NBA Power Rankings 6.0
Revisiting My 30 “Definitive Statements Following Two Weeks Of Basketball” For All 30 Teams
We’re almost at the All-Star break 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; Revisiting My 30 “Definitive Statements Following Two Weeks Of Basketball” For All 30 Teams. Let’s take a look back at how right or wrong I was about each team two weeks into the season…
***Records updated thru 2/4/24
30. Detroit Pistons (6–43)
Two Week Record: 3–8
Best Win: 120–104 vs. Thunder, 1/28/24
The “Definitive” Statement: Detroit is progressing, it’s just a matter of how fast.
If Detroit is indeed progressing, it’s happening at a microscopic level, invisible to the naked eye. At this point, only Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren should be considered untouchable, and it would be the ultimate wasted season if Detroit can’t get back at least one first-round pick from trading either Alec Burks and/or Bojan Bogdanovic to a contender at the deadline.
29. Washington Wizards (9–40)
Two Week Record: 3–9
Best Win: 127–99 @ Hawks, 1/13/24
The “Definitive” Statement: This is team “I’m Getting Mines” for the 2023–24 season.
Washington is strengthening their case on “worst team in the league” and I think everyone saw this one coming. The Wizards are a mess and Jordan Poole has been so bad, Wizards fans are wondering if they would have been better off keeping Chris Paul. Kyle Kuzman hasn’t been lighting the world on fire but if he can find his way to a team playing for something, he would be an excellent 6th or 7th-man option for several playoff teams.
28. Charlotte Hornets (10–38)
Two Week Record: 2–11
Best Win: 128–125 @ Timberwolves, 1/22/24
The “Definitive” Statement: This team is talented but young so keep expectations reasonable.
I know LaMelo Ball has missed time, but when I said “keep expectations reasonable” I meant prepare for this team to just miss out on the final Play-In spot again, not that fans should be happy if this team can win 20 games…maybe. The Hornets are bad, and I can’t believe Steve Clifford fell for the okie doke and came back for this. More to blame, how has Mitch Kupchack survived new ownership and been allowed to run this team for so long? Kupchack showed up in 2018, the Hornets have had one winning season since then and until Mitch is gone, I’m not blaming anyone else in Charlotte.
27. San Antonio Spurs (10–40)
Two Week Record: 4–10
Best Win: 113–112 vs. Timberwolves, 1/27/24
The “Definitive” Statement: Greg Popovich is intentionally not running the offense through Victor Wembanyama.
Despite Victor Wembanyama’s top-10 usage rating, this is still very much a true statement. A high usage rating is not the same as having an offense, with sets and concepts, designed around your star player. San Antonio simply throws the ball to Wembanyama, just anywhere on the court mind you, surround him with little help, and let him figure things out on his own. It’s almost as if Greg Popovich has seen the videos of today’s parent’s and swim teachers casually tossing helpless toddlers into pools for swim lessons and decided he was going to take that approach on the court with Wembanyama. Individually, Wemby has been swimming just fine, but it’s too soon to ask him to save the rest of the Spurs from drowning.
26. Toronto Raptors (17–32)
Two Week Record: 2–9
Best Win: 121–97 vs. Heat, 1/17/24
The “Definitive” Statement: Toronto might be rebuilding but they’re going to compete while they do it.
Well, the first half of that statement was accurate but as of recently, not so much on that second half. Having traded both Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, the Raptors have embraced their full rebuild and seem prepared to take their losses this season so they are better positioned for the future. Having effectively moved on from their 2019 championship team, I wonder whether team president, Masai Ujiri, will stay in place long enough to see this rebuild through or if he will be lured away by another franchise. Ujiri is one of the best in the league at his job and reportedly, multiple sources believe his deal with Toronto likely includes elements of equity in either the team itself, or its ownership group; Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. If that’s true, it’s hard to see Ujiri leaving Toronto anytime soon unless he gets another type of Godfather offer elsewhere.
25. Portland Trail Blazers (15–35)
Two Week Record: 5–8
Best Win: 119–116 vs. Bucks, 1/31/24
The “Definitive” Statement: Scoot Henderson needs time to get adjusted.
This statement is still far more accurate than any Blazers fan would like it to be as we’re approaching February and Scoot Henderson is closer on the scale to “bust” than he is being an impact player. Portland has shown more fight as of recently but there isn’t a lot on this team to get excited about, especially the more Scoot looks like a backup rather than a franchise building block. Not that it’s entirely his fault, but I don’t know if Chauncey Billups will survive all this losing and things could get worse should the Blazers start moving players at the deadline. Malcom Brogdon, Jerami Grant, and Matisse Thybulle are all candidates to be moved but I’ll point out that all the draft picks in the world can’t save Portland if the selections don’t pan out.
