Welcome to the 2019-20 season, where every team still has a shot at the title, allegedly. I'll be using this weekly power rankings to, eventually, separate contenders from pretenders as we trek towards June 2020.
With the dreary weather in Freestone County lately, I could use all the thinking about June I can get.
1. Los Angeles Clippers
Record: 3-2 (W vs LAL, W at GS, L at Phx, W vs Cha, L at Uta)
Pre-Season Rank: 1 (no movement)
Despite the two losses (one without both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard), I'm keeping them at the top. At the end of the day, this ranking determines who is the best team in basketball right now, and right now I would take this team in a seven-game series against anybody. Leonard is as frightening as ever, Montrezl Harrell looks ready for true prime-time, and Lou Williams remains a walking bucket. No shade to the Lakers and 76ers here, there's just too much talent and cohesion here to take the Clips off of #1.
Week 2 Schedule: vs SA, vs Uta, vs Mil
2. Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 3-1 (L at LAC, W vs Uta, W vs Cha, L vs Mem)
Pre-Season Rank: 2 (no movement)
Mission accomplished for week one of Team Klutch, as Anthony Davis has stepped into the Purple and Gold with authority. LeBron James seems more than happy to share the load, averaging 9.5 assists thus far due to Davis' rim-running ability. The Brow's impact has also been felt on the defensive end, where the team ranks fourth in defensive rating after being sieves last season. The first road trip of the year will provide more answers to the AD-LeBron pairing, and to where the returning Kyle Kuzma fits in.
Week 2 Schedule: at Dal, at SA, at Chi
3. Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 4-0 (W vs Bos, W at Det, W at Atl, W vs Min)
Pre-Season Rank: 5 (+2)
These guys are seriously scary. Their ceiling is right up there with the two LA teams, but I can't put them ahead of either the Clippers or Lakers. We don't know much about their ability to work their monstrous magic against better squads, as I chalk up opening night against Boston more to Celtics nerves. Boston took the loss, but was competitive throughout. Matchups in Portland, Phoenix and Utah will give us a better sense. We do know that this team is huge, plays smothering defense (2nd-best defensive rating so far) and can have a different guy step up each night. If Matisse Thybulle can hit consistent shots, watch out.
Week 2 Schedule: at Por, at Phx, at Uta
4. Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 2-2 (W at Hou, L vs Mia, W vs Cle, L at Bos)
Pre-Season Rank: 3 (-1)
Like last year, this team is one trade away, particularly in the big man department. The reliable Ersan Ilyasova has grabbed 7.3 rebounds a game in just 19 minutes of action, but can't be the team's second-best rebounder if they want to contend. Brook Lopez is a shooter, I get that, but there needs to be a roster plug-in that can get the boards for him. Giannis can't do it all. Ironically, a Thon Maker-type could be useful for them, but they traded away the real thing.
Week 2 Schedule: at Orl, vs Tor, at Min, at LAC
5. Denver Nuggets
Record: 3-1 (W at Por, W vs Phx (OT), W at Sac, L vs Dal)
Pre-Season Rank: 6 (+1)
This is basically the same team from last year, whether you like that or not. Jerami Grant has not been as big of a factor as I previously thought, and the stats from this year mirror last year's. The scoring runs through Jamal Murray, the passing runs through Nikola Jokic. It's a formula for success in the regular season, especially at home, but I haven't seen enough improvement yet to have them as real title contenders. I can't buy Murray as the second-best guy on a championship-level squad, at least not yet.
Week 2 Schedule: at NO, at Orl, vs Mia
6. Houston Rockets
Record: 3-1 (L vs Mil, W vs NO, W vs OKC, W at Wsh)
Pre-Season Rank: 4 (-2)
Despite losing two spots, I am more in favor of the new-look Rockets than I was beforehand. The Nuggets and 76ers just had better weeks. Anyways, you know what you get with James Harden and Mike D'Antoni. Fastest pace in the league? Check. Tops in points? Yes again, with both Harden and Russell Westbrook scoring more than 22 a game. Harden is at a still-incredible 36.8 points per contest, despite shooting just 22 percent from three. Getting to the line for 16.5 free throws a game has helped curb the slow start, and the shot will return to form soon.
