Chuddy's NBA Power Rankings

Welcome to the tenth 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 Jazz, 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. Los Angeles Clippers (30-14, Last week: 6) -  Winners of 6 in a row, including one of the most dominant wins of the season in Boston, these guys are rolling. After a slow start they’re now tied for 1st in the West in the loss column and looking like one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
2. Denver Nuggets (32-15, Last week: 1) - Despite a blowout no-show loss to the Knicks, Denver has settled in around the top of the West standings as they ramp up for another postseason run.
3. Boston Celtics (35-11, Last week: 3) - The Celts bounced back from their first home loss to the Nuggets with three straight road wins, including an absoulte beatdown of the Heat in Miami. But the Celts were completely outclassed and embarrassed by the Clippers in their return to the parquet; they’re now mired in a 2-game home losing streak after starting 20-0 at TD Garden.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (32-14, Last week: 2) - The Thunder have been quietly cruising through their schedule, but they docked a few points here for getting crushed by the Pistons while most of the world was watching football.
5. Philadelphia 76ers (29-15, Last week: 5) -  Embiid going for 70 was incredible, but the 6ers followed that up with a loss to the Pacers sans Tyrese Haliburton, then dropped another game in Denver, as most of the starters took the night off.
6. Milwaukee Bucks (32-14, Last week: 7) - I guess going from Adrian Griffin to Doc Rivers gives them a slight bump, but unless Doc is going to defend guys on the perimeter they still have some issues.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (32-14, Last week: 4) - It was a tough week for the Wolves, first losing at home to the Hornets despite KAT’s 62. Then after uninspiring wins over the Pistons and Wizards they fell again to the lowly Spurs. They showed some major warts this past week, especially with late game offense, and it’s jarring how much they’ve missed Mike Conley.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers (27-16, Last week: 8) - After a tough road loss to the Bucks, the Cavs turned right around and beat them handily in the rematch, immediately avenging their first loss since New Year’s Day. 
9. New York Knicks (29-17, Last week: 10) - The Knicks have been one of the hottest teams in the league lately and put whoopings on the Nuggets and Heat. Frankly, they’d be ranked even higher if not for the dislocated shoulder suffered by Julius Randle that will keep him sidelined for several weeks.
10. Indiana Pacers (27-20, Last week: 13) - It was a slow start to the Pascal Siakam era in Indi, but they’ve righted the ship and ripped off three straight wins, including impressive ones over the Suns and 76ers. It’s hard not to be concerned that Haliburton has missed five straight games since initially returning from his hamstring injury, but he is expected to return Tuesday night in Boston.
11. Sacramento Kings (26-18, Last week: 18) - The Kings looked like they were headed in the wrong direction, entering the week on a four game losing streak. But they got back on track with three consecutive wins, including two hard fought ones on the road in Golden State and Dallas.
12. Phoenix Suns (26-20, Last week: 9) - Last week’s hottest team, the Suns cooled off a bit with a tough road loss to the Pacers, then a thumping in Orlando despite Devin Booker scoring a combined 106 points over the two games.
13. Utah Jazz (24-23, Last week: 11) - The Jazz came back down to earth a little bit with three straight losses, culminating by getting obliterated by the Pelicans. But they were able to rebound and take care of business on the road against the Wizards and Hornets.
14. Los Angeles Lakers (24-23, Last week: 19) - Since the trade talks picked up, D’Angelo Russell has been playing his best ball of the season and that has carried the Lakers to a pair of nice wins with the offense looking the best it has in a long time.
15. New Orleans Pelicans (26-20, Last week: 12) - The Pelicans continue to lack any semblance of consistency. They looked amazing on Tuesday, smashing the Jazz while scoring 153 points and clicking on all cylinders, but then managed just 83 points in a 24 point home loss to the Thunder, then a 24 point road loss to the Bucks.
