NBA Power Rankings 1/19

I didn't wanna come out with power rankings to early so I wanted to wait until I saw a reasonable amount of games and now that alot of teams have played around 15 games or so I've seen enough to put out my first NBA power rankings.

1. Chicago Bulls - 13-3

So far this season the Bulls have played the best to me. They have the best record in the NBA despite Rose missing 3 games. Their picking right back up where the left off last season as the NBA's best defense which is carrying this team to their success yet again. Their giving up a 85 points a game and when you play that kind of lock down defense your in almost every game you play and with a closer like Derrick Rose if you keep the game close he can win it at the end and we've seen a little of that already this year when he's been out there.

2. Thunder - 12-3

So far this season the Thunder have been playing the best basketball in the west. I don't like the fact this team is 17th defensively despite having 3 defensive minded players in the starting lineup and the fact that their 2 stars can defend as well especially Westbrook so its baffling to me how this defense is just middle of the pack and that's really the reason I have them behind Chi. But overall their winning and offensively their number 4 so I can't complain to much. 

3. Los Angeles Clippers - 8-4

So far the clippers have been impressive when you consider all the factors. They got 3 of their starters within 2 weeks of their 1st game and their off to an 8-4 start despite CP3 and Billups both already missing games with injury and not having almost any depth on the front line. They've lost 4 games but all 4 losses came to teams that have winning records and that will most likely made the playoffs and they've beaten their share of good teams including the Heat, Mavs, and Lakers. They still have issues defensively, and rebounding, and as can be expected with a team of new players they lack unity on the floor at times and despite all of these factors they've established themselves as one of the best teams in the league and have proved they can beat anybody.  

4. Los Angeles Lakers - 10-5

The Lakers have looked better than I expected this season. The one thing I knew would happen with the addition of Mike Brown was the Lakers defense who right now are 5th in defense and are allowing 89 points per game. Not to mention Kobe is on fire right now and is leading the league in scoring right now and looks to have turned back the clock which really is dangerous for the other teams in the West. 

 5. Orlando Magic - 10-4

The Magic despite all the Dwight rumor have been playing really well. Their tied for the 3rd best record in the East and they are getting great production from the front line. Ryan Anderson and J.J. Reddick are playing better than they ever had and Dwight is an absolute monster with 20 and 15 a game. Even Hedo Turkoglu looks good again shooting almost 50% from the field. Their playing good defense currently ranked 10th and are their lighting it up from 3 currently ranked 2nd.

6. Miami Heat 9-4

The Heat have lost a couple games and have lost the last 3 of 4 but overall when Wade was healthy I really liked some of the things I were seeing. It's only expected that without Wade they'd maybe struggle a bit so I won't put to much stock into that. But the Heat played very well in the 2nd half against the Spurs and showed some resiliency. I am worried that defensively their way back this year at 26th but I think that'll improve. 

7. Atlanta Hawks - 11-4

The Hawks have gotten off to a great start this year but they have only really beaten all bad teams except for the Blazers last night. They beat the Bulls but Rose left the game with a injury and they beat the Heat but Wade was hurt in that game. And I just can't get over the fact they lost to the Heat without Lebron or Wade playing. But overall their playing well and have the 6th best defense right now.

8. Utah Jazz - 9-4

The Jazz started off 1-3 and since have won 8 of their last 9 with the only loss during that stretch coming in OT to the Lakers. Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are playing well. Their not really great on either end as their ranked around the middle of the pack on both offense and defense but their still winning games just by battling and being a grind it out grimy team. 

9. San Antonio Spurs - 10-5

If the Spurs could play on the road they'd beat one of the top 5 teams in the league because their 9-0 at home. However on the road their just 1-5 and just don't look like the same team. Defensively the Spurs are middle of the pack and I expect them to remain there all season but offensively their rolling 5th in the league and they've still been playing well on that end despite not having their best player in Ginobli. Also Blair looks very improved and appears to have made strides improving his offensive game and Leonard looks like he's going to be a really good player as well. 

