Welcome to Def Pen’s NBA Power Rankings. These rankings will be updated every Monday from here on. These rankings aren’t necessarily based solely on talent level or team potential.They’re about who’s better right now/who has played better as of late. If a team has lost their last 5 games, they’re probably going to drop (at least) a few spots, even if they’ve got “better” players than a team ranked above them.
Biggest Jump: Denver Nuggets: Up 8
Biggest Drop: Sacramento Kings: Down 5
1. Golden State Warriors
Record: 59-6
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
Since the hangover-caused loss to the Lakers, the Dubs have bounced back nicely. They almost dropped a game to the Suns, but managed to pull through.
2. San Antonio Spurs
Record: 56-10
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
The Spurs lost one to Indiana last Monday, but they’ve still won 11 of their last 12. They enjoyed a nice win over a struggling Thunder team.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 47-18
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
Very convincing win for Cleveland over the Clippers last night. The Cavs are starting to look playoff-ready at just the right time. (although I need to see them do it on a consistent basis before I’m convinced).
4. Toronto Raptors
Record: 44-20
Last Week’s Ranking: 4
The Raptors came up with a couple of wins against conference-rivals Heat and Hawks. The Raptors boast what is probably the second-best backcourt in the league(behind Curry and Thompson of course). Lowry and DeRozan have both been awesome this season.
5. Charlotte Hornets
Record: 37-28
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
The Hornets hold the best win streak in the league; they’ve won 7 straight. This team is just clicking right now. Jeremy Lamb, Marvin Williams, and Courtney Lee have all been shooting lights out. Kemba Walker is playing as though he’s already working on next year’s All-Star campaign. Being named to the All-Star game next season would be especially special for Kemba, since the game will take place in charlotte.
6. Boston Celtics
Record: 39-27
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
Jae Crowder, the glue of this Boston team, just went down with an ankle sprain, and could miss the remainder of the regular season. The Celtics have a serviceable backup for Crowder in Evan Turner but he doesn’t have Crowder’s toughness or defense. This is an injury that will hurt the team a lot. Hopefully he’ll be able to return by the beginning of the postseason.
7. Atlanta Hawks
Record: 38-29
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
The Hawks have been impressive recently. They’ve won 5 of their last 6, with that loss coming to the Raptors. In fact, the Hawks haven’t lost to a non-playoff team in nearly a month; the last time was February 20th, when they fell to the Bucks in double overtime.
8. Miami Heat
Record: 38-28
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
Despite the absence of Chris Bosh, this Miami team is fighting. They’ve slipped up a bit, losing 2 of their last 3 games, but that’s only 2 games. The Heat will need to stay diligent, as the East is very tight right now. The Heat sit just 1 game back from the 3 seed, which is held by Boston. However, Charlotte and Atlanta are right on their heels, both just half a game behind Miami.
9. Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 44-22
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
What on earth is happening in Oklahoma City? Admittedly, they’ve had a pretty tough schedule over the past couple weeks. But good teams are supposed to be well-equipped to deal with tough stretches in their schedules. The Thunder have now lost 8 of their last 12 games. Westbrook looks like he’s trying to do too much in crunch time, and I’m not sure how I feel about Billy Donovan just yet.
10. Los Angeles Clippers
Record: 42-23
Last Week’s Ranking: 8
Blake Griffin still isn’t back, and the Clippers aren’t exactly shocking the world without him. Last week they went 2-2; beating two struggling teams in Dallas and New York, while losing to OKC and getting blown out by Cleveland.
11. Houston Rockets
Record: 33-33
Last Week’s Ranking: 15
The Rockets jump 4 spots from last week after taking down the Celtics in Boston. This team looks like it’s finally starting to get whipped into shape, having won 4 of their last 6 games. However, I’ve said that about this team too many times this season for me to truly believe that they’re ready for a playoff push. I’ll believe it when I see it.
12.Detroit Pistons
Record: 34-32
Last Week’s Ranking: 12
Detroit looks ready to make a playoff push. The team currently has the 8 seed, with Chicago sitting just one game behind them. The pistons have a remarkably easy schedule coming up though, and could try to jump Indiana for the 7 seed. The Pistons have won 7 of their last 10 now, including impressive wins over Cleveland, Toronto, and Portland.
13. Indiana Pacers
Record: 35-31
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
The Pacers would have jumped up a few more spots if it weren’t for last night’s 29-point loss to the Hawks. Indiana beat the Spurs, which is something that most team’s have not done. I don’t feel good about this team, though. Paul George continues to have trouble finding consistency, and when your superstar isn’t consistent, your team typically isn’t either.
14. Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 35-32
Last Week’s Ranking: 11
Portland has definitely slipped since its red-hot streak. They’ve lost 4 of their last 6 now. This team has been insanely hot-and-cold this season, and it’s impossible to predict where they’ll go from here.
15. Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 39-27
Last Week’s Ranking: 13
The Grizzlies have no point guards. No, seriously. With Mike Conley out and Mario Chalmers done for the season(and waived), the Grizzlies are scrambling for options. They signed two point guard free agents, Ray McCallum and Briante Weber. I’m still waiting for this injury-riddled team’s inevitable downward spiral, but they haven’t lost too many games yet, which is why they haven’t fallen down these rankings too much yet.
16. Denver Nuggets
Record: 28-38
Last Week’s Ranking: 24
After plummeting down the rankings last week(due in part to a loss to the Nets), the Nuggets are soaring back up them this time around. While the Nuggets haven’t been playing against great competition, it can’t be ignored that they’ve now won 4 in a row. Emmanuel Mudiay has been tremendous, averaging 19.7 points and 5.7 assists in the month of March.
17. Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 29-38
Last Week’s Ranking: 19
This is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s world, we’re all just living in it. The Greek Freak has had 4 triple-doubles in his career… and all 4 have come in his last 11 games. This kid is realizing the potential that has made us all salivate over the past few years.
18. Utah Jazz
Record: 31-35
Last Week’s Ranking: 22
The Jazz were losing, a lot. They’ve now won their past two games though, so maybe they’re back. I really like this team, and it frustrates me that they can’t win on a consistent basis. They have a tough matchup tonight against the Cavs on ESPN.
19. Chicago Bulls
Record: 32-32
Last Week’s Ranking: 17
Last week, I wrote: “I can almost guarantee you that this team will soar up the rankings by next week.” The basis for that statement, of course, was that Jimmy Butler was finally back. Little did I know that Butler’s first game back would also be his last — for the time being, anyway. So, no. The Bulls do not soar up these rankings. This team relies heavily on Butler, and is frankly rather pathetic without him. However, Butler is set to return tonight vs. Toronto. Should be a good game.
20. Dallas Mavericks
Record: 33-33
Last Week’s Ranking: 18
The Mavs continue to plummet. They’ve now lost 5 straight. Dirk continues to score at will, but this team can’t win. At all.
21. Washington Wizards
Record: 30-35
Last Week’s Ranking: 23
The Wizards are falling apart at the worst possible time. We’re closing in on the end of the season, and, like Dallas, Washington has won 5 straight. John Wall is still a top-5 point guard, but he needs some help.
22. Orlando Magic
Record: 28-37
Last Week’s Ranking: 20
Bright spot for Orlando: Aaron Gordon is developing very nicely. Over his last 10 games, the Dunk Contest runner-up has averaged 14.4 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 57.4% from the field.
23. New York Knicks
Record: 28-40
Last Week’s Ranking: 26
The Knicks haven’t been playing amazingly, but they jump up a few spots due to other teams that were ahead of them playing terribly. The Knicks have won 3 of their last 5, but have to play the Warriors on the road Wednesday night.
24. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 21-45
Last Week’s Ranking: 25
The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Thunder on a Ricky Rubio game-winning 3. In other news, Hell has frozen over.
25. New Orleans Pelicans
Record: 24-41
Last Week’s Ranking: 23
The Pels have lost 8 of their last 10 now. Keep on tanking, NOLA. Get Anthony Davis a nice teammate in the draft.
26. Sacramento Kings
Record: 25-40
Last Week’s Ranking: 21
The Kings have bottomed out. They’ve lost 9 of 10 now. At this point, they may as well tank. That may actually be difficult though, since they have an exceptionally easy schedule for the rest of the season.
27. Phoenix Suns
Record: 17-49
Last Week’s Ranking: 28
Devin Booker doesn’t turn 20 years old until October, and he’s already looking like the steal of the draft. In the month of March, Booker has averaged 24.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Wow.
28. Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 14-53
Last Week’s Ranking: 27
The Lakers are gonna keep on tanking, and why shouldn’t they? Keep building that young talent. Speaking of young talent, D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle have all looked great lately, especially Russell. Over his last 10 games, the rookie guard has averaged 19.9 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game.
29. Brooklyn Nets
Record: 18-48
Last Week’s Ranking: 29
Brooklyn continues to be a terrible basketball team. They’ve lost 4 in a row now. There aren’t really any discernible bright spots for the Nets. Brook Lopez has played well, so I guess that’s one, if the Nets can convince him to stick around for the long haul(seems unlikely).
30. Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 9-57
Last Week’s Ranking: 30
The Sixers won a game! They beat Brooklyn. But that win is the only one in their last 15 games. Ben Simmons better be in a 76ers jersey next season, or Philly fans should riot.
