The NBA is back in full swing this week and some interesting questions are emerging.
Whilst the Bucks and Lakers are locks for the conference #1 seeds, both have their weaknesses. But are any of their adversaries ready to step up and challenge them? The Clippers and Jazz are struggling the in West. The Sixers and Heat are falling away in the East. Let’s see if/how those teams – and the rest of the challengers – regroup as the regular season winds down.
Throughout the season, Vendetta Sports Media will be bringing you our NBA Power Rankings. These are not necessarily ranking based on records. This is a purely subjective assessment of how a team is progressing, projected and playing.
All records are as of Thursday morning US time.
30. Golden State (Down 2)
(12-46) Last week: 0-3
The Warriors losing streak now stands at 7, and their league worst 12 wins is 5 adrift of a slew of teams. The Warriors are seemingly a lock for the best odds at the #1 pick in the draft.
The only possible scenario that can upset that particular apple cart is, just to name a random series of events, the emergence of a transformative player, able to bend defences to his will, create gravity all over the court, and act as a talisman for a young team. In completely unrelated news, Steph Curry has been confirmed as returning on March 1st against the Wizards.
29. Detroit Pistons (Steady)
(19-41) Last week: 0-3
Markeiff Morris (since signed by the Lakers) is the latest veteran to leave Michigan. With Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond jettisoned and Blake Griffin sliding sadly into irrelevance, Derrick Rose is the last man standing with Detroit at long last embracing the rebuild.
The Pistons have now lost 7 strait matches. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. The losses of course give the team a better chance in the lottery, and the youngsters are getting all the court time they can handle. There is good and bad in that. The good is Christian Wood, who has led the team in scoring in each of their last 4 games, putting up 22.5 points, 10.5 boards and 2 blocks per contest over that span. The bad is Thon Maker. The Australian has been supplanted in the starting lineup by John Henson, who was nothing more than an expiring contract thrown into the Drummond trade. Thon must surely be running out of chances at the NBA level.
28. Cleveland Cavaliers (Up 2)
(17-41 Record) Last week: 3-1
Well, well….the Cavs are playing some winning basketball. They’ve won 4 of 5 including victories over Miami and Philadelphia.
Big deadline acquisition Andre Drummond hasn’t exactly set the world alight as a member of the Cavs, putting up 12.8 points, 10.4 boards, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks – all well down on his Detroit numbers. Instead, it’s the man he’s supposed to usurp in Tristan Thompson that has shined. In his last 5 matches, the Canadian has registered 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds, whilst playing the sort of defense that Drummond thinks he can play. With Drummond likely to opt into his player option, the Cavs must wish that they had dealt Thompson for something (anything!) at the deadline.
27. New York Knicks (Down 3)
(17-41) Last week: 0-3
Aaaaaaand normal service is restored.
The Knicks have lost 5 straight games, to render their most encouraging stretch of the season meaningless. It wasn’t exactly a murderers row of games either: the Hawks, Hornets, Wizards and free falling Pacers all topped the Knicks. Maybe that’s not fair: every stretch of games is a murderers row for New York.
With 4 of their next 5 against winning teams, their poor form shows no sign of abating.
26. Minnesota Timberwolves (Steady)
(17-40) Last week: 1-3
D’Angelo Russel broke his duck as a Timberwolf by leading his team to a big win over the Heat in Miami. D’Lo lead the way with 27 points, including 7 treys. The oft travelled star has adapted well to life in the Twin Cities, averaging 24.4 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds and 1.4 steals. His shooting is typically excellent and he is – wait for it – actually working hard on defense. Perhaps playing with his buddy Karl Anthony Towns has lit a spark in Russell. God knows the young man needs some professional stability. Perhaps a team that has actively traded for him to play with their main man will finally let us see what the former #2 pick can do once he puts down some roots.
25. Chicago Bulls (Steady)
(20-39) Last week: 1-3
The Bulls managed to halt their losing streak at 8 with a win over Washington, despite Bradley Beal’s 53 points, but that’s their only win in 10 as the season slips away. Despite the losing run, their still – inexplicably – only 6 games out of the playoffs. They’re not going to make it of course, but doesn’t it seem like they should be so much further away? This team likely tops out at average when healthy and boy are they not healthy right now.
