• Sign Up
• Contact Us

Power Ranking - The Best is in the West?

Apr, 02 (Week 9) - The Eastern Conference is considered the better conference right now, but the two teams at the top of the Power Rankings can be found out west (or mid-west in one case). [JWalk]

	Rank	Rating	Team		Record	Comment
	1 (2)	112	OKC		10-1 OKC 125, Bos 87 W SA 106, OKC 97 L OKC 127, LAC 124 W OKC 128, Min 82 W Utah 77, OKC 124 W OKC 112, GS 84 W OKC 112, SA 81 W LAL 61, OKC 130 W OKC 107, Bkn 87 W OKC 108, NO 74 W Por 62, OKC 134 W	OKC had a run of 25 wins in 26 games, including a win streak only matched by Philly's undefeated start to the season. But with LeBron out (Kawhi too this week), the Thunder may find it hard to retain the top spot in the west. 25-26
	2 (3)	101	LAC		9-1 OKC 127, LAC 124 L LAC 135, Min 73 W LAC 135, Mia 79 W Pho 80, LAC 136 W Hou 85, LAC 124 W LAC 115, Pho 108 W LAC 122, Por 111 W Tor 102, LAC 138 W Cha 91, LAC 125 W Det 102, LAC 121 W	LAC is on the best current winning streak in the NLL at 11 games. But how much of that is playing weak or unhealthy teams? The last loss taken by the Clippers (127-124 loss to OKC) is also the best (mostly healthy) team they've faced in the past month.
	3 (5)	99	Phi		10-1 Was 117, Phi 126 W Phi 115, Orl 83 W Den 97, Phi 121 W Phi 121, NO 83 W Phi 122, Mia 91 W Cle 90, Phi 123 W Chi 98, Phi 131 W Phi 136, Tor 99 W Phi 126, Ind 132 L Phi 119, Cle 112 W Phi 119, Hou 109 W	A second loss on the season (oh, the horror) has sent Philly on a slight tumble in the Power Rankings but they're still atop the NLL in the standings. As long as they keep signing every free agent in sight, they should be fine.
	4 (1)	97	Cha		9-2 Cha 118, Sac 51 W Cha 108, Utah 90 W Bkn 127, Cha 137 W Cha 115, Bos 87 W NO 62, Cha 116 W Atl 92, Cha 122 W Cha 112, Ind 79 W GS 85, Cha 114 W Atl 104, Cha 94 L Mia 66, Cha 122 W Cha 91, LAC 125 L	Charlotte is holding on to its contender status by the skin of its teeth. They may need a shake-up to push them up to the level of Philly and Milwaukee. The regular season will be kind to them, the playoffs maybe not so much.
	5 (4)	86	Mil		8-1 Mil 127, Ind 76 W Mil 135, Tor 98 W Was 98, Mil 143 W Mil 102, Dal 110 L Mil 101, Cle 83 W Mil 145, Det 74 W Pho 102, Mil 117 W Mil 110, Chi 84 W Dal 108, Mil 118 W	Milwaukee's numerous first-round rookies haven't been of much help despite many getting rotation minutes and it's holding the Bucks back now that they're down KAT and Donovan Mitchell. But Giannis is keeping the team on track for at least the ECF if not a repeat appearance in the Finals.
	6 (6)	80	Bkn		8-2 Cle 104, Bkn 130 W Bkn 135, Chi 102 W Bkn 126, NO 100 W Bkn 127, Cha 137 L Bkn 133, Hou 95 W Bos 113, Bkn 125 W Bkn 148, NY 86 W Was 89, Bkn 118 W Bkn 134, Tor 129 W OKC 107, Bkn 87 L	Since the team's 3-game losing streak that spanned Weeks 3 and 4, the Nets have won 18 of 20 games. Steph Curry's brilliant Week 8 helped with that, but more help from the supporting cast has been a boon as well.
