The NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
This week, let's highlight each team's biggest disappointment this season.
1. Milwaukee Bucks (53-11)
Previous rank: 1
Milwaukee has little to be disappointed about, but the Bucks' 0-2 record against the Miami Heat is a bit concerning. That regular-season success could give the Heat a mental edge in the playoffs.
2. Los Angeles Lakers (49-13)
Previous rank: 2
Kyle Kuzma had an adjustment to make this season, coming off an injury and moving to the bench. It hasn't necessarily panned out offensively. Since Jan. 15, the forward is shooting under 42% from the floor and just 21% from deep.
3. Los Angeles Clippers (43-20)
Previous rank: 6
While he's hitting 38% of almost three 3-point attempts per game, Patrick Patterson isn't a rotational contributor anymore. The former Toronto Raptors "glue guy" has been a DNP (coach's decision) in eight of the Clippers' last 14 games, and is minus-4 in under 30 minutes played during that span.
4. Toronto Raptors (45-18)
Previous rank: 3
Toronto hoped Stanley Johnson's athleticism and length would add to its defensive depth on the wing. Instead, the former lottery pick has barely seen the floor and will likely exercise his $3.8-million player option for next season.
5. Boston Celtics (42-21)
Previous rank: 4
The Celtics have had a positive season overall, but they probably hoped for more from lottery pick Romeo Langford. Multiple injuries have limited to him to 26 games, during which he's averaged just 2.7 points.
6. Denver Nuggets (42-21)
Previous rank: 5
Two seasons after Gary Harris averaged 17.5 points with a 57% effective field-goal rate, he's down to 10.3 points per game, which ranks sixth on the Nuggets. The guard's unexpected decline has complicated the team's outlook.
7. Houston Rockets (39-24)
Previous rank: 7
James Harden can be downright unstoppable on his best nights, but he's been unnecessarily careless with the ball. His 270 turnovers rank second in the league this season behind only Trae Young.
8. Utah Jazz (41-22)
Previous rank: 8
Mike Conley's scoring numbers have significantly dipped in his first season with the Jazz. The Ohio State product is averaging 13.9 points per game, down from 21.1 last season, and shooting a career-worst 40.9% from the field.
9. Miami Heat (41-23)
Previous rank: 9
The Celtics reportedly offered four first-rounders to swing a draft-day deal for Justise Winslow in 2015. He never realized that lofty potential in Miami and is now sidelined with an injury in Memphis after being dealt at the trade deadline.
10. Dallas Mavericks (39-26)
Previous rank: 12
The Mavs' three-year, $28.1-million investment in Delon Wright hasn't paid off during his first season in Dallas. The team has a net rating of plus-9.3 when he's off the floor compared to plus-1.4 when he plays.
11. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-24)
Previous rank: 11
The Thunder have to be disappointed with how Andre Roberson's recovery has gone. The talented defender is on course to miss his second full season since rupturing his patellar tendon in January 2018.
12. Philadelphia 76ers (38-26)
Previous rank: 10
Al Horford - and his four-year, $109-million contract - has been a disaster for the 76ers. The 33-year-old's shooting numbers are down across the board and his fit with Joel Embiid is questionable at best.
13. Indiana Pacers (39-25)
Previous rank: 13
After joining the 50-40-90 club last season, Malcolm Brogdon's prodigious shooting efficiency has taken a hit. He's down to 31.3% on threes and is now week-to-week with a torn muscle in his quadriceps.
14. Memphis Grizzlies (32-32)
Previous rank: 14
The Grizzlies' run-and-gun offense struggles when Kyle Anderson is on the floor. Memphis scores 9.2 fewer points per 100 possessions during the swingman's minutes, which is the lowest individual offensive net rating on the team.
15. Portland Trail Blazers (28-37)
Previous rank: 16
Portland had high expectations for Zach Collins as he entered his third season. Unfortunately, the forward's promising development stalled after he underwent shoulder surgery in November. He's appeared in only three games but could return later this month.
16. New Orleans Pelicans (28-36)
Previous rank: 17
While it's improved since Zion Williamson debuted in January, the Pelicans' home crowds remain a disappointment in a town where the NFL's New Orleans Saints finished playing months ago. The Pels ranked 23rd in NBA attendance through Sunday.
17. Orlando Magic (29-35)
Previous rank: 18
Just as Jonathan Isaac was starting to emerge as an All-NBA-caliber defender, the former sixth overall pick suffered a season-ending knee injury. He's now missed over 100 games during his first three seasons.
18. Sacramento Kings (28-36)
Previous rank: 20
Marvin Bagley has been limited to just 13 appearances this season. The second-year forward's long-term health is already a question mark after he also missed 20 games during his rookie campaign.
19. Brooklyn Nets (29-34)
Previous rank: 15
The Nets have taken a page from the crosstown New York Knicks' playbook. Despite having a likable team and a free-pass season thanks to injuries to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the team perplexingly split with coach Kenny Atkinson on Saturday.
20. San Antonio Spurs (26-36)
Previous rank: 19
This entire season has been the biggest disappointment for the Spurs. The once-exemplary franchise is on pace to miss the playoffs for the first time since 1997, and it's another reminder Gregg Popovich won't coach the club forever.
21. Phoenix Suns (26-38)
Previous rank: 21
Suns fans can't help but wonder where the team would be if Deandre Ayton wasn't suspended for 25 games. Phoenix went 10-15 without him and is over a handful of games out of a playoff spot.
22. Washington Wizards (23-40)
Previous rank: 22
The Wizards have performed about as poorly as expected, but it's Bradley Beal's ridiculous exclusion from the All-Star Game that stings the most.
23. Charlotte Hornets (22-41)
Previous rank: 25
This is the nadir of Nic Batum's steady decline. Injuries and a general lack of a future in Charlotte have held him to just 22 appearances this season. Even when active, he's averaging an atrocious 3.6 points during 23 minutes per game.
24. Chicago Bulls (21-43)
Previous rank: 23
Injuries happen, but Otto Porter, Wendell Carter, and Lauri Markkanen combining to miss 88 games so far this season is a missed opportunity for the three to develop any sort of chemistry.
25. Minnesota Timberwolves (19-44)
Previous rank: 26
The biggest disappointment for the T-Wolves is the team itself. Trades or no trades, the franchise has made the playoffs just once since 2004.
26. Detroit Pistons (20-45)
Previous rank: 24
Blake Griffin underwent surgery on the same knee that bothered him during the latter stages of the 2018-19 campaign. The six-time All-Star struggled mightily before being sidelined, posting career lows in points (15.5 per game), rebounds (4.7), and field-goal percentage (35.2%).
27. Atlanta Hawks (19-46)
Previous rank: 27
Atlanta struggles mightily to score when Trae Young sits, producing a paltry 99.8 points per 100 possessions in those minutes. That's nearly 11 fewer points than when the sharpshooter is on the floor, and would rank dead last over a full season.
28. New York Knicks (20-44)
Previous rank: 28
The Knicks have been a complete disaster both on and off the court. Dennis Smith's ineffectiveness is salt in the wound as Kristaps Porzingis and the Mavs head toward a postseason berth.
29. Golden State Warriors (15-49)
Previous rank: 29
Stephen Curry's hand injury - which he suffered Oct. 30 and returned from only last Thursday - promptly put an end to any chance the Warriors had of competing this season with Klay Thompson already sidelined and Kevin Durant in Brooklyn.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers (19-45)
Previous rank: 30
It didn't make much sense when the Cavaliers acquired Andre Drummond, and that trade looks even worse now. Cleveland has been outscored by 18.2 points per 100 possessions during Drummond's 186 non-garbage-time minutes.
