NBA Power Rankings

After about a third of the NBA season, we know who are contenders and pretenders. Here are my NBA Power Rankings with quick thoughts about each team!

1. Milwaukee Bucks (29-5, 1st in the East)

I. Giannis is the MVP.

Giannis is the best player in the NBA. His freak athleticism, ungodly length, and uber-efficient scoring are just some of the traits that make up Giannis. As many know, he won his first MVP last season. But what if I told you, he’s averaging better numbers this season? His per game averages have improved to 31 points and 12.9 rebounds, up from 27.7 and 12.5. He's also more efficient with a 60.9 eFG%. Defensively, his 5.1 defensive box plus-minus is a career best as well. Oh, and he has a 3-point shot now. His 34% 3-point shooting on 5.1 attempts per game is the best of his career. Overall, Giannis has the highest net rating of 16.3 for all players averaging at least 25 minutes a game. During a celebration in Milwaukee for his award last summer, he said, “Please don’t call me MVP … until I win it again next year.” Giannis better get used to the chants because he should win MVP once again. After a statement win over LA before Christmas, Giannis and the Bucks hold the top spot.

2. Los Angeles Lakers (26-7, 1st in the West)

I. The Lakers wish for good health this holiday season.

Other than losing to the Clippers on Christmas, LeBron James re-injured his groin and is likely to miss a couple games. Thankfully the injury isn't serious. But considering how valuable LeBron and Anthony Davis are to the Lakers, ensuring their health must be a priority. Up until games against the last four games, LeBron James and Anthony Davis made up 43.8% of the team’s field goal attempts this season. James and Davis also account for 31.6% and 29.6% usage respectively. The next highest player is Kyle Kuzma (21.5%). As for point totals, the dynamic duo accounts for 64.4% of the team’s total points while on the court. LeBron has already logged 937 minutes this season, followed by Davis who has run up and down the court for 901 minutes. Next is Danny Green with 684 minutes proving how important AD and LBJ are for LA. While this duo has yet to beat PG and The Klaw, the Lakers don't have any bad losses.

3. Los Angeles Clippers (23-11, 3rd in the West)

I. The best team in the NBA hasn’t been the best team in the NBA.

On paper, the Clippers are the best team. They have two superstars in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, the deepest bench in the league, the length and athleticism for the best defense, and tons of three point shooting. But for some reason, the Clippers have lost to the Spurs, Bulls, Pelicans, Thunder, and Suns. Everybody and they're mama thought the Clippers were the best in the league. Even with two wins over the Lakers, those bad losses keep the Clippers from being ranked ahead of their LA counterpart.

4. Miami Heat (24-8, 2nd in the East)

I. Duncan Robinson is a diamond from the Division III rough.

First off, I was wrong about the Heat. I thought they’d be a disappointment and barely miss the playoffs. I was wrong. Of course Jimmy Butler is doing Jimmy Butler things. Bam Adebayo’s emergence as a premier rebounder and interior player was expected by many. But what wasn’t is how damn good Duncan Robinson would be. Robinson started his collegiate career at the Division III level at Williams College (shoutout to my friend and Williams College grad Chris Galvin). After an incredible freshman season where he led the team in points scored (548), three-point shots made (81–179), three-point % (45.3), free throw percentage (87.8%), blocks (36) and steals (36), he transferred to the University of Michigan. He blossomed under Coach John Beilein. After going undrafted, the Miami Heat picked him up. In his 2nd season, Robinson is averaging 12.1 ppg while shooting 46.5% from 3 with a true shooting percentage of 70.2%. Basically Robinson is a sniper on the perimeter and the perfect floor spacer to pair with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Add in other floor spacers such as rookie Tyler Herro, Meyers Leonard, Kelly Olynyk, another unsung hero in Kendrick Nunn, and you’ve got a team pushing the best in the East.

5. Boston Celtics (22-8, 3rd in the East)

I. Kemba Walker fits the Celtics like a glove.

There’s no denying who the better talent is: Kyrie Irving. But there’s no denying who’s the better fit for the Celtics: Kemba Walker. After losing by 14 to the 76ers to start the season, the Celtics have gone 21-6 with many key wins, and Kemba Walker is a big reason why. Kemba’s been phenomenal averaging 22.6 ppg with career highs in true shooting percentage at 59% and 3-point percentage at 41.1%. But it’s not just his production helping Boston. Kemba’s locker room presence has helped the Celtics click offensively. The offensive numbers of Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum have improved, while Jaylen Brown is having a breakout season.