	7 (8)	69	Mem		8-4 Mem 112, Utah 94 W GS 95, Mem 124 W Mem 99, Pho 91 W Atl 115, Mem 86 L Mem 78, Was 109 L Ind 74, Mem 109 W Mem 103, Det 110 L Mem 114, Dal 104 W Mem 91, Utah 106 L Mem 117, Por 83 W Mem 115, GS 78 W Mem 97, Sac 84 W	The win-now push was stalled by KAT being out for the start of the season, but even with him back, Memphis' push to the top of the West has been a rocky climb. They're a mere 6-4 in their last 10 games.
	8 (11)	66	NY		8-4 NY 118, Det 93 W Cle 110, NY 113 W Bos 101, NY 128 W Hou 118, NY 124 W NY 107, Tor 119 L Mia 68, NY 120 W Bkn 148, NY 86 L Orl 92, NY 102 W SA 104, NY 92 L NY 104, Por 97 W NY 117, NO 109 W NY 117, Ind 135 L	Donovan Mitchell has been outstanding, but not enough to carry a Knicks team saddled with injuries. This was supposed to be New York's year, but they're currently out of the top 8 in the East standings.
	9 (9)	61	Atl		8-4 Atl 117, Tor 105 W Dal 108, Atl 110 W Atl 99, Hou 100 L Atl 115, Mem 86 W Atl 71, Pho 127 L Atl 111, Was 92 W Atl 92, Cha 122 L Atl 106, Mia 76 W Atl 90, Was 109 L Atl 104, Cha 94 W LAL 91, Atl 117 W Atl 112, Utah 109 W	Eric Bledsoe is defying his NBA counterpart by leading the Hawks not just in scoring, but also to a middling playoff spot in a crowded Eastern Conference.
	10 (13)	55	Den		7-4 Utah 108, Den 117 W Chi 77, Den 100 W Den 111, Hou 103 W Den 97, Phi 121 L Den 119, GS 100 W Hou 124, Den 102 L Det 96, Den 97 W Ind 111, Den 96 L Den 114, Dal 129 L Min 90, Den 103 W Den 98, Orl 80 W	After starting 3-17, the Nuggets are trying to ruin the tank by going 7-4 in the team's last 11 games.
	11 (17)	54	Dal		6-5 Was 115, Dal 108 L Dal 108, Atl 110 L Dal 95, Por 107 L Cle 91, Dal 109 W Dal 106, Sac 60 W Mil 102, Dal 110 W Mem 114, Dal 104 L Den 114, Dal 129 W Por 116, Dal 120 W Dal 116, Bos 94 W Dal 108, Mil 118 L	Dallas is stuck between tanking and pushing toward the top. They have young talent, but also some quality veterans. Except that they're very clearly behind OKC and LAC. Perhaps Bagley or Carter Jr. could be dangled for a win-now piece.
	12 (20)	50	SA		6-4 NO 96, SA 95 L SA 94, Sac 107 L SA 105, Det 112 L SA 106, OKC 97 W SA 107, Utah 97 W LAL 70, SA 104 W OKC 112, SA 81 L SA 104, NY 92 W Utah 98, SA 116 W SA 109, Min 84 W	We'll circle back to San Antonio when AD returns.
	13 (12)	42	LAL		6-5 Orl 85, LAL 109 W LAL 101, Sac 85 W LAL 77, Por 95 L LAL 95, NO 74 W Sac 74, LAL 91 W LAL 122, Tor 91 W LAL 70, SA 104 L LAL 61, OKC 130 L GS 95, LAL 110 W LAL 91, Atl 117 L Mia 91, LAL 75 L	After a promising stretch from Week 5 to Week 8, the Lakers have now lost seven of nine games.
	14 (19)	40	Ind		6-4 Mil 127, Ind 76 L Ind 97, Cle 101 L Ind 106, Min 79 W Ind 115, Was 108 W Ind 74, Mem 109 L Cha 112, Ind 79 L Ind 136, Bos 133 W Phi 126, Ind 132 W Ind 111, Den 96 W NY 117, Ind 135 W	Indiana might be the most dangerous team to the contenders at the top of the East. When they're fully healthy (if that ever happens), they have the star power to face up against the best. Case in point, the Pacers' win over Philly last week. Health has held them down in the standings, but come playoff time, you could see this team in the ECF or even the Finals themselves.
