I’m going to keep this one short and simple. It’s been a little over a quarter of the way through the NBA season, and it’s time to play some small sample size theater. For me, I feel like the first 20 games is a big enough sample size to gauge how good teams are. There is enough schedule variance in 20 games that all teams will play the good, the bad, and the mediocre. Players have had their off nights, but they have also had nights where they are really feeling their shot. 20 games allows us to see everyone at their worst, their best, and what their average is. I will be going over the awards that I would hand out if the season ended today, and going over my power rankings for all teams. If you disagree with anything, go argue with your mother about it.

Poop For Coop

These teams are already focusing on the future as this season is all but over. With Cooper Flagg being the top prize, these teams are trying to lose to get the number one pick… hence poop for Coop.

30. Washington Wizards

The Wizards started 2-2, which brought me hope since I had them sneaking into the play-in tournament. Since then, they have proceeded to lose 18 of their last 19 games. Expect this team to trade some combo of Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Poole, Malcolm Brogdon, or Jonas Valanciunas before the trade deadline in February. If I had to find some good news for this team, which is hard, I will point out that Bub Carrington has been really solid so far in his minutes. 2nd overall pick Alex Sarr is having a hard time on offense, but he is clearly an NBA caliber defender. Bilal Coulibaly looks more aggressive in year 2, and still has a very high ceiling. The wizards do have some reason for optimism in the future, but this season is as good as gone already.

29. Utah Jazz

The Jazz had overachieved the past couple of seasons to the point where they haven’t been able to draft a top end prospect to build the future around. They signed Lauri Markkanen to an extension this offseason, so theoretically it is him, but he is probably best suited to be a number 2 on a championship team, not a number 1. They have a lot of young guys, so if they land Cooper Flagg, they could really turn this thing around quickly. Will Hardy is an outstanding coach, but the front office has clearly told him that the team needs to lose more this year. The standout on this team to me has been Keyonte George. While his percentages haven’t been great, he flashes lots of potential with a crafty scoring ability and really good vision for a young guard. Him and Isaiah Collier could be an outstanding backcourt long term, as Collier is more of a 3 and D type and can’t create the way that George can.  The Jazz should play these two even more as the season goes on, same for Cody Williams. Expect this team to trade both Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson before the trade deadline passes. This team is in full on tank mode, but I would still encourage you to watch them from time to time, as they have lots of young players and should be a lot better next season.

28. New Orleans Pelicans

Zion is hurt again. They didn’t extend Brandon Ingram.  Dejounte Murray and C.J. McCollum have also missed time. They don’t have a starting caliber center. At this point, I don’t see any scenario where this team becomes a real threat for the title, so they should tank for the 1st pick. That is the easy choice. The hard decision will come in the offseason, where you will need to decide on if they want to try again with this core, or do they blow it up and trade Zion. I was low on this team entering the season, but this is far worse than I could have ever imagined.

Good Bad Teams and Bad Good Teams

These are teams that were projected to suck but still play teams close. It is also for teams that were projected to play well but have disappointed so far.

27. Toronto Raptors

I thought this team would be by far the worst team in the East this season, but to my surprise, they’ve only been bad, not terrible. RJ Barrett is having a career year so far, averaging 23-6-6 while being the best scoring option on the team. Gradey Dick has been a pleasant surprise in year 2, averaging 18 a game and being very decisive while doing it. The rookie class has struggled so far, but the flashes have been there for Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead, and Jonathan Mogbo. So there are legitimate things to be excited for if you are a Raptors fan. However, you don’t land at 27 in the power rankings unless there are some flaws. The defense has been disappointing, Scottie Barnes is struggling to hit perimeter shots, and Immanuel Quickly has played in 3 games all season. Cooper Flagg is from Maine, so it would be a pretty decent landing spot for him if they get the first pick.

