NBA Power Rankings: Breaking Down League's Landscape Heading into 2014
The New Year's celebration was a welcome one for some teams looking to continue their success from the beginning of the 2013-14 season. For others, it simply means there are roughly 50 games remaining in a season that needs to come to an end.
Teams like the Indiana Pacers and Portland Trail Blazers have proved to be potential title contenders. Others, like the Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks, are reduced to hoping to somehow claim the rights to one of the top three picks in the NBA draft.
With at least 30 games in the books for nearly every team this season, here are the NBA power rankings as the calendar turns to 2014.
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30. Milwaukee Bucks (7-25)
The woeful Bucks were expected to be bad this season, but no one expected them to be this bad. Through 32 games, Milwaukee has just seven wins and has lost eight of its last 10 games.
One bright spot that remains for this team is Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has emerged as a starter in his first season. Over his last five games, Antetokounmpo has averaged 10.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists, including a 16-point, 10-rebound performance against the Brooklyn Nets.
Then there's the putback dunk that he threw up against the Los Angeles Lakers on New Year's Eve:
The "Greek Freak" is not exactly going to be the savior for the terrible Bucks, but he is certainly a starting point. Milwaukee is still in line for a top pick in next year's draft, so things are looking up in Wisconsin.
29. Orlando Magic (10-22)
Victor Oladipo and Arron Afflalo have both been great for the Orlando Magic this season, but without Nikola Vucevic in the lineup due to an ankle injury, the Magic could continue to slide further into the cellar of the atrocious Eastern Conference.
28. New York Knicks (10-21)
Yes, the New York Knicks did just defeat the San Antonio Spurs on the road 105-101. But in their last 10 games, the Knicks are still 4-6 and have two more road contests against the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks on the slate. If they win those games, people might start believing this team can turn things around.
27. Los Angeles Lakers (13-19)
Rather than the Los Angeles Lakers responding to Kobe Bryant's injury by rallying to continue their playoff hopes, they have dropped six straight games and look like the worst team in the Western Conference as of late.
Bryant isn't the only player injured as both Steve Nash and Jordan Farmar continue to miss time. Shahan Ahmed of NBC 4 explains how terrible of a situation the Lakers are currently in:
"Until this team proves otherwise, don’t expect wins. Times are tough in Laker Land. However, placing blaming is difficult when looking back at the past two seasons. Whether one believes it is a case of freak injuries or a curse, the Lakers are freakishly cursed with injuries.
Blaming trainers or team staff will not solve the problem, and so many of these injuries were freak occurrences: Steve Nash’s broken leg, Pau Gasol’s upper respiratory infection, Steve Blake’s baseball elbow injury, etc.
The reality of the situation is that the Lakers are simply shorthanded and not much will change between now and when some healthy bodies return to the team. Wesley Johnson was unable to shake gastroenteritis in time for Tuesday’s game, but the Lakers would hope to have him back by Friday.
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Whether or not the Lakers are tanking, they are a team that doesn't appear to be able to drop any lower. But a loss to the Utah Jazz might make fans in Los Angeles cringe even more than any other loss this season.
26. Cleveland Cavaliers (11-21)
Despite a roster that boasts plenty of potential, the Cleveland Cavaliers haven't exactly lived up to that potential this season. With no spot on the roster looking safe outside of Kyrie Irving, the Cavs have the same record over their last 10 games as the Bucks. Yeah, they're that bad.
25. Denver Nuggets (14-17)
The only team that has bailed the Lakers out as statistically the worst team recently, the Denver Nuggets are best described as void of defense. The Nuggets have allowed 105 points or more in three of their last four games during their current eight-game losing streak.
24. Sacramento Kings (10-21)
Over their last four games, the Sacramento Kings have faced a gauntlet with wins over the Miami Heat and Rockets and losses to the Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers. Statistically, the Kings are still one of the worst teams in the Western Conference, but their recent fight proves they have been better recently.
23. Brooklyn Nets (11-21)
After rebounding from a four-game losing streak with a win over the lowly Bucks, the Brooklyn Nets responded by losing two straight against the Indiana Pacers and Spurs—but then again, who hasn't this season?
Joe Johnson's clutch shot last night not only won the game for the Nets over the Oklahoma City Thunder but also proved they still have the talent to make the playoffs:
In a weak Eastern Conference, the Nets are only four games outside of the playoff picture with the last four teams in the conference having losing records.
