So far, we have little clarity in the NBA season. The Cavs are struggling big time and the Warriors are taking their time getting back in basketball shape. Some teams are playing better than we expected and some teams are disappointing early in the season. There are also teams that are already in full tank mode. We're looking at you Bulls and Hawks.
#1 Boston Celtics: .9832
Last Week: 9
Record: 6-2 | Last 10: 6-2 | Net Rating: +9.9 | Statsplit Ranking: 1189.75
Boston is the hottest team in the league riding a six game winning streak and are at the top of the Eastern Conference. The Celtics are managing well without Gordon Hayward and are getting good production out of their young players. Their next challenge: The Thunder.
#2 Orlando Magic: .9798
Last Week: 3
Record: 6-2 | Last 10: 6-2 | Net Rating: +9.6 | Statsplit Ranking: 1188.51
The Orlando Magic are right there alongside the Celtics. With impressive wins against the Spurs and the Grizzlies in the past week, the Magic appear to be less of an illusion and more of the real deal. We'll see, however, if their shooting comes back down to earth.
#3 Golden State Warriors: .9152
Last Week: 8
Record: 6-3 | Last 10: 6-3 | Net Rating: +11.7 | Statsplit Ranking: 1152.33
With dominant wins over the Spurs and the Clippers, it appears that the Golden State Warriors have regained some of their form. They have the best net rating in the league, but the scary thing is that they still have plenty of room to improve on defense.
#4 Los Angeles Clippers: .9035
Last Week: 1
Record: 5-2 | Last 10: 5-2 | Net Rating: +8.7 | Statsplit Ranking: 1113.49
After dropping games to the Pistons and Warriors, the Clippers were able to get back on track against the Mavericks. Blake Griffin's extended range is helping the team and keeps the team up to date. Their upcoming schedule is tough, but still very manageable.
#5 Houston Rockets: .8130
Last Week: 5
Record: 6-3 | Last 10: 6-3 | Net Rating: +3.3 | Statsplit Ranking: 1107.19
The Rockets had an up and down week with two wins and two losses against a decent slate of teams. The Rockets have a decent offense chucking threes, but are prone to defeats with an average defense on off shooting nights. They have an easy game tonight against the Hawks.
#6 Charlotte Hornets: .7946
Last Week: 15
Record: 5-3 | Last 10: 5-3 | Net Rating: +3.5 | Statsplit Ranking: 1131.09
The Hornets are on a sneaky three game winning streak against some really good competition beating the Magic, the Grizzlies, and the Bucks. All of which look like playoff teams. Malik Monk is growing into his role, scoring 25 against the Bucks.
#7 Indiana Pacers: .7937
Last Week: 19
Record: 5-3 | Last 10: 5-3 | Net Rating: +5.3 | Statsplit Ranking: 1097.56
Who needs Paul George when you have Victor Oladipo? Oladipo is averaging 24 points per game on 48% shooting and hitting 50% of his threes. With wins over the Cavs and the Spurs, Indiana looks like a team that will compete for a playoff spot. Can Oladipo keep this up?
#8 Oklahoma City Thunder: .7706
Last Week: 16
Record: 4-3 | Last 10: 4-3 | Net Rating: +10.0 | Statsplit Ranking: 1050.93
The Thunder are a few close losses away from being 6-1. After dominating the Bulls and the Bucks, the team has one of the better defenses in the league and have three of the better scorers in the league. The Thunder can continue their momentum with a Celtics win tonight.
#9 Memphis Grizzlies: .7686
Last Week: 4
Record: 5-3 | Last 10: 5-3 | Net Rating: +4.6 | Statsplit Ranking: 1062.55
After a stellar start to the season, the Grizzlies have had tough losses to the Hornets and the Magic. Without an explosive offense, the Grizzlies need their defense to step up and for the most part it has. We'll see how well their style holds up on this upcoming road trip.
#10 Utah Jazz: .7676
Last Week: 21
Record: 5-3 | Last 10: 5-3 | Net Rating: +3.1 | Statsplit Ranking: 1087.06
The Utah Jazz have a top 3 defense when it comes to defensive rating and their offense is coming along. They went 3-0 last week with wins over the Lakers, Blazers, and Mavericks. Their schedule gets tougher and they face the Raptors and the Rockets next.
