NBA Power Rankings: A reason for optimism for every team
NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
This week, we're taking a positive approach and identifying one reason for optimism for each of the league's 30 teams.
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ATL | BKN | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NOP | NYK | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX | POR | SAC | SAS | TOR | UTA | WAS
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (19-3)
Previous: 1
Elite depth: Cleveland's bench has flourished, sitting seventh in the NBA in bench scoring per contest (38). Ty Jerome has surprisingly stepped up with career highs in points (11.8), assists (3.6), and 3-point percentage (50).
2. Boston Celtics (17-4)
Previous: 4
Kristaps Porzingis' impact: The Latvian big's recent return from a 17-game absence gives the Celtics' offense another dimension while providing much-needed rim protection. The rich get richer.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (16-5)
Previous: 3
Defense wins championships: The Thunder's defense is terrorizing the league. Oklahoma owns the NBA's best defensive rating (103.9) by leading the league in steals (11.9) and allowing the fewest points in the paint (41.6).
4. Houston Rockets (15-7)
Previous: 8
Dominating the glass: The Rockets lead the NBA in both offensive and defensive rebounds per game, showing that the effort is there. If they can get hot from deep while maintaining that rebounding, they can overwhelm opponents.
5. Orlando Magic (15-8)
Previous: 10
Franz Wagner's rise: Wagner, 22, is averaging 25.3 points on 45.5% field-goal shooting, along with 6.5 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and two steals with Paolo Banchero out of the lineup. The Magic are developing an elite wing tandem.
6. Memphis Grizzlies (14-8)
Previous: 9
Two-way contracts: As the Grizzlies once again struggle with injuries, Jay Huff and Scotty Pippen Jr. are averaging 9.1 and 11.3 points per game, respectively. This is outstanding production from guys on two-way deals.
7. Golden State Warriors (12-8)
Previous: 2
Shutting down threes: The Warriors have built a reputation for draining 3-pointers, but it's their defense there that may be more impressive. Opponents are shooting a league-worst 33.1% from deep, giving the Warriors extra slack for when their own shots aren't falling.
8. Phoenix Suns (12-8)
Previous: 5
The 3-point line: The Suns are one of four teams who sit in the top ten in both 3-point attempts and 3-point percentage. Phoenix also boasts six rotation players shooting at least 39% from deep.
9. New York Knicks (13-8)
Previous: 12
OG Anunoby thriving: While Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have driven the offense, New York's starting wing is averaging a career-high 17.4 points. He put on a spectacle against the Nuggets, and his 40 points represented a personal best.
10. Denver Nuggets (11-8)
Previous: 8
Jamal Murray will bounce back: Murray is struggling with his shooting but history suggests it won't stay that way. He posted 50.3/45.7/90.3 shooting splits in December 2023 and hasn't shot worse than 40% post-All-Star break since the Orlando bubble.
11. Dallas Mavericks (14-8)
Previous: 14
Sharing the basketball: The Mavericks have started to move away from their signature heliocentric offense. Luka Doncic owns his lowest usage rate (32.7%) since he was a rookie, but the Mavericks have the league's fourth-highest offensive rating (116.5).
12. Milwaukee Bucks (11-9)
Previous: 25
Offensive resurgence: Over their seven-game winning streak, the Bucks have the fourth-best offensive rating (120.1) in the NBA. Giannis Antetokounmpo is leading the league in scoring, while Damian Lillard is chipping in 26 points.
13. Los Angeles Lakers (12-9)
Previous: 6
Anthony Davis' health: Davis missed 140 contests across his first five campaigns in L.A., but he's played in all but one game this year and is showcasing his MVP-caliber skill as the focal point of coach JJ Redick's offensive schemes.
14. Los Angeles Clippers (14-9)
Previous: 15
Staying afloat without Kawhi: The Clippers are still in the heart of a tight playoff race because they're beating who they should (8-1 against under-.500 teams). A tough post-All-Star Game schedule will be easier to navigate with Leonard back healthy.
