NBA Power Rankings: The Los Angeles Clippers’ curse is lame
Brooklyn Nets 9-36
Last week: 1-7
Last rank: 30th
Things are not getting better in Brooklyn. Look away Billy King, look away.
Los Angeles Lakers 16-32
Last week: 1-5
Last rank: 25th
These are not your father’s Los Angeles Lakers. Luke Walton’s team is in a prolonged funk right now. A 49-point loss to a lottery team is not what was supposed to happen this season.
Phoenix Suns 15-30
Last week: 3-4
Last rank: 27th
The Phoenix Suns went to Mexico and Devin Booker went supernova. The second-year guard is looking more and more like the superstar we all had him pegged to be after last season.
Miami Heat 16-30
Last week: 4-1
Last rank: 29th
DION WAITERS CARES NOT FOR YOUR HISTORICAL ASSEMBLY OF TALENT, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS! The Miami Heat are looking more and more like a competent NBA team now, which might not be going along with Pat Riley’s ambitions of grandeur (also known as tanking).
Dallas Mavericks 16-29
Last week: 5-2
Last rank: 28th
Dirk Nowitzki is the starting center of the Dallas Mavericks and it’s actually working. 2017 is a weird, weird year.
Minnesota Timberwolves 17-28
Last week: 4-2
Last rank: 24th
While it was starting to look like a good time to declare all hope lost for the Timberwolves to make the playoffs, Minnesota has played more like the team we expected as of late and sits just two games out of the eighth seed.
Orlando Magic 18-29
Last week: 2-5
Last rank: 22nd
The Orlando Magic have not really done much this year, they’ll likely be both buyers and sellers at the trade deadline. Whatever they do, keeping Elfrid Payton would be a smart thing. Whatever they do, keeping Elfrid Payton would be a smart thing.
Sacramento Kings 18-27
Last week: 2-5
Last rank: 17th
DeMarcus Cousins is likely in Sacramento for the foreseeable future and I for one am absolutely thrilled. The more mayhem surrounding Boogie, the better for us all.
Philadelphia 76ers 17-27
Last week: 6-2
Last rank: 26th
Trust. The. Process. Joel Embiid’s Twitter campaign actually worked (he finished third in the fan vote). Plus the Sixers are actually winning games (AGAINST GOOD TEAMS!). All of this means, in the words of Kevin Garnett, “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!”
New York Knicks 20-27
Last week: 3-5
Last rank: 20th
The New York Knicks season was perfectly summed up in their final possession last night against the Washington Wizards; Carmelo Anthony forcing the issue, Kristaps Porzingis being ignored, and the rest of the roster not stepping up. The Melo-Drama lives on in the Big Apple both on and off the court.
Detroit Pistons 21-25
Last week: 3-3
Last rank: 18th
Something is amiss with the Detroit Pistons this season, but Stan Van Gundy has not been able to put his finger on it yet.
Portland Trail Blazers 20-27
Last week: 2-4
Last rank: 16th
Damian Lillard is back and the Portland Trail Blazers continue to lose. They are only a few good weeks of play away from stealing away a playoff spot. Plus Lillard and CJ McCollum are REALLY good.
New Orleans Pelicans 18-28
Last week: 3-4
Last rank: 21st
Anthony Davis is an All-Star starter a year too late. I’m sure the Benson’s aren’t complaining about getting their star player for cheaper than market value though. How about that Terrence Jones guy? 36 points and late game isolations against LeBron James? That’s bang for your buck.
Denver Nuggets 19-25
Last week: 5-2
Last rank: 23rd
Give me a 20-minute video of Nikola Jokic passing the ball please and thank you.
Milwaukee Bucks 21-24
Last week: 2-6
Last rank: 14th
Giannis Antetokounmpo broke the Bucks franchise 29-year stretch without a starter in the NBA All-Star game. This will not be the last time Antetokounmpo sets records for Milwaukee. Please, Basketball Gods give us Jabari Parker and Antetokounmpo in the playoffs this year!