Week 2 Power Rankings

30. Kings (0-6, -1)

We have a new number 30 because the Sacramento Kings are truly awful. The roster is bad, the coaching is bad and Domantas Sabonis has checked out. At least Darius Acuff is good.

29. Bulls (1-5, -4)

The Bulls are young and bad. They have some good pieces but this team is worse than I thought they’d be. Caleb Wilson looks like a star, however, so that is a win for Chicago.

28. Bucks (1-5, +2)

The Bucks are bad and have struggled to start the season. They don’t really do anything well and unlike the Kings and Bulls, their rookies don’t look like stars to start the season.

27. Jazz (1-5, -4)

Utah wanted to win games this year, which makes this 1-5 start so disappointing. They look bad, 26th in offense for a team whose strength was supposed to be their offense is a major let down.

26. Suns (1-3, -2)

It isn’t going well for the 2021 NBA Finals teams. The Suns can turn it around but they are off to a slow start this season. Though it has only been 4 games, it is looking bleak for the Suns.

25. Nets, (1-5, +2)

A win on Sunday night allowed for Brooklyn to rise. Jordi Fernandez is a very good coach and they were a Jayson Tatum buzzer beater away from beating the Celtics last Tuesday.

24. Clippers (1-5, -4)

The Clippers had a disappointing week and look like who we’d thought they’d be this season. The Keaton Wagler struggles are concerning but it isn’t time to panic yet.

23. Pelicans (2-4, +3)

The Pels are 12th in net rating but I don’t trust it. Close losses and blow out wins increase the net rating of a bad team in this case. Though the win over the Hawks on Saturday was impressive.

22. Pacers (2-5, -10)

It isn’t going well for Indiana, who have dropped 4 in a row and are without Tyrese Haliburton for multiple weeks. Losses to the Nets and Bucks would have me ready to panic if I were a Pacers fan.

21. Hornets (3-4, +1)

The Hornets cannot score right now without Kon Knueppel and Coby White. This goes back to the LaMelo Ball trade, he was so much of their offense and it makes you wonder why they were in such a rush to move him.

20. Wizards (3-3, -2)

AJ Dybantsa made his debut and Washington is .500. Yet, I am not ready to buy into this. They’ve beaten the Bucks, Bulls and Hornets and Anthony Davis has not looked good. This could fall out from under Washington drastically.

19. Heat (2-4, =)

The Heat beat the Hawks and Pacers this week to get into the win column. I do think they will be a playoff team in the end but I’d like to see a bit more before I fully buy into this team. Meanwhile, a Bam Adebayo trade feels very possible.

18. Magic (2-4, -2)

Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs are coming back at some point which will help Orlando but this team just isn’t very good. I think we will get a big trade from this team before the trade deadline in February.

17. Hawks (3-4, -3)

I can’t figure out Atlanta. I want to think this team is good but much of the data suggests otherwise, including an embarrassing 22 point loss to the Pelicans. Atlanta can still figure this out but we need to see it.

16. Warriors (4-3, +12)

Golden State has won 4 games in a row including a wild one on Friday against the Lakers. I am not sure how good this team is but to get off the mat the way and get over .500 is very impressive, leading to the largest jump of the week.

15. Nuggets (3-2, -4)

2 of the 3 Nuggets wins are against the Pelicans and the other against Phoenix. They still have Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray so I still think this is a good group but this isn’t a real title threat at all.

14. Mavericks (4-2, +7)

Cooper Flagg is so good you need to reevaluate what you think of this Dallas team. He is, at worst, a top 15 player in the sport and is so good that Dallas’ floor may be very high just with him and Kyrie Irving.

13. Raptors (3-3, -7)

Kawhi Leonard is a big time loss for the Raptors and it has shown. They will get him back soon but need to stay afloat without him, of which I am worried about after this last week of games.

12. Lakers (5-2, -2)

A big win against the Raptors last night prevented a decent size Lakers drop. The loss on Friday night to the Warriors was not good and they needed a bounce back last night, which they got, to prevent 3 of 4 losses.

11. Trail Blazers (4-1, +6)

An impressive win against the Lakers sees Portland rise but the Ja Morant injury is a bigtime blow to a fun start to the season. They have the depth to get through the time without Morant, however, which will help them.

10. Cavaliers (4-2, +3)

The Cavs have bounced back well after a rocky start to the season, a tough loss to Atlanta on Thursday hurt them but they have played very well since the opening night choke in Philadelphia.

9. Knicks (2-4, =)

I think the Knicks are still a very good team that hasn’t played well to start the year. Two really close losses to the 76ers and one to the Celtics have this team at 2-4. However, when push comes to shove, I still think this is the favorite in the Eastern Conference.

8. Timberwolves (4-3, -6)

The Anthony Edwards injury is devastating and a huge blow to the Wolves. He will be back but Minnesota needs to play better without him. However, their losses being against Cleveland, Golden State and San Antonio don’t have me too worried.

7. Grizzlies (6-0, +8)

Memphis is the last remaining undefeated team, which leads to a top 10 spot. However, I don’t think this is a team we should expect to win a playoff series this year. This team is very fun to watch and not fun to play, which is fun for Grizzlies fans.

6. Thunder (4-2, -5)

Injuries to Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Casson Wallace are all massive losses to any team, even a team with as much depth as the Thunder have. OKC is going to need a superhuman few months from SGA to have any chance at the top seed in the west.

5. Celtics (5-1, +3)

Jayson Tatum looks like pre-injury Jayson Tatum and he looks like a legit MVP threat. Paul George looks awesome as well and Boston could be considered a real threat in the Eastern Conference, they have a huge game against the Rockets tonight.

4. 76ers (6-1, +3)

You could argue that Philly is winning too many close games to start the year and wonder how real this is. I wouldn’t make that argument, this team is awesome and better than I thought they would be.

3. Pistons (5-1, +1)

The Pistons only loss is to the Knicks and they have wins over the Celtics, 76ers and Heat to start the season. This team is really good and I would like them to add a number 2 next to Cade Cunningham before the trade deadline.

2. Spurs (4-2, +3)

The Spurs should be considered the favorites to win the title right now but it isn’t by a wide margin. They played much better this week after a rocky first 2 games and look like the Spurs again.

1. Rockets (5-1, +2)

Right now, the Rockets are the best team in the NBA and a weird loss to the Mavs doesn’t change that. Wins over the Spurs, Thunder and Mavericks have this team at the top of the power rankings as they get set to face off with the Celtics tonight.