27/30 rankers reporting this week. /R/NBA's Power Rankings are published every two weeks which is a bit different from most rankings. Other than that we rank the teams the same way as our competition. If write ups are left blank the team rep decided not to submit. We encourage any user to fill in the blanks in the comment section.
| # | Team | Δ | Record | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warriors | -- | 30-9 | What good play during Klay Day in the Bay, you may say. Klay dunked on fools and hit some 3s. Despite "record" Curry's slump the Warriors put up some decent wins against the Jazz, Heat and Cavs while taking a big L to the Mavs and a tough loss to the Nuggets. This is one of the worst stretches I can remember from Steph. Going back to the Portland game when he was within striking distance of the record if he also broke the single game record, he has shot 4.5/13.4 (33.5%) from 3. Even so his 38.8% for the season isn't half bad, but it just isn't Steph good. |
| 2 | Suns | -- | 30-9 | The Suns were able to weather a COVID outbreak among their starting front court despite opponents dominating the paint in their absense. The Suns allowed 52 points in the paint over those six games which would be the 2nd worst mark over the whole season (lolKangz) up from their near top 10 mark of 44.6 prior to the outbreak. Ayton was sorely missed most notably in the game against the Grizzlies in which the Suns allowed 62 paint points and . Chris Paul has shown that he can generate offensive production for any big he is paired with, but Ayton's value defensively has proven to be not easily replacable. |
| 3 | Bulls | +3 | 26-11 | BEEP BEEP! The Bulls went on a 9-game winning streak that was ended by Luka Doncic on Sunday. This was the team's best streak in 11 seasons, and was highlighted by two straight game-winning, buzzer-beating threes from definite All-Star starter DeMar DeRozan on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The entire team is firing on all cylinders offensively, as Coby White continues to be one of the best bench scorers in the league and Zach LaVine is having arguably as strong a season as DeMar. The Bulls have been missing significant pieces of our defensive identity in Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams for quite a while, so to be holding a 1.5-game lead in the East is astounding. We don't have more than one day of rest from now until the All-Star Break over a month away, so the pressure is on to stay healthy and energized. Lastly, shoutout to my alma mater UIUC- can I get an AYOOOO?!? |
| 4 | Jazz | -1 | 28-12 | After avoiding any COVID cases for longer than any other team this season things caught up to the Jazz over the past week and they have felt the effects. With their man in the middle sidelined they have conceded 119 points per game and struggled to defend a barstool. As a result their grasp on the 3rd seed has slowly loosened allowing Memphis to sneak to within one game. Upcoming games against Phoenix and Golden State will present a challenging task mid month which will assess where the team stands in the scheme of things. |
| 5 | Grizzlies | +4 | 28-14 | Are the Grizzlies better without Ja? Without Brooks? Without Coach Jenkins? Evidently the Grizzlies are best when they're down their best players, its the only way to explain how they've won 9 straight and 18 of the last 21. Jaren Jackson Jr has emerged as a DPOY candidate with 11 blocks in the past two games, stepping up in a huge way with Steven Adams out in H&S protocols. Desmond Bane has to be a candidate for MIP, regardless of his 2nd year status, the four year TCU alum is shooting 42.8% from 3 this season. There's a stretch of games over the next week against GS, Bulls, and Bucks but after that the schedule eases up a bit. They're in prime position to take the 3rd seed, and with some consistency could make a play at moving higher. |
| 6 | Nets | -2 | 25-13 | The Nets have struggled the last 2 weeks due to poor shooting and consistently weak performances in terms of effort and grit. With Kyrie being integrated back in road games, you can expect the team to continue to do well on the road, where the Nets boast a league best 14-3 record. However, they are struggling at home and losing to elite teams regularly. Adding Kyrie will provide a jolt to the offense but the team will have to figure out how to win against the league's best without Kyrie at home |
| 7 | Heat | -- | 25-15 | I am convinced that Erik Spoelstra could make a winning team out of any group of players that you give him. Through out the injury issues and COVID cases we've always fielded competent teams and made G-Leaguers look like NBA professionals. That's not to say that it's solely on him that we've been able to keep up pace, since those of our regulars who weren't out have done a great job of filling in for those absences. Tyler Herro continues to be an explosive scoring option and Omer Yurtseven has shown himself to be as good as Heat fans thought he was. Duncan Robinson still continues to struggle with scoring consistency and at this point there's probably little chance he'll be consistent as a scorer. As long as he shows up every couple of games that should be enough. Jimmy Butler injured his ankle so he's out once again, but Bam Adebayo should be returning within the month hopefully. Miami Heat legend Mario Chalmers also made a return but we haven't seen him play yet. I hope we get to see him in action even if it's only for 5 minutes, just to see him playing in a Miami Heat uniform one more time. |
