NBA Power Rankings: Week 8

1. Golden State Warriors 20-10 SAME

Golden State was blown out at home by Toronto on Wednesday but has still won five of its past six. The
team has been rolling since the return of Steph Curry. The Warriors have a busy week against Memphis,
Utah, Dallas and the Los Angeles Clippers.

2. Toronto Raptors 23-9 SAME

Toronto looked good in wins over the Clippers and Warriors this week before losing a close one to
Portland. The Raptors are without Paskal Siakam for a few games because of his back injury. Toronto
takes on Indiana, Cleveland and Philadelphia this week.

3. Milwaukee Bucks 19-9 UP 5

Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to amaze everyone with his play. Antetokounmpo turned in a 44-
point, 14-rebound and eight-assist game against Cleveland on Friday. Milwaukee plays the Pistons,
Pelicans, Celtics and Heat this week.

4. Denver Nuggets 20-9 UP 1

Denver has gotten hot again, winning nine of its past 11 games. Nikola Jokic has led the Nuggets in
points, rebounds and assists in each of its past three games. Denver has a short week against the
Mavericks and Clippers.

5. Boston Celtics 18-11 UP 6

Boston rode an eight-game win streak into its loss against Detroit on Saturday. The Celtics have looked
much better lately, especially Gordon Hayward. The Celtics take on Phoenix, Milwaukee and Charlotte
this week.

6. Oklahoma City 18-10 DOWN 3

Paul George has been the lifeline for Oklahoma City this season. George led the team in scoring in all
four game it played this week, averaging over 30 points per game during the stretch. The Thunder take
on Chicago, Sacramento, Utah and Minnesota this week.

7. Philadelphia 76ers 20-11 DOWN 3

Joel Embiid became just the fourth player in the past five seasons to record a 40-point 20-rebound game
on Friday in a loss to Indiana. Embiid has been dominating this year, but the 76ers desperately need
more shooting. Philadelphia plays San Antonio, New York and Toronto this week.

8. Indiana Pacers 20-10 UP 4

Indiana has been on a hot streak, winning seven games in a row. The Pacers got 26 points, eight
rebounds, seven assists and five steals from Victor Oladipo in Sunday’s win over New York. Indiana has a
busy week against Cleveland, Toronto, Brooklyn and Washington.

9. Los Angeles Lakers 18-11 DOWN 3

LeBron James and Lonzo Ball became just the sixth teammates to record triple-doubles in the same
game in the Lakers win over Charlotte on Saturday. Ball has stepped up his game this season, especiallyon the defensive end. The Lakers play Brooklyn, New Orleans and Memphis this week.

10. Los Angeles Clippers 17-12 DOWN 3

Los Angeles has slowed down recently, losing five of six with the lone win coming over Phoenix in
overtime. The team needs to get back on track or it will have difficulty with a tough west schedule soon.
The Clippers have a busy week against Portland, Dallas, Denver and Golden State.

11. Memphis Grizzlies 16-13 DOWN 2

Memphis backed out of a three-team deal in the Trevor Ariza sweepstakes after it didn’t want to include
Dillon Brooks (smartly) in the trade. The Grizzlies have had a rough stretch, losing four of five. Memphis
takes on the Warriors, Blazers, Kings and Lakers this week.

12. Portland Trail Blazers 16-13 UP 3

Portland lost two tough road games to Houston and Memphis this week. CJ McCollum tied a season-high
in points with 40 against the Grizzlies. Portland plays the Clippers, Grizzlies, Jazz and Mavericks this
week.

13. Utah Jazz 14-16 SAME

Utah has lost three of four but has looked better since the addition of Kyle Korver. The Jazz have the
highest 3-point percentage in the league since the trade, at just over 39 percent. Utah has a busy week
against Houston, Golden State, Portland and Oklahoma City.

14. Detroit Pistons 14-13 SAME

Detroit snapped a six-game losing streak with a win over the Celtics on Saturday. Blake Griffin and Andre
Drummond are both still playing at All-Star levels, but the team doesn’t have a solid point guard. Detroit
has a long week with games against Milwaukee, Minnesota, Charlotte and Atlanta.

15. Minnesota Timberwolves 13-16 DOWN 5

Minnesota has lost four-straight, including a terrible loss to the Suns on Saturday. Andrew Wiggins
finally scored over 23 points in a game this year, with 25 against the Kings. Minnesota has a busy week
against Sacramento, Detroit, San Antonio and Oklahoma City.

