The 140: NBA Power Rankings, Week 13 - Hawks continue asymptotic approach of Warriors
Our usual Power Ranker, Navin Vaswani, is off this week. We can't tell you where, just that it's much, much better than where yours truly is power ranking from. As a one-week fill-in, I was hesitant to make too many wild changes to last week's rankings, but at the same time, to paraphrase Swaggy P, Navin just gave me the ball, so get out of my way.
As per the Bossman's usual format, I only get 140 characters to justify my ranks, but you can always scream at me on Twitter to disagree with 140 characters of your own.
1. Golden State Warriors (36-6)
(Last Week: 1)
Atlanta is the best story in basketball. Now tell me what the Dubs have done to lose this spot, with a second Steph Curry with the shot.
2. Atlanta Hawks (37-8)
(Last Week: 2)
Kyle Korver hit 483 threes between dunks, then dunked in back-to-back games. Hawks host G-State next Friday to try to grab the top spot.
Just look at Korver's On/Off numbers. pic.twitter.com/IW5e5ycKYj
— Dakota Schmidt (@Dakota_Schmidt) January 24, 2015
3. Memphis Grizzlies (32-12)
(Last Week: 5)
They've won seven of their last eight thanks to some heady play from Marc Gasol and they're 10-4 against other would-be West playoff teams.
4. Los Angeles Clippers (31-14)
(Last Week: 8)
The Clips have won eight of 10 and have the second-best adjusted net rating in the league. Treating opponents like:
5. Houston Rockets (31-14)
(Last Week: 3)
The Warriors have annihilated them four times but Dwight Howard and James Harden still aren't believers. Bruh.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (32-13)
(Last Week: 4)
The Blazers are so tough they're inspiring pro wrestling tweets. Buzz-killing spoiler: The Warriors are Brock Lesnar.
Brock Lesnar gotta come back and win this match like Lamarcus Aldridge
— Yu (@YucciMane) January 26, 2015
7. San Antonio Spurs (29-17)
(Last Week: 10)
If Kawhi Leonard is playing, they should be higher. If he's not, they should be lower.
| Kawhi So Serious? | with Kawhi | without Kawhi |
|---|---|---|
| W-L | 20-8 | 9-9 |
| O-Rtg | 106.6 | 102.7 |
| D-Rtg | 95.0 | 103.1 |
| Net | 11.6 | -0.5 |
| Comparable Team | Warriors | Pelicans |
8. Dallas Mavericks (30-15)
(Last Week: 7)
Dallas' late-game issues with Rondo have been grossly overstated - the Mavs have outscored opponents by 29 points in his 28 clutch minutes.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers (25-20)
(Last Week: 13)
They've been disappointing, tumultuous, uninspiring on defense and sometimes downright lazy. They also have LeBron, Love and Kyrie.
#Cavs with Big Three healthy: 22-11, 114.8 ORTG, 109.7 DRTG
#Thunder w/ Durant-Westbrook: 14-6, 108.2 ORTG, 104.3 DRTG
— Jacob Rosen (@WFNYJacob) January 25, 2015
10. Chicago Bulls (29-17)
(Last Week: 9)
Their upside remains immense, and they seemed to be gathering momentum before Hassan Whiteside happened.
11. Washington Wizards (30-15)
(Last Week: 6)
John Wall is the best guard in the Eastern Conference right now. He's also literally a Wizard.
12. Phoenix Suns (26-20)
(Last Week: 12)
Markieff Morris leads the league in kicked-ball violations with 16. Just something about Suns players and soccer.
13. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-22)
(Last Week: 15)
They may need to win at a 53-win pace the rest of the way to catch Phoenix. Thin margins, so no more of this, Dion.
| Thunder | W | L | 82-Game Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| with Westrbook | 5 | 5 | 41 |
| with Wesbtrook & Durant | 14 | 7 | 55 |
| with Neither | 4 | 10 | 23 |
14. Toronto Raptors (29-15)
(Last Week: 11)
They haven't had a quality win since Dec. 28 and Kyle Lowry Hashtag NBA Ballot looks like he needs a vacation more than an All-Star spot.
15. New Orleans Pelicans (24-21)
(Last Week: 16)
They've been outscored by 62 points in 262 minutes with John Salmons on the court and have outscored opponents by 116 the rest of the time.
