2014-15 NBA Power Rankings After 10 Weeks of Action
The NBA that tipped off the 2014-15 season is practically unrecognizable now, with teams around the league nearing the 40-game mark.
The Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors are soaring, the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers are scuffling, Mike Malone's no longer coaching, LeBron James doesn't seem so superhuman anymore, Anthony Davis does, and Rajon Rondo, Josh Smith, Dion Waiters and J.R. Smith—four of the game's most debate-inspiring names—have taken up new addresses.
Then again, some things haven't changed. The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers are still awful, the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards are looking like Eastern Conference title contenders, and DeMarcus Cousins' tantrums haven't completely subsided.
What has definitely changed, though, are these here power rankings. Heck, they've shifted considerably since last week.
Click ahead to see what this week's look like, based on each team's recent accomplishments and available personnel.
30. New York Knicks
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As far as the long-term picture is concerned, the New York Knicks made the right move ridding themselves of J.R. Smith in the trade that also sent Iman Shumpert to Cleveland. As Bleacher Report's Howard Beck wrote: "So Monday's moves were also about the culture change Jackson promised. Team officials worried that Smith's poor work ethic would influence the Knicks' younger players, according to sources."
Still, Smith's departure has to bring a tinge of sadness to some segment of Knicks fandom. His ouster was but just another nail in the already tightly sealed coffin that had become the 2014-15 season at Madison Square Garden, but a painful one nonetheless.
When a team stinks—especially as badly as these Knicks, losers of a franchise-record 14 straight—a fan can turn to little more than highlights and antics, both on and off the court, for some measure of warmth. To that end, Smith was the perfect fit for the situation.
For Grantland's Jason Concepcion, that fit might've been just a little too perfect for Phil Jackson's liking:
"You were a mirror that reflected the essence of the franchise — a team that was never as good as it thought it was, ready to cut corners in service to a goal (which invariably resulted in not achieving the goal, and waking up in a daze, surrounded by snipped-off corners) — and yet, not without significant natural charms. That’s J.R. Smith; that’s the Knicks team I know.
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So yeah, the Knicks will be better off down the line for having dumped Smith, largely at Shumpert's expense. For now, though, there will be little worth watching at MSG until Carmelo Anthony returns from his knee troubles—and even less if he doesn't.
29. Minnesota Timberwolves
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Yours truly has been keeping up the Anthony Davis Watch with the New Orleans Pelicans slides all season. It may officially be time to afford Andrew Wiggins such singular attention, in part because the Minnesota Timberwolves don't have much else going on these days.
Well, other than a 13-game skid and some surprisingly strong play from second-year swingman Shabazz Muhammad.
Wiggins, though, has started to resemble the superstar-in-training for which he's long been pegged, as Bleacher Report's Alec Nathan noted after the rookie's 25-point performance against the Phoenix Suns:
"Wiggins has now tallied at least 20 points in seven of his last eight games and shot better than 50 percent from the field in six of his last eight outings.
According to Basketball-Reference.com, only Kyrie Irving, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and LeBron James compiled more 20-point games over their first 34 contests as teenagers.
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Wiggins isn't yet on the level those current studs enjoyed as first-years, though he's quickly becoming the runaway favorite to win Rookie of the Year, albeit in a class weakened severely by injuries.
28. Philadelphia 76ers
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For the second time in as many seasons, the Philadelphia 76ers could see their master plan for bottom-of-the-barrel domination undermined by the accidental tanking of other teams around the league.
Last year, the Milwaukee Bucks imploded on the way to an NBA-worst 15 wins—four fewer than Philly—before their own draft status was devalued by the Cleveland Cavaliers' fortuitous leap to the top of the lottery.
This time around, the torn-down Knicks (5-34) and injury-plagued Wolves (5-29) have put the Sixers (5-29) in the awkward position of not being the worst team in basketball, despite every attempt by the front office to make them so.
Fortunately for Philly, losing out on one of the top two picks in 2015 might not be such a bad thing. After all, both of the top prospects (i.e., Duke's Jahlil Okafor and Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns) would occupy frontcourt spots that the Sixers have probably reserved for two of their blue-chippers, Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid.
27. Orlando Magic
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The Orlando Magic aren't lacking for individual success stories.