A bright spot this week has been rookie Coby White. The 7th pick has certainly blown hot and cold this season, but he has been (excuse the pun) white hot of late, tallying 33, 33 and 35 points in his last three outings.
24. Atlanta Hawks (Up 3)
(17-43) Last week: 2-2
The deadline acquisition of Clint Capela threw the future of John Collins into the spotlight. The Hawks clearly didn’t consider Collins a centre, but could he play as a modern power forward? Did the Hawks even consider him a cornerstone player? Perhaps the scrutiny has spurred Collins into action. Since the trade deadline, the 3rd year pogo stick has recorded a nightly 25.1 points, 8.4 boards and 1.4 blocks, whilst shooting 48% from deep on over 3 attempts per game. Those are fantastic numbers. There is a disclaimer, though: whilst he’s playing with a centre, Dewayne Dedmon can stretch the floor. When Capela returns, Collins won’t have the space inside to play his inside/out game.
23. Charlotte Hornets (Steady)
(20-38) Last week: 2-2
The growing pains continue in Charlotte where, in a big win over the Bulls, the youngsters in PJ Washington, Malik Monk and Miles Bridges led the way. They followed that up with a listless performance in a 29 point home loss to Brooklyn. The may as well have given a walkover in their next game: a 39 point loss to the struggling Pacers.
Any growth in their young core has been further compromised by the news that Monk has been suspended by the NBA for 25 games for falling foul of the leagues drug policy.
22. Phoenix Suns (Steady)
(24-35) Last week: 2-2
Much like the Wolves, the Suns have a solid young core – at one end of the court, at least.
In Devin Booker, Kelly Oubre and DeAndre Ayton, Phoenix have all bases covered: the lead guard, the powerful wing, and the athletic big man. Of course, that trio have proven themselves utterly incapable of stopping anything that has been thrown at them.
The challenge for the Suns is building around their developing Big 3. Given Booker’s ability on the ball, the Suns could get away without a traditional point guard. Rather, they might look for a shooter that can defend the opposition point guard. If he was younger, George Hill would be perfect. At the other forward spot, a player in the mould of PJ Tucker would be ideal: a stout defender that can knock down open corner three’s.
21. Washinton Wizards (Down 1)
(21-36) Last week: 1-3
The Wizards are running out of bullets to fire in their unlikely pursuit of the 8th and final playoff spot in the East. Back to back 50+ point games from Bradley Beal (the last time Beal didn’t lead the team in scoring was January 17th!) wasn’t enough to get them over the line against the Bulls or the Bucks, although the win against the vulnerable Nets helps their cause. Realistically, they’re not going to make it, but a base of Beal, Davis Bertans, Rui Hachimura and a returning John Wall forms a playoff worthy core for next season.
20. Sacramento Kings (Up 1)
(24-33) Last week: 3-0
A nice run of late for the Kings, winning 6 of their last 8 games. They’re surely a touch too far away from Memphis to be in the running for the 8th seed, which will extend their league worst run of lottery finishes – the Kings last playoff appearance came all the way back in 2006.
Oft injured centre Harry Giles has been on a pleasing roll, averaging close to a double-double over his past 4 games. The former High School All American will never live up to his once immense potential – his brittle legs have seen to that – but he looks to be carving out a niche as a highly skilled back up big.
19. San Antonio Spurs (Down 1)
(24-33) Last week: 1-3
The Spurs are still, somehow, in with a shot of making the playoffs. To do that though, they’ll need to get more out of Dejounte Murray. San Antonio isn’t exactly getting bang for it’s $16 million bucks from the 4th year guards 10.4 points and 4 assists. His defense is very good, although definitely not at the level that most thought he’d be able to reach by now. He still hasn’t developed anything like a threatening outside game – yes, he shoots 37.6%, but only attempts 1.5 trey’s per game – and for all his skill in finishing at the rim, he settles for too many pull up jumpers.
There is a caveat that Murray missed all of last season with a torn ACL, so he’s still finding his way back to his best. That ACL tear was 18 months ago, so the Spurs would want to see some of that old aggression pretty soon. Next season is going to be telling for Murray.
