NBA Power Rankings: Projecting How Each Team Finishes

The Miami Heat fell out of the top spot in this week's NBA power rankings, but the balance of power in the league looks to be quickly shifting to the Eastern Conference.

There have been some serious surprises early in the campaign, and it's going to be a year of ups and downs for a number of teams due to the structure of the schedule.

Although there is still plenty of room for volatility given how many injuries have already piled up, we're beginning to get an idea of which teams will be around once the postseason rolls around.

30. Washington Wizards

Record: 1-11

Final Projection: 30

Washington is on pace for a historically bad offense, and it doesn't appear that Flip Saunders' message is getting through to his players.

We've seen a lineup change already, and John Wall's development has really been stunted by playing with a group of guys far less talented than he is.

29. Charlotte Bobcats

Record: 3-10

Final Projection: 29

Although the Bobcats have played in some interesting games, this team has to do a better job of executing at both ends of the court in order to realistically improve.

Byron Mullens has been a pleasant surprise, but the depth in the second unit is extraordinarily questionable. This team needs a lot of help before it's going to make any noise.

28. Detroit Pistons

Record: 3-10

Final Projection: 28

Joe Dumars has made a lot of poor personnel decisions, but he has some bright spots on the roster in Greg Monroe, Jonas Jerebko and Brandon Knight.

As far as everybody else? Anyone outside of those three should be available via trade, and Detroit can't undergo a legitimate rebuilding process with a mix of youth and overpaid veterans.

27. New Jersey Nets

Record: 3-10

Final Projection: 27

With the losses rapidly mounting for the Nets, the team has to be concerned about Deron Williams' upcoming contract decision this summer.

For two straight offseasons, New Jersey has seriously whiffed on free-agent additions, and poor decisions from the front office become more glaring with each passing day.

26. Sacramento Kings

Record: 4-9

Final Projection: 26

Although the Kings have an exciting mix of talent on their roster, there is a lot of duplicity and a serious lack of attention to defense.

When things are firing on all cylinders, Sacramento can be really fun to watch, but when the team isn't, it's a really ugly brand of basketball.

The bright side? DeMarcus Cousins is absolutely balling under Keith Smart.

25. Toronto Raptors

Record: 4-9

Final Projection: 24

Dwane Casey is installing a new brand of basketball in Canada, but his team needs an offensive boost in the worst way to complement Andrea Bargnani.

The attention paid on the defensive end is a great start, but the club has got to do a better job of converting on the opposite end of the court in order to keep up with teams that can score.

24. New Orleans Hornets

Record: 3-9

Final Projection: 25

New Orleans has had a tough start to the season playing most of its games without Eric Gordon (knee), and there just aren't enough scorers on the roster in order to sustain success at the offensive end of the floor.

There is an intriguing makeup of talent on the roster when everyone is healthy, but this team will continue to struggle at the offensive end without a go-to scoring option and Gordon still sidelined.

23. Golden State Warriors

Record: 4-8

Final Projection: 23

Golden State is going to remain in flux for as long as Stephen Curry's ankle is an issue, and it sounds like that is not an injury which is going to subside at any point in the near future.

There are serious concerns about how the club is going to fill a monstrous hole in the middle of the paint, and the Warriors flushed $16 million down the drain between Kwame Brown and Andris Biedrins this season.

22. Milwaukee Bucks

Record: 4-7

Final Projection: 21

Stephen Jackson is starting to turn the corner for the Bucks, and if he can contribute consistently, this is a team that could get really interesting in a hurry.

This team will only be successful if Andrew Bogut can stay on the court, and the early returns without him in the lineup have been extraordinarily ugly.

21. Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: 5-6

Final Projection: 22

Kyrie Irving is running away with the Rookie of the Year award, and Tristan Thompson looks much better than almost everyone assessed he'd be during his inaugural year at the time he was drafted.

Anderson Varejao has been solid at center, but there are concerns about how productive this team can be against more talented clubs, especially when the second unit is on the floor.

20. Houston Rockets

Record: 5-7

Final Projection: 18

Chandler Parsons has emerged as a major draft day steal, and the unbelievable play of Kyle Lowry continues to be a storyline that should gain a lot more attention in the public sphere.

Houston has to get more consistent play from down low as well as some more support in the second unit in order to remove the cap off of the club's ceiling.

19. Phoenix Suns

Record: 4-8

Final Projection: 19

It appeared as if it was going to be a long season in the desert for the Suns and their fans, but Phoenix has been playing a better style of basketball recently.

Markieff Morris looks like a great addition through the draft, but dead-weight contracts like those of Hakim Warrick and Josh Childress are decisions that the front office has to stop making to build a more complete roster.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves

Record: 4-8

Final Projection: 20

Rubio is pleasurable to watch, and he really has fans both in and out of Minnesota excited about the future of Timberwolves basketball.

The rookie point guard is an incredibly good fit for Rick Adelman's system, and if the club can enjoy success with a re-worked lineup, it will be very intriguing to see how how the group fares against some of the better teams around the league.

One thing is certain: Minnesota is already more competitive than many thought they would be this season.

17. Boston Celtics

Record: 4-7

Final Projection: 17

The Celtics look old by just about everybody's estimation, and Rajon Rondo, not a member of the original "big three," is very clearly Boston's best player.

Danny Ainge is going to blow things up after this year with both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen's deals set to expire, but if the team continues to struggle against tougher competition, it could come a lot sooner than that.

16. New York Knicks

Record: 6-6

Final Projection: 13

What's wrong with the Knicks? A lot.

The iso-Carmelo strategy needs to be changed, Iman Shumpert has to do a better job of facilitating the flow of the offense, and the team is struggling to find a role for Amar'e Stoudemire in the offense.