Victor Oladipo has become a far more efficient scorer in year two. Nikola Vucevic has been relatively healthy and has piled up plenty of double-doubles as a result. Tobias Harris (18.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 40.7 percent from three) is in the midst of a career year.
Even Ben Gordon, once a pariah in Charlotte, has bounced back with aplomb. "My game is back," Gordon told the Orlando Sentinel's Brian Schmitz. "My game is sharp. I'm being efficient and doing what I wanted to accomplish. They brought me in to bring a spark off the bench, and I've tried to keep my end of the deal."
Trouble is, these singular upticks aren't leading to many more team-wide wins. The Magic have lost their last four games to fall three games back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
What's more, building on whatever foundation Orlando has formed through the rubble of its 13-25 record may be difficult if Harris, a restricted free agent this summer, skips town in July, as SheridanHoops' Shlomo Sprung says he might, with his hometown Knicks clearing cap space like never before.
26. Boston Celtics
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With Rajon Rondo gone, Jeff Green has become the Boston Celtics' most attractive piece of trade bait. General manager Danny Ainge has certainly done his part to talk up Green's value as best he can.
"Jeff has been our best player this year and has had a fantastic year," Ainge told 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Toucher & Rich on Thursday (via CBS Boston). "Last night, he didn’t have a good game—he got in foul trouble early—but he hit two big shots to seal the victory down the stretch. He has been our most consistent scorer."
Indeed, Green's 17.6 points per game are both team and career highs. According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Memphis Grizzlies wouldn't mind adding Green's scoring touch, however inconsistent, to their wing rotation.
For that privilege, the C's will likely ask a pretty penny—certainly more than whatever relief Tayshaun Prince's expiring contract would offer.
25. Los Angeles Lakers
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Kobe Bryant's latest outing against the Los Angeles Clippers (four points on 2-of-12 shooting) was more than just one of the worst performances of his NBA career.
It was also, in the poetic prose of Grantland's Brian Phillips, perhaps another low point in the slow decay of one of the NBA's all-time greats:
"The role Kobe is playing is one he created for himself. He is showing us what happens when an alpha dog dies ungracefully, the way alpha dogs are supposed to die. It is hilarious and painful to watch, and probably to live, too, although who knows? It can’t be easy.
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Nor will it be so easy for Bryant to be reborn as a "point wing" for the guard-challenged Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant once again dipped his toes in playmaking waters on Wednesday (seven assists), though he all too frequently floundered in the deep end (six turnovers).
Still, if the Lakers are going to build toward a winner in 2015-16 while maximizing what remains of the aging Mamba, they'll need Bryant to get used to being a floor general.
Unless, of course, they can snag a more competent one in free agency this summer.
24. Miami Heat
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It's strange to think about the Miami Heat throwing in the towel, isn't it? Losing LeBron James obviously hurt, but going from four straight Finals to no playoffs without him? Impossible!
Especially with Pat Riley still playing host to one superstar in his prime (Chris Bosh) and another (Dwyane Wade) still capable of greatness.
That formula, though, hasn't been kind to the Heat, whose 99-83 loss in Portland on Thursday was their 14th in 20 games since Dec. 1. As a result, their record has slipped to 15-21, just a game and a half better than Indiana's in the race for eighth place in the East.
This isn't to say that Miami should give in to Memphis' overtures regarding Luol Deng (per ESPN's Marc Stein). These Heat might have enough to limp into the playoffs in the end.
But, if Miami should slip securely into lottery territory before the February trade deadline—and this team just may, with four more games on the West Coast before returning to South Beach to take on OKC—Riley may not mind mortgaging one of his more expensive parts to ensure that the Heat's 2015 first-rounder, which belongs to the Sixers but has top-10 protection, comes back home.
23. Charlotte Hornets
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Kemba Walker's play of late has been nothing short of outstanding. His 29-point performance in Toronto was his first under 30 points in his last four games—all of which have resulted in wins for the Charlotte Hornets.
But no NBA player's success comes completely in a vacuum, and Walker's may not be any different. He's been particularly terrific (for the most part) since Gerald Henderson returned to the starting lineup in mid-December. According to NBA.com, Charlotte has outscored its opponents by a sturdy 6.9 points per 100 possessions in the 378 minutes (the most of any Hornets duo) they've played together over the past 13 games.
