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NBA Power Rankings: Every Team from Worst to First
Straight out of the NBA Cup and onto the holiday season. We’re so close to Christmas Day games. You can feel it in the brisk air with a chill colder than the Pelicans (or the Lakers whenever LeBron’s inactive). Grab a hot cup of coffee and let’s dive into this week’s Power Rankings.
30. Washington Wizards (3-21)
Last Week: 30
Not much has changed here. Kyle Kuzma’s injured. Malcolm Brogdon’s injured. They’re losing almost all their games by 10 points or more. They may be taking “Embrace the Tank” to a whole new level. Which probably isn’t the worst thing for them at this point. One bright spot is Bilal Coulibaly, who’s averaging 21.0 PPG with 5.3 RPG and 5.0 APG over their last three games. A bright spot for the Wizards who should entertain trading their older players to give their younger guys more time to develop.
29. Utah Jazz (5-20)
Last Week: 29
After a surprising win over the New York Knicks just before Thanksgiving it’s been pretty disastrous for the Jazz. Just a 1-8 record since then with the single win being a 42 point victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Every other loss has been by double-digits except for one. Their 56% eFG% during those nine games should mean a lot more wins, but when you’re allowing a 59.2% eFG% and have a Turnover Percentage at 17% you’re simply not giving yourself a chance to win. If the Jazz tighten up on defense and reduce their turnovers they may make a sneaky underdog going forward, but it’s unlikely to change their current trajectory this season.
28. New Orleans Pelicans (5-22)
Last Week: 28
It’s been tough sledding in the Big Easy. Injuries derailed their season from the start and they just haven’t caught their footing. Their 49.8% eFG% over their last 10 games ranks third worst during that span. They’re not taking many threes and they’re not hitting them at a decent clip either. They’ve only shot 40% from deep three times this season, all in losses of nine points or more. Both Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram are rumored to be on the trade block, telling us the Pelican’s front office sees what we all see already. This season’s over for them and their best route forward is to blow it up and rebuild.
27. Charlotte Hornets (7-19)
Last Week: 27
You get LaMelo Ball back and then Brandon Miller immediately goes down. The 22-year-old sprained his ankle against the Sixers in Monday night’s 121-108 loss. Neither Miller or Ball produced well in the loss, pointing towards more of a downward trend that’s emerging out of Charlotte. They have just one win since Thanksgiving. They’ll have a chance to get a couple more in the coming weeks with two games slated against the Wizards, but outside of that it looks fairly bleak for the Hornets going forward.
26. Portland Trail Blazers (8-18)
Last Week: 26
The Blazers join the Hornets in the “Just one win since Thanksgiving” club. At just a -12.5 Net Rating in those nine games they’ve got from potential spoiler in the West to cellar dwelling with the Jazz (who throttled the Blazers 141-99 a couple weeks ago). The schedule hasn’t been kind to Portland and will continue to be rough on them until January. Anfernee Simons continues to be a volatile offensive threat, but even if he provides some consistency for the Blazers it will be a tough road to play-in contention as Portland’s six games back of the Lakers for the final play-in spot.
25. Brooklyn Nets (10-16)
Last Week: 23
With the trade of Dennis Schröder to Golden State the Nets are starting to steer themselves into a downward trajectory. The Nets had a +7.9 net rating when their starting five of Claxton, Finney-Smith, Johnson, Thomas and Schröder were all on the floor together. But with Cam Thomas missing the last eight games, and the Nets going just 2-6 in that span with three losses of 20 or more points, Brooklyn’s may be eyeing the rebuild route. They’re just a half game out of a play-in spot, but with uncertainty on when Thomas will return they’re not banking on their abilities to stay in contention.
24. Toronto Raptors (7-20)
Last Week: 25
Just 3-7 in their last 10 games and losers of five straight, Toronto’s now four games back of a play-in spot. Scottie Barnes is still weeks away from returning to the court, but there’s reason to believe that they may be able to make a run at the last play-in spot. Charlotte and Brooklyn are both on the downswing and teams Toronto will likely pass by season’s end, if not sooner. The schedule’s a bit tough through the All-Star break, so it’s an uphill climb, but when Barnes returns expect Toronto to become a sneaky underdog. When the Raptors use Barnes, they have a +26.0 net rating when he’s on with Agbaji, Barrett, Poeltl and Walter. It’s their most used lineup with Barnes but it only amounts to 63 minutes of the 465 Barnes has been available for. Health is key is Toronto.
