The NBA enters the second week of January and there is a bit of shuffling in the Power Rankings. Here are Pickswise Week 13 NBA Power Rankings.
1. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks stay at number one even though they dropped a tough game against the Raptors. They went 2-1 last week. Bucks are holding steady.
2. Golden State Warriors
A 2-1 week has Golden State back up to number two. The loss was a one-point overtime loss to Houston.
3. Toronto Raptors
A loss in San Antonio has Toronto down a spot from last week, but they rebounded well going 3-1 last week.
4. Denver Nuggets
Gary Harris and Paul Millsap are back and the Nuggets are trending up coming off a 3-0 week.
5. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers went 2-1 in week 12, including an overtime win against the Bulls.
6. Houston Rockets
A 2-1 week for the Rockets but they got a big road overtime win against the defending champion Warriors. The Rockets are 6-1 in their last seven games.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder went 3-1 in week 12 and they are doing it with defense. Russell Westbrook continues to drive the offense for OKC.
8. Boston Celtics
The Celtics were able to go 2-1 in week 12 and continue to trudge through a difficult period with Kyrie Irving out of the line-up. Gordon Hayward has done very well in Irving’s absence. The Celtics have a tough week with four games on their schedule.
9. Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers went 3-0 in week 12 and will look to build on that success with back to back games against Washington to start week 13, along with games against Atlanta and at New York to finish the week.
10. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs got a very convincing win against Toronto along with a 3-0 week the Spurs are trending up. A 12-3 record in their last 15 games has Coach Pop and company looking up.
11. Los Angeles Clippers
Another 2-1 week has the Clippers right in the thick of things. A big road game in Denver this week could show how they stack up.
12. Portland Trail Blazers
Jusuf Nurkic looks like he is coming into his own in Portland as he has proven he can be the third scoring option behind Damien Lillard and CJ McCollum. Portland is 2-1 in their last three games.
13. Utah Jazz
The Jazz may have finally righted the ship as they have fought and clawed their way to .500. A solid 2-1 week has Utah climbing up the rankings.
14. Los Angeles Lakers
It was a miserable week for the Lakers as they went 0-3. Now add Kyle Kuzma to the list of key guys out. It looked like they were going to be alright without Lebron, but the now Kuzma being out the Lakers have fallen to one game above Utah for the final spot in the West.
15. Miami Heat
Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat are trending up with a big 2-1 week.
16. Sacramento Kings
The Kings are trending down with a terrible 0-3 week. It doesn’t look like it will get any better for the Kings.
17. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets have been on fire as of late, with a three-game winning streak. Can they ride the momentum and sneak into the playoffs. The Nets are playing some of the best basketball in the NBA right now.
18. Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets had an up and down week finishing 2-2 in their four games last week. They got a win on Sunday inPhoenix behind a stellar final four minutes from Kemba Walker who scored 29 points, with 18 coming in those final four minutes.
19. Memphis Grizzlies
Chandler Parsons time in Memphis is over, and the Grizzlies finally look like the inexperienced team that many figured they would be at 18-21 on the season and a 0-4 week.
20. Dallas Mavericks
A 1-3 week has Dallas trending down. Dirk Nowitzki did not have a good night in what is most likely his final trip to the TD Garden in Boston, as he couldn’t hit on any shot attempt.
21. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons had a decent lead over Utah heading into the second quarter on Saturday before falling apart and dropping another game. 1-2 for Detroit last week. Trending down.
22. New Orleans Pelicans
Pelicans trending up after a nice 2-1 week.
23. Orlando Magic
The Magic stick at 23 once again after a 1-3 week and no signs of getting any better.
24. Minnesota Timberwolves
Goodbye Tom Thibodeau, what is next for the Timberwolves. At 19-21 they are close, but a 2-2 week and the T-Wolves are trending down.
25. Washington Wizards
The Wizards responded well to the loss of John Wall with a nice 2-1 week. This week is gonna be a tough stretch. Can Bradley Beal handle the pressure?
26. Atlanta Hawks
Up and down, and so on for the Hawks after a solid week in week 11, the Hawks find themselves trending back down after going 1-3 in week 12.
27. New York Knicks
The Knicks found a way to go 1-1 in week 12, and shockingly are trending up, but it probably won’t last with four games against playoff level competition with road games at Portland and Golden State and then two homes games against Indiana and Philadelphia.
28. Phoenix Suns
These final six or so spots are interchangeable as each team is so far off of the playoff hunt, we might as well be deciding who gets the number one pick with these teams. Phoenix went 0-4, and continue to look way out of their league in games this year.
29. Chicago Bulls
Bulls another bad week going 0-3. They did take the Pacers to OT, but that doesn’t change anything for the Bulls.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs are becoming a usual team in the 30th and final spot in the rankings, and they continue to prove their spot, with yet another bad week. A nice 35 point loss at home tends to spell doom for a team. Can we say top pick potential yet?
