It twas the second week of the season. And all through the house, not a creature is stirring, except Kobe Bryant‘s ego and his delusional belief the Lakers can win a championship this year.
Yes, it is that time. Even with everyone moving past the beginning at 0-0, we have a decent idea of who our favorite contenders are and who is going to push to the forefront.
Or so we think.
There are always surprises and lots of fun to come. The season is long and there is already intrigue with Kevin Durant going down to an injury, shaking up the Western Conference already.
Now that we have a preseason of games and storylines to review, how does the NBA look? And what are your team’s New Years’ Resolutions? I am glad you asked. To review, here are our last power rankings.
1. Memphis Grizzlies (6-1) ↑ 13
New Years’ Resolution: Keep grinding
The Grizzlies define grit and grind at this point. There is not a perfect moniker for a team or its fans at this point. And last year was the definition of grit and grind. Losing Marc Gasol at the beginning of the year last year put them well behind the 8-ball. They were not a typical 8-seed and fought their way back into the Playoff picture, nearly upsetting the top-seeded Thunder in the process. Gasol is making his presence known early this season. The Grizzlies could be very, very good.
Klay Thompson’s growth and swagger are big reasons the Warriors come in at No. 2 early in the season. Photo by Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
2. Golden State Warriors (5-0) ↑ 3
New Years’ Resolution: Make a splash
The Warriors have often talked about being part of the championship picture. This is their chance, even with a rookie coach in Steve Kerr. Really health will be the big decider. David Lee and Andrew Bogut both have to be healthy for them to have any success at achieving that goal. Lee is already out with an injury, putting more defensive onus on the often-injured Bogut and the star guard duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
3. Houston Rockets (6-1) ↑ 6
New Years’ Resolution: Blast off with a little defense
The Rockets need to be better defensively. That should be pretty easy with Dwight Howard as a backstop. James Harden is probably not as bad an on-ball defender as off-ball defender (he just loses his focus and attention). And having Howard back there helps as does adding Trevor Ariza to the fold. Early on this season, the Rockets are looking very very good as they are hungry to break through to that next level.
4. San Antonio Spurs (2-3) ↓ 2
New Years’ Resolution: Do it again
Same roster. Same coach. Same system. The Spurs are just going to Spur. And with injuries to the Thunder, they return to the top spot in our Power Rankings. The defending champions still have that calm and precision about them. Even in a stacked Western Conference, there is no reason to think San Antonio cannot repeat. Age clearly does not matter to this team.
5. Chicago Bulls (5-2) ↑ 5
New Years’ Resolution: Manage minutes to stay healthy
Tom Thibodeau is a coaching machine. He treats his players like machines too, grinding those players away. Luol Deng, Jimmy Butler and Joakim Noah all had to carry a heavy minutes load to replace Derrick Rose. Rose is back now . . . apparently. Pau Gasol and Butler are good fits around Rose and Noah. But an injury always feels lurking around every corner.
6. Los Angeles Clippers (4-2) ↓ 3
New Years’ Resolution: Own the building
It should be clear now the Clippers are the best team in Los Angeles. They have all the momentum and buzz. But the only way to quiet the Lakers fever that persists in Los Angeles is to bring a title. That is what the Clippers have to do this year. So far it has been a rocky start. Something feels off about them and Doc Rivers has already replaced Matt Barnes out of the lineup to try to spark the offense.
7. Portland Trail Blazers (3-3) —
New Years’ Resolution: Keep ripping
The Blazers came out of the gates fast last year and ended up getting to the second round of the Playoffs. What most forget is how much this team struggled in the second half of the season. Are the Blazers on the cusp of greatness? The continued growth of Damian Lillard and an expansion of LaMarcus Aldridge‘s game will determine that. There is a bit of swagger coming from Rip City these days though.
8. Dallas Mavericks (4-2) ↑ 4
New Years’ Resolution: Big D… emphasis on D
This Mavericks team is going to score. Monta Ellis, Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons are going to put up points with the best of them. And Rick Carlisle is going to figure out ways to get them all points too. Dallas could be one of the more fun teams to watch this season. But any championship aspirations will be based on how well they can defend. Carlisle is not above using a zone defense to do that.
9. Toronto Raptors (5-1) ↑ 2
New Years’ Resolution: Wash, rinse, repeat
The Raptors were the surprise team in the East last year, winning the Atlantic Division championship and inspiring Canada basketball with the “We The North” campaign. This Raptors squad has a really bright future. Of course, the encore is always more difficult. Toronto should have a target on its back now and Kyle Lowry will no longer have the motivation of a new contract.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (2-3) ↓ 6
New Years’ Resolution: Patience from fans
Cleveland fandom is a roller coaster. They went from the ecstasy of the first LeBron James stint to the despair of seeing him leaving and winning championships back to the high of having him return then to the higher high of Kevin Love joining the group. The Cavaliers now have their young super team to cheer on for years to come. Those championship expectations are back. But James admits this group will take time to gel. So while they should be considered the East’s favorite, there is still a long way for this group to go.
