Happy New Year readers! Glad to get the next 3rd of the NBA season started with a new set of rankings. As you give this a quick read, just a few notes:

If your team made it in 1 through 10

  • Your team is playing the best ball in the league right now. 
  • Ranking just comes down to heads-up matches and readiness
  • These are playoff teams

If your team made it 11 – 15

  • You have had some frustrating games, but your team is doing enough to be considered a playoff team.
  • You either have consistency or injury issues.
  • A trade will help

For teams 16-20

  • Your team had some cool runs, a flash in the pan or you just ran out of gas. The play-in might be the ceiling for you.
  • There needs to be a big overhaul of the staff, team, or a “come to Jesus” moment for yall. 
  • Trades will be fun but, unless you get that Laker luck, see you in the Caribbean 

For teams 21-30

  • Next year. I know it sounds cliché, but a few of these teams are looking good in the building process. Be patient, be kind to your neighbors (they’re better than you) and enjoy some good basketball.
  • Don’t change a thing, unless you’re Detroit or Washington. In that case just move or change everything 
  • Your team might get picked apart at the trade deadline. Wait to buy a jersey.

Maybe that will help you skip ahead to your team.

  1. Oklahoma City Thunder (Last rank: 7) – OK, yes this team had 2 recent losses, but the wins highly outweigh them. If the playoffs started today, I’d have this team in the WCF at minimum.
  2. Boston Celtics (Last rank: 2) – Lack of getting that number 1 spot has been due to two things: Performance against the top-10 on this list and performanced against the bottom of the pack. If this team is Championship-bound l, they’ll need more end-to-end dominance. Otherwise, what happened to Milwaukee last season could happen to them.
  3. Milwaukee Bucks (Last rank 10) – The Bucks are becoming more of what they embraced with the Dame acquisition: an offensive phenomenon with the potential to defend. The charge is being led by MVP-candidate Giannis. The rest of the team just needs to follow. Sometimes they’re on, sometimes they’re not.
  4. Minnesota Timberwolves (Last rank: 1) – This is a big drop considering the resume Minny has put together so far. Yet, key losses against the head of the pack and a few middle-of-the-road teams have this team fighting to right the ship.
  5. Denver Nuggets (Last rank 8) – This is a tale of two fronts: Injuries and flow. The first hurdle has been overcome. That hamstring for Murray slowed him, but it hasn’t stopped him..Flow; you can either attribute this to the lack of balance in calls from refs, early game execution or some teams just throwing some haymakers. Nonetheless, this team is bleeding a little. Someone teams are smelling it.
  6. Philadelphia 76ers (Last rank: 5) – “Will he, won’t he” play? Big question for Embiid whom has shown up big overall, but has missed some key games (how do you not play on Xmas). The team is having no issue scoring, but the lack of Embiid on games have left the 4th quarter up for grabs. Does this team want a ring?
  7. Dallas Mavericks (Last rank: 4) – This is a much-improved Luka-led squad which has nailed down its priorities and identity. The team plays with a style that’s a lot like an AAU team (ride the star/hot hand, everyone else help) Sometimes it works, sometimes a team just does better than Luka. At least there aren’t as many questions about the Mavs compared to last season.
  8. Los Angeles Clippers (Last rank: 19) – OK, enough Harden-bashing. This team has won… 11of 13?!? That needs to be checked. Nonetheless, here they come.
  9. Indiana Pacers (Last rank: 9) – This team has lost steam (as far as wins are concerned) since their blistering performance in the IST. The offense still moves fast, Haliburton is still playing at an All-star level. It just seems like more teams are figuring this one out.
  10. Orlando Magic (Last rank 3) – This team has a great 1-2-3 combo in Wagner-Banchero-Cole, but now Wagner is out with an ankle injury, Cole has regressed and Banchero isnt in a position to carry. It has shown with a stretch of losses. Hopefully the ship can be righted before the All-Star break.
  11. Miami Heat (Last rank: 11) – Jaime Jaquez Jr. Go get him in fantasy.
  12. New Orleans Pelicans (Last rank: 13) – At some point, BI and Zion will be carrying this team to the playoffs.
  13. Phoenix Suns (Last rank:14) – If health is wealth, this team is living paycheck to paycheck. If its not Beal, its Durant, or Booker or someone else key to the team.
  14. Sacramento Kings (Last rank: 12) – Will the real Kings please step up?
  15. Brooklyn Nets (Last rank: 16) – Still riding high against the bad teams, and trying to stick with the good ones.
  16. Houston Rockets (Last rank: 15) – Their success might come down to how well Udoka can utilize the role players.
  17. Cleveland Cavs (Last rank: 17) – See Phoenix, then sprinkle in some “Mitchell can’t carry” chants.
  18. New York Knicks (Last rank: 20) – This is a good Knicks team that ends up playing close games due to moments like (see: Josh Hart pass)
  19. Chicago Bulls (Last rank: 24) – A team beating premiere teams without its key stars? Increased 3-point shooting AND play from Caruso and White? What team is this?
  20. Los Angeles Lakers (Last rank: 6) – You just had to be there
  21. Memphis Grizzlies (Last rank: 28) – Welcome back Ja! Great job so far helping this team get out of the dirt. Desmond Bane us that dude BTW.
  22. Golden State Warriors (Last rank: 18) – If you’re reading this, it’s too late. CP3 injury, Draymond suspended (back as this prints), Klay having a “come to grips” moment Mid-season. Curry might need to ask Santa for some trades.
  23. Toronto Raptors (Last rank: 22) – OH, we like trades now, huh?
  24. Atlanta Hawks (Last rank: 21) – At some point, they’ll do better.
  25. Utah Jazz (Last rank: 26) – A Clarksom triple-double is the high of this team. Markkanen regression is the low.
  26. San Antonio Spurs (Last rank: 23) – More Wemby highlights and flashes of winning, but the team is still a work-in-progress.
  27. Portland Trailblazers (Last rank: 25) This is the last, decently-playing team in the bottom 10. Shandon Sharpe and Simons are great. Let’s see them get better with Scoot next year.
  28. Charlotte Hornets (Last rank 27) – Blow it up.
  29. Washington Wizards – Sadness. Move to Virginia already.
  30. Detroit Pistons – Insert here. No words

Now that we’re about a week away from the trade deadline, do your think your team makes a move? Will it improve your team or tell the league you’re mailing it in for LeBron James Jr? Stay tuned.