10. Denver Nuggets - 10-5

The Nuggets despite not having Wilson Chandler, J.R. Smith, and Kenyon Martin their still playing really well and are the 2nd best offensive team in the NBA. Their playing fast paced as usual and are simply out running teams. Ty Lawson and Galo have been playing really well, and somehow Al Harrington is a factor on the court again after looking washed up last year. Nene has been his normal self as well as Afflalo and it's all led to the Nuggets being one of the more exciting and competitive teams in the league. 

11. Philadelphia 76ers - 10-4

The Sixers have been playing really well and are top 5 in most of the power rankings I've seen but my thing is they just haven't beaten anybody. Their only impressive win was against the Pacers and all 4 of their losses were to good teams which tells me they can beat the bad teams but not the good ones which makes them an ok team not a great team. Until the schedule gets harder I can't fully buy into Philly. 

12. Indiana Pacers - 9-4

The Pacers have been playing really well and are 9-4 and I love the defense they've been playing currently ranked 4th. But as I look at the schedule it's the same as the Sixers they just haven't beaten anybody and are just piling up the w's on bad teams so until I see them play better competition I can't go all in on them. I also love the offensive balance of the Pacers as they have 7 players averaging over double digits. And unlike the Sixers they have a go to offensive player in both Granger and West. 

13. Portland Trail Blazers - 8-6

The Blazers started off really well but have lost their last 4 of 5 and look a little closer to what I felt they'd be good but not great. Portland is a good defensive team despite the 14th ranking and their really deep as they go easily 9 deep and that's without Oden. LaMarcus Aldridge is looking like a top 5 PF in the NBA and I think the Blazers will start to Heat back up. 

14. Dallas Mavericks - 8-7 

All I've heard during the offseason and I'll admit it was my opinion as well is that the Mavs wouldn't be as good defensively but so far the Mavs are currently ranked 3rd in the NBA in defense and their struggles have came on the offensive end as their only scoring 92 a game. Alot of the Mavs players have been trying to work their way back into shape and I think that has alot to do with it as well as the new additions to the team like Odom, Carter, and West. But make no mistake by the end of the year this Mavs team will be one of the teams talked about as a contender to win the West. 

15. Minnesota Timberwolves - 6-8

The T-wolves look completely different this season their actually playing defense, winning games, and competing with elite teams. And while everyone is talking about Kevin Love it's def. not because of him because he's basically doing what he was doing last year. The most credit for this turn around by the T-wolves has to go to Ricky Rubio. When He's on the floor things just change and he creates offense for everyone. 

16. Memphis Grizzlies - 7-7
The Grizzlies have had some bad luck with injuries so far as they lost Arthur for the year before the season and Now Zach Randolph is out for a while. Their making do with what they have but Randolph is this teams best player and without him their a middle of the road team at best.

17. Houston Rockets - 7-7

I haven't watched alot of the Rockets so far but they are on a 4 game winning streak and I think their slow start had more to do with playing a tough schedule packed with elite teams than it had to do with them playing bad. Kevin Martin is playing awful right now but Kyle Lowry on the other hand has been the Rockets best player and looks to be making a case that he's a top 10 PG. 

18. New York Knicks - 6-8

Everyone wants to say the Knicks aren't a great defensive team which is true but that's not even the problem right now because their actually much improved in that area as their currently ranked 16th in that category. The problem is offense as the Knicks are somehow ranked lower in offense than they are in defense at 18. The offense has very little ball movement and it just lacks any real flow most of time. Melo is averaging 25 a game but he's shooting a terrible 41% from the field which suggest that hes just going out jacking up a bunch of bad shots. And I don't even recognize Amare at the moment he's a even worse rebounder than normal which is really sad, he's not playing much defense as expected, and offensively he's only averaging 18 a game while shooting an awfully low 40% from the field as it appears he has no interest in playing PF this year and I think would prefer if Dantoni moved him to SG as he is shooting nothing but jumpers for the most part. 

