NBA Power Rankings: Miami Heat and the Most Efficient Offenses in the League
NBA power rankings are here and this time we're focusing on offense.
Everyone loves seeing high scoring games, but it can be an ugly performance to get to that grand total at the end. With that in mind, we're taking a look at the most efficient offenses and ranking them from the bottom to the top.
If you have any thoughts or comments, make sure to leave them at the bottom. In your mind, what team has the best offense in basketball?
No. 30: Milwaukee Bucks
1 of 30
When you have the lowest adjusted field goal percentage in the league and you score the lowest amount of points in the league, it's not hard to get the last spot.
Milwaukee hasn't continued the momentum from last year's playoff run, and a big part of that was an injury to Brandon Jennings, the Bucks' star point guard. Jennings is back but now Andrew Bogut is out with an injury of his own.
It won't get better anytime soon for the Bucks.
No. 29: New Jersey Nets
2 of 30
Deron Williams was traded to a team that doesn't exactly specialize in putting the ball in the basket.
New Jersey's adjusted field goal percentage is a paltry 47 percent, and the Nets don't have many great scoring threats. Sure there are guys like Williams, Brook Lopez and a couple of others, but New Jersey is just a bad offensive team.
It's no wonder the Nets have trouble winning games when you look at their offensive stats.
No. 28: Sacramento Kings
3 of 30
With Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins on the roster, you'd think Sacramento would be able to put points on the board at a healthy clip.
However, Evans has been dealing with an injury and Cousins has had issues getting used to the next level, and it has hurt the Kings' offense. Sacramento may average almost 98 points per game, but the Kings do it while shooting a paltry 47 percent.
That's the problem with volume shooters like Evans, they won't do your stat line any favors.
No. 27: Washington Wizards
4 of 30
Poor John Wall, he never had a chance.
The Washington Wizards never surrounded him with a lot of talent, and it shows in Washington's offensive stats. The Wizards score 96.6 points per game and only have an adjusted field goal percentage of 47.4 percent.
Wall's shooting percentage doesn't help matters, but neither does his supporting cast.
No. 26: Cleveland Cavaliers
5 of 30
Well Cleveland, look at it this way, at least you're not last.
The Cavaliers are shooting 47.2 percent when it comes to adjusted field goal percentage. That makes the Cavaliers 28th in the league. However, Cleveland scores more points per shot than some of the other teams we've already featured.
Don't get it twisted though, this team is putrid on the offensive end of the floor.
No. 25: Minnesota Timberwolves
6 of 30
Minnesota scores 101.7 points per game, good enough for 10th most in the league.
You'd think the Timberwolves would be much higher on this list, but Kevin Love and company have an adjusted field goal percentage of 47.9 percent and only average 1.18 points per shot. In other words, it takes a long time for Minnesota to get to that total.
Outside of Kevin Love and Michael Beasley, who is really filling it up for the Timberwolves?
No. 24: Portland Trail Blazers
7 of 30
Getting Gerald Wallace at the trade deadline should certainly help these numbers, but for now, they're not pretty.
Portland has an adjusted field goal percentage of 48.2 percent. Also, the Trail Blazers average 1.19 points per shot and it's clear the injury to Brandon Roy really hurt Portland and its offense. Now that Wallace is there, the Blazers have a solid player on the wing to fill it up from the outside.
Wallace, teamed with LaMarcus Aldridge, should really help the Portland offense.
No. 23: Detroit Pistons
8 of 30
With the way John Kuester runs this team, it's not a shock that Detroit is so bad offensively.
It's not that Detroit has bad players, it just has a terrible coach who doesn't know what he's doing in terms of rotations and managing players. The Pistons shoot 48.7 percent when it comes to adjusted field goal percentage.
Not only that, but the Pistons average 95.4 points per game and 1.18 points per shot. It's not pretty and Kuester's days may be numbered.
No. 22: Indiana Pacers
9 of 30
The Indiana Pacers' offensive numbers are horrible and you can thank Jim O'Brien.
O'Brien was terrible when it came to managing players and getting people in the spots they need to be in to be successful. Indiana fired him and since then, the Pacers have played much, much better basketball as a group.
However, Indiana scores 99.8 per game, which is 13th best, but the adjusted field goal percentage is awful and so is the points per shot. It will get better as the team continues to play at this pace, but for now the Pacers' numbers are terrible.
No. 21: Charlotte Bobcats
10 of 30
I don't see these numbers getting any better with Gerald Wallace out in Charlotte.
