On the 8’s: Month 3
I will post monthly power rankings on the 8th of every month. It feels like games in the Western Conference are playoff games already and we are only 3 months in. The East is a mess outside the top 4, which is pretty much what was expected.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers (Prev: 30, 0)
They still aren’t very good and are well on their way to a top tier draft pick. Bill Simmons said he would quit sports if they got the first pick again and I gotta say I agree. They haven’t done anything to deserve Zion Williamson and yet he might become a Cav. It’s pretty much a guarantee they will get one of the 3 Duke boys though, which is exactly what they need. Meanwhile, the Patrick McCaw situation has shown a potential loophole in restricted free agency. If it stands, might some other RFA’s take advantage?
29. Chicago Bulls (Prev: 27, -2)
The Bulls are absolute poo but if this means they get Zion, I and most fans will be happy. Lauri Markkanen is getting back into shape and continuing to grow. Between him, Wendell Carter Jr., and a top 3 pick, they should have a core worthy of the storied Bulls franchise. I have no idea if Jim Boylen is a good coach or not, there’s just not enough talent to judge his tenure.
28. Phoenix Suns (Prev: 29, +1)
Phoenix had a little bit of a winning streak going when Devin Booker came back healthy but it was short lived. They compete hard and have good pieces but this isn’t going to be their year. I think in the East, the Suns would be a bit higher up but alas they are in the West and left to be the punching bag.
27. New York Knicks (Prev: 25, -2)
The Knicks aren’t very good without Porzingis but this summer is all they care about. Kevin Knox looks great and would be a top 5 pick in a 2018 NBA redraft. Allonzo Trier is a great role player that will be a key piece should the Knicks hit contender status. Maybe they will find a piece in the draft and grab some players in free agency but ultimately James Dolan is the worst owner and could keep players away.
26. Atlanta Hawks (Prev: 28, +2)
John Collins has picked up his game another notch and Trae Young’s development is still patiently coming along. Trading away Luka is still going to haunt this team, as it should. Trae could be amazing but Luka is franchise changing. I don’t know if I’ll ever really get that pick.
25. Washington Wizards (Prev: 22, -3)
The Wizards are just a mess. John Wall had surgery, ending his season and effectively engaging their tank. Bradley Beal has put up monstrous numbers, including a 40 point triple double in a 3OT game with the Suns. They should have won that game anyways and it continues to show how far the Wizards are from being competitive again. Otto Porter needs to go but who wants that contract? And better yet, who wants to deal with Ernie Grunfeld after the Suns/Grizz/Wizards trade fiasco?
24. Orlando Magic (Prev: 18, -6)
The Magic have fallen back towards the bottom, with their early strong start being wiped out by recent losses. They have one or two quality wins since the last rankings, beating the Raptors and a not totally healthy Jazz team. This was probably what they were destined for all along but I got briefly excited for a potential Magic playoff first round exit. They haven’t been bad enough to get a top 3 pick but yet not been good enough to make the playoffs. They are stuck in mediocrity while Mo Bamba and Jonathan Isaac develop into their future.
23. Brooklyn Nets (Prev: 26, +3)
Brooklyn continues to do their thing, playing every game hard but just missing the talent to push into the playoff race. D’Lo, Jarrett Allen, and Spencer Dinwiddie have continued getting better and would be great complements to a superstar. They are showing potential free agents that Brooklyn is a place to come and play. If KD wants to be in New York but doesn’t want to deal with James Dolan, then maybe Brooklyn is the destination?
22. Detroit Pistons (Prev: 9, -13)
Detroit has had some bad losses to tanking teams in the East and that is primarily why their ranking has tumbled. Blake Griffin is still the best player on the team and putting up incredible numbers. His January numbers are up all over the board but the losses keep coming. Something with Detroit will need to change but their ceiling seems to be the 8th seed in a weak East.