Week 2 Schedule: at Bkn, at Mia, at Mem, vs GS
7. Boston Celtics
Record: 3-1 (L at Phi, W vs Tor, W at NY, W vs Mil)
Pre-Season Rank: 9 (+2)
When I saw an ESPN headline about the "De-Mamabing" of Jayson Tatum, I thought two things. First, dumb name. Second, could it be done? We know Tatum has big-time skill, but could he fit within the Celtics' system? The answer has been a definitive yes so far, with Tatum making 3.5 threes a game at a 48 percent clip, expanding his range as needed for Boston to succeed. Gordon Hayward finally looks to be back on track as a real All-Star candidate, and even more responsibility could be in the plans for the Butler product moving forward.
Week 2 Schedule: vs NY, at Cle
8. San Antonio Spurs
Record: 3-0 (W vs Dal, W vs Wsh, W vs Por)
Pre-Season Rank: 11 (+3)
The three certainties of life: Death, taxes and the Spurs proving doubters wrong. San Antonio takes care of business against bad teams, simple as that. Taking care of Dallas and Portland shows signs of real life in a franchise that was supposedly stuck in limbo. DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge are a by-the-numbers duo, a Tim Duncan-Tony Parker lite for Greg Popovich to work with to the tune of 43 points per game. An important week awaits, as Pop's group sees where they stack up against the LA squads.
Week 2 Schedule: at LAC, at GS, vs LAL, at Atl
9. Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 3-2 (L vs Den, W at Sac, W at Dal, L at SA, W at OKC)
Pre-Season Rank: 8 (-1)
I may sound crazy, but I really enjoy the Portland pairing for Hassan Whiteside. The former Miami stud has arguably outplayed Zach Collins so far, with Collins being more of the Blazers' chosen one as a big. The team outrebounds teams with similar pacing, thanks in large part to Whiteside's 12.2 per contest. If they do decide to keep Whiteside, his 3 offensive boards a game are very useful in playoff contests, especially late. Shooting 78 percent from the free throw line, committing fouls himself is the only thing stopping Whiteside from making the Blazers a "Big 3." With a short week for Portland, Whiteside can get ready for the 76ers and a matchup against his old bully, Joel Embiid.
Week 2 Schedule: vs Phi, at GS
10. Utah Jazz
Record: 4-1 (W vs OKC, L at LAL, W vs Sac, W at Phx, W vs LAC)
Pre-Season Rank: 12 (+2)
First in defensive rating, 25th in offensive rating. What else is new? I would say Mike Conley, but he has been replaced by Conley's ghost thus far. The veteran, supposed to be a final piece of the Jazz puzzle along with Bojan Bogdanovic, has shot 32.3 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from three. Bogdanovic has done his part. If Conley can do his, a tough upcoming schedule may not be as daunting.
Week 2 Schedule: at Sac, at LAC, vs Phi
11. Dallas Mavericks
Record: 3-1 (W vs Wsh, W at NO, L vs Por, W at Den)
Pre-Season Rank: 19 (+8)
Ranking in the top five of offensive rating thus far, the duo of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis looks like a no-brainer to any skeptics of the pairing. 47.3 points, 16.6 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game? That's true A-list duo stuff, and Rick Carlisle has his guys filling every facet of the game. Shooting is a needed upgrade, with Delon Wright, Seth Curry and Justin Jackson the only Mavericks shooting better than 35 percent from three. Doncic (28.6 percent) will hope to join them soon.
Week 2 Schedule: vs LAL, at Cle, vs Orl
12. Toronto Raptors
Record: 4-1 (W vs NO (OT), L at Bos, W at Chi, W vs Orl, W vs Det)
Pre-Season Rank: 21 (+9)
Losing Kawhi Leonard did not mean this team lost their professionalism. That is, they beat the teams they're supposed to. I ranked them low to start because of where they'll be in February, after (spoiler alert) Kyle Lowry and Marc Gasol leave town. But for now, this team always brings it during the regular season, and Pascal Siakam's emergence (28 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game) as a true alpha means this season is a win already. Only two games in the next week is much-needed rest for Gasol, who played the most basketball of his life in 2019.
