Western Conference Power Rankings: Early-Jan. 2023 Edition
1. Denver Nuggets (24-12) — prev. rank #3
The Nuggets have rather quietly won 10 of their last 12 games, including most recently a takedown of the Boston Celtics on Sunday night.
Yep, Jokic is doing this all over again. The 2-time MVP really just might be too good for voter fatigue. The numbers might be too crazy once again.
Jamal Murray has missed some games here and there, but he has also played some big-minute games (37, 39, and 43) which is super encouraging.
Since returning from a heel injury, Michael Porter Jr. has been lighting it up, making three or more 3s in half of his games since being back.
The Nuggets’ offense was top 5 in December and they are No. 1 in 3-point percentage on the season at 39.9 percent. KCP (47%), MPJ (41%), Bruce Brown (41%), and Bones (40.4%) are all above 40 percent. Denver’s defense and bench still are not the prettiest, but they manage to get the job done.
2. Memphis Grizzlies (23-13) — prev. rank #4
The Grizzlies started December by winning seven straight games, and they lost one game at home in the entire month. The Grizz are very much one of many teams playing way better at home (15-3) than on the road (8-10).
Ja has had some big-scoring games recently, five games of at least 32 points in the last two weeks. But his big-assist games are when the Grizz really take off. When Ja has 7+ assists, the Grizzlies are 16-3.
Just as we knew he would, Jaren Jackson Jr.’s return to the lineup has transformed this defense completely. The Grizzlies had the No. 1 defense in the NBA in December with a 104.4 rating.
Bane is finally back as well, but he’s still shaking off some rust after missing over a month. Not shaking off any rust at all is Tyus Jones, still one of the best backup point guards in the league.
The end of January gets mighty interesting for the Grizz with a tough five-game West Coast trip: at Lakers, at Phoenix, at Sacramento, at Golden State (Christmas revenge?), and at Minnesota.
3. New Orleans Pelicans (23-13) — prev. rank #2
The Pelicans went 10-5 in December amidst two 5-game winning streaks, along with a top-10 offense and top-10 defense. Believe it or not, the Pelicans’ defense is No. 5 for the season.
How was Zion’s December? Oh ya know, just a 30-7-5 average line while shooting his usual 61 percent from the field. Zion also shot 71 percent on free throws, averaging 7.8 made free throws per game.
CJ McCollum is still averaging the most assists of his career at 6.0 dimes a night, and he just set the Pelicans’ franchise record with a career-high 11 made 3s against the Sixers.
Brandon Ingram has not played since Nov. 25 with a toe injury. When BI returns, which should be soon enough, Willie Green and the Pels will still have to iron out how it works with all of the main guys in the lineup.
The Pels are one of many teams that fairing much better at home (16-4) than on the road (7-9). January will feature six games at home and 10 games away from Smoothie King.
4. Dallas Mavericks (21-16) — prev. rank #11
To start the season, the Mavs were a team that nobody was taking too seriously. But no team in the NBA won more games in the month of December than the Dallas Mavericks, currently winners of six in a row.
This Mavs team needed Luka to somehow take his game up another level. And that’s exactly what he has done. LukaMagic has been out in FULL FORCE. The dude had three 50-point games in five games, and that 60-21-10 performance was beyond legendary.
Christian Wood has been seizing the opportunity of more minutes. Jason Kidd still doesn’t trust his defense down the stretch (understandably so), but his offense is so vital in the non-Luka minutes.
Reggie Bullock has been better, actually making some 3s. And Tim Hardaway Jr. has been heating up. When THJ scores double digits, the Mavs are 16-5.
The Dallas’ defense took a step back last month (21st and 115 rating), but that was okay because the offense took two giant steps forward, up to 2nd at 118.2 behind only the Nets.
5. Sacramento Kings (19-16) — prev. rank #6
The Kings lost their footing at times last month (losses at home to the Hornets and Wizards), but they made up for it with some big wins in really close games. In the last three weeks, the Kings beat the Nuggets, Jazz, and Raptors all by one point.
Fox has been a crunch-time savant for Sacramento, scoring the fourth-most clutch points in the NBA. (Headband Huerter has also hit some big-time shots in crucial moments.) Like Ja and Trae, it’s the big-assist games that lead to more winning ways. When Fox has 6+ assists, the Kings are 13-4.
Shoutout to Domantas Sabonis who is playing through a broken thumb. And playing quite well. He had a perfect 12-for-12 shooting night on New Year’s Eve’s Eve. Who needs two thumbs?
Keegan Murray struggled in November, but more than made up for it in December, shooting 46 percent from 3, good for third-best in the league.
