On the 8’s: Month 2
I will post monthly power rankings on the 8th of every month. Month 2 is usually when we start seeing consistent signs for teams. Things are playing out so much differently than projected before the season, but this is why the NBA is the best.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers (Prev: 30, 0)
They still suck but somehow managed to move George Hill and grab a future first round pick. Even if it turns out to be a late first rounder, that is still one more piece towards their inevitable rebuild. Bringing Delly back to Cleveland might even bring a few more fans out.
29. Phoenix Suns (Prev: 28, -1)
Phoenix is still young and bad. They will continue to get feasted on by the West and don’t have much to look forward to the rest of the year. If they can land one of the Duke boys to go alongside Ayton and Booker, they will be competitive soon enough.
28. Atlanta Hawks (Prev: 24, -4)
The Hawks continue to be bad but that is totally fine. Passing on Luka Doncic might haunt them forever but Trae Young will be alright. He continues to play with the greenest of lights (as he should) and it will continue helping this team tank for a Duke boy.
27. Chicago Bulls (Prev: 26, -1)
Zach LaVine came back to earth and at the same time, Fred Hoiberg was fired. I can’t stand GarPax as the GM duo for the Bulls as they consistently make really confounding moves. Hoiberg was supposed to be their guy yet they never gave him a roster he could grow with. Maybe he will never be a good NBA coach but the Bulls gave him no chances.
26. Brooklyn Nets (Prev: 22, -4)
Without Caris LaVert, the Nets have struggled. They still play teams close, even beating the Raptors in OT yesterday. But their record continues to dip and they seem a little stuck in mediocrity. They’ve won too many games to be in the absolute bottom tier but they probably should be aiming for it.
25. New York Knicks (Prev: 23, -2)
The Knicks aren’t very good but as mentioned previously, they are winning a few too many games to really compete for a Duke boy. I think they need to move off Tim Hardaway Jr. while his value is at its highest and clear up some cap space to make a run at a few free agents this summer. I’m sure they have similar thoughts. Otherwise, they have some solid young talent and if Porzingis comes back strong, maybe they can make a run.
24. Miami Heat (Prev: 21, -3)
Still one of the most boring teams to watch. The Heat are capped out and don’t have many ways to improve beyond a miracle trade. Losing out on Jimmy Butler stings and Dion Waiters might never play basketball again. Pat Riley won’t sit pat (hehe) for too long but I’m not sure what move is out there for them at the moment.
23. San Antonio Spurs (Prev: 6, -17)
I think if San Antonio was in the East, they would be pushing for a playoff spot. The West is so stacked and the Spurs just aren’t good enough. Losing DeJounte Murray hurts even more than expected and the defense has been awful after losing Danny Green and Kyle Anderson. DeMar DeRozan is playing out of his mind and keeps them alive most games but he can’t do it all himself. At this rate, they will miss the playoffs and one of the longest playoff streaks will come to a crashing end.
22. Washington Wizards (Prev: 29, +7)
They showed some life! The Wizards might be kind of, sort of alive? They have so much talent and yet keep floundering. The coaching is bad and their GM/owner situation is awful. I hope Bradley Beal gets moved somewhere more suited for him. I’ve never really like the Wizards to begin with and this year isn’t helping.
21. Charlotte Hornets (Prev: 16, -5)
Kemba is too good for this. Charlotte sucks outside of him and they desperately need to make a move. Their cap situation is bleak but they have some pieces which could be interesting trade chips. If they can somehow get Bradley Beal to Charlotte for something like Batum, Monk, and picks, then maybe they can push into the East playoffs. For now, they are on the outside looking in.
20. Houston Rockets (Prev: 11, -9)
The Rockets look real ugly right now. Harden is having MVP level games again but his efficiency wavers on a nightly basis and the rest of the players on the court don’t get involved when he is just ISO’ing every play. Chris Paul has lost a step, as to be expected, but the decline might happen quicker than the Rockets hoped for. Their top 7 was great all last season but with injuries and free agency losses, they aren’t nearly as deep or talented. They might be in line for a shake-up mid season, especially if they intend to still make the playoffs this year.