#11 Detroit Pistons: .7516
Last Week: 10
Record: 5-3 | Last 10: 5-3 | Net Rating: +1.8 | Statsplit Ranking: 1079.86
The Pistons had two impressive wins over the Clippers and Warriors on a back-to-back. They then lost by 20 to the Lakers. They don't really have an identity and look like a pretty average team. In a weakened East, pretty average should be good enough to make the playoffs.
#12 Toronto Raptors: .7292
Last Week: 14
Record: 4-3 | Last 10: 4-3 | Net Rating: +6.4 | Statsplit Ranking: 1036.28
The Toronto Raptors are 2-3 on their current road trip. Which given the level of competition isn't too bad. Losing to the Spurs, Warriors, and Nuggets is not the worst thing in the world. They face the Jazz in Utah tonight before coming back home.
#13 Portland Trailblazers: .7108
Last Week: 7
Record: 5-4 | Last 10: 5-4 | Net Rating: +5.7 | Statsplit Ranking: 1035.91
The Blazers went 2-2 with their wins coming against the Lakers and the Suns. They are beating who they should beat, but look like one of those teams that will hang around .500 for most of the season. Can they find that spark they used to get to the playoffs last year?
#14 Washington Wizards: .6998
Last Week: 6
Record: 4-3 | Last 10: 4-3 | Net Rating: +4.3 | Statsplit Ranking: 1017.76
The Wizards had a little bit of a down week this week. Close losses to the Warriors and Suns will tend to do that. Especially losing to the Suns. The good news for the Wizards is that they had a slower start last year. They can correct course with a win over the Cavaliers tonight.
#15 Minnesota Timberwolves: .6982
Last Week: 22
Record: 5-3 | Last 10: 5-3 | Net Rating: -4.8 | Statsplit Ranking: 1095.23
Why are the Timberwolves so low? Well, you could argue that they are a little lucky. They are 4-0 in games decided by less than 3 points. Sure, they are 5-3 but they easily could be 3-5. They host the Mavericks and Hornets this weekend and hope to win with a little more gusto.
#16 Denver Nuggets: .6062
Last Week: 24
Record: 4-4 | Last 10: 4-4 | Net Rating: +0.5 | Statsplit Ranking: 1012.8
The Nuggets rebound with a 3-1 week after starting 1-3. But outside their home win over Toronto, those wins were expected. Paul Millsap and Nikola Jokic are starting to get going. They host Miami tonight and the Warriors tomorrow.
#17 Philadelphia 76ers: .5820
Last Week: 27
Record: 4-4 | Last 10: 4-4 | Net Rating: -2.8 | Statsplit Ranking: 1025.31
The 76ers young core is starting to figure it out and Ben Simmons looks like the favorite for rookie of the year. He is putting up stellar stats on a mediocre team, but his ceiling is sky high. They have a good test tonight facing the hot Indiana Pacers.
#18 Milwaukee Bucks: .5691
Last Week: 12
Record: 4-4 | Last 10: 4-4 | Net Rating: -1.8 | Statsplit Ranking: 983.34
Although Giannis is starting to cool off, he still looks like the leader in the MVP race to this point. But we are only 10% of the way through the season, so there are a lot of games left to play. But, the Bucks need to step up on defense in order to help Giannis out.
#19 San Antonio Spurs: .5477
Last Week: 2
Record: 4-4 | Last 10: 4-4 | Net Rating: -3.9 | Statsplit Ranking: 979.82
The San Antonio Spurs are missing Kawhi Leonard. After starting the season 4-0, the Spurs are on a 4 game losing streak. But to be fair, all of their losses come to teams with records above .500. But with Leonard out indefinitely, we wonder if the Spurs can stay afloat in the Western Conference Race.
#20 Phoenix Suns: .5475
Last Week: 23
Record: 4-4 | Last 10: 4-4 | Net Rating: -6.6 | Statsplit Ranking: 1026.94
The biggest loser this week is Earl Watson, because the Suns are 4-1 since they fired him. The Suns still need to improve their defense, but the effort on the floor really shows. They can get above .500 with a win over the Knicks in Madison Square Garden tonight.