| 8 | Bucks | -3 | 26-16 | The Bucks have looked good over the last two weeks, despite continuing to struggle to field a healthy squad due to both illness and injury. Probably the most interesting development has been Darvin Ham making his head coaching debut with Bud out on health & safety protocols. A blowout win over the rival Nets was the highlight of the last two weeks while losing to the bottom-feeding Pistons was the lowlight. Boogie Cousins was released before his guarantee date and is now with the Nuggets. Luke Kornet has been brought in on a 10-day, but has only played 3 minutes. |
| 9 | 76ers | +1 | 22-16 | The Sixers are continuing on this Jekyll & Hyde season by following up my incredibly negative write-up two weeks ago with a 5 game win streak (6 overall). It is not lost on fans that these games (outside of the Nets win with KD and Harden) have been against incredibly poor teams who have had injury/COVID issues to boot. However, it is hard to not get caught up in the hype when Joel Embiid is playing this well. Notching another Player of the Month title is only adding to his legacy as one of the greatest basketball players in Sixers history. The competition is still week in these upcoming two weeks, but there will be some tests with teams like Miami. Player to watch: Tobias Harris, and probably not for the reasons I'd normally use. His place with the team has been in contention with fans this season, and his outburst during the Rockets game did not help things. Can the Tobias from last year make a reappearance and help carry some of the slack? |
| 10 | Mavericks | +4 | 22-18 | The Mavs are finally seeing production from 2nd year wing Josh Green, and Marquese Chriss has out-performed his 10 day contracts (which expire by the time you're reading this). The Mavs' role players and non-Luka/KP players have stepped up big in this 6 game winning streak, and overall throughout the alst month. Despite a Covid hit that now has Porzingis out, the Mavs have found a way to make things work. Things are on the up and up if Reggie Bullock can improve his 3 point percentage. |
| 11 | Cavaliers | -3 | 22-18 | A 2-5 stretch since our last power ranking, on the back of Garland being on the Covid list, and adjusting to the loss of Ricky Rubio (season) and Isaac Okoro (3-4 weeks), we have had incredibly poor guard play. We’re trying to patch that up with the acquisition of Rondo, and although his box score for his first 2 games has looked good, he’s a completely different fit from a far superior Ricky Rubio. Garland’s been cold in the 3 games since returning from Covid, and unless he’s playing to his highest level, this team just doesn’t have the guard ability needed to make noise in the league. The offense just looks completely stagnant when he’s off the court. We’re missing both Sexton and Rubio badly, knowing how exactly they’d fill the very obvious gaps offensively when Garland leaves the court. |
| 12 | Nuggets | +1 | 20-18 | The Nuggets have made a lot of headlines recently! Not just for their terrific play as a team, winning 5 of their last 7 games, including an impressive win against GS in which they held the Warriors to just 86 points. Not just for Nikola Jokic's binders of wom-- err, MVP caliber performances (you like 2012 election references?), as he's continued to dominate with averages of 26 PPG, 15 RPG, and 6 APG in January. The team has also made some notable roster moves that should help add some actual depth to this depleted roster. In a move that excites most Nuggets fans and worries some, Boogie Cousins has agreed to a 10-day deal to join the team after just recently being let go by Milwaukee, although pen hasn't been put on paper yet and he has not officially joined the team as of Monday morning. The Nuggets will finally have a true backup center in their rotation to spell Jokic, and hopefully avoid future instances of the "Green Team" of Jeff and JaMychal at the 4 and 5. Speaking of backup centers, the team has officially pulled the plug on the Bol Bol project by sending him off to Detroit for Rodney McGruder and a 2nd round pick. Bol showed flashes of his limitless offensive potential at times, however his awkward fit on defense as neither a quality perimeter or interior defender, lack of effort, and rumors of his poor attitude were enough to chain him permanently to coach Malone's doghouse, and hopefully he will be able to develop further in Detroit. |
