Eastern Conference Power Rankings: Early-December Edition
1. Milwaukee Bucks (14-9) — prev. rank #5
Well, look who it is. Prior to last night’s loss in Toronto without Giannis, the Bucks looked like the Champs again, rocking the #1 defense and the #3 offense in the NBA over the previous two weeks, riding an 8-game winning streak while remaining a perfect 11-0 in games that Giannis, Middleton and Holiday all play.
The winning streak commenced as soon as Khris Middleton returned from Covid. Middleton provides a little bit of everything, a very well-rounded player that the Bucks missed deerly. (See what we did there.)
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s scoring actually increased with Middleton back in the lineup as defenses can’t key in on Giannis as much, having to deal with Middleton’s 3-point threat. Speaking of 3-point threats, Grayson Allen, Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton are all over 40 percent from 3.
Brook Lopez has played just one game this season and is now out indefinitely having undergone back surgery. Back surgery is always concerning, but it is at least encouraging that Boogie looked as good as he did in his season debut on Wednesday night. #LetsBoogie
The Bucks next two games are back at home, the shorthanded Heat and then the Cavs before hitting the road for four: @Miami, @Houston, @MSG and @Boston.
2. Brooklyn Nets (15-6) — prev. rank #1
The Nets have taken care of all of their lesser opponents over the last two weeks but fell flat against the upper echelon of the Western Conference, losing to the Warriors and Suns, down by 20+ in each.
KD still leads the league at 28.6 points per game. A lot of season left, but this would be Durant’s first scoring title since the 2013-14 season. Meanwhile, Harden is averaging his fewest points (21.0) since his last season in OKC, way back in 2011-12. Yet the Beard looks spryer by the day, and he is dishing 9 assists and snagging 8 boards a night.
Joe Harris underwent arthroscopic ankle surgery a few days ago, and he’s expected to miss 4-8 weeks, a huge blow to Brooklyn’s shooting and spacing. DeAndre' Bembry is in the starting lineup now and playing 30 minutes a game. Perhaps Cam Thomas can finally get some real action? He played 20 minutes against the Knicks and hit two 3s.
Blake Griffin has gone from being a starter to out of the rotation completely, receiving three straight DNP-CD’s after starting the previous 17 games. Aldridge is getting a lot more run, feasting in the mid-range same as always.
Brooklyn’s offense has held steady in the top-5 over the last two weeks, duplicating the two weeks prior, but the Nets defense slipped down to 17th over the last half of November. Two fun games back-to-back at Barclays: tonight vs. the T-Wolves and Saturday night vs. the Bulls. Then it’s a four-game roadie: @Dallas, @Houston, @Atlanta and @Detroit.
3. Chicago Bulls (15-8) — prev. rank #2
The Bulls had lost 3 out of 4 games, including one to the 1-16 Rockets and an outing in which they only scored a measly 77 points against the Pacers, but they have recovered with a 14-point win over the Hornets on Monday night in which they scored 133 points and a gritty win in MSG last night.
It’s no secret that when DeRozan and LaVine are off, so too the Bulls will be. That was the case in the recent little bump in the road. The defense has also been a middling 16th over the last two weeks after the surprising extremely strong start.
Vucevic returned to the lineup after his 7-game Covid absence, and it took a little getting used to again. But the 30 points he scored against Charlotte were by far a season-high, and he followed that up with 27 last night against the Knicks, a big step in the right direction for Vooch. Coby White has also made it onto the court since we last ran the mid-November power rankings. He’s still trying to get his sea legs under him, but now he’s out with Covid.
Per Cleaning the Glass, a whopping 63 percent of the shots that Lonzo Ball takes are 3s, and it’s a good thing because he’s shooting a stark 43 percent on 3s but just 39 percent on 2s.
The Bulls play the Nets on Saturday night in Barclays, then it’s just one home game against the Nuggets before hitting the road again: @Cleveland and @Miami.
4. Atlanta Hawks (12-10) — prev. rank #12
The Hawks had that horrid stretch of losing 8 out of 9 games, including a 6-game losing streak and two weeks of having the worst defensive rating in the NBA, but they have completely flipped the script, winning 8 out of the last 9 games, including a 7-game winning streak and a top-5 defense over the most recent two weeks.
