We are another week into the NBA season and it continues to become more clear on who the true competitors are. In the West, many teams are battling for the playoffs, while in the East, teams are struggling to stay at .500. As with every week in the NBA teams have risen and fallen in the power rankings so let’s see where each team stands this week.
1. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers have all but solidified their place as the top team in the East with a win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday. Besides a few losses to top notch Western Conference teams the Pacers have been nearly flawless.
2. Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers have managed to beat three of the best teams in the NBA, the Pacers, Spurs, and Thunder, which is a feat very few teams, can claim.
3. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have been playing very well including a very impressive win over the Pacers.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder have shaken up a slow start and are playing at an extremely high level.
5. Miami Heat
The Heat lost to an excellent Pacers team in Indiana and will have a chance to beat them in Miami next week.
6. Houston Rockets
The combination of James Harden and Dwight Howard has been very efficient and the Rockets are racking up wins because of it.
7. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers just got blown out on the road to a very hot Nets team. Even with this loss, the Clippers are on pace to have a very successful season.
8. Phoenix Suns
With the return of Eric Bledsoe the Suns have been winning games. Only time will tell if the Suns can keep up their winning ways but they are certainly looking competitive now.
9. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets had a slow start to the season but have really picked things up. The injury of Ty Lawson hurts but he should be back soon enough.
10. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have struggled without Andre Iguodala and are currently hanging onto the eight seed in the West.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves have cooled off since their hot start but they are currently riding a two game win streak.
12. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks managed to beat the Blazers with a game winning buzzer beater only to lose to the Warriors in the same fashion. They will need to pick up their play if they hope to make the playoffs.
13. Atlanta Hawks
Jeff Teague continues to have a career year and with the state of the East, the Hawks are in a great position.
14. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans have done surprisingly well even without Anthony Davis, mainly because of the tremendous play by Ryan Anderson.
15. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have been unable to claw their way out of the middle of the West.
16. Los Angeles Lakers
The return of Kobe Bryant hasn’t been as spectacular as some people thought as the Lakers have lost two in a row since he returned.
17. Charlotte Bobcats
The Bobcats have been playing surprisingly well and so far they’ve earned themselves the fifth seed in the East.
18. Boston Celtics
Much like the Bobcats, the Celtics have taken advantage of a weak Eastern Conference and have played themselves right into the fourth seed.
19. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs and Kyrie Irving have been playing really well lately and they are currently on a two game winning streak.
20. Washington Wizards
The Wizards are starting to turn things around and most importantly they have a point differential of -0.8 which means they are much more competitive than their record would show.
21. Detroit Pistons
Just when it appears the Pistons could get a winning record they manage to lose three in a row.
22. Chicago Bulls
The loss of Derrick Rose has really been a killer for this Bulls team. It’s never too late for them to start tanking.
23. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are finally getting healthy and have managed to win three games in a row. If they can continue these winning ways they’ll find themselves in the playoffs.
24. Orlando Magic
The Magic have gotten some fantastic performances from Victor Oladipo which is a very promising sign for the future.
25. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have managed to ship of Rudy Gay and his ridiculous contract and that move could be very beneficial in the future.
26. Philadelphia 76ers
Michael Carter-Williams has struggled with injuries and the 76ers have struggled because of it.
27. New York Knicks
The Knicks managed to win a game and break their losing streak and even managing to do that is a positive.
28. Sacramento Kings
After getting destroyed by the Utah Jazz I was tempted to rank the Kings lower but decided that the addition of Rudy Gay could act as a spark for this team.
29. Utah Jazz
The Jazz have really struggled this season but have done better as of late with the improved play of Trey Burke.
30. Milwaukee Bucks
Earlier in the year I made the excuse that when the Bucks managed to get healthy they would improve. So far I have been very wrong and the Bucks have been just as bad.