24. Memphis Grizzlies (18–32)
Two Week Record: 4–9
Best Win: 107–106 vs. Magic, 1/26/24
The “Definitive” Statement: Ja Morant won’t fix everything.
Ja Morant tried to fix everything during the nine games he played this season but it’s clear things in Memphis need to improve, even while Morant is out. Offensively this is one of the worst teams in basketball and losing Morant exposed the rest of this roster as incapable of creating decent looks. Currently injured, Desmond Bane is about to be paid like a serious number two scoring option and while his numbers suggest he’s having a good season, if I’m Memphis, I would have a hard time paying him an average of $39 million a year over the next five years when it isn’t clear how much his play impacts winning.
23. Brooklyn Nets (20–28)
Two Week Record: 4–6
Best Win: 136–121 @ Sixers, 2/3/24
The “Definitive” Statement: After trading three future Hall of Famers, The Nets are still a top-10 team out East.
The Nets are flirting with this statement every day, currently duking it out with Atlanta and Toronto for the 10 spot. What started out as a team that could beat the bad ones and lost to good ones, is now one of those bad teams themselves. The Nets have said they have no interest in trading Mikal Bridges, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up seeing a fire sale in Brooklyn including everyone else. Players like Spencer Dinwiddie, Royce O’Neal, Nic Claxton, and Lonnie Walker could all be coveted by playoff teams and maybe the Nets realize the added draft capital is more valuable to them than a push for the final Play-in spot.
22. Atlanta Hawks (22–27)
Two Week Record: 7–6
Best Win: 129–120 vs. Suns, 2/2/24
The “Definitive” Statement: Quinn Snyder and his Elton John glasses have Atlanta playing winning basketball.
I think two weeks into November is the last time this statement (minus the glasses) was true. The Hawks aren’t a good enough team on the offensive side of the court to be as bad defensively as they’ve been. Dejounte Murray is almost certainly getting traded before the deadline at which point this team is just Trae Young again.
21. Chicago Bulls (23–27)
Two Week Record: 5–6
Best Win: 104–96 @ Blazers, 1/28/24
The “Definitive” Statement: The Bulls need to be sellers at the deadline.
Still content with paying contender money to be a Play-In team, the Bulls haven’t sent any messages that they are aggressively selling at the deadline, despite having multiple players they could flip for more than one first-round pick. Chicago might have overvalued Zach LaVine for too long and may have a hard time moving him after all. DeMar DeRozan is another trade candidate but as a free agent this summer, any potential trade partner would have to be ok with trading for someone they could lose in a couple months. The more likely candidates, and easier players to move are Alex Caruso, Patrick Williams, Torey Craig, and Andre Drummond but the stubbornness of the Chicago front office leads me to believe they’ll drop the ball and let another deadline pass sitting idly.
20. Houston Rockets (23–26)
Two Week Record: 5–8
Best Win: 135–119 vs Lakers, 1/29/24
The “Definitive” Statement: This season can’t be worse than last year.
Houston is currently tied with Utah for the final Play-in spot, but this season has already been infinitely better than it was last year. Thanks to a top-10 defensive rating, the Rockets are capable of beating anyone but outside Alperen Sengun, no one on this team is an efficient shooter and it’s likely the reason Houston will miss out on the Playoffs. On an offseason note, I think it’s time for Houston to try and trade Jalen Green since I don’t see stardom in his future, and to keep him, the Rockets will have to pay him like one.
19. Golden State Warriors (21–25)
Two Week Record: 4–5 (*two games postponed)
Best Win: 119–107 vs. Sixers, 1/30/24
The “Definitive” Statement: Despite leading the league in age, this dynasty refuses to go quietly.
As bad as things have looked at times for the Warriors, I still feel good about this statement. During an already turbulent season, it’s been a tough week for Golden State off the court following the tragic and sudden loss of assistant coach, Dejan Milojevic. The Warriors already have plenty of ground to makeup in the postseason chase and now have to do it with heavy hearts. I don’t know if this roster in its current form is good enough to make the postseason, but I know as long as Steph Curry is on the court, I give the Warriors a fighting chance at pulling anything off, because yes… he’s still that good.
