBA Power Rankings Week 3: Spurs feeling good, number one on some lists

With both teams at 9-1, the Spurs and Pacers stand atop the NBA standings. Who do most experts consider the best in the league?

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Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

The ebb and flow of the NBA season continues with this week's power rankings.

The West-leading Spurs went perfect again last week, while the Indiana Pacers finally took their first L of the season. Some experts dropped Indiana to number two and moved SA to first, but there are few doubts right now as to who are the two best teams in the league.

The story in many columns is Tim Duncan, whose struggles from the field are leading to some career-low numbers for The Big Fundamental.

Marc Stein from ESPN, (Spurs rank: 1, last week's rank: 2)

Any doubt that the Spurs, before they get to the stuff that really matters, are going to win at least 50 games for the 15th consecutive season? In this purportedly mopey state after what happened in the Finals -- and with Tim Duncan producing at unrecognizable levels -- they're only on a 74-8 pace.

Marc J. Spears from Yahoo! Sports (Spurs rank: 2, last week's rank: 2)

The Spurs have won seven straight and are 4-0 at home. Tim Duncan is averaging career-lows of 12 points and 39.4 percent shooting.

Jason Patt from SBNation NBA (Spurs rank: 1, last week's rank: 2)

The Spurs found themselves down seven heading into the fourth quarter against the league-worst Utah Jazz on Friday, but then Tony Parker decided he had enough of those shenanigans. Parker scored 14 fourth-quarter points to lead San Antonio to a seventh straight win and the No. 1 spot in the rankings.

USA Today (Spurs rank: 2, last week's rank: 2)

Tim Duncan is having the worst season of his career. You could do worse.

John Schuhmann from NBA.com (Spurs rank: 1, last week's rank: 2)

The Spurs have been almost as good as the Pacers defensively, having held nine of their 10 opponents under a point per possession. The starters haven't been as strong as they were last season, but Boris Diaw has had a terrific start. The Spurs have outscored their opponents by 18.0 points per 100 possessions with Diaw -- who shot 13-for-17 in wins over the Wizards and Jazz this week -- on the floor.

Matt Moore from CBSSports.com (Spurs rank: 3, last week's rank 4)

This is like when Jason comes back for the eighth time in the 'Friday the 13th' moves and the victims are like, "You have GOT to be kidding me."

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