The Kings’ schedule softens up in January with some lottery-bound opponents: Magic, Rockets twice, at San Antonio, and Thunder will be five games they need to take advantage of.
6. Los Angeles Clippers (21-17) — prev. rank #7
The Clippers have started to find their way with Kawhi and PG both back in the lineup mostly consistently for the first time in a long, long while. But they have also lost 3 out of 5, including a loss to the Pesky Pacers on New Year’s Eve.
With Kawhi in the lineup, the Clippers are 11-5. Without Kawhi, the Clippers are 10-12. That said, he has scored 20+ points just five times and the Clippers are 2-3 in those games.
PG is the No. 1 option on offense these days, and it’s not particularly close. When Paul George scores 20+, the Clips are 13-6.
Luke Kennard is still sniping the night away: 47 percent on 4.2 attempts per game is nutso.
The Clippers’ offense has shown signs of life: up to 20th in December at 112.8, a big improvement from their lowly 107.8 rating before that. Their defense remains their rock, currently No. 6 on the season at 110.0.
7. Golden State Warriors (19-18) — prev. rank #5
Things were looking BLEAK for the defending Champs after a December stretch of losing 7 of 9 and Steph for multiple weeks with a shoulder injury. But a current 4-game winning streak ignited by a huge Christmas win over the Grizzlies has righted the ship once again.
The home-road splits are still ridiculously DRASTIC:
16-2 at home with a 115.0 offensive rating and 106.0 defensive rating.
3-16 on the road with a 110.4 offensive rating and 120.1 defensive rating.
The Dubs’ recent winning streak has been fueled by Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson putting together good shooting games after respective slumps. And Draymond has taken his stellar defense to another level lately.
Steph has been out, but don’t forget that the Warriors have also been without Wiggins since Dec. 3. When Wiggins scores 17+ points this season, the Warriors are 11-3. He should be back soon.
The Warriors have four more games on the current homestand, but then it’s a week-long five-game road trip.
8. Phoenix Suns (20-17) — prev. rank #1
For as good as the Suns looked at the beginning of the season, last month was certainly a different story. The Suns went 5-11 in December and have currently lost 5 of 6.
Even worse, Devin Booker re-injured his groin and will be re-evaluated in a month. The Suns are 2-6 without Book so far.
Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton are going to have to step up. CP is averaging the fewest points of his career, but he’s still dishing out 9 assists per game. Ayton is right on par with last season’s numbers. Need more from him.
Cam Johnson is still a ways out from returning from knee surgery. No recent word on any developing Jae Crowder trades. Cam Payne has been out since Dec. 13 (foot) but is probable to return tonight.
The Suns’ offense was able to maintain a top-10 number in December, but the defense dropped WAY down to No. 27 at 117.4. (With Booker out, you would think it would be the opposite.)
9. Portland Trail Blazers (18-17) — prev. rank #8
The Blazers have hit another rough patch, losing 4 of the last 5 games, including two to the Thunder by a combined five points that they would surely like to have back.
Dame has kept his health and missed just one game in December, but the Blazers went 7-6 last month, losing several close games as aforementioned. Dame hasn’t had his usual success in the clutch.
Anfernee Simons, on the other hand, has scored the sixth-most clutch points in the NBA so far. It’s great that Dame has been deferring to and trusts Simons, but it’s going to take both of them to get the job done more often.
Gary Paton II should make his Portland debut soon, and that’s the exact type of player and spark this team could use. The Blazers are dead last in steals per game. That’s going to change.
Portland’s offense was third in December at 117.8, and with the No. 16 defense at 114.6, that’s a good positive net rating at 3.2, seventh in the league last month. Again, gotta win those close games like they used to.
10. Utah Jazz (19-20) — prev. rank #9
The wheels have fallen off a little bit here as the Jazz have lost 4 in a row and 6 of the last 8. Everybody got used to the Jazz being a decent to good team. Let this be a reminder that they are only five wins away from their preseason Over/Under total.
This year’s All-Star Game is in Salt Lake City and Lauri Markkanen will be a part of it. He also has to be included in any early-season Most Improved Player talks, averaging by far career-high numbers across the board. We’re talking 23.8 points per game and 42.9 percent from 3 on high volume of 7.1 attempts a night.
Malik Beasley is still doing that thing where he will catch straight fire off the bench. He has 17 games with at least four made 3s.
The side-by-side comparison of Walker Kessler and Rudy Gobert’s per 36 numbers is hilarious. Even with the regular numbers, Kessler is averaging more blocks per game.
The Jazz offense stayed in the top 10 for December, but the defense stayed in the bottom 5, giving up the most points in the paint to opponents in the NBA.