6. Denver Nuggets (23-9, 2nd in the West)

I. Don’t worry about Jokic because Denver’s defense is unreal.

While Nikola Jokic is still averaging 17.8 ppg, 6.8 apg, and 10 rpg, those are clear declines from the 20.1 ppg, 7.3 apg, and 10.8 rpg he averaged last season. Couple this with his VORP (value over replacement) declining from 7.3 to 2.2, and people started to wonder if Jokic lost his magic touch. But Jokic’s dip in form is not necessarily his fault. Rather, the Nuggets are using Jokic less with a 2.3% decline in usage rate and using him like never before. Denver’s offense ran through Jokic in the post trusting one of the best passers in the NBA to make the right read and react to the defense correctly. Now, Denver puts Jokic in pick and rolls with usually Jamal Murray. This means the defense must react to a growing scorer in Murray while needing to account for Jokic at the same time. But considering the Nuggets are 23-9 and 2nd in the West, Jokic’s dip in form isn’t hampering this team too much. They're 1st in points per game allowed and 3rd in defensive rating allowing them to win a lot of games so far. But if the Nuggets want to seriously contend, their 14th ranked offense must improve.

7. Houston Rockets (22-11, 4th in the West)

I. The Rockets are who we thought they were.

When General Manager Daryl Morey traded Chris Paul for Russell Westbrook, everyone worried how Westbrook and Harden would co-exist. While I thought Westbrook’s playmaking and rebounding ability would help this team, the Rockets have failed to adjust their offensive system. James Harden is taking 1000 shots a game and scoring at a historic clip, again. Westbrook is not. He’s still a poor shooter averaging the 2nd worst FG% and 3 point percentage of his career at 42.6% and 23.8%. Teams are trapping Harden and leaving Westbrook wide open because he's not making his 3s. Add Westbrook’s shooting problems to an average defense and poor depth, and the Rockets are who we thought they were: a good team that will be lucky to make the western conference finals.

8. Toronto Raptors (22-11, 4th in the East)

I. Pascal Siakam is a bonafide superstar.

The defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors are a legit contender in the east, and Pascal Siakam is the main reason why. Here is how his points per game average has progressed since his rookie season: 4.2, 7.3, 16.9, to 25.1. Here is how his rebounds per game average has progressed: 3.4, 4.5, 6.9, to 8.0. Here is how is 3-point percentage has progressed: 14.3, 22, 36.9, to 39.2. Last season, Pascal Siakam won the Most Improved Player award. While he won't win Most Improved this season, he kinda should. Add in the emergence of Fred VanVleet and the quality coaching of Nick Nurse, and the Raptors are proving they can contend without Kawhi.

9. Philadelphia 76ers (23-12, 5th in the East)

I. The 76ers need to knock down perimeter shots, especially when teams play zone.

Remember all those videos of Ben Simmons making threes? Remember all the hype around his new-found shooting ability? Well he’s attempted five 3s and made two of them the entire season. Though Josh Richardson and Tobias Harris have improved their 3-point percentage as the season progressed, both must improve on their 34% 3-point shooting to get teams out of their zone defense. Other than Richardson and Harris, Philly’s other 3-point threats, Al Horford and Mike Scott, are only shooting 34% with Furkan Korkmaz the only player shooting a solid 39%. After 15 games, the 76ers ranked 16th in offensive rating. Now they’re 10th. While this is clear progress, outside shots must fall consistently for them to get back to the top of the east.

10. Dallas Mavericks (21-11, 5th in the West)

I. The Mavs are forreal.

Entering the season, I thought the Mavs would be a fun team to watch. Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis fit well together. But there isn't much else on the Mavs to be a true playoff contender. Wrong. Luka has been phenomenal. In NBA.com's KIA MVP Ladder, Luka is 2nd behind Giannis averaging 29.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg, and 9.1 apg while leading the NBA in assist percentage (49.3) and offensive rating (118.3). He's also 2nd to only Giannis in Player Impact Estimate with a 22.1 rating. PIE is a simple metric that gives an excellent indication of performance at both the team and player level. A player that achieves more than 10% is likely to be better than the average player, and a high PIE % is highly correlated to winning. Considering Luka is putting up MVP numbers and Kristaps is looking solid and healthy, they are a legit team right now with impressive wins over Milwaukee, Philly, LA Lakers, and Houston. But losses to the Kings, Trail Blazers, and Knicks twice keep the Mavs from a higher ranking.