The schedule did get a lot easier, but the winning also started once De’Andre Hunter was out of the lineup due to wrist surgery. The Hawks next-man-up mentality from last season when they dealt with so many injuries has carried over.
So has Trae Young’s scintillating performances. Ice Trae has scored 30 or more points in five straight games and is fresh off being named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. He’s been a lot more precise and decisive with the ball in his hands lately.
Clint Capela has looked a lot better, perhaps shaking off the Achilles injury that was previously plaguing him. Danilo Gallinari has also improved, contributing way more than he did over the first 3 weeks of the season.
A rematch against Philly awaits tonight at State Farm Arena at 7:30 on ESPN. The Sixers avenged their playoff failures back on Halloween eve in a blowout in Philly, but something tells us tonight might be a little bit closer.
5. Washington Wizards (14-8) — prev. rank #4
Just after we posted our last edition of the power ranks, the Wizards followed up a 5-game winning streak by promptly losing 4 out of the next 5 games, but they have since won 3 out of 4. Falling back to earth a little bit was expected, but having the 22nd offense and the 21st defense over the last two weeks is rather alarming.
Bradley Beal still hasn’t found his three-point shot, 26.9 percent from 3 on 6.3 attempts per game, but he’s shooting 51 percent on 2s to remain effective since he prefers the mid-range anyway.
The bellwether for this team appears to be Montrezl Harrell. When Trez scores 18 or more points, the Wiz are 8-1. When he scores less than 14, the Wiz are 2-5.
Wednesday night was the first time this season that Rui Hachimura joined the Wizards on the bench, a positive sign as he has been practicing in a limited capacity, previously away from the team since the preseason for personal reasons.
The Wizards upcoming schedule has four straight Eastern Conference opponents: the Cavs at home on Friday night, then @Toronto, @Indiana and @Detroit. But then shit gets real: one home game against the Jazz before a six-game road trip that includes @Denver, @Phoenix, @Utah and @Brooklyn.
6. Miami Heat (13-9) — prev. rank #3
The now injury-plagued Heat have lost 3 out of 4 games and 4 out of the last 6. The Heat’s offense has been 24th over the last two weeks while the defense has been 18th, trending in the wrong direction.
The Heat defense has lost its anchor for 4-6 weeks as Bam undergoes surgery on his right thumb. We questioned the depth of this team and if they could withstand a major injury — that will surely be put to the test this month.
Jimmy Butler also didn’t play on Wednesday night, a 26-point drubbing handed to them by the Cavs. Butler didn’t suit up for the Denver loss either, and he’s out again tonight vs. the Pacers. He’s dealing with a tailbone.
You probably saw all of the memes about Duncan Robinson’s 0-for-7 and 0 points performance, but his struggles shooting the ball had actually subsided until flaring back up again in the worst way. In the 12 games that Robinson has a positive net rating, the Heat are 10-2. And in the other 10 games? Miami is 3-7.
A two-game Central division road trip @Indiana and @Milwaukee is followed by a three game homestand: Grizzlies, Bucks and Bulls. 11 of the Heat’s next 12 games are against Eastern Conference foes with the Grizz being the one outlier.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-10) — prev. rank #6
Amidst a brutal schedule and missing a lot of their main guys, the Cavs endured a 5-game losing streak, but they have since rattled off 3 straight double-digit wins and have the 3rd-best defense over the last two weeks.
Evan Mobley missed four games of that 5-game losing streak, and as soon as he returned, the Cavs started winning again. Coincidence? No chance. Mobley is the clear-cut frontrunner for Rookie of the Year in our book. (Scottie Barnes definitely at #2.)
We stated it in our season preview: the Twin Towers lineups with Mobley and The Fro, Jarrett Allen, will be a terror. Staggering those two can give Cleveland 48 minutes of rim protection. Allen and Mobley combined for 9 blocks on Wednesday night. The Block Brothers!
TBD on if he can continue to stroke it, but in the last two games, Kevin Love has made 8-of-10 threes. He also dished out 3 assists in both games. Positive contributions from Love help the Cavs win. In the 7 games that he has a positive net rating, the Cavs are 6-1.
