Now, as we sit a month and a half into the NBA season, teams are starting to reveal themselves as true contenders or expose themselves as pretenders. Hoping to compare with my initial power rankings on the year, I look forward to seeing what has changed and what hasn’t. Mavericks fans, you guys may want to skip this one. Also, I will be including each team’s biggest surprise of the year along with their ranking
Honorable Mentions:
Boston Celtics:
The Celtics might literally be the biggest surprise in the NBA. Esteemed sports writer (including myself) counted them out of having any chance at competing. I had them out of the Top 13, personally. But they are 15-11 on the year, and have competed with everyone.
Phoenix Suns:
The Phoenix Suns are another surprising team, as well. After missing the play-in last year and trading Kevin Durant, fans predicted the lottery, and the Suns proved them wrong. They are, at the time of writing, 14-12, despite starting 1-4.
Philadelphia 76ers:
The 76ers started the year hot, but they’ve coasted around to hold a 14-11 record at the time of writing. Rookie V.J. Edgecombe has been a sensation, but fans of his need to relax and understand that he still has flaws in his game he needs to flesh out.
10) Toronto Raptors
Biggest Surprise: Sandro Mamukelashvili
The Raptors started the year 1-4, and much like the Suns, recovered to hold a record of 14-5 in late November. They even surmounted a 9-game winning streak, towering to 1st in the East. Since then, they have lost 6 of their last 8 at the time of writing, but they have convincing wins that lead me to list them in the top-10. Yes, given time, these Raptors could plummet down the rankings. But as of now, I have them firmly in the top-10 in the league. Sandro Mamukelashvili, newcomer from the San Antonio Spurs, has been phenomenal. He’s averaged close to 10 points a game and 4 rebounds, a 4 point improvement from last year. Toronto has relied on him to step into a bigger role, and he has delivered as of now. If Toronto can return to the form they had during their 9-game winning streak, they should remain contenders in the East, starting the beginning of a new era in Toronto.
9) Orlando Magic
Biggest Surprise: Desmond Bane’s Rage
The Orlando Magic, despite many missed games by star Paolo Banchero, have been able to remain afloat in the East, winning 15 out of their first 26 to lead the Southwest division and be placed at 4th in the Eastern Conference. The Magic are 10-4 at home, and have the 6th best offense in the East, and the 4th best defense. Franz Wagner leads them in scoring, with almost 23 points per game. Paolo, missing time, averages just over 20 points. Rounding out the third spot on the list, newcomer Desmond Bane is averaging 19. Speaking of Desmond Bane, the former Grizzlies guard has been racking up fine after this season. For starters, he threw the basketball at Hawks center Onyeka Okungwu, receiving a flagrant foul, and a hefty fine afterward. Then, recently, a similar incident occurred in which Bane threw the ball at Knicks forward OG Anunoby. You could say he’s been playing with a sense of rage and fire. If that means the Magic will play better, then by all means, he should continue.
8) Minnesota Timberwolves
Biggest Surprise: Lack of Dominance Against Bad Teams
The Timberwolves lie at 17-10 at the time of writing, and they’ve been winning games at a high rate, with guard Anthony Edwards averaging 28.6 points a game. Rudy Gobert is averaging a double-double, and Randle is shooting 50% from the field and 35% from three, and Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and Donte DiVincenzo are holding it down in supporting roles. The Timberwolves are winning. But, if you take a closer look, you’ll realize that the Timberwolves only meaningful win was against the Victor Wembanyama-less Spurs by 13 and the Boston Celtics by 4. The Timberwolves, in all honesty, have not played well against good teams. Furthermore, they also haven’t dominated against bad teams as much as they should either. They have losses against the Lakers with Luka and without Luka, Nuggets, Thunder, Knicks, and the Suns. They also have close wins against Portland, Indiana, Utah, New Orleans, and the Clippers. They really have not been playing well enough to be considered contenders.
7) San Antonio Spurs
Biggest Surprise: Good Record Despite Injuries
The San Antonio Spurs having a good record is no surprise to NBA fans. Coming into the season, the core of Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle was expected to be solid. However, Wemby fell to injury on November 14th. Almost a month later, and the Spurs have only improved their record. After winning 8 of their first 12 before Wemby suffered his injury, the Spurs have won 10 of their last 13 to improve to a 18-7 record and a berth against the Thunder in the NBA Cup. All of this was accomplished without Wembanyama. Considering the Spurs with Wemby started out 5-0 in dominant fashion, I can only imagine the potential this team has when they are fully healthy. In fact, we haven’t even seen them unlock Carter Bryant or Dylan Harper, but both of them have shown potential despite low usage. Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell have both been solid scorers in their roles, and veteran Harrison Barnes has been shooting the lights out this year at 43.4% from three. The Spurs look good, and if they’re playing like this without Wemby, just wait until he’s back.
6) New York Knicks
Biggest Surprise: Guerschon Yabusele’s Usage
The New York Knicks ended last year in heartbreaking fashion, dropping the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals despite having home court advantage. The Knicks this season has painted a very different picture. New York is 13-1 at home this season at the time of writing, their only loss coming against the Orlando Magic in early November. Guard Jalen Brunson has been phenomenal, averaging 28 points a game, while Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 22 and 12, but his shooting level has heavily decreased from last season. The Knicks are 18-7 and currently sit at 2nd in the Eastern Conference. However, I must say I am disappointed in how little they have used Guerschon Yabusele this year. The French forward who dunked on LeBron James in the Olympics and broke out with the Philadelphia 76ers last year, has seen his minutes dip from 27.1 to a measly 9.8. I don’t know if it’s because the Knicks depth is better than the 76ers’ was, or if the coach doesn’t see what he brings to the table, but Yabusele deserves more usage than he’s gotten.