16. Dallas Mavericks (25-21, Last week: 14) - Luka’s 73 point heroics are masking the stench that’s otherwise emanating from this team. That narrow victory at home over the Hawks was their lone win in their last five games and they’ve fallen all the way to 8th in the West.
17. Orlando Magic (24-22, Last week: 16) - The Magic have been hanging on by a thread since their hot start to the season, as the offense just struggles mightily. But the defense is still keeping them afloat, and luckily for them the gap between the top 8 and the bottom 7 in the East feels fairly wide.
18. Chicago Bulls (22-25, Last week: 17) - On the other hand, the Bulls have kind of created their own tier in between 8th and 10th. They’ve been steadily creeping up ever since Coby White started balling out in Zach Lavine’s absence, and they’ve got their sights set on that top 8.
19. Miami Heat (24-22, Last week: 15) - The Heat have been spiraling, losing six straight and three straight to kick off the Terry Rozier era. His offense (if it ever shows up) will help, but may also create new holes in their once-elite defense.
20. Houston Rockets (21-24, Last week: 21) - The Rockets are free-falling a bit, all the way out of the current play-in picture as they’re now a full 2 games back of 10th. The defense that carried them all season has dropped down to 8th in the league.
21. Memphis Grizzlies (18-28, Last week: 23) - It almost doesn’t seem to matter who’s playing for the Grizzlies; they battle every night and have been pulling out a lot of wins and punching above their weight class. They’re getting amazing contributions from G-Leaguers like GG Jackson, Vince Williams Jr., and lately even Scotty Pippen Jr.
22. Atlanta Hawks (19-27, Last week: 20) - If not for a put back dunk by Saddiq Bey in the final seconds to beat the Raptors, the Hawks would be on a five game skid. They’re only a half game up on the Nets for 10th and it feels like moves at the deadline are imminent (and needed).
23. Golden State Warriors (19-24, Last week: 22) - The Warriors have definitely looked better with Draymond Green back in the lineup, but they still lost back to back heartbreakers to the Kings and Lakers at home. But we’re in the second half of the season now and they’re still three games out of the play-in.
24. San Antonio Spurs (10-36, Last week: 27) - How about those Spurs?! They’ve looked downright decent lately, including back to back wins over the Blazers and T-Wolves. With an actual starting point guard they’ve become a very fun team to watch - something that would’ve sounded crazy a month or so ago.
25. Brooklyn Nets (18-27, Last week: 25) - The Nets just are what they are. I can’t keep typing the same thing every week. It’s a team full of glorified role players all trying to do the same things. Hopefully this roster will look completely different in a week and a half.
26. Portland Trail Blazers (13-33, Last week: 26) - The Blazers remain the bad team that plays well for most of the game. And honestly, that’s a perfect place for them to be. It’ll be interesting to see if Brogdon (and even Grant) survive the trade deadline - as those losses could render them unwatchable. 
27. Toronto Raptors (16-30, Last week: 24) - The new car smell has worn off since the trade for Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett. Without OG and Pascal, the Raptors are settling in as a true bottom team in the midst of a full on rebuild. They’ve lost five in a row and nine of ten. The biggest question now is whether they’ll keep their pick or not, which is protected for the top 6.
28. Charlotte Hornets (10-34, Last week: 28) - Trading Terry Rozier has made this team even worse, as their veteran leader is gone. With more trades likely on the horizon, this will be one of the worst rosters in the league, but at least we’ll get to see the young players fight through growing pains. Brandon Miller has looked excellent recently.
29. Washington Wizards (8-37, Last week: 29) - I really reaaaaally wanted to bump the Pistons above the Zards, but Washington won the head-to-head meeting on Saturday. The optimist in me points out that the Wizards have a .500 record with interim coach, Brian Keefe at the helm!
30. Detroit Pistons (6-40, Last week: 30) - I was ready to dump all over them and then they pulled off a lopsided win over the Thunder and looked good in the process. Cade’s return is nearing as well, so maybe we’ll get another watchable team.