11. Washington Wizards (5-2) ↓ 3
New Years’ Resolution: Continue to build, keep taking steps forward
Paul Pierce was yelling, “This is why they brought me here” after taking big shots for the Nets. The reason they brought him to Washington was to impart some veteran wisdom on this young group. Young teams cannot always continue their upward trajectory. They need to keep pushing. That is what the Wizards will have to do with their mix of young and old. Pierce is there to keep John Wall and Bradley Beal hungry. If they can all stay healthy that is.
12. Sacramento Kings (5-1) ↑ 11
New Years’ Resolution: Boogie on up
The story of the first two weeks of the season has been the emergence of DeMarcus Cousins as a real leader. Cousins has kept his emotions in check and shown a surprising amount of maturity. His experience with Team USA was absolutely critical to his personal growth. But also for the growth of his game. He is flat-out dominating out there and is making a bid for an All-Star berth.
13. Phoenix Suns (3-3) ↑ 2
New Years’ Resolution: Enter the Dragon
How does Phoenix serve up an encore to last year’s amazing run? Phoenix signed Isaiah Thomas and is off to an incredible start. The team has a lot of buzz and excitement about it right now and should be ready to make another run. This one will not catch everyone as much by surprise as last year’s near-Playoff appearance.
14. New Orleans Pelicans (3-2) ↑ 5
New Years’ Resolution: Brow down
The Pelicans lost some time last year thanks to injuries to Ryan Anderson and Jrue Holiday. They are back and, with Anthony Davis ready to set the world on fire, this team is thinking Playoffs in the competitive Western Conference. Anthony Davis has such a unique mix of talent that it is completely possible for him to get this talented group there already. It is probably a year away though. The Pelicans could easily change that though as they get more experience.
15. Charlotte Hornets (3-3) ↓ 2
New Years’ Resolution: Bring the Buzz back
The last year of the Bobcats was a banner one. Well, for them. There were no banners raised to the rafters of Time Warner Cable Arena. That is still some ways away. But they did make the Playoffs. Then made a free agent splash in signing Lance Stephenson. This is a team looking to keep the momentum moving forward. And they have the new marketing campaign and new name to go with it. Fans are excited to have the Hornets back in Charlotte.
Dwyane Wade will have to remain healthy for the Heat to stay alive in the East. Photo by Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports.
16. Miami Heat (4-2) ↑ 4
New Years’ Resolution: Recover and rebuild
So, what do you do when you are the Heat and you lose the best player in the world? Relying on Dwyane Wade and Luol Deng to support Chris Bosh and carry you through a season is kind of a tall task. Kind of a really tall task, to be honest. The new trio in Miami did not have the greatest preseason. They should be capable once the regular season starts if they can stay healthy. The other question though is whether they can attract anyone in Miami to care enough to keep coming back to the American Airlines Arena.
17. Atlanta Hawks (2-3) ↓ 1
New Years’ Resolution: Just make it through
The Hawks have had some awful luck. Injuries killed last season. Before Al Horford‘s injury, Atlanta was the third seed in the Eastern Conference! Somehow Mike Budenholzer pulled the team together and got this team into the Playoffs. Jeff Teague and company nearly got the Hawks past the Pacers in the first round. After last year, and then the craziness of the summer, the Hawks just want a calm peaceful new season. Nothing too crazy.
18. Brooklyn Nets (3-2) —
New Years’ Resolution: Spend it while you got it
The Nets are in a strange spot. They have spent so much money and yet are so mediocre. So keep throwing that cash around Mikhail Prokhorov. The luxury tax means nothing! Wins do though. Those may be tough to come by consistently. Particularly with Brook Lopez still out with yet another injury.
19. Oklahoma City Thunder (1-5) ↓ 18
New Years’ Resolution: Healthy New Year?
The Thunder’s early season has been an absolute disaster. Kevin Durant’s leg fracture derailed things in the preseason. Then Russell Westbrook went down and will be lost for a good chunk of the early season. All of a sudden, Oklahoma City is wondering whether they can even just make the Playoffs. And the hits keep coming. Perry Jones III, Reggie Jackson and Jeremy Lamb have also had injury issues to fight through. The Thunder cannot catch a break so far.
