Kemba Walker needs some assistance. The talented point guard will make his first All-Star appearance in a few short days, and Walker certainly earned his bid. Through the first “half” of the season, Walker is averaging career highs in scoring (22.5 points per game), field goal percentage (45 percent) and three-point percentage (40 percent) while serving as the engine for the Charlotte Hornets. In fact, Walker’s early-season play generated enough buzz where he was a no-doubt inclusion on the All-Star team despite a banner year for many other Eastern Conference point guards.
His team, however, has struggled mightily and their issues have flown under the radar. Since Jan. 1, the Hornets are just 5-17 and that has transformed Charlotte from a virtual playoff lock to a team on the outside looking in when it comes to the top eight teams in the conference. For good measure, the team brings an active skid that involves 11 losses in the past 12 games. What in the world happened?
The Hornets currently own a superior net rating (+0.4 points per 100 possessions) to the Atlanta Hawks while sitting eight games behind in the standings. That is simply one example of Charlotte’s bizarre statistical profile, and it is one headlined by ineptitude in the clutch. NBA.com tells us that the Hornets are just 3-11 when “clutch” situations arrive since Jan. 1, and they are being outscored by a ghastly 29.6 points per 100 possessions (for a bottom three mark in the league).
When expanding that to the full season, the results are better (-8.3) but Charlotte still struggles to close games this season and it has bitten them in the standings.
For me, it is too early to outright panic when it comes to the Hornets, if only because the East is so topsy-turvy and it is fairly clear that Charlotte’s struggles are correctable. In the same breath, Steve Clifford and company have watched as any wiggle room they had evaporated and the Hornets remain an extremely interesting thought exercise for the diehard NBA fan this season.
Where will the Hornets lead in this pre-All Star break edition of NBA Power Rankings? Let’s find out.
1. Golden State Warriors (47-9, Last week — 1st)
The Warriors aren’t quite on pace to surpass last season’s 73-win mark, but they have been head and shoulders (one might even say light years) ahead of the field to this point. Golden State comfortably leads the NBA in offensive rating and, more surprisingly, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and company have ascended to a lofty perch as the No. 2 defensive team in the league. It’s silly how good this team is.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (39-16, Last week — 2nd)
LeBron’s squad received bad news in the form of a lengthy Kevin Love injury absence, but Cleveland has still won 7 of 8. It is reasonable to think the Cavs could take a slight step back without Love, but unless he misses time in the playoffs, there is a good chance it remains only a blip on the radar.
3. San Antonio Spurs (43-13, Last week — 3rd)
Remember when the Spurs were supposed to struggle defensively without Tim Duncan and with guys like Pau Gasol in the mix? Well, San Antonio leads the NBA in defensive rating. Again. It should be noted that they aren’t quite as dominant on that end of the floor right now, but the Spurs remain terrifying and Gregg Popovich is a wizard-like figure.
4. Boston Celtics (37-19, Last week — 4th)
The Celtics have won 11 of 12 and, strangely, it feels like the run is flying under the radar a bit. Some of that is due to the scorching-hot play of the No. 5 team on this list, but Boston looks the part of a 50-plus win team and a real threat in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
5. Washington Wizards (33-21, Last week — 7th)
The Wizards are playing outrageously well right now. Washington has won 10 of 11 with the only blemish coming in overtime against Cleveland. The bandwagon is rapidly filling. There are still (valid) concerns with regard to a lack of depth and over-reliance on a few key cogs (Wall, Beal, Porter) but, if this team is healthy and clicking in the way they are now, the Wizards become legitimately terrifying in April and May.
6. Houston Rockets (40-18, Last week — 5th)
Losing a home game to the Miami Heat isn’t quite as ugly as it would have been a few weeks ago but it’s not the best look for the Rockets as they enter the break. Still, a 40-18 record should be seen as a fantastic achievement for a team that entered the season with real questions and the James Harden experience remains fantastic.
7. Utah Jazz (35-22, Last week — 6th)
Utah stopped the bleeding of a three-game losing streak with a win over Portland on Wednesday and that keeps them afloat in this position. The Jazz are fourth in the NBA in net rating (+5.6) and that is probably more indicative of how good they are than the relatively modest win-loss record.
8. Los Angeles Clippers (35-21, Last week — 12th)
Chris Paul remains on the shelf, but the Clippers have managed to fight the good fight in his absence. In fact, Blake Griffin has led Los Angeles to four straight victories (including wins over Utah and Atlanta) and any massive drop-off has been successfully avoided.
9. Memphis Grizzlies (34-24, Last week — 9th)
A home loss to New Orleans before the break should probably sink Memphis a bit here but the teams around them haven’t done enough to ascend. To that end, the Grizz are what we all thought they were. They defend, they grind and they win games. Run it back.
10. Toronto Raptors (33-24, Last week — 8th)
The Serge Ibaka trade might work wonders for Kyle Lowry’s bunch and, frankly, they need the help. The Raptors held off the fading Hornets on Wednesday but, prior to that, the team had dropped five of seven. The big “splash” move doesn’t always work but it will definitely add another layer of intrigue to the proceedings in the East.
11. Oklahoma City Thunder (32-25, Last week — 11th)
A couple of blowout losses to the Warriors and Wizards won’t help the perception of the Thunder as an also-ran in the West. It has to be said that Oklahoma City is actually exceeding preseason expectations, though, and Russell Westbrook gets the lion’s share of credit for that.
