NBA Weekly Power Rankings #6
Power Rankings As Of 12/18
1. Boston Celtics (20–5)
- Previous Ranking: 2 (+1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +14.4
The Celtics remain an impressive 14–0 in home games on the year and showed exactly what it means to be the best team in basketball with their gutsy wins while being shorthanded against Orlando. Boston has had one of the most difficult schedules the league has to offer and still are taking care of business very well.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves (19–5)
- Previous Ranking: 1 (-1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +10
Minnesota remains looking incredible thus far, and while their reputation has brought them a lot of criticism, I fully believe in this team. KAT’s play continues to improve, and with that, this is one of the most well-balanced and varied rosters in the league with all the different looks they can throw out.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (16–8)
- Previous Ranking: 3
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +10.8
I am fully bought in on OKC being a contender, even with their youth. It really is crazy how talented of a roster they have while still being able to make a huge move like Lauri Markkanen while still keeping the core of the team intact.
4. Philadelphia 76ers (18–7)
- Previous Ranking: 5 (+1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +43.5
As that insane point differential shows, this team has been nothing short of dominant lately. While Philly has been the adversary of a laughably easy schedule as of late, they do take care of business against bad teams and leave no doubts while doing so. Joel Embiid may not win the award, but he is certainly having another MVP-caliber season.
5. Milwaukee Bucks (19–7)
- Previous Ranking: 4 (-1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +5.8
Giannis has been playing at a historic level and with Dame continuing to get more welly aclimated they may just have the best 1–2 punch in basketball.
6. Denver Nuggets (17–10)
- Previous Ranking: 7 (+1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +9.7
The Nuggets have shown a bit of championship hangover by not dominating the regular season like we are used to seeing, but at the end of the day they still have Nikola Jokic and there is not a player you want more in a playoff setting.
7. Los Angeles Clippers (15–10)
- Previous Ranking: 18 (+11)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +20.3
The LA Clippers have fully figured it out after their terrible stretch when they initially acquired James Harden and look like a real threat out West. Ty Lue was right when saying we needed to give him time to figure things out and now that they have a pecking order order sorted the offense looks as smooth as ever.
8. Dallas Mavericks (16–9)
- Previous Ranking: 14 (+6)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +1.3
While I have my major questions about the ceiling of this team as a contender, Luka Doncic is doing the seemingly impossible by dragging a very average roster to great results.
9. Sacramento Kings (15–9)
- Previous Ranking: 10 (+1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +3.7
Sacramento still feels like they are a move away from taking that next step but with the growth of Keegan Murray they have strong 3rd option and are far more balanced than last year which gives them a much better chance in the playoffs.
10. Orlando Magic (16–9)
- Previous Ranking: 6(-4)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -0.8
The Magic are beginning to slow down a bit from there crazy early season pace but still look like a firm playoff team which is a major success for them. Paolo Banchero continues his accession into stardom and if the rest of the roster around him can get fully healthy they become a real threat.
11. Los Angeles Lakers (15–11)
- Previous Ranking: 8 (-3)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -5.3
A very uninspiring 2 game stretch that saw them going 1–1 against a terrible Spurs team, having to fight tooth and nail to even win that 1 game, leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth with this team and becomes especially worse with the success of fellow Western Conference teams as of late.
12. New Orleans Pelicans (16–11)
- Previous Ranking: 15 (+3)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +21.6
A statement game from Zion and the team against the №1 seeded Timberwolves as well as taking care of business against some bad teams has New Orleans back in positive spirits after their brutal IST loss.
13. Phoenix Suns (14–12)
- Previous Ranking: 11 (-2)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -4.3
I mean the injury luck this roster has is just nothing short of brutal. It seems we will never get this team at full strength for a prolonged period which really is such a shame.
14. Miami Heat (15–11)
- Previous Ranking: 17 (+3)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +0.6
I don’t really take this team too seriously as a contender but they still manage to outpreform their talent just as they have in previous years as well. Jaime Jaquez continues his phenomal play and is established as a core piece going forward.