21. Memphis Grizzlies (Prev: 10, -11)
Memphis has fallen a bit as other teams ramp up and get healthy. Jaren Jackson is still great and might be the second best rookie this year but he is still too young to make the impact they need. Memphis is deciding to move on from Chandler Parsons, even though it seems like he could contribute to their needed wing depth. Mike Conley deserves an All-Star spot but might be nudged out due to their weaker team record.
20. Dallas Mavericks (Prev: 14, -6)
Luka = ROY. Dirk is playing but really hurting the team when he is in. The Mavs bench has been one of the best in the league and Luka continues to show his franchise leading abilities. They need to come to a decision on how much Dirk should play. It all depends on if they want to push for the playoffs now and lose their pick or slide into the lottery to get another piece for their core.
19. Miami Heat (Prev: 24, +5)
Miami has put together some quality wins and Point Winslow looks like something they should keep exploring. They have finally turned more to their youth and it is working. They are still capped out for the future and in need of a star to be competitive so they ceiling is still pretty low.
18. Charlotte Hornets (Prev: 21, +3)
Kemba is still Kemba, putting up MVP numbers. But the quality of talent around him is thin and not really enough to give them the playoff run they need as a franchise. They still might be able to make a move or two and bring some talent in to complement him. It could mean parting with Malik Monk or Miles Bridges. If they parted with Bridges, then they could bring a much better piece back but that would mean they are all-in now.
17. New Orleans Pelicans (Prev: 16, -1)
Poor Anthony Davis. All anyone can talk about is where he will go next, when this team can’t stay healthy. They are talented but have struggled without a true point guard to set up AD. Even Elfrid Payton was more than enough to complement Davis and Jrue Holiday. They might not be able to build a team to keep Davis in town so their future could be very bleak. It’s extremely unlikely that any return is good enough for a transcendent talent like him though. Minnesota looked like they had solid pieces coming back in the Kevin Garnett trade and yet none of that really worked out for them. AD is even more valuable.
16. Sacramento Kings (Prev: 17, +1)
Sacramento has kept up their good start, but are struggling recently. They are sitting right at 9th in the West but might be a bit too young to really make that leap in the unbelievable West. They have a really bright future, more so than ever before. They still drafted Marvin Bagley over Luka Doncic though so who knows. Bagley is good but he’s not Doncic.
15. Los Angeles Lakers (Prev: 7, -8)
Without LeBron, the Lakers have fallen off a cliff. Since Christmas, they are 2–5 and Lonzo Ball/Brandon Ingram have struggled with consistency. Luke Walton’s seat might be warming up and the above picture sums up quite a bit of the sentiment around the Lakers. The youth may still need time to grow and they could turn out to be amazing players but how patient are Magic and LeBron?
14. Utah Jazz (Prev: 19, +4)
The Jazz have started righting their ship behind Rudy Gobert’s incredible defense and ever growing offensive game. They beat the Warriors before Christmas and the Blazers on Christmas, and keep beating the worst teams in the East. They need all those kinds of wins to have a chance in the Western bloodbath.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (Prev: 15, +2)
Minnesota fired Thibs after blowing out the Lakers, a move so cold even Minnesotans shivered. After a chilled moment, they all celebrated as it was definitely time to move on. Derrick Rose might end up being an All-Star and while there are definitely better candidates, more All-Stars means maybe Rose will get a Hall of Fame nod. Wiggins still has plenty of work to do to become their consistent second piece but maybe the right coach can pull it out of him.
12. Portland Trail Blazers (Prev: 13, +1)
Portland is still right where they should be, especially with Jusuf Nurkic going up a level. They have depth in their wings and even Meyers Leonard has made a positive appearance. Damian Lillard should be an MVP candidate, even though it is unlikely he actually wins.
11. Boston Celtics (Prev: 11, 0)
Boston has been kinda funky. They’ve won games that they should win but also had some confusing losses. When expectations are 60+ wins, this just doesn’t seem like enough. They’ve struggled with injuries and still have too many good players who need minutes. Ultimately, they will be fine come playoff time but should they offer up Jayson Tatum for Anthony Davis? He thinks so.
