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Friendly Bounce Power Rankings: The Toronto Raptors keep climbing

By Matt Cianfrone

Jan 30, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) and guard DeMar DeRozan (10) during their game against the Detroit Pistons at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Pistons 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) and guard DeMar DeRozan (10) during their game against the Detroit Pistons at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Pistons 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 30, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) and guard DeMar DeRozan (10) during their game against the Detroit Pistons at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Pistons 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) and guard DeMar DeRozan (10) during their game against the Detroit Pistons at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Pistons 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Power rankings are a fun project. Every place that covers NBA basketball has some, and every published set of rankings fosters plenty of discussion. With that in mind we here at The Friendly Bounce decided to get involved with our own set of power rankings, but as with all things here we did it with our own little twist. So welcome to the Friendly Bounce Power Rankings where we rank the league in order of fun, taking into account injuries, hot and cold streaks, off-the-court fun and anything else that deals with entertainment.

1. Golden State Warriors (Last week: 1): The Warriors keep rolling along in their quest to beat the Chicago Bulls record of 72 wins. Add in Draymond Green triple-double hunting, something he admitted to doing, and even in blowouts there is something to watch.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (LW: 2): They are really good and now starting to feel disrespected because they don’t think enough people realize it. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant with something to prove? Count me in.

3. Toronto Raptors (LW: 4): 10-0 in the last 10 games is great and almost every game they play is entertaining in some way. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan‘s friendship is the only thing in the league right now that is as great as the Warriors.

4. Los Angeles Clippers (LW: 5): Still fun even without Blake Griffin and they get a boost with J.J. Redick‘s new podcasting career.

5. San Antonio Spurs (LW: 3): Gregg Popovich experimented against the Cavs on Saturday. Feels like we may be getting to the point of the year where Spurs fun starts dropping off quickly.

6. New York Knicks (LW: 6): KRISTAPS!!

7. Cleveland Cavaliers (LW: 10): The Cavs spanked the Spurs on Saturday and are just more fun since Tyronn Lue took over.

8. Portland Trail Blazers (LW: 8): All of a sudden the Blazers are on an 8-2 run, playing meaningful games and sitting at eighth in the West. Terry Stotts is a magician.

9. Dallas Mavericks (LW: 11): Hopefully this makes Dirk Nowitzki happier while his teammates pick on his haircut.

10. Denver Nuggets (LW: 9): The long-term questions remain but this roster has a bunch of really fun pieces.

11. Boston Celtics (LW: 14): Starting to get hot and now Isaiah Thomas has an All-Star berth to boost his confidence. Like it needed any boost.

12. Sacramento Kings (LW: 7): DeMarcus Cousins is hurt and it remains to be seen how much time he will mess. This stinks.

13. Orlando Magic (LW: 17): This is pretty much entirely based on Aaron Gordon dunking.

14. Miami Heat (LW: 15): Are they figuring things out with Hassan Whiteside out of the starting lineup?

15. Washington Wizards (LW: 12): This is purely John Wall.

16. Detroit Pistons (LW: 16): Still lots of Andre Drummond free throw shooting going on.

17. Atlanta Hawks (LW: 13): They just aren’t play well right now and need to be to be ranked high.

18. Charlotte Hornets (LW: 18): Still lots of injuries but Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is back and he will bring plenty of highlights with him.

19. Philadelphia 76ers (LW: 22): Pushed the Warriors to the brink on Saturday. They remain fun now that they have a real NBA point guard.

20. New Orleans Pelicans (LW: 25): The Pelicans are playing better and Jrue Holiday is awesome. This could be a top half of the league team when Norris Cole stops playing so much and King Cake Baby goes away.

21. Houston Rockets (LW: 21): At least they are playing close games at the moment.

22. Indiana Pacers (LW: 20): Myles Turner is pretty fun. So is Paul George. But this team isn’t right now.

23. Minnesota Timberwolves (LW: 28): There were lots of highlights last week. But at the end of the day they are hard to watch for an entire game.

24. Chicago Bulls (LW: 27): Flashes of old Derrick Rose keep occurring which is nice. But this still feels like the same old boring Bulls.

25. Memphis Grizzlies (LW: 24): They are winning but at the end of the day “Grit and Grind” is only so much fun to watch.

26. Los Angeles Lakers (LW:19): Kobe Bryant and the Lakers did some great stuff for people in need this week. Which distracts from the ten game losing streak and the fact that Kobe keeps missing games.

27. Milwaukee Bucks (LW: 26): There are flashes but nothing that feels like it matters. The Lakers jump them purely on off-court charity stuff.

28. Utah Jazz (LW: 23): Getting healthier but their most exciting player is still sidelined.

29. Brooklyn Nets (LW: 30): Brook Lopez is killing it right now.

30. Phoenix Suns (LW: 29): A disaster in every sense. Getting crushed in every game, beat up as can be and now firing the head coach.   

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