Carmelo Anthony has helped the Knicks to a decent offensive start. Photo by David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
20. New York Knicks (2-5) ↑ 1
New Years’ Resolution: Brush up on geometry
The Knicks season is already off to an uneven start. One thing we know for sure is Carmelo Anthony is enough to keep the team afloat and keep the team somewhat relevant in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks will be a tough team to peg all year. Their defense is going to be massively inconsistent and the offense is going to have some hiccups too. In other words, the first two games seem about what we can expect from the Knicks. Or at least the range of it.
21. Boston Celtics (3-3) ↑ 6
New Years’ Resolution: Think big
Young teams are always in that weird place of recognizing their youth and the mistakes that will be made and then being too young to realize they should not be as good as they are. Boston has come out early this season with some intriguing confidence. Rajon Rondo came back from injury sooner than expected and looks up to his usual tricks. Kelly Olynyk has started off strong too. As has Jared Sullinger. No reason not to think a little bigger now.
22. Denver Nuggets (1-4) —
New Years’ Resolution: Reach the summit
For several years now, the Nuggets have gone with the star by committee model and have used the altitude and some great teamwork to their benefit. That precarious balance of immense talent spread throughout a roster has not produced many Playoff victories. And the Nuggets’ chemistry, so important to this team’s success, seems a bit out of whack. Denver is talented but seems far from getting it together.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-4) ↑ 6
New Years’ Resolution: Change your face
The year has not gotten off to a good start for the Timberwolves. Ricky Rubio‘s injury Friday night in Orlando has put a major damper on the season already. This was a team that despite losing Kevin Love had some decently high hopes for their core. Maybe not Playoff hopes, but hopes nonetheless. There really is no other point guard beside Rubio and he was a centerpiece to the offense. Minnesota will have to find a way.
24. Detroit Pistons (2-3) ↓ 7
New Years’ Resolution: Don’t combust
The Pistons were everyone’s darling pick to make a Playoff push. There was too much talent with Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings coming into the fold. There was no way this group could not make it in the East on talent alone. They proved to be a mismatched group with a coach in over his head. Stan Van Gundy is in charge now which would figure to make the team better. But the roster issues are still very much present.
With David West now nursing an injury, the Pacers need more from Roy Hibbert. Photo by Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
25. Indiana Pacers (1-6) ↓ 19
New Years’ Resolution: Just get by
Everyone is still trying to figure out who this team is without Paul George. Everyone is still trying to figure out which Roy Hibbert will show up. Who will step up on this team? And now David West is hurt. This could be a long year for Indiana. But maybe the Pacers get something good out of it in the form of a draft pick and a more experienced, individually confident supporting cast.
26. Utah Jazz (2-4) ↑ 2
New Years’ Resolution: Find an identity
The Jazz have a nice group of young players between Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter and Dante Exum. Exum is obviously a rookie, but the others have been in the league for a while. Hayward just got a max contract in restricted free agency to prevent him from leaving for Charlotte. So at some point the Jazz need to start moving forward. This year could very well be the year. At least maybe it is the year those expectations should be raised just a bit.
27. Milwaukee Bucks (3-4) ↑ 2
New Years’ Resolution: Clean off the filth
There is something of a dirty feeling when you struggle as much as the Bucks did last year. And this is a team that had some aspirations of making the Playoffs with a veteran lineup that included Brandon Knight, Larry Sanders, O.J. Mayo and Ersan Ilyasova. There is talent there. Jabari Parker had an OK debut and the Bucks blew a 24-point lead in their opener. Things are not looking up still.
28. Orlando Magic (2-4) ↓ 2
New Years’ Resolution: Find something positive
The Magic are in Year Three of the rebuild. They appear to have some nice pieces. But not the piece to put them over the top and back into the Playoff discussion. Injuries to Victor Oladipo and Channing Frye will set them further back. The Magic have to find a reason to get everyone excited soon or else there could be trouble in O-Town. It could be a rough start to the season.
29. Los Angeles Lakers (0-5) ↓ 5
New Years’ Resolution: Kobe Kobe Kobe
The Lakers are all about Kobe Bryant and his delusions about how good his team is. The Lakers would be best served trading their leading scorer and starting from scratch. Instead they have a roster that is full of veterans trying to make the Playoffs and having virtually not chance at it.
30. Philadelphia 76ers (0-6) —
New Years’ Resolution: Get one thing right
The Sixers acquired Travis Outlaw before the season began. No one bothered to tell their Web developers. They listed Bo Outlaw on their Web site. It was good for a few laughs. Off-court laughs are a good thing. The on-court product could be very hard to watch.
