Eastern Conference Power Rankings: January 2025 Edition
Hello, 2025!
As we turn the page from one year to the next, it’s time to check in with some good ole fashioned power rankings.
LET’S GET IT.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (29-4) - prev. #2
December: (12-1) No. 1 offense & No. 3 defense
If you thought the Cavs 15-0 start was due to a cupcake schedule, perhaps you are a believer now. Cleveland has currently won 8 in a row and is 9-0 vs. the Western Conference.
This offense has not stopped humming. Max Strus just got added back in the mix as well.
The Cavs have the formula for regular season success in the palm of their hand.
2. Boston Celtics (24-9) - prev. #1
December: (8-6) No. 4 offense & No. 4 defense
Losing at home to the Bulls without Tatum and losing to the Pacers at home without Porzingis and Holiday is a reminder that when the C’s are shorthanded, they are very much mortal.
The Celtics have lost their magic touch from distance lately, but it’s better to iron these things out in December than May.
2025 brings forth new challenges: @Minnesota, @Houston, @OKC and @Denver. Joe Mazz is excited.
3. New York Knicks (23-10) - prev. #4
December: (12-2) No. 3 offense & No. 5 defense
No team in the NBA won more games than the Knicks in December (they matched the Cavs and Thunder).
They did it by improving the defense drastically, matching the offense’s top-5 mark for the month after being the No. 24 defense in the NBA over the first month.
As a result, Mikal Bridges offensive production has skyrocketed, highlighted by Donald Duck dropping 41 on Christmas.
4. Milwaukee Bucks (17-14) - prev. #5
December: (7-5) No. 20 offense & No. 8 defense
The Cup champs did have some recent shorthanded losses to the Nets and Bulls, but Giannis wouldn’t have missed that Pacers game on NYE for the world. And he sure as hell wouldn’t let them lose, either, completing the 19-point comeback.
It’s a good reminder that when Giannis is rolling and others are hitting 3s, this is a team very much capable of playing at a top level.
A bellwhether stat: When Gary Trent Jr. makes 3+ 3s, the Bucks are 9-2.
5. Atlanta Hawks (18-15) - prev. #7
December: (8-4) No. 12 offense & No. 12 defense
‘Twas the night after Christmas and the Hawks rang up the Bulls for 50 4th quarter points. FIDDY.
Trae Young leads the league in assists. Dyson Daniels leads the league in steals.
Jalen Johnson averaging 20-10-5 is not talked about enough, currently +275 for Most Improved Player feels like crazy value.
6. Orlando Magic (20-14) - prev. #3
December: (6-7) No. 26 offense & No. 7 defense
What is dead may never die!! Somehow, someway, the Magic have kept finding a way without Paolo and Franz. (Add Moe Wagner to the list, done for the season with a torn ACL.)
The problem, as you might imagine, is the offense stuck in the mud without it’s best players. But the stout defense and grit have remained.
Hello Tristan Da Silva! Goga Bitadze has been holding it down, too.
7. Miami Heat (16-14) - prev. #6
December: (7-6) No. 18 offense & No. 7 defense
Don’t let the Jimmy Butler/Shams trade drama and rumors distract you from the fact that Tyler Herro has been playing phenomenally, scoring the most points per game and shooting the best 3-point percentage of his career. Herro was right, the Rockets were mad he cooked them.
Jaquez and Jovic have played better recently, but Rozier still can’t seem to get any momentum and consistency going. He had Herro’s back down in Houston, though.
8. Indiana Pacers (16-18) - prev. #9
December: (7-7) No. 14 offense & No. 21 defense
Just when it looked like the Pacers were in line for their second straight signature win of the season (after beating the Celtics in Boston), they blow a 19-point 2nd half lead to the Bucks on NYE at home. The champagne could not have tasted too great after that.
If only Haliburton could ever get all the way back on track. He’s still shooting career low numbers.
9. Philadelphia 76ers (13-17) - prev. #14
December: (9-3) No. 10 offense & No. 14 defense
Well, well, well… that’s three wells and Philly has won 4 straight.
The Sixers look back from the dead with a semblance of direction and purpose. The Christmas upset in Boston might have saved them.
McCain’s meniscus tear is a bummer, but Maxey has started to spread his wings once again with PG and Embiid actually on the court to clear the runway.
10. Detroit Pistons (14-18) - prev. #11
December: (5-5) No. 11 offense & No. 28 defense
‘Twas the night after Christmas and Jaden Ivey’s 4-point play cost Mike Brown his job.
But don’t forget the two games before that, the Pistons beat the Lakers in LA and the Suns in PHX.
Don’t look now but the Pistons — THE STONES — have already matched last season’s win total (!!) and are currently in the East Play-In picture.
11. Chicago Bulls (15-18) - prev. #10
December: (7-5) No. 19 offense & No. 11 defense
The Bulls are still doing their thing as the treadmill of mediocrity continues to run with no end in sight. But that win in Boston as 15-point underdogs was good to see and so was Josh Giddey’s triple-double after returning from injury.
Chicago seems so very destined for the East Play-In.
12. Brooklyn Nets (12-20) - prev. #8
December: (3-9) No. 28 offense & No. 17 defense
The Young Surprise Team train that was running in Brooklyn has crashed.
Turns out that the Nets’ top-10 offense over the first month of the season was not sustainable, especially after trading Dennis Schroder, their leader and engine.
This, this right here, is the tank job that we anticipated before the season commenced.
13. Washington Wizards (5-25) - prev. #15
December: (3-9) No. 30 offense & No. 25 defense
The Wiz didn’t win a game in November and endured a 16-game losing streak from Nov. 1 to Dec. 6, but they did end up winning 3 games in December. If only they could play the Hornets every night as 2 of those 3 wins were against Charlotte. And they did play the Knicks tough, even forced an OT.
Jordan Poole has been knocking down some shots, already with eight games of 5+ 3’s after ten such games all of last season.
How long until a contender rolls the dice with one or some of the Wizards pieces?
14. Charlotte Hornets (7-25) - prev. #12
December: (1-11) No. 29 offense & No. 22 defense
December was not kind to the Queen City, only one win. The Hornets are 1-16 in the last 17.
But Charlotte is finally getting to see LaMelo, Brandon Miller and Mark Williams all together on the court at the same time. If those three can ever get healthy, expect the Hornets to be more competitive in 2025.
Bonus: They have both missed some time, but it’s still crazy to see the Hornets Basketball-Reference page with LaMelo and Brandon Miller combining to average 51 points per game and 24 3-point attempts per game (!!??).
15. Toronto Raptors (7-26) - prev. #13
December: (2-11) No. 27 offense & No. 27 defense
A current 11-game losing streak and they have been getting absolutely SMOKED.
Quickley has only played three games this season, but he’s not saving them.
The good news is cowboy Bruce Brown has finally made his season debut. The bad news is that we already severely miss seeing Bruce Brown on the bench in his cowboy hat.
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