These are The Bench’s power rankings for this past week.
Our rankings are based on the year to date with a heavy influence placed on the week that was, but do not necessarily indicate where we believe teams will finish at the end of the season.
These rankings have been complied by various members of the staff here at TheBenchGuys.com to ensure unbiased results.
Feel free to tweet us, @TheBenchGuys and let us know what you agree or disagree with.
1. Golden State Warriors (10-2)
The Warriors continue to find ways to win despite their terrible turnover numbers and even manage to overcome poor shooting performances. Coach Steve Kerr has got to find more minutes for advanced stat darling Andre Iguodala.
2. Toronto Raptors (11-2)
Dominant wins this past week against the Bucks and Cavs as well as a huge home win against the Griz helped propel the young Raptors up to the #2 spot in our rankings. Easily the best team in the East right now, the Raps have a lot going for them – namely depth.
3. Memphis Grizzlies (12-2)
If you didn’t already believe Marc Gasol was the best 5 in the league, he’s ready to punch you in the face and make you believe. He’s still the tough rebounder he’s always been, and now he’s being featured in the offence more and looking a lot like big brother in his prime.
4. Portland Trailblazers (10-2)
The Blazers have a 7 game winning streak and Damian Lillard has been spectacular. They have games against 3 sub .500 teams this week and one tough test, in the Griz.
5. Dallas Mavericks (10-4)
Are the Mavs a legit top 5 team, or are they a big bucket of Fool’s gold? With a record of 3-4 against winning teams and 7-0 against teams below .500 you might be inclined to believe the latter and not the former. We still feel they have a ton of talent and will be there at the end.
6. Houston Rockets (10-3)
The Rockets defense has improved and they have played some terribly stinky games. Both statements are true. Their offensive production (now rated 21st) went south when Howard went down with an injury, and they cannot afford for Ariza to go into any kind of a slump.
7. San Antonio Spurs (9-4)
Their brutal pre season certainly took its toll on the reigning champs, but they seemed to be rounding into form before Corey Joseph’s injury. Joseph had been making a case to steal the backup spot from injured reserve Patty Mills – but now the Spurs have a major hole at the 1.
8. Washington Wizards (9-3)
Bradley Beal has returned but not to the starting line up – yet. Will Pierce continue to hold onto his spot at 3 when quicker SFs continue to burn him, and quicker PFs continue to blow by Nene? Something’s got to give.
9. LA Clippers (7-5)
Is DeAndre 2014/15 the Roy Hibbert of last season? The drop off in Jordan’s play has been so severe, and for whatever reason – he and Griffin have turned into a defensive nightmare together, while last season they seemed to find a great rhythm protecting the rim.
10. Sacramento Kings (8-5)
One of the big surprises so far this season. Gay continues to be one of the most efficient SFs in the league, and Cousins is trying to smash the glass ceiling preventing him from being an all star. Boogie still needs to control his emotions – he’s had 5 or 6 fouls in all but one game this season.
11. Chicago Bulls (8-5)
Rose, down. Gasol, down. Gibson, down. This is not what Coach Thibs had in mind this season. Bulls faithful will say they are simply taking the Spurs ‘heavy-rest’ approach, and that their depth would carry them through, but that depth is being severely taxed.
12. Phoenix Suns (9-5)
The Suns continue to make their 3 headed backcourt monster work, but for how long? With Dragic’s camp announcing they will explore free agency, should the Suns look to deal him for scoring punch up front, and move Thomas to the starting line?
13. Miami Heat (8-6)
Huge performances this past week from Deng and Chalmers have helped make up for Wade’s absence. Bosh is shooting way too many 3s.
14. New Orleans Pelicans (7-5)
As good as Anthony Davis has been, and he’s been amazing, the Pelicans defensive woes were multiples when Omer Asik’s back gave out. Now to make matters worse, Gordon is out indefinitely.
15. Atlanta Hawks (6-5)
If Wall, Lowry or Rondo spend any significant time on the IR .. . Jeff Teague could steal an all star spot. Horford however seems to have lost his dominant all star form.
16. Milwaukee Bucks (7-7)
A pair of losses to the Raptors and Wizards seem to have brought the Bucks back to reality a little bit. They still have some nice pieces, and a coach who thinks he can walk on water – but they need to figure out how to improve their 28th ranked defensive rebounding.
Our rankings are based on the year to date with a heavy influence placed on the week that was, but do not necessarily indicate where we believe teams will finish at the end of the season.
These rankings have been complied by various members of the staff here at TheBenchGuys.com to ensure unbiased results.
Feel free to tweet us, @TheBenchGuys and let us know what you agree or disagree with.
1. Golden State Warriors (10-2)
The Warriors continue to find ways to win despite their terrible turnover numbers and even manage to overcome poor shooting performances. Coach Steve Kerr has got to find more minutes for advanced stat darling Andre Iguodala.
2. Toronto Raptors (11-2)
Dominant wins this past week against the Bucks and Cavs as well as a huge home win against the Griz helped propel the young Raptors up to the #2 spot in our rankings. Easily the best team in the East right now, the Raps have a lot going for them – namely depth.
3. Memphis Grizzlies (12-2)
If you didn’t already believe Marc Gasol was the best 5 in the league, he’s ready to punch you in the face and make you believe. He’s still the tough rebounder he’s always been, and now he’s being featured in the offence more and looking a lot like big brother in his prime.
4. Portland Trailblazers (10-2)
The Blazers have a 7 game winning streak and Damian Lillard has been spectacular. They have games against 3 sub .500 teams this week and one tough test, in the Griz.
