NBA Weekly Power Rankings Week 11

We are into a new year and 2022 is where the championship will be won. It won’t be won in January though and that’s why these Power Rankings are so important. They are a way to keep track of who is performing well or poorly. This past week has seen both impressive and horrid performances up and down the league. Stephen Curry and the Warriors just keep on rolling, but the chasing pack isn’t far behind. There is also a bit of movement at the bottom of the rankings that you have to keep your eyes on.

1 – Golden State Warriors (Unmoved)

Record: 29-7

Everybody is watching the Golden State Warriors right now and rightly so. They are a streaming juggernaut and have been causing havoc all season long, sitting in the top spot in the Western Conference. You’d expect that offense is the key reason for their flying start and that wouldn’t be wholly wrong. They have the 4th best Offensive Rating (OR) in the league, but their NBA best Defensive Rating (DR) is what has them riding high. They are 1st in DR and 2nd in Net Rating (NR). Steph Curry is 5th in the NBA in points per game (ppg) and he has been the focal point of the Dubs attacks, but he is getting contributions from his teammates, Draymond Green is 8th in assists per game (APG) and the ship is sailing full steam ahead.

2 – Phoenix Suns (Unmoved)

Record: 28-8

The Phoenix Suns have weathered some tough storms of late with injuries and Covid protocol absences meaning that a couple of their stars have missed time. That hasn’t hampered their performances too much and their record of 7-3 in their last 10 games is testament to that. They are second in the West, just a game back from the Warriors. They are 8th in OR, 2nd in DR, and 3rd in NR. Devin Booker is 19th in ppg and Chris Paul leads the NBA in APG and is 9th in steals per game (SPG).

3 – Utah Jazz (Unmoved)

Record: 24-9

People need to pay more attention to the Utah Jazz. Quin Snyder’s team is playing some of the best basketball around and it has generally gone unmentioned. The Jazz has rising star Donovan Mitchell leading them in the scoring stakes, he is 9th in ppg. Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert is 1st in rebounds per game (RPG) and is 3rd in blocks per game (ppg). The Jazz leads the league in OR, are 5th in DR, and top the NR standings.

4 – Chicago Bulls (Moved up 1 spot)

Record: 25-10

The Chicago Bulls are a real force in the Eastern Conference, as they are sitting pretty atop the Eastern Conference. DeMar DeRozan has been one of the reasons for that, as he made history by draining two buzzer-beating game-winners in consecutive games. He is also 6th in the NBA in points per game. DeRozan isn’t the only impressive Bulls player, Zach LaVine is 8th in the league in ppg, Alex Caruso 3rd in the league in SPG with Lonzo Ball 11th in the same statistical category, Nikola Vucevic is 6th in RPG. The Bulls are 5th in OR, 11th in DR, and 6th in NR. Chicago has won 8 of their last 10 games, charging towards a very good season showing.

5 – Milwaukee Bucks (Moved up 1 spot)

Record: 25-14

The Bucks are a team that has needed consistency in performances and availability. Since they’ve been able to call upon most of the players on their roster they’ve been playing well. Giannis Antetokounmpo is leading the team up the standings and his stats make for interesting reading. He’s 4th in ppg, 7th in RPG, and 15th in bpg. Jrue Holiday has also been very good for Milwaukee and he is 20th in SPG and 20th in APG. The champions are in 6th in OR, 5th in NR, and 9th in DR. The Bucks are also 7-3 in their last 10 games.

6 – Brooklyn Nets (Moved down 2 spots)

Record: 23-12

It’s not been a great week for the Nets. Yes, they are 2nd in the Eastern Conference but their form has been poor by their standards. Three losses on the bounce is never a good thing, giving them a 6-4 record. It’s not all doom and gloom despite them dropping 2 places in the Power Rankings. Kevin Durant leads the way in the NBA in ppg, James Harden is 2nd in APG. Brooklyn is surprisingly 14th in OR but they make up for that with 6th place in DR and they are 9th in NR. Work to be done, but they can now call on Kyrie Irving in away games.

