NBA Power Rankings: Lakers, Celtics, Mavs and Spurs Battle for Top Spot
The NBA season is in full effect now that the calendar has flipped to December. Teams are beginning to separate themselves as contenders and others as pretenders.
Wondering which teams belong and which don't? Don't worry, B/R is here to rank all 30 NBA teams based on their showings through a quarter of the season.
Click to begin the slideshow and find out where your team lands.
30) Sacramento Kings
1 of 30
Record: 4-14
The Kings are last in the Pacific Division and already 12 games back of the Western Conference-leading Spurs. Sacramento has lost seven straight games and has a negative-7.7 scoring differential.
29) Minnesota Timberwolves
2 of 30
Record: 5-16
Minnesota is 2-8 in its last 10 games and currently way out of the playoff picture. The Timberwolves have played 12 road games already. Unfortunately they are 1-11 in those games.
28) Los Angeles Clippers
3 of 30
Record: 4-17
The excitement surrounding Rookie of the Year candidate Blake Griffin might be the only reason the Clippers make it this high. They have young talent but, unfortunately, future promise doesn't win games.
27) Washington Wizards
4 of 30
Record: 6-13
The Wizards are 0-10 on the road this season and that's really all there is to say.
26) New Jersey Nets
5 of 30
Record: 6-15
The Nets are last in the Eastern Conference and that says something. However, they do play a little defense and have won not one, but two road games.
25) Philadelphia 76ers
6 of 30
Record: 6-14
Philly is struggling right now, but it does hang tough. The 76ers have the best scoring differential (-1.5) of any Eastern Conference team with a losing record.
24) Cleveland Cavaliers
7 of 30
Record: 7-13
The Cavs showed little anger towards LeBron last week when the King returned to his old castle to blow out his former team. Their record keeps them somewhat credible however.
23) Detroit Pistons
8 of 30
Record: 7-14
Detroit hasn't been the same since Chauncey Billups was traded and now the Pistons find themselves completely irrelevant in the Eastern Conference.
22) Toronto Raptors
9 of 30
Record: 8-13
Toronto currently holds down the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference and would be first in line to play Boston if the playoffs started today.
21) Charlotte Bobcats
10 of 30
Record: 7-13
The Bobcats aren't exactly tearing it up on the court, but they do play some defense, ranking sixth in the eastern conference.
20) Houston Rockets
11 of 30
Record: 7-13
Houston has had problems this season. Please, hold the laughter. The Rockets have lost some tough ones and their negative-1.2 scoring differential speaks for itself.
19) Milwaukee Bucks
12 of 30
Record: 7-12
Milwaukee is just as mediocre as most of the other Eastern Conference lottery-bound teams. The Bucks own the fourth-ranked defense in the East, though, so advantage Bucks.
18) Memphis Grizzlies
13 of 30
Record: 8-13
Memphis has been a quality home team, but let the record show the Grizzlies have been terrible on the road, just 2-8 this season.
17) Golden State Warriors
14 of 30
Record: 8-12
The Warriors have David Lee back in the lineup and it couldn't have come at a better time. Golden State struggled without the star forward.
16) Portland Trail Blazers
15 of 30
Record: 9-11
Portland has struggled greatly, losing six straight games before the Trail Blazers finally stopped the bleeding. They are just 3-7 in their past 10 games.
15) Indiana Pacers
16 of 30
Record: 10-9
The Pacers are currently seventh in the east and actually have a positive scoring differential at plus-3.0. Unfortunately, who knows how long it will last.
14) New York Knicks
17 of 30
Record: 13-9
The Knicks are actually winning, and, right now, they are on a roll. New York is 9-1 in its past 10 games and on a five-game winning streak.
13) Phoenix Suns
18 of 30
Record: 11-9
The Suns have won three games in a row and are holding down the Western Conference's No. 8 seed at the moment. A veteran group with a tough schedule to start, they should improve as the season goes on.
12) Chicago Bulls
19 of 30
Record: 10-8
The Bulls have Boozer back and are sitting pretty at fourth in the Eastern Conference. Derrick Rose is a star and the Bulls are strong at home.
11) Oklahoma City Thunder
20 of 30
Record: 14-7
The Thunder are 7-3 in their past 10 games and one of the Western Conference's likely playoff teams. Led by Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City is poised to make a run at the title this spring.
10) Denver Nuggets
21 of 30
Record: 13-6
The Nuggets are a talented bunch, but it would seem that Carmelo's uncertain future is holding them back from being great.
9) Atlanta Hawks
22 of 30
Record: 14-8
Atlanta is playing decent basketball as the Hawks have done the past few seasons, but something is missing and that's why they come up short.
8) New Orleans Hornets
23 of 30
Record: 13-7
The Hornets have lost six out of their past 10 games, but their fast start and defensive dominance keep them among the league's best. Only Dallas holds teams to fewer points out west.
7) Miami Heat
24 of 30
Record: 13-8
Miami had a coming together moment on the road at Cleveland last week, and now the Heat are in the midst of a four-game winning streak.
6) Utah Jazz
25 of 30
Record: 15-6
The Jazz have recovered from a slow start to rise to the top of the Western Conference. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games and 7-2 on the road this season.
5) Dallas Mavericks
26 of 30
Record: 16-4
Dallas is 10-3 against the Western Conference and it is the best defensive team in that conference also, only allowing 92.2 points per game.
4) Orlando Magic
27 of 30
Record: 15-6
The Magic, led by Dwight Howard, are stifling opponents on the defensive end. Orlando is winning games while boasting the league's top D, allowing just 90.8 points per game.
3) Los Angeles Lakers
28 of 30
Record: 14-6
Los Angeles is coming off a rough stretch in which it lost four straight game. However, they are still very tall and the two-time defending champions.
2) Boston Celtics
29 of 30
Record: 16-4
The Celtics are looking like a championship contender and that surprises no one. The Eastern Conference's best team has won seven straight games and as hot as any other squad out there.
1) San Antonio Spurs
30 of 30
Record: 17-3
Without question, the league's best team is the San Antonio Spurs. They own the NBA's best record and are a ridiculous 8-1 on the road this season. Their plus-8.9 scoring differential is also a league best.
Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.
