NBA Weekly Power Rankings #5
Power Rankings As Of 12/11!
1: Minnesota Timberwolves (17–4)
- Previous Ranking: 2 (+1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +13.5
The Wolves continue to play at an extremely high level and be an absolute pleasure to watch. Rudy Gobert even in a year with many great defensive players should be the runaway DPOY and even on rough offensive nights that can will them to wins,
2: Boston Celtics (16–5)
- Previous Ranking: 1 (-1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +0.6
The Celtics season really depends on one thing, can the starting 5 stay healthy? When Kristaps Porzingis is on the court you see an entirely different dynamic within the team and they look near unstoppable with the full roster, but depth remains a concern and something that they should attempt to address.
3: Oklahoma City Thunder (14–7)
- Previous Ranking: 5 (+2)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +0.5
The Thunder had another incredible win against Golden State where as the much younger team they managed to show far more poise and resilience. Shai is a very real candidate for MVP with how he is playing on both sides of the ball and they still have so many options outside of him.
4: Milwaukee Bucks (15–7)
- Previous Ranking: 6 (+2)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +8.0
While Milwaukee has yet to perform at the peak of their powers, they beat who they should for the most part and continue to get better as the year progresses, which is what you would expect of a franchise who made such a major trade so late in the offseason.
5: Philadelphia 76ers (14–7)
- Previous Ranking: 8 (+3)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +5.8
In a very convoluted MVP race Joel Embiid has yet again put himself in the position to be atop that race. The main worry I have about Philly long term is the questionable defensive personal outside of Embiid but the offense has remained high powered all year and that’s the luxury you get when you have the caliber of player they do on the roster.
6: Orlando Magic (15–7)
- Previous Ranking: 4 (-2)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -0.8
While Orlando has minorly cooled off from the scorching hot streak they were on, the offense has continued to rise with Paolo Banchero establishing himself as a true star in this league. The defense is slowing down a bit with some of the injuries they are dealing with but once they become healthy they can comfortably go 10–12 deep and I am very excited to see that.
7: Denver Nuggets (14–9)
- Previous Ranking: 3 (-4)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -7.4
I may be still largely unworried about the long term outlook of this team but even though they are healthy now they have still been abnormally streaky for what you would expect out of them. Jokic has had maybe his worst stretch of games since establishing himself as a top 5 player and even with their reputation they have to be knocked for that.
8: Los Angeles Lakers (14–9)
- Previous Ranking: 13 (+5)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +22.5
The In-Season Tournament champions are really figuring things out. They have reverted back to the defensive identity that has always been the reason for them succeeding at the highest level. Having Austin Reaves come off the bench has been a major home run and if the Timberwolves weren’t playing at such a historic pace Anthony Davis would be the clear DPOY favorite.
9: Indiana Pacers (12–8)
- Previous Ranking: 15 (+6)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +9.7
Indiana will likely continue to fluctuate in these rankings due to the volatility of their playstyle but when they are playing well they can truly compete with the best. On the biggest stage of the regular season Tyrese Haliburton had some true star making performances that stamped himself and this team as being a very dangerous one.
10: Sacramento Kings (12–8)
- Previous Ranking: 12 (+2)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +1.3
It has been very unfortunate to see this team fall under the radar as much as they have. With Sacramento no longer being a surprise they have lost a lot of their hype from last season but continue to be extremely exciting, headed by the NBA’s most under-appreciated star De’Aaron Fox.
11: Phoenix Suns (12–10)
- Previous Ranking: 7 (-4)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -0.6
Finally after all the delays and waiting it seems we are finally going to see the Suns with their entire big 3 in action. After seeing the apparent concerns with their depth against LA they are going to need their stars playing at an extremely high level to have real championship aspirations, so I will be closely watching them.
12: Cleveland Cavaliers (13–9)
- Previous Ranking: 16 (+4)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +10.4
After a rocky start Cleveland is slowly beginning to figure it out and that is in large part due to them being healthy and getting some continuity within the roster. Alongside De’Aaron Fox Donovan Mitchell is having a shockingly low buzz around him for the caliber of season he is putting on.
13: New York Knicks (12–9)
- Previous Ranking: 9 (-4)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -14.2
The Mitchell Robinson injury is a massive loss and in these next 8–10 weeks I could see New York continue to slide without their defensive anchor. Thankfully they were able to avoid what would have been a catastrophic injury if Brunson was seriously hurt in garbage time but this team is still very vulnerable now.
