Chuddy’s NBA Power RankingS
January 8, 2024
Welcome to the seventh installment of King Chuddy’s weekly NBA power rankings and the second installment of 2024. As always, 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 may have the best future outlook to win the title and at full strength in a playoff setting they may be the “best” team in the league. But they have not been playing their best basketball consistently during the regular season, 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 (28-7, Last week: 1) - Best record in the league by several games, 2nd in D Rating, 2nd in O rating, 1st in NET resting by a wide margin, undefeated at home, they’ve played the hardest schedule… Not sure what more to say at this point; they are dominating the regular season.
Denver Nuggets (26-12, Last week: 4) - The Nuggets showed glimpses of their championship selves in an 18 point 4th quarter comeback capped off by a near-half court Jokic buzzer beater. Peyton Watson crunch time minutes are intriguing for the future.
Oklahoma City Thunder (23-11, Last week: 3) - Despite one of the most impressive wins of the season in dispatching the Celtics, they’ve since dropped two straight against the dregs of the east; Atlanta and Brooklyn.
Minnesota Timberwolves (25-10, Last week: 2) - Even though they remain atop the West, the Wolves finally take a dip after a tough 1-3 week. They are finally starting to show some weaknesses, especially on the offensive end. I think they’ll shuffle some chairs around at the trade deadline.
Los Angeles Clippers (22-13, Last week: 7) - Losing to the Lakers last night snapped a 5 game winning streak and a 12 game winning streak with Kawhi in the lineup. They’ve been the hottest team in the west basically since acquiring Harden, the pieces are fitting together VERY well on both ends, and people need to start taking them seriously again as contenders.
Milwaukee Bucks (25-11, Last week: 5) - The record just hasn’t met the eye test with this team, but a 1-3 week has things evening out a bit. They got thumped twice by the Pacers, barely squeaked past the Spurs, and failed to complete a late game in Houston. Their offense has been very good, but not good enough to compensate for below average defense.
New York Knicks (21-15, Last week: 16) - What a week for the Knicks! 4-0 since trading for OG Anunoby including impressive ones over the T-Wolves and trouncing the 6ers on the road. NYK is right back up to a 3-way tie for 4th in the East and they are within sniffing distance of the top 3. Knicks fans are dreaming big and early returns show why.
Dallas Mavericks (22-15, Last week: 11) - After treading water for a few weeks, the Mavs - and especially the Luka/Kyrie combo - have looked very good, winning 3 straight including holding off Minnesota last night.
Philadelphia 76ers (23-12, Last week: 6) - Pretty grim week for the 76ers, getting punched in the mouth by the Knicks, leaving Embiid in to stat pad (with a bum ankle), then getting blasted by the Jazz the next night while Embiid sits out. Not a great look.
Orlando Magic (21-15, Last week: 12) - They ended a tough road trip with a huge win in Denver in crunch time. Then came back home to beat the Hawks in OT. They were already banged up and lost Franz Wagner to an injury. But they showed a ton of heart and battled without a bunch of key players. It seems like they’ve found a few guys who stepped up and may be able to contribute (Queen/Okeke were awesome) and they’ve seen Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs step up as real leaders.
New Orleans Pelicans (22-15, Last week: 10) - Winners of 5 of 6, they had dominant road wins in Minnesota and Sacramento this week. When the stars play well together, this team’s ceiling remains very high.
Cleveland Cavaliers (21-15, Last week: 15) - A few weeks ago it seemed like this team was headed for a lost season, but they’ve played incredibly well though multiple absences. Donovan Mitchell has returned, Jarrett Allen has been amazing, and guys like Craig Porter Jr, Sam Merrill, and other unexpected sources have picked up their play. Now it looks like the Cavs are here to stay as a playoff team and should be getting reinforcements in the coming weeks.
Indiana Pacers (20-15, Last week: 13) - Pacers have bounced back in a big week after their post IST hangover. They’d won 6 in a row, including a couple of statement wins over the Bucks, before a tough home loss to the Celtics. They continue to have the highest rated offense in the NBA. They’ll get a chance at revenge tonight.
Sacramento Kings (21-14, Last week: 9) - The Kings are 0-4 against the Pelicans - in mostly non-competitive games - and 21-10 against everyone else. They are a very good team, especially on offense, but they need to avoid a playoff matchup with New Orleans at all costs.
Miami Heat (20-15, Last week: 8) - The Heat continue to just kind of quietly tread water and show extreme indifference towards the regular season. Jimmy Butler has been out, others have stepped up. We all know they will hang around and pounce once the playoffs start..
Houston Rockets (18-16, Last week: 20) - The Rockets have steadied the ship after struggling for a few weeks. They’ve gotten back to being a very strong home team and have found a way to steal a few road wins. They still have a top 5 defense and are 11th ranked in NET rating. What looked like a fun story to start the year now looks like a team that will legitimately be battling for a playoff spot.
