We are now two weeks into the 2022-23 NBA season and what a start we have been blessed with! Already we have seen some cracking games, outlandish performances and game winners from the best to do it!
Apologies for being MIA over the past couple of weeks, the Season Preview Series was very time-consuming, and I for one needed time to recoup and refresh before getting onto a weekly schedule of articles. Also, with the craziness that comes with the beginning of a new season, I thought it would be best to start the power rankings with a 2-week sample, to account for any randomness that teams experience (looking at you, Jazz and Spurs).
The aim of a power rankings is to give an idea of the best performing teams during a 2-week stretch of games. The idea is to not fully base the rankings off of the standings, but to look at trends and see how a team is performing in comparison to their counterparts at that moment in time. Using an extreme example, a team may have the best record by the All-Star break and place 1st in the power rankings. If something happened to that team which resulted in a 15-game losing streak, that team may place in the bottom-5 of the league in the power rankings, despite potentially being an 8th seed with those losses. Ultimately, the power rankings will have greater variation, but should more accurately depict how a team is performing at that given time.
With that out of the way, let’s get into the 1st installment of the power rankings!
For those who want to quickly find out where their team is ranked here is the list for the past fortnight:
1. Milwaukee Bucks (5-0)
The last remaining undefeated team – doing so without their All-Star Khris Middleton. They have had a favourable fixture to begin the year, getting victories over the 76ers, Rockets, Nets, Knicks and Hawks, but still gotten the job done to be the #1 ranked team in the power rankings.
The Bucks are one of three teams that stand above the rest in terms of net rating (+10.1), thanks to their league-best defence. Despite being middle-of-the-pack offensively, it won’t be a concern once Middleton returns to the line-up. But currently, the team is struggling to shoot, ranking in the bottom third of the league from all three levels. Other strengths for this team include leading the league in blocks and rebounds per game (9 and 52.5 respectively).
One of the frontrunners for the MVP award so far this year is Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s second in the league for scoring and rebounding (34.4 points and 14 rebounds per game) as well as averaging 5.8 assists and 1.6 blocks per game. There’s a reason why he’s the best player in the league – because he is just so dominant. In Middleton’s absence, Holiday has been required to step up and fill the scoring hole, but has struggled to shoot efficienctly with the added responsibility. While Brook Lopez has resurged after missing most of last season, leading the league in blocks (3.6 per game) and fulfilling his obligations as a floor spacer for Giannis to drive and score.
2. Phoenix Suns (5-1)
The off-season turmoil that plagued the Suns has not affected their play to begin the season. If anything, it has locked them in to perform at their best, getting important wins over the likes of the Mavericks, Clippers, Warriors and Pelicans. These victories are particularly important, as the team now has a leg-up on some of their Western Conference rivals.
The Suns are ranked as one of the more balanced teams in the competition, sitting 5th in offensive efficiency and 4th in defensive efficiency to be the #1 ranked net rated franchise. They’re strengths offensively include being able to be above-average shooting at all three levels, 2nd in the league for assists (29.8 per game) and be top 10 in turnovers (13.6 per game). Defensively, the Suns are able to nullify a team’s ability to shoot, gather rebounds and accumulate assists – ultimately clamp down anything that opposing offences want to try and create.
Devin Booker has maintained his All-NBA 1sst team form, averaging 29.3 points and 5.5 assists on 52.9% from the field. On the other hand, Chris Paul has been dreadful shooting the ball (34.6% from the field and 23.8% from 3-point range), but he leads the NBA in assists with 10.8 per game. The rest of the roster has maintained the status quo from last season, with Cam Johnson slotting beautifully into the starting line-up, while Jock Landale has established himself as the backup Centre to DeAndre Ayton, averaging 10.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 17.4 minutes a game.
3. Boston Celtics (4-2)
The Celtics looked like one of the best teams in basketball throughout the first week of action, going undefeated against the 76ers, Heat and Magic. But consecutive losses to the Bulls and Cavaliers (in overtime) dropped the Celtics back into 3rd position in the Eastern Conference.
Despite the turmoil of their chaotic off-season, interim head coach Joe Mazzulla has done well to band the squad on the offensive end, ranking 4th in offensive efficiency to begin the new season. They’re just a great shooting team – ranking top 10 in shooting efficiency at all three levels. It’s early days, but the Celtics rank 27th in defensive efficiency, where they have struggled to defend opposing 3-point shooters (letting their opposition shoot 37.9% from 3-point shots) and force turnovers (12.2 per game, ranked 27th in the league).
The Celtics continue to rely on their superstar duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum, in particular, has had an amazing start to the year (30.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game on 55.7% from the field and 40.8% from downtown) has skyrocketed himself into early MVP conversations. Brown has been solid to begin the year (25.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game), with the hopes he can slowly boost his shooting efficiency from 3-point range (34.1% so far). With Robert Williams out for the foreseeable future, Al Horford has performed admirably in his place, while Malcolm Brogdon has been an efficient scoring punch off the bench (13.3 points on 45.5% from the field).