26. Charlotte Hornets

This team has been really fun to watch. LaMelo Ball has been on fire this year, lighting up the scoreboard to the tune of 31 PPG. Brandon Miller is picking up where he left off from last season and summer league, scoring efficiently in the number 2 role and increasing his assists from last year. Tre Mann has excelled in the 6th man role. Coming off the bench and getting buckets when LaMelo has to take a breather. Well, LaMelo will be taking an extended breather, as he recently got injured and should be out for at least the next 2 weeks. I’m hoping that this will allow for my minutes for KJ Simpson, who has struggled so far when he has played, but hasn’t been given the opportunity for a consistent role. Simpson was a stud in college and should get an opportunity here. I hope Lamelo comes back soon, as this team has been fun to watch and could compete for a play-in spot if they improve upon his return.

25. Philidelphia 76ers

I almost wanted to put his team in the Poop for Coop category, but they are only 2.5 games out of the play-in at the moment. This team has not been healthy all year, so to call it quits this early would be doing the whole team dirty. That being said, if by the end of December they are still not healthy and playing well, I would consider shutting Joel Embiid and Paul George down for the rest of the season. This has been the season from hell so far, but if I had to find a reason for positivity, I would like to point out how Jared McCain has been much better out the gate than expected and gives the 76ers a legit 6th man scoring option who can run point when Tyrese Maxey is out getting some rest. He can also play with Maxey, as they are both good players off ball and are both scrappy on defense. So Philly fans, just be patient, all hope is not lost just yet.

24. Portland Trail Blazers

This team confuses me a lot. They used a high draft pick on Donovan Clingan, who has looked really good in the minutes he has been given. The only problem is, he hasn’t had too many opportunities since they are playing DeAndre Ayton 30 minutes a night. They have 3 young guards in Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, and Scoot Henderson. Blazer fans seem to be unsure on which two are the backcourt they want to build around, when the reality may be none of them. Jerami Grant is solid, but he makes your team just good enough so that you can’t tank. I think that the Blazers do have some young talent, but I expect this to get a whole lot worse before it gets any better. I have them at 24 for now but I wouldn’t be surprised if they fall down further in future rankings.

23. Chicago Bulls

The Bulls have been fun to watch this year. They compete in every game they play in, and the veteran players on the team have played way better than expected.  Nikola Vucevic is having a renaissance, averaging a double double and finding his 3 point shot again. Zach Lavine is back and putting up buckets every night, averaging 22 PPG. Coby White is proving that last season was no fluke, once again providing energy and scoring for this team. It’s funny, getting rid of Demar Derozen and Alex Caruso was supposed to allow this team to bottom out and tank for a top 5 pick. Unfortunately for the Bulls, this team is still too good to be one of the worst in the league, but also too bad to make any sort of noise in the playoffs. The Bulls have been stuck in mediocrity since Derrick Rose left, and I don’t expect this to change anytime soon.

22. Brooklyn Nets

Cam Thomas should be an elite 6th man on a playoff team but is instead starting for the Nets and being allowed to jack up all sorts of shots. Ben Simmons is back! Well, back in that he is physically playing basketball again. He is still playing poorly to the point that I don’t think he will be on an NBA team next season. Normally, this is the exact type of team that I would want to tank. However, with a first-year head coach, I think that a play-in tournament appearance would go a long way to establishing a winning culture. This team has some solid young players and lots of cap space this summer, so for now I would advise them to play hard and try to make themselves an attractive destination for any potential free agents this summer.

21. Detroit Pistons

Cade Cunningham is that dude. He is averaging 24-7-9 and hitting 3s at a higher percentage than ever. Jaden Ivey is finally getting the minutes he deserves, producing to the tune of 18 PPG. Detroit added multiple veteran players this offseason to help with the young core, and they have all produced well so far. Asur Thompson is back from his scary blood clot, so he should be even more help off the bench.  Ron Holland and Macus Sasser have brought nice energy off the bench, even if they haven’t been the most productive. The Pistons are past tanking at this point, so expect them to keep pushing to try to make the play-in. Who knows, this team might even end up making the playoffs.

Could Win A Playoff Series, But Nothing More

These teams could pull of a first round upset, but are not capable of making a title run.