#21 Miami Heat: .4902
Last Week: 17
Record: 3-4 | Last 10: 3-4 | Net Rating: -2.8 | Statsplit Ranking: 956.79
Miami has beaten the teams they should beat and lost to teams that should be in the playoffs. Their struggles on defense has turned into a struggle on offense. Things get tougher as they have the Nuggets, Clippers, and Warriors on the schedule.
#22 New York Knicks: .4772
Last Week: 30
Record: 3-4 | Last 10: 3-4 | Net Rating: -5.2 | Statsplit Ranking: 974.59
Kristaps Porzingis is putting up solid numbers now that he is the number one option in New York. He is averaging 28 points and 8 rebounds a game. While he lacks a good supporting cast, the Knicks were able to go 2-1 at Madison Square Garden and beat the Cavs on the road.
#23 New Orleans Pelicans: .4436
Last Week: 20
Record: 3-5 | Last 10: 3-5 | Net Rating: -1.2 | Statsplit Ranking: 920.44
Demarcus Cousins has been tearing apart his competition averaging 30 and 13 so far. Unfortunately those numbers are not translating into wins. The lack of depth remains their issue and without anyone of quality coming off the bench it may be their downfall.
#24 Los Angeles Lakers: .4277
Last Week: 18
Record: 3-5 | Last 10: 3-5 | Net Rating: -3.0 | Statsplit Ranking: 922.18
The week was more a struggle for the Lakers going 1-3 and one of the reasons is due to their lackluster offense. Lonzo Ball's shooting is hurting the team. Without a single player averaging more than 15 points a game, the struggle is bound to continue.
#25 Brooklyn Nets: .3983
Last Week: 11
Record: 3-5 | Last 10: 3-5 | Net Rating: -4.5 | Statsplit Ranking: 893.01
The Nets are on a three game losing streak after their win against the Cavaliers. With losses to the Knicks and Suns, the Nets are not headed in the right direction. The Nets have no incentive to tank but are far from being a playoff caliber team even in the East.
#26 Cleveland Cavaliers: .3690
Last Week: 13
Record: 3-5 | Last 10: 3-5 | Net Rating: -7.0 | Statsplit Ranking: 881.97
The Cavaliers are not the 26th best team in the NBA. But they sure are playing like it. They are on a four game losing streak against mediocre competition. While there is no reason to panic, if they continue to play like this, their seeding in the East may suffer.
#27 Chicago Bulls: .0961
Last Week: 25
Record: 1-5 | Last 10: 1-5 | Net Rating: -15.1 | Statsplit Ranking: 816.42
The Bulls have the worst offense in the league and have it by a large gap. With a mediocre defense, it gives them the worst Net Rating in the league. The Bulls are not playing for the playoffs at this point, they are playing for a good draft pick.
#28 Atlanta Hawks: .0931
Last Week: 26
Record: 1-7 | Last 10: 1-7 | Net Rating: -6.3 | Statsplit Ranking: 717.81
The Hawks have lost 6 straight games against a relatively kind schedule. Dennis Schroeder has put up some decent stat lines since returning from injury but when Schroeder and Kent Bazemore are your team leaders, you can't expect to win many games.
#29 Dallas Mavericks: .0317
Last Week: 29
Record: 1-8 | Last 10: 1-8 | Net Rating: -11.7 | Statsplit Ranking: 717.67
The Mavericks have the worst record in the league. Their defense is bad and their offense is bad. Dennis Smith Jr. is a promising piece, but the rest of the team is underperforming their talent. Will this be the year that Dallas finally tanks?
#30 Sacramento Kings: .0227
Last Week: 28
Record: 1-7 | Last 10: 1-7 | Net Rating: -14.3 | Statsplit Ranking: 725.7
The Kings have struggled to score recently having failed to score more than 86 points in their last three games. When your leading scorer is De'Aaron Fox with only 12.5 points per game, you can expect the team to be bad. They have a bottom 5 defense and bottom 5 offense.
