NBA Power Rankings: Week 6
Week 6 of the NBA Power Rankings and we have a new number one in the rankings. We still have some surprise teams in the top 15 as teams get healthy. I think the next couple of weeks will really determine who is a true contender.
1 - Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are your reigning NBA Champs and have taken over the top spot in my power rankings. They handled the Cavaliers in the first meeting between the two best teams in the East. They even had a 21 point lead over the Cavs in the 2nd half, this is the best team in the NBA.
2 - Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers were bound to lose eventually and it is no shame to lose to the Boston Celtics. They still have the best rated offense in the league and top ten defense. Assuming health, are these top two teams ever going to be de-throned?
3 - Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are 12-4 and still sit atop the Western Conference, even after blowing a 17-point lead to the Spurs. Top 10 in both offense and defense, the Warriors are for real, but their offense can be a bit finicky.
4 - Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are still without Chet Holmgren but Isaiah Hartenstrein is on his way back and they need him badly. He will take some time to get back into the swing of things but this team is still playing exceptionally well.
5 - Houston Rockets
I don’t love that the Rockets lost to the Blazers, good teams beat the teams that they should beat. Their defense is locked in and it is leading them taking 7.7 more shots per game than their opponents, that is a recipe for success.
6 - Dallas Mavericks
This was always a worry about the Mavericks, what do they do if Luka Doncic gets hurt? Well he missed three of the last four games with knee and wrist injuries. The Mavericks still beat both Oklahoma City and Denver, those are impressive wins either way.
7 - Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets were without Nikola Jokic and they got a win without him and then of course he comes back and destroys the Lakers. Russell Westbrook recorded his 200th career triple-double and is starting to look like himself in Denver.
8 - Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have won 5 games in a row and they are remaining competitive in all of their games. Kawhii Leonard has already missed the amount of games he can to receive any NBA awards, but the Clips defense is keeping them alive until their superstar returns.
9 - Orlando Magic
Speaking of teams using their defense to keep themselves in contention while their superstar recovers. The Magic have a top 3 defense and a bottom 5 offense. Luckily for them the East is about as competitive as Tyler versus James in a squat competition.
10 - Memphis Grizzlies
Ja Morant is still not back, but the Grizzlies have won a majority of their games to remain a top team in the West. They are scoring more efficiently without Morant and with a career game from Scottie Pippen Jr. the Grizzlies are looking to come back better than ever.
11 - Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are back to being mid, they lost on a buzzer beat three to Franz Wagner and the Magic and then their old nemesis Nuggets destroyed them at home. If the Lakers want to consider themselves true contenders, they will need to shore up their play of the defensive end, they rank 27th overall.
12 - New York Knicks
The Knicks have climbed back over .500 but then lose to teams like Utah. Knicks fans must be frustrated with the lack of consistency and seeing their top contenders Boston and Cleveland playing like they are. I do think they will get better as the season goes on.
13 - San Antonio Spurs
We have a new team in the top fifteen for the first time in a really long time for the Spurs. They have won three straight and that included wins over the Warriors and Thunder. If they can keep up this solid play up, I think it is time to start considering them to be a play-in team.
14 - Minnesota Timberwolves
I honestly don’t understand why this team is not better, they are good on offense and decent enough on the defensive end. Yes they lost a two point game in Boston, but losing in Toronto is not a good look. The West is so competitive and they need to start playing better.
15 - Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks should be above .500 is not for a missed call. They have come all the way back and Giannis is leading the league in scoring and carrying this team. They had the luxury of their poor play due to the Eastern Conference being bleh. They still aren't quite at the level of some of the other Eastern conference teams, but it is looking promising.
P.S. I am only doing the top 15 teams, if you want me to talk about you; be better, it’s that simple.