Utah Jazz (17-20, Last week: 18) - The Jazz have been quietly sneaking up the standings ever since Lauri Markkanen returned to the lineup and now they are just a half game behind the Warriors and a full game behind the Lakers for 11th and 10th in the West. The Jazz are playing better basketball than most of the teams in the play-in picture and there’s no reason to think they can’t continue along that path if they want to.
Chicago Bulls (16-21, Last week: 17) - The Bulls got Zach Lavine back and even won in his debut (albeit against the Hornets)! It will be interesting to see if they can keep winning, but either way they’ll be one of the main teams to watch as the trade deadline approaches.
Memphis Grizzlies (13-23, Last week: 22) - Time will be working against the Grizzlies all year, but they’re just 4.5 games out of the play-in, and they look like a very good team with Ja Morant and Marcus Smart back on the court. Now Ja is dealing with a shoulder injury, but the Grizz were able to go into PHX and beat the big 3 of the Suns last night even without him.
Toronto Raptors (15-21, Last week: 25) - The Knicks aren’t the only team that has been happy since the OG Anunoby trade. The Raps are 3-1 since adding Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, and immediately look like a much more cohesive team, playing some of their best offensive basketball in ages. The middle of the East is so weak, there is no reason the Raps can’t climb into the play-in picture if they so choose.
Phoenix Suns (19-17, Last week: 14) - The Suns got their big 3 all back and ripped off a few wins, but they’re still constantly dealing with guys in and out of the lineups, Booker has been struggling lately as the lead initiator, and they blew a bad one last night to Memphis at home (without Ja).
Golden State Warriors (17-19, Last week: 21) - Yikes. Tough times for the Dubs lately. They blew an 18 point lead at home to Denver with about 6 and a half minutes left. Jonathan Kuminga A source came out and said that Jonathan Kuminga has lost faith in Steve Kerr. Chris Paul and Gary Payton II are hurt. Klay is talking openly about adjusting his role to fit his current game. Draymond is returning to the bench. They got blasted at home by Toronto and Steph scored 9 points on 0/9 3 point shooting. It’s getting late early for these guys.
Los Angeles Lakers (18-19, Last week: 19) - Speaking of yikes. The Lakers quieted the mob temporarily by beating the Clippers last night, but they’d lost 4 straight before that, several in embarrassing fashion. The post game comments are alarming, the body language is disturbing, the “SIX SOURCES” complaining about Darvin Ham are certainly a red flag. Can’t wait to see what Player/Coach/GM LeBron cooks up next!
Portland Trail Blazers (10-25, Last week: 26) - Anfernee Simons looks like a star since he’s come back from injury. Scoot and Sharpe look pretty good. Grant and Brogdon are playing great. Their games are (mostly) exciting and competitive and they’ve pulled out a few nice wins. This continues to be a very commendable tank/rebuild all around.
Atlanta Hawks (14-21, Last week: 24) - They held off a furious comeback to get a nice win at home against the Thunder (on a B2B after draining home win over Bos) and the team is inarguably better with Jalen Johnson - they’ve found something with him. But that’s pretty much it for positives. This team needs a shakeup as badly as maybe any in the league.
Brooklyn Nets (16-21, Last week: 23) - The sum of their parts is greater than the whole, unfortunately. They have plenty of solid role players and rotation players. But they have nobody who can set those guys up to succeed in those roles. Mikal Bridges is very good, but he’s clearly not a true #1 star/creator for a team. They are desperately lacking the high end talent needed to succeed and would be best suited to try to consolidate some talent. They should get what they can for guys like Dorian Finney Smith, Royce O’neal and others who could help contenders.
Charlotte Hornets (8-25, Last week: 30) - I called out the Hornets, putting them last in the Power Rankings and they got the message loud and clear, snapping their 11 game losing streak with a fun, clutch win in Sacramento, led by one of the league’s most underrated clutch players, old friend Terry Rozier.
San Antonio Spurs (5-30, Last week: 29) - The wins aren't really coming, but this team has started to look competent lately. Wemby actually looks good at the 5 and keeps getting better and better with every game. Devin Vassell has been really good too, and guys seem to be fitting in well around those two (by comparison). They’ve been a much more competitive team as of late, and much more watchable.
Washington Wizards (6-29, Last week: 28) - I’m an absolute basketball junkie and even I will admit, outside of the occasional unintended comedy, this is a very tough team to watch.
Detroit Pistons (3-33, Last week: 27) - Too hasty by far! I got a little too excited about this team after watching them lay it all on the line for a few games to try to snap this streak. They’ve gone back to looking pretty uninspiring since the big win over the Raptors, and may be in the early stages of a new streak, as they’ve lost 4 in a row and Cade left early last night with an injury.