Welcome to Def Pen’s NBA Power Rankings. These rankings are updated every Monday. Last week, the statistically-brilliant Josiah Brady updated the rankings here with his ‘SteadyLosing’ model. This week, it’s my turn. 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. Alright, let’s jump in.
NBA Power Rankings
Biggest Jump: 76ers Up 6
Biggest Drop: Hornets, Bucks Down 10
1. Golden State Warriors
Record: 41-7
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
The Warriors were an Evan Turner three-pointer (haha) away from losing to the Blazers, but they came through despite not having Curry due to a stomach virus. The Warriors are still the Warriors (so, one of the best teams ever), and have won 10 of their last 11.
2. Boston Celtics
Record: 29-18
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
This was the toughest spot to choose, as the Cavaliers, Spurs, Rockets, Clippers, and Raptors have all faced some struggles lately. I was hesitant to put any of them in the No. 2 spot, and so the Celtics basically make it by default. They won’t last here, but they have won their last three games, and have passed the Raptors for second in the East. The Celtics and Raptors play on Wednesday; that should be a very interesting (and important, confidence-wise) game.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 32-14
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
The Cavaliers snapped their embarrassing three-game losing streak with a win over the lowly Nets, and then had an impressive showing against the Thunder. That was a convincing win, and the Cavs could conceivably move up to second by next week; their schedule is quite easy for the rest of February.
4. San Antonio Spurs
Record: 36-11
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
Back-to-back losses to the Pelicans and Mavericks are concerning, but the Spurs had won five in a row (including an OT win over the Cavs) prior to those two games. The Spurs are still a great team, and it’s been fun watching Kawhi Leonard come into his own offensively. Leonard is averaging a career-high 25.4 points on .486/.411.913 shooting. A 50/40/90 season is in sight!
5. Utah Jazz
Record: 30-19
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
The Jazz can essentially compete with anyone. They have a superb two-way point guard in George Hill, an All-Star small forward in Gordon Hayward, and an elite rim protector (who should be an All-Star – fight me if you disagree) in Rudy Gobert. They fill in the cracks with an excellent supporting cast – Derrick Favors, Rodney Hood, Alec Burks, Joe Johnson, Boris Diaw, Trey Lyles. This team’s depth makes them lethal.
They’ve lost three of their last four games now, but all three losses are understandable: A two-point loss to the Thunder behind a 38-point triple-double by Russell Westbrook, A loss to the surging Nuggets, and a loss to the Grizzlies. Prior to this rough patch, the Jazz had won six straight games.
6. Los Angeles Clippers
Record: 30-18
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
The Warriors showed the world that the Clippers aren’t on their level with a 46(!)-point win. The Clippers have now lost four of their last five, but at least Blake Griffin’s back!
7. Houston Rockets
Record: 35-16
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
The Rockets too have hit a rough patch; they’ve lost four of their last six games now. James Harden is still the probable MVP, and Eric Gordon is very likely to win Sixth Man of the Year. This is a well-constructed team, and they should be just fine.
8. Atlanta Hawks
Record: 28-20
Last Week’s Ranking: 11
The Hawks had a phenomenal November, followed by a horrible December. They’re 11-4 in January, and have played very well. Most recently, they beat the Knicks in 4OT. Paul Millsap played 60(!) minutes. Ideally, the Knicks are a team that you’d like to beat in regulation, but they played their hearts out; it was a good win for Atlanta.
9. Washington Wizards
Record: 27-20
Last Week’s Ranking: 8
It feels weird dropping the Wizards down a spot; they went 4-0 last week. But Josiah’s rankings differ from mine. Regardless, this team is on fire right now. After a slow start to the season, John Wall & co. have won 11 of their last 13 games. Otto Porter Jr. will be in contention for the Most Improved Player award. This is a playoff team, though it feels like they’re a piece or two away from being elite.
10. Toronto Raptors
Record: 29-19
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
Josiah kept the Raptors in his top-five last week, as his rankings are more based in statistics, and statistically speaking, the Raps’ offense has been outstanding. Buuuuuut, they’ve now lost six of their last seven games. They should be fine, but it’s a bit disconcerting.
11. Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 28-20
Last Week’s Ranking: 13
Westbrook is still doing Westbrook things. The Thunder do a great job of beating the teams that they should beat, which is all that they need to do for a playoff berth.
12. Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 28-21
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
After a great start to the season, the Grizzlies have slowed down; they’re 6-7 in January. The Grizzlies feel similar to the Jazz in that, regardless of which team I am, I don’t want to play them in the postseason. They’re dangerous.