Henderson actually outscored his backcourt partner, with a game-high 31 points against the Raptors.
And no, it's no coincidence that Lance Stephenson hasn't played in any of those games, or that the Hornets have won eight of them. As a result, Charlotte now sits just two games back of a playoff spot.
Go figure, right?
22. Utah Jazz
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The Utah Jazz's quiet climb has continued into 2015, even as they scramble for healthy bodies. Rodney Hood and Enes Kanter are both on the shelf indefinitely, while Alec Burks is a season-long absentee.
Despite all that, the Jazz have managed to pull out wins over the Wolves and Chicago Bulls, with narrow defeats to the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers interspersed.
It helps that the remainder of Utah's core (i.e., Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Trey Burke) has been strong and that Rudy Gobert has been a glass-cleaning, shot-blocking fiend in Kanter's stead (11.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.5 blocks, 73.9 percent shooting over his last four games).
21. Brooklyn Nets
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So much for Lionel Hollins' lineup gimmicks and the good tidings they brought the Brooklyn Nets. They've dropped three in a row, each by eight points or fewer, with Brook Lopez shuttling into and out of Hollins' starting five.
As for Deron Williams, the other handsomely paid star who'd recently been relegated to bench duty, he may not be available in any capacity for a while. According to ESPNNewYork.com's Mike Mazzeo, Williams fractured a rib in Miami and aggravated the injury in a loss to Boston on Wednesday, and he will be re-evaluated in a week.
That figures to put even more pressure on Jarrett Jack to play big minutes—and, in turn, imperil Brooklyn's ability to hang onto a playoff spot, even on the weak end of the East's top eight.
20. Indiana Pacers
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Just as Roy Hibbert was getting in a groove again, the injury bug had to rear its ugly head. The All-Star played just six minutes during the Indiana Pacers' 117-102 loss in Golden State on Wednesday before re-spraining the same ankle that sidelined him for four games earlier this season.
There's no indication if Hibbert will miss time or how much. But if he does, the Pacers can only hope they won't have to wait too long for him to not only return, but also recapture the form that saw him contributing a sturdy 15.5 points and nine rebounds during the four games prior to playing the Warriors.
19. Denver Nuggets
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The Denver Nuggets find themselves at a curious crossroad.
On the one hand, they've been playing better ball since the calendar turned to 2015. They rang in the new year with a five-point loss to the mighty Bulls before ripping off three wins in a row, including a 29-point thrashing of the Memphis Grizzlies.
On the other hand, that streak still leaves the Nuggets in 11th place out West, five games shy of a playoff spot.
General manager Tim Connelly told The Denver Post's Mark Kiszla:
"We came into this season expecting to be a playoff team. At this point, we're on the outside, looking in. We probably have a couple weeks to change that, be relevant and view ourselves as a playoff-caliber team. I'm hopeful that's the case. But I'm also realistic to know, and honest enough with our team internally, to say: If in a couple weeks, if that's not the case, then we have a new reality.
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Of course, Connelly didn't wait even that long to start selling off his squad's attractive, fairly priced parts. He managed to fetch a pretty penny from the Cleveland Cavaliers (i.e., two first-round picks) for Timofey Mozgov, Denver's starting center.
Not that this move necessarily signals a fire sale in the Mile High City. According to The Post's Chris Dempsey, JaVale McGee could be back in action in a week or so to give the Nuggets another big body with whom to fill the middle, at the very least.
18. Cleveland Cavaliers
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It's been a busy week for the Cleveland Cavaliers, to say the least.
Dion Waiters is gone. So are a pair of other teams' first-round picks that came into Cleveland's possession. For those assets, Cavs general manager David Griffin was able to fill gaping holes on the wing (with Iman Shumpert) and in the middle (with Timofey Mozgov) while replacing Waiters with a more experienced (and more accurate) version in J.R. Smith.
Griffin said at a press conference addressing the trades (via Bleacher Report's Ethan Skolnick):
"We feel like we've done it without completely mortgaging the future. People look at the number of picks we've given away, and everybody thinks, oh my goodness, you've given away the farm. Well, we had an unbelievable farm. So we were putting it to work. And we're really pleased with where we are now.
