NBA Power Rankings: Ranking the NBA’s Best after six weeks
By Seth Klein
21. Toronto Raptors (16, -5): Since trading Rudy Gay to the Kings the Raptors are 3-1, but one wonders how long that will last. The Raptors minus Gay are better, but Kyle Lowry seems like he will be the next guy to go, and I don’t foresee the Raps being able to withstand that loss.
22. Charlotte Bobcats (25, +3): The Bobcats really aren’t good at all. The addition of Al Jefferson (15.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks) has improved their interior offense and defense, but Kemba Walker’s game has regressed, when it should be elevated. The third-year point guard is down 0.6 points, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals from last year and is also shooting 2.6% less from the field than last season.
Dec 14, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) drives around Atlanta Hawks power forward Paul Millsap (4) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks won 111-106. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
23. Washington Wizards (19, -4): Bradley Beal is nearing a return to the court, and reuniting him with backcourt-mate John Wall will send fear throughout the league. When Beal returns, and if Nene can get over his nagging Achilles injury, the Wizards will finally be at full-strength for the first time all season.
24. New York Knicks (20, -4): The Knicks are an utter mess. The front office is a joke and now players (J.R. Smith) are clashing with coaches. Upper management, as well as the current players and coaches, will have to impress Carmelo Anthony a lot for him to want to remain in New York after this season, even if the financial opportunity is greater there.
25. Cleveland Cavaliers (24, -1): There was a lot of hope this off-season that the additions of Jarrett Jack, Andrew Bynum and Earl Clark, along with top draft pick Anthony Bennett, would catapult the Cavs into the playoffs in a weak Eastern Conference. The East is so bad that that dream could still be a reality, but it’d only mean a first-round exit from the playoffs. The Cavs just aren’t very talented. Kyrie Irving, despite okay numbers (20.9 ppg), has proven to be anything but a leader in a time when they really needed him to step up. Last year’s top pick, Dion Waiters, is a locker room cancer, and this year’s No. 1-overall pick, Bennett, has been a tragic flop, averaging 2.2 points in only 10.2 minutes per game. The hopes of luring LeBron back to Ohio are fading fast.
26. Orlando Magic (18, -8): Tobias Harris played in just his second game of the season on Friday, and boy are the Magic glad to see him. Harris, one of last year’s big surprises, is a huge part of their rebuilding movement. The Magic won’t finish with the worst record in the NBA, giving them less favorable odds to land the No. 1 pick, but as history shows, all you need is one lottery ball to have a shot. How scary would they be with Oladipo, Harris, Vucevic and possibly Andrew Wiggins?
27. Sacramento Kings (26, -1): It didn’t take long for the new ownership group in Sacramento to make its presence felt. Less than two weeks after trading for Derrick Williams, they acquired Rudy Gay in a 7-player deal with Toronto. Gay is a player, that while extremely talented, finds a way to hurt every team he’s on. He’s a selfish individual who has shot 39.8% from the field and continues to regress as a basketball player almost every year, yet still thinks he deserves the “star treatment” because his absurd contract deems that so. He’s an upgrade over what the Kings gave up, but it’s a mistake to think that he’ll elevate them into playoff contention.
28. Philadelphia 76ers (22, -6): A skin infection has sidelined star rookie Michael Carter-Williams, but they haven’t missed a beat offensively with Tony Wroten filling in at point guard. Wroten is averaging 18.5 points and 5.5 assists in the 6 games Carter-Williams has been sidelined, but whether it’s Wroten or MCW running the point, it still hasn’t stopped them from losing. The Sixers have dropped 10 of their last 11 games.
29. Utah Jazz (30, +1): Trey Burke is back in the fold and we have finally been able to get a glimpse of what the future may hold for the Jazz. His shot isn’t there yet (38.5%), but with 13.1 ppg, a 3.7 A/T ratio and a pleasantly surprising 1.4 three-pointers per game, fans in Utah have something to be excited about.
30. Milwaukee Bucks (29, -1): The situation in Milwaukee can’t be any worse than it is. Injuries have destroyed their roster and off-season acquisition O.J. Mayo has been a huge disappointment. In the mess there lies hope though, as John Henson has erupted in the past couple weeks, blowing up for 14.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in his last 10 games. He, along with Larry Sanders, could make for a very scary frontcourt for years to come.