NBA Power Rankings - 2/8/21

(Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

30. Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons take the cake as the worst team in the league in my inaugural weekly Power Rankings. The Pistons are really, really bad this year. They currently have the worst record in basketball at 5-18. They have lost 4 in a row and 8 of their last 10. Detroit has been decent at Little Ceasar’s Arena, pizza pizza, so far this year with a record of 4-4. Their record of the road, however, is a terrible 1-11. Seriously who let them name the arena Litlle Ceasar’s Arena? Pizza pizza. The Pistons’ best player, Jerami Grant, has been decent this year leading the team in points per game at 24.0, but is getting zero help from his supporting cast. Detroit is embracing the bad with their announcement of a trade to get rid of Derrick Rose for Dennis Smith Jr. and a future 2nd round pick. It is likely that the clock is now ticking on a Blake Griffin trade as well. The funny thing about Detroit is that out of their 5 wins they have defeated the Celtics, Lakers, Heat, and 76ers. All teams you will see much further on this list. The worst team in the league is getting worse and starting to get comfortable at the number 30 spot.

(slamonline.com)

29. Washington Wizards

The Wizards are this low on the list for a couple reasons. One, they stink at basketball. Two, no one on the team actually wants to be on the team. Their two stars players, Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal, are both visibly unhappy with their current situation. The next highest paid player on the team, Latvian sharpshooter Davis Bertans, has started out of the gates slow. He was awarded a very generous 5 year 80 million dollar contract by Washington to come in and bomb away from deep. Davis has certainly let em fly, but the important part is actually making them. His three point percentage has dropped to 32% after shooting 44% last year. However, his attempts have stay relatively they same at around 7.5 per game. So basically he’s chucking them up like they asked, but they aren’t going down. Which makes that massive contract start to already look like a bad play by Washington GM Tommy Sheppard. The Wizards defense isn’t doing them any favors right now either, currently ranking 29th in the league in defensive rating per 100 possessions. If the Wizards want to shake out of the bottom 3 in the Power Rankings, it’s either going to take some defense, or a big time trade. It’s time for a culture change in Washington.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves

Hey, I bet TWolves fans are just happy they aren’t 30th. Minnesota has developed into a perennial sad sack of an NBA franchise. And this year is no different. The Timberwolves currently sit in last place in the Western Conference with a record of 6-17. They are an abysmal 2-10 away from their home court this year and only 4-7 when they can sleep in their own beds. Minnesota currently ranks in the bottom 5 in the NBA in offensive AND defensive rating at 29th and 25th respectively. Their franchise player, 2-time All-Star big man Karl-Anthony Towns, has only played in 4 games for the club this year. And no they aren’t bad because he’s not playing, they only won 19 games all last year. Towns’ running mate D’Angelo Russell has been consisten, but him and the rest of the roster are frankly not good enough to consistently win. Minnesota has been spinning the wheels for a while now and they really have nowhere to go. They have a rebuilding roster that just refuses to get better. First overall pick Anthony Edwards has been a bright spot, but his ability to change a game or team won’t come for a few years. Being in the Western Conference makes it harder to win, but the TWolves know how it feels to see their name this early in the Power Rankings.

(dunkingwithwolves.com)

27. Orlando Magic

Yes, there are some teams ahead of the Magic on this list with worse rosters. But that should solidify their placement on this list. The Magic are basically returning a roster that went to the Playoffs and took the Bucks to 5 games last year. Now, the Magic even making the play-in tournament seems unlikely. Orlando’s downfall started when starting point guard Markelle Fultz torn his ACL in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 6th. Going into that game, the Magic stood at 6-2, winning their first 4 in a row. Since then, Orlando has dropped to 9-15 and are currently 13th in the East. Their losses include blowout Ls to the Celtics, Clippers, Bulls, and Raptors twice. They just barely missed out on the Minnesota club of being bottom five in both offensive and defensive rating. Orlando is 27th in offense and 24th in defense. Woo defense! With their season sputtering out of the gate, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Orlando open up for business. Many of their players, including Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, Even Fournier, and Terrance Ross, have all been linked to trade rumors at the upcoming deadline. Orlando’s best up and coming player, defensive ace Jonathan Isaac, is out for the season following knee surgery in August. Let’s blow it up Orlando. It was not really that fun while it lasted.