19. Utah Jazz (Prev: 15, -4)
I did not see this coming. The Jazz defense has been bad and their offense has been mediocre. The Gobert-Favors combo just does not work and Favors looks discouraged coming off the bench. Donovan Mitchell is in a sophomore slump but so are several 2nd year players across the league. Derrick Favors could be a good center for some teams so maybe they can swing a trade to bring in some scoring. If they want to make the playoffs, they have to start looking at that now.
18. Orlando Magic (Prev: 27, +9)
I think Sacramento is still the more surprising team but the Magic are not far off. Nikola Vucevic is playing out of his freaking mind and making a case for best center in the NBA. Steve Clifford is a good NBA coach and he is bringing the most out of a roster that isn’t really top tier. It will be interesting to see if they can compete for a playoff spot, a feat that would be enormous for the franchise. On a side note, wouldn’t this team be cooler if they were called the Orlando Magiks?
17. Sacramento Kings (Prev: 18, +1)
De’Aaron Fox could run away with the most improved player award. He has been absolutely dominant, putting up 30 and 12 against the Cavs last night. He could be the savior of Sacramento, something DeMarcus Cousins never could pull off. They still need another piece (wouldn’t Doncic be nice right now?) to really push for consistent winning seasons and playoff seeds but this franchise might finally be on the right path.
16. New Orleans Pelicans (Prev: 13, -3)
Without another true star, the Pelicans are struggling. Anthony Davis puts up 2K numbers on a regular basis but it isn’t enough. Jrue Holiday consistently is shutting down opposing guards and Julius Randle has exploded since joining the starting lineup so maybe they can cobble together enough wins for a playoff spot. It just doesn’t look very promising right now.
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (Prev: 19, +4)
The purple reign has begun. KAT is back to being KAT and demolishing teams on a nightly basis. Andrew Wiggins has been up and down but maybe he can get some consistency now? Robert Covington is the most Thibs player Thibs has ever coached and the Wolves defense has significantly improved because of it. He is one of the best 5 defenders in basketball and has given the Wolves offensive spacing they desperately needed. The Timberwolves have lost 3 games since the trade and it looks like a good win-win for both teams.
14. Dallas Mavericks (Prev: 25, +11)
Could Doncic be an All-Star? Maybe not in the stacked West but he is playing like a 10 year vet. Dennis Smith Jr. and Luka have started figuring out how to play together and will hopefully be the biggest pieces of Dallas’ future. No one really knows what Doncic’s ceiling is but he isn’t even 20 and already is the best player on his team by miles. The Doncic trade might look worse and worse for the Hawks every year.
13. Portland Trail Blazers (Prev: 9, -4)
Portland keeps rolling along, although their last ten games haven’t been so good. Lillard and McCollum are still knifing up defenses but on the flip side, they and the rest of the team are giving up tons of points. They gave up 143 to the Bucks and 131 to the Spurs, which aren’t even really outliers. They should be able to make the playoffs again, even in a crowded West. How much further can they go though without a change of some kind?
12. Indiana Pacers (Prev: 8, -4)
Without Oladipo, who is out indefinitely, the Pacers are not a very threatening squad. They will still beat bad teams and occasionally steal one from a good team without him but that isn’t going to be enough long term. Myles Turner is showing some signs of life though! He is their true x-factor for making another jump in the East.
11. Boston Celtics (Prev: 4, -7)
Boston keeps going up and down. Jaylen Brown came back to form, scoring 21 against the Knicks on Thursday. They sorely need his defense and aggressiveness. Gordon Hayward is slowly getting there and Kyrie is back to being Kyrie. Al Horford’s struggles are alarming since he is the linchpin of their defense. Boston still has time to get everything right, all that matters for them is the playoffs.