18. Brooklyn Nets (Down 1)
(26-31) Last week: 1-3
With Kyrie Irving being ruled out for the remainder of the season, there is finally some clarity for the rest of the Nets roster. No more changing from star to support act from night to night. That should help the Nets solidify their rotations and roles. However, the past few games have highlighted where Irving is most missed – getting late game buckets. In losses to the Sixers, Magic and Wizards (two of those by under 5 points, the other in OT) it was glaring how much the team needed someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Kyrie has shown that he can be the man in those situations before, despite being the #2 option.
17. Orlando Magic (Up 2)
(24-31) Last week: 2-2
The Magic have found form, winning 4 of their past 5, to push to a mere half game behind the struggling Nets for the 7th seed and with it the right to not get their heads caved in by Milwaukee in the 1st round.
The catalyst for their sudden surge has been Aaron Gordon, who has finally found his groove. Through his last 5 games, the Dunk Champion* has averaged 22.6 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1.6 blocks and is knocking down 2.2 three pointers at 68.7%. The shooting isn’t sustainable, but those numbers are All NBA level. It’s surely no accident that this form has coincided with Gordon playing predominantly at the power forward position. The sooner the Magic brass realise they have shouldn’t be forcing a potential star power forward peg into a small forward shaped hole, the better they’ll be.
*Pending the results of an appeal.
16. Damian Lillard (Steady)
(26-33) Last week: 1-2
Damian Lillard’s Portland Trailblazers have had to make do without Damian Lillard this week. It hasn’t gone well. A win over the plummeting Pistons being their only victory in the past 5 outings. CJ McCollum has been the only thing tethering the Blazers to respectability with Lillard out. He’s averaging 29.8 points and 9.3 assists in his last 4 games, including a 41 point/12 assist masterclass in the win over Detroit.
Portland are still in the playoff picture, just 2.5 games back from Memphis. They also have the 5th best run home in the NBA. But they do not own the tie breaker against either Memphis or New Orleans, so they must finish ahead of those teams outright, to ensure their playoff berth.
15. Memphis Grizzlies (Down 2)
(28-30) Last week: 0-4
Things are getting very tight in Memphis, where the clubs 4 game losing streak has been compounded by injuries to key big man Jaren Jackson Jr and his rookie backup Brandon Clarke. Both will be reevaluated in a fortnight, which sound an awful lot like they’ll be out for 3-4 weeks. Missing those two puts an incredible amount of strain on Ja Morant. Are Dillon Brooks and Jonas Valanciunas able to step up and keep the team in the 8th playoff spot? With the Pelicans charging hard and Portland about to get key troops back in uniform, it seems unlikely.
14. Indiana Pacers (Up 1)
(34-24) Last week: 2-1
Wow! Talk about a roller coaster ride.
The Pacers got waxed by Toronto to the tune of 46 points. The game was over early, with the reigning champs jumping out to a 22 point lead at the first break. They followed that up with a 39 point crushing of the Hornets. Again, this one was done well before the end of the game: Indiana led by 25 at the half.
Wild form fluctuations aside, the worrying thing for Indiana was the absence of Victor Oladipo, out with back spasms. Dipo certainly hasn’t been himself since his injury return and any game time he can get will only help him return to form, and help him reintegrate into the team. To that end, the injury is concerning.
13. New Orleans Pelicans (Up 1)
(25-33) Last week: 2-2
Cue the ominous Jaws music…….the Pelicans are coming.
They sit just half a game behind the Damian Lillard-less Portland Lillard’s and 3 games back from the suddenly very vulnerable Grizzlies for the West’s final playoff spot.
Of all the teams in the race for that spot, the Pellies have the easiest schedule per Tankathon and they have the best net rating. Crucially (touching all the wood) they’re also the healthiest. With their full compliment on board, and Zion ragdolling opponents, the injuries to Lillard and Jaren Jackson Jr are thrust into the spotlight.
The Pelicans and Grizzlies match up twice in a 4 day span in late March – those contests could decide the fate of each team’s playoff push.
