NBA Power Rankings: Analyzing Biggest Risers, Fallers Through 1st 2 Weeks
It's only been two weeks into the 2015-16 NBA regular season, and there has already been quite a mix of new and familiar.
With the defending champions off to another sterling start and the runners-up in the East doing pretty well themselves, the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers look like the teams to beat in their respective conferences.
But there's a new class of stars brewing deeper within the standings, as some of the fresher faces of the league might start taking over sooner rather than later.
Let's take a look at my league power rankings, where I took into consideration each team's performance this season and its current outlook moving forward.
| 1 | Golden State Warriors | 8-0 |
| 2 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 6-1 |
| 3 | San Antonio Spurs | 5-2 |
| 4 | Atlanta Hawks | 7-2 |
| 5 | Toronto Raptors | 5-2 |
| 6 | Detroit Pistons | 5-2 |
| 7 | Los Angeles Clippers | 5-2 |
| 8 | Utah Jazz | 4-2 |
| 9 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 4-3 |
| 10 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 4-2 |
| 11 | Chicago Bulls | 5-3 |
| 12 | Miami Heat | 4-3 |
| 13 | Portland Trail Blazers | 4-4 |
| 14 | Indiana Pacers | 4-4 |
| 15 | Milwaukee Bucks | 4-3 |
| 16 | Houston Rockets | 4-3 |
| 17 | Dallas Mavericks | 3-3 |
| 18 | Phoenix Suns | 3-4 |
| 19 | New York Knicks | 3-4 |
| 20 | Washington Wizards | 3-3 |
| 21 | Boston Celtics | 2-3 |
| 22 | Denver Nuggets | 3-4 |
| 23 | Orlando Magic | 3-5 |
| 24 | Charlotte Hornets | 2-4 |
| 25 | Memphis Grizzlies | 3-5 |
| 26 | Los Angeles Lakers | 1-5 |
| 27 | Sacramento Kings | 1-7 |
| 28 | New Orleans Pelicans | 0-6 |
| 29 | Philadelphia 76ers | 0-7 |
| 30 | Brooklyn Nets | 0-7 |
Biggest Risers
Detroit Pistons (No. 6)
At 5-2, the Pistons are exceeding last year's team by leaps and bounds. They picked up their fifth win of the season on Nov. 8 against the Portland Trail Blazers to move to 5-1. Compare that to last season, where they won their fifth game on Dec. 13 to improve to 5-19.
Detroit is led by a two-headed attack of point guard Reggie Jackson, who is averaging 22.7 points per game, and center Andre Drummond, who is averaging a monster double-double of 19.4 points and 19.6 rebounds per game through the team's first seven games.
It's a historic start for Drummond, as ESPN Stats & Info points out:
Add that to the seventh-best defense in the league and there is something special brewing in the Motor City.
They grabbed the league's attention during that fifth win of the season, outscoring Portland 41-11 in the fourth quarter to turn around a 92-79 deficit. CBS Sports' Matt Moore was sold:
A Monday-night loss to the Warriors won't do much to dissuade those believers. But look for a Nov. 17 matchup against the Cavaliers to be a true measuring stick of just how legitimate these Pistons really are. Take down LeBron James and company and the league will be officially put on notice.
Utah Jazz (No. 8)
When looking at the Western Conference, the Utah Jazz aren't a team that necessarily jumps out at you.
They don't pour in the scoring, which in the Western Conference could be a dangerous thing. Their leading scorer, Gordon Hayward, is only putting up 15.5 points per game.
But what the Jazz are lacking in offense, they are making up for in defense. Really good defense.
Through their first six games, Utah is allowing just 85.0 points per game. Third-year center Rudy Gobert has been one of the Jazz's immovable forces down low, ranking in the top five of the league in rebounds and blocks.
This is nothing new for the Jazz, though, who led the league last year in defense, allowing just 94.9 points per game. KSL.com's Ben Anderson was quick to let Jazz fans know that the defense this season was right on point:
If the Jazz want to move up in these rankings and in the Western Conference, they are going to have to get the offense clicking. Once they start playing the Warriors, Thunder or Rockets, teams that contain pure scorers, there will be nights where they have to outscore the opposition.
Biggest Fallers
Houston Rockets (No. 16)
It might be a little harsh to put the Rockets this low. Having the likes of James Harden should rarely put a team in the bottom half of a power ranking. He's the type of player who can completely dominate any kind of team on any given night.
But through Houston's first seven games this season, it isn't its offense that's the problem. It's the defense. It doesn't matter what kind of scorers are on a roster; if a team is giving up 108.6 points per game like the Rockets are, it is going to have a very difficult season.
Head coach Kevin McHale summed it up best, telling ESPN's Calvin Watkins that they have "a long way to go."
That being said, things are looking up for Houston, as ESPN's Marc Stein shows:
But in this league, these dangerous offensive teams usually see their seasons end against the more well-rounded elite sides. If the Rockets want to improve on a Western Conference Finals appearance, they need to start limiting the opposition's points per game.
Memphis Grizzlies (No. 25)
Things just aren't right in Memphis, despite a 3-5 record, which is maybe why the team just traded for point guard Mario Chalmers on Tuesday, per Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
With players like Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies should not have more points this season than only the 0-7 Brooklyn Nets. But that's exactly where Memphis' offense is right now, averaging just 91.0 points per game.
Conley told SI.com's Lee Jenkins that it's complacency that is hurting the team:
"You have to battle complacency. You want to stay hungry, stay driven, and that’s the hardest thing once you taste a little bit of success. ... I think it’s between the ears. Our focus, our effort, the pride we play with, as opposed to X's and O’s.
"
That's not something you want to hear from one of your best players. If it's a question of motivation and giving 100 percent each night, then things need to be further shaken up in Memphis or else its season is going to end pretty early.
Stats courtesy of ESPN.com