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (5-1)
The Cleveland Cavaliers look amazing! Despite the small hiccup on opening night to the Raptors, the team is currently on a 5-game winning streak, which includes victories over the Bulls, Wizards, Magic, Celtics (in overtime) and Knicks, to be the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Cavs are one of the unique teams to be ranked top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency early on in the season (7th and 3rd respectively), resulting in the 2nd best net rating in the NBA. They are the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA (41.7% on 31 attempts per game), while ranking 9th in both field goal and free throw percentage. And while they haven’t recorded massive steal and block numbers, they have a knack of reducing their opponents attempts from the field, reduce their rebound numbers and force their opposition to turn the ball over.
One man is responsible for the Cavaliers’ excellent start: Donovan Mitchell. With Darius Garland out with an eye injury, Mitchell has been playing career-best basketball, averaging more points, assists, and shooting it better than ever before. This production is expected to drop when Garland returns, but for now, Mitchell’s transition from the Jazz to the Cavaliers has been seamless. Mitchell has had support from his frontcourt of Evan Mobley (15.8 points and 6 rebounds per game) and Jarrett Allen (12 points and 11.7 rebounds per game), while Caris LeVert (14.7 points on 48.5% from 3-point range), Dean Wade (10.5 points on 62.5% from 3-point range) and Kevin Love (11.7 points on 47.2% from 3-point range) have all shot the 3-ball ridiculously well.
5. Portland Trail Blazers (5-1)
The Blazers came up against a mix bag of varying opponents of difficulty to begin the season. As a team that had a bit of unknown in their standing in the Western Conference, the team started the season on the right foot – winning their first 4 games and going 5-1 to sit 1st in the Western Conference.
Damian Lillard has returned from plaguing injury issues last season and is an early-season candidate for MVP. He’s averaging 31.2 points per game on 48.9% from the field and 38.8% from downtown – using his league-best ability to score at will and shoot tough shots against the league’s best defenders, while also facilitating and keeping his teammates involved.
His supporting cast has been excellent. Anfernee Simons has slotted into the CJ McCollum-combo scorer role beautifully, forming a dynamic duo with Lillard (20.5 points per game). Jusuf Nurkic has been the beneficiary of two high-volume shooting guards, bringing a significant presence as a rebounder (12.2 boards per game, 4th in the league) and being healthy enough to return to the form of 2-3 seasons ago. While Jerami Grant and Josh Hart have been crucial to the Blazers 5-1 start, with both providing strong rebounding (particularly Hart), solid perimeter defence and an ability to facilitate and score offensively – reducing the workload of Lillard.
Lillard did injure his calf during their matchup against the Miami Heat, resulting in him missing the next couple of weeks. It now gives Shaedon Sharpe an opportunity to show why he was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school/college. He already looks the part, performing highlight-worthy dunks in his first start against the Houston Rockets. If the Blazers want to be genuine contenders, both Simons and Sharpe will need to develop into high-octane scorers to put next to Lillard. While Lillard remains out, this team will be Simons and Sharpe’s for the time being.
6. New Orleans Pelicans (4-2)
The city of New Orleans was rocking with the comeback of Zion Williamson. The Pelicans had a fully healthy squad for the first time in two seasons, which resulted in a winning start to the year. They took home their matchups against the Nets and Hornets away from home, as well as their Western Conference home games against the rival Mavericks and Clippers – both without Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
The optimism turned into dread once Ingram and Williamson missed time due to concussion and hip issues respectively, both suffering their injuries against the Jazz. It hasn’t stopped the team from posting the 3rd best offence and being a top 5 roster for points per game, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. While there are some issues to iron out defensively (21st overall), the Pelicans’ net rating is still in the positive.
When healthy, Williamson and Ingram formed a dynamic scoring duo capable of working opposing defences from inside the paint and in the mid-range. What’s helped the Pelicans offensively is partnering this duo with more offensively capable shooters and scorers (like CJ McCollum, Jonas Valanciunas and Trey Murphy III), resulting in opposing defences stretching their resources far and wide to stop this team. McCollum in particular, has seen immense growth as a playmaker with his new team, averaging more assists than ever in his career thus far (7.2 per game).
7. Utah Jazz (5-2)
One of the biggest surprises to begin the new season, the Utah Jazz may actually be a good basketball team. Many (myself included) thought the team would fully embrace the youth movement and rebuild the roster from the ground up. Instead, the Jazz continue to play their experienced veteran trade acquisitions and went out and beat the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Rockets and Grizzlies to sit 4th in the Western Conference.