18. Utah Jazz (25–26)
Two Week Record: 6–6
Best Win: 123–108 vs. Bucks, 2/4/24
The “Definitive” Statement: It’s hard for Utah to be nationally relevant and this year’s squad won’t be an exception.
Utah is playing really good ball and have turned their season around since mid-December but it’s going to take more than being a few games over .500 and earning the final Play-in spot to garner national media attention. Lauri Markkanen is the best player in the league we talk the least about and until recently when Utah started winning, the only Markkanen talk was whether or not the Jazz should consider trading him. It’s now more likely we see Utah making a move to bring in additional talent for a playoff push than it is they will ship out any of their rotational players but good luck prediciting what Danny Ainge is planning to do.
17. Miami Heat (26–24)
Two Week Record: 5–8
Best Win: 115–106 vs. Kings, 1/31/24
The “Definitive” Statement: Miami got worse while the rest of the East got better.
This was hardly a bold statement and continues to bare out the further along in the season we get. This statement also predates several significant mid-season trades for Eastern Conference teams that only make things tougher for an overachieving Heat team. Boston (adding talent), Milwaukee (adding talent), Philadelphia (addition by subtraction), New York (adding talent), Cleveland (adding talent), and Indiana (adding talent) all got better in the offseason and continue to improve this season. The move for Terry Rozier isn’t a bad one, but I’d be surprised if that move alone changes the trajectory of the Heat’s season (or if it’s even their final move before the deadline). Miami failed to add significant additional talent this offseason and their core three of Butler, Bam, and Herro haven’t been good enough to beat the better teams this season.
16. Los Angeles Lakers (26–25)
Two Week Record: 7–5
Best Win: 114–105 @ Celtics, 2/1/24
The “Definitive” Statement: LeBron is logging too many minutes for a team overly reliant on his production.
Even with Anthony Davis on pace for a personal best in games played this season, the Lakers have been a below mediocre team. LeBron James is still a high impact All-Star-caliber player, but he needs his rest to be effective and without him, the Lakers just aren’t good (again, they’re only good sometimes when he does play). I can’t see the February 8th deadline passing without the Lakers moving their 2029 1st-round pick for some significant help at the deadline and the names to consider reportedly are Dejounte Murray, Bruce Brown and not that these next two necessarily would cost them 1st-round picks but, Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale. A dark horse could be someone like Buddy Hield or any number of the Pistons expiring vets (Burks, Bogdanovic, Harris, Morris, Gallinari) but regardless which direction they go, standing pat should not be an option.
15. Orlando Magic (27–23)
Two Week Record: 5–7
Best Win: 108–106 @ Timberwolves, 2/2/24
The “Definitive” Statement: The 37.5 preseason win total looks like a low bar now.
I think we can safely assume the Magic will win at least 13 more games. Paolo Banchero is making his first All-Star game appearance in a few weeks and offensively is currently Orlando’s only hope. This team is getting it done with defense and if they wanted to wade into the trade market waters, there are a number of players the Magic could target to help them scoring-wise. The Wizards Tyus Jones or Pistons Alec Burks seem like perfect targets for the Magic considering how ineffective their front court has been as of late.
14. Dallas Mavericks (26–23)
Two Week Record: 3–7
Best Win: 125–120 vs. Pelicans, 1/13/24
The “Definitive” Statement: They haven’t played many contenders, but Luka looks like the league MVP through two weeks.
Luka Doncic still looks like a league MVP candidate but he won’t win anything because my concern about this team’s inability to beat quality opponents is still valid. Having individual talent as elite as Luka and a secondary option as lethal as Kyrie Irving gives this team a shot in any game, but their lack of depth and the predictability of their sets on both ends of the court concerns me come playoff time. The Mavericks very much need to be buyers at the deadline and should even be ok overpaying if it means landing the right player.
13. New Orleans Pelicans (28–21)
Two Week Record: 5–6
Best Win: 118–108 @ Mavericks,
The “Definitive” Statement: If Zion remains healthy, this is a playoff team.
This statement wasn’t very bold at all but it hinged on the heels of a star who hasn’t been healthy his entire career. Having missed only 10 games this season, Zion Williamson is on pace for one of his healthier seasons ever but its fair to be critical of his play, particularly on the defensive end. Zion should never be averaging just 5.5 rebounds a game, yet alone just 3.8 defensive boards a game. He’s too physically dominant to not be up around 8.5 or more boards a night and to not average at least a full block or steal per game makes me question his effort because it’s clearly something he’s capable of. Unless things change significantly, I can’t take this team seriously come playoff time.