Defensively, the team looks lazy at times, and the decision to amnesty Chauncey Billups to overpay Tyson Chandler remains an absolutely awful one.

15. Utah Jazz

Record: 8-4

Final Projection: 16

Utah got off to an unbelievably tough start to the season, but the Jazz have looked a lot better and seem to be buying in to what Tyrone Corbin is selling.

The major concern here is at the point guard position and the under-utilization of Alec Burks, but Josh Howard has looked like one of the biggest bargains of the offseason to date.

14. Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 5-6

Final Projection: 15

Marreese Speights and Dante Cunningham are not adequate replacements for Zach Randolph, but there was nobody who would be able to fill the role that Z-Bo played on the team.

The encouraging play from guys like Tony Allen and O.J. Mayo paired with Rudy Gay finding his groove can allow this team to play small at times and present matchup problems for the opposition while Randolph remains sidelined.

13. Dallas Mavericks

Record: 8-5

Final Projection: 12

Dallas is aiming to turn around a sluggish start to the season, and now some of the new additions seem to be settling in to place following a turbulent adjustment period.

However, this team still needs to get a lot more from Lamar Odom as well as find a way to plug the gaping hole in the middle left by Tyson Chandler.

12. Orlando Magic

Record: 8-3

Final Projection: 14

Howard is carrying Orlando on his back, and it's pretty much going to be the same story for the foreseeable future without him getting a lot of help from his teammates.

The complementary parts around Howard have to start playing better in order for the Magic to be taken seriously, but if (and when) the big man departs before the trade deadline, it's going to significantly alter the outlook for the club.

11. San Antonio Spurs

Record: 9-4

Final Projection: 11

Manu Ginobili is hurt and Tim Duncan is showing signs of his age at times, but the Spurs continue to find a way to win games using the talent on the roster.

It really speaks to how well this club is listening to Gregg Popovich's message, and after so many wrote them off to begin the season as over the hill, San Antonio is looking to send a message.

10. Atlanta Hawks

Record: 9-4

Final Projection: 10

The injury to Al Horford is a really tough blow to the Hawks, but fortunately the team has Joe Johnson, Jeff Teague and Josh Smith to step forward in Horford's absence.

Atlanta has gotten some surprisingly solid play from D-League product Ivan Johnson and the veteran additions in the second unit have been serviceable, but the club has to get some reinforcement beneath the basket before long.

9. Los Angeles Clippers

Record: 6-3

Final Projection: 9

The Clippers have had a very easy start to the season compared to some other teams around the league, but now we'll get an opportunity to see exactly how much hype there should have been around "Lob City."

An extremely fun team to watch, the concern to watch with the Clippers is the attention to detail at the defensive end, as the team comes into Monday ranking a lowly No. 24 in the league in defensive efficiency.

8. Indiana Pacers

Record: 9-3

Final Projection: 7

What's not to like about the Pacers? This team is young, deep and absolutely stacked with talent.

The emergence of Roy Hibbert down low has really paid dividends early, and there can't be enough said about the type of leadership David West has brought to the roster.

With Darren Collison, Paul George and George Hill forming a nice three-man rotation in the backcourt, Indiana could very well finish near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

7. Denver Nuggets

Record: 8-5

Final Projection: 8

Masai Ujiri has built a roster that is extremely deep, and the contributions the Nuggets are receiving from the second unit undoubtedly has other teams jealous.

Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari are pacing this team to success, and it would not be surprising to see them finish near the top of the Western Conference when the regular season concludes.

6. Portland Trail Blazers

Record: 7-5

Final Projection: 6

Acting General Manager Chad Buchanan deserves to be given the full-time role for the incredible work he has done shaping such a talented roster.

LaMarcus Aldridge is the unquestioned leader of this group, but the well-rounded attack the Trail Blazers boast in the starting five and the second unit will make this team a dangerous one to play at any juncture throughout the season.

5. Los Angeles Lakers

Record: 9-5

Final Projection: 5

The demise of the Lakers was greatly over-exaggerated due to the team losing both of its preseason games to the Clippers, but there is no doubt that Kobe Bryant is looking to prove that nobody should doubt his team.

Most impressive about this group early in the season? The defense.

Pau Gasol continues to produce relentlessly despite flying under the radar, and Andrew Bynum has really looked good since joining the starting lineup.

The departures of Lamar Odom and Shannon Brown are no longer storylines for this team.

4. Philadelphia 76ers

Record: 9-3

Final Projection: 4

Philadelphia is playing at an insanely high level, and there isn't much to support the idea that the Sixers will slow down at any point in the near future.

Third in offensive efficiency and first in defensive efficiency, Doug Collins' message is very clearly reaching his players, and the production across the roster speaks to that point exactly.

3. Miami Heat

Record: 8-4

Final Projection: 3

The Heat have reached the first rough patch of the season, and it will be very interesting to see how the team responds.

Miami has to do a better job of finding what made this team successful early in the season rather than making excuses for the recent string of losses.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

Record: 11-2

Final Projection: 2

The "big three" of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden should really be talked about more often, because that's what the trio has become for the Thunder.

Amazingly, the team drafted all three players, and general manager Sam Presti has done a really great job of finding the complementary pieces to fit around them perfectly.

1. Chicago Bulls

Record: 12-2

Final Projection: 1

Derrick Rose is absolutely incredible to watch with the basketball in his hands, and it's scary to think how good this team can be with improved production from Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah.

Chicago's second unit is a lot better than many give it credit for being, and the impending returns of C.J. Watson and Richard Hamilton will make this Bulls team even deeper.