NBA Power Rankings Vol. 2

Welcome to Power Rankings Vol. 2

My power rankings are mostly based on teams’ playoff potential, and that’s how they are separated out this week into categories.

You’ll see some rankings you might not agree with there, but most of these teams are put in the order they are in because I believe the teams at the top of the league would not get beat in almost any 7 game series against the rest of the league. Keep that in mind when perusing through the rankings.

This is all about one goal, winning the NBA Title. We’re trying to figure out who is for real and who isn’t. Let’s ride.

The Top Shelf

If you look now, the Lakers are currently not first… not second… but THIRD in the West!? Yet they remain at the top of the Power Rankings? Believe it. The stumbles this week against the 76ers and Pistons do not deter me from keeping them in this top spot.

Chalk that up to weird road trips during a pandemic. LeBron still did this earlier in the week to my Cavaliers, so all is not lost on the season Lakers Fans, let this road trip work itself out.

The Sixers deserve the 2nd spot. They’ve been incredible all year and Joel Embiid is continuing his MVP case game in and game out. They beat the Lakers 107-106 on Wednesday in a potential Finals preview. All is good for now in Philly. Except for Carson Wentz.

The Nets coming in at #3 might surprise people, but it shouldn’t. Harden, Durant, and Kyrie Irving are three of the best late-game scorers in all of the league and they are on the same team. That will prove dangerous for any team they end up facing in the playoffs. Scary hours indeed.

SCARY HOURS!
— James Harden (@JHarden13) January 19, 2021

The Clippers meanwhile have kind of been under the radar this year but currently have one of the most efficient offenses in NBA history. That’s right, NBA history.

I almost had them in the PROVE IT category because of last year’s playoff performance, but this team, specifically Kawhi Leonard, has a different vibe to it.

PROVE IT

Utah Jazz (14-4)
Boston Celtics (10-7)
Milwaukee Bucks (11-6)
Denver Nuggets (11-7)
Indiana Pacers (11-7)
Phoenix Suns (9-8)

Utah has been KILLING teams lately. They are on a 10 game win streak and have no signs of slowing down. They’ve beaten other contenders such as Milwaukee, Denver, and Dallas. They beat some good squads such as the Pelicans in back to back games and the Hawks. But they will remain in this category for now until they beat one of the teams in the above category.

In their last matchup with the Nets, they almost lost by 40. They have a matchup in Denver on Sunday afternoon which appears to be a huge measuring stick for them.

The Celtics finally have their entire starting lineup healthy and back playing together. This team cannot be fully judged until we see Kemba unleashed. But right now, Jaylen Brown has a case for the most improved player award.

The Bucks fall in line with the Jazz in the prove it category. They will continue to struggle at the end of games with the way they run their offense and it will show in the playoffs if they play another of the top teams in the East.

Jokic might win MVP.

S/O Caris Levert, get well soon.

Get healthy and PROVE IT

Portland Trail Blazers (9-8)
Miami Heat (6-12)

The Blazers are good, but it’s a shame that Nurkic isn’t healthy yet again to see their full potential on the court.

Miami hasn’t been healthy all year. Jimmy Butler hasn’t played much. But this team at full strength is still a contender for the title. No team near the top of the East would want to see them in a 7-game series if they end up as a bottom-4 seed again this year.

Now for the rest of the playoff contenders.