Based off net rating, the Jazz are a top 10 team in the NBA, fuelled by the 10th best defensive efficiency and league average offence. They don’t do anything spectacular to get the job done; the team consists of recruits from opposing teams with points to prove, that they still belong in this league and shouldn’t be taken for granted. It does help though that they rank 1st in steals (10 per game), 6th in blocks (6.3 per game) and hold their opponents to 31.6% from 3-point range, 7th best in the NBA.
The star of the show in Utah has been Lauri Markkanen. After leading Finland to the Quarter Finals at Euro Basket over the summer, Markkanen has maintained his excellent form and embraced the increased opportunity to be the #1 guy for the Jazz, averaging 21.4 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists so far this season. Another to see great production in increased opportunity is Jordan Clarkson, who is now the full-time starting SG of the team and has accomplished career highs in assists (5 per game) and rebounds (4.1 per game) in the early season 7-game sample.
8. Atlanta Hawks (4-2)
Not taking away from the Atlanta Hawks great start, but they’ve predominantly come up against teams that are projected to miss the playoffs. Wins against the Rockets, Magic and Pistons (twice) have helped the Hawks reach the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Hawks currently have a top 10 net rating (9th overall), fuelled by a top 10 offensive unit (8th overall). They’re a top 10 scoring team in the competition thanks to their 2nd placed turnover rate (11.4 per game), which allows the team to have as many opportunities to fuel their top 5 field goal percentage (48.5%). In addition, the Hawks also rank in the top 10 for steals and blocks, despite their 17th ranked defensive efficiency.
The Trae Young-Dejounte Murray pairing has worked out really well to begin the season. Despite the poor shooting splits, Young still ranks 6th in points and 3rd in assists in the league, leading the way with high usage and making the most of a team built around him. Murray is the reason behind the high steal totals for the team (averaging 2.3 per game), but has been a good foil to partner Young – being able to space the floor and do the dirty work getting rebounds and playing perimeter defence. While John Collins has seen a decline in offensive production, he has been a menace protecting the rim, averaging 2 blocks per game – a career high if he can maintain this level for the rest of the season.
9. New York Knicks (3-3)
We’re starting to see where the Knicks rank in the hierarchy of the Eastern Conference. They were able to beat the teams they needed to win against (like the Pistons, Magic and Hornets), but couldn’t get the job done against good quality opponents like the Grizzlies (in overtime), Bucks and Cavaliers.
The Knicks rank in the top 15 of both offensive and defensive efficiency (12th and 9th respectively), with an overall net rating sitting 5th in the NBA. They’ve been competitive in all of their games so far, with an ability to score at a very high rate (119.8 points per game, 3rd in the NBA) thanks to their insane ability to gather offensive rebounds (14.4 per game, 2nd in the NBA). To add, the Knicks are one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA (50.8 per game), whilst being a low turnover team (13.4 per game, 6th in the league).
Defensively, the Knicks rank 2nd in opponent field goal and 6th in opposing 3-point percentage (42.9% and 33.2% respectively). Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein have been crucial to keep these percentages low, providing strong rim protection and rebounding numbers, while averaging 3.5 blocks between the two. While Julius Randle and RJ Barrett have struggled once again to score efficiently, Jalen Brunson (18.2 points and 7.2 assists on 47.2% from the field) and Evan Fournier (11.8 points on 40.5% from 3-point range) have been important in keeping the offence of their starting unit rolling.
10. San Antonio Spurs (5-2)
Preseason expectations had the Spurs rely on their youth and struggle to get wins as they embarked on a new rebuild. Instead, the Spurs are 5-2 and look excellent – they’ve won matchups against some very strong opposition (like the Pacers, 76ers, Bulls and Timberwolves twice) and currently sit 3rd in the Western Conference.
Gregg Popovich has trusted his young guns to score and it has worked brilliantly, having the 9th best offence in the league. They rank 2nd in scoring (119.8 per game), 5th in 3-point percentage and 1st in assists (31.8 per game), letting the likes of Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell and Tre Jones build their skillsets through trial and error. However, a total net rating of 19th is skewed by a 25th-ranked defensive efficiency, where the team sits in the bottom-five for opposition field goal percentage.
The Spurs offence has been fuelled by the improvement from Keldon Johnson, who has become a trusted scorer thanks to his elite 3-point shot (23.9 points and 5.4 rebounds on 45.5% from the field and 43.5% from 3-point range). Similarly, Devin Vassell has been a beneficiary of increased opportunity and usage (19.8 points on 39.4% from 3-point range), while Tre Jones continues to find his footing as a first-time starting PG.
11. Memphis Grizzlies (4-2)
A 4-2 start has helped the Grizzlies consolidate their position in the playoff race. Victories include against the Knicks (in overtime), Rockets, Nets and Kings has helped the Grizzlies to the 6th seed in the Western Conference.
For the first fortnight, the Grizzlies rank 1st overall in offensive efficiency, thanks to their ability to hit 39.1% of their 3-point attempts (6th in the league) and keep control of possession (6th in turnovers with 13.4 per game). However, they’ve struggled defensively, ranking 28th in defensive efficiency. Despite being top 10 in blocks per game (7.2), the team has struggled to stop opposing offences (the Grizzlies opposition shoot 48.3% from the field to begin the season).