(Getty Images)

26. Chicago Bulls

After watching The Last Dance 6 times on Netflix this summer, I talked myself into the Bulls having a solid season. Zach Levine is an uber athletic wing who can give you 30 any night. Players like Wendell Carter Jr., Coby White, and Lauri Markkanen have shown flashes of stardom in their first few seasons with the Bulls. They even have good veteran pieces like Thad Young and Garrett Temple. But sometimes, even when you think it’s going to work out, it doesn’t. Too personal, okay fine. I’ll continue. The Bulls have been a disappointment so far this year. Their inconsistent play has them continuing to look into the Eastern Conference Playoff picture. Chicago has matched good wins against Rockets, Mavericks, and Trail Blazers with bad losses to the Knicks, Magic, and Thunder. Their defense, ranked 12th last season, has fallen off completely and sits at 21st so far this year. The almost star players, Markkanen and Carter Jr., have played well, but have only participated in 14 games each so far this year. I think it’s time for the Bulls to give up on some of these prospects and get Levine some help. Their bench is fully of slow moving youngsters like Denzel Valentine, Chandler Hutchison, and Ryan Arcidiacono. Not to mention Otto Porter’s atrocious contract. The Bulls are better than how they are playing right now, but their currently roster isn’t going to get it done.

(bullshype.com)

25. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs being at 25 is actually a good thing for Cleveland fans. The Cavs have been a bottom three team since LeBron took off to LA three years ago. This is the first year since we are seeing some progression. Their young backcourt of Colin Sexton and Darius Garland, properly named SexLand, have been a very fun watch to start the year. Sexton is averaging 23.6 PPG and making a strong bid for his first All-Star appearance. All-Star big man Andre Drummond and newly acquired Jarrett Allen and kept the front court moving in the absence of Kevin Love. The Cavs are currently 10-14, but were just 10-11 last week. That may sound shitty, cause honestly it is, but this is after back to back 19 win seasons for Cleveland. So they’re already halfway there. The emergence of their young talent, including 4th overall pick Isaac Okoro, has allowed the Cavs to look into a much needed rebuild. Cleveland will mostly likely ship out Drummond and Love if they can find suitors for their overblown contracts and lean into the youth movement. Yes, their offense is the worst in the league, but their 14th ranked defense have kept them competitive to begin the year. A playoff berth is not out of the realm of possibility for the Cavs, which is an excitement fans haven’t felt in a while. I’m curious to see how much higher this team can climb in the NBA standings and in the Power Rankings.

(slamonline.com)

24. Miami Heat

Cleveland being at 25 was good for Cavs fans. Miami being at 24 is catastrophic for their fan base. The reigning Eastern Conference Champions have been one of the biggest disappointments in the league to start of the year. Miami is out of the playoffs in the East with a record of 9-14. Their roster has been completely depleted because of injuries and Covid-19 regulations. Jimmy Butler, the widely-known leader of the team, has only played in 11 games so far this season. Other important contributors like Tyler Herro, Goran Dragic, Kendrick Nunn, and Avery Bradley have all also missed significant time to start the year. The gritty, intense top 10 defense Miami leaned on last year now sits at 16th, with their offense lacking behind at 24th. With the absence of their stars for most of the season, Miami’s thin bench hasn’t been able to pull out games. A massive bright spot for Miami has been the play of Bam “Peanut Butter and Jam” Adebayo. His 20 points, 9 rebound, and 5 assists have made him a lock to return to the All-Star game. Without Bam, Miami would be much lower on this list. They still have time to turn it around, and I think they will. But for now, they have been a massive disappointment.

