At the end of November, the Los Angeles Lakers were one of the better stories in the NBA. Luke Walton’s team finished the first 20 games of the 2016-2017 season with a 10-10 record, and there were plenty of reasons to be excited about what was transpiring in Los Angeles. The Lakers were not defending at an incredibly high level overall, but Nick Young, Julius Randle, and others looked to be taking a massive leap on that end of the floor. Offensively, Los Angeles posted a better-than-average rating that included flashes of brilliance from Randle and D’Angelo Russell.
Since then, it’s been a disaster. The Lakers are an ugly 0-7 in the month of December. Over that time period the team is easily the worst in the NBA. Los Angeles is being outscored by a comical 19.1 points per 100 possessions and that defensive bump sustained in the early going has evaporated almost completely. To be at least somewhat fair, Russell was absent for the first five games of the month and that would explain some of the offensive regression, but Lou Williams has been tremendous and that probably isn’t the flame-out most closely associated with defensive turmoil.
Were the Lakers ever legitimately good? Probably not. In the same breath, there were signs of real life for one of the league’s flagship franchises, and that included semi-realistic playoff aspirations just two weeks ago. Now, the Lakers look be headed to yet another NBA Draft Lottery and, if things keep going in the way they have during December, Los Angeles might actually avoid sending their first-round pick to the Sixers by landing among the top three.
Los Angeles takes an obvious tumble this week, but how do the rest of our NBA Power Rankings fall? Let’s get to it.
1. Golden State Warriors (22-4, Last week — 1st)
It wasn’t a perfect week for the Warriors, as the team inexplicably went into Memphis and lost by 21 points to an undermanned Grizzlies team. The rest of the week, though, was very Warriors-like and that singular no-show isn’t enough to remove them from the top spot. That is what happens when you have an offense that could be described as historically good.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-5, Last week — 3rd)
The Cavs made news in that Tyronn Lue is pulling a Gregg Popovich on Wednesday night by holding his three top players back from traveling on the second night of a back-to-back. Honestly, it is the right move for a team with (very) little to play for in the regular season, and Cleveland has won five straight games while looking more like the terrifying unit that they are. Sorry, Grizzlies fans.
3. Toronto Raptors (17-7, Last week — 6th)
After 24 games, the Raptors still hold a net rating of +10.4 points per 100 possessions. That is pretty darn impressive. In fact, Toronto’s offense has been utterly ridiculous (114.9) to the point where it is better than that of Golden State’s group to this point, and that deserves a conversation and some recognition.
4. Utah Jazz (15-10, Last week — 5th)
This is higher than anyone else would probably be on the Jazz, but the signs are there. Utah is fifth in the league (+6.6) in net rating right now and, given their track record of injury, that is downright incredible. I’m making a big bet on what this team will look like with a full complement of assets (Derrick Favors, George Hill, etc.) but the fact that they’ve stayed afloat without them makes supporters look intelligent.
5. Houston Rockets (18-7, Last week — 7th)
Seven straight wins will get you into the top five. If you’ve been reading all season long, you probably know that I’m not sold on the Rockets in a full way, but Houston has climbed into the top 20 defensively (a low bar, admittedly) and that is all they need to do on that end of the floor. Mike D’Antoni is probably the coach of the year right now and, frankly, James Harden might be the MVP. Not a bad combination.
6. San Antonio Spurs (19-5, Last week — 4th)
Having the second-best record in the NBA is apparently a recipe for falling two spots this week, and that is so Spurs. San Antonio just keeps rolling along while taking care of a weak spot in their schedule, and Popovich is almost certainly fine with flying under the radar. Oh, and Tim Duncan has been seen practicing with the team and he is staying in the news for weird reasons. Be still my heart.
7. Los Angeles Clippers (18-7, Last week — 2nd)
After two home losses to the Warriors and Pacers, the Clippers look to be back on track with two straight victories that featured 120-plus points in each. Los Angeles isn’t as good as they looked early on, but if you squint a bit, it isn’t difficult to talk yourself into the Clippers as the biggest challenger (still) to the Warriors.
8. Oklahoma City Thunder (15-10, Last week — 8th)
I had a hard time choosing between the Thunder and the No. 9 team earlier in the week, but Oklahoma City knocked off Boston (admittedly by only three points at home) and that made it easier. Russell Westbrook is still averaging 30-10-10 and it is amazing how much he is tasked with on a nightly basis. At some point, he almost has to cool off and the weaknesses of the roster will come to light, but we aren’t there yet.
9. Boston Celtics (13-11, Last week — 9th)
Boston has lost three of four, but being on the short end against OKC, Houston, and Toronto with two coming on the road isn’t exactly a crime. In Brad Stevens, Al Horford, and Isaiah Thomas we trust.
10. Charlotte Hornets (14-11, Last week — 10th)
Nobody is talking about Charlotte because it is a day that ends in “y”. The Hornets are the least intriguing good team in the NBA, and I’ll be over here banging the drum throughout the season-long campaign. This is a quality basketball team.
11. Memphis Grizzlies (17-9, Last week — 11th)
It is pretty difficult to have a negative net rating with a 17-9 record, but Memphis continues to churn out close wins and sustain lopsided defeats. The Grizzlies were unceremoniously blasted by the Cavs on Tuesday, but prior to that, they won six straight games and, even shorthanded, I just can’t ignore that.
12. Detroit Pistons (13-13, Last week — 12th)
Stan Van Gundy’s team would have cracked the top ten this week … and then the Pistons lost to the Sixers by 18 points at home. I don’t know, man.