16. New Orleans Pelicans 15-16 UP 1

Anthony Davis needs to tell New Orleans to get him a better supporting cast or trade him away. Davis
had 41 points against Boston on Monday and the Pelicans still lost by 13. The Pelicans play the Bucks,
Lakers and Kings this week.

17. San Antonio Spurs 15-15 UP 1

San Antonio lost its four-game winning streak against Chicago on Saturday night. The Spurs aren’t the
same as they used to be, but still might be good enough to make a playoff push. The Spurs take on
Philadelphia, Orlando, Minnesota and Houston this week.

18. Dallas Mavericks 15-13 DOWN 2

Luka Doncic is a heavy frontrunner for rookie of the year right now. Doncic is first in points, second in
assists and top five in rebounds amongst all rookies this season. Dallas has a tough week against the
Nuggets, Clippers, Warriors and Blazers.

19. Sacramento Kings 16-13 UP 2

Sacramento has had the biggest turnaround of any team this season. The Kings finished in the bottom-
five assists and last in points last season and are fifth in points and sixth in assists this season.
Sacramento takes on Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Memphis and New Orleans this week.

20. Charlotte Hornets 14-15 DOWN 1

Charlotte lost a nail-biter to the Knicks in overtime on Friday then got blown out by the Lakers on
Saturday. Kemba Walker scored a season-low four points against Los Angeles. Charlotte takes on
Cleveland, Detroit and Boston this week.

21. Houston Rockets 14-14 UP 1

Houston has won three-straight this week after losing three-straight the week before. The Rockets
entire season has been up-and-down and I’m not sure what to think of them. Houston has a long week
against Utah, Washington, Miami and San Antonio.

22. Orlando Magic 14-15 DOWN 2

Orlando had a solid week, defeating Chicago and Utah while losing to the Mavericks. Mo Bamba has had
a rocky season so far but has also had flashes of potential as well. Orlando plays San Antonio, Chicago
and Miami this week.

23. Miami Heat 13-16 UP 1

Miami finished its six-game road trip 4-2 with wins over the Suns, Clippers, Grizzlies and Pelicans. The
Heat still need to make up their minds on if they want to make a playoff push or become sellers. Miami
takes on Houston, Milwaukee and Orlando this week.

24. Washington Wizards 11-18 DOWN 1

Washington traded Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers to the Suns for Trevor Ariza. The trade likely isn’t
going to solve any of the team’s problems, but they sure think it will. Washington has a busy week with
games against Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix and Indiana.

25. Brooklyn Nets 13-18 UP 1

Brooklyn has rattled off five-straight wins, notably at Philadelphia this week. Only one of the wins was
by double-digits, a 17-point beatdown of the Hawks on Sunday. Brooklyn takes on the Lakers, Bulls,
Pacers and Suns this week.

26. New York Knicks 9-22 DOWN 1

New York has lost nine of its past 11, with both wins coming by two points in overtime. The Knicks
continue to shift starting lineups around in order to find who plays best with who. New York plays
Phoenix, Philadelphia and Atlanta this week.

27. Cleveland Cavaliers 7-23 UP 1

Cleveland still stinks but has played slightly better lately. The Cavaliers are still looking for a trade
partner for J.R. Smith, but likely won’t find one for another couple of weeks. The Cavaliers take on
Indiana, Charlotte, Toronto and Chicago this week.

28. Chicago Bulls 7-23 DOWN 1

Chicago beat the Spurs on Saturday behind Kris Dunn’s 24 points and seven rebounds. The Bulls also
banished Jabari Parker to the bench, and Parker is now looking to get traded. Chicago has a busy week
with games against Oklahoma City, Brooklyn, Orlando and Cleveland.

29. Atlanta Hawks 6-23 SAME

Atlanta lost all three games it played this week. Trae Young had a good game against Dallas, with 24
points and 10 assists but struggled against Denver and Boston, with just nine points in each game. The
Hawks play Washington, New York and Detroit this week.

30. Phoenix Suns 6-24 SAME

Phoenix flipped an unhappy Trevor Ariza for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers after one of the oddest
trade days in recent history. The Suns originally thought they were getting Dillon Brooks back from the
Grizzlies, but it never materialized. Phoenix takes on New York, Boston, Washington and Brooklyn this
week.