11. Utah Jazz (20-12, 6th in the West)

I.

The Jazz will eventually be fine. But it has taken much longer than expected for Mike Conley to get adjusted. His injuries problems haven’t helped. Their bench lacks production as well. While the Jazz just traded for Jordan Clarkson to provide bench scoring, the offense is plagued by the same problem as before: Donovan Mitchell doesn’t have a scoring partner. But I still have faith in the Jazz.

12. Indiana Pacers (21-12, 6th in the East)

I. The Pacers are hanging on while they wait for Victor Oladipo to return.

On the surface, being 6th in the East doesn’t look too good. But they're 3.5 games out of 2nd and have won 6 of their last 9 games. I mentioned in my first season preview post how I believe Malcolm Brogdon will be huge for the Pacers, and I was exactly right. Though he's out with a groin injury, when on the floor, Indiana used Brogdon 26.3% of the time he was on the floor, the highest usage rate of his career. Rightfully so, since Brogdon is repaying the trust they’ve instilled in him with improvement across the board in his per game averages including a career high 18.9 ppg and 7.6 apg. The Pacers also have the 6th best defense and the 8th best net rating in the league. If Oladipo comes back at full force, they’re gonna be sneaky good.

13. Oklahoma City Thunder (17-15, 7th in the West)

I. Chris Paul is a Wizard.

We’ll never truly know what happened near the end of Chris Paul’s time with the Rockets. Perhaps the rumors of him and James Harden not getting along were true. Perhaps Paul was genuinely unhappy there. What we do know is the Rockets traded Chris Paul and 1 million draft picks to the Thunder for Russell Westbrook. Entering the season, rumors of the Thunder trying to trade Chris Paul permeated the league. But the Thunder have decided to keep Paul so far, and it’s paying off. Paul's numbers are better than last season improving his ppg, true shooting percentage, and 3-point percentage and leading the Thunder to the 7th seed in the west.

14. Brooklyn Nets (16-15, 7th in the East)

I. The Nets aren’t necessarily better without Kyrie, but they function better.

Here’s what I said about the Nets prior to the season: “Kyrie is good to go, and the Nets have a 10 man rotation of quality players who will know their roll. This is Kyrie’s dream. But will his shown lack of leadership skills turn this into a nightmare only KD can wake Brooklyn up from?” 31 games in, and this season is looking more like a nightmare than a dream for Kyrie. Prior to his shoulder injury on November 12, Kyrie was putting up a career high 28.5 ppg, but shooting a 56.1 true shooting percentage, 3rd worst of his 9-season career. He also shot a career low 44% from the field while shooting a career high 23 shots a game. Kyrie’s ball-stopping inefficiency was a big reason why they were 4-6 with Kyrie. Without Kyrie, the Nets are 12-9 with a more free-flowing offense allowing more people to shine, like Spencer Dinwiddie and Jarrett Allen.

15. Portland Trail Blazers (14-19, 8th in the West)

I. Other than Dame and CJ, this team isn’t very good.

Prior to the season, I knew the Blazers would struggle. Losing Nurkic was a huge deal. While Hassan Whiteside has had a great year so far, the Blazers don’t have another scorer to fit with Dame and CJ. Enter Carmelo Anthony? Melo’s been decent averaging 16.4 ppg and 6.4 rpg shooting 40% from 3, and the Blazers are 9-7 since he joined. But as I predicted, Portland’s ceiling is 6th in the west considering they’re 4.5 games back of 6th.

16. Orlando Magic (14-18, 8th in the East)

I. Jonathan Isaac is developing nicely.

Jonathan Isaac was always considered a project. The 6’11, 3rd year forward out of Florida St. has all the tools to be a versatile and long, perimeter scorer. However, his basketball ability and IQ needed tons of development before reaching his potential. Isaac showed flashes last season. Now he’s emerging as one of the best players on the Magic. He averages 12.4 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.4 spg, and 2.6 bpg while shooting 34% from 3 and a true shooting percentage of 55%. A PER of 16.9 is a career best as well making Isaac’s improvement a big reason why the Magic are 8th in the East. But until Orlando obtains guard depth, their ceiling is barely making the playoffs.