Week 2 Schedule: at Mil, vs Sac
13. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 3-1 (W at Bkn, W at Cha, W vs Mia, L at Phi)
Pre-Season Rank: 25 (+12)
The biggest jump of the week. There are problems under the surface, such as the sixth-highest foul rate of any squad, but those problems are easily iced over when Karl-Anthony Towns is playing this well. Towns, suspended for two games due to tapping out, I mean "fighting" Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons Wednesday night. Seriously, I know he's throwing up 27-12-4 on a nightly basis, but you can't actually tap out like it's UFC! While he might not have mastered a headlock counter, Towns has mastered where he needs to be on the court at all times.
Week 2 Schedule: at Wsh, vs Mil, at Mem
14. Miami Heat
Record: 3-1 (W vs Mem, W at Mil, L at Min, W vs Atl)
Pre-Season Rank: 22 (+8)
Winning in Milwaukee without Jimmy Butler? Color me impressed for a team I thought wouldn't crack the East's top eight. When I made the prediction, I did not consider the Heat culture to raise two new potential stars in Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn. Add Herro (16.3 points per game) and Nunn (21 a game on 49 percent from the field and 44 percent from three) to the already talented nucleus, and now I see what pundits saw in Miami. Coach Erik Spoelstra has embraced the youth movement by quickening the pace to the third-fastest league mark.
Week 2 Schedule: at Atl, vs Hou, at Den
15. Phoenix Suns
Record: 3-2 (W vs Sac, L at Den (OT), W vs LAC, L vs Uta, W at GS)
Pre-Season Rank: 23 (+8)
In the immortal words of Vince McMahon, I guaran-damn-tee this will be the last time you see the Suns this high. The team is blitzing opponents offensively, even without Deandre Ayton, to the tune of 115.4 points a game. Even better, the Suns top in the league in assists, are second in made free throws and even sport the 8th-ranked defensive rating to boot. The rabbit of the NBA might continue to hop through November, too, with nine of the Suns' next 15 games against non-playoff teams from 2018-19.
Week 2 Schedule: at Mem, vs Phi
16. Atlanta Hawks
Record: 2-2 (W at Det, W vs Orl, L vs Phi, L at Mia)
Pre-Season Rank: 24 (+8)
Faced with the league's toughest schedule thus far, the Hawks have acted above their age, splitting four games with Eastern playoff locks and hopefuls. A top-ten defensive rating merits the biggest surprise factor, due in part to the maturation of John Collins. Collins is averaging at least one steal and block per contest while slapping up his usual 18 points and nine rebounds a game.
Week 2 Schedule: vs Mia, vs SA, vs Chi
17. Detroit Pistons
Record: 2-3 (W at Ind, L vs Atl, L vs Phi, W vs Ind, L at Tor)
Pre-Season Rank: 18 (+1)
To be fair, we don't know this team's ceiling until Blake Griffin is back into the fold. The early returns look promising, however, at least on the offensive end. The Pistons rank 4th in field goal percentage, 2nd in three-point percentage and get to the line at a top-ten rate. While Andre Drummond has been his usual double-double self, the solid start without Griffin can be attributed to Derrick Rose. Rose has blew away Reggie Jackson to start the year, as Pistons fans finally know what it's like with a competent point man back in their lives. The former Most Valuable Player has put up over 20 points a game, while topping all Association rotation players with a 52 percent assist rate. A ridiculously easy week lies ahead for Motor City, a prime opportunity to get above .500.
Week 2 Schedule: at Chi, vs Bkn, at Wsh, vs NY
18. Indiana Pacers
Record: 1-3 (L vs Det, L at Cle, L at Det, W vs Bkn)
Pre-Season Rank: 10 (-8)
Getting the good out of the way in a less-than-stellar start, Malcolm Brogdon is looking like he is worth every penny the Pacers gave him. The former Rookie of the Year is putting up even more eye-popping stats than resident (hobbled) star Victor Oladipo, averaging 22-5-11 with 1.5 steals a game. That's where the fun ends for Indy, who doesn't know how to play with pace (28th), play at the rim (29th in total rebounds and blocks) or play with modern knowledge (29th in three-point attempts, despite making the 12th-highest percentage of them). If the team can't take any more advantage of a cupcake early schedule, the front office should throw the hot seat on coach Nate McMillan.