The Bobcats average 94.3 points per game and that's on the low end of the league. However, Charlotte averages 1.22 points per shot, making them the team with the highest such average that we've talked about so far.
Charlotte is a team that's going nowhere fast and the offense reflects that.
No. 20: Memphis Grizzlies
11 of 30
It's not like Memphis doesn't have guys who can fill it up on offense.
With Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies average 100 points per game, which is good enough for 12th best in the league. However, Memphis has an adjusted field goal percentage of 48.8 percent only average 1.20 points per shot.
For that many points, you want those stats to be better.
No. 19: New Orleans Hornets
12 of 30
For a team that's done as well as the New Orleans Hornets, the offense leaves much to be desired.
The Hornets have an adjusted field goal percentage of 49.2 percent and average 1.21 points per shot. However, New Orleans only scores 94.6 points per game. It's a good thing New Orleans can play solid defense, otherwise, it would be messy.
With Chris Paul and David West on the team, it's hard to believe New Orleans is that bad offensively.
No. 18: Toronto Raptors
13 of 30
This is what happens when you lose a player like Chris Bosh.
The Toronto Raptors have been a non-factor in the Eastern Conference without Bosh, and when Andrea Bargnani is your best scoring option, you know you're in trouble as a team. Don't get me wrong, he can stuff the stat sheet, but he's certainly not what you'd call a guy who can take over a game.
Toronto shoots 49.2 percent when it comes to adjusted field goal percentage and averages 98.8 points per game. Bryan Colangelo is doing one heck of a job up there.
No. 17: Philadelphia 76ers
14 of 30
With Doug Collins running the show, the Sixers have played much better basketball.
In fact, with Andre Iguodala running the point forward position, the Sixers have been great on the offensive side of the ball. However, Philadelphia has had its struggles and it shows in the numbers. The Sixers average 98.5 points per game, however, they average 1.21 points per shot and have an adjusted field goal percentage of 49.5 percent.
It's not bad, but it's not great either.
No. 16: Los Angeles Clippers
15 of 30
Blake Griffin has stolen the headlines for the Los Angeles Clippers but it hasn't been enough to put a ton of points on the board.
The Clippers don't have many shooters and the numbers show that. Los Angeles averages 1.23 points per shot and has an adjusted field goal percentage of 49.4 points. Eric Gordon is a great player, but outside of him, Los Angeles doesn't have many scorers from the outside.
There are a lot of talented players on this team, but the Clippers still have a lot of work to do.
No. 15: Atlanta Hawks
16 of 30
These numbers are just like the Atlanta Hawks — good, but not great.
Joe Johnson and company are a good offensive team, as they should be with Johnson, Josh Smith and Al Horford in the lineup. Despite shooting 50.2 percent when it comes to adjusted field goal percentage, the Hawks only score 96.2 points per game and 1.22 points per shot.
The Hawks should be playing better than that with the talent they have.
No. 14: Chicago Bulls
17 of 30
This ranking, couple with Chicago's record on the season is a testament to the job Tom Thibodeau has done with the Bulls.
He has this team believing in defense and committing to it. Chicago isn't a spectacular offensive team, but when you couple it with the Bulls' defense, you have a team that can contend in the Eastern Conference and has done so.
Scoring an average of 98.4 points per game isn't anything to write home about, but it's been enough for the Bulls.
No. 13: Utah Jazz
18 of 30
It will be interesting to see how these numbers change after the big Deron Williams trade.
Utah has some talented players but aren't a team that just blows you away on the offensive end of the floor. The Jazz don't have any dominant players that can take over a game and close the door and seal the win.
The Jazz are average in the stats and they're average on the basketball court too.
No. 12: Golden State Warriors
19 of 30
We all know that Golden State can really put points on the board.
With Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis, not to mention the three-point shooting of Dorell Wright on the court, the Warriors can score with the best of them, averaging 102.7 points per game, the seventh-most in the league.
However, it's not the most efficient 102.7 points and that's what keeps this ranking lower.
No. 11: Houston Rockets
20 of 30
For a team that has struggled on the basketball court, the Houston Rockets certainly haven't struggled to score the ball.
Houston averages 105.5 points per game, which is good enough for the third best mark in the league. That's not bad, right? Well, when you go deeper into the stats, you see that the Rockets attempt the third most shots in the league and only shoot an adjusted field goal percentage of 50.3 percent.
You have to be better than that if you want to play winning basketball, which the Rockets have not.
No. 10: Los Angeles Lakers
21 of 30
It's no secret that the two-time defending champions have struggled to make things happen at times this year.