12. Indiana Pacers (28–23)
Two Week Record: 6–8
Best Win: 134–122 vs. Sixers, 1/25/24
The “Definitive” Statement: Tyrese Haliburton is incredible, but he needs more help.
Clearly the Pacers agreed with my evaluation of their roster, see the trade for Pascal Siakam as proof. By mortgaging future draft capital for Siakam, the Pacers got to add an All-Star-level player to the roster without disrupting the current rotation at all. They could still make another move before the deadline and Buddy Heild, T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin, and Jarace Walker all seem like potential candidates if Indiana wants to go even more all in. Obviously Tyrese Haliburton’s injury has caused a bit of a skid as of late but when he’s healthy, we’ve seen what this team is capable of and stopping their offense is going to be a tall task for any team.
11. Sacramento Kings (29–19)
Two Week Record: 6–5
Best Win: 133–122 @ Pacers, 2/2/24
The “Definitive” Statement: It was likely this team would regress a bit from what they were last season.
Last season the Kings were a top-three seed in the West, won 48 games, and were the number one rated offensive team in the league. This season, they won’t be a top-three seed and while they might win 48 games again, they are a much less potent team offensively while only being marginally better on the defensive end of the floor. Sacramento has been linked to almost every player on the trade market but unless they pull off some major deal at the 25th hour, I think they missed their real opportunity to get better during the offseason when they settled and brought Harrison Barnes back. Barnes is a solid starter, but they reports are the Kings would like to upgrade from him and were players in the Pascal Siakam market before ultimately being outbid by Indiana. I’m not sure if they will find a deal at the deadline that makes them significantly better, but unless they are okay with another first-round postseason exit, they should try like hell.
10. Phoenix Suns (29–21)
Two Week Record: 9–3
Best Win: 119–117 vs. Kings, 1/16/24
The “Definitive” Statement: It’s hard to evaluate this team until Beal, Booker, and Durant take the floor together.
Having seen a much larger sample size of the Suns big three, this is the offensive juggernaut we imagined it could be when all players are healthy. The more minutes Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal log together down the stretch, the better I feel about their team chemistry come April and the less their defensive flaws concern me. I am a bit concerned about their depth in the event the do suffer any injuries but making any kind of move at the trade deadline is going to be an obstacle for GM, James Jones. The Suns are currently in the six spot and if the standings were to hold, they would face the Clippers in a Round 1 series and who’s to say the winner of that series wouldn’t be the favorites to take on the Nuggets for the Western Conference.
9. Philadelphia 76ers (30–18)
Two Week Record: 7–5
Best Win: 126–121 vs. Nuggets, 1/16/24
The “Definitive” Statement: A successful regular season means finishing in the top three and avoiding either Boston or Milwaukee until the Conference Finals.
Before we can talk about seeding, a successful regular season means a healthy Joel Embiid and right now, that’s not a given. Tyreese Maxey more than deserves his All-Star nod but now he’s going to have to carry this team through the regular season without the league MVP for the foreseeable future. Whether or not Philly makes a move at the deadline just got a lot cloudier because if Embiid is out or will be hindered for the long-term, maybe they are less likely to make a trade for just this season.
8. Milwaukee Bucks (33–17)
Two Week Record 7–5
Best Win: 126–116 vs. Cavilers, 1/24/24
The “Definitive” Statement: The Bucks are more dangerous offensively but less dynamic on defense.
Last year’s Bucks team was closer to the middle of the pack offensively than you would assume for an almost 60-win team. Milwaukee is currently a top-three offensive team and apparently their front office doesn’t think it had anything to do with former head coach Adrian Griffin, who was shown the door in favor of Doc Rivers (though that seemed to be less a front office decision than a players one). Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are the second-highest scoring duo in the league but if this team doesn’t figure something out defensively these next few months, unless they flip a magic switch come playoff time, we could be in for another disappointing end to the Bucks season.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (31–16)
Two Week Record: 9–1
Best Win: 135–95 vs. Bucks, 1/17/24
The “Definitive” Statement: This start is concerning for a team that won 50 games last season.
The start of Cavs season was concerning and that was before Evan Mobley and Darius Garland both had to miss time. The Cavs eventually stabilized while both players were out and now that they have both returned to play, Cleveland is one of the hottest teams in the league almost solely off the strength of their defense. Last year’s Cavs team was the first team to make the playoffs without LeBron James since the 90s and this year’s team is expected to not just make it back to the playoffs but to win a series or two. Depending on the matchup they are more than capable, but it will be on Donovan Mitchell to carry them where they ultimately hope to go.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves (35–15)
Two Week Record: 9–4
Best Win: 107–101 @ Thunder, 1/29/24
The “Definitive” Statement: This is Anthony Edwards team now and everyone else needs to fall in line.