15. San Antonio Spurs (11-10)
Previous: 16
Stephon Castle's ROY odds: Castle has steadily grown into his role. The UConn product is fifth in rookie scoring (11.5) and second in assists (3.7) while also being one of the best defenders of this freshman class.
16. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-10)
Previous: 13
Julius Randle's expiring contract: The T-Wolves were 16-4 through 20 outings last season but sit at 9-10 so far in 2024-25. Randle's arrival seems to have hindered the chemistry, though his expiring deal does provide options.
17. Atlanta Hawks (11-11)
Previous: 19
Dyson Daniels is a menace: True to his name, Daniels has been a vacuum on defense with a league-best 3.1 steals. The Aussie is striving to become the first player to average 3 or more steals in 31 years.
18. Miami Heat (9-10)
Previous: 18
Tyler Herro: The mercurial Heat are tough to read, though it's no fault of Herro, who's posting career-highs in points (23.7), assists (4.9), and 3-point percentage (40.7).
19. Indiana Pacers (9-13)
Previous: 17
Bennedict Mathurin: While Tyrese Haliburton struggles, Mathurin has capitalized on more offensive opportunities: The third-year wing boasts career highs in points (18.5), field goal shooting (48.5), and three-point percentage (41.6).
20. Sacramento Kings (10-12)
Previous: 11
Keegan Murray's defensive improvement: Of Sacramento's main rotation guys, its defense takes the biggest hit when Murray sits - an on-off defensive rating differential of minus-12. That's a significant evolution in his game that's helping to compensate for his shooting struggles.
21. Detroit Pistons (9-14)
Previous: 20
Wholesale improvement: The Pistons look likely to exceed their average win total from the last five seasons (18.8) largely thanks to Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and veteran offseason additions.
22. Brooklyn Nets (9-13)
Previous: 21
Cameron Johnson's rising trade value: Johnson, 28, is having a career-best stretch with the lottery-bound Nets, who would be guilty of front-office malpractice if they don't trade him while he's at his peak value.
23. Portland Trail Blazers (8-14)
Previous: 24
Banton's creation off bench: The Blazers are shooting just 33.9% from deep, but that number spikes to a team-best 43.5% when assisted by Banton (3.1 such attempts per game). It doesn't hurt that Banton boasts the team's second-best 3-point percentage from a rotational player at 38.8%.
24. Chicago Bulls (9-13)
Previous: 22
Speedy in the Windy City: A season removed from owning the league's third-slowest pace (number of possessions per 48 minutes) at 96.94, the Bulls are third at 104, largely due to DeMar DeRozan's departure.
25. Toronto Raptors (7-15)
Previous: 29
Bespectacled Barnes looks good: Since missing 11 matchups with an orbital fracture, the All-Star wing has posted 22 points, 8.5 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and two stocks in seven outings - all while rocking sporting rec specs.
26. Charlotte Hornets (6-15)
Previous: 23
Melo's a superstar: Despite a worrying calf strain, LaMelo Ball has leapt into superstardom this season, boasting a career-high 31.1 points per game and a 50-point showing versus the Bucks in late November.
27. Philadelphia 76ers (5-14)
Previous: 27
Health (hopefully) on the horizon: The Sixers have been a laughing stock, due in part to several key injuries: Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey have only played together twice. Surely this can't get any worse.
28. Utah Jazz (4-17)
Previous: 28
College basketball: The top of the 2025 draft looks loaded: Duke's Cooper Flagg, BYU's Egor Denim, and Rutgers' duo of Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper will have strong arguments to be the No. 1 pick.
29. New Orleans Pelicans (4-18)
Previous: 26
Tradable assets: If the lowly, injury-riddled Pelicans decide to blow it up and spark a rebuild, trade packages including Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones or Jordan Hawkins could fetch useful draft capital.
30. Washington Wizards (2-17)
Previous: 30
Young stars: Washington fans can look forward to a future featuring a quartet of emerging stars. With Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington, Alex Sarr, and Kyshawn George all under 21, the Wizards are in good hands.