Week 2 Schedule: vs Cle, vs Chi, at Cha, vs Wsh
19. Brooklyn Nets
Record: 1-3 (L vs Min (OT), W vs NY, L at Mem, L vs Ind)
Pre-Season Rank: 7 (-12)
Those who took the "Under" on "How many days will it take for Kyrie Irving's shine to wear off in Brookyn?" would be raking in cash at the make-believe casino right now. Irving, despite his 50-point debut for the squad, sports the fourth-highest usage rate among starters and is still an off-the-court distraction. This won't help his case with Brooklyn fans, who believed he would get others (namely Caris LeVert) more involved. LeVert has played tremendously so far, but is not getting the needed touches to continue his growth. Let the man cook, Kyrie!
Week 2 Schedule: vs Hou, at Det, vs NO
20. Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 1-4 (L at Uta, L vs Wsh, W vs GS, L at Hou, L vs Por)
Pre-Season Rank: 16 (-4)
Gone are the days when OKC could rely on a generational talent for easy production. The Thunder are choosing to replace talent with toughness, turning basketball into rugby while leading the league in both free throw attempts and total rebounds. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has lived up to all the "next face of the franchise" hype thus far, putting up a near 22-6-7 line through five games.
Week 2 Schedule: vs NO, vs Orl
21. Golden State Warriors
Record: 1-3 (L vs LAC, L at OKC, W at NO, L vs Phx)
Pre-Season Rank: 15 (-6)
The Walking Wounded Warriors are going to be without both Splash Brothers for the first extended period since 2011, as Stephen Curry went down to a broken hand against the Suns. You can't really feel bad for Golden State after the half-decade of dominance we've just seen, but I did sag my shoulders in sadness when I saw the team is 26th in three-point percentage. The team that ramped up the three-point revolution has now fallen behind its own imitators. For that, I do feel a little bad.
Week 2 Schedule: vs SA, vs Cha, vs Por, at Hou
22. Orlando Magic
Record: 2-2 (W vs Cle, L at Atl, L at Tor, W vs NY)
Pre-Season Rank: 17 (-5)
Amidst all the pre-season hype (in which I was swept up in), the Magic apparently forgot how to score the basketball. Putting up a second-worst mark of 95.8 points a contest thus far, it's not like Orlando has played defensive juggernauts. A league-worst 39.5 team shooting percentage is held down by poor marksmanship from Aaron Gordon (35.1 percent) and Terrence Ross (23.8 percent!!) in particular.
Week 2 Schedule: vs Mil, vs Den, at OKC, at Dal
23. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 2-2 (L at Orl, W vs Ind, L at Mil, W vs Chi)
Pre-Season Rank: 26 (+3)
While Kristaps Porzingis remains the favorite, I'll voice my vote through one week and say Kevin Love is a prime Comeback Player of the Year candidate. The ultimate "good stats, bad team" player in Minnesota, Love has returned to his stat-stuffing ways for a 2-2 Cavs unit. In his 12th season, Love is averaging 16 points, 16.8 rebounds and 5 assists while shooting what would be a career-best 50 percent from the field thus far. A small sample size for certain, and perhaps Love just wants to up his trade stock. If he's in it for the long haul in Cleveland, though, the Cavs will be a tougher out each night.
Week 2 Schedule: at Ind, vs Dal, vs Bos
24. Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 1-3 (L at Mia, L vs Chi, W vs Bkn, L at LAL)
Pre-Season Rank: 28 (+4)
It's hard to call a 1-3 start a "home run," but it must feel close for the Grizz faithful right now. Not only has Ja Morant proven to be for real after sealing a victory over Kyrie Irving's Nets, but he's bringing together the Grizzlies as a unit. The team is already up almost four percent in assists over last season, and is playing at the second-highest pace in the Association. So much for grit-and-grind. The defensive numbers are holding up as well, ranking 12th in opponent effective field goal percentage. Morant has not felt out of place on that end, averaging 1.8 steals and 0.5 blocks a game.