13. New York Knicks (14-11, Last week — 15th)
This feels too high for the Knicks, but the smoke and mirrors routine is still working to the tune of a 14-11 record. New York is a bottom-five defensive team, though, and that will burn them at some point during the campaign.
14. Indiana Pacers (13-12, Last week — 17th)
Back-to-back quality wins over Portland and Charlotte send Indiana up the list this week despite the fact that the Pacers should not be described as “good” on either side of the ball. Since a slow start, however, the Pacers have been steadily improving in terms of overall profile and that should be recognized.
15. Chicago Bulls (13-11, Last week — 16th)
I don’t know how Chicago lost to Minnesota in the Tom Thibodeau Bowl on Tuesday night, but it hurt their ranking this week. The Bulls don’t look to be the team that made some of us look silly for the first few weeks, but rather a solid, unspectacular borderline Eastern Conference playoff team.
16. Portland Trail Blazers (13-14, Last week — 14th)
The defense continues to be woeful (28th in the NBA), but Portland was very impressive in throttling Oklahoma City on Tuesday to stop the bleeding of a four-game losing skid. That dip in production was coupled with a very tough road trip and Terry Stotts continues to earn more trust from me than a run-of-the-mill coach would in the same circumstances.
17. Orlando Magic (11-15, Last week — 20th)
Orlando hung 131 (!) points on Atlanta on the road on Tuesday, and it was an experience. The Magic still aren’t very good offensively, but they’ve begun an ascent in that category and, defensively, the tools remain for a Top 10 unit. At some point, this team was always going to be making a run – and they may be primed for it now.
18. Washington Wizards (9-14, Last week — 24th)
For the life of me, I can’t figure out how this Wizards team is a bottom-ten unit in the NBA on the defensive end of the court. This ranking expresses some optimism, but it might be unfounded if Scott Brooks can’t get his team to clean up their performance in preventing others to score on a regular basis.
19. Atlanta Hawks (12-13, Last week — 18th)
Remember when the Hawks were good? Last week’s rankings explored the downturn for Atlanta, but after a nice rebound, the Hawks allowed the aforementioned 131-point outburst to the lowly Magic offense on Tuesday. Given that defense was the calling card of this team previously, that is a concern.
20. Sacramento Kings (9-15, Last week — 26th)
Free DeMarcus Cousins. Sacramento’s mercurial big man has been ridiculously good this season, averaging 28.3 points and 10.9 rebounds per game with a 27.54 PER, and he alone is what buoys this ranking this week. I talk myself into the Kings a few times per year and this week is an example.
21. Milwaukee Bucks (11-12, Last week — 13th)
The Bucks have dropped three straight, and the first of those losses came at home to Atlanta. In that game, Milwaukee gave away a 20-point lead at halftime in spectacular fashion and they haven’t recovered yet. This is probably an overcorrection, but we shouldn’t assume that the Bucks are good.
22. Denver Nuggets (9-16, Last week — 19th)
I continue to be higher than the consensus on Denver, but even I can’t explain a 20-point loss to the lowly Mavericks. Is there a team in the league that more desperately needs to make a trade than the Nuggets?
23. Miami Heat (8-17, Last week — 25th)
There are a few teams in the NBA that have outperformed their net rating, but Miami goes the other way. At -3.3, Miami should almost certainly be better than 8-17 but it is amazing they have been as good as they have been given the injury issues and general weirdness with the roster.
24. Phoenix Suns (8-17, Last week — 27th)
The Suns have won two of three! Marquese Chriss is playing a lot (and going after Kristaps Porzingis for reasons passing understanding) and the youth movement is on in earnest. That might not be good for production, but it’s the right move.
25. Minnesota Timberwolves (7-18, Last week — 23rd)
The Wolves were headed for an even lower perch with a loss to Chicago on Tuesday but, somehow, Minnesota emerged victorious in a very weird game. Still, Minnesota has lost 8 of 10 and I am out of ways to form excuses for them. It’s just not good right now, regardless of talent level.
26. New Orleans Pelicans (8-18, Last week — 22nd)
Losing six of seven games is a good way to quell momentum. The return of Jrue Holiday inspired a lot of “maybe the Pelicans can recover!” stories but the rest of the roster outside of Anthony Davis has been woeful. Rinse and repeat.
27. Dallas Mavericks (6-18, Last week — 29th)
The Mavs won as many games (two) as they lost (two) this week and that qualifies as significant progress. Dirk is still absent, but it helps to have Wesley Matthews playing well and undrafted rookie Dorian Finney-Smith has been a revelation. There are a few signs of life in Dallas, even a massive hole to emerge from in mid-December.
28. Philadelphia 76ers (6-18, Last week — 30th)
Stop the presses. The Sixers have won back-to-back games and (gasp) both of them came away from Philadelphia. Knocking off the Pelicans in any venue isn’t terribly impressive, but Philly also went in Detroit and thrashed the Pistons. That type of victory will grant you a reprieve.
29. Brooklyn Nets (6-17, Last week — 28th)
Jeremy Lin is back and that is a very nice thing for a team that needs his presence desperately. With that said, the Nets now own the worst net rating in the NBA (-8.3) and they have earned this kind of drop-off on the floor. On the bright side, Brooklyn faces off against the team below them on Wednesday night, so there is a path to improvement.
30. Los Angeles Lakers (10-17, Last week — 21st)
This is probably an overreaction and I know it. At the same time, no team is playing worse basketball right now and the previous occupant did enough to emerge from the basement. Sorry, Luke Walton. Maybe this’ll motivate your guys!