23. Detroit Pistons (11-16)
Last Week: 24
Not many players have been putting up stat lines like Cade Cunningham as of late. In Detroit’s last 10 games, Cunningham has played in six of them and averaged 23.5 PPG, 8.2 RPG and 12.0 APG. He’s now got six triple-doubles on the season with two coming in his last six games. He’s facilitated the offense well too, putting up 14 assists in three of his last four games. Yet Detroit’s got a -7.2 Net Rating in their last 10 games with a 4-6 record. They’re 3-3 in the six games Cunningham has been active for. If he’s healthy and keeps facilitating the Pistons may be able to make some noise in the East.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (8-16)
Last Week: 21
The injuries continue to rack up for Joel Embiid, who’s only been able to play in six games this season and will miss more time due to a sinus fracture he obtained during Philly’s 121-108 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. The Sixers also lost standout rookie Jared McCain to a meniscus tear in his left knee against Indy and he’s out indefinitely. Yet the Sixers still put up a 13 point victory over Charlotte on Monday night and have now won five of their last seven. They may be learning to win without Embiid as Tyrese Maxey drives their offense. They’ve got a couple tough tests sprinkled in with a decent mix of very winnable games for Philly. Despite the tough injury news they may continue to be on the come up.
21. Indiana Pacers (12-15)
Last Week: 22
Indy’s won three of their last four games, something they absolutely needed to do as their remaining schedule in December is brutal. Five of their next six games are on the road where they are just 4-11 and are getting outscored 118.4 to 111.8 on average. Mix in the fact that these road games include the Suns, Kings, Warriors and Celtics and that doesn’t seem like a great combo. Their one home game isn’t any easier as they’ll host the Thunder the day after Christmas. The Pacers currently hold the eight seed in the East but you shouldn’t expect them to hold onto that for long.
20. Chicago Bulls (12-15)
Last Week: 20
They’ve held the 20 spot here for the last few weeks and continue to stay put. They’ve won four of their last six games and are doing it in a way that we’ve continued to hammer on these power rankings week after week: DEFENSE! It may not look like it due to raw socres, but their 109.0 defensive rating in these six games is a major improvement. They’re playing at incredibly fast paces, so the points may continue to stay high on both sides of the ball, but if they can keep defense front of mind they will find success. Zach LaVine trade rumors are heating up, though, and that may hold back Chicago’s chances of competing if he’s traded.
19. San Antonio Spurs (13-13)
Last Week: 19
At 13-13 the Spurs would be the eight seed in the East. Alas, they play in the bloodbath that is the Western Conference and are on the outside of the play-in looking in. They’re 5-5 in their last 10 games despite having a -5.6 net rating and a 118.2 defensive rating. They’re 2-4 over their last six with their wins coming over New Orleans and Portland. The schedule hasn’t helped in that span and it doesn’t exactly get better or worse for San Antonio going forward. They may be perfectly average going forward and that will be fine, but they’ll need to tighten up defensively. That 118.2 defensive rating over their last 10 ranks as third worst during that span, something that will bring them down if they can’t pick it up offensively.
18. Los Angeles Lakers (14-12)
Last Week: 18
The sky was only falling there for a little bit. LeBron James returned to action on Sunday and the Lakers beat a pretty good Memphis Grizzlies team 116-110, potentially easing some concerns about LA’s current state of things. After all, putting up just a 101.5 offensive rating in your last six games is a tough watch that won’t win you many games. They should be able to put up more points against the Kings, who love high-scoring affairs as of late, and that should continue through December. But with just a one game lead over the Spurs for the final play-in spot, LA doesn’t have much wiggle-room before things start getting feisty again this holiday season.
17. Phoenix Suns (14-11)
Last Week: 17
It’s just been a continuous cycle of injuries for the Suns. As soon as Jusuf Nurkic returned to the starting lineup, Bradley Beal exited. No one’s health matters more to this Suns roster than Kevin Durant, though, as Phoenix won both games he’s returned for. Granted, it was the Jazz and Blazers, but it helps build the “Kevin Durant is Phoenix’s key to success” narrative. Hard to argue with a 13-2 record when he’s active. Phoenix will really start to be tested once they visit Denver on the 23rd as they’ll face a five-game stretch against current Western Conference playoff teams. If they stay healthy through that stretch we’ll really get to see where this team should rank going forward.
16. Atlanta Hawks (14-13)
Last Week: 16
A big NBA Cup win against the New York Knicks sent them to the semifinals where the Milwaukee Bucks exacted some revenge against the upstart Hawks. Currently in the seven seed with a three-game lead over the 10th seeded Pistons, Atlanta seems to be in a decent spot to at least make the play-in, especially when considering there aren’t many potential play-in contenders on the bottom of the East that will pass them. While Atlanta’s offensive numbers aren’t exactly enticing (52.6% eFG% over their last 10 games, 21st overall) they’re stepping it up defensively. Their 109.7 defensive rating in their last 10 is inside the top 10 during that span and they’ve only given up 115 or more twice in their last eight games. The only question for Hawks fans now is if this kind of defense is sustainable going forward. And given who they’ve been the past few seasons it’s tough to think it’s real yet.
