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NBA Power Rankings (Week 15)
No team in the NBA had a better week than the Houston Rockets. After disposing of the Cleveland Cavaliers (twice) and the Boston Celtics they’ve shown they can compete with the best in the East. How far up did that bump them? Did the Jimmy Butler drama impact our ranking for the Heat? And should we be giving more credit to teams at the bottom that are all of a sudden sizzling hot like the Blazers and Raptors? Read on and find out.
30. Washington Wizards (6-39)
Last Week: 30
About the only bright spot on the Wizards right now is Jordan Poole who’s averaging 20.9 PPG in January. No other Wizard is averaging at least 15 PPG in January and that’s leading to the league’s third worst offensive rating. Unsurprisingly it means they’re losing a lot of games and are currently on a 14-game losing streak. Nothing’s going right for the Wizards who simply just want Alexandre Sarr to stay in the rookie of the year conversation.
29. Utah Jazz (10-35)
Last Week: 29
Maybe a bit of a victim of bad luck in January, the Jazz have posted a -3.7 net rating in the month that’s amounted to a 3-10 record. The defense has taken a hit lately, giving up 123+ points in five straight games. Offensive reinforcements are starting to come back with Jordan Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen but that hasn’t translated to any wins yet. The schedule doesn’t quite ease up much either, leading most Jazz fans to look forward to (or away from) the upcoming trade deadline.
28. Charlotte Hornets (12-31)
Last Week: 28
After going on a mini hot streak the Hornets have started to cool off some, winning just one of their last four games. That’s less important to Hornets fans, though, as Charlotte lost Brandon Miller for the rest of the season after undergoing wrist surgery last week. It’s unfortunate for the Hornets as they had started to perform a bit better in January, putting together a 5-6 record to go along with a +1.4 net rating. Their offense may still be alright with LaMelo Ball at the helm but basketball will be less exciting for the foreseeable future in Charlotte.
27. Brooklyn Nets (14-33)
Last Week: 26
Brooklyn is in desperate need for their young star Cam Thomas to return. Thomas has missed essentially all of January with a hamstring strain and will undergo additional testing on Wednesday. When he returns we should expect Brooklyn’s offense to improve. Until then their league worst 102.8 offensive rating will drive sluggish, ugly games for the Nets. At 2-13 in January, there’s not much to be excited about in Brooklyn.
26. New Orleans Pelicans (12-35)
Last Week: 25
After winning four straight the Pelicans have dropped three in a row. The offense had been performing well prior to this three game losing streak as they averaged 123.2 PPG in the prior six games. A 126 point effort against Memphis wasn’t enough and in the following games they only put up 92 and 104 points. The good news for Pelicans fans is that Zion Williamson appears to be healthy and is playing more consistently. The bad news is Brandon Ingram trade rumors are about to heat up with the Toronto Raptors emerging as a potential suitor. The worse news is their upcoming schedule giving them no breaks whatsoever in terms of competition. Don’t expect much rest in the Big Easy these next few weeks.
25. Toronto Raptors (14-32)
Last Week: 27
Speaking of those Raptors, look who’s won six of their last seven games? There’s an outside shot they still can make a run at a play-in spot, especially if Joel Embiid’s injury issues hold back the Sixers more and the Bulls decide to trade LaVine and/or Vucevic. A trade for Brandon Ingram may not be the answer to making a play-in run but it may make things interesting in Toronto. In the meantime, Scottie Barnes continues to drive the show in Toronto and is averaging 20.8 PPG and 8.5 RPG in January. If they can make it through their gauntlet of an upcoming schedule in one piece then they may be able to make a realistic run at the 10-seed.
24. Portland Trail Blazers (18-29)
Last Week: 24
Another cellar dweller that’s putting together some good wins, the Blazers had won four of their last five coming into Tuesday’s upset win over the Bucks, who they’ve now swept in the regular season. Portland’s been doing it with defense too, keeping two teams under 100 points and allowing no more than 107 points in their four-game winning streak that the Thunder eventually broke. Portland has a long ways to go before they can consider trying to snatch the 10-seed, so their hopes may be more farfetched than Toronto’s as we mentioned previously, but they won’t be a team you can afford to sleep on going forward.