After winning Most Improved Player award last season, Ja Morant has maintained his exceptional form to begin the year, averaging 32.6 points per game (3rd in the NBA) and 6.8 rebounds on 52.9% from the field and 56.5% from 3-point range. Desmond Bane also has stepped up in his 3rd season, averaging 24.2 points on 44.4% from 3-point range. In the absence of Jaren Jackson Jr and Dillon Brooks, the likes of John Konchar and Santi Aldama have both made appearances in the starting line-up, providing crucial floor spacing on offence for Morant to attack the paint. However, both Konchar and Aldama don’t provide the defensive presence that both Jackson Jr and Brooks brought to the team last season.
12. Dallas Mavericks (3-3)
If things went their way, the Mavericks could easily be 5-1 after their fortnight of games. Wins against the Grizzlies, Nets (in overtime) and Magic were dampened by double-digit blown leads in losses to the Thunder (in overtime) and Suns.
The Mavericks have been one of the best offensive squads to begin the year (ranked 2nd in offensive efficiency). They lead the league in points per game, field goal percentage and are 2nd in 3-point percentage, building their beginning of the season behind having a squad full of super-efficient scorers. Defensively, the Mavericks remain above-average with the 13th best defensive efficiency, fuelled by reducing their opponent’s presence on the boards.
Luka Doncic has been so good to begin the year, that he has to be the frontrunner for MVP. Averaging 36.7 points (1st in the NBA), 9.5 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.7 steals on 50.3% shooting from the field, the MVP award will be Doncic’s to lose if he can get the Mavericks to a competitive record. Christian Wood has also embraced his new role as a 6th man (16.7 points and 8.2 rebounds), while Spencer Dinwiddie has maintained his elite shooting found after the trade deadline deal last season (16.2 points on 50.7% and 45.5% from the field and 3-point range respectively).
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (4-3)
The Timberwolves have been very hot and cold, particularly their shooting from downtown. While it hasn’t been the attributing factor to their success, they’ve haven’t taken advantage of a relatively weak schedule, getting past the Thunder (twice), Spurs and Lakers but losing to the Spurs (twice) and Jazz.
The addition of Rudy Gobert and the development of Jaden McDaniels has helped the Timberwolves become a top 5 defensive team. They rank in the top 15 for both steals and blocks, and holds their opposition to 43% from the field – 3rd best in the NBA. Offensively, there is room for improvement for the Timberwolves, having the 19th most efficient offence in the first fortnight of the season. They are a below average shooting team from 3-point range and the free throw line, despite ranking top 10 for points per game (118, 8th in the NBA).
Anthony Edwards has led the team in scoring (23 points per game) but can go through stretches of inconsistency, something that will need to be addressed if he wants to become a superstar in this league. The front court of Karl-Anthony Towns (21.3 points, 8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game) and Rudy Gobert (14.1 points, 14.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game) has worked really well, with Gobert leading the league in both total and offensive rebounds. If the Timberwolves can get Towns to return to his elite 3-point shooting (currently shooting 34.1% from downtown), the team offence will be more efficient and perform optimally.
14. Denver Nuggets (4-3)
The Nuggets should be happy with where they are positioned currently. They were able to get victories over the Warriors, Thunder, Lakers and Jazz with a roster still working out the intricacies of including Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr back into the rotation. The Nuggets did end up losing to the Lakers to end the week, and gave them their first victory of the season.
As their record indicates, the Nuggets are a middle-of-the-pack team with offensive and defensive efficiency rankings of 13th and 22nd respectively. They rank top 5 in both field goal and 3-point percentage (48.7% and 39.8%), as well as 8th in assists. On the defensive side of the ball, the Nuggets don’t do enough to disrupt opposing offences, ranked 28th in blocks per game, as well as bottom 10 in opposing points and turnovers per game, field goal and 3-point percentage.
Compared to his other worldly standards as a back-to-back MVP, Nikola Jokic has been serviceable, getting his shots up and being the focal point of their offensive system (21 points, 11.1 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game). But he is in a slump shooting from 3-point range, only hitting 21.1% of his shots so far this season. Jamal Murray has also suffered similar efficiency drops shooting the basketball, as he slowly comes back after missing all of last season. Michael Porter Jr, on the other hand, has been excellent, averaging 18.5 points per game while shooting 48.9% from downtown.
15. Philadelphia 76ers (3-4)
What was once an 0-3 start now looks more manageable after winning 3 of their past 4 matchups, the Philadelphia 76ers had the star power necessary to get past the Pacers, Raptors and Bulls. However, losing to the Bucks and Celtics (two of the team’s key rivals for the Eastern Conference championship) puts the 76ers slightly behind the 8-ball in their quest for the Eastern Conference championship.
