Chuddy's NBA Power Rankings

Welcome to the ninth installment of King Chuddy’s weekly NBA power rankings! As always, these rankings will fluctuate based on the team's performance during the previous week and any changes in personnel, health, schematics, or overall quality of play. These rankings are NOT predicting for the future, or used to determine odds of ultimately winning the title, they are just based on what the team has done recently and what is their immediate outlook. For example, most people would likely think the Lakers or Warriors have a much better chance of actually winning a title than teams like the Magic or Pacers, but they simply have not played better this season so the rankings reflect that. Think of these rankings as something more like the top 25 rankings in college basketball/football and they should make more sense. Feel free to leave your comments/opinions and tell me why I’m wrong, or why I am a genius. Without further ado…

1. Denver Nuggets (30-14, Last week: 2) - They looked every bit the part of defending champs as they strolled into Boston and bullied the Celtics into their first home loss of the season.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (29-13, Last week: 1) - Started their reign as #1 in these rankings with back to back losses to the LA teams on Monday and Tuesday. But they bounced back with a couple of very impressive wins on the road over the Jazz and T-Wolves.

3. Boston Celtics (33-10, Last week: 3) - The unbeaten home streak is over at the hands of the Nuggets, but they still managed a 3-1 week. They showed some struggles and vulnerability in certain moments, but have the talent to overcome almost anything.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves (30-12, Last week: 4) - The home loss to OKC may have exposed some late game offensive warts, but it’s really a nitpick for the league’s best defense.

5. Philadelphia 76ers (28-13, Last week: 13) - Philly answered a lot of questions this week as Joel Embiid returned to the lineup and continued to steamroll all competition. They were particularly impressive in Tuesday night’s victory over Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. They’ve won 5 in a row and appear to be rolling again.

6. Los Angeles Clippers (27-14, Last week: 6) - The Clips looked like a clear contender as they took the Thunder’s best punch and scored a KO of their own. They backed it up with a massive comeback to beat the Nets, including a 41-15 fourth quarter where they may have unlocked a small ball lineup with Russ/Norm/Harden/PG/Kawhi that looked scary on both ends.

7. Milwaukee Bucks (29-13, Last week: 5) - The Bucks continue to be a very confusing team. After a little rhythm last week, Giannis missed a game and they got thumped by 40 to the Cavs and responded by squeaking out a win over the Pistons in less than impressive fashion - surrendering 135 points.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers (25-15, Last week: 8) - The hottest team in the league, the Cavs have won 7 straight and Evan Mobley is on the verge of a return with Darius Garland not too far behind. They’ve vaulted up to 4th in the East in their absence and have moved within shouting distance of the 6ers and Bucks.

9. Phoenix Suns (24-18, Last week: 14) - And the hottest team in the west resides in Phoenix. The Suns have ripped off 5 straight wins and are quietly starting to look like the tema everyone envisioned they could be. They eased some fourth quarter woes with a crazy comeback to beat the Kings, and followed it up with a huge win over the Pels and a nice home win over the Pacers. Those early season struggles feel like a thing of the past as they’re only a half game out of 5th place in the West.

10. New York Knicks (26-17, Last week: 11) - The Knicks dropped a barnburner to Orlando without Jalen Brunson, but got him back and bounced right back with 3 straight wins to wrap up the week. They’ve looked really good since the OG Anunoby trade and may not be done adding to the roster.

11. Utah Jazz (22-22, Last week: 9) - The Jazz finally lost a couple of games but it’s hard to punish them much as they were hard fought battles, first against the Thunder, then losing an overtime duel to the Rockets in Houston. Even in losses they look impressive.

12. New Orleans Pelicans (25-18, Last week: 7) - Tough week for the Pels as they lost to the Mavs without Luka and got blown out at home by the Suns in a game that was basically non competitive throughout. They have so much talent and depth but remain somewhat frustrating and inconsistent.

13. Indiana Pacers (24-19, Last week: 12) - It was a rough 1-3 week for the Pacers, and yet it was one of their best weeks of the season. Not only did they acquire 2x All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam, but they also got Tyrese Haliburton back from injury. They may even have another move up their sleeves.