	15 (10)	40	Was		5-6 Was 117, Phi 126 L Was 115, Dal 108 W Was 98, Mil 143 L Ind 115, Was 108 L Mem 78, Was 109 W Orl 79, Was 99 W Atl 111, Was 92 L Atl 90, Was 109 W Was 89, Bkn 118 L Was 118, Pho 120 L Was 128, GS 81 W	The Wizards are being carried by one of the best backcourt in the NLL, but held back by perhaps the most underwhelming frontcourts.
	16 (18)	37	Hou		5-6 Hou 99, NO 100 L Den 111, Hou 103 L Atl 99, Hou 100 W Hou 118, NY 124 L Bkn 133, Hou 95 L Hou 85, LAC 124 L Hou 124, Den 102 W Hou 106, GS 99 W Hou 136, Utah 108 W Phi 119, Hou 109 L Cle 81, Hou 108 W	The Rockets are likely one premiere guard away from being a top team in the west. Nikola Jokic needs a partner in the backcourt.
	17 (7)	37	Por		5-5 Por 112, Orl 70 W LAL 77, Por 95 W Dal 95, Por 107 W Por 109, Utah 88 W LAC 122, Por 111 L Por 123, Cle 99 W NY 104, Por 97 L Mem 117, Por 83 L Por 116, Dal 120 L Por 62, OKC 134 L	This team may never get a chance to settle down with how many trades are being made. Perhaps the latest one will get them off a five-game losing streak.
	18 (21)	36	Det		5-5 NY 118, Det 93 L SA 105, Det 112 W Mia 78, Det 104 W Mil 145, Det 74 L Mem 103, Det 110 W Det 96, Den 97 L Orl 79, Det 101 W Cle 107, Det 113 W Det 98, Tor 101 L Det 102, LAC 121 L	Detroit is gearing up for a push to the top of the East. They've won four of their last six games, and with Vuc joining the team, there are more winning stretches ahead (at least more than there have been).
	19 (14)	33	Pho		4-6 Min 87, Pho 100 W Chi 79, Pho 103 W Mem 99, Pho 91 L Pho 80, LAC 136 L LAC 115, Pho 108 L Atl 71, Pho 127 W Pho 126, Bos 131 L Pho 102, Mil 117 L Was 118, Pho 120 W NO 100, Pho 92 L	You know what I said about Indiana earlier? Just paste what I said up there, but sub out some of the names for ones relevant to Phoenix and the Western Conference.
	20 (15)	33	Tor		5-6 Atl 117, Tor 105 L Tor 95, Orl 68 W Sac 83, Tor 108 W Mil 135, Tor 98 L Mia 80, Tor 94 W NY 107, Tor 119 W LAL 122, Tor 91 L Phi 136, Tor 99 L Tor 102, LAC 138 L Det 98, Tor 101 W Bkn 134, Tor 129 L	Mitchell Robinson is gone, will other top guys on the squad be next? Toronto is already down in the standings so they can't fall much further.
	21 (16)	25	Bos		4-6 OKC 125, Bos 87 L Bos 101, NY 128 L Chi 105, Bos 112 W Cha 115, Bos 87 L Bos 113, Bkn 125 L Pho 126, Bos 131 W Orl 84, Bos 114 W Ind 136, Bos 133 L Bos 112, Mia 99 W Dal 116, Bos 94 L	Boston is proof that you do actually need depth to have a good team. The Celtics facing the prospect of not making the playoffs despite having two bona fide stars and a quality big in the starting lineup. They just have almost nothing else.
	22 (24)	13	NO		4-7 NO 96, SA 95 W Bkn 126, NO 100 L Hou 99, NO 100 W NO 62, Cha 116 L LAL 95, NO 74 L Phi 121, NO 83 L NO 91, Min 95 L NO 100, Pho 92 W OKC 108, NO 74 L NO 92, Chi 88 W NY 117, NO 109 L	New Orleans has lost nine of their last 12 games, but their most recent trade brought in two great young players in Coby White and Mitchell Robinson. They'll function as win-now AND win-later pieces.