With Joel Embiid, James Harden and Tyrese Maxey, it’s no surprise that the 76ers rank in the top third in the league offensively (10th overall). But they do have some way to go to be an elite defensive unit (17th in defensive efficiency). The 76ers strengths include their efficiency shooting the basketball (ranked top 10 in the league for shooting from the field, 3-point range and from the free throw line), but do rank dead last in rebounding (38.2 per game).
Embiid (27.2 points and 9.5 rebounds), Harden (21.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 9 assists per game) and Maxey (22.6 points per game on 50.4% from the field and 46.8% from downtown) have carried the 76ers to wins over the past fortnight. Where the team has to improve is their bench production. Before their 3-game road trip, the team had one of the worst scoring bench units in NBA history. This has changed as the sample size grew larger, but the team cannot afford for their bench to not defend or score. Otherwise, it may be a long season for their starting unit.
16. Washington Wizards (3-3)
The Wizards are a hard team to gauge. They’ve shown glimpses of potential to be a player in the race for the Eastern Conference playoffs, getting victories over the Pacers, Bulls and Pistons in their first four matchups. But two straight losses to the Pacers and Celtics to end the week leaves the Wizards at .500 and precariously positioned at 6th in the Eastern Conference.
In a strange historical turn of events, the Wizards have embraced the defensive side of the ball, ranking 8th in defensive efficiency. The team sits 5th in blocks per game (6.4) and 4th in opponent field goal percentage (43.5%), trusting in the front court of Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Kuzma and Daniel Gafford, to provide length and get the job done defensively. Offensively, the Wizards still have some way to go, ranked 21st in offensive efficiency and struggling with turnovers and gathering rebounds.
Bradley Beal hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations set back in 2021 (20.8 points and 6.2 assists per game on 53.3% from the field and 30.8% from 3-point range), as he continues to find his footing in the new season. It’s been a communal effort, with Porzingis (17.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game), Kuzma (18.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game) providing Beal the most support. Watch for bench pieces like Will Barton (9.7 points on 47.3% from 3-point range) and Rui Hachimura (11.3 points and 5 rebounds per game) to continue to stamp their presence and be important contributors to the Wizards success.
17. Charlotte Hornets (3-3)
For their first four games, the Hornets were the most efficient offence in the NBA. Throwback performances from Gordon Hayward and Dennis Smith Jr, combined with the breakout of Jalen McDaniels off the bench, helped nullify the disappointment of losing LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier to ankle sprains to get the Hornets to a 3-3 record. Victories during this fortnight were against the Spurs, Hawks and Warriors (in overtime).
The team currently ranks middle of the league in both offensive and defensive rating (14th and 15th), but do rank in the top 10 for rebounding (5th with 47.2 per game). This is thanks to the emergence of Nick Richards as an athletic rim-running, back up Centre, recording a double-double off the bench in two of the first three matches for the season.
As mentioned, Gordon Hayward has been a consistent source of points for this Hornets team (20 points per game on 51.8% from the field), while Dennis Smith Jr may have just put together a statistical sample that could get him a back-up role to LaMelo once he returns from injury. Kelly Oubre Jr (16.5 points per game) and PJ Washington (15.3 points per game) have also been important while LaMelo and Rozier are missing.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder (3-3)
The Thunder flicked a switch throughout their fortnight of games. They began the season struggling against Western Conference playoff hopefuls in the Nuggets and Timberwolves, before taking advantage of an injury-ravaged Clippers squad and winning a massive away game against the Mavericks.
They’ve built this .500 record through their efforts defensively, ranking 7th in defensive efficiency. The Thunder reduce the number of extra opportunities for their opposition to score by being #1 in turnovers (11.2 per game) as well as top 5 in steals (9 per game). However, the team has struggled offensively, in part due to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey missing games to begin the year. With a 27th ranked offence, the Thunder rank bottom five in both field goal and 3-point percentage.
As mentioned, Gilgeous-Alexander missed the game against the Timberwolves with a hip issue. But when he has played, has shown why the Thunder rate him so highly. Shai is 7th in the league for scoring (31 points per game) as well as been a complementary ball-handler alongside Giddey (7 assists per game). Speaking of, Giddey has missed all three of the Thunder’s wins due to an ankle sprain. The three-game winning streak has coincided with starting Tre Mann and Aaron Wiggins – with both youngsters providing added defence to a starting line-up alongside Shai and Luguentz Dort.
19. Toronto Raptors (3-3)
The Raptors schedule to begin the season was weird. They finished the fortnight with a 3-3 record, but came up against Eastern Conference rivals Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers back-to-back consecutively. The team as a whole has really struggled to score (104.8 points per game, 28th in the league), thanks to a poor shooting percentage from the field (44.2% as a team, 27th in the NBA). At this stage, their 3-3 record is a good description of where the Raptors are at – middle of the pack, sitting 18th in net rating (-1.6), but being one of the best teams in getting steals (9.5 per game, 4th in the NBA) and reducing their own turnovers (12 per game, 3rd in the NBA).
