Denver Makes Jump In Latest Power Rankings
The NBA is at its best when the best teams play each other. Or so it should be.
Last season we saw that when the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors battled in the conference finals. Oddly enough, most of those games were blowouts, with Games 4 and 5 giving fans a real taste of competition at the highest level.
On Thursday night we saw that again when Kawhi Leonard and the streaking Toronto Raptors welcomed Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors.
In a memorable duel, Kawhi Leonard’s 37 points helped the Toronto Raptors survive Kevin Durant’s 51-point masterpiece in a 131-128 win over Golden State in a thriller in at Scotiabank Arena.
Drama like what we saw from that game is what would make you want a NBA Finals matchup between the two teams, who in all likelihood will finish as the top two seeds from their respective conferences.
Here are my NBA Power Rankings for the Week of 11/26 – 12/2.
1. Toronto Raptors (20-4)
It’s eight straight wins for Nick Nurse’s Toronto Raptors, and in six of those games the team has scored at least 120 points.
2. Denver Nuggets (15-7)
Nikolai Jokic and the Denver Nuggets blew the doors off the Los Angeles Lakers last Tuesday. Their 32-point massacre of the Lakers is their largest over Los Angeles in franchise history.
3. Philadelphia 76ers (17-8)
The 76ers have won four straight games, and J.J. Redick continues to be more than a spark plug for them. Redick is averaging a career-high 18.4 PPG.
4. Milwaukee Bucks (15-7)
The Milwaukee Bucks have played good basketball to begin the season, but a 4-5 road mark is concerning. They lost two below .500 teams away from the Fiserv Forum last week.
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (14-7)
14-3. That’s Oklahoma City’s record since a 0-4 start. They are the best defensive team in basketball this season. They are first in defensive rating at 101.4.
6. Golden State Warriors (15-9)
The Golden State Warriors may have back Stephen Curry, but Draymond Green is the key. The Warriors defense has slipped, falling to 18th in defensive rating at 109.7.
7. Los Angeles Clippers (15-7)
How have the Clippers raced out to a surprising start? Their offense. The Clippers are third in the NBA in scoring, averaging 117.2 PPG.
8. Boston Celtics (13-10)
It’s three consecutive victories for Brad Stevens’ Boston Celtics. A scary thought for the rest of the Eastern Conference is that Gordon Hayward may be back. He scored 30 points in Boston’s 118-109 win on Saturday over the Timberwolves.
9. Memphis Grizzlies (13-9)
Jaren Jackson is a future star. The Memphis Grizzlies lottery pick is making a difference early on, and just last Friday poured in a career-high 36 points.
10. Detroit Pistons (13-7)
The Detroit Pistons are 9-3 at home and have started a six-game home-stand that features a win over the Golden State Warriors 5-0. Up next? A stiff test Monday vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder.
11. Los Angeles Lakers (14-9)
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers responded to a humiliating defeat to Denver last Tuesday by winning their next three games. They’ll attempt to beat the Spurs for the first time on Wednesday.
12. Portland Trail Blazers (13-10)
The Portland Trail Blazers struggles have continued, with the team dropping consecutive games after dropping three straight.
13. Indiana Pacers (13-10)
Indiana’s four-game road trip didn’t go as well as Nate McMillian would’ve liked, but a 2-2 West coast road trip means the team avoided a losing trip.
14. Houston Rockets (11-11)
Houston’s still relying on the 3-point shot, but their obvious defensive collapse from the team they were a season ago is costing them. They’ll hope to build off their recent two-game streak, however.
15. New Orleans Pelicans (12-12)
The New Orleans Pelicans are third in the NBA in pace (104.6). That’s higher than their league-best 101.6 pace last season.
16. Dallas Mavericks (11-10)
Don’t miss a shot and expect DeAndre Jordan and Dallas not to corral it. The Dallas Mavericks’ 75.1 defensive rebound percentage is third in the NBA.
17. Orlando Magic (11-12)
Among things to improve on for Orlando, offense, the Orlando Magic are 19th in field goal percentage.
18. Sacramento Kings (11-11)
Sacramento is one of the NBA’s most exciting teams in the NBA, and it’s because of how fast they are playing. De’Aaron Fox and the Kings are second in the NBA in pace at 105.8.
19. San Antonio Spurs (11-12)
The San Antonio Spurs had two of their worst losses of the Greg Popovich era this past week, with a 39-point loss in Minnesota followed by a 31-point loss at home to Houston.
20. Charlotte Hornets (11-12)
The Charlotte Hornets need more out of Nicholas Batum and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Both players are averaging under 10 PPG this season.
21. Utah Jazz (11-13)
The Utah Jazz have lost their way on defense. After being the NBA’s best defensive team last season, they have fallen to 14th in defensive rating.
22. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-12)
The Minnesota Timberwolves aren’t getting what they expected out of Andrew Wiggins, who is on pace to shoot a career-low 37 percent from the field.
23. Miami Heat (9-13)
The Miami Heat are one of the NBA’s worst offensive teams, 25th in offensive rating (105.6) and 22nd in PPG (108.2)
24. Washington Wizards (9-14)
The Washington Wizards won’t lose many games when their backcourt duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal combine for 68 points like they did last Monday. Wall scored a season-high 36 points in the Wizards 135-131 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets.
25. Brooklyn Nets (8-16)
Brooklyn can’t get out of their own way when playing with a lead. The team blew two fourth quarter leads last week at home and have lost six straight.
26. New York Knicks (8-16)
The New York Knicks are experiencing growing pains, but effort like we saw out of them in a 136-134 overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks last Saturday is an example of what they could be if they make that effort consistent.
27. Atlanta Hawks (5-18)
The Atlanta Hawks sure do like playing the Miami Heat. Atlanta is 2-0 vs Miami this season and 3-18 vs. all other teams.
28. Phoenix Suns (4-19)
It’s hard to find one thing the Phoenix Suns Do well. They are tied with the Atlanta Hawks for last in the NBA in point differential at -10.7.
29. Chicago Bulls (5-19)
The Chicago Bulls fired Fred Hoiberg after a 5-19 start. This team on paper has potential, but potential under the wrong leadership leads to nowhere but the lottery.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers (4-18)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are scrapping, even with Kevin Love sidelined. Still, they’ve lost four straight, with the past three coming by a combined 61 points.
What are your thoughts on this week’s NBA Power Rankings? Leave your comments below!