11. Los Angeles Lakers (15-21) — prev. rank #10
Oh, the Lakers. As expected, things went downhill in a hurry when AD was sidelined with a stress injury to his foot. Zach Lowe has said that without AD, the Lakers’ defense is hopeless and the season is too far gone to turn it around with a trade. It’s difficult to argue against that.
Even so, what LeBron is doing is — AS ALWAYS — downright preposterous. 47-10-9 in Atlanta on his 38th birthday to eviscerate the Hawks was amazing. And the talks of him wanting to play at least five more years or maybe even until he’s 45 like Brady really make you think…
It’s crazy that Westbrook doesn’t even really get talked about much anymore. When Westbrook has 7+ assists, the Lakers are 13-6 and 2-12 in all other games.
Don’t look but the Lakers are 2.5 games back of the No. 10 seed and play-in game…
Compared to the beginning of the season, the Lakers’ offense skyrocketed in December, all the way up to 5th with a 116.2 rating. (In October, they were dead last at 100.3.) The defense, however, has flip-flopped without AD, all the way down to 29th at 118.2.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (15-21) — prev. rank #12
The Thunder went 6-8 in December and still cannot be taken lightly. (Just ask the Blazers.) The Thunder are quite competitive on a nightly basis, but the top lottery odds are still within reach. So Sam Presti is probably sleeping okay these days.
SGA has had some off nights. And the dude is still averaging 30.8 points per game! The Thunder are 8-7 when SGA scores 33+ and 7-14 in all other games.
Great news for the Thunder is that Josh Giddey’s 3-point shot is coming around, shooting 43 percent from 3 in December compared to 23.8 percent in November.
With Poku out for 6-8 weeks with a fractured leg, head coach Mark Daigneault is starting both Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams, which is downright silly. Still love Jalen Williams’ hair, though. (Between Jalen and Giddey, OKC has the best hair in the league BY FAR.)
OKC’s offense was 29th in December, but the defense was top 10. Where they don’t have size, they have speed and tenacity.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves (16-21) — prev. rank #13
Good golly. The T-Wolves have lost six in a row and 9 of the last 12. Things were looking okay for a second when they rang up 150 points on the Bulls and beat the Mavs the next night. Since then? Things have gone south quickly.
Over the last eight games, Ant-Man is averaging 29-7-6 with a steal and a block and he’s shooting 38 percent on 7.5 attempts per game. But it’s not translating to wins. Ant simply isn’t the problem.
With KAT out, maybe Gobert would step up. Not so much. He no-shows constantly and has not been the same level of defender that he was in Utah. It’s not a secret that the Wolves always look way better without him.
Naz Reid has had some really good games. It’s pretty obvious that he is more so the type of big man that fits with Ant.
Chris Finch seems like a good coach, but somebody might end up taking the fall. The Wolves’ offense was bottom 10 in December and the defense was 17th.
14. San Antonio Spurs (12-24) — prev. rank #15
Just when it looked like the Spurs were unabashedly tanking their asses off, they went 6-8 in December, that’s more wins than the Hawks, T-Wolves, Suns, and Raptors.
If the Spurs weren’t so… the way that they are, Devin Vassell would be getting a lot more love for Most Improved Player. He’s still averaging 20 points per game and shooting 40 percent from 3 on 7 attempts.
Keldon Johnson’s game has progressed recently with back-to-back 30-point outings. Defenses have been keying in on him, but KJ is learning his way through. The Spurs are No. 3 in assists per game, always keeping the ball moving and humming.
Jeremy Sochan is always a delight. He seems destined to be a future Luke Walton All-Star for sure.
The Spurs’ defense remained dead last in December, but the offense shot up to a middling mark. Here’s a wild stat: When the Spurs score over 110 points, they are 11-10. In all other games, the Spurs are 1-14.
15. Houston Rockets (10-26) — prev. rank #14
The Rockets went 5-10 in December with the worst offense in the NBA and they have lost 8 of 9. However, their December wins were against the Sixers, Bucks, Bulls, and Suns twice.
It still all hinges on Jalen Green. When Green scores 25+, the Rockets are 8-4. When Green scores less than 25, the Rox are 2-22. Such a crazy stat.
Green’s running mate, Kevin Porter Jr. actually has an opposite look with his points scored. When KPJ scores 20+ points, the Rockets are 3-13. That one probably does not mean anything given the Rox overall state of affairs. But it is interesting.
One thing about the Rockets is they have such high-energy guys. Usman Garuba, Tari Eason, KJ Martin, Jae’Sean Tate. They all play hard and with heart. Gotta respect that.
Going off of the above high-energy notion, the Rockets are second in 2nd-chance points for the season and they are the best offensive-rebounding team in the league.
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New Power Rankings dropping every month.
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