Pascal Siakam has been unbelieveable to begin the new season. He’s turned into a stat-sheet stuffer (25.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game), being the go-to guy on the offensive end and coordinating the offence around him. Fred VanVleet has struggled with his offensive efficiency (13.3 points on 35.3% from the field), but still remains a steady defensive (2.5 steals) and playmaking (7.7 assists and 1.2 turnovers per game) PG. In small volume, Scottie Barnes has improved his outside shot, while Gary Trent Jr has stepped up and become the #2 scoring threat for the Raptors (19.2 points per game on 43.8% and 39.3% from the field and 3-point range).
20. Chicago Bulls (3-4)
There has been very little continuity with the Chicago Bulls. Three wins against the Heat, Celtics and Pacers were excellent, but their losses were statistically poor. The gap between the Bulls best and worst basketball is quite large already to begin the year. It’s quite obvious the polarity between key statistical categories (47.3% in wins vs 43.7% in losses from the field, 45.6% vs 29.7% from 3-point range, 50 vs 39.8 rebounds per game and 28.6 vs 20 assists per game).
Currently the Bulls are league-average (22nd offensively and 15th defensively). Other than the fact they’re the 2nd best free throw shooting team in the competition and ranked 3rd for steals (9.8 per game), the Bulls are middle-of-the-pack in every other statistical category, compared to the rest of the competition. You can see this as either a positive or negative, depending on an optimistic or pessimistic supporter’s point of view.
In one way, the Bulls are yet to play at full strength, with Lonzo Ball yet to step foot on the court and Zach LaVine missing 3 games due to knee injury management. Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan have both showed signs of returning to an All-Star level of play, while Ayo Dosumnu has starred as a makeshift starting PG in Ball’s place (12.5 points on 45.8% from downtown). On the other hand, the injury issues are already a concern to begin the year and losses to the Wizards and Spurs are particularly concerning to the team’s playoff hopes. They need to fix their consistency issues if they have any chance of making the playoffs this season.
21. Golden State Warriors (3-4)
The reigning world champion Golden State Warriors look beatable. Three wins against the Lakers, Kings and Heat have coincided with loses to their rival Nuggets and Suns, before losing their first 2-games of a 5-game road trip out East, to the Pistons and Hornets.
Currently, this Warriors team ranks both 20th in offensive and defensive efficiency – not pretty numbers for a championship contender. While the team ranks 6th in points per game thanks to attempting more 3-pointers than any other team, their efficiency shooting from the field remains middle of the pack, while turnovers continue to be a problem as they integrate new players into the rotation. The issue lies with their defensive system, giving up more points to their opposition than everyone else in the league not named the Nets and struggling to stop their opponents from shooting well from the field and 3-point range.
Stephen Curry has been keeping this Warriors team afloat with his outstanding play to begin the season, averaging 31 points (7th in the league) on 49.5% from the field and 39.2% from 3-point range. His protégé, Jordan Poole, has scored his way to be in the conversation for 6th Man of the Year (17.9 points and 5.4 assists per game coming off the bench), while Andrew Wiggins has maintained the form found in last season’s NBA Finals (17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game). Both Poole and Wiggins have filled the scoring void that has been left by Klay Thompson, who continues to struggle after returning from 2 years out of the game (12.3 points per game on 28.6% shooting from 3-point range).
22. Los Angeles Clippers (2-4)
With the return of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, coupled with the inclusion of John Wall, pre-season expectations were high for this deep Clippers roster. And after winning their first two matchups against the Lakers and Kings, there was hope that the team would remain at the top and return to their winning ways. Instead, four consecutive losses followed, with serious concerns surrounding Leonard’s durability and George’s shooting efficiency.
The offensive issues for the Clippers are very serious, especially as the team ranks 29th in offensive efficiency, only ahead of the dysfunctional Lakers. They are capable of returning to be an elite defensive unit (6th in efficiency, without Leonard and George throughout their 6-game stretch), but the fact that this team (with the talent they have) ranks in the bottom 5 in points per game, 3-point percentage, assists and plus/minus, is not pretty reading for a squad with championship aspirations.
Maybe we set the bar too high for this squad? In Leonard’s two games this season, both have seen him come off the bench, and is currently missing due to concerns surrounding his already-injured knee. Wall is yet to start for this team, while George is shooting a putrid 37.7% from the field and 25.7% from 3-point range. If there’s any positives to take from the start of the year, Ivica Zubac has stepped up and become an interior presence in the paint, averaging 11.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game (5th and 2nd best in the NBA respectively).