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Or, rather, where they will be. Mozgov has yet to suit up for the Cavs. Shumpert may be two or three weeks away from doing so on account of a separated shoulder, per Skolnick. LeBron James is still resting his sore knee but could rejoin the club during Cleveland's five-game West Coast trip.
James said (again, via Skolnick):
"Until we get healthy, we won't know what we're capable of doing. I don't think we will ever be fully healthy, as far as being 100 percent, it's impossible. I can never get my motor back to 100. As close to 100 as possible for all of us. But once we see all our pieces on the floor, coach Blatt and the coaching staff [can] do a great job of putting the guys together, seeing what lineups, what pieces work together well, we'll see what we are capable of doing.
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17. Sacramento Kings
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Sacramento Kings fans must be happy to be rid of the Maloofs and the stench they wrought during the waning years of their reign as owners. But while the grass is certainly greener in California's capital, now that Vivek Ranadive has taken over, that may not mean much when the patch the Kings left behind featured little more than dirt and dust.
To be sure, Ranadive is a clear upgrade over the Maloofs. Unlike his predecessors, Ranadive has deep pockets and a desire to dig into them in pursuit of success.
But there appears to be a dark side to Ranadive's desire, one that bears a worrisome resemblance to one James L. Dolan. Like his Knicks counterpart, Ranadive has been a bit too willing to meddle in basketball operations, which isn't exactly his area of expertise. According to Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher, Mike Malone's unwillingness to take his boss' advice may have played a part in his dismissal, despite the surprising success Sacramento had enjoyed earlier this season:
"While there were doubts if Malone was the long-term answer for the franchise, most of the organization was happy with the Kings' direction and felt the team, overall, was overachieving this season. Ranadive, however, was unhappy that Malone wouldn't answer or incorporate his texted ideas about how the team should be run, sources say, and made the unilateral decision to fire him.
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Perhaps, then, Ranadive could use a strong-willed and respected member of the basketball community to act as a buffer between owner and team, much like Phil Jackson has with Dolan in the Big Apple. At present, Chris Mullin, a Hall of Famer and Ranadive's personal adviser, seems to be the best bet to fill that vital role.
16. Detroit Pistons
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The Detroit Pistons may not be as good as their seven-game winning streak sans Josh Smith would suggest, but they're certainly not as bad as their 5-23 start would've indicated, either.
And that turnaround isn't about Smith as much as the guys still in Motown. Greg Monroe's been dynamite as a starter. Brandon Jennings has improved as a scorer (19.3 points), shooter (42.9 percent from three) and leader. Andre Drummond's been licking the glass clean (16.4 rebounds).
As an anonymous scout told Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher, though, Smith's personality may have been holding those guys back as much as his production (or lack thereof) was:
"Everybody has players they don't get along with, but it's a matter of production. You find a way to get along because they're worth it. The production just wasn't there with Josh. Stan [Van Gundy] was giving him chances, he ran plays for him. He just didn't like Stan. It's personalities. Stan is a grinder. He's going to do it his way, and he's not going to make concessions.
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That same scout didn't think Detroit would be able to maintain this torrid pace, though there's no denying how impressive it was for this team to Texas two-step its way to wins in San Antonio and Dallas.
15. New Orleans Pelicans
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The New Orleans Pelicans' lone win from this past week came during Anthony Davis' worst game of the season.
Coincidence? Yes. Definitely. Tyreke Evans (21 points) and Ryan Anderson (22 points) picked up the scoring slack for Davis (seven points) in a 28-point win over a Houston Rockets squad that had yet to move Josh Smith back to the bench.
And, really, it's not as though Davis didn't still dominate the game defensively. Seven of his eight rebounds came on that end, as did his three blocks and two steals. His long arms and quick feet also played a crucial part in holding the Rockets under 40 percent from the field, including an abysmal 6-of-29 from three.
14. Milwaukee Bucks
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There's a reason 99 percent of Basketball Twitter has fallen in love with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 20-year-old Milwaukee Bucks phenom is a joy to watch, a highlight reel just waiting to play every time he takes the floor.