14. Dallas Mavericks (24-18, Last week: 15) - The Mavs are a bizarre night to night roller coaster. When they look good they look REALLY good - as they did beating the Pels with Kyrie and THJ going for 40+ each. But when it looks bad it looks REALLY bad - as they did getting blown off the floor by the Lakers with Luka back in the lineup.

15. Miami Heat (24-19, Last week: 10) - An 0-3 week for the Heat and they also made a bit of a laughingstock of their organization by giving Udonis Haslem a participation trophy and retiring his jersey (during a game they lost to the Hawks). Heat culture indeed.

16. Orlando Magic (23-20, Last week: 17) - The Magic finally got Franz Wagner back in the lineup and have been starting to get solid play from Wendell Carter Jr. as well. They are starting to get healthy, and sure enough, they look a lot better again.

17. Chicago Bulls (21-23, Last week: 18) - The Bulls just keep steadily creeping up these rankings and up the East standings (which basically just requires playing .500 basketball) as they’re now 3 games up on the 11 seed. For better or worse it seems increasingly unlikely that Zach Lavine (who’s now hurt again) will be traded before the deadline.

18. Sacramento Kings (23-18, Last week: 16) - The Kings are in a bit of a free fall now, losing 5 straight - several in very ugly fashion. They had high hopes after last year’s run to the 3 seed, but the vibes seem awfully low at the moment and they could be ripe to make a splash in the trade market.

19. Los Angeles Lakers (22-22, Last week: 20) - The Lakers still seem to drop every other game in pathetic fashion. But they’ve at least showed up and played to their ceiling more often recently as they did in big home wins over the Thunder and Mavs this week.

20. Atlanta Hawks (18-24, Last week: 24) - The Hawks got 3 much needed wins to start the week, including two that came on Dejounte Murray game winners, against the Magic and Heat. Suddenly they’re right back in the play-in at 10th, and they’re trending in a much better direction than every team below them.

21. Houston Rockets (20-22, Last week: 19) - Things have gotten tougher and tougher on the young upstart Rockets and reality has hit them a bit lately. Still, they’ve held pretty strong, and pulled out a nice OT win over the red-hot Jazz. But they’ve fallen out of the play-in picture as things currently stand.

22. Golden State Warriors (18-22, Last week: 22) - No basketball takeaways for the Warriors this week as they saw two games PPD after the tragic death of their assistant coach, Dejan Milojevic. RIP to a young legend and my heart goes out to the Warriors and anyone who knew Deji. Just an awful week.

23. Memphis Grizzlies (15-27, Last week: 25) - The completely undermanned Grizz continue to fight, but the complete talent deficit is likely starting to catch up with them. At least they will fight hard every night.

24. Toronto Raptors (16-27, Last week: 21) - The new shine of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley has worn off a bit as they’ve lost 6 of 7. They badly miss Jakob Poeltl - which partly speaks to the overall talent deficit on the current roster. It sounds like this firesale isn’t over either.

25. Brooklyn Nets (17-25, Last week: 23) - Every once in a while they get hot and have a win like on Friday night when they pounded the Lakers in LA. But then they go back to hemorrhaging games and showing their many flaws - as they did on Sunday, blowing a double digit lead to the Clippers capped off with a 22-0 run against them.

26. Portland Trail Blazers (12-30, Last week: 28) - The Blazers got two nice wins this week and kind of got back to being the competitive bad team they were to start the year. If they don’t trade Grant and Brogdon they will probably remain competent and watchable at least.

27. San Antonio Spurs (8-34, Last week: 26) - The Spurs got another W! And moreover, they continue to look like a decent basketball team with Tre Jones starting at PG and Wemby playing C. I mean they still stink, but they definitely stink less.

28. Charlotte Hornets (9-31, Last week: 29) - They beat the Spurs without Wemby on the second night of a b2b, but man these guys are bad. They just can’t stop anyone, and it sounds like they’re best big man, Mark Williams is nowhere close to a return. They should be selling anything they can.

29. Washington Wizards (7-35, Last week: 27) - The Wizards went 0-4 this week and lost at home to the Spurs AND the Pistons. Unbelievable. And yet not.

30. Detroit Pistons (4-38, Last week: 30) - A much needed W without Cade over the Wizards prevented another massive L streak from becoming a story.