	23 (27)	9	Min		3-7 Min 87, Pho 100 L OKC 128, Min 82 L LAC 135, Min 73 L Ind 106, Min 79 L Min 106, Chi 115 L NO 91, Min 95 W Orl 89, Min 107 W Sac 101, Min 110 W SA 109, Min 84 L Min 90, Den 103 L	The T-Wolves would be the worst team in the West, but the Kings are still a thing.
	24 (28)	3	Cle		2-9 Cle 104, Bkn 130 L Cle 110, NY 113 L Ind 97, Cle 101 W Cle 91, Dal 109 L Mil 101, Cle 83 L Por 123, Cle 99 L Cle 90, Phi 123 L Chi 89, Cle 107 W Cle 107, Det 113 L Phi 119, Cle 112 L Cle 81, Hou 108 L	Cleveland won four straight games spanning eight days back in February. Since Feb. 24 (the final win in that streak), the Cavs have won three games and collected 15 losses.
	25 (23)	2	Chi		2-8 Chi 79, Pho 103 L Bkn 135, Chi 102 L Chi 77, Den 100 L Chi 105, Bos 112 L Sac 93, Chi 105 W Min 106, Chi 115 W Chi 98, Phi 131 L Chi 89, Cle 107 L Mil 110, Chi 84 L NO 92, Chi 88 L	Al Horford may be done for the year, but he's still on the trade block in our hearts.
	26 (25)	1	Utah		2-9 Mem 112, Utah 94 L Utah 108, Den 117 L Cha 108, Utah 90 L Utah 103, GS 94 W Utah 77, OKC 124 L Por 109, Utah 88 L SA 107, Utah 97 L Mem 91, Utah 106 W Utah 98, SA 116 L Atl 112, Utah 109 L Hou 136, Utah 108 L	Devin Booker is consistently a POTW nominee, but that's just about all the Jazz have going for them at this point.
	27 (26)	-9	Mia		2-8 GS 71, Mia 82 W LAC 135, Mia 79 L Mia 78, Det 104 L Mia 80, Tor 94 L Mia 68, NY 120 L Phi 122, Mia 91 L Atl 106, Mia 76 L Mia 66, Cha 122 L Mia 91, LAL 75 W Bos 112, Mia 99 L	A solid start to the season is long-forgotten thanks to the current run of 11 losses in 12 games.
	28 (30)	-10	Orl		1-10 Orl 85, LAL 109 L Tor 95, Orl 68 L Por 112, Orl 70 L Phi 115, Orl 83 L Orl 79, Was 99 L Orl 89, Min 107 L Orl 92, NY 102 L Orl 84, Bos 114 L Orl 79, Det 101 L Den 98, Orl 80 L Sac 54, Orl 105 W	The Magic just gained a great GM, but also lost the most recent battle of tanking teams by beating Sacramento.
	29 (22)	-14	GS		1-10 GS 95, Mem 124 L Utah 103, GS 94 L GS 71, Mia 82 L Den 119, GS 100 L OKC 112, GS 84 L Sac 91, GS 94 W GS 85, Cha 114 L GS 95, LAL 110 L Hou 106, GS 99 L Mem 115, GS 78 L Was 128, GS 81 L	How is the team currently 10th in the West (not good, but not 29th in the Power Rankings bad)? They lost 10 games in 11 tries with that one win being a three-point victory over the Kings. GS has won two straight games in Week 10 though, so a turnaround may be coming.
	30 (29)	-15	Sac		1-10 SA 94, Sac 107 W LAL 101, Sac 85 L Cha 118, Sac 51 L Sac 83, Tor 108 L Sac 93, Chi 105 L Dal 106, Sac 60 L Sac 74, LAL 91 L Sac 91, GS 94 L Sac 101, Min 110 L Mem 97, Sac 84 L Sac 54, Orl 105 L	The Kings are on the league's worst losing streak at the moment. Losers of 13 straight, Sacramento isn't too far off being officially eliminated from the playoffs.

Week 1 · Week 2 · Week 3 · Week 4 · Week 5 · Week 6 · Week 7 · Week 8 · Week 9 · Week 10 · Week 11 · Week 12 · Week 13 · Week 14 · Week 15 · Week 18 · Week 19 · Week 20 ·