(Andrew Bernstein/Getty Images)

23. Dallas Mavericks

Dallas has been the biggest head scratcher in the league to start off the season. Last year’s 7th seed in the Western is currently chilling in the 14 spot with a record of 10-14. The NBA’s newest darling, Luca Doncic, has not been able to carry his team to many victories. The story of Dallas’ season has been exactly that, Luca ain’t got no help. His co-star Kristaps Porzingis has missed significant time to start the year and has been terrible on defense in the games he’s played. So much so that he has become unplayable in big moments down the stretch. Starting wing Josh Richardson is shooting the ball like Carlton Banks to star the year with at a remarkably bad 29%. Dallas still has a lot of work to do on a roster that looked primed to take the leap this season. Players like Richardson, Tim Hardaway, Willie Cauley-Stein, and even Porzingis could be up for trade at the deadline. Dallas has two options going forward, stick with the roster they have and frankly just play harder, or blow it up and get Luca some new help. C’mon Cuban, this isn’t what I thought I invested in.

22. Oklahoma City Thunder

The OKC Thunder were supposed to be the worst team in the league this year. Much like last year, they have turned into a scrappy, entertaining bunch that continues to overachieve. OKC is 10-12 on the season and tied for 12th in the West. Exciting young point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and veteran center Al Horford have led the fast paced Thunder offense to 7th in the league in pace, a metric showcasing how fast a team plays. The team has gotten surprising contributions for players like Lu Dort and George Hill and have been competitive in games this season. Their downfall comes on the defensive side of the ball. The Thunder often play small with Horford in the middle, who lacks size and his getting up there in age. OKC currently has the 19th ranked defense in the league. The Thunder will mostly likely eventually stall out and will probably have to trade Horford before too long, but for a team who was expected to be in dead last, 22 isn’t bad. OKC certainly has it’s eyes pointed towards the future, but let’s not downplay the talent currently on the roster.

(Alonzo Adams/USA Today Sports)

21. Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis came out of the gate guns blazing this season. Despite their two best players, Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., missing significant time, they have been able to remain competitive in the loaded Western Conference. The Grizz started off the season 9-6, but have seen lost 3 in a row to even out their record at .500. Memphis has been impressive on the road this season with a record of 6-3, but oddly disappointing in front of their home crowd, or non-crowd, going only 3-6. Coach Taylor Jenkins is an early front-runner for Coach of the Year with how he has this group playing. Memphis is locking down opponents on the defensive side of the ball where they rank 6th in the league per 100 possessions. Again, this is without their primary rim protector in Jackson Jr. Sneaky contributions from guys like Kyle Anderson, Dillion Brooks, and Desmond Bane have allowed this team to remain afloat. The Grizz barely missed out on the Playoffs last year when they lost to Portland in the first ever NBA Play-In game. With Ja Morant getting another year under his belt and an overachieving supporting cast Memphis could be knocking on the door again this year. They just gotta figure out how to win at home!

(Getty Images)

20. New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans are a weird team this year. First of all, their name is the Pelicans, still think that’s the worst name in the league. Secondly, they have been incredibly inconsistent in almost every category. When New Orleans plays well, like they did in wins over the Kings, Raptors, and twice against the Bucks, they look like a lock for the Western Playoffs. When the play poorly, like they did against the Hornets, Thunder, and Suns, they look like potentially the worst team in basketball. Their roster checks almost every box needed to be a playoff team. Two budding superstars? Check. A solid defensive anchor? Check. Shooting off the bench? Check. A championship level coach? Check. A silly ass name? Check. But even with all that, New Orleans is 10-12 and out of the Playoff picture. But things are looking up for the Pelis. They are riding a three game winning streak and have shown flashes of that playoff lock. Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson both have a case to be in the All-Star game this year, however if they are still in 12th by the time the game rolls around it would surprise me to see them have 2 All-Stars. New Orleans has been linked to many trade rumors involving J.J. Reddick and Lonzo Ball. If New Orleans can continue to play good basketball and turn their assets into more bench help, don’t be surprised to see them in the thick of things come summer.