12. Atlanta Hawks (32-24, Last week — 13th)
The Hawks might be the weirdest team in the league. As noted above, Atlanta owns a negative net rating for the season, but the organization appears to have tricked itself into thinking they are good enough to simply hold the line in terms of trade possibilities. This placement is respectful of the record they’ve assembled, but would anyone be surprised if they struggled mightily when their schedule (finally) picks up in March?
13. Milwaukee Bucks (25-30, Last week — 23rd)
I still believe in the Bucks and they provided a reason for optimism with three straight wins before the break. Milwaukee will be without Jabari Parker for a calendar year and that is brutal, but the Bucks are still outscoring opponents for the season and a playoff run wouldn’t shock me in the slightest.
14. Detroit Pistons (27-30, Last week — 15th)
Good luck trying to figure out the Pistons. Detroit is now in the playoffs (as of this moment, at least) and they absolutely should be given their roster. Still, they are a confusing bunch and a team to keep an eye on over the next week or so.
15. Indiana Pacers (29-27, Last week — 10th)
Just one week ago, the Pacers were riding a seven-game winning streak and a ton of momentum. On cue, Indiana posted an 0-5 record this week, and I have no idea what to think. Granted, the losses were all to quality opponents and that matters but a Jekyll and Hyde reference seems appropriate here.
16. Chicago Bulls (27-29, Last week — 17th)
The Bulls are 26-24 when Jimmy Butler plays and 1-5 when he doesn’t. The former isn’t a wildly impressive mark but that is probably closer to what this team is than the latter. Chicago is average but they aren’t dreadful by any means.
17. Denver Nuggets (25-31, Last week — 14th)
Denver’s week finished with a thud in a loss to Minnesota but the peak was very high. The Nuggets thrashed the Warriors by 22 points while flashing their considerable offensive upside and, while it was more an indication of the future than anything else, it was a lot of fun.
18. Miami Heat (25-32, Last week — 16th)
Miami’s dream winning streak finally came to an end this week but the Heat punctuated things by knocking off the Rockets on the road. Erik Spoelstra has done a phenomenal job with this group and, even if it is smoke and mirrors, the Heat are respectable with a roster that probably shouldn’t be.
19. New Orleans Pelicans (23-34, Last week — 21st)
The Pelicans are the “host” team for the All-Star game and they responded by winning three of the past four games prior to the break. It seems wild that New Orleans is within striking distance of the playoffs given the way things started in 2016-2017 but they are just that and the Pelicans are playing well.
20. Sacramento Kings (24-33, Last week — 24th)
Prior to (predictably) losing in Oakland on Wednesday, the Kings rattled off four straight wins and that is the reason for their rise this week. Would anyone actually buy the fact that Sacramento is a playoff contender? Probably not, but if they string enough of these stretches together, and, maybe?
21. Charlotte Hornets (24-32, Last week — 19th)
This feels like a massive hedge but the Hornets are absolutely better than their record. In fact, they would probably be a solid favorite against teams like New Orleans and Sacramento in a series.
22. Portland Trail Blazers (23-33, Last week — 18th)
Portland’s tumble in the rankings is necessitated by five losses in the last six games. The Blazers remain a bottom five team on the defensive end of the floor and, even with Jusuf Nurkic in the fold now, there isn’t a ton to be excited about in what has quickly become a lost season.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves (22-35, Last week — 22nd)
Andrew Wiggins’ dunk over Nikola Jokic was the play of the night on Wednesday and the Wolves even won a basketball game for good measure. At some point, Minnesota’s talent level will manifest itself in the standings but we aren’t quite there yet.
24. Dallas Mavericks (22-34, Last week — 20th)
Dallas is 16-14 over their last 30 games and that statistic indicates this is probably too low for them. In the same breath, there isn’t much to get excited about with the Mavs and they have lost four of six as the break arrives.
25. New York Knicks (23-34, Last week — 26th)
Carmelo Anthony is an All-Star again and everything is right with the world. Unless you actually want to talk about the Knicks on the whole. That is a perilous exercise.
26. Philadelphia 76ers (21-35, Last week — 27th)
The Sixers putting together a three-game winning streak without Joel Embiid is unthinkable, but it happened this week. Philly did lose to Boston before the break but they catch a bump in the rankings as a result of their respectable recent play in an Embiid-less universe.
27. Phoenix Suns (18-39, Last week — 29th)
Beating the Lakers at home isn’t terribly exciting in itself but Phoenix thumped Los Angeles by 36 points on Wednesday behind a monster showing from Eric Bledsoe. Don’t worry, the Suns are still bad but they are borderline watchable and that is something that many teams at the bottom of this list can’t claim.
28. Orlando Magic (21-37, Last week — 25th)
The Serge Ibaka deal, on its own, was actually fine for Orlando. Granted, that statement doesn’t reflect the fact that the Magic have botched front office dealings for quite some but that is another issue for another day. Still, Orlando is 6-19 in the last 25 and that is more relevant to our interests in this particular space. They aren’t very good.
29. Los Angeles Lakers (19-39, Last week — 28th)
Is there anything more fitting than this Lakers team hitting the All-Star break after a 36-point loss to the Suns? I think not.
30. Brooklyn Nets (9-47, Last week — 30th)
Since Dec. 28, the Nets are 1-25. I promise I’m not making that up. I’m so sorry, Kenny Atkinson.
