NBA Power Rankings: New Year's resolutions for each team
NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
In this edition, we're celebrating the impending first day of the new calendar with one New Year's resolution for each of the league's 30 teams.
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1. Oklahoma City Thunder (28-5)
Previous: 1
Solve the Spurs: The Thunder's historic record chase is on thin ice after three losses to the Spurs in a six-game span. With the two teams on a postseason collision course, figuring out how to beat them should be a priority.
2. Detroit Pistons (25-8)
Previous: 3
Find replacements for veteran duo: Detroit ranks 27th in 3-point attempts and makes while boasting a top-10 offense. The departures of Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. could loom large in the playoffs when defenses zero in on Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
3. New York Knicks (23-9)
Previous: 5
Get more from the bench: Recent contributions from Jordan Clarkson, Tyler Kolek, and Mitchell Robinson are a promising sign that the Knicks can extract more from a reserve group that's 28th in the league with 31.3 points per game.
4. San Antonio Spurs (23-9)
Previous: 6
Surround Wemby with more shooting: San Antonio lacks a true 3-point threat outside of Devin Vassell and Harrison Barnes. The Spurs need at least one more sharpshooter to prevent defenses from constantly loading up the paint against Victor Wembanyama.
5. Denver Nuggets (22-10)
Previous: 2
Stay afloat without starters: You know that "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" meme where Will's standing in an empty living room? That's Jamal Murray after fellow starters Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, and now Nikola Jokic all hit the treatment table with various injuries.
6. Houston Rockets (20-10)
Previous: 4
Improve late-game execution: The Rockets have played a league-high five overtime games and lost four of them, including three in a recent four-game stretch. They're shooting just 37.5% in OT, which could prove costly come April.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (21-12)
Previous: 8
Keep being clutch: The T-Wolves have been very good in tight games, and Anthony Edwards is shooting 69.4% from the field in clutch scenarios, the top mark in the league. That bodes well for their chances of securing a top-six spot out West.
8. Los Angeles Lakers (20-11)
Previous: 7
Buckle down on D: The Lakers own the Association's eighth-worst defensive rating (117.4). Head coach JJ Redick said much of this can be chalked up to a lack of effort: "We don't care enough right now." Yikes.
9. Boston Celtics (20-12)
Previous: 9
Fortify the frontcourt: Neemias Queta has been a serviceable starting center, but the Celtics need more depth to capitalize on a wide-open East. Brad Stevens could make a splash by combining Anfernee Simons' expiring contract with multiple first-rounders.
10. Phoenix Suns (19-13)
Previous: 12
Crash the glass: Phoenix is off to a pleasantly surprising start under first-year head coach Jordan Ott. But one of their glaring weaknesses is defensive rebounding - the Nets are the only team with fewer boards.
11. Toronto Raptors (20-14)
Previous: 15
Improve the center position: Signing Mo Bamba is a good first step, but Jakob Poeltl's injury amplified the Raptors' need for another big man in their rotation. Toronto's a completely different team without Poeltl's interior defense and activity on the glass.
12. Orlando Magic (18-15)
Previous: 11
Get a clean bill of health: Just as Paolo Banchero returned from injury, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs were sidelined. While Desmond Bane and Anthony Black have helped pick up the slack, the Magic will require a full roster come April.
13. Miami Heat (18-15)
Previous: 16
Find another angle: The Heat boast the league's fastest pace (104.6) and the third-most points per game (121), but a deeper look reveals that they're just 11th for points per 100 possessions (115.1), signaling that opponents are starting to figure them out.
14. Golden State Warriors (17-16)
Previous: 17
Get more from Dray: Despite Jimmy Butler's unhinged claim that the Steve Kerr-Draymond Green brouhaha "turned (him) on a little bit," Green hasn't been a positive influence at either end and is averaging more turnovers (3.4) than made baskets (3.1).
15. Philadelphia 76ers (17-14)
Previous: 10
Encase PG-13 in bubble wrap: The oft-injured Paul George averaged 17.1 points on 43.7% shooting from deep in December while playing some inspired defense. The former All-Star's availability will be integral for the 76ers as the postseason approaches.
16. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-16)
Previous: 13
Start giving a crap: Granted, the Cavaliers' core four has only been healthy together for four of 30 games. But the fact remains that they don't appear to be giving the same effort on the defensive end as last season.
17. Chicago Bulls (15-17)
Previous: 21
Show some pride defensively: Chicago's in the mix for a playoff berth despite ranking 25th in defensive efficiency. The Bulls have also struggled to generate turnovers and are allowing the fifth-most points in the paint (54.1 per game).
18. Memphis Grizzlies (15-18)
Previous: 18
Get on same page as Ja: The Grizzlies will only go far as Ja Morant takes them. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo must continue working with Morant to get the best out of him. Barring a trade, no other solution makes immediate sense.
19. Portland Trail Blazers (14-19)
Previous: 23
Protect the rock: The Trail Blazers lead the league in turnovers (17.2) and are also last in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.43). In fairness, however, they've played the league's second-most road-heavy slate, with only 12 of their 29 games at home.
20. Atlanta Hawks (15-19)
Previous: 14
Make a Trae call: The Hawks are 0-5 with Trae Young back in the lineup. With Jalen Johnson's emergence as a franchise cornerstone, Atlanta could be compelled to trade Young, who has a 2026-27 player option left on his current deal.
21. Milwaukee Bucks (14-19)
Previous: 20
Start planning for next year: With no update on Giannis Antetokounmpo's future, an inability to develop young talent other than Ryan Rollins, and five of their next seven games on the road, the Bucks might as well view this season as a fait accompli.
22. Utah Jazz (12-20)
Previous: 22
Ship out Lauri: The Jazz are getting outscored by 13.9 points per 100 possessions when Lauri Markkanen sits and have lost all four games he's missed this season. More losses equals better lottery odds amid a protracted rebuild. Do the math.
23. Charlotte Hornets (11-21)
Previous: 24
Sell high on LaMelo: Rookie sharpshooter Kon Knueppel appears to be a star in the making. Charlotte should hand him the keys to the franchise and trade LaMelo Ball for assets that'll set the Hornets up for long-term success.
24. Dallas Mavericks (12-22)
Previous: 19
Trade AD: Assuming Anthony Davis can overcome his latest injury ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, the Mavericks would be foolish to not get anything in return for a player whose peak doesn't align with Cooper Flagg's ascent.
25. Brooklyn Nets (10-20)
Previous: 25
Pick a lane: Tanking is bad for the NBA. The Nets have won seven of 11 behind Michael Porter Jr.'s inspired play, but they don't have the talent to make a playoff push and could benefit from a impactful pick in a top-heavy draft. Both statements can be true.
26. Los Angeles Clippers (11-21)
Previous: 28
Manage Kawhi's load: The Clippers are 8-13 with Kawhi Leonard in the lineup and 2-8 without him. With his next long-term injury always one step away, it would be wise to manage his load, something the Clippers are all too familiar with.
27. New Orleans Pelicans (8-26)
Previous: 29
Focus on the present: The Pelicans were maligned for trading down for Derik Queen, and Zion Williamson's tenure has been mercurial, but the former has been a revelation, and the latter is playing well post-injury. Don't look back in anger, I heard you say.
28. Washington Wizards (7-24)
Previous: 30
Prioritize the kids: It's good to have Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum around a young locker room, but neither veteran should start. The Wizards invested first-round picks in Will Riley and Bub Carrington and need to determine if they're meaningful parts of the team's plans.
29. Sacramento Kings (8-25)
Previous: 27
Tear it down: There's no reason to hang onto Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, or Russell Westbrook. The Kings need to start from scratch and recoup whatever assets they can get for the quartet of veterans, sparking a much-needed rebuild.
30. Indiana Pacers (6-27)
Previous: 26
Book better hotels: Amid a lost campaign due to Tyrese Haliburton's injury and Myles Turner's departure, the Pacers' 1-15 road mark could challenge the comical 1990-91 Sacramento Kings (1-40) for the worst away record in an 82-game season.