14: Dallas Mavericks (13–8)
- Previous Ranking: 14
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +16.9
Dallas’ hot start seems like a flash in the pan as they have now fallen as a very middle-pack team ever since and with the injuries piling up for them it only seems like it will continue to get worse. Luka is playing so well but I don’t know if the supporting cast will ever be strong enough for him to get an MVP even though he has played at the level of one for years at this point.
15: New Orleans Pelicans (12–10)
- Previous Ranking: 11 (-4)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -12.9
While I want to avoid overreacting to one bad game, the LA game getting blown out in the manner they did was legitimately concerning. All the noise around Zion is very uninspiring and I have massive reservations on the ceiling of the team unless Williamson plays to his talent level.
16: Brooklyn Nets (12–9)
- Previous Ranking: 19 (+3)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +16.7
A healthy Nets squad continues to be an exciting and fun roster that is also highly competitive. Similar to old Brooklyn rosters they don’t have any true superstar but instead a mix of talented guys who can each have their night any given night.
17: Miami Heat (12–10)
- Previous Ranking: 10 (-7)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -6.4
Now going through a more difficult spot of their schedule this team finally looks as if they are regressing. The top end talent just is not on the level of other rosters and this is the year where they are pushing Heat Culture to put them over the top more than ever.
18: Los Angeles Clippers (11–10)
- Previous Ranking: 21 (+3)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +7.5
Though LA has still not figured things out entirely, they are slowly getting there. At 7–3 in their past 10 and on a 3 game streak they are getting better and better but I still have limited confidence in them as a whole.
19: Houston Rockets (10–9)
- Previous Ranking: 17 (-2)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -0.3
Houston is still a great story but ultimately they are a very middling team whose best days should hopefully be ahead of them in future years.
20: Golden State Warriors (10–12)
- Previous Ranking: 20
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +0.3
The Warriors loss to OKC was a terrible one that was an accumulation of all the things that have gone wrong for them this season. Sloppy turnovers, terrible fouls, and an overreliance on Steph Curry was an issue this game and have defined this disappointing season for Golden State.
21: Atlanta Hawks (9–12)
- Previous Ranking: 18 (-3)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -8.6
Atlanta has been known to be the definition of average in recent years but they are now titering on being flat out bad. The defense is a complete mess and I think it’s time to start seriously considering tearing everything down.
22: Toronto Raptors (9–13)
- Previous Ranking: 22
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -6.8
The Raptors may be able to continue to hover around the play-in but is it really worth it? I don’t think so.
23: Chicago Bulls (9–14)
- Previous Ranking: 27 (+4)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +7.8
The Bulls have gone on a very surprising 4 game win streak in the absence of Zach Lavine and while it may motivate them to continue to stick with this core, I hope it instead hammers in that they need to move on. I would understand if they wanted to keep a couple of vets on the roster but largely I would like them to go in a direction with younger players considering how well a guy like Coby White has been able to perform.
24: Charlotte Hornets (7–13)
- Previous Ranking: 23 (-1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -3.6
Quitely Brandon Miller has been fantastic as a rookie and in classic Charlotte Hornets fashion it has ultimately not mattered as their success hinges on the health of Lamelo Ball.
25: Memphis Grizzlies (5–13)
- Previous Ranking: 25
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -6.3
4 more games! We continue to inch closer and closer to the return of Ja where we can finally understand how good the team is.
26: Portland Trail Blazers (6–15)
- Previous Ranking: 24 (-2)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -6.5
Scoot Henderson continues to be underwhelming and with that being the main selling point of them as a team this year there is not much to take not of other than the great play of Shaedon Sharpe.
27: Utah Jazz (7–15)
- Previous Ranking: 26 (-1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -19.1
Utah took a brutal 50 point loss that in the words of their own head coach was “a masterpiece of dogsh*t”. I think it’s time they completely tear things down and take the long term approach to their rebuild.
28: Washington Wizards (3–18)
- Previous Ranking: 29 (+1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -13.9
A laughably bad team that somehow manages to not only not be last but not 2nd to last as well!
29: San Antonio Spurs (3–18)
- Previous Ranking: 28 (-1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -9.3
San Antonio’s horrific play continues and is only not a major story due to Detroit. This team is utterly failing Victor Wembanyama.
30: Detroit Pistons (2–20)
- Previous Ranking: 30
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -16.8
At 19 straight losses the Pistons are reaching historically bad territory even while looking a bit better with Bojan Bogdonavic.
