We’re here! This is Part 1 of this year’s bi-weekly NBA power rankings.
The criteria of these rankings include, in no particular order:
- Team Record
- Net Rating (Point Differential Per 100 Possessions)
- SRS (Combination of Strength of Schedule and Net Rating
- Sprinkle of where teams are trending
With that said, since we are so early in the season, I emphasized team records slightly more than advanced stats, since they fluctuate so much at the start.
Honorable Mentions
Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers
10. Portland Trail Blazers
Up first, we have a team that I think is going to surprise a lot of people. They do not have that elite superstar (even though Deni Avdija is very underrated), but they have been playing great together as a team. They lost their first two of three in nail-biters to the Timberwolves and Clippers, but have beaten every other team pretty handily. I’d be surprised if they were in the top 10 by the end of the season, but crazier things have happened.
9. Detroit Pistons
At No. 9, we have one of the most promising young teams in the league. They have not looked too great to begin, but have been pulling out wins at the end of the day. The Pistons lost two of their first four games to the Bulls and Cavaliers, but they had a great comeback win against the Celtics. Unlike the Blazers, I would not be surprised at all if the Pistons either stayed here or climbed up the ladder at the end of the season.
8. Milwaukee Bucks
I thought the Bucks wouldn’t be good at all this year. However, they have been pleasantly surprising. They lost to the Cavs and Kings over the weekend, but beat the Knicks and the Warriors. If they want to be a top-four seed in the East, they need Giannis Antetokounmpo to continue to play the way that he has been, which is not unrealistic at all.
7. Denver Nuggets
Up next, we have the team that I have winning the title this year. The Nuggets are 3-2, but lost to the Warriors in overtime on opening night and by two to the Blazers over the weekend. This is all with Nikola Jokic not playing at his best. This ranking is only how the Nuggets have been to date. I don’t think we’ll be seeing many more of these outside the top five.
6. Houston Rockets
Just like the Nuggets, the Rockets can easily be 5-0. They lost to the Thunder in double OT on opening night and by six to the Pistons. Since then, they have blown out their opponents. Their ceiling is pretty tough to tell since they do not have a traditional floor general. However, they are also a tough team to scheme against, given how long they are, so who knows, maybe they could be a top team in the West.
5. Los Angeles Lakers
Despite not having LeBron James for any game and missing Luka Doncic for three games, the Lakers are 5-2. I’ll be the first to admit that I thought Austin Reaves was overrated, but he has been playing at an All-NBA level since the start of the season. I am still pessimistic about the Doncic and Reaves fit, but who knows how good they’ll be with three offensive monsters on their team.
4. Chicago Bulls
I would have laughed in your face if you told me that the Bulls were going to start 5-0. Even though they lost last night, and the rest of their schedule has not been crazy hard, they have been more than impressive. I’d be surprised if the Bulls even sniff the top 10 at the end of the season, but crazier things have happened.
3. San Antonio Spurs
I think everyone expected Victor Wembanyama to take “that jump,” but I don’t think anyone expected them to be this great. Just like the Bulls, they were undefeated until last night. This was all without De’Aaron Fox, who will be essential to this team’s ceiling, and more importantly, to Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper’s ceilings. Regardless of what happens, this will be one of the most fun teams to watch in the league.
2. Philadelphia 76ers
Up next, we have another team that started undefeated and lost this weekend. Despite missing Paul George and Joel Embiid being on a minutes restriction, everything has gone right for the Sixers. Tyrese Maxey is looking like an MVP candidate, and V.J. Edgecombe has been the best rookie so far. If Embiid eventually comes back to his regular self, their ceiling is coming out of the East in my opinion.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
Is anyone surprised? The defending champs are off to a 7-0 start. I always knew the Thunder were going to be awesome this year, because why wouldn’t they be? They won the championship last year, and everyone came back. However, what I was not expecting was them looking even better than they did last year. Is this sustainable? It’s unclear, but I would not question many things about this team. We did enough of that last year, and look how things ended up.
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