Cleveland’s upcoming schedule is tough before it lightens up: @Washington, home against the Jazz, @Milwaukee and home vs. the Bulls before @Minnesota and home against the Kings.
8. Boston Celtics (12-10) — prev. rank #9
The Celtics have quietly won 5 out of the last 7 games, but it’s the loss to the Spurs that stands out the most. Boston’s defense also stands out, top-5 over the last two weeks and top-5 on the season. The offense? Not so much, bottom-10 on the season but trending slightly upward.
It helps to have Jaylen Brown back in the lineup, but it hasn’t gone unnoticed that that’s when Tatum’s recent subpar performances began. Brown is out tonight in Utah for “injury management.”
Robert Williams is also back after missing 6 games, and his return came at the perfect time. Time Lord’s game-saving block against Philly on Wednesday night was a prime example of the winning plays he makes when he’s in the game.
Aaron Nesmith is one of the biggest conundrums in the league. He had that one fantastic game against the Heat at the beginning of November, and he’s scarcely played since. Sure, his numbers aren’t very good in his limited minutes, but he’s just not given good opportunities. Boston is 25th in the league in 3-point percentage. They could use his shooting!
As mentioned above, the Celtics are in Utah tonight, the beginning of a 5-game Western Conference road trip: @Utah, @Portland, @Lakers, @Clippers and @Phoenix. Then it’s back to Boston for the Bucks and Warriors. Gulp.
9. Philadelphia 76ers (11-11) — prev. rank #7
Remember when the Sixers had the #1 most efficient offense in the NBA after the first 7 games? That was a long, long time ago. Philly has the 25th ranked offense over the last two weeks, ahead of only the Clippers, Pelicans, Thunder, Magic and Pistons. And that last possession against the Celtics on Wednesday night down by 1 with 6 seconds left was… U-G-L-Y.
Joel Embiid is still getting back into the swing of things after missing nine games with Covid and dealing with the aftermath of the virus. The Sixers went 2-7 without him. There is no doubting how imperative he is to everything Philly does.
Seth Curry is still a 50-40-90 guy, shooting 58.9% from the field, 42.5% from 3 and 91.7% on free throws.
More than doubling his points per game from 8.0 as a rookie to 17.5 in his second season, Tyrese Maxey should at the least be in the conversation for Most Improved Player.
Philly finishes up a four-game road trip @Atlanta tonight, then it’s back-to-back games in Charlotte before returning home to face the Jazz and Warriors. That’s a difficult stretch.
10. Charlotte Hornets (13-11) — prev. rank #8
The Hornets were recently buzzing on a hot streak, winners of 8 out of 9 games, but their current road trip has upended their winning ways, a current 3-game losing streak while giving up an average of 135 points per game.
The Hornets did push the Bucks to the brink in Milwaukee, and were even up 18 at one point, but the defense once again let them down in the 2nd half. Charlotte has the 6th-best offense over the last two weeks, but the 5th-worst defense.
LaMelo was flat out sensational against the Bucks on Wednesday night, scoring a career-high 36 points with a career-high 8 three-pointers. (Remember when the pre-draft knock was his shooting? LOL.)
Mason Plumlee has missed the last 4 games dealing with a calf issue, forcing the Hornets to play even smaller than they already do. The Hornets defense allows the 3rd most points in the paint in the league. They just get bullied inside. (Precisely why we have been clamoring for them to trade for Myles Turner!)
The Hornets finish up this blunder of a road trip against the Hawks on Sunday night in Atlanta before heading back to Charlotte for back-to-back games against the Sixers. Then it’s the Kings at the Spectrum Center before heading out on a hellish 6-game Western roadie.
11. New York Knicks (11-11) — prev. rank #11
Since we last ran the power ranks, the Knicks were on a win-a-game lose-a-game streak that went on for two weeks until last night’s loss to the Bulls gave them two straight losses. That might have been the most impressive Knicks game in a while, though, as they came all the way back from being down 21 to take the lead in the 4th quarter. But late in the game, they ran out of gas.
Thibs pulled the plug on the Kemba Walker experiment. It was a gutsy move, and by all statistical, analytical and eye-test accounts, the right one. Hopefully there comes a point in time where his knee allows him to be a positive contributor off the bench in some capacity.