(slamonline.com)

19. New York Knicks

THE KNICKS ARE ACTUALLY DECENT! It is safe to say the New York Knicks have been the laughing stock of the NBA for quite some time now. Their fans have voiced disapproval of their roster and management basically since Melo left and even began wearing bags over their heads to games. But who knew their savior was hiding right underneath our noses. ITS AUSTIN RIVERS! Just kidding, although Rivers has been solid for New York. The Knicks are finally back to looking like a competent team. Veteran coach Tom Thibodeau has branded this team with his trademark high intensity defense that has allowed New York to stay in games. Their 7th ranked defense is a huge improvement from last year’s 23rd place finish. New York’s young stars like Julius Randle, R.J. Barrett and Mitchell Robinson have brought an energy to the starting lineup that has New York ranked so high defensively. With their recent acquisition of point guard Derrick Rose to the roster, New York’s bench unit has become solidified with a reliable scorer and facilitator. The Knicks have been able to scrape out wins over the TrailBlazers, Celtics, and Warriors to start the year and look like a competitive team in the East. With that being said, I fully expect the Knicks to implode and finish nowhere near the Playoffs this year. Cause that’s what they do. Sorry Knicks fan.

(Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports)

18. Houston Rockets

Houston was supposed to be garbage this year. They traded away their two best players in the offseason, lost their Head Coach and GM, and started wearing the ugliest jerseys in the league. Houston instead rebuilt their roster very well and have a new life and energy to them. The Rockets are now based around Victor Oladipo, Christian Wood, and John Wall. With Wood surprisingly being the best of the three. Wood, formerly of the Bucks G-League team and the Detroit Pistons, is averaging 22 PPG while shooting 56% from the field and 42% from deep. John Wall and Boogie Cousins have begun reinventing their careers are part of a Houston team that currently ranks 2nd in the league in defense. If you told anyone last year you thought the Rockets would be second in defense they would ask if you’ve been asleep since 1995. Houston is currently sitting at .500 with a record of 11-11. For a team everyone thought was going to be deep into a rebuild, they have a real chance of making it back to the Playoffs. Houston fans should be happy about where their team is headed, and at least you guys are still better than the Knicks.

17. Charlotte Hornets

Everyone laughed when the Charlotte Hornets gave Gordon Hayward over 30 million dollars a year in the off-season. Now who’s laughing? Still us cause that is an absurd contract, but Charlotte is looking like a real playoff team in the East. The Hornets have quickly become one of the most watchable teams in the NBA this season. Hayward, along with ROY leader LaMelo Ball and walking highlight Miles Bridges, have led this team to 7th place in the East and a record of 11-13. Hayward, after struggling with injuries the last 3 years with the Celtics, is having himself an impressive bounce back campaign. He is averaging 23.1 PPG, the most he’s averaged since leaving Utah in 2016-17. Hayward is also grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing 4 assets per game and could make his first All-Star appearance since 2016-17. The real story of this team however has been the rise of Lavar’s favorite kid LaMelo Ball. Ball has be the runaway leader for Rookie of the Year this season and recently put 34 points and 10 assists on the Jazz. The Hornets looked lost last season without their long-time leader Kemba Walker, but Hayward and Ball have steadied the ship and have Charlotte looking like a good team. Expect the Hornets to make some moves at the deadline and position themselves for a Playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

16. Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors have basically been a less disappointing Miami Heat. Toronto has been perennial contender in the NBA for the last few years and just won the Championship two years ago. But the roster hanging out in Tampa, Florida looks much different than that Championship squad. Toronto currently sits at 10-13 after going 5-5 in their last ten. They haven’t been able to get comfortable at home or on the road, probably because they are actually always on the road. Toronto is 6-5 in Tampa and 4-8 everywhere else. Raptors fans, you ready to hear this? It’s time to blow it up. This roster, in my opinion, doesn’t have the fire power in the front court to compete in the East anymore. The losses of Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol has hurt the Raptors on the defensive end, currently ranking them 17th. They were 2nd last year. All-Star starter and supposedly best player on the team Pascal Siakam has had a let down of a year. His points per game, shooting percentages, and defensive rating are all down from last year. It might be tough to trade him or Raptor legend Kyle Lowry, but it’s time to embrace the bad in Toronto. If not, they will be muddling in the middle for years to come.

