Chuddy’s NBA Power RankingS
December 4
Welcome to the second installment of King Chuddy’s weekly NBA power rankings. These rankings will fluctuate based on the team's performance during the previous week and any changes in personnel, health, schematics, or overall quality of play. These rankings are NOT predicting for the future, or used to determine odds of ultimately winning the title, they are just based on what the team has done recently and what is their immediate outlook. For example, the Nuggets have the best future outlook to win the title and at full strength in a playoff setting they are the “best” team in the league. But they are dealing with multiple injuries at the moment and have not been playing their best basketball in recent weeks, so they are not #1 in the rankings. Think of these rankings as something more like the top 25 rankings in college basketball/football and they should make more sense. Feel free to leave your comments/opinions and tell me why I’m wrong, or why I am a genius. Without further ado…
Boston Celtics (15-4, Last week: 1) - The Celtics still haven’t played their best, but the wins keep piling up. A 2-0 week with a monster win over the Bulls sneak into the IST quarterfinals was enough to keep Boston in the top spot.
Minnesota Timberwolves (15-4, Last week: 2) - The Wolves keep winning behind their league-best defense and it’s past the point of wondering if they need to be taken seriously as a contender.
Oklahoma City Thunder (13-6, Last week: 6) - After a hard fought road loss to the Wolves, the Thunder trounced the Lakers and then showed great poise and resilience to withstand a 30-0 run from the Mavs to still get a win. The Thunder are now the only top with a top 5 rated offense and defense, and they have the second best NET rating after the Celtics. This is another team we may have to start taking seriously as a contender.
Denver Nuggets (14-7, Last week: 8) - The Nuggets got some of their guys back and immediately started to restore order. Jamaal Murray seems like he’ll be fine and it’s clear this is very much still the team to beat in the West.
Orlando Magic (14-6, Last week: 5) - They finally had their 9 game winning streak snapped on the road in Brooklyn on the second night of a back-to-back, but this team has established themselves as a true threat to the top teams in the East, and they are only getting better. The arrow is pointing directly up.
Milwaukee Bucks (14-6, Last week: 7) - Despite a bizarre loss to the Bulls mid week, the Bucks continue to trend in the right direction, now winning 8 of 10 as they enter the IST quarterfinals. The slow start seems like a thing of the past as they’re already creeping back towards the top of the standings.
Phoenix Suns (12-8, Last week: 3) - The Suns finally lost a game that Devin Booker started (even though he left early), but they continue to look nearly unstoppable when he and KD share the floor.
Sacramento Kings (11-7, Last week: 10) - The Kings had a slow start to the season but they’ve started to settle in and look even better than the team from last year that achieved the 3 seed in the west. De’Aaron Fox has taken yet another step this season, looking like one of the best offensive engines in the league. If these guys can find a way to get stops they can enter the “contenders” conversation.
Philadelphia 76ers (12-7, Last week: 4) - The 6ers haven’t been playing at full strength much lately and have faced a tough schedule, but they’re still floundering a bit, going just 4-6 in their last ten. They should be fine once they return to full health, but a little of the early season shine has faded.
New York Knicks (12-7, Last week: 15) - The Knicks have won three straight to vault themselves into the top 10. They continue to bring it every single night on both ends but probably need a true star running mate for Jalen Brunson if they want to contend.
Cleveland Cavaliers (11-9, Last week: 18) - The Cavs have gotten healthy and they’ve been steadily climbing up the standings and starting to resemble the team from last season.
New Orleans Pelicans (11-10, Last week: 11) - The Pels just saw CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy return to their lineup and this team still has a ton of room for improvement. They should only continue to climb as they get more comfortable playing together.
Indiana Pacers (10-8, Last week: 9) - Until the Pacers defense improves it will be hard to take them seriously, but the offense is undeniable. The IST will be a big opportunity for this squad to show their mettle.
Miami Heat (11-9, Last week: 13) - It doesn’t seem to matter who is in, who is out, these guys just keep chugging along. At full strength we see glimpses of a team that still thinks they can make the finals.
Los Angeles Lakers (12-9, Last week: 12) - The Lakers are still far too inconsistent behind LeBron James, but their ceiling is still high enough to give anyone trouble on a good night.
Dallas Mavericks (11-8, Last week: 16) - I remain to be low on Dallas despite some impressive performances. I just don’t think their defense is sustainable and they are still too Luka-centric for my liking on offense.
Brooklyn Nets (10-9, Last week: 21) - The Nets had a couple of nice wins, including a dominant showing against the Magic, proving that their floor is still pretty high.
Los Angeles Clippers (9-10, Last week: 17) - The lows are LOW, but overall these guys seem to be figuring some things out. I trust the infrastructure to figure it out - at least compared to the rest of the teams on this list.
Atlanta Hawks (9-10, Last week: 20) - This team is a lot like the Pacers - great offense, terrible defense - except right now Haliburton is a tier above Trae Young.
Houston Rockets (8-9, Last week: 14) - As much as I love the way this team has turned things around from the last few seasons, I am going to need to see them win at least one road game before I can bump them back up any higher than this.
Toronto Raptors (9-11, Last week: 23) - The Raps are at least competing and making things tough on their opponents, but the longer their record stays under .500 they are going to have to piss or get off the pot so to speak with Siakam and Anunoby on expiring contracts.
Golden State Warriors (9-11, Last week: 19) - The Warriors have looked pretty lifeless lately. Those big runs just aren’t there and it’s kind of sad to watch them try to turn it up and not be able to. They need a shake up, or they are going to waste an incredible Steph season.
Utah Jazz (7-13, Last week: 22) - They still impress me when they play their best - like their b2b wins over the Pelicans early last week. Their ceiling is considerably higher than the other teams in this range, but it remains unclear if they are committed to winning.
Chicago Bulls (7-14, Last week: 25) - It looked impossibly grim for the Bulls after getting trounced by the Celts, but they promptly pulled out consecutive wins despite missing Zach Lavine to show signs of life.
Portland Trailblazers (6-13, Last week: 27) - Scoot has finally started looking good and Jerami Grant has been incredible. They are not as unwatchable as it seemed a few weeks ago.
Memphis Grizzlies (5-14, Last week: 26) - A 2-1 week may not seem like much, but these guys were DESPERATE for anything, and they just need to find wins and tread water until Ja Morant returns (6 more games) to give themselves a chance for a play-in berth.
Charlotte Hornets (6-12, Last week: 24) - Losing LaMelo Ball to injury is beyond devastating for a team that was already tough to watch. If he’s out an extended period of time this season will be over as quickly as it started. It may be time to trade some vets.
Washington Wizards (3-16, Last week: 28) - Unfortunately for them, they don’t get to play the Pistons every night.
San Antonio Spurs (3-16, Last week: 29) - Their losing streak is now up to 14 straight. They are lucky the Pistons exist.
Detroit Pistons (2-18, Last week: 30) - Their 2-1 start to the season feels like a looooooooong time ago.