| 13 | Raptors | +8 | 20-17 | The raptors have been red hot over the last two weeks, and are currently on a 6 game winning streak. Thanks to the all-star campaign efforts of Fred Van Vleet, we’ve managed to rise in standings to within playoff contention. While our best player as of late is without a doubt Fred Van Vleet, (and his 31/5/7 splits on .470/.443/.963 during our winning streak), Pascal Siakam has been a massive contributor as well. Throughout the season we have really struggled with our lack of a backup point guard, and in the few minutes Fred has been sitting each game, we’ve been running Pascal at point. His improved playmaking has made our offence operate quite nicely in Fred’s absence, and his offensive game overall is the best it’s been since his all-nba season in 2019-2020. Our upcoming schedule is difficult, so the coming weeks will be a good test for our team. |
| 14 | Lakers | +5 | 21-20 | The Lakers made some significant changes after a tough Christmas loss to the Nets which was their fifth straight .Hardship exemption signing Stanley Johnson made an immediate impact for the team that needed wing depth with his size,athleticism and intensity.Lakers also started Lebron James at center embracing small-ball basketball,they won 5 of these 7 games while the two losses came against the red-hot Grizzlies.While the offense seems to be clicking well,rebounding and interior defense have certainly taken a stepback;they might need some more games trying to strike the right balance between small-ball and addressing these issues but it's already halfway through the season.Lebron James has been defying age with his perfomance since December;he is now only second to KD in points while also averaging 7 rebounds and 6 assists.The Lakers have a huge test ahead of them with 7 of their next 10 coming against teams over .500 as they still await the return of AD which doesn't seem imminent. |
| 15 | Hornets | +1 | 21-19 | The Hornets have settled into the season and look to be capable of finishing above .500 and cementing a spot in the play in tournament. I could cherry pick offensive stats to make us look good, but take my word for it, you’re looking at one of the league’s best offenses. Potential all stars LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges lead the way, with great supporting scorers Scarrence Terrence Rozier and Hair Gordon Hayward taking turns dropping 30, and the occasional OUBRE GAME (becoming a quick fan favorite). Never in my life have I seen such exciting basketball in Charlotte. The sky is the limit for this core in the future, but for this season, they will only go as far as their defense will take them. Getting this group to defend at a satisfactory level is Coach James Borrego’s next big test. |
| 16 | TWolves | +2 | 20-20 | Wolves have been able to dominate in this softer part if their schedule hitting 4 straight wins off the backs of their post covid protocol starters. Wolves have a winning record when the trio of KAT-ANT-DLO play and their healthy starting lineup is still the best ever with a +50.5 net rating. |
| 17 | Clippers | -6 | 20-21 | I really don't know whether you're supposed to end the season with your starters having played almost every game. I think for 10+ years now, the Clippers haven't had a normal simple healthy season. Hopefully the new stadium isn't cursed. |
| 18 | Wizards | -6 | 20-20 | The Washington Wizards are an okay, .500 NBA team. That's their story. It is not the best spot to be in -- as the league rewards the really good teams and the terrible teams. But it is an okay position to be for a team that has a decent amount of resources at their disposal. Rui Hachimura's return against Orlando brought back from excitement. Corey Kispert quietly has looked great on both ends of the floor this year and isn't a bust. Daniel Gafford continues to improve on the offensive end. It is now just a waiting game to see what Wes Unseld Jr and Tommy Sheppard commit to. And completely unrelated -- Bradley Beal has continued to not receive calls when driving to the basket and it is still mind-boggling. |
| 19 | Celtics | -4 | 19-21 | Who the fuck knows what the Celtics are. One night they're getting curb stomped, and the next they're beating a contender and look like they belong in the conversation. Then the next game they'll blow a 15 point lead to a team missing 4 out of 5 starters. The Celtics are 3-4 since the last rankings, which seems about right so far this season. Over the next 2 weeks the Celtics have 8 games, with matchups against the Pacers back-to-back, 76ers, Bulls, Pelicans, Hornets, Blazers, and Wizards. Like usual, they'll probably got .500 or just below it, but two of their wins will somehow be against the full strength Bulls and 76ers, and then they'll go lose to the Hornets or someone with multiple guys out. |
| 20 | Knicks | +2 | 19-21 | Team's been on a roll, but the truth of it is that the offense has no identify whatsoever. Nobody is consistent and reliable enough to set a tone and pace on a nightly basis. It's troubling that halfway into the season we still flounder in games unless someone gets the hot hand. Randle has offensively regressed to Dubious Handles of 2019, but more than that, his attitude has been atrocious and actively detrimental to the team's composure on the court. His antics with the MSG crowd are overblown, but to make those statements now, while he's regressing to his worst self, is a bad look. |
