We’re just about approaching both the trade deadline and the All-Star break. Let’s dive into Driscoll’s seventh installment of power rankings.
Stats Glossary
All stats updated as of Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. EST.
10. Philadelphia 76ers (Change: -6)
99 percent of the time, my rankings are solely based on what has happened this season. These rankings include very few projections. However, to rank the Sixers anywhere near their last ranking would be ignoring the elephant in the room. Joel Embiid could miss more than a month because of surgery on his knee to heal a torn meniscus. The Sixers have some decisions to make. Do they sit Embiid out the rest of the season and let him take time to heal? Do they trade some of their expiring deals to prepare for the future? This is a super unfortunate situation.
9. New Orleans Pelicans (Not Ranked Previously)
The Pelicans have quietly been one of the better teams this season. They are eighth in defense, ninth in net rating, and ninth in SRS. It is understandable why people consider former No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson a disappointment, but he has been awesome this year. He is averaging 22.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 58.9 percent from the field. The West is pretty stacked, but New Orleans could make a run.
8. Milwaukee Bucks (-1)
I said last week that a ranking of seven was too low, but I have been unimpressed by the Bucks all season long. If this was a list of teams with the highest ceilings, they would probably be top three. The Bucks are third in offense, 10th in net rating, and 10th in SRS. Since the beginning of the season, their biggest issue has been their defense, where they are 19th in the league. This is an issue the Bucks are hoping that their new head coach Doc Rivers will fix, but they have let their opponents score 118 points per game in the four games he has coached. As mentioned, their season is far from over and they are still probably one of the two favorites in the East, but they need to figure things out quickly.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (+1)
No Evan Mobley, no Darius Garland, no problem. Perhaps the hottest team in the league comes in at No. 7. The Cavs are currently on a five-game winning streak and have won 13 of their last 14. Since the new year, they are fifth in offense, first in defense, and first in net rating. With the Sixers losing Embiid and the Bucks struggling, the Cavs’ ceiling has just gotten a little bit higher. Can they make the NBA Finals? Probably not, but don’t be surprised if they get close.
6. New York Knicks (+3)
Nos. 6 and 7 were super close, but I ranked the Knicks a little higher because their most recent win streak was longer. Up until Saturday night, the Knicks were easily the hottest team in the league. Since the new year, around when they traded for OG Anunoby, they are ninth in offense, second in defense, and second in net rating. This includes a period of time in which they were without their second star, Julius Randle. Speaking of Knicks stars, Jalen Brunson has been easily one of the two or three best guards in the East this season. The Knicks are in a very similar situation to the Cavs now. I think at least one of these teams does super well in the playoffs, and it is going to be a whole lot of fun to watch.
5. Denver Nuggets (-3)
Based on the drop, you would think the Nuggets lost a few big games, but they have not. Rather, the gap between No. 3 and No. 5 is razor thin, and another team in the top five jumped a ton with how consistently they have been playing. The Nuggets are eighth in offense, 12th in defense, and eighth in net rating. With this being said, they are debatably the most put-together team in the league. Come playoff time, they should be in the top two again.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (-1)
The Thunder have been playing fantastic basketball all season long, and though four might be a bit too low, it is certainly not disrespectful to put such a young team that high. They are sixth in offense, fourth in defense, and second in net rating. In pretty much all my pieces on the Thunder, I have mentioned a lot of people will not take them seriously until the playoffs. However, they have made it super tough to glance over them this season, and are contenders to come out of the West.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves (+3)
It feels like everyone talked about the Wolves at the beginning of the year, but once they slipped a little bit, everyone stopped. Yet, they are still at the top of the West. They are still first in defense and sixth in net rating. Even though their offense is a concern, I am more confident in their offense turning it around than worried about their defense falling apart come playoff time. Rudy Gobert is the best defender in the league, and Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns are having fantastic seasons offensively.
2. Boston Celtics (-1)
It is always tough moving the Celtics down given how consistent they have been all season long, but it has been a tough two weeks for them. They are 4-3 in their last seven, got embarrassed by the Clippers and Lakers (without LeBron James and Anthony Davis) on their home court, and had to grind out two wins against the Pelicans and Pacers. Both of these games should not have been that close. The Celtics do not have to worry too much about this rough patch, but they do need to wake up just a little bit. They have a big cushion on the rest of the league, but it doesn’t mean some of these minor issues won’t be big concerns come playoff time.
1. Los Angeles Clippers (+4)
My pick to come out of the West checks in at No. 1. The Clippers have been phenomenal since the James Harden trade. Since the new year, they are first in offense and third in net rating. Kawhi Leonard has also quietly been putting up a career season. He is averaging 24.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 53 percent from the field and 45 percent from three. Oh, and he is also having his best defensive season since his days in San Antonio. Perhaps this is the year we see Leonard in the playoffs as a Clipper.