15. Sacramento Kings (13-14)
Last Week: 15
After winning four of five, the Kings nearly completed a 23-point comeback against the Nuggets on Monday night before falling 130-129 without Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter. Sacramento sits 1.5 GB the Lakers for the final play-in spot, making their upcoming two-game series against LA all the more important. A third game against the Lakers will happen on the 28th. The Kings have Indiana and Detroit squeezed in between those games, giving the Kings a five game stretch that should be both pivotal and very high-scoring. Their 120.4 offensive rating over the last 10 games leads the NBA and they’ll need that to get themselves on a run and place themselves back in the playoff picture.
14. Miami Heat (13-11)
Last Week: 14
If Jimmy Butler hasn’t been connected to your favorite NBA team through trade rumors then that means there’s probably something wrong with your team. Okay, maybe it’s not that widespread, but it seemed new connections were being made between Butler and new teams every single day last week. Trade rumors blew up connecting him to Golden State, Phoenix, Dallas and Houston. Letting the league know he’s opting out of his player option and will test free agency regardless next season makes a trade muddier, but it’s complicating a Miami season that’s actually looking pretty good right now. They’re in the thick of things in the East, but nothing will be clear for Miami’s future until a resolution to any potential Jimmy Butler trade is clear.
13. Orlando Magic (17-11)
Last Week: 11
It’s tough to be a winning team without your top two offensive threats. No Paolo Banchero and no Franz Wagner makes things so much tougher for the Magic who had been doing great this season. After dispensing the Suns without either of their two stars, they lost by five in the NBA Cup to the Bucks and the Knicks handled them at home. Reality is likely to hit Orlando hard with their upcoming schedule as they get set to host the Thunder, Heat, Celtics, Heat again and then the Knicks. With all these games at home they’ll have a boost, but it’s a rough go for them until Banchero is able to return.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (15-12)
Last Week: 10
A terrible three game slide that featured multiple 20+ point losses was ended on Monday when the Clippers beat the Jazz by 37. They’ve kept doing just enough to keep their heads above water and stay in playoff contention without Kawhi Leonard. They’re in for a test over the next few weeks, though, as they face off against the Mavs twice, Grizzlies, Warriors and Thunder with the Pelicans and Spurs mixed in between. Leonard’s return date is unclear, rumored to be anywhere between Christmas and mid-January. Los Angeles will likely play it safe given his past history, but if he’s ready they won’t want to be without him for much longer. With just a 1.5 games of wiggle room in the play-in picture they’ll need to stay strong with the Spurs and Kings working hard to fight their way into the play-in seeds.
11. Golden State Warriors (14-11)
Last Week: 9
It’s been a steady fall for the Warriors these past few weeks as they now sit at the eight seed in the West. They’ve lost eight of their last 10 games and have been struggling offensively. Their 107.7 offensive rating in that span ranks 25th in the league, a far cry from the type of production you expect from a team with Steph Curry on it. A trade for Nets’ guard Dennis Schröder should help open up some things for Curry on the floor, but that may not move the needle much for Golden State. A trade for Jimmy Butler, who the Warriors have been heavily linked to over the past week, may change the outlook for Golden State. Would their new big three of Curry, Schröder and Butler matchup to their title winning big three of Curry, Thompson and Poole? One can only guess.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves (14-11)
Last Week: 13
Defense continues to be the name of the game in Minnesota. They’ve won six of their last seven games and, in each win, they’ve held their opponent under 100 points. Opponents are shooting for just a 46.8% eFG% in that span, the lowest in the league. They’re painting a clear picture that they want their games to be as low scoring as possible so that any offensive struggles they may have don’t show. Their low-scoring ways may be put to the test with upcoming matchups against the Hawks and Mavericks, but things will continue to be sluggish in Minnesota to end December, just the way they like it.
9. Denver Nuggets (14-10)
Last Week: 12
The opposite of Minnesota, Denver’s looking for high scoring affairs and hopefully you can keep up. After one of the most disappointing losses in recent Nuggets memory (a 122-113 loss to Washington), Denver’s rattled off three straight wins against solid competition in Atlanta, Sacramento and the Los Angeles Clippers. They’re shooting for a 58.8% eFG% over their last 10 games, third overall behind just the Mavericks and Bucks. In their last 12 games they’ve scored 120 or more eight times, painting a clear picture that if you want to beat them then you better score 120 or more. The roster’s back healthy but it may look different in the coming weeks as Denver’s rumored to be in on a Zach LaVine trade, a move that would likely ship out Michael Porter Jr to Chicago. They’re on the come up but Denver may look vastly different soon.
