NBA Power Rankings: Week 15
Week 15 of the NBA Power Rankings, how is everyone feeling about this season? I can tell you right now the boys are struggling, we are all under .500 in the marquee matchups this season. Two weeks away from the trade deadline.
1 - Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are in cruise control against any opponent not named the Dallas Mavericks. They dropped their third matchup to the Mavericks, who also ousted them from the playoffs last year. The only game the Thunder won, is the one that Luka played in, go figure.
2 - Cleveland Cavaliers
I am keeping the Cavaliers at two, even though they have lost three games in a row for the first time all season. The offense has not been the problem, it is the defense that has faltered during this three game losing streak.
3 - Houston Rockets
The last three games the Rockets have played, all three are wins against the Cavs (twice) and the Celtics. Yes, they won those 3 games by a total of 7 points, but this Rockets team is for real. James and his best friend Dillon Brooks are going to the playoffs for the first time in a minute.
4 - Boston Celtics
The Celtics are in cruise control, I really don’t think they care about being the one seed in the East. We saw this for years with Lebron and the Cavs and they made the finals every year. The Celtics live and die by the three, they really don’t utilize the paint and it could be an issue in the playoffs if the shooting goes cold.
5 - Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are on a six game win streak, true the schedule has been soft, but hey wins are wins. A problem that is slowly starting to rear its head, is they are 0-3 against the Rockets. They meet for the final time this week and it's honestly the biggest game on the schedule.
6 - New York Knicks
The Knicks currently sit just one game behind the Celtics for the 2nd seed in the East. That could be a 2nd round matchup and don’t you think the Knicks would love to play potentially 4 games at MSG and not TD Garden? They still have 3 matchups with Boston after getting blown out on opening night.
7 - Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have the best home court advantage in the NBA playing in Denver. They currently sit 4th in the West and just a game ahead of the Lakers. The offense is elite and can cover up some of the defensive issues they have.
8 - Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have had their superstar Kawhi Leonard for seven games this year and when he plays the Clippers are 6-1. If the Clippers can hold onto a top 6 spot in the West, will he play all seven games in a series? They have had a home heavy schedule and aren’t great on the road, just something to watch as we get closer to the playoffs.
9 - Los Angeles Lakers
Winners of 5 of their last 6 games including blowing out the Celtics, the Lakers remain in the 5th spot and currently would be matched up with the Nuggets. Jarred Vanderbilt making his return paired with Dorian Finney-Smith should help the Lakers get better on the defensive end.
10 - Indiana Pacers
The Pacers split the two games they played against the Spurs in Paris. The Pacers are who we expected them to be, good on offense and bad on defense. Similar to the Nuggets they can outscore the defensive issues, but will need to be at least average on defense if they expect to make another Eastern Conference Finals.
11- Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are back, they had some crazy travel this week with a make up game in New Orleans and then flying across the country to LA. Seven of their next eight games are on the road, but they should remain firmly in the top 6 of the East.
12 - Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves made huge news over the offseason after trading away Karl Anthony Towns, and so far the experiment has not worked as they were hoping. Julius Randle is a good player, but has not fit with the Wolves as they were hoping. Still, this is a team no one wants to play in the playoffs.
13 - Sacramento Kings
The Kings won 10 or 11 to get themselves firmly back into playoff contention. They have a rough stretch of road games before the all-star break, but have dropped back to 10th in the West. They have been much better under Doug Christie, but need to be more consistent if they want to be taken as true contenders, or at minimum win their first playoff series in two decades.
14 - Dallas Mavericks
Good news, the Mavericks keep beating the Thunder, which is impressive. Bad news: they have lost 11 out of their last 15 games. They have dropped from 4th to 9th in a tight Western Conference and Luka and Derek Lively are still out. The Mavericks are holding on for dear life until they can get healthy.
15 - Phoenix Suns
The Suns have started to slowly turn their season around, after benching Bradley Beal the Suns are 8-3 and back above .500. They are just a game and half out of the 6th seed, the Suns should be one of the most intriguing teams around the trade deadline.
P.S. I am only doing the top 15 teams, if you want me to talk about you; be better, it’s that simple.