NBA Power Rankings: Breaking Down the Top 5 Winless Teams
The 2011-12 NBA season is far too young to draw accurate conclusions from, but it's never too early for power rankings.
With perennial championship contenders like the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers already off to difficult starts (1-6 combined record) in this shortened 66-game season, the Larry O'Brien Trophy is effectively up for grabs.
The good news NBA fans of struggling teams, there are games to be played, plenty.
If one of the following teams are going to win it though, they'll need to get in the "W" column as soon as possible. Here are the top five winless teams heading into the New Year.
No. 5: Philadelphia 76ers (0-1)
The Sixers lost a tough one on the road at Portland on Monday night and now sit at 0-1. Philadelphia pushed the Miami Heat to five games in last spring's playoffs and looks to be much improved this season under second-year head coach Doug Collins.
Philly will be fun to watch as one of the more high-scoring teams in the league. With road games at Phoenix, Utah, Golden State and New Orleans all coming up, the 76ers should survive their rough five-game road stretch to begin the new season.
No. 4: Memphis Grizzlies (0-1)
Memphis looked like the old team on Monday night against the forgotten San Antonio Spurs. Rudy Gay led the Grizzlies with 19 points, but that won't cut it for the surprising young group this season.
Memphis must pick it up on the boards against the Thunder and Rockets on Wednesday and Friday night in order to get back into the thick of things out west.
The Southwest division is too tough for them to be going through the motions this early. Someone tell them they aren't entitled to a playoff spot out west, and that No. 8 seeds don't beat No. 1's that often.
No. 3: Dallas Mavericks (0-2)
They are the defending NBA champions and they boast a roster filled with proven talent, but for Dirk's sake, where is the defense?
The Mavericks have been routed in two games this season, and both were at home to add to the disappointment. Suddenly the loss of Tyson Chandler in the frontcourt seems like a franchise-altering one.
The Mavs' minus-16.5 differential is the worst of any team in the league that has already played at least two games. The road to the title won't be going through Big D if things don't change soon.
No. 2: Minnesota Timberwolves (0-2)
The Wolves have lost their first two games of the season by a combined seven points, now that stings.
Kevin Love is off to a hot start, already averaging 26.5 PPG and 16 RPG for Minnesota, who will look to follow in the footsteps of the 2010 Memphis Grizzlies this spring.
Former Spanish sensation and now NBA rookie Ricky Rubio is already leading the team in assists (5.0 APG) and steals (1.5 SPG). However the Timberwolves must get better defensively like so many other winless teams.
Minnesota is allowing 101 points per game to the opposition this season, not good.
No. 1: Boston Celtics (0-2)
If you've watched the Celtics' first two games this season, then you've noticed some questionable officiating (none more blatant and offensive than the Miami Heat game on Tuesday night), and some role players stepping up for Boston in the absence of Paul Pierce.
The Celtics nearly survived two of the league's most potent offenses on the road in the New York Knicks and Miami Heat.
The star power on the opposing side of the court has greatly outnumbered that on the aging Boston bench thus far, but still the veteran ball club has risen to the challenge and provided Celtics fans with plenty to be excited about heading into 2012.
