2012 NBA power rankings: Clips, Lakers slide after up-and-down weeks

The Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers are both still finding themselves in the early goings of the season. As soon as the Clippers seem to have put it all together, they drop games to teams they should beat. When it seems like the Lakers are ready to take the next step, we're all reminded that they still don't have all of their pieces together. All of this leaves the power rankings wondering where exactly to put these two teams at this stage in the season.

SB Nation moved the Clippers down three spots to No. 5 after a win over the Spurs then losses to the Thunder, Nets and Hawks happened this week. The Clips have six of their next seven at home against teams they should beat so they could find their footing – especially on defense – once again.

ESPN moved the Clippers down two spots to No. 5 and are in complete agreement with Chris Paul. If Paul says that the losses to the Nets and Hawks were "terrible," then that's exactly what they were.

SB Nation moved the Lakers down one spot to No. 9 after wins over the Nets and Mavericks were surrounded by losses to the Kings and Grizzlies. The Mike D'Antoni era has already seen highs and lows within the team's recent wins and losses, but the team is still a handful when it is clicking on all cylinders.

ESPN moved the Lakers down one spot to No. 8, but will reserve all true judgment until the proven maestro of the D'Antoni system, Steve Nash, returns from injury and the world can finally witness Nash running the offense built for him with toys like Kobe Bryant that he's never had before.