What is Anthony Davis? (He dunked this.) pic.twitter.com/wqsG2n2nMC
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) January 27, 2015
16. Milwaukee Bucks (22-22)
(Last Week: 14)
Love the length, potential and aggressive defensive system, but they're 29th in offense and average .96 points per-possession in the clutch.
17. Miami Heat (20-24)
(Last Week: 21)
The Hassan Whiteside Renaissance knows no bounds. You can't stop him and you can't score on him, even if you're an adorable child.
18. Charlotte Hornets (19-26)
(Last Week: 17)
They survived injuries to Al Jefferson and Lance Stephenson, but Kemba Walker is their most irreplaceable player and he's out for six weeks.
19. Detroit Pistons (17-28)
(Last Week: 18)
Worse than the Hornets losing Walker for six weeks? Detroit losing the red-hot Brandon Jennings for the rest of the season. Sigh.
| Pistons PG Achilles' Heel | O-Rtg | D-Rtg | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| with Jennings, pre Dec. 22 | 100.6 | 107.4 | -6.8 |
| w/o Jennings, pre Dec. 22 | 94.1 | 104.0 | -9.9 |
| with Jennings, since Dec. 22 | 109.1 | 96.6 | 12.6 |
| w/o Jennings, since Dec. 22 | 104.8 | 105.5 | -0.8 |
20. Boston Celtics (16-27)
(Last Week: 26)
Marcus Smart may be the most fun player to watch play defense in the entire league right now. These guys still won't behave and roll over.
Danny Ainge may need to lock Brad Stevens away. They're gonna accidentally get a playoff spot in the East.
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) January 27, 2015
21. Utah Jazz (16-29)
(Last Week: 24)
Prefer The French Rejection to The Stifle Tower as a nickname for Rudy Gobert, but his 5.3 percent block rate deserves better. Unrelated:
22. Indiana Pacers (16-30)
(Last Week: 20)
They may be the least aesthetically pleasing team in the league. But if you're bored, you're boring, and who doesn't love C.J. Miles?
23. Sacramento Kings (16-27)
(Last Week: 23)
Mike Malone wasn't the problem. DeMarcus Cousins may get robbed of an All-Star spot. At least my dude Quincy Miller's getting a shot.
Speak it into existence!
— Quincy Miller (@qmillertime) January 27, 2015
24. Denver Nuggets (18-27)
(Last Week: 19)
An enterprising team in need of frontcourt help should holler at Darrell Arthur and his $3.5-million expiring contract.
| Nuggets Bigs | D-Rtg with Arthur | D-Rtg w/o Arthur | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurkic | 86.9 | 99.5 | -12.6 |
| Faried | 99.7 | 107.4 | -7.7 |
| Hickson | 97.8 | 111.3 | -13.5 |
| Mozgov | 98.7 | 108.0 | -9.3 |
| Overall | 99.3 | 108.0 | -8.7 |
25. Brooklyn Nets (18-26)
(Last Week: 22)
What has life come to when sympathetic feelings for Seven-Time All-Star Joe Johnson arise? Time heals all wounds.
26. Orlando Magic (15-33)
(Last Week: 25)
My end-of-season recap will be called The Love Song of J. Elfrid Payton.
The chemistry between Elfrid and Vucci Mane in the pick-and-roll is sublime. Looks like they've been running it together for years.
— Eddy Rivera (@erivera7) January 25, 2015
27. New York Knicks (8-37)
(Last Week: 30)
Quick bump in recognition of their winning streak and subsequent decision to guarantee franchise-savior Langston Galloway money for 2015-16.
28. Los Angeles Lakers (12-33)
(Last Week: 27)
Kobe Bryant is done for the season, putting at least one person's plans to visit Staples Center for the first time in April in jeopardy.
Just a reminder, Nick Young is shooting 35.8% on TWO-POINT SHOTS. Giving him the ball and getting out the way is a great tanking strategy.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) January 26, 2015
29. Philadelphia 76ers (8-37)
(Last Week: 28)
I've loved players like I've loved Elfrid Payton before, but K.J. McDaniels is my Rushmore. My mileage varies with the rest of the Sixers ...
30. Minnesota Timberwolves (7-37)
(Last Week: 29)
Andrew Wiggins gets better by the week and Jahlil Okafor looks like he's playing against children in college. There's a plan. Believe.
Trust the timing of your life.
— Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) January 26, 2015