23. Indiana Pacers (3-4)
The Indiana Pacers are very competitive when at full strength. They’re currently on a 4-game road trip, winning two against the Wizards and Nets to end the fortnight stretch of games. Their other victory came before this road trip against the Detroit Pistons. It’s been a surprise to see the Pacers be so competitive, but with a squad consisting of a nice blend of veterans and youth, the team can build their team one of two ways for the rest of this season.
Offensively, Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Bennedict Mathurin have led the way and helped the Pacers achieve a top 10 offence to begin the year. The same cannot be said defensively, however (27th overall). This will improve as Myles Turner has returned from injury and will be a boost to the team’s interior defence.
The team ranks 5th in assists per game in the league – thanks to the facilitating of Haliburton (10 per game, 2nd in the NBA behind Chris Paul). He also brings a much-needed scoring punch (23.4 points per game) on elite efficiency (50%, 46.7% and 94.3% from the field, 3-point range and free throw line), thanks to the freedom to coordinate and run the offence freely as the lone PG. Mathurin also looks ready-made to be a complementary piece to Haliburton, coming off the bench to begin the year and exceeding expectations with his scoring (21.1 points per game on 43.2% from 3-point range).
24. Miami Heat (2-5)
The Miami Heat starting line-up feels incomplete. They are really missing PJ Tucker and the depth he provided as a defensive SF/PF and small-ball Centre. In saying this, they’ve had a difficult schedule to begin the season – coming up against the Celtics, Bulls, Raptors (twice), Trail Blazers, Warriors and Kings and winning against the Raptors and Trail Blazers away from home.
Playing Jimmy Butler/Caleb Martin as a small-ball PF just isn’t working, seeing their rebound numbers fall to bottom five in the league (27th overall). Block numbers are also ranked dead last (2.9 per game), but the Heat have not been a huge block team historically. Small dips in shooting percentages to their key rotation players has also seen their offensive rating fall to 24th with an overall net rating of 22nd.
A slow start from Bam Adebayo hasn’t helped achieving positive team results. His presence as a rebounder and a defender has reduced immensely as he takes on all responsibility as a rim protector. The team’s inefficiencies from 3-point range could also be a factor that’s limiting their offence. Tyler Herro (39.7% vs 37.5%), Max Strus (41% vs 37.5%) and Kyle Lowry (37.7% vs 35%) all have suffered drops in their 3-point percentage compared to last season.
25. Sacramento Kings (1-4)
It almost looked like the Sacramento Kings would lose their first five games to begin the season, however an important home victory over the struggling Miami Heat allowed the team to avoid that dreaded start. The Kings came up against some very good Western Conference rivals and competed against their 1st week matchups with the Trail Blazers, Clippers and Warriors. But they struggled against a Grizzlies team full of vengeance after their bad loss to the Mavericks the week prior.
The Kings remain a poor defensive team – unable to get the ball off their opposition (27th and 24th in steals and blocks) and the 24th ranked defence being the main contributor to the team’s 24th overall net rating.
De’Aaron Fox has had a remarkable start to the year, putting the team on his back and putting himself into All-Star team conversations. Averaging 27.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists, he’s done all he could to keep the Kings within striking distance in their matchups so far. Domantas Sabonis hasn’t been the offensive focal point that many had hoped (14.4 points per game), but Keegan Murray looks like he will be a great 2nd/3rd option for this team (18.8 points on 53.8% from the field and 41.9% from 3-point range).
26. Los Angeles Lakers (1-5)
The Lakers (offensively) are in shambles. This roster, consisting of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, was the last team to get their first victory for the season, beating the Nuggets in the final game of the fortnight. Otherwise, they have struggled against opposition who are playoff-bound teams in the Western Conference, like the Clippers, Warriors, Trail Blazers and Timberwolves.
If you haven’t heard of the Lakers’ offensive troubles since the season began, you’ve been living under a rock. They are ranked dead last for offensive efficiency, thanks to a league-worst field goal and 3-point percentage (41.6% and 23.7% respectively). The Lakers also rank 29th for turnovers and cannot seem to generate a consistent offence around their star players. On the contrary, the Lakers are ranked 2nd overall for defensive efficiency – accomplished by being the #1 steals team (10 per game) and above-average in blocks (5.4), combined with top 10 figures in opponent field goal and 3-point percentages. So while the Lakers cannot seem to score themselves, at least they’ve made it difficult for their opponents to put points on the board as well.
LeBron James (25.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game) and Anthony Davis (23.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2 blocks per game) have done everything they can to get the Lakers out of trouble. It’s particularly good to see Davis be so dominant on the defensive end – he has helped the Lakers be the 2nd ranked defence with his length and athleticism. The issue surrounds Russell Westbrook, who has had a nightmare start to the year (13.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists on 34.3% from the field and 20% from 3-point range). He was moved to the bench in their win over the Nuggets and should remain there until he fixes his efficiency issues. In other more positive news, the Lakers may have found a gem in Lonnie Walker IV, who despite the poor shooting, has been a solid source of points in a team desperate for scoring (14.2 per game).