15. New York Knicks (14–11)
- Previous Ranking: 13 (-2)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +0.8
The Mitchell Robinson inury has caused their defense to fall apart but the excellent play of Jalen Brunson has managed to keep them afloat in the midst of a very competetive Eastern Conference
16. Houston Rockets (13–10)
- Previous Ranking: 19 (+3)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: +6.3
The Rockets continue to exceed all expectations, and even in their losses, they remain scrappy every game. I have been a little underwhelmed with Jalen Green’s development, but that is just nitpicking in an overall massively successful year for Houston.
17. Indiana Pacers (13–11)
- Previous Ranking: 9 (-8)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -13.3
Indiana’s success remains very volitile as relying on their offense this heavily to win. They are extremely fun to watch always but need some pretty major roster changes to realize what great offensive infustructure they have.
18. Brooklyn Nets (13–12)
- Previous Ranking: 16 (-2)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -9.9
Brooklyn remains being very much in the middle of the pack but watching Cam Thomas and Mikal Bridges getting buckets down the stretch surely is a pleasure.
19. Cleveland Cavaliers (14–12)
- Previous Ranking: 12 (-7)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -4.6
Some brutal injuries to Evan Mobley and Darius Garland have this team potentially spiraling out of control. With the already exisiting noise about Donovan Mitchell not thinking of Cleveland as a long term home I think it may be time to begin shopping him and go into a different direction.
20. Golden State Warriors (12–14)
- Previous Ranking: 20
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -2.1
Klay Thompson is starting to play his best basketball in recent memory which is a great sign but as a whole the Warriors remain largely a mess. Draymond Green’s suspension was a perfect symbol for how this year has gone for the Dubs and it hurts them significantly until he is eventually back.
21. Chicago Bulls (10–17)
- Previous Ranking: 23 (+2)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -1.8
The Bulls seem to have found themselves a real star in Coby White and it would be a massive shame if they don’t go all in on building on that. They may not win the amount of games they are right now but I think getting as many assests as you can out of Lavine and Derozan and then truly seeing what you have with the young talent is the best move for their future.
22. Atlanta Hawks (10–15)
- Previous Ranking: 21 (-1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -0.4
Quitely Atlanta has been one of the biggest failures of the year. 2–8 in their last 10 games the Hawks have gone from average to flat out bad and I think they need to punt on this era of Atlanta basketball.
23. Toronto Raptors (10–15)
- Previous Ranking: 22 (-1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -7.0
Similar to the Hawks, Toronto would be much better off to move on from the current roster. They seem to view their players wildy different to the rest of the league though so it might be difficult for them to find the package that satisfies them.
24. Memphis Grizzlies (6–18)
- Previous Ranking: 25 (+1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -8.7
Ja Morant plays basketball tomorrow! I am nothing short of thrilled to see just how much he elevates them.
25. Portland Trail Blazers (6–19)
- Previous Ranking: 26 (+1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -7.2
Portland may not be all that competitive but their young talent is gelling very well which was the goal for this season anyway.
26. Utah Jazz (9–17)
- Previous Ranking: 27 (+1)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -12.6
I am very excited to hear that the Jazz are willing to trade Lauri Markennen as I think he elevates a team like OKC and others to an entirely different level.
27. Charlotte Hornets (7–17)
- Previous Ranking: 24 (-3)
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -16.3
The Hornets have been quite pitiful in Lamelo Ball’s absence. Terry Rozier has been a major bright spot and hopefully they can cash in and get some value out of him considering this season is a wash.
28. Washington Wizards (4–21)
- Previous Ranking: 28
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -13.6
Washington has managed to not get killed as much in recent games but are still terrible and hilarious to watch.
29. San Antonio Spurs (4–21)
- Previous Ranking: 29
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -9.3
It was very exciting to see the Spurs compete so well on a big stage against LA but they quickly followed that up by getting thrashed by New Orleans. It is so frustrating to see Victor’s teammates continue to miss him as his rookie year should be so much larger of a specticle than it has been.
30. Detroit Pistons (2–24)
- Previous Ranking: 30
- Point Diff Since Last Ranking: -25.6
The losing streak continues! We are very close to history and while I feel awful for their fans I am rooting for this history because who knows when we will have an oppurtunity to see this again.