5) Houston Rockets
Biggest Surprise: Reed Sheppard
The Houston Rockets have been just as good as anybody (except the Thunder) this year. Despite starting 0-2, the Rockets are 16-7 at the time of writing and are just 1 game behind the Spurs for 1st in the Southwest division, largely because the Spurs have played 3 more games. The Rockets are among the only teams to have come close to beating the Thunder. Furthermore, they are one of only three teams who are top 5 in points scored per game and points allowed per game. They are a two-way team, and they are very solid in every aspect of the game. The Rockets are number one in rebounds (number one in offensive rebounds as well) and top 3 in three-point percentage. They are also top 5 in field goal percentage. Despite losing guard Fred VanVleet to an ACL injury during the offseason, the Rockets have remained just as good as when he was healthy. This is largely due to breakout guard Reed Sheppard, who looks to remain the team’s premier point guard off the bench for years to come.
4) Detroit Pistons
Biggest Surprise: Jaden Ivey’s Struggles
The Detroit Pistons’ success is not at all a surprise. I, personally, had them as a top 8 team in my initial power rankings article. They’ve been much better than even I expected though. The Pistons are 21-5, and 11-2 at home. They currently lead the Eastern Conference by two games, and they lead the league in blocks per game. Star guard Cade Cunningham is averaging 27 points a game and 9 assists, while center Jalen Duren is averaging over 18 points per game and 11 rebounds. Newly acquired Duncan Robinson is averaging just over 12 points a game on 40% shooting from three. One person who has disappointed me, however, is Jaden Ivey. After averaging over 17 points per game in 30 games last year, Jaden Ivey has averaged just 7.8 in his first 10 games of action. Granted, it has been on a minutes restriction. However, I guess I just expected more from him after his scorching start last year pre-injury. Overall, Detroit’s effort this season has been phenomenal, and their 13-game winning streak in the first 20 games of the year truly demonstrates the new level the Pistons are on.
3) Los Angeles Lakers
Biggest Surprise: Austin Reaves Rise to Stardom
The Los Angeles Lakers have been phenomenal to start the year, and despite injuries to Luka and LeBron, they have managed an 18-7 start to the year, propelling them to 1st in the Pacific Division and 3rd in the Western Conference. New acquisition Deandre Ayton has played great, averaging 15 points per game and 9 rebounds. Though LeBron James broke his record streak of 10+ point games, he has played solid post-injury, averaging 17 points and 8 assists. Luka Doncic has played possibly the best basketball of his life, averaging 35 points per game, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. Granted, his shooting has certainly been down lately, but he’s averaging 35. However, the biggest surprise of all, is Austin Reaves. The Lakers knew he was good, but surely nobody knew he could be this good. Austin Reaves has averaged 28 points on 50% field goal shooting. He, when LeBron and Luka were out, carried the Lakers to key wins even when the odds were against him. He is truly inspirational, and his growing from an undrafted free agent to a 28 point per game scorer is very impressive.
2) Denver Nuggets
Biggest Surprise: Peyton Watson
The Denver Nuggets retooled this offseason to build maybe the best team they have ever had around Nikola Jokic. They finally got him a backup center, two flamethrowers in Cam Johnson and Tim Hardaway Jr, and they regained a former championship asset in Bruce Brown. They are now 19-6 and 2nd in the West. Nikola Jokic is averaging 29.8 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 10.8 assists, leading his team in all three categories on 61.3% from the field. Jamal Murray is scoring 25 a night, and shooting 50/45/90 splits. Aaron Gordon, who has dealt with injuries all year, is nevertheless averaging 18.8 points a game, including a 50 point outing in the season opener on 80% from the field and 90% from three. But besides that big three, guard Peyton Watson has impressed the Nuggets. He is averaging 10.5 points a game this year. Now, last year he did average 8.1, but he has improved by over 2 points without gaining that much playing time. He’s really developed his offensive game and fits in well with this Denver team that looks to challenge the best team in the West.
1) Oklahoma City Thunder
Biggest Surprise: That Anyone Doubted Them
Speaking of the best team in the West, no surprise it’s the Thunder. The defending champion Thunder. The 24-2, led by defending regular season and Finals MVP, 32.4 point per game scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder. The number one seed, who holds the second highest scoring offense and the first lowest points allowing defense by 4 points, Thunder. The Oklahoma City Thunder who are beating their opponents by an average of 16.8 points a game Thunder. That Thunder team. I’m not even sure what there is to talk about this Thunder team. They didn’t really change their roster after winning the Finals, and it doesn’t seem to matter. Even without guard Jalen Williams, the Thunder were 18-1 to start the year, their only loss coming against the Trailblazers. They have dominated from the start of every game, and at the moment, I don’t see anyone challenging them unless another player gets injured. This team has grit, shooting, basketball IQ, and every aspect that coaches can’t coach. That makes the regular coaching easy for former coach of the year Mark Daigneault. The only real surprise this season is that anyone didn’t think they’d remain this good, because they are this good.
Final Thoughts
What an anticlimactic number one, am I right? Well, here we try to be as objective as possible, and honestly having a number two feels a little disrespectful to the Thunder because they are so far ahead of the rest that it’s not even funny. Regardless, there still is plenty of season left, and as the Pacers, Mavericks, and Celtics can remember from last year, injuries can happen, and change the course of NBA history drastically, so there is plenty to see.
Stay tuned into The Roundup for more professional sports coverage!