LastWordOnSports NBA Power Rankings, written every Sunday during the season, are a reflection of one person’s thoughts and feelings. If you have an issue with the rankings feel free to connect with me on Twitter at @LWOSRobert.
NBA Power Rankings
The NBA is back.
We are six days into the season and one thing is clear: The Detroit Pistons are the best team in basketball. Okay, perhaps not, but it is a perfect example of how fans will start thinking about their respective teams just a few games in.
We all need to take a step back and understand that it is going to take 82 games to get a clear understanding of which team is the favorite to win the Larry O’Brien Championship trophy this season.
I am not trying to crush your dreams and ruin the moment but rather temper your expectations. In order to prove my good intentions, I have a confession: I am a Philadelphia 76ers fan. Dreams are all I have right now. So if you’re a Pistons fan, enjoy the moment, just don’t get carried away. Time for my Power Rankings:
- Golden State Warriors (3-0) – The defending champs are undefeated and Steph Curry is averaging 39.3 points per game after a 53 point outing against the Pelicans. I do not anticipate that this team will hold this position throughout the year but they are starting the season off the right way.
- Los Angeles Clippers (3-0) – I would not normally be impressed with a team that beat the Kings two times in week, but there was an impressive victory over the Mavericks squeezed in between. It is going to be interesting to watch the chemistry on this team throughout the season.
- Oklahoma City Thunder (3-0) – This team has two players averaging over 30 points per game right but only won their first two games by a combined 9 points. A 24 point win over the Nuggets is more of what we should expect because we know Westbrook and Durant can score, that has never been an issue. Defense is the question mark for this team as it is what is going to keep this team at the top of the Western Conference and they need to show more of it.
- San Antonio Spurs (2-1) – Can you picture a scenario where the Spurs are ever out of the Top 10 of anybody’s Power Rankings? Tough loss to the Thunder, but Kawhi Leonard is showing that he is the future of this franchise. If Aldridge is going to continue to put up 10 points a game they might have been better off keeping Tiago Splitter.
- Detroit Pistons (3-0) – Wins against the Hawks, Jazz, and the Bulls in overtime. What a time to be alive if you’re a Pistons fan. But whenever you lose one of your better players, Jodie Meeks, for four months you should be concerned. Whenever one of your better players is Jodie Meeks, you should also be concerned.
- Toronto Raptors (3-0) – DeMar DeRozan is averaging 24 points per game and skinny Kyle Lowry is second on the team with 18.5 points per game. This is all good news for the team from Canada but the Raptors are just happy that they do not have to worry about playing Paul Pierce in the first round this year.
- Cleveland Cavaliers (2-1) – Lebron James is averaging 33.7 minutes per game, which would be the lowest average of his career if this continued all season. I would guess that the Cavaliers have come to the conclusion that their only goal for the season is to get Lebron, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love to the post season in one piece. Great Idea.
- Chicago Bulls (3-1) – With wins over the Cavs, Nets, and Magic, the Bulls have shown that they are not taking a step back with new coach Fred Hoiberg. Jimmy Butler is averaging 37.7 minutes per game this season as he continues to show that he is the MVP of this season with or without Derrick Rose in the Lineup.
- Atlanta Hawks (3-1) – When you look up the word team in the dictionary, I promise that you’re going to see this Hawks lineup on the page. They have five players averaging double figures in points with Kent Bazemore and Tiago Splitter not far behind. They also have eight players averaging at least twenty minutes per game and Splitter at 18 minutes per game. This type of balance is impressive and will go a long way towards keeping this team at the top of the Eastern Conference this year.
- Memphis Grizzlies (2-1) – How can this team be ranked in the bottom 10 in points per game average at 96.3 and still be competitive in the Western Conference? So far their answer has been to play Eastern Conference teams, with wins over the Pacers and Nets. We will learn more about the Grizzlies after their match-up with the Warriors.
- New York Knicks (2-1) – Knicks fans have a right to be excited about this team after what happened last season. This team has six players averaging double digits in the points per game category after three games. I only expect two of them to keep that average, Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis.
- Washington Wizards (2-1) – Bradley Beal and John Wall need more help if they want to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference. Otto Porter is in his third year and is the only player on this team that has the ability to be the third scoring option. He has to give this team more than 9.7 points per game if they are going to make it back to the playoffs.
- Minnesota Timberwolves (2-0) – I am not impressed with wins over the Lakers and Nuggets. However, I am impressed with Karl-Anthony Towns, Ricky Rubio, and the overall future of this team. What’s going on with Andrew Wiggins, though?