Week 2 Schedule: vs Phx, vs Hou, vs Min
25. Washington Wizards
Record: 1-3 (L at Dal, W at OKC, L at SA, L vs Hou)
Pre-Season Rank: 29 (+4)
The Wizards are acting like a team of their talent deficiencies. Not getting to the line, not bringing down rebounds and fouling opponents at a top-ten rate look like issues that can be solved with cohesion, but who knows who will be sold off this roster by February. The big-man tandem of Thomas Bryant (14 and 10 every night) and Rui Hachimura (18 and 7) is promising, however, as is the reemergence of Isaiah Thomas off of the bench. Thomas has been a shot chucker (third-most attempts on the team in just 22 minutes a game), but has been wildly efficient thus far with 48 percent shooting from the floor and 43 percent from long-range.
Week 2 Schedule: vs Min, vs Det, at Ind
26. New Orleans Pelicans
Record: 0-4 (L at Tor, L vs Dal, L at Hou, L vs GS)
Pre-Season Rank: 13 (-13)
I know Sacramento had a bigger fall from my pre-season rankings, and I know the Pelicans' schedule has been good thus far, but man. By far the biggest disappointment of week one. The two main problems are both ones caused by the Zion-sized hole in their lineup; getting to the free throw line (second-least attempts in the league) and grabbing boards (27th in defensive rebounding). Williamson getting right will help, but Brandon Ingram cannot be the team's second-best rebounder if they hope to contend for a playoff position.
Week 2 Schedule: vs Den, at OKC, at Bkn
27. Charlotte Hornets
Record: 2-3 (W vs Chi, L vs Min, L at LAL, L at LAC, W at Sac)
Pre-Season Rank: 30 (+3)
I'm only putting them here because of the head-to-head victory over Sacramento. Otherwise, I would put them dead last every single week. The 2-3 start is eye-opening, but is semi-fraudulent due to the incredibly hot shooting from distance (41.9 percent as a team). If this mark lasts the rest of the season, pencil them into the Finals now.
Week 3 Schedule: at GS, vs Ind
28. Sacramento Kings
Record: 0-5 (L at Phx, L vs Por, L at Uta, L vs Den, L vs Cha)
Pre-Season Rank: 14 (-14)
Does the missed presence of Marvin Bagley III really mean this much to a Kings squad that was a playoff contender just six months ago? Taking a home loss to Charlotte was the low-light of this five-game stretch, with Luke Walton's squad seeming slow out of the gates. Shooting 41 percent from the floor as a team hasn't helped, headlined by Bogdan Bogdanovic's 27.8 percent mark. Look for Harrison Barnes (13.2 points per game on 50 percent shooting) to take more of Bogdanovic's shots from the forward position.
Week 2 Schedule: vs Uta, at NY, at Tor
29. New York Knicks
Record: 1-4 (L at SA, L at Bkn, L vs Bos, W vs Chi, L at Orl)
Pre-Season Rank: 27 (+2)
The Knicks aren't particularly good, but they are a feistier unit than last year's tank squad, particularly on the boards. They rank third in total rebounds and top the league in offensive glass-crashing. Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Mitchell Robinson and rookie RJ Barrett have all grabbed more than six rebounds per contest.
Week 2 Schedule: at Bos, vs Sac, at Det
30. Chicago Bulls (L at Cha, W at Mem, L vs Tor, L at NY, L at Cle)
Record: 1-4 (L at Cha, W at Mem, L vs Tor, L at NY, L at Cle)
Pre-Season Rank: 20 (-10)
One of my Eastern playoff picks, the Bulls absolutely cratered against what has been the second-easiest schedule in the league thus far. The run-and-gun play has led to the second-most turnover-prone squad in the NBA, and has been a terrible fit for the big-money Otto Porter Jr. Porter Jr., in his first full season as a Bull, is shooting 31 percent from the field and 23 percent from behind the arc, all while averaging just 8.8 points per game.
Week 2 Schedule: vs Det, at Ind, vs LAL, at Atl