NBA Power Rankings: Week 15
Holy Trade Season Batman! A flurry of deals went down at the trade deadline that will shake up the stretch run. Victor Oladipo goes to Miami, Aaron Gordon and Javal McGee to Denver, Nikola Vucevic to Chicago, JJ Reddick goes to Dallas, and plenty more. Then the buyouts happened, Andre Drummond to the Lakers and Lamarcus Aldrige went to the Nets. This is going to be such a fun ride to the end. Same as always who did you beat and who did you lose too? All records are as of the afternoon of March 30th 2021. Let’s go!
16. San Antonio Spurs (23-24)
Previously: #11
Well I might have been wrong, the Spurs have fallen off. They had a 4 game losing streak before beating the Bulls to end last week. DeMar DeRozan did his part averaging 21.8 points and 4.3 assists. They missed some games last week and they have a tough stretch coming up with four games in six games. They should stay in the hunt for the play-in tourney if they start playing more consistently.
15. Boston Celtics (23-24)
Previously: Not Ranked
The Celtics made a trade with Magic, but it wasn’t a game changer. They picked up Evan Fournier for Jeff Teague and two 2nd round picks. Fournier should help with depth scoring off the bench when Tatum and Brown rest. They didn’t address their front court need though and I think Boston is a play in tourney team.
14. Memphis Grizzlies (22-22)
Previously #16
Memphis went on a nice three game winning streak before dropping back to back games against Utah. Like I mentioned last week they have a top 10 defense, but their offense is holding them back a bit. They only shoot 34.8 percent this season, total; not just from deep, that isn’t going to get it done in the western conference. Luckily Jaren Jackson Jr’s return could be by the end of April, hopefully they can stay in the playoff race.
13. Atlanta Hawks (23-23)
Previously: #13
Well the Hawks have come back to earth a bit, going just 1-3 last week. The competition got a bit tougher after their eight game win streak and they gave up a 22 point lead to the Clippers which I thought was impossible. They later made a trade with the Clippers sending Rajon Rondo to LA for chicken wing loving, sharp shooter Lou Williams. Sweet Lou should bring some veteran leadership and bench scoring to an Atlanta team that has a shot to make the top 6 in the East.
12. Charlotte Hornets (23-22)
Previously: Not Ranked
Charlotte was finally getting some recognition after LaMelo Ball was having a ROY type season. His loss is going to hurt, there is no way around it. But the Hornets still have some good pieces, Bridges, Graham, Rozier, and Hayward are a good group that could lead the Hornets to some success this season. They did pick up Bran Wanamaker from Golden State to offset some of the loss coming from the Ball injury.
11. New York Knicks (24-23)
Previously #15
Last week we talked about the Knicks and their offense, mostly how ehhh it was. Well I guess they listened, they averaged 113 a game and dropped 131 against the lowly Wizards. Julius Randle continues to play well and he got a fair amount of support from Alec Burks and RJ Barrett, both averaged over 20 a game during this stretch. They are still going to need some front court depth after missing out on Andre Drummond.
10. Dallas Mavericks (24-21)
Previously #10
Not the best week for the Mavs, Luka missed two games due to an illness and Kistaps missed a game as well. They fought hard against the Pels with big performances from Tim Hardaway Jr and Jalen Brunson. That loss to New Orleans was the beginning of a five game road trip and they need Donic and Porzingis back before things start to spiral. They did pick up JJ Reddick at the deadline, and as my boy Tyler said on the pod, his veteran leadership and sharp shooting is something any team would covet.
9. Portland Trail Blazers (28-18)
Previously #9
The Blazers made probably one of the most underrated trades during the deadline, giving up Gary Trent Jr and Rodney Hood for Norman Powell. Powell is good shooter and better defender which is something we’ve talked about the Blazers needing. Portland also got Nursuf Jurkic back from injury, he will start but be on a minutes restriction as he works his way back.
8. Denver Nuggets (28-18)
Previously #6
Aaron Gordon anyone? The Nuggets are athletic now and shut up James, Aaron Gordon (I hope most people read his name as A-ARon) will fit in fine. He brings a bigger defender for the likes of Lebron, Kawhii, and PG later down the road. He doesn’t have to be “the guy” and can enjoy the elite passing from Jokic. I think this puts the Nuggets securely into the contender tier in the west. Can they beat a healthy Lakers team and a revamped and surging Clippers team? Time will tell.
7. Los Angeles Lakers (30-17)
Previously #7
The Lakers were rumored to be in the market for Kyle Lowry but didn’t want to give up Talen Horton Tucker, also known as THT. They did get reinforcements for the front court in the Cavs buyout member Andre Drummond. Think about the defensive front of Drummond, AD, and Bron that is so nasty. The Lakers can still beat lowly teams, but without thier two stars they are in for a bit of a slide.
6. Phoenix Suns (31-14)
Previously #4
I really want to take the Suns as a serious contender, they are still playing well after going 3-1 last week. They drop in my rankings mostly because of what other teams have done and how they are playing. This is the worry with the Suns though, they are really streaky. Right now their defense is carrying the team as the shooting from deep has dried up. We know what CP3 and Devin Booker bring to the table, the Suns will go as far as DeAndre Ayton’s growth can take them.
5. Los Angeles Clippers (32-16)
Previously #8
Okay Clippers don’t make me look like an idiot. They traded from Rajon Rondo at the deadline and that might have been the move to push them over the hump. They needed a floor general all season and they finally got a playoff and battle tested point guard. Gone is Lou Williams who was playing poorly all season and was one of the reasons they lost in the playoffs last year. I said the Clippers are the team to beat in the West right now with the Lakers injuries, don’t blow it again Clippers.
4. Philadelphia 76ers (32-14)
Previously #3
They maybe aren’t playing the best basketball right now, but it doesn’t really matter as they try to keep pace in the East without MVP candidate Joel Embiid. Tobias Harris has really taken over as the primary scorer in Joel’s absence, Ben Simmons is adding his name to the defensive player of the year conversation and the ever “consistent” Danny Green is shooting 50% from deep. They tried to pry Kyle Lowry from Toronto and failed but did get George Hill from OKC who can still bring some defense and shooting to Philly.
3. Utah Jazz (35-11)
Previously #5
Here come the Jazz again, they are on a six game win streak and a lot of that is because of Donovan Mitchell. He has been carrying this team averaging over 30 a game and shooting the rock like he is Steph Curry. Rudy Gobert, probably the defensive player of the year winner, is adding 17 points, 12 boards, and 3.6 blocks a game during the streak. What we thought was the Jazz coming back to earth was really just a bump in the road, they still need to prove they can win the big game but they are a real threat now.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (29-17)
Previously #2
Milwaukee had won eight straight before a back to back losses to Boston and the Knicks. Granted that second loss, Giannis, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Donte DiVncenzo all sat out for rest. Prior to that the Bucks were averaging 120 points a game and shooting almost 40% from deep. The rest game makes sense as they play nine of their next 10 on the road including a six game west coast trip.
1. Brooklyn Nets (32-15)
Previously #1
The rich just keep getting richer. The Nets added LaMarcus Aldridge after he was bought out by the Spurs. He will bring even more scoring to a team that already has possibly the greatest collection of scorers we have ever seen on a non all star team. The only worry right now is KD hasn’t played since February and Kyrie keeps missing games, this time due to a family matter. Steve Nash will have his work cut out for him as he tries to get all his players to mesh and play together as the playoffs creep closer.