If there was ever a question whose team this was, Karl Anthony-Towns scored 62 points and Minnesota lost to a god-awful Hornets team. Anthony Edwards not coincidently went 3–11 and had 9 points in that game and for people who doubt the validity of the plus/minus rating stat, that game, KAT was a net 0 while Ant was a +7. Those numbers highlight what we’ve seen from both Edwards and KAT during their time together; KAT is very good at shooting, but Anthony Edwards’ play directly leads to winning. Part of why I have issues with this team come the postseason is because KAT and Rudy Gobert remain unproven postseason performers and Edwards is going to need more help than just Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels to advance past the opening round.
5. Denver Nuggets (35–16)
Two Week Record: 9–3
Best Win: 102–100 @ Celtics, 1/19/24
The “Definitive” Statement: This team will cruise to 60+ wins and the #1 overall seed.
As I write this, Denver is currently a half game back from the Thunder for the top spot in the West, but I might have been off saying they will cruise to 60+ wins. I still think the Nuggets are the team to beat in the West, but they seem to be going at their own pace when it comes to taking command of the conference. We’ve seen them beat all of the other best teams, but we’ve also seen games where only Nikola Jokic is producing and the rest of the roster is overly dependent on his production. Jamal Murray is an excellent player but it’s fair to say he needs to be better more consistently if the Nuggets are to repeat as champions.
4. New York Knicks (32–18)
Two Week Record: 10–2
Best Win: 122–84 vs. Nuggets, 1/25/24
The “Definitive” Statement: If this team had one reliable shooter, offense would be much easier.
This statement centered around the idea that RJ Barrett shouldn’t be the Knicks most reliable three-point shooter, a statistical fact that died shortly after the first few weeks of the season. Since the trade for OG Anunoby, the Knicks have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA, with wins over Minnesota, Philadelphia, Denver, and Indiana since the calendar flipped to 2024. The Knicks are clearly good enough to win a postseason series again, the question is how can they advance past the second round? There are some realistic trade targets out there (Jordan Clarkson, Tyus Jones, Malcom Brogdon) but the way the Knicks have been rolling lately, even now with Julius Randel out with injury, maybe the front office is hesitant to make another in-season move unless they can get a player from a team who agrees to their exact terms.
3. LA Clippers (33–15)
Two Week Record: 9–2
Best Win: 115–96 @ Celtics, 1/27/24
The “Definitive” Statement: Adding James Harden renders the first two weeks of Clippers analysis useless.
I mean this statement wasn’t exactly revelatory considering adding a future hall of famer and former league MVP, even this late is his career, tends to change the outlook of a team. James Harden is still an effective player, and he was exactly what this Clippers team needed next to the dynamic wing duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The only reason to be skeptical of this team is because this is all an injury away to a number of players with injury history from crashing down. Anyone willing to bet on the side of Clippers health, maybe this is the year Kawhi takes a third team to the Finals and enters a conversation few players in the history of the league have ever been in.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (35–15)
Two Week Record: 9–4
Best Win: 105–100 vs. Nuggets, 1/31/24
The “Definitive” Statement: It was always OKC, not Memphis for the next young team up.
I’m surprised how many people seem to be surprised by the arrival of this young Thunder team. I realize people were initially late to the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander party, but once it was clear he was a flat out star, adding what Chet Holmgren could potentially be next to quickly developing core players like Jalen Williams, Josh Giddey, and Lu Dort clearly makes OKC one of the scarier young rosters in this league. I’ve been repeating myself on this since the offseason, but the only thing I see this team is missing is a player with significant postseason experience (sorry Davis Bertans, not counting yours). If any young and inexperienced team is making a deep postseason run this season, I’d put my money on the Thunder.
1. Boston Celtics (38–12)
Two Week Record: 10–3
Best Win: 129–124 vs. Pacers, 1/30/24
The Definitive Statement: Boston should have the smoothest regular season of any team in the East.
I mean, is this not the most definitive of all the statements? Even with their ups and downs, the Celtics are cruising atop the East and unlike any other team, can sustain injuries to starters and keep on moving. They look bored at times, but we know this core has the postseason experience to fall back on when April arrives and with Embiid out, Miami down, and the Bucks adjusting to several new elements, the Celtics have to feel the biggest thing between them, and another Eastern Conference Final is themselves.
