To see which teams are playing well right now, a fan can look in several different areas.

NBA.com comes out with a weekly power rankings article, and ESPN.com does the same.

John Hollinger of ESPN does a daily power ranking based on a systematic view of how well teams are playing. ESPN also allows fans to rank the teams from 1-30, and you can view those results. Of course, you can also look at the standings.

This article combines all of those.

A consensus power ranking from 5 different sources added up and taken the average of. The tie going to the team ahead in the standings.

  1. Lakers (average ranking: 1.4)
  2. Celtics (average ranking: 2.0)
  3. Magic (average ranking: 3.2)
  4. Hawks (average ranking: 4.0)
  5. Mavericks (average ranking: 6.0)
  6. Cavaliers (average ranking: 6.0)
  7. Nuggets (average ranking: 6.4)
  8. Suns (average ranking: 7.8)
  9. Rockets (average ranking: 8.8)
  10. Jazz (average ranking: 10.4)
  11. Spurs (average ranking: 10.8)
  12. Trailblazers (average ranking: 11.2)
  13. Thunder (average ranking: 13.8)
  14. Heat (average ranking: 14.2)
  15. Hornets (average ranking: 15.8)
  16. Grizzlies (average ranking: 15.8)
  17. Bucks (average ranking: 18.4)
  18. Kings (average ranking: 18.6)
  19. Raptors (average ranking: 19.2)
  20. Pistons (average ranking: 19.4)
  21. Clippers (average ranking: 20.2)
  22. Knicks (average ranking: 21.2)
  23. Bobcats (average ranking: 22.8)
  24. Bulls (average ranking: 23.8)
  25. Pacers (average ranking: 24.8)
  26. Wizards (average ranking: 26.2)
  27. 76ers (average ranking: 26.4)
  28. Warriors (average ranking: 27.6)
  29. Timberwolves (average ranking: 28.8)
  30. Nets (average ranking: 30.0)

 

Some other interesting points in these rankings:

  • The Clippers were never ranked above 19, they were 16 in the standings
  • The only team other than the Lakers to be rated No. 1 was the Hawks, by John Hollinger's systematic ranker
  • The Celtics were No. 2 every single time
  • The Nets were No. 30 every single time
  • The lowest area in which the Grizzlies were ranked was the standings
  • The highest area in which the Bulls were ranked was in the standings
  • The highest area in which the Jazz, Cavaliers, Pistons, and Bucks were ranked were by the fans
  • The lowest area in which the Hawks, Knicks, and Rockets were ranked were by the fans