20. Indiana Pacers

Tyrese Haliburton hasn’t been himself this year, which is the biggest reason that this team has disappointed so far. He is the engine of this offense and the reason why they were so good last year, as the defense for this team is practically non-existent outside of a couple of players. This offseason I heard multiple people say that this team may have a similar fate to the 2021 Hawks, who made an ECF but have been eliminated in the 1st round every year in the playoffs since then. I thought there was no chance, as Siakam and Haliburton seemed to be a top 10 duo going into the new season. This team also is loaded with young talent, so I thought we would see improvement from a few different players. I still think that the ECF team we saw last year is within this team, but it has been a very slow start so far for them.

19. Sacramento Kings

I had the Kings as a top 5 team in the West heading into this year, primarily because I thought they would have a top 5 offense. Unfortunately, they are only 10th in PPG this season. From what I have seen, while DeMar DeRozan, De’Aaron Fox, and Domantas Sabonis all bring value individually, they don’t seem to complement the skills of each other. All of these players are at their best from inside the arc, which shrinks the floor and allows less space for operating. But even worse is the defense of these players. Sabonis is averaging 0.4 blocks per game, so there is absolutely zero rim defense. DeRozan has never been known as a defensive stopper, and Fox has such a heavy workload on offense that he occasionally loses focus on defense. In my opinion, this team needs to trade Sabonis for a more traditional big and some more bench depth, as they will never be able to go far in the playoffs with Sabonis as their center.

18. San Antonio Spurs

Victor Wembanyama is getting better and better with each game it feels like, with him currently averaging 23.5 PPG. The addition of Chris Paul has been amazing, as he leads the team with 8.5 APG. Beyond the numbers, he is able to get Wemby the ball for easy finish opportunities and provides mentorship for Stephon Castle, who has been very impressive out the gate as a rookie. Castle is a winning player, someone who will pick you up full court on defense and make smart plays on the offensive end. I think he is talented and could average more than his current 11.7 PPG, but he knows that he is not the number one or number two option currently on the team. Speaking of 2nd option, Devin Vassell has been a bucket getter for this team when Wemby is not on the floor. The depth at forward is phenomenal for this team, with Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson, Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes all playing well so far this season. Whether this team makes the playoffs or not, I expect them to go all in on Wemby’s 3rd year this offseason. Don’t be surprised if the Spurs are legit title contenders next season.

Not Quite a Contender, but Could Become One With the Right Moves

These are teams that have the foundational building blocks, but need to improve the role players in order to make a run.

17. Los Angeles Lakers

The offense has been solid, which is expected from a team with Lebron and Anthony Davis. Rookie Dalton Knecht has been a perfect fit offensively next to the two stars, providing legit floor spacing. D’Angelo Russell is still adjusting to his 6th man role but has helped the bench become more productive. Notice how I haven’t mentioned defense at all? It’s because this team has been bottom five defensively so far this season. What’s the fix? I would love to say that with better strategy and more effort, this could be fixed. However, this team is limited defensively when it comes to personnel. Rob Pelinka either needs to take a big swing soon, or the Lakers should think about trading AD and embracing a rebuild.

16. Miami Heat

If Bam Adebayo took the offensive leap many were hoping he would, this team would be a title contender. Tyler Herro is having the best season he has ever had, averaging 24-5-5. Jimmy Butler is doing Jimmy Butler things, playing feisty defense while being the de facto point guard for the team. Pelle Larson has made an instant impact as a rookie with his defense and floor spacing, and the rest of the role players have played as expected for the most part. So if Bam could step it up, this team would be right there with the Knicks and Magic as competitors to Boston. Bam is averaging 16 PPG on 43.6% from the field, absolutely atrocious for a center who takes most of his shots near the basket. He has been historically bad on layups this year, which makes no sense for someone who has been one of the better finishers in the league. I’m still holding out hope for Bam to improve the rest of the way, but so far it has looked awful.

15. Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic is so fucking good, and that is the only reason why I have the Nuggets this high. I know that isn’t exactly breaking news, but he is the only reason this team is hanging in games. This team has been poor defensively and Jamal Murray has struggled on offense for a while now. Jokic is in his prime right now, so the Nuggets need to find a trade to bring in a true 2nd star, or else these incredible Jokic stats will go to waste.

