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NBA Power Rankings – Week 10

 

  1. Golden State Warriors 24-13 SAME

The Warriors lost to the Lakers and Blazers before beating Portland this week. Golden State still is the top dog in the league and definitely the team to beat come playoff time. The Warriors take on Phoenix, Houston and Sacramento this week.

  1. Milwaukee Bucks 25-10 UP 2

Milwaukee has the best win percentage in the league after a 3-0 week in which it defeated New York twice and Brooklyn once. Giannis Antetokounmpo has the highest shooting percentage at the rim of any player with over 100 attempts at 75.5 percent. The Bucks take on Detroit, Atlanta and Toronto this week.

  1. Toronto Raptors 27-11 SAME

Toronto beat Miami and Chicago last week but got blown out by Orlando. The Raptors still have the most wins in the league and are leading the Bucks for the first seed by half a game. Toronto takes on Utah, San Antonio, Milwaukee and Indiana this week.

  1. Denver Nuggets 23-11 DOWN 2

Denver split games with San Antonio and beat Phoenix last week. The Nuggets hold a half-game lead over Golden State for the best record in the Western Conference and have the second-highest points differential in the West at +5.2 per game. Denver takes on New York, Sacramento and Charlotte this week.

  1. Indiana Pacers 24-12 UP 2

Indiana has been one of the hottest teams in the league lately, going 2-0 last week and 8-2 over its past 10. The Pacers team has shown a lot of balance this season, with six players averaging double figures and no players playing more than 33 minutes per game. Indiana plays Atlanta, Chicago and Toronto this week.

  1. Oklahoma City Thunder 22-13 DOWN 1

Oklahoma City had a rough week with losses to Houston and Dallas but managed to beat a terrible Phoenix team. Paul George is still playing at a super high level, but the team needs to figure out how to win again. The Thunder take on the Mavericks, Clippers, Blazers and Wizards this week.

  1. Philadelphia 76ers 23-14 DOWN 1

Philadelphia destroyed Utah on the road this week but lost to Boston and Portland. The team will need shooting sometime this season whether it come on the waiver wire or through a trade. The 76ers take on the Clippers, Suns and Mavericks this week.

  1. Boston Celtics 21-14 SAME

Boston has slowed down after going on tear, winning six of its past 10. The Celtics have an easy stretch coming up with six of their next eight coming against sub-.500 teams. Boston takes on San Antonio, Minnesota and Dallas this week.

  1. Houston Rockets 20-15 UP 4

Houston has been the hottest team in the league, going 9-1 over its past 10 games. The Rockets beat three solid teams last week in Oklahoma City, Boston and New Orleans. Houston may be without Chris Paul for another week or two, but Austin Rivers has somewhat filled the gap and made the team better. Houston has tough week with games against Memphis, Golden State and Portland.

  1. Los Angeles Clippers 21-15 SAME

The Clippers beat The Lakers and Kings last week but are just 4-6 over their past 10. ESPN’s basketball power index still projects Los Angeles to make the playoffs and finish at 46-36, which is two less wins than they are currently on pace for. The Clippers take on Philadelphia, Phoenix and Orlando this week.

  1. Portland Trail Blazers 21-16 SAME

Portland lost to the Jazz on Christmas, split games with Golden State then beat Philadelphia to end its week. The Blazers are getting consistently great play from Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum but the two don’t have much help. Portland takes on Sacramento, Oklahoma City and Houston this week.

  1. Utah Jazz 18-19 SAME

Utah has gotten through the toughest part of its schedule and sits just under .500 at 18-19. The Jazz have the second-easiest strength of schedule going forward, playing Phoenix three times, New York once, and Atlanta, Chicago, and Cleveland all two times. Utah takes on Toronto, Cleveland and Detroit this week.

  1. Los Angeles Lakers 21-16 DOWN 4

The Lakers finished their busy week 2-2, splitting games with Sacramento, beating the Warriors and losing to the Clippers. Los Angeles will be without LeBron James for about three more games and Rajon Rondo for a month. The Lakers take on Oklahoma City, New York and Minnesota this week.

  1. San Antonio Spurs 20-17 UP 1

San Antonio split games with Denver and beat the Clippers last week. LaMarcus Aldridge put up a season-high 38 points against Los Angeles on Saturday to lead the Spurs in their victory. San Antonio stays at home this week with games against Boston, Toronto and Memphis.

  1. Sacramento Kings 19-17 UP 1

Sacramento is much better than expected this year, even with Marvin Bagley III not playing as much as people thought he would. Bagley III is seventh on the team in minutes played at 23.1 but is still putting up 12.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. The Kings play Portland, Denver and Golden State at home this week.