23. Chicago Bulls (20-27)
Last Week: 23
Still one of the more confounding teams in the NBA. They’re incredibly inconsistent and have just two wins in their last nine games, yet those wins have come over some decent contenders in the West with the Clippers and Nuggets falling to them in the past week plus. Trade rumors continue to swirl around Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic and won’t temper down until the deadline passes. The biggest decision Chicago faces is whether to make a run with the current roster or to rebuild knowing the likelihood they advance to a spot outside the play-in is unlikely. As of now Lavine is rumored to prefer staying in Chicago, but anything can happen prior to the February 6th deadline.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (18-27)
Last Week: 22
Realistically the Sixers’ success all relies on Joel Embiid, who’s going to miss at least one more game for Philadelphia. The big man’s only played in two games in January and the Sixers desperately need him. They’re just 5-10 in January but are just one game back of the 10-seed. The plan this season had been to keep Embiid fresh and healthy for the playoffs, but at this point in the season they’re playing with fire by looking more and more likely to be solely a play-in team, increasing the chances they get booted early. Lucky for Philly they have one of the easiest remaining schedules according to Tankathon, but that may not matter if Embiid’s knee doesn’t cooperate.
21. Golden State Warriors (23-23)
Last Week: 21
This next week may be the last chance for the Warriors to address their inefficiencies on the roster. They’ve been a touch better in January, posting a 6-7 record, but they’re still not performing at a level we’ve come to expect out of Golden State. Offensively their January numbers are showing improvement, shooting for a 55.1% eFG%. That’s on par with the Knicks and the Kings. But opponents are shooting at a 56.3% eFG% against them in January, fifth worst in the league. Golden State has issues all over the place that need to be addressed if they want to make a run in the West.
20. Miami Heat (23-22)
Last Week: 19
In case you haven’t heard, Jimmy Butler wants out of Miami. Breaking news, I know! Who he goes to and what this roster looks like after the deadline is anyone’s guess. One thing that’s for certain, though, is that this roster needs the distraction removed. Just 7-8 in January with a -2.7 net rating, this team has put forth an underwhelming performance. Yet they’re the six-seed in the East after taking out the Magic in 2OT on Monday. Shipping out Butler and ridding themselves of a massive distraction may be what they need to refocus and turn themselves into the playoff contenders we’ve expected them to be for decades now.
19. Atlanta Hawks (22-25)
Last Week: 17
Back on the slide, the Hawks have lost five straight. Most of this has coincided with injuries to key starters in Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher. De’Andre Hunter’s hot streak off the bench has cooled and he’s averaging 16.1 PPG in January after averaging 22.7 PPG in December. They’re sitting somewhat comfortably in the 9-seed right now but the pressure can heat up real quick if they continue to falter. And with their schedule looking like it’s about to get pretty brutal they can’t afford many missteps if they want to stay in the play-in.
18. San Antonio Spurs (20-23)
Last Week: 18
We mentioned last week that maybe a reset in Paris with a homecoming for Victor Wembanyama was needed for the Spurs. And they showed out in their first game of the Paris games, crushing the Pacers 140-110. Unfortunately they couldn’t keep it up in the second game as the Pacers returned the favor with a 136-98 loss. San Antonio still needs more in order to turn around their January as they’ve gone just 3-7 during the month with the league’s third worst defensive rating (118.9). The fight for the last play-in spot will be highly contested and if the Spurs want a piece of the play-in they’ll need to step it up.
17. Phoenix Suns (24-21)
Last Week: 20
The apparent preferred destination for Jimmy Butler may not even need his services if we’re being honest. With a 9-3 record in their last 12 games, the Suns are cooking. The caveat here is that their wins haven’t come against the best competition in the league, but a 9-3 run helps set you straight regardless of who you’re playing. Their 56.8% eFG% in January ranks fifth in the league, making them a formidable opponent for anyone facing them. Their schedule doesn’t look to get tough until March, giving whoever they acquire at the deadline enough time to mesh into the roster. If the West isn’t careful the Suns could creep up to the four or five seed by the end of the season.
