NBA Power Rankings Version 4 (11/26/22)

Been about 10 days since the last ranking, and a lot of movement has taken place. Month and a half down of the NBA, plenty to go, but let's take a look at the current NBA landscape based on the XSM Model.

Team (Record, Z-Score, Previous Ranking)

1. Boston Celtics (15-4, .924, 1): The Celtics have won five of six, and continue to look like one of the league's best. They have the best offense by a wide margin, with 119 points per 100 possessions, a full 3 points more than the second place ORTG. 1st place ORTG and 2nd place 3P% will have you pretty high on these rankings.

2. New Orleans Pelicans (11-8, .844, 5): 4-2 since the last rankings and the Pels continue to stay hot. The top of the Western conference is EXTREMELY tight to start the year, but the rankings like the Pels the best, so far. The Pelicans are above average in the NBA in all ten statistics that this model includes.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-7, .734, 1): First week of the rankings where the Cavs aren't #1, but it's still an extremely strong start. The Cavs continue to dominate the glass (+4.2 rebound differential) and beat teams big (+6.7 average point differential)

4. Phoenix Suns (12-6, .624, 6): The Suns have slowly been rising up the ranks and continue to keep winning games. They don't do anything that stands out too much, but they're really good at a lot of things. Plus, they have the highest average point differential in the league (+7.2).

5. Sacramento Kings (10-8, .530, 12): 5-2 since the last ranking and the Kings really have been cooking. One of the best ORTG with some of the fastest paces in the league has created a really, really fun team to watch. Light the beam!!

6. Denver Nuggets (12-7, .388, 3)

7. Utah Jazz (12-9, .371, 4)

8. Indiana Pacers (11-7, .367, 8): Maybe we should start talking more about the Pacers. They were not expected to be in this spot when the season started, but Rick Carlisle has them playing some awesome basketball. 69% of their offensive buckets come off of assists, which is highest in the league.

9. Memphis Grizzlies (11-8, .295, 10)

10. Milwaukee Bucks (13-5, .239, 13): Even with a 3-3 record since the last ranking, they move up 3 spots. The statistics may be starting to buy into the second best team in the East.

11. Toronto Raptors (9-9, .229, 7)

12. Portland Trail Blazers (11-8, .200, 9)

13. Chicago Bulls (8-11, .149, 11): The Bulls ranked above average last ranking at a below .500 record, and they still do as of this week. Part of that reason is due to having the league's hardest schedule, so far.

14. Philadelphia 76ers (10-9, .073, 16): Took me until now to talk about my favorite team, but here we go. Even with absences of Joel Embiid, James Harden and Tyrese Maxey, they are hanging in there at a 10-9 record. Their top ranked DRTG for the month of November, and three point shooting has kept them in the top 6 in the Eastern Conference.

15. Golden State Warriors (10-10, -.006, 20)

16. Dallas Mavericks (9-8, -.064, 16)

17. Brooklyn Nets (9-11, -.115, 14)

18. Oklahoma City Thunder (8-11, -.135, 23): The Thunder have honestly been playing some good basketball in this recent stretch, which may not have been their intention but here we are. Ranking 2nd best in turnover differential has led them to some unexpected wins.

19. Miami Heat (9-11, -.180, 17)

20. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-9, -.183, 24)

21. Atlanta Hawks (11-8, -.232, 19): It's a shock that they are 3 games above .500 with the statistics this team has. Below average ORTG, 3P%, FT Differential and Rebound differential, but still this team is in the 5th spot in the Eastern Conference.

22. New York Knicks (9-10, -.339, 21)

23. Houston Rockets (4-14, -.452, 26)

24. Washington Wizards (10-9, -.461, 25)

25. Los Angeles Clippers (11-9, -.491, 29): Both the Wizards and Clippers continue to get wins, but this ranking still has them below the lowly Houston Rockets based on the advanced numbers.

26. Los Angeles Lakers (6-11, -.600, 30)

27. Orlando Magic (5-14, -.602, 22)

28. Detroit Pistons (5-16, -.604, 28)

29. Charlotte Hornets (6-14, -.719, 27)

30. San Antonio Spurs (6-14, -.784, 18): The Spurs fall 12 spots into the basement of the rankings as they have lost seven straight with six of them by double digits. Pops' luck has seemingly run out on this team, and expect them to be towards the basement for the rest of the year.