17. Memphis Grizzlies (12-21, 10th in the West)

I. Ja Morant is Rookie of the Year, but Brandon Clarke is the steal of the draft.

We all knew Ja Morant would be a star. But Brandon Clarke flew under the radar on many mock drafts. The term “flew” is fitting considering how he flies through the lane dunking on people. But he’s much more than athleticism. Coming out of college, Brandon Clarke was one of the most efficient players in college basketball, and that’s translating to the NBA as well. For all NBA rookies averaging at least 15 minutes a game, Brandon Clarke ranks first in eFG%, true shooting %, and rebound % with 68.1%, 69.4%, and 14.3%. But that’s not all. Clarke has a high PIE (Player Impact Estimate) as well. Clarke’s 15.6 PIE rating ranks 20th out of all players who average at least 20 minutes a game. That’s really good. If he continues to improve his playmaking and shooting, he’s going to be really really good. If Morant, Clarke, Jackson, and (hopefully) a top 3 pick continue to improve, the Memphis Grizzlies will be really really good.

18. San Antonio Spurs (13-18, 9th in the West)

I. San Antonio's consecutive playoff streak ends this season.

I get it. The Spurs are only 1 game back of the 8th seed. Coach Popovich is still Coach Popovich. DeMar DeRozan is having a solid season. LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the best post players in the NBA. I get it. But their offense is ranked 15th. Their defense is ranked 22nd. While this may come as a shock, the Spurs ranked 1st in 3-point percentage last season. But this season, they rank 16th in 3-point percentage. I get the Spurs are a seed above the Grizzlies in the West, but Memphis is playing better basketball right now. As the saying went, there are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and the Spurs making the playoffs. But this is the year they won’t.

19. Phoenix Suns (12-20, 11th in the West)

I. Ricky Rubio has opened up this offense.

Ricky Rubio is averaging a career high in assists with 9.4. His dynamic playmaking alongside the scoring talents of Devin Booker have led this Suns to the 9th best offense in the NBA. Though they’ve come back to earth losing seven of their last eight, though their defense ranks 19th, I’m not here to bash the Suns. Instead, this tear-jerking letter written by Ricky Rubio to his late mother is a must read and tell us his inspiration for having such a good season.

20. Charlotte Hornets (13-22, 10th in the East)

I. The Hornets youth movement is working, for now.

2nd year players Miles Bridges and Devonte’ Graham and 2019 1st round pick PJ Washington have propelled the Hornets to playoff contention. The 12th pick in the 2018 draft, Miles Bridges has steadily improved statistically as expected, and Washington’s averaging a respectable 12.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg, but the Hornets’ early success is mainly due to the Graham. Graham was the 34th pick in the 2018 draft and averaged only 4.7 ppg and 2.6 apg. Now he’s averaging 19.1 ppg, 7.7 apg, while shooting 39.2% from 3 and the favorite for Most Improved. The 2nd year guard must continue his production if the Hornets want to make a shock run at the playoffs.

21. Sacramento Kings (13-21, 12th in the West)

I. Injuries and cold shooting have plagued the Kings.

Losers of seven straight, last season’s feel good team isn’t feeling so good right now. First it was Marvin Bagley III, then it was De’Aaron Fox, then Bogdan Bogdonavic, all of them have missed considerable time due to injuries. While all three are back, the Kings started the season behind the 8-ball and are struggling to find their footing.

22. Chicago Bulls (13-20, 9th in the East)

I. Head Coach Jim Boylen must be fired asap.

The Jim Boylen experiment has failed miserably. While having the 9th best defense in the NBA is all fine and good, their offense is ranked 30th, dead last. Nobody seems to listen to Coach Boylen, and the lack of development from Bulls’ young players like Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn, Wendell Carter Jr., and Denzel Valentine, on top of Coby White’s regression after his hot start to the season prove there must be a new voice in the Bulls locker room. But all in all, the Bulls are 9th and 1.5 games out of the 8th seed. If Boylen is fired, a new coach could propel them to a playoff birth.

23. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-20, 13th in the West)

I. Andrew Wiggins is actually good.

I’ve always quietly rooted for Andrew Wiggins. The former number 1 overall pick oozed potential as a teenager. Wiggins as close to a sure thing as there could be. With his insane athleticism, ability to score at will, and incredible defensive potential considering his size, length, and athleticism, NBA scouts drooled over Wiggins. But after he signed a max contract in 2018, what followed were his worst seasons averaging 17.9 ppg shooting 42.5% from the field, 33.5% from 3, and an atrocious 45.8% for 2-pointers. Not only did he struggle offensively, he was horrible defensively as well. However, Andrew Wiggins has improved this season. While his defensive numbers are subpar, his offensive numbers are actually good. Wiggins averages 25 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 3.1 apg with career highs in true shooting percentage, PER, and VORP at 54.2%, 18.5, and 0.2 respectively. Of course, Wiggins must improve defensively and maintain this offensive output. However, this is a step in the right direction. Other than Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns is a monster. But the rest of the team isn’t very good. They lack consistent point guard play and have an over saturation of centers and wings.

24. Detroit Pistons (12-21, 11th in the East)

I. I’m happy for Derrick Rose.

We all know the trials and tribulations Derrick Rose has endured his career, which is why when he scored 50 points last season, when he hit that game winner about a month ago, we celebrated him. But Derrick Rose is more than just a couple a good moments here and there, he’s a player who can contribute on a championship contender. He’s averaging 16.4 ppg, 6 apg, with a true shooting percentage of 55.4, 2nd highest of his career. His box plus minus of 0.5 is his best since 2014 as well. Of course he’ll never be what he once was, but it makes me happy seeing Derrick Rose enjoying basketball again and playing well.

25. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-22, 12th in the East)

I. Get Tristan Thompson and/or Kevin Love on a contender.

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Tristan Thompson is having one of his best seasons with career high averages in points, blocks, and rebounds. Kevin Love is one of the best stretch 4s in the NBA who averages double digit rebounds. Even if Love’s contract is not the best, both players have good value on the trade market. If the Cavs want to commit to the future, they should trade one or both of those players to keep rebuilding.

26. Washington Wizards (9-22, 13th in the East)

I. Get Bradley Beal out of Washington.

Bradley Beal is having the best season of his career. He's averaging 28.3 ppg and 6.8 apg, both career highs, with a 20.9 PER, another career high. While his numbers aren't super efficient, he is taking the most shots in his career and has amassed the highest usage rate of his career (32%) as well. Bradley Beal’s value has never been higher. Washington, please trade him and build for the future.

27. New Orleans Pelicans (11-23, 14th in the West)

I. Injuries, injuries, and more injuries.

Entering the season, I thought the Pelicans could contend for a playoff spot. I had faith in Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, and thought Zion would take the NBA by storm. Derrick Favors and JJ Reddick seemed like good fits as well. I'm also a Jrue Holiday stan for his ability on both sides of the ball. But injuries have ruined the Pelicans. Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Derrick Favors, and Zion Williamson, have missed serious time with Zion's return up in the air.

28. New York Knicks (9-24, 14th in the East)

I. They’re horrible.

One more time, they’re horrible. Only a prayer to the Greek Gods can save arguably the worst sports franchise in America.

29. Golden State Warriors (9-25, 15th in the West)

I. The Warriors should tank.

Before Stephen Curry broke his hand, I repeatedly said the Warriors were not making the playoffs. Even with a healthy Steph, the Warriors never had enough depth or perimeter defense to hang with the rest of the NBA. As good as D’Angelo is, he is not a perfect fit alongside Steph. D-Lo is an on-ball scorer who needs the ball in his hands. *Yeah but so was KD!* Well KD is a 7 foot, top 3 scorer of all time who experienced some success with a ball dominant guard in Westbrook. Don’t get me wrong, I like D-Lo as a scorer, and Draymond Green has one of the highest basketball IQs in the history of the NBA. But the Warriors weren't making the playoffs before Steph's injury. After his injury, the Warriors are a shell of their former selves praying for the number 1 pick. If their prayers come true, imagine James Wiseman with a healthy Warriors squad… They're also monitoring Karl Anthony Towns...

30. Atlanta Hawks (6-27, 15th in the East)

I. The suspension of John Collins killed Hawks.

On November 5, forward John Collins was suspended 25 games for using PEDs. Prior to the suspension, the Hawks were not world beaters at 2-3, but they started the season beating 2 playoff teams from last season and only losing by 2 to the 76ers before suffering back to back losses to the Heat. The Hawks looked decent. Since the suspension, they’ve looked horrible. I’m still high on this Hawks young core, especially with Trae Young putting up insane numbers. But even with Collins back, it's too little too late for a once promising Hawks team.

Thanks everybody for checking my article out! Comment your thoughts on my rankings and let me know what other posts you'd like to see from me!