(tipofthetower.com)

15. Atlanta Hawks

So are the Raptors a better team than the Hawks? Probably, but Power Rankings aren’t a list of the best to worst records in the league. The Atlanta Hawks are a team primed to get their shit together and start winning. Atlanta completely redid their roster this offseason adding many new, veteran pieces to the mix. Atlanta went out and signed Rajon Rondo, Danillo Gallinari, Clint Capela, and Bogdan Bogdanovic. These veterans come in to join forces with Trae Young, John Collins, and Cam Reddish, among others. Atlanta is currently a very up and down team. They are 5-5 in their last 10, 5-5 on the road, and 6-7 at home. About as up and down as you can get. The Hawks have showed they can hang with the big dogs of the league in their two Game of the Year contenders against the Brooklyn Nets so far this year, winning one of those games. Atlanta’s top 10 offense has had no problems scoring the ball this year. If they can keep teams from outscoring them, they have a real chance to make a splash in the playoffs. Atlanta’s roster is a fun one to watch and Coach Lloyd Pierce has them going in the right direction. He just need some consistency baby!

(fansided.com)

14. Sacramento Kings

The Kings in the top 15?!?!?! Is this 2004??? The Kings have been a surprise to many so far this NBA season. As a team with very little roster turnover and a bad season last year, anyone would expect the same results out of them this year. So far, that’s not the case. The Kings are currently 12-11 and tied for the 8th seed in the West. They’ve won 4 straight games against the Celtics, Clippers, Nuggets, and Pelicans to get them above .500. The Kings are a tale of 2 sides of the court. They are one of the best offensive teams in the league, but can’t guard a snowman on the other end. They currently rank last in defensive rating with a current rate on track to be one of the worst ever. Yet they still have a winning record. The Kings have actually had a stretch of winning 4 games in a row for the past few years and have eventually flamed out. But their hot start to the season and incredible offensive output have them among the better teams in the league. They will probably end up trading a couple pieces at the deadline, but if they decide to bolster up their roster, Kings fans could finally watch a playoff game. The Kings are going to whatever they can to keep this hot streak going and not pull a Kings.

13. Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are right where they need to be. The middle of the Eastern Conference. Indiana has been a team not good enough to make the Finals but not bad enough to miss the Playoffs for a long time. Which is, in my opinion, the worst place to be in sports. Like at least the Pistons and Wizards are going to get a good pick. Indiana decided it needed to make a splash with it’s roster at the beginning of the season and traded their “star” player Victor Oladipo to the Rockets in a package that netted them Caris LeVert. LeVert, who is probably an upgrade over Oladipo, will not play this season after doctors found a cancerous tumor on his kidney. Thankfully, LeVert is going to be okay. But this leaves Indiana in a tough spot. Their team is now relying on the bigman duo of Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis to carry the offense along with point guard Malcolm Brogdan. Sabonis and Brogdan have been good this year, both averaging over 20 points a game, and Turner currently leads the league in blocks. But it’s the same old story for the Pacers. They still don’t have a roster that is set up for winning now or winning in the future. They have done a bad job of balancing their future and still need a jolt in the ass to make them a real contender. 13th in offensive rating, 13th in defensive rating, and 13th on our Power Rankings is the perfect analogy for this year’s Pacers and their future.

(si.com)

12. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors would’ve been real title contenders this year if not for the season-ending injury to Klay Thompson. In his absence, they have quietly kept their head above water and remained one of the better teams in the Western Conference. Steph Curry has reminded everyone who needed reminding why he was the first unanimous MVP in league history. Curry is averaging 29.4 PPG while shooting 43% on 11 attempts per game. 11. That’s crazy. Curry still has time to dish out 6 assists and grab 5 rebounds a game as well. Without Klay, the Warriors have had to lean on new acquisitions Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre to help with the scoring. Wiggins, has been Wiggins. Scoring at a middle to high rate while shooting decent percentages and playing no defense. Kelly Oubre started out his year shooting terribly and was hurting the Warriors spacing and ball movement offense. Oubre has since shaken the bad start and recently put 40 points on Luca and the Mavericks in a Golden State win. He is still shooing only 27% from deep. The Warriors have also been getting a good contribution by their new starting center and second overall pick James Wiseman. Wisemen has looked like a solid pickup for the Warriors with his scoring firsts tendency from the position. He is also learning NBA quickly because Draymond Green screams at him every game. If the Warriors have Steph, they’ll never be bad. But they still have room for improvement and will need to grow more as a team as the season continues.