Alec Burks is the new starter. He’s been the Knicks best shooter by a wide margin, a slick 43.4 percent on 4.8 attempts per game.
However, Julius Randle and RJ Barrett are both shooting 32 percent from 3 on a combined 10 three-point attempts per game. The crazy part is that the Knicks are still somehow 7th overall in three-point shooting percentage. (That tells you how down shooting from distance is this year. The 36.4% that has them 7th would be 17th last season.)
The Nuggets come to MSG on Saturday night before the Knicks embark on a three-game roadie: down to San Antonio, then back up to Indiana and Toronto.
12. Toronto Raptors (10-13) — prev. rank #10
Prior to last night’s win against the Giannis-less Bucks, the Raptors were 2-6 over the last two weeks with a bottom-10 offense and bottom-10 defense over that stretch.
The biggest problem has been that OG Anunoby has been out, missing the last 8 games while dealing with a hip injury that apparently isn’t any better. He’s still without a timetable to return.
Gary Trent Jr. missed a couple of games as well, leaving Toronto without two of its top-3 shooters. The Raptors are light on shooting to begin with, but Fred VanVleet drained five 3s in last night’s win.
Scottie Barnes has actually recently started taking and making more 3s: 4-of-9 against the Celtics and 3-of-6 against both the Grizzlies and Bucks. We see you, rook!
One of the longest road trips of the season is behind them, and the next four games are all at home: Wizards, Thunder, Knicks and Kings. Yet the Raptors are 3-8 at home and 7-5 on the road.
13. Indiana Pacers (9-15) — prev. rank #13
It looked like the Pacers might be getting their shit together there for a minute, however, a current 3-game losing streak and losses in 4 out of the last 5 has Indiana looking bleak again.
Especially when you factor in T.J. McConnell’s wrist injury and previous ironman Justin Holiday’s current stint in the protocols.
Malcom Brogdon’s shooting has come around, and he’s averaging over 20 points per game again.
Myles Turner is also leading the league in blocks again, 2.8 per game is a sizable lead over AD’s 2.3.
The Pacers catch a break with the shorthanded Heat tonight who will be without Bam and Jimmy Butler. The rest of the current long homestand is against the Wizards, Knicks, Mavs and Warriors. The Pacers are 6-5 at home, just 3-10 away.
14. Orlando Magic (5-18) — prev. rank #15
The Magic are fresh off snapping a 7-game losing streak with a good ole fashioned Reverse Revenge Game on Aaron Gordon and the Nuggets.
That big win was fueled Cole Anthony’s first game back after missing the previous 6 games, and he promptly dropped 24 points and another classic immediate on the court post-game interview: “I felt like money, maaaan!”
Jalen Suggs fractured his thumb and will be out for quite some time, but Franz Wagner has still been the better rookie by a landslide. Wagner should make an All-Rookie team at this pace.
Mo Bamba’s 3-point shooting has continued to regress (he’s down to 32.6 percent now), but Wendell Carter Jr. has started taking and making some more 3s this year, 36.3 percent on 4 attempts per game. That was not part of his bag in Chicago.
Orlando begins a 5-game Western Conference roadie tonight: @Houston, @Golden State, @Sacramento, @Clippers and @Lakers.
15. Detroit Pistons (4-18) — prev. rank #14
There was a little stretch where the Pistons won 3 out of 5 games, but now there is a current 8-game losing streak.
Cade Cunningham will be good at times, and sometimes really good, but the Pistons offense is still dead last and not showing real signs of true life.
The Isaiah Stewart vs. LeBron heater at the Caesar got all the attention, and rightfully so, but it might be forgotten that the Pistons led by 17 points in that one, and they fought till the end in LA last Sunday night to only lose by 4. And they fought back last night in Phoenix to make it a game in the 2nd half. Hats off to Detroit for not rolling over.
The advanced numbers suggest that Hamidou Diallo should be getting some more minutes, and he is shooting 58 percent on 2s. So that’s something.
The Pistons get the entire weekend off to prep for the Thunder on Monday night. OKC also has a current 8-game losing streak. A tanking showdown for the ages!
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Western Conference Power Rankings coming soon.
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