8. New York Knicks (16-10)
Last Week: 7
Unable to keep up with the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA Cup, New York was able to dispense of the injury-riddled Orlando Magic to get back on track. They’ve been cooling down offensively, though, failing to score more than 100 points against both the Hawks and Magic. An issue for New York that’s leading to lower totals is their lack of offensive rebounding. After putting up a 24.5% offensive rebounding percentage in their first 20 games, they’re at just 17.2% over their last six. Opponents have a 27.1% offensive rebounding percentage in that same span, giving opponents extra chances that the Knicks aren’t getting. New York’s 4-2 over that span, so it hasn’t quite hurt them yet, but that’s been against spotty competition. A soft schedule to finish December gives them some time to clean things up.
7. Memphis Grizzlies (18-9)
Last Week: 6
The one spot slide is more about another team rising in our rankings rather than Memphis doing anything wrong. At the number two seed in the West, Memphis has won 10 of their last 12 games. Over those 12 games they have a net rating of +10.4, only behind the Thunder. They’re top five in offensive rating and top 10 in defensive rating in that span, putting together a well-rounded performing team. Ja Morant’s been active for eight of those 12 games and has averaged 23.4 PPG and 7.8 APG. Those numbers fall below what we’ve expected from him in past seasons but his +8.6 net rating is the best of his career. A little bit less of a load to shoulder has turned into better results for the Grizzlies, certainly something Morant will take any day.
6. Houston Rockets (17-9)
Last Week: 5
Sitting in the three seed of the Western Conference, Houston’s starting to get people’s attention. A last second controversial win over the Warriors in the first round of the NBA Cup put Houston on people’s radars. The Thunder thrashed them in the second half of the semis, though, and ended Houston’s hopes of holding up a trophy in Vegas. And now that they’re back to reality they’ll have some things to work on. Defensively they’re strong, posting the third best defensive rating (106.2) in the league over the last 10 games. But offensively they’ve been a drag, shooting a league worst 48.9% eFG% in that span. They’re similar to the Timberwolves, only Minnesota’s posted a +7.1 net rating in that span while Houston’s posted a +1.9 net rating. Things need to pick up on offense in Houston.
5. Milwaukee Bucks (14-11)
Last Week: 8
Fresh off a dominating NBA Cup victory over the Thunder, the Bucks have shot up the standings with a vengeance. They’re the #5 seed in the East but that doesn’t reflect their current state. They’ve won 13 of their last 16 games, including the NBA Cup championship, shooting for a 58.1% eFG% in that span. Offensively they’re a force and defensively they’re suffocating, as is evidenced by holding the Thunder to just 81 points on Tuesday night.
4. Dallas Mavericks (17-9)
Last Week: 4
A loss against the Thunder in the first round of the NBA Cup is Dallas’ only blemish since Thanksgiving. They bounced back on Sunday night in a super high scoring affair against Golden State with a 143-133 victory. Klay Thompson has started to come to life as of late, shooting 50% from three in his last three games, making five per game and averaging 22.7 points. We all know what Luka Doncic can do, it’s just about his supporting cast playing well. And when they play well, as they have been doing since mid-November, they’re one of the best teams in the league.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (20-5)
Last Week: 3
Their NBA Cup loss to Milwaukee is one of the very few blemishes on OKC’s record, but an important one that shows they still have a ways to go when it comes to the playoffs. As a regular season team though, the Thunder should continue to roll. At 9-1 in their last 10 coming into Tuesday’s NBA Cup championship, they’re continuing to gain their lead atop the Western Conference. There’s still improvements to be made to be a championship contending team, but they’re getting closer. And don’t forget about the impact Chet Holmgren will have once he’s back from injury. Place him beside Isaiah Hartenstein and the Thunder will have the size they’ve lacked the past few seasons that’s held them back.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (23-4)
Outside of a loss to the heat, which involved Evan Mobley getting injured, Cleveland has been hot in December. The offense is staying hot with a 119.1 offensive rating in December, but it’s the defense that’s ratcheted up. Their 106.1 defensive rating in December is down from their 110.7 season long defensive rating. Two matchups against Washington are sprinkled in there, sure, but it’s still a good sign for the Cavs. They’ve balanced out their small drop in eFG% in December with better defense, showing they’re doing what they need to do to get wins. There may still be questions regarding them as their schedule hasn’t been the toughest, but they’re playing well enough by adjusted metrics to warrant a top three ranking. They’re a force in the East and will continue be through June.
1. Boston Celtics (21-5)
No change atop our rankings this week as Boston continues to stay strong. A top three offensive rating and a top 10 defensive rating makes them a dominant threat no matter who they play. Their remaining schedule in December doesn’t present many challenges either, giving them a clear road to clean a few things up before they head west at the beginning of January. With tough defensive tests against Minnesota, Houston and OKC, all on the road, their offensive prowess will be put to the test. Followed up with a nationally televised matchup in Denver it’ll be their defense that’s pushed to the edge then. But that’s weeks away so until then expect Boston to stay atop our ratings until either Cleveland or OKC do enough pass them up.
