This NBA season has had its share of surprises. The Milwaukee Bucks went from a pretty good team to elite, the Washington Wizards have collapsed, and the Los Angeles Clippers have been a surprising contending team this late in the season. Where do all of the team stack up in mid-January? Let’s take a look.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-35)
Last week: 1-3 (IND, NO, HOU, LAL)
Sitting at 9-35 and just ending a thirteen game losing streak, they remain as the only team yet to hit ten wins on the season. Their best player, Kevin Love, has been out since November 2nd after undergoing toe surgery, so his absence doesn’t help, but let’s be honest, this team will still be a disaster when he’s back. Their “tank for Zion” plan is working out well so far.
29. Chicago Bulls (10-33)
Last week: 0-3 (POR, GS, UTA)
The Bulls have played some of their worst basketball as of late and are in the middle of a seven game losing streak. Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and Kris Dunn are very talented players, however. Combine a few more years of experience for them and a draft pick of someone like Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett or Cam Redish, Chicago may have something.
28. Phoenix Suns (11-33)
Last week: 2-1 (SAC, DAL, DEN)
It feels like the Suns are never going to be good again. This is going to be their 8th losing season in the last nine years. However, this past week they had impressive victories over Sacramento and Denver. While they have promising young players in Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Josh Jackson and Mikal Bridges, they are still several years away from contending.
27. New York Knicks (10-33)
Last week: 0-4 (POR, GS, IND, PHI)
While the four games New York had last week were all against tough opponents, they’ve had several other winless weeks this season. The team is so bad, it’s making Tim Hardaway Jr. look like a star. When/if Kristaps Porzingis comes back, they will improve, but will still not be a very good team.
26. Atlanta Hawks (13-33)
Last week: 1-3 (TOR, BKN, PHI, MIL)
Despite a very rough season, there are a lot of positives for Atlanta. John Collins is a beast who looks like he may develop into a top tier player, Trae Young has shown some flashes of being a poor-man’s Steph Curry, and Kevin Huerter has been impressive with his shot. As these players get more comfortable, and guys like Omari Spellman and Taurean Prince gel as well, this team will start to win some more games– but not enough to take away a good pick.
25. Memphis Grizzlies (19-23)
Last week: 1-2 (NO, SA, MIA)
The Grizzlies are an odd team. They own several wins over good teams, including San Antonio earlier this week, but then lost consecutive games to what should be inferior teams. There are talented players on the roster, but they don’t seem to have “it”.
24. Detroit Pistons (18-23)
Last week: 1-3 (SA, LAL, SAC, LAC)
It would be very surprising if Blake Griffin doesn’t have a sore back from carrying the rest of the team this season. He went off and carried Detroit to a win over his former team in Los Angeles this past week, just like he does in every other win. The Pistons’ front office needs to find him some help if they want to compete for a playoff spot.
23. Washington Wizards (18-26)
Last week: 2-2 (PHI x2, MIL, TOR)
Are the Wizards better without John Wall? Bradley Beal has been on top of his game and they have recent wins over Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and a double-OT loss to Toronto. Washington was supposed to be much better than they have been all year, and if their recent stretch of games is a sign of things to come, they might be in a playoff spot at the end of the year.
22. New Orleans Pelicans (20-23)
Last week: 2-1 (MEM, CLE, MIN)
On paper, the Pelicans should be pretty good. But they aren’t. They have so much talent for a sub-.500 team, but it clearly isn’t enough. The two wins this week were against the Grizzlies and Cavs, so that’s why they aren’t ranked higher. If they want to make the playoffs again this season, they’ll need to get more help from outside.
21. Charlotte Hornets (19-23)
Last week: 0-3 (LAC, POR, SAC)
How is it that Charlotte, outside of Dwight Howard, has NEVER brought in help for Kemba Walker? When he leaves this offseason, and I mean when, it will be completely the fault of this franchise. They are clinging onto the 8th playoff spot in the east right now, but if they want to make the playoffs and have any shot at advancing, they need to get Kemba some help.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (21-22)
Last week: 2-1 (OKC, DAL, NO)
With a win over OKC and a close loss to Dallas, the Timberwolves are looking up. They also played those games without the reborn Derrick Rose. It will be tough to make the playoffs in the deep Western Conference, but they have a shot if they keep this level of play up.