That's what happens when you're freakishly long and athletic, with a game and body that are growing by the day.
But, as Robert Silverman wrote for The Guardian, there's so much more to Antetokounmpo's appeal than just his on-court exploits, jaw-dropping as they are:
"Spend five minutes speaking with Antetokounmpo, and you’ll be won over for life. That is, if you aren’t there already. The eye-dropping, physics-warping plays may be what initially draw you in, but he’s so charming, honest and downright innocent even in the midst of a conversation with yet another reporter asking the same dull, repetitive questions he’s heard countless times before.
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If he keeps improving at the same rapid rate, the Greek Freak figures to field many more questions, inane and otherwise, in the years to come.
13. Los Angeles Clippers
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Despite dominating the Lakers in recent seasons, both head-to-head and in the standings, the Los Angeles Clippers still have a long way to go before they can come close to claiming the City of Angels as their own.
That won't come until the Clips can bring home a Larry O'Brien Trophy of their own, which wouldn't appear to be quite within reach if their play of late is any indication. Their 24-12 record looks nice, but all but one of their wins since surviving against the Phoenix Suns on a miraculous shot by Blake Griffin have come against sub-.500 squads—and they've gone 1-5 against quality ones in that span.
If there's any time the Clippers could make up real, long-term ground on their Staples Center co-tenants, it's right now, when the Lakers are a mess and could be for a long time to come. L.A. loves winners, and many in this town will flock to the Clippers in the event they do once what the Lakers have done 16 times.
But the situation for the Clips may be even more urgent than that. As Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding explained, the impending return of the Rams NFL team to L.A. could seize the hearts and minds of a city that hasn't seen the NFL since before Kobe Bryant was drafted:
"And in all honesty, if the Clippers don't capitalize in championship form on the momentum from [Donald] Sterling's banishment and this unique period where they got Chris Paul and the Lakers didn't, we'll be talking more very soon about something else: the prospect of the Lakers and the Clippers losing local fan interest to the NFL.
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It's more important than ever, then, that the Clippers are able to jell, particularly defensively, by the time mid-April rolls around. Otherwise, their rise out of the ranks of the sports world's biggest laughingstocks could crash into a ceiling sooner than you might think, even though the mere journey out remains a remarkable accomplishment nonetheless.
12. Toronto Raptors
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The road has not been kind to the Toronto Raptors of late. They dropped three in a row to end their latest road trip, and they fell victim to the Hornets in the always-tough first game back from a long journey.
But the Raptors' woes might not simply be location-based, at least on a map. Trade in your GPS for a SportVU camera, though, and you'll get a better idea of their origin.
According to NBA.com, Toronto ranks among the bottom 11 in at-rim shots per game allowed and is merely middle of the pack in defending them. The perimeter defense has suffered somewhat, with DeMar DeRozan out and Kyle Lowry having to exert more energy in his absence, and the Raps weren't exactly replete with rim protectors to start.
All told, Toronto has slipped to 22nd in defensive efficiency, after spending much of the early going in the top 10. More importantly, the Raptors have slid behind the red-hot Hawks in the standings in a virtual tie for second place with the hard-charging Bulls and a tie with the winning Wizards.
Good thing the Raptors won't be leaving Canada until Jan. 19—and will face just one winning record in that span.
11. Oklahoma City Thunder
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Forget Dion Waiters' 1-of-9 debut in an Oklahoma City Thunder uniform; this team isn't going to win when Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combine to shoot 11-of-39 from the field, as they did during a 21-point loss in Sacramento.
Or when their superstars go 8-of-37, as they did amid a 26-point beatdown at Golden State prior to that.
In all likelihood, these guys will get their collective rhythm back. And once they do, OKC will start soaring up the standings again.
But there's no guarantee that the Thunder will simply storm their way back into title contention, especially with the insane depth of top-tier competition that's currently occupying the Western Conference.
10. Phoenix Suns
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Maybe it's too soon to dismiss the Phoenix Suns' playoff prospects, especially with the Thunder still in search of their mojo. Phoenix hasn't beaten the cream of the crop during its current four-game streak, but those wins count all the same toward the Suns' three-and-a-half-game cushion in the race for the eighth seed out West.
