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Last PR drop: December 12
Despite some time in-between power ranking drops on the hardwood, we see light shifting across the league. Outside of spots 2-5 & 8-13, the rest are steady in place. Little movement... especially in the basement. Three teams face major shifts while the rest build off their molds. Let's get to the new drop.
Record since last drop: 12-3
Current Streak: W1
Notable wins: vs CLE; @ LAC; vs MIN
Celtics remain the top dog both in my power rankings and atop the league standings as they continue to win and build to their unreal winning streak at home. Boston is a staggering 18-0 at home on the campaign as they have now won 25 straight regular season games inside TD Garden. They did have a light slate of comp' during the case building for this drop, with their best win coming tonight against the T-Wolves in OT. They lost a tough one against the Pacers and a close contest against the Thunder, but still, neither one of those loses stump their placing atop the rankings. Celtics are feelin' dangerous.
Next up: @ MIL, vs HOU, @ TOR, vs SAS
Record since last drop: 10-4
Current Streak: W2
Notable wins: vs BOS; vs MIN; @ DEN (x2)
Thunder keep boomin' behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who is playin' MVP level ball right now on the hardwood. Thunder are beatin' the top teams in the league as they are 6-0 since the last drop against squads in my top-ten. OKC has two wins in Denver, a win over the Celtics, and a 20-point dub over the T-Wolves. Thunder continue to prove they are as dangerous as anyone. They also are provin' to be the scariest dawg in the Northwest, which is becoming the best division in basketball.
Next up: vs POR, vs ORL, @ LAL, @ LAC
Record since last drop: 10-5
Current Streak: L1
Notable wins: @ DAL; vs IND
T-Wolves are continuing to win at a high rate, but have had some tough times against top teams of late. Which is why the Thunder slipstreamed past them. Minnesota is 1-4 against teams in my top-ten since the last drop. Despite that, they still remain a top 3 squad. They play some light comp' until their big circled matchup on their big board against OKC.
Next up: vs POR, vs LAC, @ DET, vs MEM
Record since last drop: 10-3
Current Streak: W1
Notable wins: vs DAL
Nuggets are in the same boat as the Timberwolves, they have won the vast majority of their games since the last drop, but have struggled against top teams. That sentence needs be more clear- they have struggled against the Thunder. The only two games since the drop against top teams have been against OKC- Denver dropped 'em both. One was a route while the other was decided by just one point off SGA's game-winner. They play the top 5 teams in the East before they get another crack at those Thunder.
Next up: vs NO, vs IND, @ PHI, @ BOS
Record since last drop: 10-3
Current Streak: W1
Notable wins: vs NYK; @ IND
Checkout those Clippers! LA has flipped their season around by winnin' 14 of 16 that included a 9-game winning streak. James Harden not only is gelling with the Clips' rotation, but he has been performing much-much better to help elevate the offense with crisp passin' and a knack for creatin' shots rather off his wrist or off his dime. I prefer off his dime. Clippers are showin' us they can win; task one complete. Now they gotta show they can win against the top squads. They have a shot to prove it with Minny & OKC luring in the distance.
Next up: @ MEM, @ MIN, vs OKC, vs BKN
Record since last drop: 8-5
Current Streak: L2
Notable wins: @ NYK
Bucks go on a slide downwards after returning to some shaky business of late. Milwaukee has lost four of their last five games includin' back-to-back losses to the Pacers. Indiana has become a new nemesis for the Bucks, as the Bucks went 1-4 against them in the season series. Giannis and co. want to flip their switch back to where they won seven in a row just a couple weeks ago.
Next up: vs BOS, vs GSW, vs SAC, @ CLE
Record since last drop: 9-5
Current Streak: W5
Notable wins: @ PHI; vs MIL; vs MIN
Knicks are surging! It's crazy what one trade can do for a club. It's crazy what one piece can do to a puzzle. Knicks had lost three in a row and four of their last five games prior to agreeing to a blockbuster trade with the Raptors for OG Anunoby. The arrival of Anunoby in the Knicks rotation has gone exactly as I predicted: swift and sound. The trio of Jalen Brunson; Anunoby; and Julius Randle is going to be tough to stop. The East needs to be wary, and the Knicks are ready to put that on notice.
Next up: @ DAL, @ MEM, vs ORL, vs HOU
Record since last drop: 7-6
Current Streak: L3
Notable wins: vs MIN
76ers are on the decline as they ride a three game losin' streak, losin' four of their last five as they deal with Joel Embiid being banged up and out of the lineup. Embiid has missed six of the last eight 76ers' games... Philly is just 2-4 in those games. They are a proven two-man team with Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and if those guys are off the floor... well it's not good.
Next up: vs SAC, vs HOU, vs DEN, @ ORL
Record since last drop: 9-4
Current Streak: W2
Notable wins: @ MIN
Pelicans have caught a winnin' groove as they enter my top-ten for the first time this season. New Orleans have won six of their last seven contests behind their high level offense. Pels have a sharp thorn of comp' luring on their January schedj as they play some of the best teams in the league. They look to solidify themselves to remain in the top-ten.
Next up: @ DEN, @ DAL, @ DAL, @ CHA
Record since last drop: 9-6
Current Streak: W2
Notable wins: vs BOS; @ MIL; vs MIL
The theme for the Pacers this year has been unreal offense mixed with inconsistency in their record. Indiana started 1-5 after the release of my last drop when I placed them back in the top-ten in over a month and a half buuuut, they since have won eight of their last nine games. They went into a full round war with the East and came out with a 10-8 round win. Pacers look for this heatwave to finally push them over the hump as they jump on the bus for a 6-game road trip.
Next up: @ ATL, @ DEN, @ UTH, @ SAC
11-30:
Biggest Risers & Decliners:
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