NBA Team Rankings: Boston’s Statement

After another week of basketball capped off by the Christmas Day slate of games, I have updated team rankings. For Christmas, we got a lot of great presents: Jayson Tatum’s poster dunk on Giannis, Luka Doncic showing up to the game dressed up like a cowboy, and Joel Embiid taking over Madison Square Garden.

As always, the way I create these rankings is by answering the question: if the playoffs started today, who’s going to win the championship? I answer that question and then continue the rankings by comparing teams until I get to the last one.

1. Boston Celtics (24-10) – last week: 2nd

The Celtics ended their week with a 21 point runaway win over the Bucks. Jayson Tatum finished the game with 41 points and Boston made 19 threes.

2. Milwaukee Bucks (22-11) – last week: 1st

Khris Middleton missed all four of Milwaukee’s games this week and they dropped three of them. The losses were against good opponents (Celtics, Nets and Cavs), but Middleton’s ongoing knee issues have to at least make Bucks fans slightly uneasy.

3. Memphis Grizzlies (20-12) – last week: 3rd

Memphis struggled in their latest loss against the Warriors. This was a weird one and outside of Ja Morant, the Grizzlies did not get very solid contributions.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (22-12) – last week: 4th

After a slow start, the Cavs dropped Friday’s game to Toronto 118-107. Donovan Mitchell struggled in that one after his great performance against Milwaukee.

5. Brooklyn Nets (21-12) – last week: 5th

Brooklyn is up to eight straight wins with a demolition of the Warriors and a win over the Bucks. Kevin Durant is shooting just above 56% from the field this season which is the highest mark of his career.

6. New Orleans Pelicans (20-12) – last week: 6th

The Pelicans went 2-1 this week and held on for an overtime win over the Thunder on Friday. Trey Murphy had 23 points and 5 threes in the win.

7. Denver Nuggets (21-11) – last week: 7th

Denver just won an overtime thriller against Phoenix last night in which Nikola Jokic put up yet another wild stat line of 41 points, 15 assists, and 15 rebounds. They won all three of their games this week.

8. Philadelphia 76ers (20-12) – last week: 9th

Philadelphia was able to weather the storm against the Knicks and come out with their eight victory in a row. Joel Embiid had 35 points and 8 rebounds in the win.

9. Phoenix Suns (19-15) – last week: 8th

The Suns lost three of four this week after last nights tough loss to the Nuggets. Landry Shamet had 31 points off the bench.

10. Los Angeles Clippers (19-15) – last week: 11th

The Clippers are slowly climbing the rankings. The lost a tight one to the 76ers on Friday 119-114. In that one, Kawhi Leonard had 28 points.

11. Dallas Mavericks (18-16) – last week: 12th

Dallas outscored the Lakers by THIRTY points in the third quarter to propel them to their nine point win. Christian Wood had a big night with 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.

12. Sacramento Kings (17-14) – last week: 10th

The Kings went 1-2 this week after dropping one to the Wizards. In the loss, Domantas Sabonis had a triple double with 20 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists.

13. New York Knicks (18-16) – last week: 14th

The Knicks have lost three close ones after their win streak. They played really well yesterday for the first quarter and a half, but could not seal the deal against Philadelphia.

14. Portland Trailblazers (17-16) – last week: 13th

Portland has lost three straight with two in a row coming against the Thunder. In their latest loss to Denver, Damian Lillard had 34 points.

15. Utah Jazz (19-16) – last week: 16th

Utah is coming off of a win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday in which they got solid contributions from Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, and Malik Beasley. Despite most people thinking they would be one of the worst teams in the league this season, they have proven that false and are right in the mix for a playoff spot.

16. Toronto Raptors (15-18) – last week: 23rd

Toronto had a few really good showings this week. Pascal Siakam had a 52 point outing against the Knicks and they took full advantage of the Cavs’ defensive lapses on Friday. It’s too early to count them out.

17. Indiana Pacers (17-16) – last week: 18th

Tyrese Haliburton capped off an incredible 43 point game with a 28 foot three pointer to beat the Heat on Friday. He continues to shout and I think he has to be an All-Star right now.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (16-17) – last week: 19th

Minnesota split with the Mavericks and then lost to Boston on Friday. In the loss against Boston, Anthony Edwards had 30 points.

19. Golden State Warriors (16-18) – last week: 17th

After two putrid performances, the Warriors bounced back and beat Memphis. Jordan Poole made his best effort at a Curry impression and finished with 32.

20. Miami Heat (16-17) – last week: 15th

Miami lost two more games at home this week to the Bulls and Pacers. They currently have the 29th ranked scoring offense in the NBA.

21. Atlanta Hawks (17-16) – last week: 20th

Atlanta was able to go 2-1 this week wins over the Magic and Pistons. In their victory over the Pistons, Trae Young and Dejounte Murray had 26 points each.

22. Chicago Bulls (14-18) – last week: 24th

The Bulls have been able to win three straight games. Bulls fans got to see a familiar sight with their victory ending in a DeMar DeRozan game winner against New York. DeMar finished with 25 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds.

23. Orlando Magic (13-21) – last week: 22nd

Orlando got whatever they wanted in their latest win over the Spurs 133-113. Cole Anthony had 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists in the win.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder (14-19) – last week: 25th

Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 44 points, the Thunder fell short to the Pelicans on Friday. They won their other two games against Portland this week.

25. Los Angeles Lakers (13-20) – last week: 21st

The Lakers’ defense has dropped off big time without Anthony Davis. They just gave up 124 to the Mavericks and 51 in the third quarter alone. LeBron was the only reason they had a chance in that game.

26. Washington Wizards (13-21) – last week: 26th

The Wizards went 2-1 this week. Kyle Kuzma had 32 points and 9 rebounds in their win over the Kings on Friday.

27. San Antonio Spurs (10-22) – last week: 28th

San Antonio had a brutal showing against Orlando on Friday. They allowed 17 threes in the 133-113 loss.

28. Houston Rockets (9-23) – last week: 27th

Houston got absolutely torched by Luka Doncic on Friday. In the loss, Jabari Smith Jr. had 24 points and 10 rebounds.

29. Charlotte Hornets (9-24) – last week: 30th

The Hornets were able to take down the Lakers on Friday 134-130. In the win, they got a really solid performance from P.J. Washington who finished with 24 points.

30. Detroit Pistons (8-27) – last week: 29th

Detroit lost all three games this week by double digits. Killian Hayes contributed 17 points in their loss to Atlanta on Friday.