Ja Morant and Memphis continue to climb up the Power Rankings this week.
Maybe it’s that time of year, the period between Christmas and the All-Star break when the season can feel somewhat like a slog. Maybe it’s about some untimely absences or rough stretches of schedule.
Whatever it is, we’ve seen some slippage from the best teams in the league. The Golden State Warriors have lost five of their last seven games. One of their seven losses was against the Milwaukee Bucks, who have also lost five of their last seven.
The Brooklyn Nets lost six of nine before winning on Saturday. One of their three wins in that stretch was against the Chicago Bulls, who have lost four of five. The Utah Jazz, meanwhile, lost four straight before getting Rudy Gobert back on Sunday.
All that makes for some chaos in the top 10 of this week’s Power Rankings. And though the Memphis Grizzlies saw their 11-game winning streak come to an end on Friday, they take over the No. 1 spot, having beat the Phoenix Suns, the Nets, and the Warriors over the course of the streak before finally succumbing to the schedule (eight games in 12 days).
The Grizz face some more challenges in Week 14, one of the busiest weeks on the schedule. No rest for the weary.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
- Right Way: Julius Randle (NYK) was a plus-57 in three games last week.
- Wrong Way: Reggie Jackson (LAC) was a minus-54 in three games last week.
Teams of the Week
- Make It Last Forever: New York (3-0) — Are the Knicks making the same climb that they made at this point last season?
- Something Just Ain’t Right: L.A. Lakers (0-2) — Embrace the mediocrity.
East vs. West
- The West is 116-113 (.507) against the East in interconference games, though the East was 11-8 last week.
Schedule strength through Week 13
- Toughest: 1. Portland, 2. Indiana, 3. Orlando
- Easiest: 1. New York, 2. Milwaukee, 3. Utah
- Schedule strength is based on cumulative opponent record, and adjusted for home vs. away and days of rest before a game.
Movement in the Rankings
- High jumps of the week: Philadelphia (+5), New Orleans (+4), New York (+4)
- Free falls of the week: Utah (-5), Chicago (-4), Indiana (-4)
Week 14 Team to Watch
- Memphis — The Grizzlies’ 11-game winning streak stopped on Friday at the end of a stretch of eight games in 12 days. After having the weekend off, they continue a stretch where they’re playing nine of 10 against teams currently over .500. They host the Bulls on Monday (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT), and then head out on a four-game trip that takes them through Milwaukee (Wednesday), Denver (Friday), Dallas (Sunday) and San Antonio (next Wednesday).
Previous Power Rankings
- Last week: Grizzlies take flight as Warriors stay at No. 1
- Thursday’s notebook: Grizzlies’ defensive turnaround, plus Giannis thriving at center
- This time last year: Lakers, Bucks hold top spots before matchup this week — The Nets traded for James Harden, sending Jarrett Allen to Cleveland and Caris LeVert to Houston (from where he was re-routed). Harden recorded had a 32-point triple-double in his Nets debut, while Nikola Jokic was averaging a triple-double through 13 games. The Lakers had the best record in the league, CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic both suffered injuries that would knock them out for two months, and Zion Williamson had a ridiculous, and-one finish in Sacramento.
- The archive: NBA.com Power Rankings
Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)
OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)
The league has averaged 98.6 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes and 109.4 points scored per 100 possessions this season.
NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, send him an e-mail or contact him via Twitter.