5. Dallas Mavericks (10-4)
Are the Mavs a legit top 5 team, or are they a big bucket of Fool’s gold? With a record of 3-4 against winning teams and 7-0 against teams below .500 you might be inclined to believe the latter and not the former. We still feel they have a ton of talent and will be there at the end.
6. Houston Rockets (10-3)
The Rockets defense has improved and they have played some terribly stinky games. Both statements are true. Their offensive production (now rated 21st) went south when Howard went down with an injury, and they cannot afford for Ariza to go into any kind of a slump.
7. San Antonio Spurs (9-4)
Their brutal pre season certainly took its toll on the reigning champs, but they seemed to be rounding into form before Corey Joseph’s injury. Joseph had been making a case to steal the backup spot from injured reserve Patty Mills – but now the Spurs have a major hole at the 1.
8. Washington Wizards (9-3)
Bradley Beal has returned but not to the starting line up – yet. Will Pierce continue to hold onto his spot at 3 when quicker SFs continue to burn him, and quicker PFs continue to blow by Nene? Something’s got to give.
9. LA Clippers (7-5)
Is DeAndre 2014/15 the Roy Hibbert of last season? The drop off in Jordan’s play has been so severe, and for whatever reason – he and Griffin have turned into a defensive nightmare together, while last season they seemed to find a great rhythm protecting the rim.
10. Sacramento Kings (8-5)
One of the big surprises so far this season. Gay continues to be one of the most efficient SFs in the league, and Cousins is trying to smash the glass ceiling preventing him from being an all star. Boogie still needs to control his emotions – he’s had 5 or 6 fouls in all but one game this season.
11. Chicago Bulls (8-5)
Rose, down. Gasol, down. Gibson, down. This is not what Coach Thibs had in mind this season. Bulls faithful will say they are simply taking the Spurs ‘heavy-rest’ approach, and that their depth would carry them through, but that depth is being severely taxed.
12. Phoenix Suns (9-5)
The Suns continue to make their 3 headed backcourt monster work, but for how long? With Dragic’s camp announcing they will explore free agency, should the Suns look to deal him for scoring punch up front, and move Thomas to the starting line?
13. Miami Heat (8-6)
Huge performances this past week from Deng and Chalmers have helped make up for Wade’s absence. Bosh is shooting way too many 3s.
14. New Orleans Pelicans (7-5)
As good as Anthony Davis has been, and he’s been amazing, the Pelicans defensive woes were multiples when Omer Asik’s back gave out. Now to make matters worse, Gordon is out indefinitely.
15. Atlanta Hawks (6-5)
If Wall, Lowry or Rondo spend any significant time on the IR .. . Jeff Teague could steal an all star spot. Horford however seems to have lost his dominant all star form.
16. Milwaukee Bucks (7-7)
A pair of losses to the Raptors and Wizards seem to have brought the Bucks back to reality a little bit. They still have some nice pieces, and a coach who thinks he can walk on water – but they need to figure out how to improve their 28th ranked defensive rebounding.
17. Cleveland Cavaliers (5-7)
What a mess. Sub-par perimeter D, a total lack of rim protects, and an inability to share the ball and shoot a decent % from the floor. That’s the Cavs.
18. Orlando Magic (6-9)
Oladipo and Fournier aren’t going to win any bar room debates as the best backcourt in the East, but they do have potential, and the Magic will continue to be a tough out all year.
19. Boston Celtics (4-8)
The Celtics has 99 problems, but scoring ain’t one.
20. Denver Nuggets (6-7)
The Nuggets have won 4 straight, but the word that every member of the team is on the block makes you think this group has reached their highest point in the Power Rankings for this season.
21. Utah Jazz (5-9)
Rudy Gobert, if used properly – could be DeAndre Jordan of last season. Dunk / rebound / block shots. Either that or possibly used as trade bait to the Cavs who are in desperate need of a rim protector?
22. Brooklyn Nets (5-8)
As discussed on The Bench this past week, AK-47 is out of the Nets rotation. He has literally no value on the open market right now. Team USA member Mason Plumlee is now in danger of being the next on to fall out of Coach Hollin’s rotation.
23. Indiana Pacers (5-8)
The Pacers seem to have given up on the pipe dream of Paul George returning at any point this season.
24. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-9)
Andrew Wiggins had a breakout performance this past week (29 points in a loss to the Kings), and continues to play great D. How much will the Cavs regret that trade?
25. LA Lakers (3-11)
Nick Young returned to help the Lakers take their longest winning streak of the season (2) and then Kobe is still Kobe. Coach Scott seems livid with the level of effort from everyone else on his squad.
26. Charlotte Hornets (4-10)
The Hornets were a pre season hipster pick to be a top 5 seed in the East. Right now, they have to clean up their 19th ranked D, if they want to make the playoffs at all.
27. Oklahoma City Thunder (4-11)
There is talk of Westbrook returning soon, and Durant late in December or early January – but already 7 games below .500, can the Thunder crawl back into the playoff picture in the West?
28. New York Knicks (4-10)
We thought the triangle was supposed to fix everything? They nearly lost to the Sixers this past week, but the Sixers weren’t having it; they are determined to stay winless.
29. Detroit Pistons (3-10)
This roster needs a complete overhaul… or just less Josh Smith.
30. Philadelphia 76ers (0-13)
Just 6 consecutive losses away from the worst start in NBA history. I’d bet everything on the Sixers to earn that new record for futility.