(Rocky Widner/Getty Images)

11. Portland Trail Blazers

Sadly, the Portland Trail Blazers are a lot like the Indiana Pacers of the West. Portland has been knocking on the door of the elite for some time now, but have never been able to get over the hump. Trail Blazers are currently 12-10 and haven’t been able to find a groove this season. Their 6th ranked offense, spearheaded by Damian Lillard, had kept them in many games. However, their 28th ranked defense has taken them out of just as many. Portland has blowout losses to the Knicks, Bucks, Spurs, and Pacers so far this year, giving up over 100 points in all those games. Since Portland’s 8-2 start to the year, they have gone 4-8 and help doesn’t seem to be coming any time soon. Injuries to Zach Collins, Jusuf Nurkic, and CJ McCollum have kept them from having their full roster in tact all year. They are still a good team who I expect to be in the Playoffs, but much like Indiana, they will probably die out again. Portland needs to make a decision on whether they really think this roster can win. If they think it can’t, lets make a move.

10. San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs had their 22 year playoff streak broken last year, and now they’re back for vengeance. The Spurs being in the top 10 makes me happy cause everyone loves the Spurs, besides Mavs fans. And Heat fans. And Rockets fans. But mostly everyone. Legendary coach Greg Popovich has got his team playing together and San Antonio has been picking up some impressive wins. The Spurs are 13-10 and have handled their business on the road going 7-3. Wins over the Nuggets, Celtics, Rockets, and Lakers have showed fans that the Spurs young talent may be beginning to blossom. Alongside crafty veterans like DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge, players like Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker, Keldon Johnson, and Derrick White have proven to be quality NBA players. Murray, in particular, has shown the Spurs he is their point guard of the future. He is currently averaging 14.4 points, 5 assists, and 7 rebounds a game, but his specialty is the defensive end. His extremely long frame has an incredible impact of the ball. Just ask Kemba Walker, who Murray stripped to win a game against Boston. The Spurs are looking to return to their comfort zone of the Western Conference Playoffs this year. With the best coach of all time and a group of hungry players, San Antonio is on its way back to the promise land.

(Ashley Landis/Pool Photo via Getty Images)

9. Boston Celtics

My Boston Celtics haven’t been what they, I, or anyone thought they’d be so far this season. Boston has enough talent on the roster to keep themselves in a good position in the East, but their play has not satisfied fans, Coach Brad Stevens, or themselves. Boston is 4th in the East with a record of 12-10 on the year. They have lost 6 of their last 10 to what many people think is lesser competition. The problem with Boston this year has been continuity and defense. The Celtics normal starting 5 of Walker, Smart, Brown, Tatum, and Theis/Thompson has only played one game together so far this year, a loss to the Spurs. The Celtics’ 12th ranked defense has looked a lot worse than that at times, prompting Brad Stevens to tell reporters Boston “does not pass the eye test” on defense. The Celtics also dearly miss Gordon Hayward in their half court offense. The impact of a player like Hayward wasn’t felt in Boston until he left. Hh allowed the Celtics to always have a guy who can get his own shot and run pick and roll from the wing position. Boston no longer has that type of facilitator. The Celtics have been a team linked to trade rumors constantly to start off the year and hold a massive trade exception from the Hayward deal. They need to do something to cover up the glaring holes in their roster. If they don’t, it could be a disappointing end of the year for us Beantown Boys.