We'll have a better idea of whether the Suns can actually compete with the big boys soon enough, though upcoming games against the wounded Spurs and Grizzlies may not be the most accurate gauge right now.
9. San Antonio Spurs
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Hey there, San Antonio Spurs fans. You know that weird feeling you've been having since mid-December? The one wherein watching your team play doesn't bring you the same immense joy it recently used to?
It's OK. That's what happens when your team hits a rough patch. The Spurs have certainly done that, losing eight of their last 12 games.
A heads-up: That sensation could persist for some time, until Tony Parker and Tiago Splitter start playing more like their pre-injury selves, and Kawhi Leonard's mysterious hand injury disappears.
Until then, if you need some cheering up, just remember that the core of your club might actually be the A-Team.
8. Washington Wizards
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It's not often you can say a man who's going to make $60 million also deserves to be immortalized in figurine form, but Marcin Gortat is, indeed, a special case. On Jan. 31, the first 19,000 fans who pile into the Verizon Center to see the Washington Wizards take on the Raptors will also be rewarded with Gortat action figures, complete with red capes (h/t The Washington Post's Scott Allen).
Per Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Post, Gortat thinks "it looks beefy."
He should get to keep a few for himself, too. The Polish Hammer has been terrific for the Wizards since arriving in D.C. from Phoenix in October 2013. His production has slipped somewhat this season on account of a lighter minutes load, but that hasn't rendered him any less important to Washington's success.
The Wizards will need all they can squeeze out of Gortat if they're to survive the week ahead. They're due to play the Hawks, Spurs and Bulls (twice) by Wednesday—about as brutal a stretch as there is for any Eastern Conference club at the moment.
7. Houston Rockets
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Lost in the hoopla over Josh Smith is the extent to which Donatas Motiejunas has shined since getting comfortable as a starter, well before J-Smoove came to town.
In his 23 games (19 starts) prior to the Houston Rockets' pounding of the hapless Knicks, Motiejunas had poured in 13 points (on 52.5 percent shooting) and 6.2 rebounds in just under 30 minutes a night. He hasn't been scorching the nets from deep (32.4 percent), but he's hit enough to be a credible threat here and there, and isn't lacking for confidence in launching those looks. D-Mo's 17 points, seven boards, three assists and four steals on Thursday were nothing to sneeze at, though given New York's recent dive bomb, it's tough to give those numbers equal weight.
In any case, D-Mo may well turn out to be more than just a guy who's good enough to justify Smith's spot among the reserves, but a legitimately solid starter who fits what Houston needs out of its 4-man.
6. Chicago Bulls
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Not to be a Negative Ned, what with the Chicago Bulls getting healthy and climbing comfortably into the East's elite, but there's no ignoring Derrick Rose's prolonged shooting slump.
Over his last six games, Rose has knocked down just 28-of-110 (25.5 percent) of his field-goal attempts, including an unsightly 3-of-15 in a 20-point home loss to the Jazz on Wednesday.
Fortunately for Chicago, this squad has managed to survive Rose's woes, going 4-2 in those six games. That's as much a commentary on Rose's uneven return this season as it is a testament to the Bulls' exemplary depth and balance.
So, too, Pau Gasol's pending trip to the All-Star Game in New York City—which would be his fifth selection overall but his first as a starter.
At the age of 34, no less.
5. Memphis Grizzlies
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According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Memphis Grizzlies are hot after an upgrade on the wing, with Boston's Jeff Green and Miami's Luol Deng chief among their targets. Green's probably the easier get of the two, since the Celtics have been sellers for nearly two years now. Deng, on the other hand, joined the Heat this past summer, though his arrival hasn't exactly staved off a post-LeBron decline on South Beach.
Regardless of what happens at small forward for Memphis, this team won't likely regain its early-season mojo until Zach Randolph returns to the hardwood. The Grizzlies have gone 4-5 with Z-Bo sidelined by swelling in his right knee.
4. Dallas Mavericks
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Rajon Rondo seems to be fitting in with the Dallas Mavericks just fine, thanks. They've won seven of 10 games since prying the All-Star point guard from the Boston Celtics.
Rondo, though, hasn't succeeded solely as a point guard with a nasty allergy to scoring. He already has two 20-point games to his credit in Big D, including a 29-point explosion in his return to Boston, during which he nailed a career-high five three-pointers.
