With it being the Holiday break in the action here is a look at the week 11 NBA Power Rankings
1. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks continue to pile on the impressive wins, they did drop a tough one against the Heat but got a big win on Christmas Day over the Knicks. Giannis is the real deal.
2. Toronto Raptors
Toronto continues to win games and still sit with the best record in the NBA.
3. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors when completely focused could be the best team in the entire NBA. But after their unWarrior like showing against the Lakers on Christmas, the Warriors have dropped down the rankings a bit.
4. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers have a soft schedule this week, but continue to trend in the right direction for Oladipo and company.
5. Denver Nuggets
It has been a light schedule for Denver with one game in seven days, but that game was a loss against the Clippers. Maybe the Nuggets can focus on getting their stars healthy.
6. Boston Celtics
Boston got a big win on Christmas versus the 76ers and behind Kyrie Irving, the Celtics have all the tools to compete in the East.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are trending up. Can they maintain it?
8. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers didn’t need Lebron to get a huge win on the road in Golden State. When will Lebron be back? That is the real question.
9. Philadelphia 76ers
Don’t let a loss on the road in Boston on Christmas ruin what is happening in Philly. Keep “Trusting the Process”.
10. Houston Rockets
Chris Paul just seems to not avoid injuries lately. The Rockets are 2-0 this week without Paul and James Harden is on fire.
11. Portland Trail Blazers
Blazers can’t stop teams from scoring, and that is a major problem. The Blazers continue to trend down.
12. Los Angeles Clippers
They got the big win over Denver and a win over Dallas, so it looks like the Clippers are trending up.
13. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have been scoring at a high rate, and they have gotten themselves right into the thick of the hunt for the playoffs.
14. Sacramento Kings
I never thought we would see the Kings get this high all season, but they have. De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield make the Kings a legitimate threat this season.
15. Utah Jazz
A big get on Christmas as the Jazz took care of Portland. It looks like the Jazz has found their defense, which puts them back in the hunt.
16. Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets are treading water at this point, and are struggling to keep the Ship up. After Kemba’s hot start he has completely hit an iceberg as of late. Definitely trending down in Charlotte.
17. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies went 1-3 on the road trip, but that win came in a huge game in LA against the Lakers, where rookie big man Jaren Jackson Jr knocked down a game-clinching three over Lebron James to get the win.
18. Miami Heat
Winners of five straight and nine of their last 11 games, the Heat are on a roll.
19. Detroit Pistons
Things are getting dangerous for the Pistons as they have lost nine of their last 11 games and are on the brink of completely falling out of the playoff hunt.
20. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs are yet another team that has taken a nose dive. They have yet to win a game with Dirk Nowitzki in the starting line-up this season, which is bad for the team itself not to mention trying to send Dirk off in the right way.
21. Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota may be the team that will drop out of the playoff hunt in the west. They have a stretch of their next six of seven games on the road and are already 1-1 to start this week.
22. Brooklyn Nets
Winners of eight of their last nine, the Nets sit three games out in 9th in the east. They are trending up.
23. New Orleans Pelicans
They have lost four straight, and are trending on down the rankings.
24. Orlando Magic
Orlando is 2-6 in their last 8. I think I can hear the lottery calling.
25. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have climbed up the rankings a bit with their current three-game winning streak. All well but still a lottery team yet again.
26. Washington Wizards
The Wizards are just a mess. Otto Porter has missed the last seven games, and it looks like Washington is well out of synch.
27. Phoenix Suns
Great offensive outputs from rookie DeAndre Ayton, but the Defense is horrendous. Hello Lottery team.
28. New York Knicks
A loss on Christmas at home just puts more pressure on coach David Fizdale and the Knicks.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers
Nothing going right in Cleveland. What to do with J.R. Smith?
30. Chicago Bulls
Not very easy to rebuild when your best assets are always hurt. Since adding Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn and Zach Lavine the three have only played in 14 games together.