Los Angeles has been able to put up 102 points per game, good enough for the eighth-best mark in basketball. However the Lakers other stats, like the adjusted field goal percentage, hurt their ranking, while the points per shot total keeps them in the top 10.
Kobe Bryant has this team playing better and the Lakers will be dangerous with this offense in the postseason.
No. 9: New York Knicks
22 of 30
If Mike D'Antoni is your coach, you expect to have a great offense.
The New York Knicks have just that under D'Antoni. The Knicks score 106.2 points per game, the second highest mark in the entire league. However, what keeps New York lower on this list is the team's adjusted field goal percentage, which is only the eighth best in the league.
That's what happens when you're in the D'Antoni system.
No. 8: Oklahoma City Thunder
23 of 30
This ranking may surprise people, especially when you look at Oklahoma City's adjusted field goal percentage.
The Thunder's mark sits at 49.3 percent, good enough for 17th best in basketball. That's not too good, right? However, Oklahoma City scores 104.2 points, good enough for the fifth best mark in basketball. On top of that, the Thunder average 1.29 points per shot, which is the third-best in the league.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook may not have a great percentage, but they make their shots count when they make them and that's all that matters.
No. 7: Orlando Magic
24 of 30
When I saw the stats, I couldn't believe they were as good as they are.
Orlando is a team that has struggled at times this year and haven't had a lot of consistency. However, despite all of those changes to the roster, the Magic have the sixth best adjusted field goal percentage with 52.1 percent. The Magic are also tied for sixth when it comes to points per shot with 1.27.
Those stats should be scary for the rest of the Eastern Conference.
No. 6: Dallas Mavericks
25 of 30
The Dallas Mavericks are one of the best teams in the Western Conference and the offense reflects that fact.
Dallas has the second best adjusted field goal percentage in the league with 52.5 percent. Not only that, but the Mavericks score 99.6 points per game, which is good enough for a tie for 14th with Utah and that's what's keeping Dallas' ranking down a bit.
If the Mavericks could score more with the same efficiency, we could see Dallas deep into the top five.
No. 5: San Antonio Spurs
26 of 30
Even though this is a very veteran group, the San Antonio Spurs are the best team in basketball.
While the Spurs can still play good defense, the offense has really stepped up this year. San Antonio has the fourth best adjusted field goal percentage with 52.2 percent. Not only that, but the Spurs also have the fourth best points per shot with 1.28.
San Antonio's only ranking that keeps it down the list a bit is its points per game with 103.3, good enough for sixth best in the NBA.
No. 4: Phoenix Suns
27 of 30
Despite all of the changes and the setbacks in Phoenix, the Suns can still score with the best of them.
Phoenix scores 105.2 points per game, good enough for fourth best in the NBA. Not only that, but the Suns have the third best adjusted field goal percentage in basketball with a mark of 52.4 percent. It's hard to believe Phoenix hasn't seen more success with the way the offense is playing.
However, what drags the Suns down is a points per shot of 1.27, which is tied for sixth-best in basketball.
No. 3: Boston Celtics
28 of 30
Another veteran team has made the top of the list and a lot of it has to do with Kevin Garnett.
Garnett is playing much better basketball a year after coming back from a knee injury that cut his season short two years ago. Boston has the best adjusted field goal percentage in basketball with 52.6 percent and the Celtics are tied with San Antonio for fourth when it comes to points per shot with 1.28.
What keeps Boston's score down is the scoring, which comes in at 98 points per game.
No. 2: Miami Heat
29 of 30
For a team that's had its issues on the offensive end, it's scary how good Miami's stats are.
The Heat have the second highest points per shot with 1.32 and are tied with the Lakers for eighth with 102 points per game. Miami has the seventh best adjusted field goal percentage with 51.8 percent. Miami's only getting better and that's the really scary part.
If Miami can take that points per shot and shoot a better percentage, no one will be able to slow the Heat down.
No. 1: Denver Nuggets
30 of 30
This may shock and surprise people, but the Denver Nuggets have been awesome on the offensive end.
Denver scores 107. 3 points per game, the most in the league. While you'd think that had a lot to do with Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, two players that are no longer in Denver, the Nuggets have scored 120, 106 and 100 points since the trade.
The Nuggets can fill it up on a nightly basis but also is tied for the fourth best field goal percentage in basketball with San Antonio with 52.2 percent. Denver also has the highest points per shot with 1.34. Don't write off Denver just yet, this team can still really do damage in the Western Conference.