(TNT)

8. Phoenix Suns

The Suns have been a breath of fresh air to the Western Conference so far this year. They are currently 13-9 after beating the Celtics Sunday afternoon. The acquisition of Chris Paul in the offseason has shifted the culture in Phoenix. As a team who has been bad on defense for years, Paul and Coach Monty Williams have contributed heavily to getting this team to the 5th ranked defense in basketball. Young scoring machine Devin Booker is taking less shots that in previous years, and it’s working to his and his team’s benefit. Former number one overall pick DeAndre Ayton is starting show flashes of an All-Star big man and many other Suns have chipped in. Third year wing Mikal Bridges has been a huge bright spot for Phoenix. He has emerged as one of the best young defenders in basketball and has provided stability at a wing position formerly held by Tsunami Papi Kelly Oubre. Bridges’ scoring numbers have also gone up a full 5 points from 9.1 last year to 14.1 this year. Chris Paul took the Thunder to the playoffs last year with his unparalleled ability to manage a team and an offense, and it looks like he is doing the same for the Suns. Phoenix is going to be a tough, tough out in the Playoffs with the way they are playing.

(Kevin C. Cox/AP)

7. Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic is playing at an MVP level, and if he weren’t, the Nuggets could be much lower on this list. Denver made it to the Western Conference Finals on the backs of Jokic and Jamal Murray last year. They have come out of the gates very lukewarm to start the campaign. Denver is 12-10 to start the year with basically the same roster as their bubble run. Jokic has been sensational, but Murray has leveled out back to his normal output. Emerging star Michael Porter Jr. has been good offensively, but is still too much of a raw talent to really make an impact on winning. Denver has great wins this year over the Jazz, Warriors, 76ers, and twice against the Suns, but they’ve matched them win bad losses. Ls to the Mavericks, Spurs, and 3 by the Kings have them in the middle of the pack. It seems like many Western Conference teams got better in the offseason, and the Nuggets didn’t. Much like Boston, the talent on their roster has kept them afloat, but there is certainly red flags popping up all over Denver.

6. Brooklyn Nets

The Nets have one of the best rosters in basketball history on paper. Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving carry 2 MVPs, 7 Scoring Titles, and 24 All-Star appearances amongst the three of them. Brooklyn is fully leaning into one side of the ball and saying “outscore us if you can.” They currently rank 3rd in offensive rating and 7th in pace. But, pardon my French, Brooklyn doesn’t give two shits about defense. They sit 27th in the league and have given up over 100 points in all but 4 of their games this season, only 2 since acquiring Harden. The Nets are taking the LeBron James approach to the regular season. They aren’t worried about stressing out over wins and losses and just want to build good habits for the Playoffs. Their record of 14-11 doesn’t reflect how good this team can be when they are firing on all cylinders. Their win against the Clippers on Tuesday showed they can hang with any team in the league. Brooklyn currently has an open roster spot and have expressed interest in literally everyone in the league. Their roster isn’t done and could get even better. If Brooklyn can build good habits, they’ll be the best team in basketball. For now, the inconsistency and a terrible defense isn’t enough for them to crack the top 5.

(Getty Images)

5. Milwaukee Bucks

Over the past few years, the Bucks have been one of the most impressive regular season teams of all time. They are currently 15-8 with a newly revamped roster which added veteran point guard Jrue Holiday to the mix. The Bucks obviously still have one of the most imposing figures in the game in Giannis Antetokounmpo as well. Milwaukee has built a team that is designed to either get Giannis space or shoot a 3. And it’s working. The Bucks are currently the best offense in the league averaging an offensive rating of 118.9 per 100 possessions. They’ve won 4 games in a row and are creeping up to the number 1 spot in the East. In the last week they have beaten the Cavs twice, the Pacers, and the Trailblazers. All by more than 18 points. They’re offense is averaging 127 points over this 4 game run. The Bucks have showed to be an incredible team during the first 82, or 72 this year. Like the Nets, they need to continue to build good habits and chemistry if they finally want to get over the hump to the NBA Finals. With Giannis on the team, the Bucks will always be a top team in the East, and this year has been no different.

