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You could make an argument that the NBA is deeper in terms of talent now than at any other time in the league’s history. Every team has a guy or two that can light up the scoreboard.
As we approach the halfway point, I did my best to put together some semblance of a power ranking. Can’t wait to be proven wrong in a million ways as soon as I hit the ‘publish’ button.
Yes, I know there are only 30 teams in the league.
Gross
31. Detroit Pistons
The team lost 28 games in a row. Don’t need to say much more.
30. Washington Wizards
Jordan Poole is dead last in the league in +/-. Nothing less fun than watching him dribble around for 20 seconds before jacking up a 35-footer that blasts off the backboard next to the rim.
29. San Antonio Spurs
Wembanyama is pretty fun, but the team Gregg Popovich put around him is borderline negligent. Jeremy Sochan at point guard? Complete waste of Wemby’s rookie year.
28. Portland Trail Blazers
I’m willing to give it more time, but Scoot Henderson might not be the guy we thought he was going into the draft. His lack of shooting consistency is reason for legitimate concern. There is some talent but the team as a whole is just saddening. Fitting for a team playing in Portland, Oregon.
27. Charlotte Hornets
Probably the friskiest awful team, but still pretty bad. They’ll likely get even worse around the trade deadline. How did this team beat Boston and Sacramento this season?
26. Houston Rockets (on the road)
The Rockets are 3-11 on the road and are so much worse away from H-Town. Scoring depth and defensive ability seems to go out the window when the team leaves home. Alperen Sengun is an incredible player. Don’t get me wrong. But it kind of tells the story for Houston that his usage rate jumps from 25 to around 30 when the team is on the road.
The Grizzlies
25. Memphis Grizzlies
An unfortunate season for Memphis got even worse with news that Ja Morant will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Any sort of hope for Memphis this season is now officially dead. They are too talented long-term to sell, but they’ll be pretty bad in the short-term as long as their superstar is out.
Likely Deadline Sellers
24. Utah Jazz
In my opinion, it’d be pretty ridiculous for the Jazz not to trade Markkanen and Clarkson at least. We have no idea how much longer the former is going to be as good as he’s been recently, and you’ve gotta sell high. A promising young core featuring Walker Kessler and Keyonte George keeps them out of the cellar.
23. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors already began the “blow it up” process with last week’s trade of OG Anunoby to the Knicks, which I covered earlier. I would expect Pascal Siakam to be next out the door, fully handing the keys over to Scottie Barnes. I suppose there are worse guys to entrust with the future of a franchise.
22. Brooklyn Nets
My take on the team is probably the same as most. I really like the group of guys they have, but the Nets don’t have that true alpha that can go toe-to-toe with the league’s best late in games. Several of those rotation pieces should be available at the deadline. Nico Harrison – PLEASE bring my boy DFS home.
21. Atlanta Hawks
Looks more and more likely to make a drastic move by the day. The Dejounte/Trae combo simply isn’t working. I think ATL would move on from Murray before it sells out on Trae Young, but you’ve gotta sell somewhat high while those guys have value.
20. Chicago Bulls
There’s a reason we’ve probably heard more trade whispers coming out of the Windy City than anywhere else. DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso could be legitimate contributors for contending teams, and the Zach Lavine circus probably needs to move to a new town. But how about Coby White? One of the surprises of the season.
Underachievers
19. Golden State Warriors
Will the Warriors finally move on from the Steph/Klay/Draymond era? Thompson is on an incredibly expensive expiring contract, and the team has actually played better without Green during his suspension. Beyond those two, they have some intriguing young trade pieces like Kuminga and Moody, and we already know Kuminga has some issues with his usage in Golden State. The bottom line is that the Warriors have the ammo to switch things up, but trading franchise icons like Klay and Draymond might be a bridge too far.
18. Los Angeles Lakers
I had an entire blog ready to go about how the Battle of LA was quickly flipping in the Clippers’ favor, and then the Lakers just went and beat their crosstown rivals Sunday night. Things might be looking up based on recent results, but they don’t have the depth or the reliability to compete in the west as they are currently constructed. There will be a trade. I just don’t know what that trade will be.
Young and Frisky
17. Indiana Pacers
One of the league’s most fun teams to watch. Tyrese Haliburton is a legitimate superstar, and the Pacers’ pace (haha) moving up the floor gives some teams a lot of issues. However, their defense leaves them liable, and if their shooting is off, the Pacers are liable to get killed. A fun team but not quite ready to compete in the east.
16. Orlando Magic
Orlando got off to a flying start but has cooled off as of late. Nonetheless, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner represent a promising young duo they can certainly build around. I’m curious to see if the Magic decide to move some pieces around at the deadline.
Old and Injured
15. Phoenix Suns
When I started listing out teams in the rankings, Phoenix was my first team off the board. It makes too much sense to slot them into 15th, right in the middle, because we still have no idea what this Beal/Booker/Durant thing will look like. It’s looked promising when they are all playing together, but injury issues with Beal in particular have left Phoenix shorthanded (surprise, surprise!). I’m still waiting and seeing on this one.