27. Brooklyn Nets (1-5)
Where do we start with the Brooklyn Nets? They look like a shell of their former selves, scraping through the fortnight with a 1-5 record – their lone win coming against the Raptors at home. Loses so far have come against the Pelicans, Grizzlies, Bucks, Mavericks and Pacers.
To be fair, their competition this week are all vying for playoff spots (except for the Pacers). The concerns with the Nets lie within their rotation. The starting core of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, Nicolas Claxton and Royce O’Neale rank as the worst in the NBA based off net rating. A 15th ranked offence is glorious alongside a putrid 29th ranked defence. For a team built to be competing for championships, the start doesn’t bring too much excitement for their fan base.
It’s all a process for this Nets team. Durant and Irving hardly played with each other last season and will need time to reintegrate with one another. Coupled with two fresh faces in Simmons and O’Neale, and the awkward floor spacing that Simmons and Claxton possess creates a log jam the Nets have to figure through. And something like this takes time for it to work out.
28. Orlando Magic (1-6)
Despite being competitive, the Magic remain at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with their only win coming against the Hornets. Injuries have been a major issue for the Magic, with their guard rotation so depleted that Franz Wagner has started at PG to begin the season.
If it weren’t for the Lakers, the Magic would be one of the worst offensive teams in basketball. The team rank in the bottom five for points per game, 3-point percentage, and are dead last in assists per game, struggling to bring everyone together and facilitate the offense as a unit. In a positive, they’re one of the better defensive rebound teams in the competition (35.3 per game, ranked 6th). Defensively, they’re rank 12th overall, keeping their opponents field goal, 3-point and free throw percentage low. An issue is that the Magic struggle to get the ball away from the opposition, only forcing 12 turnovers a game (ranked 28th).
The biggest positive for the Magic has been Paolo Banchero and his performances to begin his NBA career. The #1 pick has come in and scored above 20 points in 6 of the 7 games to begin the year, giving the Magic a focal point offensively (averages of 22.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game). The other surprise has been Bol Bol, who has come in and started two games, bringing a unique ability to dribble and score off putbacks at a high percentage from the field. Franz Wagner has had to act as a playmaker with Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs all missing time due to injury, and has seen his shooting percentages drop and turnovers increase.
29. Detroit Pistons (2-5)
The Pistons are a very fun team to watch. Despite the lack of positive results to begin the year, the team was rewarded for their perseverance with an upset victory over the Warriors late in the fortnight. However, losses to the Knicks, Pacers, Wizards and Hawks (twice) show that this Pistons team has a long way to go.
The Pistons rank as the 25th best offensive and 30th defensive team, leaving a lot of room for improvement. They just don’t match up well against their opposition – ranking in the bottom 3rd in the league for shooting efficiency, defensive rebounding and assists. However, they are a great offensive rebounding squad (12.8 per game, 6th in the NBA) and reduce turnovers (13.3 per game, 5th in the league). To back up their 30th ranked defence, the Pistons struggle to stop opponents shooting efficiently from the field and grab rebounds both on the offensive and defensive end.
Their team stats don’t tell the full story – individually this squad is fun to watch develop. Despite the slow start, Cade Cunningham has been the main contributor, scoring and facilitating a young offensive unit (22.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game). We’ve seen exciting plays from Jaden Ivey, Isaiah Stewart grabs a ton of rebounds and shoot A LOT of 3’s (10.3 rebounds per game while shooting 25% on 4.6 attempts) and the veteran off-season acquisition, Bojan Bogdanovic, has shot the light out as the team’s new starting PF (22.7 points per game on 52.7%/50.9%/94.7% shooting splits).
30. Houston Rockets (1-6)
Much like their rebuilding counterparts, the Rockets have struggled out of the gates to begin the new season. Their only win came against the Jazz at home, as they’ve struggled against playoff-aspiring competition like the Hawks, Grizzlies, Bucks, Trail Blazers and Suns.
You can tell this Rockets team is still super young, ranking 27th in offensive and 23rd in defensive efficiency. They struggle to score with efficiency (ranked 29th in field goal percentage) and create to get assists (20.3 per game, 28th in the NBA), but is the best offensive rebounding squad (14.5 per game). Inversely, the Rockets also have given up the largest opposing field goal percentage (49.7%).
Their franchise star, Jalen Green, has been very up and down to begin the season. He’s had games where he’s looked unstoppable, and others where he cannot buy a bucket. Kevin Porter Jr has been the best player for this Rockets squad in the young season, averaging 21.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Alperen Sengun is now entrenched in the starting line-up after beginning the year coming off the bench, providing high-level low-post offence and rebounding (15.4 points, 10 rebounds – including 4.2 offensive rebounds per game on 56.6% shooting from the field). Sengun’s 4.2 offensive boards ranks him 4th in the league in that category.
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