19. Brooklyn Nets (21-23)
Last week: 1-2 (BOS, ATL, TOR)
The two losses this past week were against Boston and Toronto, and the win was a rout over Atlanta. Brooklyn certainly is not a contender, but their offense is phenomenal when it is clicking. Also, Caris LeVert — who was having a breakout season until he suffered a brutal leg injury — is expected to return at some point. The Nets could definitely trickle into the playoffs by the end of the season.
18. Orlando Magic (19-24)
Last week: 2-2 (SAC, UTA, BOS, HOU)
Orlando had two huge wins over Boston & Houston at home, but two big losses on the road. Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon have both been phenomenal this season, and they show flashes as a good playoff team. If they can fix some of the inconsistency issues, they can fight for a playoff spot with the amount of talent they have.
17. Dallas Mavericks (20-23)
Last week: 2-2 (LAL, PHX, MIN, GS)
The Mavericks are better than their record shows. Luka Doncic is a phenom, and there is quite a bit of talent around him as well. As Luka gets more and more comfortable and breaks out of his shell, this team is going to keep getting better. Look for Dallas at the back end of the playoff teams in the west by the end of the season.
16. Miami Heat (21-20)
Last week: 2-1 (DEN, BOS, MEM)
A close loss to Denver and a big win over Boston has the Heat feeling good right now. Erik Spoelstra is looking like a genius by starting Justise Winslow at point guard, as he is playing the best basketball of his career and the Heat have caught fire. They hold the 6th spot in the east and they will hold that and maybe even move up if they keep playing how they have been playing as of late.
15. Sacramento Kings (22-21)
Last week: 3-1 (ORL, PHX, DET, CHA)
Every team would love to have a week schedule as easy as Sacramento had last week, but a 3-1 record by a fringe playoff team is nothing to dismiss, no matter how easy the schedule is based on record. De’Aaron Fox & Buddy Hield have been playing some great basketball as of late, and this team is looking like they could be the real deal. There is still a lot of youth and inconsistencies, but expect them to figure their issues out and be higher in the rankings by the end of the season.
14. Los Angeles Lakers (23-21)
Last week: 2-2 (DAL, DET, UTA, CLE)
The sans-LeBron Lakers are mediocre at the very best, but with LeBron, they are a contending team. The depth behind LeBron is still much better than the depth in Cleveland last season, and once LeBron is back, the Lakers will go back to winning games and being in the top half of the playoff standings out west.
13. Utah Jazz (23-21)
Last week: 3-1 (MIL, ORL, LAL, CHI)
Utah did have a pretty easy schedule, with the exception of Milwaukee, who they lost two by double digits, but the Jazz are a very well coached team with a lot of talent. They had some early season struggles, but everybody has picked it up as of late. Donovan Mitchell has scored 30+ points in the last three games, which were all wins. He had a rough start to the year but has made up for it as of late.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (24-18)
Last week: 1-2 (CHA, DEN, DET)
The Clippers have no business being this good. Montrezl Harrell has been phenomenal off of the bench, and Lou Williams has been his usual “sixth man” self. Tobias Harris & Danilo Gallinari have both been scoring around 20 PPG consistently as well. Combine good and unexpected individual performances and great coaching by Doc Rivers, we now know why the Clippers are still here. This past week was a little rough, but the losses were against Denver and Blake Griffin in revenge mode. The Clippers have been a nice underdog story so far.
11. Boston Celtics (25-17)
Last week: 2-2 (BKN, IND, MIA, ORL)
The Celtics are the weirdest good team in the league. On paper, they should be the closest team to challenging the Warriors for the best team in the league. They are such a deep, talented squad with one of the best coaches in the league, but they can’t seem to take the next step. This past week has seen a small altercation between Marcus Morris & Jaylen Brown, and a vocal Kyrie Irving being upset with Gordon Hayward and Brad Stevens while criticizing the young players on the team. There has been some trouble in paradise so far this season.