That occasional shift from pure passer to potent scorer hasn't been just some happy accident, either. To hear Mavs coach Rick Carlisle tell it, the team not only wants Rondo to be more aggressive, but believes he can thrive that way.
Carlisle told USA Today Sports' Sam Amick:
"I welcomed him and made it clear to him that coming to Dallas was not only going to be about him taking his present abilities and working them into our situation. It was going to be about (Rondo) being open to expanding his game, particularly at the offensive end in terms of aggressiveness to score. We're looking to improve his shooting and his range, because I just think that at age 28 he's an eight-and-a-half year player but he is still very young. There are a lot of guys who have made some quantum leaps at that stage of their careers.
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And if Rondo can make that leap comfortably this season, he'll have the Mavs moving quickly into the thick of the championship conversation.
3. Portland Trail Blazers
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Just because Damian Lillard had the humility to not claim he's the best player at his position, despite his success since entering the league, that doesn't mean he sold himself short.
There's no shame in being behind Stephen Curry in the point guard pecking order, and he may not be that far back. Lillard's been setting fire to the rest of the NBA all season, but especially since mid-December. Over his previous 13 games coming into Thursday, Lillard had averaged 26.4 points and 6.6 assists while knocking down 42.4 percent of a whopping 7.6 threes per game.
More impressive, though, was the way Lillard licked his wounds and played through pain in Portland's 99-83 throttling of the Heat. His statistical contributions (16 points, three assists) were relatively modest, but they were enough to keep the Trail Blazers, now 11-3 since Lillard's next-level run began, humming right along.
2. Atlanta Hawks
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These are exciting times for the Atlanta Hawks across the board.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chris Vivlamore, the entirety of the franchise is officially up for sale, in the wake of a summer scandal fueled by racially insensitive remarks from majority owner Bruce Levenson and general manager Danny Ferry. Better yet, several potential bidders have already stepped to the fore.
Meanwhile, as ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz detailed, the team's marketing department has been hard at work finding new and different ways to build up the Hawks' thin ticket-buying base in hoops-heavy Atlanta. That included, among other things, Wednesday's Tinder-themed Swipe Right Night while the Grizzlies were in town.
But no gimmick could or will do as much to fill the empty seats at Philips Arena as Atlanta's ongoing excellence on the court. Per Arnovitz:
"The Hawks are up for sale, and if the team changes hands, there's no guarantee that a new ownership group won't refocus [CEO Steve] Koonin's efforts toward recapturing the audience Levenson was so anxious about. In the meantime, the Hawks are no longer wringing their hands over white flight in their arena. Through the efforts of a deep, unselfish core of players and under the direction of head coach Mike Budenholzer, the Hawks have become the NBA's newest critical darlings. Koonin is selling this like mad to a fan base that looks more like the city than the Omni's ever did.
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An Eastern Conference-best 27-8 record, including a six-game winning streak and a franchise-record nine consecutive victories against the West, should make a great starting point for Atlanta's next marketing campaign.
1. Golden State Warriors
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NEWSFLASH: The Golden State Warriors are really, really, REALLY good at basketball. Since dropping back-to-back games in L.A., the Dubs have ripped off five wins in a row—by an average margin of 23 points.
And not just against cupcakes like Minnesota and Philly either, though a substantial segment of that gap has been accrued against those two bottom-feeders. This home stand has also seen Golden State eviscerate OKC with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and formerly East-leading Toronto by more than 20 points apiece.
What's crazy is the Warriors, at an NBA-best 28-5, may just be getting started. Andrew Bogut, the team's defensive anchor and screen-setter extraordinaire, made his triumphant return to the rotation during Wednesday's win over the visiting Pacers.
It's no wonder, then, that the team is so bullish on its own prospects for improvement, as Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher revealed:
"As well as the Warriors are playing, the belief in the locker room is that they have yet to play anywhere near their best. 'We don't even have our rotations set,' said one player, referring to starter David Lee's long absence, the growing role of Justin Holiday and both Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli being in and out of the lineup. 'Wait until we've actually had everybody playing together for a while.'
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Josh Martin covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.