7 – Memphis Grizzlies (Moved up 1 spot)

Record: 24-14

The most surprising of surprise packages have been the Memphis Grizzlies. They are playing at a very high level right now and that form has been rewarded with a high placing in the Power Rankings. The Grizzlies are 7th in OR, 15th in DR and they occupy 8th place in NR. Ja Morant is the undisputed star of the team but he is supported expertly by a hard-playing band of brothers with Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks two names that stand out in the backcourt. From an individual stats perspective, Morant is 12th in ppg, Jaren Jackson Jr. is 7th in bpg, De’Anthony Melton is 17th in SPG, Steven Adams is 18th in RPG. As a collective, they are a team on the rise having won five games in a row.

8 – Miami Heat (Moved down 1 spot)

Record: 23-15

The Miami Heat can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to injuries to key players with Jimmy Butler hobbling off the court in their last game. That being said, they are still one of the best teams in the NBA with a 7-3 record in their last 10 games. Kyle Lowry has been the player that has catalyzed the team when they’ve needed to dig deep for victories. He is 7th in assists per contest and has become the heart of the offense. He’s been more than ably supported by Tyler Herro off the bench who is 29th in the NBA in ppg. The Heat are 4th in the East, 9th in OR, 8th in DR, and 7th in NR. When Bam Adebayo and Butler return, their fortunes will increase.

9 – Cleveland Cavaliers (Unmoved)

Record: 21-16

The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t moved on these rankings. The reason for this is that they’ve kept things steady in the face of challenges. They recently saw Ricky Rubio pick up a devastating knee injury and that will hamper their efforts. Covid hasn’t been kind to them either. Yet, they soldier on. They are 6-4 in their last 10 outings. Darius Garland has been one of the bright spots in the NBA on the scoring front, he is ranked 11th in APG. Rubio was ranked 18th in APG before his injury. The twin towers of Jarret Allen and Evan Mobley have retained their form with Allen 10th in RPG and Mobley 9th in bpg. The Cavs are 15th in OR, 3rd in DR, and 4th in NR. Defence has been as good as an offense for them this campaign.

10 – Philadelphia 76ers (Moved up 1 spot)

Record: 20-16

Rounding off the top 10 in the Power Rankings are Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers. Philly has been impressive in spurts and they are on a four-game winning run at the moment. They are 10th in OR, 18th in DR, and 12th in NR. Embiid continues to be the focal point of anything good with this team. Statistically, his numbers are down, he’s 7th in ppg and 9th in rbg, but his impact on games is very clearly felt. His recent battle with Kevin Durant in a 76ers win over the Nets showcased his ability to get his team over the line in close games. He needs his teammates to come to the party more regularly.

11 – Denver Nuggets (Moved down 1 spot)

Record: 18-17

It’s a testament to how good Nikola Jokic is that the Nuggets are still flying high on the Power Rankings and sitting in fifth in the West. Jokic is 10th in ppg, 2nd in RPG, and 14th in APG. He is carrying this Denver team.

12 – Dallas Mavericks (Moved up 4 spots)

Record: 19-18

Luka Doncic is back for the Dallas Mavericks and they’ve improved. They are in the playoff places in the West, are above .500, and are on a three-game winning streak. The Mavs are 17th in OR and 10th in DR.

13 – Washington Wizards (Moved up 2 spots)

Record: 19-18

It’s been a funny season for the Washington Wizards who are back above .500 right now. Bradley Beal is their top scorer and he is 17th in the NBA in ppg. The Wizards have dropped in OR and DR and they will need to improve those to see more success.

14 – Los Angeles Lakers (Unmoved)

Record: 19-19

LeBron James has put the league on notice. At the age of 37, he is 2nd in the NBA in ppg and 12th in SPG. His Lakers aren’t so hot though. Westbrook’s stats are looking good, he’s 6th in APG but he hasn’t contributed enough to win. The Lakers are 24th in OR and 14th in DR. Two wins in a row have seen them remain in 14th in the Power Rankings.

15 – Charlotte Hornets (Moved down 3 spots)

Record: 19-19

The Charlotte Hornets are an even .500. They are soaring in 3rd place in OR but they are tumbling in 28th in DR. The Hornets have a sensational LaMelo Ball on their roster, he’s 9th in APG and 13th in SPG. The Hornets have a really good cast of characters and they will hope for more consistency as the season wears on.