13. Denver Nuggets
Record: 21-25
Last Week’s Ranking: 18
The Nuggets are a much better team now that the offense is run through Nikola Jokic. The big man has had an unbelievable January, averaging 23.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 60.6% from the field. This team is young and has some roster work to do. But the future is very bright. The Nuggets have won seven of their last nine games.
14. Indiana Pacers
Record: 25-18
Last Week’s Ranking: 15
After dropping three straight, the Pacers have bounced back by winning their last three. In the month of January, Paul George is averaging 24.5 points on .478/.423/.923 shooting.
15. Miami Heat
Record: 18-30
Last Week’s Ranking: 26
I’m skeptical about their success continuing, but there’s no denying that the Heat have won seven straight games, including wins over Houston and Golden State. Dion Waiters is averaging 25.2 points on 51.5 percent three-point shooting over his last five games. It’s a strange world.
16.Chicago Bulls
Record: 24-25
Last Week’s Ranking: 18
The Bulls’ locker room is, by all appearances, an absolute mess, but on the court, Jimmy Butler is keeping this team (relatively) afloat. If the season ended today (which, it doesn’t), the Bulls would make the playoffs as the seventh seed. They’d play the Celtics. Playoff Rondo back in Boston? Isaiah Thomas? Jimmy Butler? Dwyane Wade-Celtics rivalry? I actually want this series.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 18-29
Last Week’s Ranking: 17
Don’t look now, but the Timberwolves have won four of their last five games. Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 28.8 points and 12.8 rebounds on 62 percent shooting over his last 10 games.
18. Dallas Mavericks
Record: 17-30
Last Week’s Ranking: 23
Since inserting Seth Curry into the starting lineup, the Mavs have gone 6-3. Just like everybody expected, right? The Mavs are over .500 in January. Just one game over, but still, that’s a huge improvement.
19. Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 17-29
Last Week’s Ranking: 25
I wonder where this team would be if Joel Embiid could play every game. In January, the Sixers have gone 7-2 in games that Embiid has played. The two losses have been absolutely understandable – to Boston and Houston.
20. Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 16-23
Last Week’s Ranking: 20
The Blazers have probably the weirdest thing about January. This offense-only team ranks 22nd in offensive rating in January… and eighth in defense. Bizarre.
21. Detroit Pistons
Record: 21-26
Last Week’s Ranking: 16
As Josiah pointed out in last week’s rankings, the Pistons do a great job of limiting turnovers. That’s about the only selling point for this team; their defense is horrific, and their offense is average at best.
22. Charlotte Hornets
Record: 23-25
Last Week’s Ranking: 12
Kemba Walker is an All-Star, whether he likes it or not. The Hornets are struggling, though. They’ve lost four games in a row, and nine of their last 12.
23. New Orleans Pelicans
Record: 19-29
Last Week’s Ranking: 24
Kyrie Irving scored 49 points. LeBron James recorded a triple-double. The Pelicans still beat the Cavs without Anthony Davis. That’s one of the weirdest things to happen this season. The Pels also took down the Spurs recently. The playoffs aren’t likely for this team, but they are in sight. The Pelicans are three games out.
24. Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 21-26
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
God, I hope the Bucks make the playoffs; they’re currently 1.5 games out of the eigtht seed. Giannis and Jabari Parker are a boatload of fun, and this team is one great 3-&-D player away from being a legitimate playoff team. The good news is that they already have that player, and he should return soon.
25. New York Knicks
Record: 21-28
Last Week’s Ranking: 21
God, I feel bad for Knicks fans. Losing in 4OT is a whole new way to be disappointed. Will a Carmelo Anthony trade materialize?
26. Sacramento Kings
Record: 19-28
Last Week’s Ranking: 22
DeMarcus Cousins is still killing it. The Kings still aren’t good. Kangz gonna Kangz.
27. Orlando Magic
Record: 19-30
Last Week’s Ranking: 28
The Magic beat the Raptors in their last game, which is a real bummer for Toronto fans, since the Magic are the second-worst offense in the league, and are also a bottom-10 defense.
28. Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 16-34
Last Week’s Ranking: 29
The Lakers have lost eight of their last nine. The bright side: 19-year-old Ivica Zubac has recorded three double-doubles in his last five games.
29. Phoenix Suns
Record: 15-32
Last Week’s Ranking: 27
Eric Bledsoe is criminally underrated. He scored a career-high 41 points against the Nuggets, and they still lost. Add Bledsoe to the list of players who need to be on real teams, ASAP. Devin Booker has upped his efficiency recently. Here’s to hoping it lasts.
30. Brooklyn Nets
Record: 9-38
Last Week’s Ranking: 30
STILL the only team that hasn’t won a double-digit number of games. The Nets randomly dropped 143 points in New Orleans for their ninth win, but if you take away that win, they’ve lost 16 straight games.
