Continuing on from our previous post, let’s address the bottom half of this round of rankings. To be frank, there are no teams playing solid basketball past #14, but the season is too early and volatile to nail anyone to their number. In fact, after reading this article, there will definitely be a handful of teams that will play out of their position (in a great way.) As my old boss said, “Expect the worst, hope for the best (and apologize for missing the rest.)”

  1. Los Angeles Lakers – (Down 3, Last POS 13) Father time is tearing this team a new, dimension-altering, sized hole and only Lebron is filling it. Losses to Miami and Orlando left the Lakers fan base struggling for answers, the lack of 1st quarter scoring (noted immediately in the Den-LAL recap) keeps me wondering how such a physical team starts out so slowly and the rotations are suspect. The hope is that a trade will get this team the health and juice it needs to look like a WCF participant again. For now, this team is looking like it’s on their last legs. 
  2. Cleveland Cavaliers – (Up 10, Last POS 27) – The lack of dedicated writing about this team on the last post is mainly due to the huge waiting period I’ve had, specifically with the evolution of this team on both ends of the court. There is this void of characterization between “we’re as good as Donovan Mitchell takes us” and “we play some solid defense (we promise).” Neither end of that spectrum sounds particularly great. This team is either playing down to competition or they secretly stink, yet it has helped produce some solid results so far with wins against the Dubs and Knicks. The rest of their wins are against sub-.500 clubs. . 
  3. Phoenix Suns – (Up 1, LAST POS 19) – Now, here’s a club that, if 100 percent, looks and plays like a force to be reckoned with. However, that top-heavy 1st unit has yet to produce, mainly due to health reasons. This club cannot be only Kevin Durant. We have seen what that leads to from the playoffs last year, as well as KD’s time in Brooklyn. Phoenix (mainly KD) produces for 3 quarters of hard-nosed basketball. Yet, that effort (as seen recently against the Lakers) sputters out to close out games! This team needs its stars back, and soon!
  4. Brooklyn Nets – (Up 1, Last POS 20) Not much to mention about Brooklyn, except they’re doing well figuring out how to beat “beatable” teams. Such teams like the Bulls and Wizards are those that don’t have a flow, identity or basketball plan in place. If Brooklyn can get more wins against such ball clubs, we could see  them sneak in as a 9 or 10-seed for the play-in spot this year. 
  5. New Orleans Pelicans – (Down 11, Last POS 9) Ok, I’m being heavy-handed with the judgment of this team. It’s because the level at which they can play is not at the level of which they are playing. Ingram and Williamson are starting to come on, the team is 2 games above .500, they have quality wins, but the whole thing seems like its holding on by a thread. The “buy-in” narrative surrounding Zion doesn’t make things clearer, but for now, this team has got to show me more. 
  6. Toronto Raptors – (Up 7, Last POS 28) – This team gained 1 quality win since my last post, but has at least played better overall since. They hold this position because the rest of the teams have just played worse. 
  7. San Antonio Spurs – (Down 6, Last POS 16) – I’m kicking myself for buying into the Wemby hype. Not because he’s a fraud or anything. In fact, he’s playing better than I originally expected. It’s the team aspect that’s lacking. There still isn’t a decent system in place to utilize the skills of every starter, the Spurs machine is currently running on media power, and there’s no way I could bet on this team to beat anyone outside of the Clippers (or the teams that follow this one). 
  8. Utah Jazz – (Up 2, Last POS 25) – This team isn’t playing well beyond a sub-.500 team, but Will Hardy has these guys playing hard. At least they don’t have an issue scoring the ball in their wins (124 pts/gm). 
  9. Portland Trailblazers – (Up 2, Last POS 26) – This team rattled off a few wins to start the season better than expected, but have fallen off a map after the Anfernee Simons injury. I know its a rebuild year, but Chauncey is an All-Star player and NBA Champ. He should have the knowledge to get this team back on track. 
  10. Chicago Bulls – (Down 8, Last POS 17) – The decay mentioned in the last post has turned into widespread crumbling. The system is down, the wind has been let out of the sails and this team is now being picked apart by trade rumors and injuries.The best thing that could happen for this team right now is a blockbuster trade for some rebuilding picks.
  11. Los Angeles Clippers – (Down 16, Last POS 10) – I’m glad I hit pause on giving this team praise. I would have had to apologize to my ancestors for jumping that gun. This team is disjointed, terrible on both ends of the floor, it can’t win to save its own franchise and that’s all with 4 All-Stars playing. This is worse than when the Nets put KG, Pierce, JET and Deron Williams together! Someone pray for Brodie. 
  12. Charlotte Hornets – (Down 6, Last POS 22)The reinstatement of Miles Bridges will not move the needle of a team that still has no idea what it has or what it wants to do. 
  13. Washington Wizards – (Down 4, Last POS 24) – Last post’s rank was too high for a team comprised of: A star that’s too selfish to buy in (Poole), a potential All-Star that shoots like a role player (Kuzma), a lack of rebounding (last in the league) and a ghost of a team on defense (28th in Opp PPG). There’s always next year?
  14. Detroit Pistons – (Down 14, Last POS 15) These guys are learning. Let’s just leave it (and their 2-11 record) at that. 
  15. Memphis Grizzlies – (Down 1, Last POS 29) At least we got something right (unfortunately) from the last post! This team is horrible at just about everything and teams it dominated against last season are flaming this team. This could set up an argument made by fellow TSA writer Coach Craig – When Ja comes back, if the Grizzlies go on a tear and are in the top 4 at the end of the season, does that not make Ja Morant the MVP? (Hint: He wouldn’t qualify.)

So, again, where do you have these teams ranked? Who is playing the best ball right now? Which of these teams will crack the top 10 to 15 soon?