16 – Los Angeles Clippers (Moved down 3 spots )

Record: 19-19

The Clippers have been yo-yoing in the league. They have the 4th best DR and although they sit on a .500 record, they only have three wins in their last ten games.

17 – Boston Celtics (Unmoved)

Record: 18-19

The Boston Celtics have also had a Jekyll and Hyde type season with their offense in the dumps, but their defence is ranked 7th in the advanced stats. A two-win run is a good recent return.

18 – Toronto Raptors (Moved up 3 spots)

Record: 16-17

Things have been shaky in Toronto and the Raptors have been evidence of that. Canada has stopped fans attending games due to rising covid cases and the Raptors have started winning again, go figure. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games. They are 13th in OR, 21st in DR, and 14th in NR.

19 – Minnesota Timberwolves (Moved down 3 spots)

Record: 17-20

An even five wins and five losses in their last 10 contests leave the Minnesota Timberwolves sinking the Power Rankings. 12th in DR makes up for 23rd in OR.

20 – New York Knicks (Moved down 1 spot)

Record: 17-20

The New York Knicks were hoping to start spreading the news. Well, the news isn’t good. They are below .500. Both offense and defence are struggling. They need a pick-me-up.

21 – Atlanta Hawks (Moved down 1 spot)

Record: 16-20

The Atlanta Hawks are an anomaly. They are so good at scoring, 2nd in OR but terrible at defending, 27th in DR. Trae Young is 3rd in the NBA in ppg. They need major improvements on the defensive end.

22 – Sacramento Kings (Moved up 2 spots)

Record: 16-22

It’s the same old story for the Sacramento Kings who have a lot of talent available but they are underperforming. De’Aaron Fox is in the top 30 of point-scorers and Tyrese Haliburton is 13th in APG, but that’s where the joy ends.

23 – San Antonio Spurs (Moved down 1 spot)

Record: 14-21

The San Antonio Spurs are rebuilding and so it’s hard to judge them too harshly. They can look at their 12th place in OR as a bonus and Dejounte Murray as a key cog for them, he is 5th in APG and 6th in SPG.

24 – Portland Trail Blazers (Moved up 1 spot)

Record: 14-22

The Portland Trail Blazers need prime Damian Lillard back, he’s currently 18th in the league in ppg, but he’s been out with injury, as has been his partner-in-crime CJ McCollum. The Blazers have won only three times in their last 10 games.

25 – Indiana Pacers (Moved down 1 spot)

Record: 14-23

Indiana is not a fun place to be right now. The Pacers are on a four-game skid and there is no end in sight to the pain. Domantas Sabonis is 4th in rebounding. That’s something.

26 – Oklahoma City Thunder (Moved up 1 spot)

Record: 13-23

This young Oklahoma City Thunder team is learning on the job and it shows. But there is much to be hopeful about. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is 22nd in ppg. Josh Giddey is 22nd in APG and he became the youngest ever player to record a triple-double.

27 – New Orleans Pelicans (Moved down 1 spot)

Record: 13-24

The New Orleans Pelicans continue to battle away near the foot of the Western Conference and the Power Rankings. Brandon Ingram is trying to get them going, he’s 24th in ppg and Jonas Valanciunas is 5th in rebounding. But there isn’t much else to smile about with Zion Williamson still out through injury.

28 – Houston Rockets (Unmoved)

Record: 10-28

Trouble is brewing in Houston with the Rockets in full self-destruct mode. There has been player displeasure and the team’s form is rotten. Yes, they are rebuilding but it doesn’t have to be this hard. They’ve lost eight in a row.

29 – Detroit Pistons (Moved up 1 spot)

Record: 7-28

In Detroit, the Pistons are firmly looking towards the future and their shock win over the champions the Bucks will fill them with pride. Rookie Cade Cunningham is looking better with every passing game.

30 – Orlando Magic (Moved down 1 spot)

Record: 7-31

The Orlando Magic are in the depths of despair right now. Their form is horrible and they’ve lost six games in a row. They are bottom of the rankings because of it.