22. Utah Jazz (11-24)
Going by the win-loss record in the West, the Jazz are the worst team in the conference. But with a 5-5 record over their last 10 games, the Jazz don't appear to be in the cellar anymore. With a somewhat favorable schedule coming up outside of games against the Thunder and Spurs, the Jazz could continue to, well, not be the worst team in the West.
21. Philadelphia 76ers (11-21)
Following a stretch in which they lost nine of 10 games, the Philadelphia 76ers have won three straight games and look like they are on the upswing. Unfortunately, those wins came against the Lakers, Nuggets and Kings.
With their next two games coming against the Portland Trailblazers and Minnesota Timberwolves, the 76ers will likely experience another fall from grace. But for now, Philly sits just outside of the top 20 in this week's rankings.
20. Charlotte Bobcats (14-20)
The Charlotte Bobcats are still a playoff team, for now. The Bobcats were on the cusp of getting back to a .500 record just before Christmas after winning four of their last five games. Since that point, Charlotte has been torn apart by mostly upper-echelon teams and capped it off with a 30-point loss in Portland.
19. Boston Celtics (13-19)
Recent wins for the Boston Celtics have included one over the Cavaliers, two over the Knicks and one over the Timberwolves. Outside of those wins since Dec. 8, the Celtics are 0-7 and look like the team many fans thought they would be when the season opened.
Boston might have reinforcements coming soon, as Rajon Rondo is reportedly close to returning, according to NBC Sports:
While they certainly don't look like the worst team in the Eastern Conference, being in the middle of the pack in the East is the equivalent of being the last kid picked for pickup when everyone else is below 5'0" tall.
18. Detroit Pistons (14-19)
With losses in five of their last six, the Detroit Pistons have returned to form as one of the many terrible teams in the East. Talented players like Brandon Jennings, Josh Smith and Andrew Drummond have put up points for this team. But Detroit's biggest weakness is its defense, which ranks 14th in the East, ahead of only the 76ers.
17. Chicago Bulls (13-18)
As the No. 7 seed in the East, the Chicago Bulls are yet again proving that they have fight. Unfortunately, Chicago is still 4-6 in its last 10 games and is about to run up against both the Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns. If the Bulls can pull out a win in one of those two home games, they might be able to prove they are back on track before facing the Bucks and Bobcats in consecutive games.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (14-17)
It's a pretty vivid sign of how weak the East is when a team three spots out of a playoff berth in the Western Conference is still ahead of three current playoff teams in the Eastern Conference. The Memphis Grizzles are likely not a playoff team in the West this season, but winning four of their last six including their most recent win over the Suns puts them three games away from returning to .500.
15. Washington Wizards (14-15)
John Wall has carried this team all season to nearly a .500 record, but he can't do it all. Wall leads the team in points (20.2), assists (8.9) and steals (2.0), but the biggest problem for the Wizards is that he can't haul in rebounds.
But one thing Wall has promised this season is that he won't let losing get to him, according to Michael Lee of the Washington Post:
With other good supplementary players around Wall like Bradley Beal and Trevor Ariza, the Wizards still look like a team that can make the playoffs. But ranking near the bottom of the league in rebounding won't get them very far in the postseason.
14. New Orleans Pelicans (14-16)
Putting up big offensive numbers is not a problem for the New Orleans Pelicans, who average 103.3 points per game on the season. What's baffling is the fact that they can't stop teams, ranking ahead of only the Lakers and Kings in the West with 103.2 points allowed per game.
A win over Portland at home certainly helped New Orleans. But a double-digit loss to Minnesota doesn't bode well before traveling to take on the Celtics, Pacers and Heat in the Pelicans' next three games.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (16-16)
Owning a .500 record in the Western Conference this season is certainly deserving of a top-10 ranking, but the T-Wolves still have quite a bit to prove. Minnesota is also a .500 team over its last 10 games, but wins over the Wizards, Bucks and Pelicans overshadow the losses.
12. Toronto Raptors (15-15)
Simply put, the Toronto Raptors are one of the hottest teams in the NBA as of late. With convincing wins over the Pacers, Bulls, Thunder and Mavericks in their last seven games, the Raptors are certainly deserving of a top-10 ranking.