12. Philadelphia 76ers (Down 2)
(36-23) Last week: 2-2
So, Joel Embiid goes down and the Sixers suddenly look like a wonderfully modern NBA offense, led by a rampaging Ben Simmons. Simmons goes down and the team has their lunch money taken by the Bucks, and get manhandled by the (checks notes) Cavaliers?
Hey, a quick aside: does anyone remember that scene in the movie Captain Phillips where Ben Simmons turns to Joel Embiid and says ‘I am the Captain, now.’? Not sure why I brought that up. Just thought it was a great scene.
11. Utah Jazz (Down 4)
(36-22) Last week: 0-4
The NBA’s ultimate Jekyll and Hyde squad are on a 4 game losing streak, to follow up their 4 game win streak (which was preceded by a 5 game losing streak, which followed a 4 game win…..you get the idea). John Hollinger made an interesting observation on Zach Lowe’s podcast this week, jokingly saying that the Jazz have an ‘only one left hander at a time can play well’ rule. He’s not far off the mark. Joe Ingles and Mike Conley have not led a happy co-existence this season. Coach Quin Snyder has chopped and changed his starting lineups, partly through injury to Conley, but mostly through simple experimentation to find the best combinations. The Jazz benched Ingles for stopper Royce O’Neal in their last game versus Boston. Ingles still stunk off the bench.
The team have looked at their best with a starting 5 of Mitchell-Ingles-O’Neal-Bogdanovic-Gobert. The eagle eyed amongst you will have notices that this means Mike Conley starts on the bench. It might not be the most popular decision, or the most politically minded move, but if it’s good for the team, Coach Snyder simply must do it.
10. Dallas Mavericks (Up 2)
(36-23) Last week: 3-1
Dallas have dropped to 7th in the West, but that’s through no fault of their own, rather it’s the hot form in OKC that has seen them fall. However, with Utah seemingly unable to stay out of their own way, the 6th seed beckons. They’ve only lost 1 game in 5; to the Hawks in a game where both Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis sat, and Jalen Brunson injured himself in the first minute of the game.
Doncic and Porzingis are starting to find their groove together, which bodes well not just for this season, but for the Mavs grand plans of build around their two European stars.
9. Miami Heat (Steady)
(36-22) Last week: 1-3
The Heat are only 3-7 in their last 10 games; a sharp decline in fortunes from the rest of their stellar season. Their only a half game ahead of the Sixers in the 4-5 slots in the East. It seems likely that these two teams will meet in round 1. Given Philly’s dramatic difference in home and away form, whoever secures the #4 seed – and the home court that goes with it – must be considered an overwhelming favourite.
Bam Adebayo has stepped it up – again – in February. The newly minted All Star is putting up 17.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 7 assists and 1.7 blocks. The man is a beast.
8. Oklahoma City Thunder (Up 3)
(36-22) Last week: 3-0
The Thunder continue to confound the doubters. Owners of a 4 game win streak (they’ve won 8 of 10), the Thunder are suddenly contenders for home court in the 1st round. They’re tied with the slumping Jazz, and only 2 games off the Rockets. Even the Clippers – not exactly in form, themselves – are only a further game ahead. There is a very real chance that Oklahoma City could both get themselves a home match up and stay out of the Lakers bracket. That would require a miracle run, but the team have set themselves up to make it happen.
The Thunder are almost certain to win 50+ games this season; something that hasn’t been done since Kevin Durant was in uniform.
7. Houston Rockets (Up 1)
(34-20) Last week: 2-2
The Rockets are 6-2 since the trade deadline. Small ball might just have something to it.
Russell Westbrook has been incredible of late, averaging 34 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6 assists in 6 games since the deadline (he’s rested in a couple of fixtures) whilst just about shelving the 3 pointer. Since the turn of the year, Westbrook has averaged 2.3 attempts from deep per game. For comparison, he put up 4.4 in December and 5.7 attempts in November.
The Rockets new alignment, and the space it’s opened up, is allowing Russ to be the best version of himself.
6. Los Angeles Clippers (Down 2)
(39-19) Last week: 2-2
What to make of the Clips, eh? A 3 game losing streak isn’t the end of the world, but their complete lack of night-to-night consistency is alarming. In Toronto last season, the Raps gave Kawhi Leonard plenty of games off and the team was able to stay, if not elite then very very good. This Clippers team is inarguably more talented from top to bottom, yet you have no idea what you’re going to get from them on a night to night basis.