14. Milwaukee Bucks

This season has been frustrating for the Bucks so far. For starters, while the numbers look good, it is clear to anyone that watches Bucks games that Damian Lilard and Giannis Antetokounmpo still struggle with chemistry. They play a lot of your turn, my turn basketball instead of trying to mesh together as one unit. The depth is not as solid as I thought it was, as the vets they brought in this offseason have all disappointed so far. I wouldn’t be too worried if I was a Bucks fan  though. We haven’t seen a big sample with Khris Middleton here, as he just came back earlier this week in a game against the Celtics. He was clearly on a minutes restriction, so I am waiting to see what this team will look like once he is fully available. Also, young players AJ Green and Andre Jackson Jr have brought energy to the team as of late, so maybe they will see increased minutes as the season rolls on. While it hasn’t been pretty so far, I am still holding out hope for this team.

13. Los Angeles Clippers

Anytime I write about the Clippers I will be keeping it brief, and no, it’s not because I’m a Lakers fan. The reason is that the Clippers require you to buy their subscription, ClipperVision, instead of being able to watch them on league pass like any other team. Harden has played about as well as you could expect from him at this stage in his career.  Norman Powell, San Diego legend, is having a career year at age 31, something that never happens. He is averaging 24 PPG on career best efficiency.  Ty Lue has this team playing disciplined on both sides of the ball, so don’t be surprised if they end up making the playoffs in the West. Oh, by the way, this is all without Kawhi, who is set to come back here in the next few weeks.

12. Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks have been the definition of mid for the past few seasons, basically rocking a .500 record ever since their ECF run. The last 2 weeks of Hawks basketball have been the best this team has played since that run, but what changed? For starters, Dyson Daniels is a great pairing in the backcourt with Trae Young. Daniels currently leads the league in steals with 3.1, with 2nd place being 2.1. For context on how insane that is, the gap between Daniels and the 2nd highest steals recorder is the same as the gap between 2nd and 56th! Trae Young has tried harder on defense this year, and while that is appreciated, it was obvious he needed an elite defender next to him in the backcourt. Speaking of Trae, he has been off the ball more than ever. This season, his usage is at 26.4%. Last season, he was at 29%. The year before, he was at 31% and the season before that he was at 33%. Give credit where it is due, people used to say he dominated the ball too much and he has worked every year to be more valuable off the ball. Sharing the wealth is what has allowed this team to have 8 players averaging 10 ppg, including 19 PPG from Jalen Johnson and De’Andre Hunter. Number one overall pick Zaccharie Risacher is playing well so far, averaging 12 PPG and playing solid defense in 24 MPG. This team is loaded with wings that can guard you and contribute on the offensive end as well. I may have underestimated this team heading into the year, so hats off to Quin Snyder for getting this type of buy-in from everyone.

11. Phoenix Suns

Has this team looked better than how they ended last year? Yes. Are they now a threat to win the title? No.  Jusuf Nurkic is still the center for this team, and he truly might be the worst starting center outside of New Orleans. Both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal have missed time due to injury, so again we have to wonder if this team will be healthy come playoff time. Tyus Jones has played solid, but this team is actually worse this year offensively than last year. Combine that with a bottom 10 defense, and you have a very fun but very flawed team.

10. New York Knicks

Offensively, this team has surpassed expectations so far. KAT is having a career year, Jalen Brunson has way less pressure to be the guy, and OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have been perfect complimentary pieces. Josh Hart has been his usual self, hustling on defense, grabbing lots of rebounds, and finishing tough layups in transition. However, the two flaws I saw in this team before the season are still there. KAT is atrocious on the defensive end, which is the reason why a Thibs team is below average defensively for the first time ever. Also, this team has no depth! Considering lack of depth is what cost them last season, I don’t see any path towards the Knicks being a title contender this season. But they do have a 14-9 record as of now, so I have them at 10.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

Don’t look now, but the Timberwolves are starting to figure it out. Winners of 4 straight, this team is playing its best ball of the season right now. It makes sense that this would take time for the Timberwolves to get right, as KAT and Julius Randle are very different types of players. Speaking of Julius, he has been playing excellent defense as of late while still providing buckets on offense. Anthony Edwards called out this team last week and boy have they responded.

