NBA Power Rankings Version 12 (1/25/23)

We have reached the end of January, and we have some decent movement compared to last rankings! We are two weeks until trade deadline, and just over three until the all star break. Take a look at what teams are moving and shaking before the break

Team (Record, Z-Score, Previous Ranking)

1. Denver Nuggets (34-14, .832, 2): After a 4-1 last five games, the Nuggets dethrone the Celtics after a lengthy time at the top! Their defense has actually been the recent storyline, but their three point shooting number is the statistic that has stood out all season. At 39.7% as a team, the Nuggets are 2.017 standard deviations over the average three point shooting team (the Pelicans at 35.9%). The Nuggets go to Milwaukee and Philadelphia, then get New Orleans and Golden State at home. Will they be able to hold this #1 spot next week?

2. Sacramento Kings (27-19, .762, 5): In the slimmest of margins, the Kings jump up three spots into #2. The Sacramento Kings have the best offense in the NBA through 46 games, you read that right. They also have the highest road winning % in the Western Conference. They have a relatively easy stretch until the all star break, and sit semi-comfortably to host a playoff series come April.

3. Boston Celtics (35-14, .761, 1): Two bad losses in a row drop the Cs down the #3 position, but they are still sitting in a good spot. Even with their three point % dropping a bit, they still have the highest average margin of victory in the NBA at +5.6.

4. Memphis Grizzlies (31-16, .543, 3): The Grizzlies have dropped three in a row including a 33-point whomping in Sacramento. They are extremely unique in the fact that they are a defensive based team, but play with the second-highest pace in the NBA behind Golden State. Those two teams meet tonight in The Bay.

5. New Orleans Pelicans (26-22, .402, 4): Same five teams take up the top of the rankings, just in a slightly different order. However, the Pels are sliding, losing five in a row and are hanging onto the #4 seed in the West. They get the Timberwolves/Wizards at home, and the Bucks on the road this week.

6. Philadelphia 76ers (30-16, .389, 6)

7. Utah Jazz (25-25, .338, 9)

8. Cleveland Cavaliers (29-20, .334, 8)

9. Phoenix Suns (25-24, .297, 10)

10. Brooklyn Nets (29-17, .279, 7): The Nets are hanging in there with the Kevin Durant injury, splitting the last ten games. Their stellar three point shooting is keeping them in it, and they have an extremely favorable schedule over the next two weeks without KD.

11. Portland Trail Blazers (22-25, .142, 11)

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-24, .113, 13)

13. Chicago Bulls (22-25, .077, 12)

14. Golden State Warriors (23-24, .064, 16): We still seem to be waiting for the Warriors pre-playoff run to start up. It's strange to see the Warriors with a below-average offensive rating this far into the season, but here we are.

15. Toronto Raptors (21-27, .050, 17)

16. New York Knicks (26-23, .018, 15): I just don't really know what to think about the Knicks this season. They are the most slightly above average team in the NBA, and it matches both in the data, and as the #7 seed in the Eastern Conference. They desperately need a shooter or two before the deadline.

17. Milwaukee Bucks (30-17, .004, 18)

18. Indiana Pacers (24-25, -.058, 14)

19. Washington Wizards (21-26, -.140, 22)

20. Los Angeles Lakers (22-26, -.141, 19)

21. Dallas Mavericks (25-24, -.155, 20)

22. Minnesota Timberwolves (24-25, -.243, 21)

23. Los Angeles Clippers (26-24, -.270, 25)

24. Atlanta Hawks (24-24, -.297, 24): Do the Hawks make a splash before February 9th? Or do they feel like this team can turn it around? They are a below average team in eight of the ten statistics that create this model, and are hanging onto the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference. They just seem to be a team stuck in scary NBA purgatory.

25. Miami Heat (27-22, -.335, 23)

26. Orlando Magic (18-29, -.520, 27)

27. Detroit Pistons (12-37, -.607, 26)

28. San Antonio Spurs (14-33, -.790, 29)

29. Charlotte Hornets (13-36, -.833, 28)

30. Houston Rockets (11-36, -1.02, 30): The Rockets just won their first game since December 26th on Monday with a five point victory over the Timberwolves. They have a couple of winnable games upcoming with Washington, Houston and Oklahoma City. Will they win? Do they want to win?