| 21 | Hawks | -4 | 17-22 | The Hawks are an absolute mess right now. We seem to be incapable of playing defense and scoring points at the same time, it’s only ever one or the other. Rumors are swirling around trading just about anyone on the roster not named Trae Young. Reports are coming out that makes the coaching staff look wildly incompetent. The only solace anyone can take is that De’Andre Hunter will be back soon. |
| 22 | Spurs | -2 | 15-24 | The Spurs have cooled off a bit as of late, in large part due to the team's current bout with health and safety protocols. Hopefully the guys all recovery quickly, but the team will be missing Derrick White, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Doug McDermott, Thaddeus Young and Tre Jones for the foreseeable future. Dejounte Murray and Jakob Poeltl have played valiantly despite the circumstances, but it's tough for any team to win without multiple starters and key rotation players, though the Spurs' effort against the Nets yesterday can't be discounted. Josh Primo has seen a huge increase in PT during this stretch and had an impressive clutch 3 to help send the Spurs to OT despite being 3-15 prior to that shot. The Spurs have the @Knicks, Rockets, Cavs, Clippers, Suns, Thunder, Nets and 76ers lined up for the next two weeks. |
| 23 | Pacers | -- | 15-25 | The Pacers are not good. We've established this already. But with Indy's prodigal son Lance Stephenson returning? Maybe they'll at least be watchable....maybe? And hey! We have the hottest team in the NFL - the Colts - in town too! |
| 25 | Trail Blazers | -1 | 15-24 | Damian Lilllard and CJ McCollum continues to sit out games and the Blazers, unsurprisingly, continue to lose. Not all is lost in Portland, however. Anfernee Simons (the first, true Ant) is blossoming in front of our eyes, averaging 29.0/2.5/6.8 on 54.3/51.1/100 shooting splits in 36.7 minutes since being inserted in the starting lineup four games ago. He may be the only bright spot for Blazer fans this season, but he's truly been one hell of a bright spot. |
| 25 | Kings | +1 | 16-26 | The last time the kings finished with a bottom 5 record in the National Basketball League was 2012. On the other hand, going 2-5 over the last 2 weeks shows that we are trending in that direction. There's no doubt anymore that fox and haliburton are extremely talented players, however, the current situation does not bode well for a winning formula. Will the front office blow things up and trade one(or both)??! |
| 26 | Pelicans | -1 | 14-26 | The Pels have been playing like an average team for a while now, which all things considered is a good start to 2022. We're only ~1.5 games out of the West play-ins, and BI, JV, Hart, Herb, and Tae have been pretty solid. Like crabs in a bucket, the West's bottom-feeders are pulling each other down whenever one tries to escape - luckily for us we're the kings of seafood, and if anyone is gonna bully their way out as a crab, it's gonna be us. This team seriously needs a PG be creative and decisive, and speaking of kings..... HE HAS RISEN. THE KING CAKE BABY HAS AWOKEN FROM HIS SLUMBER. MARDI GRAS IS COMING, AND ALL THE DRUNKS, TOURISTS, AND VAGRANTS HAVE BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD. BEWARE THE COMING OF THE ONE TRUE KING, THE KING CAKE BABY, FOR WINTER IS COMING. https://twitter.com/KingCakeBaby/status/1478969591770619904?s=20 |
| 27 | Thunder | -- | 13-26 | Despite coming back from 18 down to take the lead against the Nuggets late in the 4th quarter Sunday night, the Thunder tank rolls on with a 4-game losing streak. The most notable stat for the team right now, barring any sudden Covid diagnosis, will likely be achieved this upcoming Tuesday night against Washington: Shai Gilegous-Alexander playing in his 35th game of the season, equalling his total from last year's injury-plagued campaign. No lingering issues from last season's torn plantar fascia have shown, a big relief for the franchise's cornerstone player. |
| 28 | Pistons | +2 | 8-30 | Somehow we are 3-2 in the new year with wins over the Knicks, Bucks, and Magic. On the other hand we were flat out destroyed by Charlotte and Memphis. We certainly aren't going to be a good team for awhile, but stay awhile and have a Bol of Beef Stew and you might enjoy yourself. |
| 29 | Rockets | -1 | 11-30 | Silas has struggled to put together anything that looks like defense, but let's be honest, there's not much to work with here. And if you think we're playing bad now, wait until after the trade deadline. |
| 30 | Magic | -1 | 7-34 | Losers of nine straight and with no end in sight. Mosley and the boys are doing their best at keeping these games close but haven't gotten over the hump just yet in being able to close them out and secure the win. Schedule gets a little easier down the line so hopefully the Magic can pick up a few more wins to keep everybody happy but even then, holding that top spot in the lottery odds is probably the move right now. |
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