Can Make a Conference Finals Appearance or Better if Things Fall Their Way.

Pretty self-explanatory, not quite the favorites but could make a run potentially.

8. Houston Rockets

This team has been on fire on defense, primarily due to Amen Thompson and Tari Eason putting opposing ball handlers in hell. This team is loaded with depth and could easily make a mid-season trade to be legit contenders. In my opinion, I would hold off on that. Yes, they have played like one of the best teams so far this season, but does anyone think this team can win a ring this season? I think you play it like the Thunder and remain patient, see how these young players perform in the playoffs, and make decisions based off of that. While they have played excellent so far this season, I still think they are a year away from being true contenders. That being said, I will continue to watch this team and have fun while doing so. I do think ultimately this team will need to make a move if they want to win a title, I just would hold off on doing so this season.

7. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors clearly have a shot this year. This team fights on defense every night and has been top 5 in the league on that side of the ball. Steph Curry is not quite as good as his peak of powers version but is still good enough to be the best player on a championship team. This team has an abundance of depth, so a trade for a star is pretty realistic for them.  Jonathan Kuminga, Podz and a couple firsts should be able to land you a legit star if any become available. The question is, do you mortgage the future to win right now? I think that when you have a star as loyal as Steph who has already won 4 rings for you, there is no choice but to go all in and try to get him another ring. Keep an eye out for rumors involving players like Brandon Ingram or Jimmy Butler, both of whom would make me seriously think about making this team the favorites in the West.

6. Memphis Grizzlies

Taylor Jenkins is the Mike Tomlin of the NBA. Every year, I think that the Steelers are going to fall off and finally have a losing record. Mike Tomlin then signs a deal with the devil I would presume and gets his team to outperform the expectations, as they currently sit in 1st in the AFC North. Taylor Jenkins does the same thing, but to even more of an extent. This team has seen Desmond Bane and Ja Morant miss time due to injury, and it hasn’t mattered. The Grizzlies have been a top 10 defense while also being the number 2 offense in the league. Like the Warriors, this team is loaded with depth and could really use a trade for a star forward to propel them to legit title contenders. Jaylen Wells has played incredibly for a rookie 2nd rounder and should be a nice 3 and D option for a while. This team does such a good job of evaluating and developing talent, with two-way players Scottie Pippen Jr and Jay Huff providing really good minutes. Zach Edey has been okay so far, but I think he will improve as he gets more used to the NBA pace. This team is super fun and has already had some experience in the postseason, so don’t be surprised if in May you see this team in the WCF.

5. Orlando Magic

What are the odds that both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner would miss time this season with the same injury? If they were both healthy, this team definitely passes the Rockets in the power rankings, and potentially would pass the Thunder and Cavs too. Expect this team to pick up some losses until these two are healthy again, but they will still be competitive in these games due to having the 3rd best defense in the league. I’ll check back in with y’all on the Magic once they are both healthy but know this: If Franz Wagner keeps playing how he has played so far, this team is the biggest threat to the Celtics in the East. Yes, even over the Cavs.

The Favorites

These teams could realistically win it all this year.

4. Dallas Mavericks

Winners of seven straight, this team is playing like the reigning West champs that they are. Klay Thompson has been up and down this year, but still is a threat on the perimeter that teams have to respect. This has provided even more space for Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to work, which has resulted in some of the most beautiful iso possessions you will see from a duo. We knew all of this heading into the season though, the real question was how this team would perform defensively. So far, they have been a top 10 defense, primarily through the efforts of the role players on this roster and excellent rim protection. The West is really tough this year, but the Mavericks have embraced the challenge of defending their conference title.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