  1. Memphis Grizzlies 18-17 DOWN 2

Memphis has struggled lately, going just 3-7 over its past 10 games. The Grizzlies are getting great contributions from rookie Jaren Jackson Jr., 13.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game this season. Memphis has a busy week against Houston, Detroit, Brooklyn and San Antonio.

  1. Charlotte Hornets 17-18 SAME

Charlotte needs to trade Kemba Walker or trade the rest of the team to help the man. Walker scored 47 against the Wizards on Saturday but the Hornets still lost the game. Charlotte looks to bounce back from its 1-2 week against Orlando, Dallas, Denver and Phoenix this week.

  1. Miami Heat 17-18 UP 1

Miami doesn’t seem to have much of an identity this year other than a Dwyane Wade farewell tour. The Heat are hovering around .500 and can’t seem to decide if they want to blow it up or not. They should definitely blow it up. Miami takes on Cleveland, Washington and Atlanta this week.

  1. Brooklyn Nets 17-21 UP 4

Jarrett Allen is compiling a solid list of people whose shots he has block. Allen recently blocked a LeBron James dunk, just the ninth time in James career he has had a dunk blocked. Brooklyn looks forward to games against New Orleans, Memphis and Chicago this week.

  1. Minnesota Timberwolves 17-19 DOWN 2

Minnesota is a shell of the team it was last season. The Wolves beat two bad teams in Chicago and Miami last week but somehow lost to Atlanta. Minnesota has a busy week against New Orleans, Boston, Orlando and the Los Angeles Lakers.

  1. Detroit Pistons 16-18 SAME

Detroit has stunk lately, winning just three of its past 10 and going 1-2 last week. The Pistons still have no help for Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin. The Pistons take on Milwaukee, Memphis and Utah this week.

  1. New Orleans Pelicans 16-21 DOWN 2

Anthony Davis seems to be disappearing in some games for the Pelicans this season. New Orleans needs every ounce of energy from Davis to win a game and it’s looking like the team may end up as the second-worst in the West this season. The Pelicans take on Minnesota, Brooklyn and Cleveland his week.

  1. Dallas Mavericks 17-18 UP 2

Luka Doncic is looking better and better with every game he plays. Doncic recently became the youngest player in NBA history to hit seven 3-pointers in a game against the Pelicans. The Mavericks hit the road this week with games at Oklahoma City, Charlotte, Boston and Philadelphia.

  1. Orlando Magic 16-19 SAME

Orlando beat Toronto and Detroit this week but also fell to Phoenix. The team still doesn’t have an identity and likely won’t have one this season. The Magic have a busy week coming up against Charlotte, Chicago, Minnesota and the Los Angeles Clippers.

  1. Washington Wizards 14-23 DOWN 3

John Wall decided to get surgery on the bone spurs he has in his foot, putting him out 6-8 months and effectively ending his season. The Wizards are at a point where they wish they didn’t sign him to the max extension that will pay him roughly $47 million when he is 32 years old. Washington plays Atlanta, Miami and Oklahoma City this week.

  1. Atlanta Hawks 11-24 UP 1

Atlanta has been surprisingly hot lately, winning six of its past 10 and going 2-1 last week. Trae Young hasn’t been shooting as well lately but has averaged nine assists per game in the past five games he’s played. The Hawks have a busy week with games against Indiana, Washington, Milwaukee and Miami.

  1. Chicago Bulls 10-27 DOWN 1

Chicago lost Minnesota and Toronto last week but managed to beat the lowly Wizards. Lauri Markkanen has been solid for the team, putting up 17.2 points per game. Chicago takes on Orlando, Indiana and Brooklyn this week.

  1. Phoenix Suns 9-28 UP 1

Phoenix has won five of its past 10 surprisingly. Deandre Ayton dropped 24 points in the first quarter against Denver on Saturday and finished the game with a career-high 33 points. The Suns have a nice homestand this game against Golden State, Philadelphia, Charlotte and the Los Angeles Clippers.

  1. Cleveland Cavaliers 8-29 DOWN 1

Cleveland is looking forward to getting Kevin Love back after going 0-3 last week. Love is expected to be out until mid-January, but the team needs him back sooner if they want to win any games soon. The Cavaliers take on Miami, Utah and New Orleans this week.

  1. New York Knicks 9-28 SAME

New York went to Utah and got clobbered and also lost to the Bucks twice this week. The Knicks are starting a two-way player at center, Luke Kornet, and bringing Enes Kanter off the bench. Kanter voiced his frustrations of being a bench player after the Utah game in which he had a 0/4/3 stat line in 17 minutes. The Knicks take on Denver and the Los Angeles Lakers this week.

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