Fox Sports Live tweeted the division leaders in the Eastern Conference and, needless to say, one of these teams is not like the others:
The Raptors are still a .500 team, and with road games coming up against the Wizards, Pacers and Heat, their true identity might be revealed over the next week.
11. Atlanta Hawks (18-14)
We have finally reached the first team with a winning record and the No. 3 team in the Eastern Conference standings. The Hawks are just a tick below the Raptors in their last 10 games at 7-3 but still have questions to answer on the defensive end.
10. Houston Rockets (21-13)
Overexerting James Harden is starting to take a toll on the Rockets and has led to two straight losses. In their last 10 games, the Rockets are a .500 team and, despite their record, look like a team heading the wrong way in the West. With two straight games against the Knicks and Lakers, the Rockets will (hopefully) get back to their winning ways in the next week.
9. Dallas Mavericks (19-13)
For a team desperately holding on to a playoff spot as the last team currently in, the Mavericks have fought back to win three straight games. While the Rockets could have easily overtaken them in these rankings for the No. 9 spot, the Mavs have won three straight and look like the better team, for now.
8. Phoenix Suns (19-12)
A loss to the Grizzlies served as a setback for the Suns, but it certainly doesn't discount the job that Phoenix has done so far this season. Granted, it came without Eric Bledsoe, the Suns' leader throughout the year.
What did happen in that game was Goran Dragic going off for the Suns, as their Twitter account points out:
While Phoenix does have a favorable schedule coming up with five of its next six coming against Eastern Conference teams, five of those games also come on the road. The Suns continue to be one of the most surprising stories in the West, but they will have to prove themselves once again away from Phoenix.
7. Los Angeles Clippers (22-12)
Currently the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Clippers certainly haven't looked deserving of it as of late. Losses to teams they are supposed to be on the same level with like the Golden State Warriors, Trailblazers and Suns easily overshadow wins against the Jazz and Bobcats.
The talent on this roster clearly puts them near the top of the West, but the Clippers haven't lived up to expectations lately. Wins over the Mavericks and Spurs could do wonders for getting back on track.
6. San Antonio Spurs (25-8)
That loss against the Knicks not only looked bad; it also made the Spurs look old. One of the most experienced teams in the NBA, San Antonio will continue to win games and turn it on in the playoffs. But for now, winning against the Clippers at home will be an important one to bounce back from one of their most disappointing losses of the season.
5. Golden State Warriors (21-13)
How can the No. 6 team in the Western Conference be the No. 5 team in the NBA power rankings? When a team has won seven straight games like the Warriors have, it demands respect.
During that streak, the Warriors have defeated the Clippers, Suns and Heat. Needless to say, Stephen Curry has been on fire.
With four straight road games coming up against weak Eastern Conference opponents, the Warriors will still be tested away from home. Thanks to an all-around team that can shoot and spread the ball all over the court, the Warriors look like one of the best teams in the West.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (25-7)
The Thunder are still the No. 2 team in the Western Conference, but the loss of Russell Westbrook to injury means they are down a superstar. While the Thunder have held it together, the loss of Westbrook has led to back-to-back home losses for a team that rarely ever loses on its home court.
3. Miami Heat (24-8)
For as weak as the East has been this year, two of the favorites for the NBA title still reside in the conference with Indiana and Miami. The Heat have been up and down in the last four games, with a huge win over Portland sandwiched between losses to the Kings and Warriors.
With the Heat facing off with the Raptors on Sunday, the time to turn things back around is now. Miami is by no means outside of the NBA Championship picture, but recent struggles don't look good for LeBron and Co.
2. Portland Trail Blazers (26-7)
The Trail Blazers are far and away the best team in the Western Conference thus far thanks to outstanding play from the likes of both Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge.
In fact, Aldridge has not only been mentioned in MVP voting this season but is also rising in the rankings, according to the Trail Blazers' official Twitter account:
The questions for Portland lie on the defensive end. While the Blazers rank first in the league in points per game, they rank 12th in the Western Conference in points allowed per game.
1. Indiana Pacers (25-6)
Simply put, the Pacers are the most complete team in the NBA right now. With five scorers above 10 points, an elite defender in Roy Hibbert and a potential MVP candidate of their own in Paul George, Indiana looks like a team that can contend for the NBA title this season.
Despite a road loss to the Raptors, the Pacers are still the No. 1 defensive team in the NBA and are a legitimate threat to the Heat in the Eastern Conference.
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