This current core of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen has always been solid on defense, which has remained the case with their top 10 defense so far this year. The question I have always had was if this team could score enough to keep up with some of the East’s top teams. I thought they needed to trade Jarrett Allen for a forward if they wanted to get to where they needed to be on offense, as Mobley looked his best last year when Allen was not playing. Instead, the Cavs kept the core and changed the coach, bringing in Kenny Atkinson. The result? Only the number one offense in the NBA. Garland and Mitchell have been great together, showing no ego late in games and letting the hotter player that night be the one to handle late game ball handling. Evan Mobley is making a leap on offense, currently averaging 19 a game while shooting a career best from three on a career high in attempts. Mobley has also been encouraged to push the ball in transition more a la Giannis, and while he still has a way to go, he has shown flashes of being a dominant transition threat. Ty Jerome has been outstanding in his bench role this season, allowing Mitchell and Garland to rest more than they could last year since he is capable of running this offense. I don’t think this team will win it all this year as of now, but they may be 1 player away from changing my mind.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

The league’s best defense presides in Oklahoma City, despite Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein missing time. Typically, the league’s best defense has been a team who has an elite rim protector, but the Thunder have a different strategy. They have so many players that can guard multiple positions, allowing this team to switch on damn near all screens. They also are able to play very physical and aggressive on the perimeter due to their depth of ball stoppers, which then creates turnovers and transition opportunities. Offensively, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has played MVP caliber ball so far, averaging 30-5-6. But we knew SGA could do this, what we didn’t know is that Jalen Williams would be a legit number 2 option, averaging 22-6-5 on the best team in the West. It will be very hard for opposing teams to set up their offense come playoff time, which is why I think the Thunder have to be the favorites in the West at this moment.

1. Boston Celtics

It’s not exciting to say that the best team in the league from last year is also the best team this year, but it’s the truth. The Celtics have the same 8 core players from last year’s title team, and all of them are playing just as well as last season. All except for  Jayson Tatum, who in my opinion has been even better than he was last year. It looks like the game has slowed down for tatum, as he seems to make the right decision on damn near every possession this season. His 3 point shot is also back after fading in the playoffs last year, making him even more of a threat for teams, which creates lots of space for other players when they have the ball. Payton Pritchard is my 6th man of the year if the season ended today, providing excellent shot making off the bench. Kristaps came back earlier than I had expected and has looked like his normal self so far. To me, at this point, I don’t see how any other team could be ranked ahead of them.

NBA Awards 1/4 Way Through the Season

MVP: SGA

ROY: Jared McCain

6moy: Payton Pritchard

DPOY: Victor Wembanyama

COY: Ime Udoka

ALL NBA 1st: Jokic, Giannis, SGA, Tatum, Ant

2nd: AD, Lamelo, Fox, Brunson, Franz Wagner

3rd: KAT, Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie, Jaylen Brown, Luka

ALL Defense 1st: Victor Wembanyama, Evan Mobley, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Suggs, Amen Thompson

2nd: Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, OG Anunoby, Jalen Williams, Derrick White

BONUS: Emirates Cup Preview

Out West, we got Thunder vs Mavs, which will be a fun rematch of last year’s playoff series. Both teams have made tweaks to the roster but remain pretty similar to last year’s teams. I got the Thunder winning this one, as Dallas will struggle to create good offensive possessions against this swarming defense. Rockets vs Warriors is a battle of two top 5 defensive teams, so don’t expect a lot of points in this one. I got the Rockets beating the Warriors in this one, as I think this Rockets team will come out hungrier since this is their first season since Harden where they have been relevant.

In the East, we got Bucks vs Magic. This should be an easy win for the Bucks, as the Magic will be without their two best players. The Bucks are also trying to prove themselves after their poor start, so I expect them to be locked in for this one. The other matchup out East is Knicks vs Hawks, in what has become a fun little rivalry throughout the years since they last faced in the postseason. Just like back then, I expect the Hawks to have the last laugh, as they have been on fire lately. Trae Young is an even better player than he was in the 2021 playoff series, so expect him to be dissecting this Knicks team.

From there, I think we get a Bucks vs Thunder championship, where the Thunder go on to win. This Thunder team wants to show that they are the best team in the league, and simply has more depth than the Bucks. The Rockets and Hawks show they are playoff teams by making it as far as they did, but ultimately, they will both come up short.