Fringe Contenders
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
Will Donovan Mitchell be on this team in two months? The Cavs claim he will, but I think the jury is still out. Cleveland still sits comfortably over .500 despite a rocky start to the season, and there is clearly talent there to make a run in the playoffs. What happens to Mitchell is ultimately the big question.
13. New Orleans Pelicans
So much talent and depth here, but is relying on Zion Williamson to stay healthy really a safe strategy? I’m pessimistic on that one. Could be a fascinating wild card to watch at the deadline.
12. Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic is having an MVP-caliber season but won’t win because the team around him isn’t good enough. It looks like Dallas hit on its first-round pick Dereck Lively II, and Kyrie Irving seems (at least so far) happy with his situation with the Mavs. However, both of those players have missed significant time already, and Luka can try all he wants; he’s not good enough to carry Dante Exum and Dwight Powell to a deep playoff run.
11. Sacramento Kings
Just as fun this year as they were last season. There are nights where they just shoot the lights out and run up and down all over somebody, but there are other nights where they get overpowered on the interior and get cold on the offensive end. Sacramento is pretty good as they stand, but it will need to make a trade if they want to make serious noise in the west.
10. Houston Rockets (at home)
For some reason, Houston is nearly unbeatable at home. Sengun turns into discount Nikola Jokic, and the defensive intensity ratches up like ten notches. It seems fairly evident that Ime Udoka wants to build a serious home-court advantage. The team as a whole just passes better, shoots better, and defends better in the friendly confines of Toyota Center.
Dark Horses
9. Miami Heat
It’s just obvious at this point that Miami should be taken seriously as a contender in the east. The Heat can catch anybody unawares on any given night. Looking ahead, they could make a trade to improve; Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, and Kyle Lowry could be available. Additionally, in a seven-game playoff series, there may not be a more clutch playoff performer at this point than Jimmy Butler.
8. New York Knicks
I already covered the OG Anunoby trade, which I do think takes them up a level in the east. Jalen Brunson is a true number one option, and the departure of RJ Barrett in particular opens things up for other scoring options. If the Knicks are smart, they’ll trade Julius Randle at the deadline in an effort to find a more efficient two-way scorer.
Collapsable
7. Los Angeles Clippers
When this team rolls, it can beat anybody. Kawhi Leonard is back to being a top-tier player, Paul George is having a great year, and James Harden seems to have really bought into the Clippers’ culture. However, too many things could go wrong. Harden could switch off at any point, and Kawhi and PG are incredibly liable to miss time due to injury. I like them at their best, but I question whether they can actually stay at their best.
6. Milwaukee Bucks
No perimeter defense here. Milwaukee can score with the best of them, don’t get me wrong. But Damian Lillard is a traffic cone on the defensive end. I could probably blow by him at this point. Giannis is great as always, but that weakness is too obvious not to be exploited in a playoff series.
Juggernauts
5. Oklahoma City Thunder
There’s a reason Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a legitimate MVP case. He’s turned into a top-five player in the league, and the team around him is incredible. I mean, Chet Holmgren is running away with the Rookie of the Year. I would have the Thunder higher if we had any proof of playoff performance. It’s not their fault, but I just want to see this level of play from them in a playoff series before I vault them higher.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid is at his best, Tyrese Maxey is excellent, and the supporting cast has been just what those two have needed. The Harden trade was clearly a case of addition by subtraction. We know that Daryl Morey is liable to make drastic deadline moves, so we’ll see if the Sixers improve even further in the next few weeks.
3. Denver Nuggets
It’s crazy that it feels like Denver has just coasted through the season and it is still currently the three-seed in the west. The Nuggets don’t really have to try super hard in the regular season; we know they’ll be primed and ready when the playoffs come around.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Gobert trade initially looked like a disaster, but now that they look like this, the Timberwolves probably feel vindicated. I still think they overpaid, but whatever. The big difference this year is that Anthony Edwards has clearly taken the mantle as the face of the franchise. Crucially, Karl-Anthony Towns has let off the reins and assimilated into a new lesser role. Edwards can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the league on both ends, and the Wolves have seven or eight guys that are legitimately great players. I love Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels. This team is a bonafide title contender.
1. Boston Celtics
The most talented team in the NBA. Kristaps Porzingis is having a career year, and he’s maybe the Celtics’ fourth option? Unbelievable. They have such a strong edge on both ends that they didn’t always have last year. Jayson Tatum continues to get better, and on top of that, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White provide much needed defensive intensity on the perimeter. Those two, Tatum, and Jaylen Brown form the most formidable outside defense in the NBA. Crazily enough, I think it all comes down to Porzingis and his health. If he can stay healthy and provide consistent interior defense, the Celtics should be title favorites. If not, Boston could be liable.
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