NBA Power Rankings Version 5 (12/5/22)

We are about 30% down in the NBA season, and teams are starting to come into form. Let's take a look at the NBA landscape as we hit December.

Team (Record, Z-Score, Previous Ranking)

1. Boston Celtics (19-5, 1.05, 1): This is the first week where a team has been over one standard deviation above the average NBA team as the Celtics continue their hot play led by their top ORTG and top 3P% in the league. They're averaging 120.1 points over 100 possessions and are shooting 40.4% from deep.

2. New Orleans Pelicans (15-8, .890, 2): The Pels stay in the #2 spot after winning four in a row since the last ranking, with three of those four wins being by 15+ points. It's really been a defense-driven campaign, as they rank 3rd in DRTG along with above average ORTG & 3P%

3. Phoenix Suns (16-7, .807, 4): Suns jump up a spot with a 4-1 record since the last ranking, and sit at the top of the West. They are a team that just do a lot of things very well, and it has proven itself in the rankings and in their record. The only cause for "concern" is that they have the second-worst free throw differential at a -4.5.

4. Sacramento Kings (13-9, .663, 5): The Sacramento Kings just might be good. Their combination of high ORTG, high pace and high assist ratio has turned into some really fun basketball to watch.

5. Memphis Grizzlies (14-9, .4304, 9): Memphis has come a long way since the first week of rankings and have been on a steady upward climb to crack the top 5. They are above average in 8 of the 10 categories that make up the XSM model. In a strange scheduling anomaly, their next five games are in Memphis, so that climb could continue.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers (15-9, .4301, 3)

7. Denver Nuggets (14-9, .410, 6)

8. Utah Jazz (14-12, .374, 7)

9. Milwaukee Bucks (16-6, .229, 10): The climb for the Bucks is a slow and steady one as well, but they keep winning games. They are a "strange" 16-6 team, as they are below average in both the top two stats in the model (ORTG/3P%), with their defense being the dominant force (2nd in DRTG). They have also played one of the easiest schedules to begin the campaign.

10. Golden State Warriors (13-11, .204, 18): The first time the Warriors crack the top 10 is this week as they are slowly starting to find their groove. They may be starting to become "those Warriors" again, shooting over 38% from three on the season.

11. Portland Trail Blazers (13-11, .169, 12)

12. Toronto Raptors (12-11, .141, 11)

13. Chicago Bulls (9-14, .0461, 13): Safe to say, I'm surprised to see the Bulls here on the ranking. They have lost 9 of 12 and have been playing some relatively uninspiring basketball. Through 23 games they have played (by a semi-significant margin) the toughest schedule in the league which is saving them from being lower.

14. Philadelphia 76ers (12-11, .0460, 14)

15. Indiana Pacers (12-11, .009, 8)

16. Dallas Mavericks (11-11, -.020, 16)

17. Brooklyn Nets (13-12, -.115, 17)

18. Los Angeles Lakers (10-12, -.129, 26): The Lakers may be finding something as they have ripped off eight wins in their last ten games, and it may not be how you would think. The Lakers (a team with Lebron, Anthony Davis etc.) have the second fastest pace in the league, and have an above average defense. They begin a 4-game road trip that includes @ Cavs, Raptors and 76ers.

19. Miami Heat (11-12, -.142, 19)

20. Oklahoma City Thunder (10-13, -.185, 18)

21. Atlanta Hawks (13-10, -.211, 21): Still no respect for the ATL even sitting at the #4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Everything they have done (according to the advanced stats) has been extremely "meh" to start the season, but they find themselves hosting a playoff series.

22. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-12, -.291, 20)

23. New York Knicks (11-13, -.339, 22)

24. Washington Wizards (11-13, -.359, 24)

25. Houston Rockets (6-17, -.474, 24)

26. Los Angeles Clippers (13-11, -.516, 25): The biggest discrepancy on this list when it comes to standings and rankings are the Clips. The team with the third worst offensive rating (behind 2 teams not mentioned yet) is somehow 2 games above .500

27. Detroit Pistons (6-19, -.644, 28)

28. Charlotte Hornets (7-16, -.779, 29)

29. Orlando Magic (5-19, -.797, 27)

30. San Antonio Spurs (6-18, -.899, 30)