16. Detroit Pistons (23-23)
Last Week: 15
Things have cooled down a bit in Detroit after grabbing the league’s attention. At 2-4 in their last six they’re in a small downswing but they’re holding onto the 8-seed with a realistic chance at jumping back into the 6-seed or better if they put together a solid run. Their schedule through the All-Star break provides them a bit of opportunity to make that jump into the playoff picture, a sharp turnaround from their fortunes last season.
15. Los Angeles Lakers (26-17)
Last Week: 16
After winning six of their last seven games the Lakers got crushed by Philly on the second leg of a back-to-back. That won’t make Laker fans feel any better about the team even though things have improved for them in January. And 8-5 record has helped them move into the 5-seed in the West, a pretty decent spot for them given how quiet it’s been in LA recently. They’re somehow flying a bit under-the-radar, but that will certainly change if AD is forced to miss any time or if they make any splashes at the trade deadline.
14. Orlando Magic (24-24)
Last Week: 13
The Magic finally have both Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero healthy and active after Wagner returned three games ago. Unfortunately for Orlando they’re still in a major downswing, losing eight of their last 10 games. Given their injuries it’s been a bit understandable, but their resiliency from fighting through the initial blows is starting to fade. With a more fully loaded roster they’ll need to kick it back into gear. They’ve fallen to the 7-seed, and shouldn’t fall out of the play-in bracket, but they’ve got work to do to get back on solid footing in the playoff picture.
13. Sacramento Kings (24-22)
Last Week: 14
Sacramento’s made great strides since moving on from Mike Brown at head coach, putting up an 11-4 record since the firing. They’ve moved up into the 10-seed and are withing striking distance of the 6-seed, which makes it all the more surprising that they’re reportedly open to listen to offers on their start point guard De’Aaron Fox. The rumored favorite to land Fox would be the San Antonio Spurs, but are the Kings sure they’d want to move on given their current form? Things may get strange in Sacramento yet again if they choose to move on from Fox.
12. Dallas Mavericks (25-22)
Last Week: 12
It feels like just yesterday when the Mavs were nearly a top five team. And maybe they would be if they faced the Thunder every game of the year. Hard to argue it’d be a bad deal for them after posting a 3-1 record against OKC this season. But outside of them they may have some struggles as they’ve gone 3-6 in their last nine games. They simply need Doncic back healthy to get things really rolling again, especially after losing Dereck Lively II for at least a month. Fortunes may change for Dallas soon but, now sitting in the 9-seed, they need them to change sooner rather than later.
11. Los Angeles Clippers (26-20)
Last Week: 11
They just keep trucking along under-the-radar. They’re 7-6 in January with a +7.7 net rating. That net rating ranks as fourth best in the league in January so when they’ve won, they’ve absolutely crushed. But they still seem to struggle with consistency and aren’t quite stringing together wins and getting on a winning streak. Kawhi Leonard is still working his way back into games, averaging 23 minutes per game. LA’s barely hanging onto the 6-seed right now but are sitting in a good spot to stay close as long as they don’t go on a huge losing streak.
10. Indiana Pacers (25-20)
Last Week: 10
After splitting the Paris games with the Spurs, Indiana is 9-2 in January with the league’s second best net rating at +10.2 during the month. Them doing it on the offensive end isn’t surprising, but their 109.0 defensive rating in January may open some eyes as the fourth best defensive rating in the month. They’re winning all types of games and can’t be ignored in the East any longer.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (25-21)
Last Week: 9
Winners of three straight, the Timberwolves are starting to get back to who they are by playing strong defense. Offensively they’re starting to pick things up as well, scoring 115 or more in seven of their last nine games. A welcome sight to see for Minnesota fans that may have gotten too used to low scoring performances. Currently in the 7-seed, they’re a game behind the Clippers and would certainly love to jump into the 6-seed and avoid the play-in altogether.