10. Los Angeles Clippers (Prev: 5, -5)
The Clippers have continued to win good games and sit at 3rd in the West. The quality of talent for the teams around them speaks to just how well they are coached and how deep they are. It’s tough to say how far they can go in the playoffs without a superstar and maybe their year is next year. For now, they are far and above expectations.
9. Philadelphia 76ers (Prev: 8, -1)
The Sixers confuse me because they are doing fine and winning games right at the pace they should be but I don’t see this team as constructed competing for a title. The Raptors were the team in theory that wouldn’t be able to stop Embiid but Ibaka, Valanciunas, and Siakam gave him a real hard time. The Jimmy Butler film session fiasco was overblown but it does speak to some tenseness in the team. They need more shooting or for Ben Simmons to take a jumper outside 5 feet. Hopefully both happen and soon.
8. Houston Rockets (Prev: 20, +12)
With the exception of Giannis, James Harden has been showing he deserves back-to-back MVP’s. 5 straight 40 point games, including two triple doubles. In the incredible game against the Warriors (game of the year at the moment?), he very nearly had the first ever 10/10/10 shooting triple double (10 FG’s, 10 3’s, 10 FT’s). He missed out by just 2 free throws!! Harden is a top 3 all-time offensive player and he is carrying this team all on his back.
7. Indiana Pacers (Prev: 12, +5)
Quietly and patiently, Indiana is 3rd in the East. They are beating the bottom feeders of the East which will bump their rating up but they are a legit top tier team. Myles Turner has turned into a defensive monster, protecting the rim better than ever in his career. They have quality defenders at every position but might struggle to score in the playoffs if Oladipo keeps being double and triple teamed.
6. San Antonio Spurs (Prev: 23, +17)
The hottest team in the league by far, San Antonio has been stepping up their game over the past month. Kawhi coming back home proved to be mostly uneventful, as he struggled in the chorus of boo’s and good defense. DeMar DeRozan in on par with the best players in the West and doing everything he can to make Toronto regret their decision. Ultimately, the trade has worked better for the Raptors but the Spurs seem quite happy with their situation.
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (Prev: 6, +1)
Paul George is right in the MVP conversation, being the best player on the Thunder so far this year. Westbrook is continuing to put up triple double numbers but more importantly, his defense has improved. Between Adams, Jerami Grant, George, and now Westbrook, the Thunder are a defensive nightmare. If Andre Roberson can come back healthy for the playoffs, they could really give the Warriors and other teams a run for their money.
4. Denver Nuggets (Prev: 4, 0)
Jokic is so legit. The Nuggets doubled down on him being their franchise superstar and it is paying off with one of their best team seasons ever. Jamal Murray is having a fine season and might be a fringe All-Star. Millsap should be back soon which will only help them. This team is for real and could make some noise in a crazy tough Western Conference.
3. Milwaukee Bucks (Prev: 3, 0)
Giannis = MVP. He is so dominant in every game and only a few teams have figured out how to slow him down — temporarily. Splash Mountain (Brook Lopez) is putting up one hell of a shooting season, keeping pace with Klay Thompson in 3’s made. This team goes as far as Giannis takes them and it could be the Finals.
2. Golden State Warriors (Prev: 1, -1)
The Warriors are still the Warriors but losing to the Raptors despite no Kawhi is why I bumped Golden State down. They are supposed to be getting Boogie Cousins back on the 18th of January so things might change quite a bit. Or maybe they won’t? Last year’s Warriors showed they really didn’t care at all about the regular season but Boogie needing to play for a contract might help kick them into high gear. If so, basketball gods help us all.
- Toronto Raptors (Prev: 2, +1)
The Raptors have been beating everyone in the East and West despite rarely having their two stars together. Pascal Siakam is as legit as it gets, a truly great story of player development by Toronto. He could potentially slip in as an Eastern All-Star and I am all for it. This Raptors team is largely the same as last year but they seem more well put together than ever. This could really be the year!