(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

4. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers just missed out on the medal round in this week’s Power Rankings. LA has one of the best records in the league this year at 17-8. Their tandem of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are both performing better offensively this year under new head coach Tyronn Lue and there seems to be a fresher spirit to the Clippers. Last year, they were very good, but you could tell they weren’t having much fun on the court. This year, the team seems much more connected on each end of the floor. New pickups Serge Ibaka and Nicholas Batum, yeah remember Batum, have played very well and have allowed the Clippers to keep spreading the floor and moving the ball. The Clippers currently rank 2nd in the NBA in Lue’s new offense and have continued to show their rank among the best in the league. They have lost two in a row and 3 of their last 4, but the Clippers are too talented and playing too well together to put them below other teams on this list.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

The Celtic’s fan in me hates this, but Philly has been the best team in the East since the opening bell this year. The Sixers are the number one team in the East with a record of 17-7 on the year. New Coach Doc Rivers and new GM Daryl Morey and constructed a roster built around Joel Embiid, and Embiid is playing like a monster. Joel is currently at the top of many people’s MVP leaderboards averaging 29.3 PPG, a career high for him. Coach Rivers has convinced Embiid to get back inside the paint to great avail. Embiid is shooting a higher percentage from the field and from 3 than ever before. The shooters on this team are also making a huge impact. Seth Curry is shooting over 50% from deep for Philly and back-up point guard Shake Milton is 14 PPG for the squad. Philly has raised their defensive intensity all the way up to 4th in the league and they are winning games because of it. They have taken home a W in 8 of their last 10 and keep dispatching of the teams they are supposed to. They are also holding down home court incredibly well, going 11-2 at home so far this year. Philly’s new style of play, their impressive record, and contributions from up and down the roster are the reason they are number 1 in the Eastern Conference.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

The defending champs are riding high! The Lakers are currently 2nd in the West at 18-6. They have won 4 in a row and 7 of their last ten to remind the NBA who the kings are. Not the Sactown Kings, we’d actually like to forget them. LeBron and AD have this team causing through the regular season, as LeBron teams usually do. LA is one of the only teams in the league who rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating, with their defensive number leading the NBA. They expanded on a championship roster throughout the offseason and got even better. Marc Gasol, Dennis Schroder, and Montrezl Harrell have all been newly acquired bright spots for the Lakers this year. Schroder has stood out as a great pickup for them and has taken over the starting point guard duties with the loss of Rajon Rondo. The Lakers currently have 5 players all averaging over 10 points a game. LeBron is my personal leader for MVP so far this year and Anthony Davis is on a revenge tour for the Defensive Player of the Year. AD leads the league in individual defensive rating by the way. Are the Lakers in cruise control? Absolutely. But when they turn it on, like they did in a 15-0 run to clinch a win over Denver, they are undoubtedly the best team in basketball. But there is one, one very smooth team who just beats them out this week.

1. Utah Jazz

The Jazz are awesome this year! Utah is absolutely balling with a record of 19-5 to start the year. They have won 15 of their last 16 games and look like an much upgraded team from last year. Donovan Mitchell is putting on a case to start the All-Star game for the first time averaging 23.5 PPG on 43% shooting from the field. Sixth man Jordon Clarkson already got his named engraved on the Sixth Man of the Year trophy and Two-Time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert is doing his best to keep AD away from the award. But everyone on the Jazz is balling, and that why they are number 1. Bojan Bogdanovic has turned into one of the prettiest shooters in the league shooting 42% on six attempts per game. Mike Conley and Joe Ingles are both putting up over 10 points a game and shooting it well from deep. Royce O’Neale has quietly turned into one of the best on-ball defenders in the NBA. Utah currently ranks in the top 5 in both offensive and defensive rating. Coach Quinn Snyder has done a great job with this group that seems virtually unbeatable right now. There only loss in the past 3 weeks came to the Nuggets, and Jokic had to drop 50 to get the win. Do I think Utah has a better roster than either LA team? No. Would I pick them in a series? No. But they are undoubtedly a better team than the team that lost in the first round of the Playoffs last year. The Jazz took the leap everyone expected the Mavs to take this year, and because of that, they also take home the gold in this week’s Power Rankings.