8. Milwaukee Bucks (26-19)
Last Week: 8
Milwaukee’s another team that’s been rolling but doing it somewhat quietly, going 9-2 prior to Tuesday night’s loss to the Blazers. Giannis is doing Giannis things and so is Damian Lillard who’s averaging 26.1 PPG in January. Outside of those two no one else on Milwaukee’s roster is averaging more than 11 PPG this month. For now it’s working for Milwaukee but eventually they’ll need a third wheel to really take off. Whether that be Khris Middleton, or a new acquisition through the trade deadline (potentially Zach LaVine?), someone will need to step up to help Milwaukee really take off.
7. Denver Nuggets (28-18)
Last Week: 6
If you look at the Nuggets’ performance in the month of January there’s not much to worry about. A 10-5 record with a +7.5 net rating means you’re doing a ton of things right. But it’s the most recent losses that have Denver fans worrying. The Timberwolves wrecked them on Saturday and they lost as near 10-point favorites to the Bulls on Monday. All while Nikola Jokic is posting up triple-doubles like it’s nothing. That may be a worrying sign for some Denver fans because if Jokic has an off night it’s almost certainly going to mean a Nuggets loss. They’ve got to get things figured out and quick. A date with the Knicks on Wednesday may put Nuggets fans on the edge if it’s another disappointing performance.
6. Memphis Grizzlies (31-16)
Last Week: 5
A bit of a quiet January for the Grizzlies but still nothing to sneeze at. An 8-5 record with a +3.7 net rating they’re still performing pretty well with or without Ja Morant who’s missed five games in January. Prior to the Knicks crushing them on Monday night they had won six straight games. Their pair of rookies, Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, have both contributed well in the Grizzlies’ starting lineup and both should create at least some chatter for the rookie of the year award. Memphis’ schedule starts to heat up heading into the All-Star break, a challenge this young roster should be more than up for.
5. New York Knicks (31-16)
Last Week: 7
The Knicks are starting to get back on a roll. Winners of seven of their last 10 games, they’re starting to become dominant again. They’ve also put up 143 points in back-to-back games. Good luck keeping up with that if you’re facing them. With a few tough tests coming up before the All-Star break they still have more to prove. The Nuggets come into Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, a matchup that the Knicks dominated in Denver earlier this season. After that the Celtics and Rockets are their biggest tests ahead of the break.
4. Boston Celtics (32-15)
Last Week: 3
It seems that the Celtics are finally starting to feel the consequences of getting in their own way. They’re 8-6 in January but haven’t been able to string together wins like you’d expect out of them. They’ve also racked up losses to the Hawks (again), Lakers and got beat by the upstart Rockets on Monday. Boston’s biggest enemy has always been themselves and they may be feeling the effects of that especially strong after winning the championship last season. They’ll need to be ready by early February for another matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a game they’ll hopefully be up for.
3. Houston Rockets (32-14)
Last Week: 4
No team had more to prove over the last week than the Houston Rockets and no one exceeded expectations more than the Houston Rockets. After taking down the Cavaliers twice and then the Celtics, Houston is riding high. The biggest question remaining with the Rockets is just how effective their offense can continue to be. After a streak of seven games scoring 119 or more they’ve cooled off and have only broken that number once in their last five games. But if the defense keeps showing up then Rockets fans won’t care. Their style is winning games and they’re proving they belong.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (37-9)
Last Week: 2
Still the leaders in the East and still our number two team, for now. Missing Evan Mobley took a toll on the Cavs more than they’d like to admit. Pair that with quite a few other injuries and things have gotten surprisingly tough in Cleveland. Yet they’ve done so well this season that they’ve built themselves enough comfort room and have a 5.5 game lead over Boston for the top seed. And though Houston handled them twice, Cleveland’s built up enough good will that I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt to hold onto our number two rating…at least for now.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (37-8)
Last Week: 1
Speaking of teams with a 5.5 game lead for the top overall seed in their conference, things just keep rolling in Oklahoma City. Especially since they will no longer have to face the Mavericks, the only team in the league to have seemingly figured out the Thunder. Even with two January losses to Dallas, the Thunder have a +13.1 net rating, leading the league yet again. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 34.3 PPG in January and is going neck-to-neck with Nikola Jokic for who can put up more MVP-worthy performances. It’s leading to wins for OKC, though, and it’s keeping them in our top spot as the best team in the NBA.
