Pickswise Week 12 NBA Power Rankings

Photo of the pickswise logo

The new year is here as the NBA season is getting more intense week by week. Let’s take a look at the NBA Power Rankings to see who is at the top heading into 2019.

1. Milwaukee Bucks

Behind MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo the Bucks look set for a big 2019. The Bucks could be the best in the east. Two wins for the Bucks in week 11. Trending Up

2. Toronto Raptors

Can Toronto keep up their strong start, and get the number one seed in the East? They have played the past 10 games without Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard.

3. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have the tools to be the best once again, but they haven’t played very well in recent games. Can they get it going? A pair of games against Portland last week gave the Warriors up and down, performances. As their home meeting, they fell in overtime, but then went to Portland and won.

4. Denver Nuggets

Arguably the best team in the West. Paul Millsap returned this past weekend but is still far from starting for the Nuggets. They have three games in week 12 and have the easiest January schedule of any West team.

5. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers were a hard team to place in this week’s power rankings as they are getting ready for their longest road trip of the season of five games starting on Friday in Boston. Pacers are playing great defense.

6. Boston Celtics

A 2-1 week that included making fourth-quarter comebacks has Boston sitting right where it needs. With games, this week against inferior opponents Boston is trending up.

 7. Oklahoma City Thunder

A pair of nail-biting losses against Houston and Dallas has the Thunder trending down a bit, but they aren’t that far off.

8. Houston Rockets

The Rockets have made a huge jump from 13th in the west all the way up to 5th. A 9-1 in their last 10 games tends to help. Houston is coming into form.

9. Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers had a pair of games against Golden State, they split those games but got an important win on the road at the Warriors in overtime. They followed up the win last Thursday over the Warriors with a win over the 76ers over the weekend.

10. San Antonio Spurs

They split a home-and-home with Denver last week, and held three top 10 offenses under 104 points in their three games last week.

11. Los Angeles Lakers

No Lebron, no problem, the Lakers got a win against Sacramento, after their big blowout win over Golden State on Christmas Day.

12. Philadelphia 76ers

Philly came up just shy against Boston last week. After their game with the Clippers to start the week, they have a decent stretch with games against inferior opponents.

13. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers have line-up issues. But on the bright side, a 2-1 week is promising.

14. Sacramento Kings

Two losses at Staples Center has the Kings trending down, but the leagues most improved offense won’t go down without a fight.

15. Utah Jazz

The defense is back, but if they can’t score Utah won’t be able to make the playoffs.

16. Dallas Mavericks

It has been a struggle on the road for Dallas as they have lost eight straight on the road.

17. Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis has gone from 5th down to 10th in the standings during their grueling 12 of 15 game stretch against teams with winning records in December.

18. Miami Heat

Justise Winslow at point guard for the Heat. A 1-2 week keeps Miami at 18.

19. Minnesota Timberwolves

Three-straight road wins have Minnesota looking up, but they had a slip up at home on Friday.

20. Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn is hot, with a 9-3 record in their last 12 games, that has them knocking on the playoff door.

21. New Orleans Pelicans

It has been late-game issues for the Pelicans that have them trending down the Power Rankings.

22. Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte is in the midst of an up and down campaign. It doesn’t get any easier with a tough six road games in 10 days coming up.

23. Orlando Magic

A 2-7 stretch has Orlando trending down the rankings.

24. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons have had bright moments, but lately, they have taken a nose dive off the cliff. They finished 1-4 to close 2018. Can they step in January, might not be likely with six of their first seven games against teams with winning records.

25. Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta may be the best of the worst teams in the NBA as they have won five of their last six games. Rookie Trae Young looks like he is coming into his own, and Atlanta is trending up.

26. Chicago Bulls

This might be the highest Chicago will be all season, but they have looked worse since Lauri Markkanen’s return, especially shooting the ball.

27. Washington Wizards

John Wall is out for the rest of the season, so Washington looks like it is set for a tough rest of the season.

28. Phoenix Suns

It’s four losses in their last five that keep Phoenix from getting any higher. The positive for the Suns is they are finding ways to score the ball.

29. Cleveland Cavaliers

They added Patrick McCaw should help them defensively but the Cavs are barely staying afloat. Not too far ahead of New York in the power rankings.

30. New York Knicks

The Knicks have lost seven straight games, along with 13 of their last 14. New York has hit rock bottom this season. To tough road games in Denver and Los Angeles in week 12, and they will continue to free fall in the standings.

 

Pickswise
*
By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy