NBA Power Rankings 5.0
Selecting An All-Star For All 30 Teams
We’re already half way through the first month of 2024 and my biweekly power rankings are in! Every two weeks I will choose a new theme and rank all 30 NBA teams based on their results to date. Each set of rankings are based off of only what each team has shown to date and are not projections of what I think teams will ultimately be. For context, I’ve included what I believe to be each team’s best win from the prior two weeks, each team’s two-week record, and finally team’s overall records.
Tap in every other week for updated rankings. Each week is a new theme and for this week’s theme; Selecting An All-Star For All 30 Teams. The MLB does it, so why not give it a try for the NBA..!
***All records updated thru 1/11/24
30. Detroit Pistons (3–35)
Two Week Record: 1–6
Best Win: 129–127 vs. Raptors, 12/30
The All Star: Cade Cunningham (22.8 PPG, 7.3 AST, 4.1 REB, 1.0 STL, 44.9% FG, 33.5% FG3, 87% FT, 15.6 PER)
It’s hard to make the case anyone from this team deserves individual recognition of any kind but Pistons fans should be encouraged that Cade Cunningham has improved his efficiency numbers, even while surrounded with little to no help offensively. Cunningham is in as horrible a situation as any young hopeful star, so I’m willing to forgive what could be considered “empty stats” and believe that if he were drafted by any other team, he would be competing for a playoff spot this season. Count the Pistons being dead last in these bi-weekly rankings as a 2024 staple.
29. San Antonio Spurs (6–30)
Two Week Record: 1–5
Best Win: 118–105 @ Trail Blazers, 12/28
The All Star: Victor Wembanyama (19.3 PPG, 10.1 REB, 2.8 AST, 44.9% FG, 29.5% FG3, 79.6% FT, 20 PER)
Victor Wembanyama had his most impressive game as a professional last week versus Milwaukee and it wasn’t just the performance itself, but more importantly who he did it against. Wembanyama spent stretches of that game directly matched up on Giannis Antetokoumpo, culminating in the moment of the game; Wemby absorbing a pre-dunk-attempt body blow from Giannis , the two meeting at the rim and Wemby sending the Giannis lefty slam back the other way for a Spurs fast break. It was one of many moments in that game that shows everyone how dominant of a player Wembanyama can ultimately be but unfortunately, until they build an actual team around him, incredible nights like January 4th will end in losses more times than they won’t.
28. Washington Wizards (7–30)
Two Week Record: 1–6
Best Win: 110–104 vs. Nets, 12/29
The All Star: Kyle Kuzma (22.5 PPG, 6.1 REB, 4.2 AST, 46.3% FG, 34.9% FG3, 77.1% FT, 16.3 PER)
Despite the historic losing from the Pistons and Spurs, there is a case to be made that the Wizards are actually the worst team in basketball. Kyle Kuzma is loudly hoping to get traded but despite being the best player on this team, he is far from an actual All-Star player that the Wizards valued him as. If Washington finds a team willing to trade for Kuzma, they should do it with zero hesitation because the harsh reality is he’s more valuable to them as a trade asset than he is as a player.
27. Charlotte Hornets (8–27)
Two Week Record: 1–5
Best Win: 111–104 @ Kings, 1/2
The All Star: Terry Rozier (24.3 PPG, 7.2 AST, 3.8 REB, 46.4% FG, 36.7% FG3, 87.5% FT, 20.1 PER)
The Hornets are showing the most fight we’ve seen from them since the LaMelo Ball injury and it earned them their best victory of the season; in Sacramento against a good Kings team. With Ball out, Terry Rozier has been given the green light on a nightly basis (not that he needed it) and is playing the best ball of his career on a team going absolutely nowhere. It will be interesting to see if the Hornets chose to hold on to Rozier or if a a trade market develops for him over the next month. The list of teams that could use his services is lengthy but if I’m Charlotte, I’m setting my asking price high (at least one 1st-rounder) and not moving off it.
26. Portland Trailblazers (10–27)
Two Week Record: 2–5
Best Win: 134–127 OT @ Nets, 1/7
The All Star: Anfernee Simons (24.5 PPG, 5.4 AST, 3.4 REB, 44.4% FG, 38.9% FG3, 92.5% FT, 19.7 PER)
The Blazers went into this season with rebuilding aspirations, but I think even by those standards its been a disappointment. Scoot Henderson will need time to develop so until then, Anfernee Simons is leading the way and has made yet another leap in his game despite playing with this ill-fitting roster. If indeed this were the MLB and every team got an All-Star representative, Simons in the open court on All-Star Sunday could absolutely put on a show at the rim.
25. Brooklyn Nets (16–22)
Two Week Record: 1–5
Best Win: 124–115 vs. Thunder, 1/5
The All Star: Mikal Bridges (21.2 PPG, 5.2 REB, 3.7 AST, 45.4% FG, 35.0% FG3, 83.9% FT, 16.1 PER)
No one is taking more advantage of that 10th Play-in spot than Brooklyn. The Nets have slipped from an average team to a decidedly below average one, causing their front office to proactively put out statements that they have zero intention of trading their best player, Mikal Bridges. Bridges and his consistently steady play is certainly not to blame for Brooklyn’s struggles. Assuming the Bulls don’t hit the sell button at the deadline, there are four teams (Chicago, Brooklyn, Toronto, Atlanta) currently fighting for the two Play-in spots and if the Nets aren’t careful, they could find themselves on the outside looking in.
24. Memphis Grizzlies (14–23)
Two Week Record: 4–3
Best Win: 127–113 @ Lakers, 1/5
The All Star: Jaren Jackson Jr. (21.3 PPG, 5.8 REB, 1.8 BLK, 46% FG, 35.2% FG3, 83.7% FT, 17.7 PER)
Well, it was fun while it lasted, but Memphis can probably go ahead and pack it up for this season. Ja Morant’s return party was a fun couple of weeks before it was spoiled by a torn labrum injury suffered in practice and with so much ground already to make up out West, the Grizzlies expectations this season are back in the gutter. Without Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. is the Grizzlies best player but even with his increased offensive output, he’s not currently a good enough player to carry this team into the postseason. In light of their lost season, the most interesting storyline for the next month is whether or not the Grizzlies become sellers at the deadline.
23. Toronto Raptors (15–23)
Two Week Record: 3–5
Best Win: 124–121 vs. Cavilers, 1/1
The All Star: Scottie Barnes (20.7 PPG, 8.6 REB, 5.7 AST, 1.4 STL, 1.4 BLK, 48.1% FG, 38.4% FG3, 75.5% FT, 18.8 PER)
One of the most talked about names on the trade market is Toronto’s Pascal Siakam however it feels like the better Toronto plays (they have won three of five since trading OG Anunoby) the more hesitant their front office will be to let him go. Even if an extension seems unlikely, unless blown away by an offer, Toronto seems prepared to lose Siakam for nothing if they feel like he will help Scottie Barnes, newly acquired RJ Barrett, and the rest of this young nucleus make the Play-in and possibly the Playoffs. Barnes should get league wide All-Star consideration as a player who fills up all five major statistical categories and most notably has greatly improved his three-point shooting splits, leaving very few weaknesses left in his game.
22. Atlanta Hawks (15–21)
Two Week Record: 3–3
Best Win: 141–138 vs. Thunder, 1/3
The All Star: Trae Young (27.8 PPG, 11 AST, 3.1 REB, 43.2 FG%, 36.5% FG3, 85.5% FT, 21.9 PER)
At the start of the season, the Hawks looked like a top-10 team and I was ready to give head coach, Quinn Snyder, a ton of credit for achieving balance and finding an effective usage rate for both star guards, Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Those few weeks of high-level basketball are now a distant memory and Atlanta is in very real danger of missing the postseason entirely, at which point no one on the roster, including their All-Star point guard or third coach in as many seasons, is safe. Young is one of the league’s best guards and is playing to or above his career averages, but unfortunately it hasn’t helped the Hawks in the win column. Moving Young at the deadline seems highly unlikely (if anyone is dealt before February 15th, it sounds like it could be Murray) but if this losing continues, we could see major changes for Atlanta in the offseason and point guard hungry teams like the Lakers, Nets, or Heat making inquiries about the services of Young whose organization has largely failed him.
21. Golden State Warriors (17–20)
Two Week Record: 2–4
Best Win: 121–115 vs. Magic, 1/2
The All Star: Steph Curry (27.1 PPG, 4.6 AST, 4.3 REB, 45% FG, 39.8% FG3, 92% FT, 20.6 PER)
Considering their offseason, I’m not sure why people are all that surprised by this but the Warriors are not a good basketball team. When Steph Curry’s otherworldly shooting can’t keep Golden State in games, they are getting boat raced in a way we haven’t seen from this core (sans the 2020 season) since their dynasty took off a decade ago. Draymond Green being suspended for 12 games doesn’t help and neither does Klay Thompson admitting he isn’t the player he once was and openly leaking confidence with each passing day. Considering the lack of a secondary scoring option, what Curry has done this year is incredible and will earn him a starting spot in the All-Star game, but I do wonder if Curry eventually hits a breaking point and starts to publicly question some of the front office’s moves?
20. Los Angeles Lakers (19–20)
Two Week Record: 2–5
Best Win: 106–103 vs. Clippers, 1/7
The All Star: Anthony Davis (25.2 PPG, 12.2 REB, 3.3 AST, 55.5% FG, 32.4% FG3, 80.2% FT, 25.8 PER)
The Lakers are in the midst of their annual midseason mellow drama, only this time it’s warranted since baring major changes, this season will not end anywhere near a championship. Adding depth and more pieces in the offseason was good but failing to bring in top end talent to pair with Anthony Davis and allow LeBron James to not have to do as much was a failure that will end up haunting Laker nation for years. AD is playing incredible basketball, but the roster isn’t built for him, it’s built for LeBron who despite still being an incredibly productive player, is no longer the focal point of the Lakers offense. AD has been healthy all season, is a lock for All-Star weekend and provided he plays the necessary 65 games, he’ll make an All-NBA team at season’s end. What the Lakers are able to do before the deadline will determine their postseason fate, but if AD continues his nightly dominance (not his usual of every other night), they should at least make it to the dance.
19. Chicago Bulls (18–21)
Two Week Record: 4–2
Best Win: 105–92 vs. Sixers, 12/30
The All Star: DeMar DeRozan (22.1 PPG, 5.4 AST, 3.8 REB, 45.5% FG, 34.4% FG3, 84.3% FT, 1.2 STL, 19.0 PER)
The Bulls are doing that thing again where they look like a real postseason team, thus muddying the waters on whether or not their front office will hit the reset button or continue paying top dollar for slightly less than mediocrity. Given his contract, trading Zach LaVine presents plenty of challenges but moving DeMar DeRozan, the better player this season, and his expiring contract would be the smart long-term play for Chicago. Moving either DeRozan or LaVine almost ensures the Bulls head straight to the draft lottery this summer but since they might end up there anyway, why not be somewhat strategic about it. DeRozan could help several playoff contenders, but teams have to be willing to trade for a likely rental and and also have the pieces to match salaries without sacrificing too much talent from their own rotations.
18. Houston Rockets (18–18)
Two Week Record: 3–4
Best Win: 112–108 vs. Bucks, 1/6
The All Star: Alperen Sengun (21.5 PPG, 9.0 REB, 5.0 AST, 53.8% FG, 29.7% FG3, 73.5% FT, 22.8 PER)
The Rockets are the perfect example of what playing great team defense can lead to, even if the team is a bit offensively challenged. Houston is third in the league in opponents points per game, per 100 possessions, which gives them a shot to keep almost any game close. Despite being a bottom-10 offense, the Rockets are just outside the top-10 in point differential this season and are competing for a spot in the Playoffs a year earlier than I think most in the basketball world expected. Their offensive leader, Alperen Sengun, is the clear runaway favorite for the Most Improved Player award this season and could very likely find himself in the All-Star game this February as a selected reserve. Sengun is one of the more fun players in the league to watch and his ability as both a scorer and facilitator from the center position makes him top-five at his position and has earned him the moniker of “Turkish Jokic”.
17. Utah Jazz (19–20)
Two Week Record: 6–1
Best Win: 124–111 vs Nuggets, 1/10
The All Star: Lauri Markkanen (23.5 PPG, 8.6 REB, 1.5 AST, 48.9% FG, 38.6% FG3, 85.5% FT, 22.7 PER)
Utah is starting to look more like the team I envisioned at the beginning of the year that would compete for a spot in the playoffs. The Jazz are only a half-game behind the Lakers for the 9 spot and one game back of the Suns for the 8th and the way Utah is playing recently, they look more postseason ready than either of those teams. Lauri Markkanen is proving that last season wasn’t an aberration, and if the rest of the Jazz provide enough support around him, making the playoffs isn’t out of the question. Armed with a war chest of draft picks that is only matched by the Thunder, at what point will Danny Ainge look to trade some of those picks to bring in another potential difference maker? Would Chicago be interested in a first-round pick and John Collins in exchange for DeMar DeRozan’s expiring contract?
16. Phoenix Suns (20–18)
Two Week Record: 5–3
Best Win: 113–97 vs. Heat, 1/5
The All Star: Kevin Durant (29.5 PPG, 6.4 REB, 5.9 AST, 52.5% FG, 47.4% FG3, 87.5% FT, 1.1 BLK, 24.1 PER)
Regardless of who’s in the lineup, the Suns can’t seem to shed the stink of mediocrity. A game over .500 would be fine for a number of teams but not Phoenix who have spared no expense in pursuit of a championship this season. Bradley Beal has appeared in just 13 of the 37 available contest, Devin Booker took some time adjusting to his role as the de facto point guard, and coach Frank Vogel in his first year with the Suns is still trying to establish a team identity while being given little to no depth or lineup flexibility. If we were just looking at his numbers, we would say Kevin Durant hasn’t lost a step and is still one of the three to five best players on the planet. Having watched over a dozen Suns games though, it is clear that Durant’s statistical output no longer directly correlates with his total win shares. Despite being more than worthy of an All-Star spot, we might be witnessing the end of the Durant as lead dog era and it’s time for Booker to once again take the reins in Phoenix.
15. Cleveland Cavaliers (22–15)
Two Week Record: 4–2
Best Win: 111–102 vs. Nets, 1/11
The All Star: Donovan Mitchell (27.2 PPG, 5.7 AST, 5.3 REB, 45.5% FG, 35% FG3, 87.6% FT, 22 PER)
Cavilers fans have been through an emotional gauntlet this season and we haven’t even reached the All-Star break. Significant injuries for two of their three best players (Darius Garland and Evan Mobley) have made life difficult for Donovan Mitchell and the rest of the team but thanks in large part to Mitchell’s stellar play, Cleveland is at no risk of falling out or even slipping toward the bottom of the playoff ladder. Getting Garland and Mobley back should immediately raise the team’s ceiling however, with Mitchell’s contract due up after the 2024–25 season, the longer Cleveland goes without getting an extension done, the louder the trade rumors around him will grow (the Heat have been quite loud about their interest). Mitchell is leading the team in everything except rebounds and blocks and if he keeps it up and the Cavs earn a top-five seed in the postseason, don’t be surprised to see Mitchell receiving some votes on the final MVP ballot.
14. Orlando Magic (21–16)
Two Week Record: 3–4
Best Win: 122–120 @ Nuggets, 1/5
The All Star: Paolo Banchero (23.1 PPG, 7.2 REB, 4.9 AST, 46.1% FG, 38.5% FG3, 71% FT, 1.1 STL, 17.2 PER)
Orlando was flying high for the first two months of the season however since December 11th, they’ve lost nine games over a 15-game stretch and their lack of perimeter shooting has taken its toll. Paolo Banchero is putting up great numbers following a historic rookie campaign and Franz Wagner has played an excellent Robin to Banchero’s Batman, but since the two share similar playing styles and like their touches from similar spots on the floor, it’s an easier one-two punch for opposing teams to defend. Banchero has shown improvements as a three-point shooter but with Jalen Suggs (also much improved) as the only other consistent option and leading the team in threes per game, I’m concerned about the Magic’s floor spacing as we get closer to April and intensity level ratchets up.
13. Miami Heat (21–16)
Two Week Record: 2–4
Best Win: 120–113 vs. Rockets, 1/8
The All Star: Bam Adebayo (22.0 PPG, 10.3 REB, 3.9 AST, 51.1% FG, 77.4% FT, 1.2 STL, 0.9 BLK, 20.7 PER)
Whether other executives would admit it or not, the Miami Heat are the franchise the rest of this league should aspire to be like. The Heat are one of the only teams across pro sports who consistently take undrafted or unheralded prospects, turn them in to good role players, and then either trade or let them walk as free agents right before their value starts to plummet. To no one’s surprise, the Heat rewarded best coach in the league, Eric Spoelstra, with a lucrative and conveniently timed extension and despite Jimmy Butler already missing 13 games, the Heat are a game behind the Pacers for the 4th seed and again look like the team no one is going to want to face in April. Bam Adebayo, already the best defender in basketball, has now taken his offensive game to a level I didn’t think he could reach — becoming a more aggressive and versatile scorer and generating more looks off the dribble this season for himself as well as his teammates. Bam absolutely deserves an All-Star selection as the reserve center for the East and if this play holds up through the rest of the year, will earn himself an All-NBA selection as well, and not just for the All-Defensive Team.
12. Sacramento Kings (23–14)
Two Week Record: 6–2
Best Win: 138–135 2OT vs. Magic, 1/3
The All Star: De’Aaron Fox (28.3 PPG, 6.0 AST, 4.4 REB, 46.9% FG, 38.7% FG3, 72.1% FT, 1.6 STL, 21.1 PER)
De’Aaron Fox remains one of the most fun players in the league to watch and will likely be one of the first point guards coming off the bench on All-Star Sunday night. Shooting damn near 40% from three makes Fox virtually impossible to guard in a pick and roll because he’s either going to turn the corner and attack the rim when his defender fights over the screen or now he’ll make them pay from deep if they go underneath. The Kings seem to have plateaued with their current roster and that’s not just my opinion as an objective observer but the message coming from sources within and around Sacramento. The Kings have been tied to several known players on the trading block like Zach LaVine and Pascal Siakam but such a big move in season would be a bit uncharacteristic of this new Kings regime who have put their faith in the core of Fox, Domantas Sabnois, and Kevin Huerter and trusting them to improve a little bit year-over-year. The Kings’ goal this season should be another postseason appearance only this time, simply making it and losing in the opening round, especially to a lower seed, would be considered a disappointment. Maybe Sacramento finds a trade out there that makes them significantly better and if not, maybe Sabonis and Huerter are ready to take their game to another level the same way Fox has.
11. New Orleans Pelicans (23–15)
Two Week Record: 5–1
Best Win: 117–106 @ Timberwolves, 1/3
The All Star: Zion Williamson (21.8 PPG, 6 REB, 4.5 AST, 1,0 STL, 58.2% FG, 33.3% FG3, 66.5% FT, 22.2 PER)
The Pelicans have been one of the more difficult teams to figure out all season. At times they look like they can beat anyone in the West and then on other nights they look like a team completely indifferent about the results of the game. Since the calendars flipped to December though, we’ve seen the Pelicans playing some outstanding ball winning 13 of their last 19, are currently top-10 in point differential and their oft injured superstar, Zion Williamson, has appeared in 31 of the 38 games. As long as Zion is playing at this level, the Pelicans are a threat to win a playoff series and will be a tough out for any team outside of Denver. The attention Zion demands with the ball in his hands allows CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, and the Pelicans role players to find their offensive rhythm much easier and defensively, Herbert Jones is an eraser on the perimeter and the perfect defender for the star forwards out West. Since the Pelicans deploy a point guard by committee approach, if Zion can up his assist totals slightly it would make this team even harder to stop, but either way, they look like a team ready for a postseason battle.
10. Dallas Mavericks (23–16)
Two Week Record: 5–2
Best Win: 115–108 vs. Timberwolves, 1/7
The All Star: Luka Doncic (33.7 PPG, 9.2 AST, 8.2 REB, 1.3 STL, 48.7% FG, 38.3% FG3, 78% FT, 27.6 PER)
The Mavericks are one of the two top-10 teams on this list almost solely based on the individual brilliance of their superstar. Luka Doncic is among the favorites to win league MVP for keeping this Mavericks team within a few games of conference leaders like the Clippers, Nuggets, and Thunder and putting up ridiculous numbers while doing so (leading the team in every statistical category except blocks). The Mavericks are a tick above league average across the board however, thanks to the play of Doncic, and the return of Kyrie Irving, who has been on an absolute tear since his January 1st return, they can outscore anyone on a nightly basis. The Mavericks are going to be active in the trade market and I expect they will target a player that helps them on the defensive end of the floor more so than adding to an already potent offense.
9. New York Knicks (22–16)
Two Week Record: 5–3
Best Win: 128–92 @ Sixers, 1/5
The All Star: Jalen Brunson (26 PPG, 6.4 AST, 3.9 REB, 1.0 STL, 47.2% FG, 43.5% FT, 83.1% FT, 20.8 PER)
Admittedly a small sample size I realize, but the Knicks have been on fire since they traded for OG Anunoby. His fit for this team on both ends of the court is evident through his first six games where the Knicks sport a 5–1 record and absolutely dismantled one of the best teams in the league in Philadelphia earlier this month. While the defense, New York’s calling card earlier this year, has fallen closer to league average, their offense has elevated to among the league’s best. Jalen Brunson continues to prove he is one of the best guards in the NBA and his ability to break down defenses is invaluable to this team. Brunsons decision making allows Julius Randle to be a secondary scoring option and gets spot up shooters like Anunoby, Donte DiVincenzo, and Quentin Grimes clean looks in the flow of the offense. It sounds like the Knicks aren’t done making moves in the trade market and are taking advantage of their window as a top-10 roster to go for it and get even better if they can. They’ve made all of the right moves so far, so I’m inclined to trust the front office if they decide to go ahead and make one more this season.
8. Milwaukee Bucks (26–12)
Two Week Record: 3–4
Best Win: 119–111 @ Cavaliers, 12/29
The All Star: Giannis Antetokoumpo (31.4 PPG, 11.5 REB, 5.9 AST, 1.3 STL, 1.2 BLK, 60.7% FG, 67.6% FT, 29.7 PER)
The Bucks can look a little lethargic at times, but I think we’ve seen enough to know when firing on all cylinders, this team can beat anyone in a seven-game series. The Bucks responded to Giannis Antetokoumpo’s call out and are coming off the most dominant victory any team has had this season, a 33-point absolute beat down against Boston. The Bucks have seen plenty of lineup fluctuation, but we know the Giannis/Dame Lillard duo is the highest scoring pair in the league and so Adrian Griffin can spend the remainder of the regular season figuring out the other three spots in the lineup and how he wants to rotate them. Giannis is playing at an MVP level, will be starting in the All-Star game for years to come, and is having another career year on both ends of the floor so there’s really little to critique from him or this team other than how their first-year coach will perform when the Playoffs start. It’s possible the team has enough talent that Griffin is just along for the ride, but should the difference in their season come down to in-game or in-series adjustments and they are out-coached by someone more experienced, it could be a really tough pill for Milwaukee to swallow.
7. Indiana Pacers (23–15)
Two Week Record: 6–1
Best Win: 133–131 vs. Celtics, 1/8
The All Star: Tyrese Haliburton (23.6 PPG, 12.5 AST, 4.2 REB, 1.1 STL, 49.7% FG, 40.3% FG3, 86.8% FT, 26.3 PER)
The Pacers finally shook the “Post In Season Tournament Curse” and have been on fire ever since. Tyrese Haliburton is going to finish somewhere in the top-five on MVP ballots this season and has elevated an otherwise very average roster into one of the best teams in basketball. Since December 30th, the Pacers beat New York, Boston, and Milwaukee twice with Haliburton racking up 77 assists against just 12 turnovers. Haliburton is in rarified air with his assist to turnover ratio and whenever he isn’t setting someone up, he can turn into one of the league’s most efficient scorers shooting well from everywhere on the floor. Indiana’s league leading offense is so good that despite a defense sitting next to basement dwellers like Washington, San Antonio, and Detroit, the Pacers still have a top-10 net overall rating. It hasn’t harmed them in the regular season too much but when the postseason starts, if the Pacers don’t lock in defensively and keep teams from doing whatever they want, this will be a team bounced in the first round.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves (26–11)
Two Week Record: 3–4
Best Win: 122–95 @ Rockets, 1/5
The All Star: Anthony Edwards (26.8 PPG, 5.4 REB, 5.0 AST, 1.4 STL, 46.2% FG, 38.9% FG3, 84.5% FT, 20.4 PER)
The Timberwolves are starting to take losses more consistently to the better teams across the league and while I wouldn’t raise the alarm yet, it’s definitely worth noting over the past month they’ve been beating second-tier teams and losing to the top-tier ones. Anthony Edwards is playing at an amazing level but the deeper the season goes, the more we might be seeing the team that coming into the season, most people thought was not ideally constructed and would struggle to space the floor. The five-man lineup that has logged the most minutes for the Timberwolves has a similar offensive rating to the Rockets, an objectively below average offensive unit. The T-Wolves are still reliant on their defense to win games and so far they have done so behind league leading defense and are still the top seed in the West despite their first losing record over a two-week span. Again, I’m not raising the alarms yet but this Minnesota core has high expectations after simply making the postseason last year and depending on their first round matchup, it isn’t inconceivable they could face an early exit after a 50-win season.
5. Philadelphia 76ers (23–13)
Two Week Record: 2–4
Best Win: 131–127 @ Rockets, 12/29
The All Star: Joel Embiid (34.6 PPG, 11.8 REB, 6.0 AST, 2.0 BLK, 1.1 STL, 53.5% FG, 36% FG3, 88.2% FT, 34.0 PER)
I keep waiting for the Sixers, a team reliant on two players for the majority of their offensive production, to slide out of the top three spots in the East but it doesn’t seem like that will be happening anytime soon. Joel Embiid is making an even stronger MVP case than he made last season now with Tyrese Maxey in complete control of the Philly backcourt. Embiid is a lock to start, and Maxey is on pace to make his first All-Star game in a few weeks but despite the Sixers potent one-two punch, the rest of this roster is just okay. Tobias Harris is supposed to be a dangerous third option, but he’s never been consistent enough and trading his $39 million dollar cap hit for anything that helps them doesn’t feel like a realistic option. The Nick Nurse hire has certainly raised this team’s floor, but as far as their ceiling, I’m not sure as currently constructed we should feel any better about this being the team to finally take them past the second-round. Regardless of what the roster looks like, once the postseason does start, Embiid cannot average anything less than the 34, 12, 6, 2, and 1 that he is this season. He’s shown for enough years now that he’s all too capable of doing it, and so another postseason disappointment could lead to rocky times (see what I did there…) between Embiid and Philadelphia Sixers fans this summer.
4. LA Clippers (24–13)
Two Week Record: 5–1
Best Win: 111–95 @ Pelicans, 1/5
The All Star: Kawhi Leonard (23.8 PPG, 6.1 REB, 3.4 AST, 1.8 STL, 51.6% FG, 43.0% FG3, 87.1% FT, 22.9 PER)
The Clippers have been rolling through the middle part of this regular season with all three of their stars playing efficient basketball and James Harden specifically, being exactly what this team needed to make offense a little easier for everyone. Both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are having great seasons, but Kawhi hasn’t played this well for this long is several seasons and is proving why when healthy, is still one of the players in this league who gives his team a shot at a championship. If I’m nitpicking, I could say the Clippers have benefited from a weaker schedule in recent days, but we’ve also seen them beat some of the best teams in this league, so really I’m just playing devil’s advocate there. My biggest concern for this roster would be how much of their offense comes from the one-on-one versus off an assist within the flow of the offense. Leonard, George, and Harden are rivaled only by Phoenix for a team with three players consistently capable of making tough shots, and while you need that in April, it shouldn’t be the go-to bread and butter of the offense. Harden is doing his best, but he shouldn’t be the only facilitator on this team and if the Clippers were to focus on one thing the remainder of the season, it should be generating more assist.
3. Denver Nuggets (26–13)
Two Week Record: 3–3
Best Win: 130–127 @ Warriors, 1/4
The All Star: Nikola Jokic (25.5 PPG, 11.8 REB, 9.2 AST, 1.2 STL, 0.9 BLK, 56.9% FG, 34.2% FG3, 81.8% FT, 31.2 PER)
The Nuggets are doing exactly what they need to do this season to defend their title; playing their most important lineups enough minutes together while also giving their young role players important playing time and experience they will need down the stretch. Nikola Jokic is going to do everything within his power to retire as the best big man we’ve ever seen doing things like missing five shots over a four-game stretch averaging 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 8.2 assists. Jokic’s dominance is never boring to watch but the second most interesting storyline in Denver for me is the Jamal Murray pursuit of an All-NBA team. Murray stands to make between 26–27% more on his next Nuggets extension if he makes an All-NBA team this season or next. He’s currently missed 35% of available games so if that trend continues, he would miss around 28–29 games, making him ineligible for any of the All-NBA teams. I asked this back in July, but could we have a situation where the Nuggets ownership is actually happy if Murray doesn’t make an All-NBA team, they get to save some money, but Murray is still a clutch postseason performer and a vital part of their championship team? It’s something I wonder about but even if it were true, and maybe especially so, it’s something we’ll never know for sure.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (26–11)
Two Week Record: 6–2
Best Win: 127–123 vs. Celtics, 1/2
The All Star: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.5 PPG, 6.4 AST, 6.0 REB, 2.4 STL, 54.9% FG, 35.0% FG3, 88.8% FT, 31.0 PER)
Because this team is mostly names the casual fan won’t recognize, I don’t think they are being given the respect league-wide that their play and roster dictates. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is officially a household name, but Victor Wembanyama’s rookie campaign has overshadowed the immediate impact Chet Holmgren has had plus the sophomore year of Jalen Williams and how good of a player he’s become isn’t something I think most people saw coming at the start of the season. I feel like I’ll be repeating this all season but short of players with deep postseason experience and a little bit more size on the inside, there isn’t much I see on this team to consider a weakness. Sure, the Thunder could run through the regular season, win 50+ games, get to April and be “upset” by a lower-seeded team like Phoenix or Dallas but that loss doesn’t have to be an indictment on their lack of experience. The Playoffs are largely about star power and the Thunder only have one bonafide star when other teams have multiple and so if that is what ultimately decides their fate, while clearly headed in the right direction, we’ll know the Thunder aren’t quite there yet.
1. Boston Celtics (29–9)
Two Week Record: 5–3
Best Win: 127–120 OT vs. Timberwolves, 1/10
The All Star: Jayson Tatum (27.5 PPG, 8.7 REB, 4.5 AST, 1.0 STL, 47.9% FG, 37.6% FG3, 80.8% FT, 21.8 PER)
The Celtics should probably keep this top spot for the rest of the regular season since even missing key players at times throughout the regular season, this team is too loaded for it to truly matter. Jayson Tatum is surrounded by the most talent he’s had in his still young career and is responding with a career best season and is at the top of the MVP ladder with Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic. Tatum will still settle for the unnecessarily difficult shot too often, but he’s been doing that far less this year and is better at dictating exactly what type of shot he wants. Rumors that Boston is looking to make a move at the trade deadline have started to heat up but I would assume the only way we see Boston making a significant move is if it brings them size in the front court without costing them any of the six players who make up the core of this team (Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford). Even if they don’t make a single move, and especially if Tatum continues his improved play into April, this team certainly has enough to make it back to The Finals.