19. Golden State Warriors - 5-9 

Despite being Curry dealing with injuries to his ankle the Warrior have been competitive. They've already beat the Bulls, Heat, and Knicks. Monta has been monta scoring the ball but David Lee has really picked it up offensively from last year and appears to have been working on his post game during the offseason. Also the addition of Nate Robinson really has helped this team in the absence of Curry. 

20. Cleveland Cavaliers - 6-7

The Cavs are 6-7 and it looks all great Kyrie is playing well and all that but don't be fooled this is still a mediocre team at best their 6 wins are against Det, NJ, Min, PHX, and twice against the Bobcats but hey this was one of the worst teams in the NBA last season so that is improvement.  

21. Boston Celtics - 5-9

The Celtics have looked awful this year and clearly aren't an elite team right now. But their also not as terrible team either seeing how they've managed to dominate all the bad teams they just can't beat any good teams right now. It's still hard to judge this team knowing that Pierce is still trying to work his way back from injury as this team will go as he goes or doesn't go. 

22. Phoenix Suns - 5-9

The Suns have been doing their best for the talent they have but the fact is there just not that good right now and it's Steve Nash or bust. Gortat has been playing really well tho but ultimately your probably not a very good team if he's your 2nd leading scorer. 

23. Milwaukee Bucks - 4-9 

The Bucks aren't very good so far and it surprises me. I knew that they wouldn't be very good offensively as their only averaging 91 a game because they just don't have the personnel to be but their is no reason why this team should be 19th in defense with a team with so many defensive minded players on it and one of the better defensive minded coaches in the league. Their short comings on defense are ultimately whats hurting them right now.  

24. Sacramento Kings - 5-10

Alot of people for whatever reason thought this team would be a playoff contender this season how every I knew better. Their 24th in offense and 29th in defense. Do they have talent yes but they have no direction, they play with to many SGs because the only PG that ever sees the floor is rookie Isiah Thomas in garbage time as he's only avg 6 minutes a game so there's no true PG in the rotation, nobody that wants to play defense, and to many people that wanna shoot. It all equates to being bad. 

25. Toronto Raptors - 4-11

The Raptors were one of the worst teams in the NBA defensively last season and new coach Dwane Casey has already made drastic improvements as the Raptors are currently 9th in defense. Unfortunately their the 2nd worst offensive team in the league averaging only 85 a game and just can't score enough points to win on a consistent basis. 

26. Detroit Pistons - 3-12

The Pistons are bad but I'm putting them over the Nets because they've beaten to quality teams in the Pacers and Magic. Some good news for the Pistons however is that it looks like Greg Monroe might not be a bust after all as he's off to a solid start averaging 16 and 9 a game. 

27. New Jersey Nets - 4-11

Not having Brook Lopez is really killing this team and their playoff hopes seeing as how even with him they were going to struggle to get a 8 seed. Deron Williams got off to a slow start but appears to be playing much better and rookie Marshon Brooks has shown he has a little scoring ability. But until Lopez gets back this team just doesn't have the talent to be very competitive. 

28. Charlotte Bobcats - 3-12

The Bobcats have some decent wins against GS and the Knicks but have also been the source for alot of the W's from bad teams. They already don't have alot of talent and Corey Maggette missing over half the games so far really isn't helping. 

29. New Orleans Hornets - 3-11

The Hornets have been struggling but it has alot to do with Eric Gordon being hurt as he's only played in 2 games this season. When Gordon gets back this team will be better than they've shown. Until then it's really hard to comment on this team. 

30. Washington Wizards - 2-12

It's been an awful season so far for the Wizards. Their alot of things you could point to 2 try and justify why be the main thing has to be the terrible shooting. Every major scorer for this team besides Javale McGee who only shoots around the rim is shooting in 30s as far as shooting percentage goes. It's unheard of. Ultimately I blame John Wall. In the Wizards games I've watched this year Wall is simply out of position. He cannot play PG at least right now he can't he's a SG. Their offense is always out of sync and their really hard to watch in the half court.