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: Utah Jazz: Up 9
Biggest Drop: Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies: Down 6
1. San Antonio Spurs
Record: 59-10
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
Yep, the Spurs are back on top. They beat the Warriors! I know, I know. No Bogut, No Ezeli, No Iguodala. It was a back-to-back for Golden State. But still, the Spurs beat the Warriors. They played a fantastic game, and their defense was completely stifling. The jumped passing lanes and played great on-ball defense. Offensively they were terrific as well, using that Spurs signature ball movement to perfection. This team plays beautiful basketball on both ends. They’re also currently on a 6 game winning streak.
2. Golden State Warriors
Record: 62-7
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
62-7? Good lord, this team is absolutely ridiculous. They’re coming for that 72-win record! I had to drop them a spot — the Spurs just look so damn good right now. But this is still the team to beat, that’s for sure. As always, everyone and their mother is enamored with Stephen Curry(even Dirk Nowitzki!).
3.Toronto Raptors
Record: 48-21
Last Week’s Ranking: 4
The Raps are coming for that 1 seed! Lowry and DeRozan have been phenomenal this season. This team is looking like they could make a deep playoff run, and they’re this good without DeMarre Carroll, who should return soon.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 49-20
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
The Cavs have now lost 2 of their last 4 games. Those two losses were not good looks for this team. First, a narrow loss to the Gordon Hayward-less Jazz, and then a blowout loss to Miami. This team has struggled to find consistency during Tyronn Lue’s tenure, which is a bad sign, since consistency is absolutely key during the playoffs.
5. Atlanta Hawks
Record: 41-29
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
The Hawks are rollin’. This club has now won 5 in a row, and 8 of their last 9. They’ve been a model of efficiency as of late, only losing to elite teams. Of their last 3 losses, 2 have been to the Warriors(and 1 came in overtime), and 1 came to the Raptors. This team has caught fire at the right time.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 48-22
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
After a serious rough patch, the Thunder look to be back on track. After dropping 4 of 6 games, this team won all 4 of their games last week. Russell Westbrook is piling up an insane amount of triple-doubles(that’s 14 on the season for those counting), and Kevin Durant is as unstoppable as ever.
7. Miami Heat
Record: 40-29
Last Week’s Ranking: 8
The Heat continue to impress despite Chris Bosh’s absence(although the team isn’t ruling out him returning this season!). Miami was struggling a bit; they had dropped 3 of their last 5 before coming back with a dominant win over the Cavs.
8. Charlotte Hornets
Record: 39-30
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
Charlotte dropped a couple games to subpar teams(Dallas, Denver), so they drop a few spots. However, they have won 8 of their last 10. Kemba Walker, Marvin Williams, Jeremy Lamb, and Courtney Lee have all been terrific.
9 Utah Jazz
Record: 34-36
Last Week’s Ranking: 18
The Jazz are surging at the right time, desperately grasping for a playoff spot. They’ve won 5 of their last 6 games now, including a win over Cleveland. They’re currently just 1 game out of the 8 seed, behind Dallas.
10. Boston Celtics
Record: 40-30
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
The Celtics badly miss Jae Crowder. They dropped 4 in a row before picking up a must-win over the lowly 76ers. This club needs Crowder healthy; he’s the heart and soul of the team.
11. Chicago Bulls
Record: 35-33
Last Week’s Ranking: 19
The Bulls picked up a big win over Toronto a week ago, and also beat Brooklyn and Utah last week, while losing just 1 game, to the Wizards. Jimmy Butler sure does make a difference.
12.Los Angeles Clippers
Record: 43-26
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
The Clippers do not look good right now. They lost their last two games to the Grizzlies(without Marc Gasol and Mike Conley) and the Pelicans(without Anthony Davis). Come on, Clips. Those are must-win games. The Clippers have lost 4 of their last 5 now. Blake Griffin’s return would certainly be helpful.
13.Washington Wizards
Record: 34-35
Last Week’s Ranking: 21
The Wizards take a big leap this week, in part due to other teams struggling, and in part due to the Wiz winning 4 straight. Sure, Detroit, New York, and Philly aren’t the most impressive wins in the world, but beating Chicago with Jimmy Butler active is a nice one.
14. Houston Rockets
Record: 35-35
Last Week’s Ranking: 11
This whole Dwight Howard Stickum incident is pretty amusing, huh? Houston may have struggled heavily this season, but they’re still a very talented team. Don’t forget that they made the conference finals last season with a nearly identical roster. If they can overtake Portland for the 6th seed(they’re just half a game back), they’d be an interesting first round matchup for OKC.