- Utah Jazz (2-1) – Derrick Favors is averaging 21.3 points per game this season, up five points from last year. He is really enjoying the increased offensive opportunities since the Enes Kanter trade last season. Also, Rudy Gobert is averaging 3.67 blocks per game, which is good for third best in the NBA.
- Phoenix Suns (2-1) – It looks like Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe are getting along just fine. Both of them are averaging over 20 points per game and 4 assists per game. Plus whatever magic is in Arizona should keep Tyson Chandler healthy for at least another 10 years.
- Miami Heat (2-1) – When you beat the Hornets by 10 and then lose to the Cavs by 10 it’s hard to figure you out as a team. This team needs more from its 100 million dollar man, Chris Bosh. Hopefully he isn’t still being affected by his blood clot issue from last year.
- Dallas Mavericks (2-1) – Another team with great balance as the Mavericks have six players averaging double figures. The only problem is that their best player, Dirk Nowitzki, is 37 and only averaging 13.5 points per game this season. The Mavericks also let the Clippers blow them out after everything that happened this off-season, I expected more of a fight in that one.
- Denver Nuggets (1-1) – The Nuggets beat the Rockets by 20. I don’t know if it says more about the Nuggets or the Rockets. Mudiay is exciting but he has to work on getting his turnovers down to AT LEAST six per game. Seriously.
- Sacramento Kings (1-2) – There was one thing that this team needed in order to get to the next level. That thing was undoubtedly and unequivocally for DeMarcus Cousins to start shooting threes. Every team dreams that their 270 lb. center can start the season averaging 3.3 threes per game. This entire segment was filled with sarcasm.
- Portland Trailblazers (1-2) – The Damian Lillard era has officially begun, with him being tied with C.J. McCollum for the team lead in points per game. McCollum is also doing it more effectively with almost a four point difference in player efficiency. Lillard is averaging 8.3 assists per game as well but it’s clear that he, and this team, misses Aldridge.
- Boston Celtics (1-2) – Isaiah Thomas is going to win Sixth Man of the Year. He is averaging 26 points off the bench in 29 minutes and this has been going on since he was traded to the Celtics last year. If the Celtics want to make it back to the playoffs they are going to have to beat other teams besides the Sixers though.
- Houston Rockets (0-3) – A 20 point loss to the Nuggets? Really? It’s early in the season but these losses are going to be very important when it comes to seeding in the Western Conference. The Rockets aren’t going to the playoffs if Harden can’t average over 20 points per game, he’s at 19.0 ppg now.
- Orlando Magic (0-3) – They could easily be 3-0 right now, but they aren’t. They should be excited about Elfrid Payton, as he’s averaging 12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game.
- New Orleans Pelicans (0-3) – Playing the Warriors twice in one week will usually have a negative effect on any type of power ranking. Anthony Davis has not disappointed this year with 24.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. He will be in the MVP conversation all year if his stats start to translate to wins for his team.
- Milwaukee Bucks (0-3) – Everyone loves the Bucks. Not this guy. They will be competitive but I just don’t see it. When you have a lineup of players where your 6’6” point guard is the smallest player on the court, you’re supposed to be better defensively. They are allowing 120 points per game this season.
- Charlotte Hornets (0-3) – Two tough losses to the Hawks by a combined 5 points. They have shown that they can score enough but they have problems stopping people. There should be improvement when Michael Kidd-Gilchrist returns.
- Indiana Pacers (0-3) – The Pacers really need Paul George to return back to his All-Star form. It looks as though he might another season before he will be completely over his injury, mentally and physically. Meanwhile, Pacer fans are going to have to keep watching their team get blown out by teams like the Jazz.
- Brooklyn Nets (0-3) – Three losses and none of them were particularly close games. This team will be able to compete as long as Brook Lopez can stay healthy, but that’s a big if. The Celtics are the biggest fans for this losing streak since they own the Nets first round pick this year.
- Philadelphia 76ers (0-2) – The Sixers should have two goals this season. The first goal is for them to FINALLY get the number one pick the draft. They should have no problem being at least one of the worst three teams again this year. The second goal is to get Jahlil Okafor the Rookie of the Year award. 26 points in your first NBA game will certainly do that.
- Los Angeles Lakers (0-3) – The Sacramento Kings score 132 points on them in one game of regulation basketball. That is why the Lakers are the worst team in the NBA. Also, the fact that Laker fans really believe that this team was going to make the playoffs this year. Kobe Bryant is averaging 18.5 points per game on 18 attempts. Amazing.