There is always talk of a veteran team being able to ‘flip the switch’ come playoff time. That usually refers to a team that has served together. This team is battle hardened individually, but haven’t the playoff reps as a group. That could hurt them when it counts.
5. Denver Nuggets (Steady)
(40-18) Last week: 2-1
Losses to the Lakers and Thunder either side of the All Star break are Denver’s only blemishes in the past 3 weeks. With the Clippers spluttering, the #2 seed is now Denver’s to lose.
Nikola Jokic is back to putting up his now customary MVP calibre numbers; Paul Millsap is back from injury to provide defensive acumen; Jerami Grant got valuable reps in Millsap’s absence; Michael Porter Jr looks to be getting better every night…..Garry Harris is a concern, though. The 25 year old is averaging the lowest points per game, on the lowest FG% and 3P% since his rookie campaign, when he came off the bench. The former Spartan is still lights out from the charity stripe, so he hasn’t lost his stroke – it appears to be a confidence issue. Despite being a touch undersized, Harris provides stiff back court defense, but the team needs him to be a threat at the other end, too.
4. Boston Celtics (Up 2)
(41-17) Last week: 4-1
The Celtics are a deep and dangerous team; of that there can be no doubt. However, for all of their excellent players and the balance that provides, there remains the question: who is the leader? Who will take the big shot in the big moment? Kemba Walker was assumed to be that man, but he has struggled in that situation in the past as his size means he can be enveloped by longer defenders. Boston fans don’t have to worry about that now: Jayson Tatum is ALL CAPS THE MAN!
Check out these stats over his past 5 games: 35.4 points, 6 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 4.8 three pointers on 54.5% shooting from range. Tatum is everything short of literally on fire.
This is the player that the Celtics would have taken 1st overall back in 2017. He is a future MVP. Mark my words.
3. Toronto Raptors (Down 1)
(42-16) Last week: 2-1
The loss to Milwaukee was a missed opportunity for Toronto. After cutting the Pacers to ribbons, they should have been both well rested and full of confidence for the visit of the Bucks. A win over the league leaders wouldn’t have made too much of a difference in their chase for the #1 seed – Milwaukee is just too far ahead – but it would have opened up some breathing space between themselves and Boston, who currently stand a single game behind the Raptors.
Toronto is still to welcome back Marc Gasol (he’ll be given as much rest as possible) and Norman Powell (due back this week). Combined with a favourable schedule, the Raps should be able to secure the 2nd seed in the East.
2. Los Angeles Lakers (Up 1)
(44-12) Last week: 3-0
The Lakers have quietly – if indeed it’s possible for the Lakers to do anything quietly – amassed a 6 game winning streak. They have a handsome lead of 5 games over Denver in the conference and they’ve just signed Markeiff Morris (not really sure how he fits, but the prospect of playoff Lakers vs Clippers AND playoff Morris vs Morris is reason enough to make the signing). Coach Frank Vogel can now start plotting his post season plans.
LeBron James – already one of the 3 greatest players of all time – will add another feather to his cap this season as he leads the NBA in assists for the 1st time, at age 35. He will be the oldest player to take their first title in either scoring, rebounding or assists.
1. Milwaukee Bucks (Steady)
(50-8) Last week: 4-0
Joel Embiid: I’m the best player in the world!
Giannis: Hold my non-alcoholic beverage.
After Embiid’s proclamation (after a win against the Nets, for what that’s worth), Giannis decided to provide the Cameroonian a not so gentle reminder of who is the reigning MVP.
In their comfortable 21 point win over the Sixers, Giannis hung 31 points (12 of 17 from the floor), 17 rebounds and 8 assists on Embiid’s 67ersin a mere 29 minutes.
That win also secured the Bucks post season berth. The 56 games it’s taken the them to book their postseason place is the quickest qualification in the league in 15 years. It can’t be overstated how much the Bucks are riding roughshod over the rest of the league through the regular season. Frankly, the Bucks might not see a real test until the finals, although Toronto and Philly (the Dr Jekyll version rather than the Mr Hyde edition) can certainly push them.
