Saturday 21st December 2024,

NBA Power Rankings: The Sixers Are No Longer Terribly Terrible

admin January 23, 2016 Power Rankings No Comments

Half of the 2015-16 NBA season is in the books.

Pat yourself on the back. You’ve done it.

You’ve watched, you’ve cheered, you’ve moaned. You’ve wondered why it’s taken the Suns so damn long to sell off Markieff Morris. You’ve pondered the meaning of life whenever the Spurs or Warriors take the floor.

You’ve lamented the Sixers’ pivot from Sam Hinkie’s process. You’ve secretly enjoyed Philly’s subsequent miniature rise following the deviation from Sam Hinkie’s process.

You’ve thought about the Cavaliers and the Thunder, about how they’re both great, and about how they’re both still not good enough. You’ve entertained the idea that the Clippers maybe, quite possibly, should trade Blake Griffin.

You’ve been impressed by the Raptors, seduced by the Celtics and disappointed by the Pelicans.

Most of all, you’ve been here, following along, even as the NFL, like it always does, has eclipsed the first half of the NBA season. So congratulations! You’re reward is a cookie and some power rankings.

I’ll bring the power rankings. You bring the cookie.

***For a week by week list of all our NBA Power Rankings this season, please visit this page.

NBA Power Rankings

1

Golden State Warriors

Golden State’s small-ball “Death Squad” has outscored opponents by 107 points in 93 minutes, per NBA.com. If the playoffs started today, eight of the other 15 playoff teams wouldn’t even be a plus-107 overall.

Last Week (1)

2

San Antonio Spurs

Look, the Spurs are great. Their defense is incredible. Their offense remains insane. But unless they beat the Warriors on Jan. 25, they’re still just second best.

Last Week (2)

3

Oklahoma City Thunder

Crazy to think that, if all goes according to plan, the Thunder won’t even sniff the Western Conference Finals.

Last Week (5)

4

Los Angeles Clippers

Quite obviously, the Clippers aren’t better off without Blake Griffin. But…what if they’re better off without Blake Griffin?

Last Week (4)

5

Cleveland Cavaliers

It’s gonna be hella weird to watch the Cavaliers try to reinvent their roster once they get bounced from the NBA Finals by the Warriors or Spurs.

Last Week (3)

6

Toronto Raptors

Once DeMarre Carroll gets healthy, the Raptors have the makings of the Cavaliers’ only conference rival.

Last Week (7)

7

Atlanta Hawks

Somehow, the Hawks still feel one transcendent player short of making any championship noise.

Last Week (6)

8

Chicago Bulls

One of these days, the Bulls are going to stop making every game, irregardless of their opponent, a tightly contested affair.

Last Week (8)

9

Indiana Pacers

Myles Turner is having a coming-out party. We’re all invited.

Last Week (9)

10

Boston Celtics

If the Celtics aren’t going to trade for a star this season, they should consider rescuing K.J. McDaniels from his Houston prison. I’d really enjoy watching opposing offenses try, and fail, to score on a lineup featuring Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, McDaniels and Jae Crowder.

Last Week (13)

11

Detroit Pistons

Could we maybe, quite possibly, see Marcus Morris play power forward instead of small forward?

Last Week (12)

12

Houston Rockets

Please, Rockets, don’t trade Terrence Jones for Markieff Morris. That is all.

Last Week (14)

13

Dallas Mavericks

Can we all just agree that Dirk Nowitzki kidnapped Father Time and left him for dead?

Last Week (11)

14

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are actually inexplicable. Almost every metric has them playing like a sub-.500 lottery team. And yet, here they are, once again in play for a top-five seed out west.

Last Week (18)

15

Miami Heat

Aaaaand the award for “NBA Team That Could Feasibly Make the Conference Finals But Also Miss the Playoffs Entirely” goes to the Heat.

Last Week (10)

16

New York Knicks

Kristaps Porzingis getting banged up is becoming a thing. This is not OK.

Last Week (15)

17

Washington Wizards

Kelly Oubre Jr. has amazing hair. He’s also pretty good at basketball.

Last Week (17)

18

Utah Jazz

Given the misshapen structure of the West, it’s easy to see the Jazz making a run at a top-five spot once they’re fully healthy and operational.

Last Week (19)

19

Orlando Magic

More minutes for the Tobias Harris-Aaron Gordon pairing, please.

Last Week (16)

20

Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard is going to make a great Stephen Curry impersonator at playgrounds once he retires.

Last Week (22)

21

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks are on a little bit of a hot streak, but they’re still an aesthetic crap fest. This. Team. Needs. Spacing.

Last Week (24)

22

Charlotte Hornets

Marvin Williams ranks among the league’s best rim protectors this season, per NBA.com. Let’s talk about that.

Last Week (20)

23

Sacramento Kings

Omri Casspi, #NBAVote.

Last Week (21)

24

Denver Nuggets

Check it:

Three players are averaging at least 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists per 36 minutes while shooting 38 percent or better from three-point land, according to Basketball-Reference.

Kevin Durant.

Draymond Green.

Will Barton.

WUT.

Last Week (23)

25

New Orleans Pelicans

Tyreke Evans is hurt. Again. Eric Gordon is hurt. Again. So this is my call for the Pelicans to prioritize Ben Simmons and cap space over winning games. Again.