15. Indiana Pacers
Record: 36-33
Last Week’s Ranking: 13
The Pacers have lost 3 of their last 4, but all 3 were understandable losses: to Atlanta, OKC, and Toronto. That loss to the Thunder has to be painful: Paul George scored 45 and they still couldn’t pull off the win… ouch.
16. Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 30-40
Last Week’s Ranking: 17
The Bucks have played pretty well lately, at least in comparison to how they played earlier in the season. The Greek Freak and Jabari Parker have both looked incredible. This season is sort of an afterthought as far as priorities go for Milwaukee; the focus is on the future.
17. Denver Nuggets
Record: 29-41
Last Week’s Ranking: 16
The Nuggets snapped their 3 game losing streak with a win against the Hornets. This team has just a ton of young talent. Nikola Jokic has played well recently; he’s had 4 double-doubles this month alone.
18. Detroit Pistons
Record: 36-34
Last Week’s Ranking: 12
The Pistons have won 3 of their last 5, but let’s not jump to give them too much credit. Those 3 wins came against the Nets, Kings, and Sixers. This team needs to improve defensively.
19. Dallas Mavericks
Record: 35-35
Last Week’s Ranking: 20
Dallas gets bumped up a spot after going 2-2 last week. Those two losses came to Golden State and Cleveland, too. The Mavs picked up a solid win in Charlotte, and then hopped in a time machine for their overtime win against Portland. I mean… Dirk Nowitzki put up 40 points an 8 rebounds while Deron Williams went for 31 points and 16 assists. What year is this?!
20. Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 36-35
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
Oh how the mighty have fallen. At one point, the Blazers had won 14 of their last 16 games. Now? They’ve lost 7 of 10, and haven’t beaten a .500 or better team since February 28(Pacers).
21. Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 40-30
Last Week’s Ranking: 15
The Grizzlies have an incredibly depleted roster, and are scrambling to find players to sign. On Monday, the Grizz lost to the Rockets by… 49 points. Not a typo. Then, in one of the weirdest moments of the year, Zach Randolph notched his first career triple-double while leading his team to a win over the Clippers on Saturday. This ended the Grizzlies’ 4-game slide.
22. Orland Magic
Record: 29-40
Last Week’s Ranking: 22
I keep waiting for this team to figure it all out. Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo, Mario Hezonja, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Vucevic are all great young pieces. Yet this team continues to be bad. Maybe next year?
23. Sacramento Kings
Record: 27-42
Last Week’s Ranking: 26
This season has been an unmitigated disaster for the Kings. Might as well tank from here on out.
24. New York Knicks
Record: 28-43
Last Week’s Ranking: 23
The Knicks went 0-3 last week, including a loss to the Kings. I don’t know what to do about this franchise. Kurt Rambis is a terrible coach. Carmelo Anthony is sick of the losing. Outside of the brilliance of Kristaps Porzingis, this has been an awful season for the Knickerbockers.
25. New Orleans Pelicans
Record: 26-43
Last Week’s Ranking: 25
Anthony Davis is done for the season, and has apparently been playing hurt for 3 years. So, yeah, not the best news for New Orleans fans.
26. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 22-47
Last Week’s Ranking: 24
The Wolves have actually won 2 of their last 4 games now! They beat a struggling Memphis team this week, but lost to the Suns and Rockets.
27. Phoenix Suns
Record: 19-50
Last Week’s Ranking: 27
Tyson Chandler doesn’t want to rebuild. Devin Booker has been a bright spot in a very dark season for Suns fans. Eventually, this team will probably have to choose 2 of these 3: Booker, Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight. It doesn’t make a ton of sense to keep all three, but you never know. Phoenix seems to like having too many guards. Remember Bledsoe-Goran Dragic-Isaiah Thomas?
28. Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 14-55
Last Week’s Ranking: 28
The Lakers’ young core has looked excellent lately. D’Angelo Russell is reminding fans why he went second overall in the draft. This team is still losing, though. Clearly the goal is to tank.
29. Brooklyn Nets
Record: 19-50
Last Week’s Ranking: 29
The Nets did win a game this week, against the Sixers. That’s their lone win in their last 7 games. On the bright side, Bojan Bogdanovic exploded for 44 points, and then scored 26 the next game. So, there’s that.
30. Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 9-61
Last Week’s Ranking: 30
The 76ers have lost 18 of their last 19 games. That’s pretty incredible, even for the Sixers. They haven’t beaten a team other than the Nets since January 26… and that was the Suns.