10. Portland Trail Blazers (26-18)
Photo: NBA.comLast week: 3-1 (NYK, CHI, CHA, DEN)
Portland has been up and down this season, starting the year leading the west for the first month, then falling out of the top eight, and then moving back into fourth where they are now. Their last three wins have been by double digits and their only loss of the week was to the surging Nuggets. Portland is for real.
9. Philadelphia 76ers (28-16)
Photo: NBC SportsLast week: 2-2 (WSH x2, ATL, NYK)
Despite Jimmy Butler bringing his issues with him to Philly, the 76ers still find ways to win games. Joel Embiid has been playing like an MVP candidate, and Butler and Ben Simmons have been solid alongside him. They still have glaring holes including depth, chemistry and shooting, but the “big three” can take them places by themselves if they have to.
8. San Antonio Spurs (25-19)
Photo: Soobum Im/USA TODAY SportsLast week: 2-2 (DET, MEM, OKC x2)
Gregg Popovich could coach a middle school team to the NBA playoffs, and that’s hardly an exaggeration. That’s not to say that his team isn’t talented. DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge have been playing arguably the best ball of their careers, and it’s showing. The Spurs struggled at the beginning of the year but have really turned it on lately. They are very real contenders in the west.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (26-16)
Photo: Sue Ogrocki/AP PhotoLast week: 1-2 (MIN, SA x2)
Paul George has emerged as the Thunder’s best player. Russell Westbrook is obviously a phenomenal basketball player, but his inefficiency and poor shooting have caused some problems. Still, the Thunder are one of the best teams in the west, with one of the most talented duos in Westbrook and George.
6. Indiana Pacers (28-14)
Photo: NBA.comLast week: 2-1 (CLE, BOS, NYK)
The Pacers have quietly been one of the best teams in the league. With a win% only behind Toronto, Milwaukee and Golden State, they have been very good all year. A lack of a clear second scorer and some inconsistency from everyone not named Victor Oladipo have shown, but this team is a dark horse championship contender and they should be treated/covered as such.
5. Houston Rockets (24-18)
Photo: Troy Taormino/USA TODAY SportsLast week: 2-2 (DEN, MIL, CLE, ORL)
James Harden has been playing out of his mind with Chris Paul sidelined, and he has carried this team back into playoff contention and back to being a championship contender. When Chris Paul and Clint Capela are back, this team has a chance to elevate even higher and get back into the top of the conference.
4. Golden State Warriors (29-14)
Photo: Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News GroupLast week: 3-0 (NYK, CHI, DAL)
The Warriors will never be a non-top five team this season. Even when they’re “struggling”, they’re still playing better than 90% of the teams in the league. DeMarcus Cousins is expected to make his debut in the coming days, which makes this team even more scary than it already is. The Warriors are still the favorites to win the Finals as long as Steph Curry & Kevin Durant are playing.
3. Denver Nuggets (29-13)
Photo: Bart Young/NBAE via Getty ImagesLast week: 3-2 (HOU, MIA, LAC, PHX, POR)
The Nuggets have been impressively leading the Western Conference for most of the season. It is even more impressive when you realize that Isaiah Thomas has yet to play a game, and Paul Millsap & Gary Harris have missed several games this season. Can they keep up this level of play, though? Most would assume they’ll fall off a little, but with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray leading the charge, this team is for real.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (30-12)
Photo: Milwaukee BucksLast week: 3-1 (UTA, HOU, WSH, ATL)
It was tough to put Milwaukee 2nd because they are 2-1 against the team who will be ranked 1st, but Milwaukee is 2nd because they lose to sub .500 teams a little more than they should. It’s not a big deal, especially since they’re beating winning teams at a high rate, but it is a small reason for concern. Milwaukee is still the only team in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing like an MVP, and is elevating his teammates’ play while he’s at it.
1. Toronto Raptors (33-12)
Photo: The SportsterLast week: 3-0 (ATL, BKN, WSH)
Their schedule this past week was very easy, but even if they had lost all three, they’d still be one of only two teams with 30 wins, Milwaukee being the other. Kawhi Leonard has been playing the best basketball of his career after being traded from San Antonio, and Pascal Siakam has broken out as a very capable contributor. The Raptors are just as for real as the Warriors, but they have more teams threatening their chances of reaching the Finals than Golden State.