10. Memphis Grizzlies (Prev: 10, 0)
Conley and Gasol. Just like death and taxes, they continue to roll when healthy. Jaren Jackson Jr. is going to be really good for a really long time and is the future of this franchise once the Conley/Gasol pairing finally ages out. The quick tank worked better than they could have hoped for. Why don’t more teams get a bunch of injuries to their stars and then get a top five back and suddenly be good again (he said with layers of sarcasm)? Also, Joakim Noah?? Since when was he was a basketball player again?
9. Detroit Pistons (Prev: 20, +11)
Is Detroit the real deal? Hiring a new coach was a good move for them and will definitely get them a playoff spot. Most people, myself included, had them around the 6–8th seed range but right now they are playing like a top 4 seed in the East. Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond are going to be All-Stars if they stay healthy and that might be enough to get them past a first round series. The rest of the team is solid but nothing special and will ultimately be their downfall. They’ve done a good job of making the most with their roster, kudos to a team stuck in mediocrity for the past several years.
8. Philadelphia 76ers (Prev: 7, -1)
As a Sixers homer, I am happy they have Jimmy Butler. He will be key in the playoffs and his defense is still top notch. But damn do I miss Robert Covington. The spacing for the Sixers made more sense with RoCo (Saric not so much) and allowed for Embiid to be in the post more often where he is playing like Orlando Shaq. In their past couple games, Embiid has been slotted on the wing more so the paint opens up for Butler and Simmons but I just don’t agree with how often it is happening. Embiid is the best player on the Sixers and he should be treated as such. Their depth is sorely lacking, especially without Fultz, so another trade or hunting the buyout market in a few months will be necessary.
7. Los Angeles Lakers (Prev: 17, +10)
This is more like it. The Lakers have started playing good defense and scoring well because they have the best player in basketball. The Lakers youth have been up and down all year and this team still can’t rebound worth a damn (unless Tyson Chandler is on the floor). They could fluctuate quite a bit in the next few months or make a move but for now, they are taking it to teams. They are still maybe the most fun team to watch (Golden State without Curry is such a bore).
6. Oklahoma City Thunder (Prev: 12, +6)
OKC is beating teams they should beat (minus the Bulls yesterday) and also winning games against playoff teams. Paul George is back in form, dropping a scorching 47 against the Nets. Maybe they shouldn’t have been down so much to begin with but these are good signs for a team that expects to compete for the West crown.
5. Los Angeles Clippers (Prev: 14, +9)
What a team. Even without a bonafide superstar (Tobias Harris better be an All-Star), they have so many good players that they keep pulling out wins. Montrezl Harrell is leading a close 6th man of the year race and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks like their point guard of the future. They might not stay in the upper echelon of West teams as the season drags on but a playoff spot seems completely achievable.
4. Denver Nuggets (Prev: 5, +1)
Some recent injuries (Millsap, Gary Harris) will hurt this team a lot. They’ve been playing so well with the combo of Jokic and Millsap but now the defense will probably falter some. For now, they are riding high at the top of the West. Jokic put up a super efficient triple double on the Raptors last week and should garner at least some MVP consideration.
3. Milwaukee Bucks (Prev: 3, 0)
MVP Giannis is here and he probably isn’t even fully realized yet. Giannis still can’t shoot but it really doesn’t matter. He is far and away the best interior scorer right now, shooting 80% from 0–3 feet per Basketball-Reference and has 106 dunks in 23 games. The Bucks had to give up a first round pick to shed some contracts but it seems like it will be worth it to keep their core together.
2. Toronto Raptors (Prev: 2, 0)
The Raptors are the most well constructed roster in the NBA. They have depth at every position and MVP Kawhi plus All-Star Kyle Lowry. They may not be as top heavy as the Warriors are but they have the depth and coaching to compete. I expected the Sixers and Embiid to dominate them on Wednesday but he got shut down.
- Golden State Warriors (Prev: 1, 0)
The Warriors finally suffered some turmoil! KD and Draymond hate each other! They don’t look good without Curry! And yet, they will still almost assuredly win the title. With Boogie looking like he can play again soon, this team might just plow through everyone and win 20 or 30 in a row. Who knows anymore with the Warriors?
