Make California Post a Preferred Source Each week, the California Post will power rank the NBA’s 30 teams. Records are as of Saturday morning:
The reigning Western Conference champions remain the hottest team in the league after blowing out the Steph Curry-less Warriors on Friday night. The Spurs have won 11 games in a row. They’re top three offensively and defensively across the league, all while Victor Wembanyama is playing at an MVP-caliber level. (Last week, 3rd)
Luka Dončić may have cooled off from his two-week-long 40-point barrage, but the Slovenian superstar continues to lead the Lakers in exceeding early-season expectations. The Lakers have looked like a potential championship team after seven consecutive wins. And the team received encouraging news regarding Austin Reaves’ heel injury, which the Lakers have classified as a bruise. (Last week, 2nd)
The Celtics made a statement with their midweek blowout victory over the 76ers. They’re elite on both ends of the floor, and Paul George has been an impeccable fit next to Jayson Tatum. (Last week, 8th)
The 76ers’ cracks started to show in their last four games (2-2), suggesting they may not be as good as their 8-1 start. Their offense should click at a higher level once Joel Embiid and LeBron James find their rhythm. (Last week, 1st)
The Rockets have been one of the league’s steadier teams so far, picking up three straight wins over the Nuggets, Warriors and Jazz to remain toward the top of the West. Alperen Şengün is playing at an All-NBA-caliber level. (Last week, 7th)
The Timberwolves continue to thrive without Anthony Edwards, winning five straight games including a 39-point blowout victory over the Mavericks on Thursday. LaMelo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu leading the offense while Rudy Gobert anchors the defense has been a reliable formula. (Last week, 5th)
Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija continue to be one of the league’s most dynamic duos, leading the Trail Blazers to back-to-back wins over the Thunder this past week. (Last week, 9th)
After starting the week with a home loss to the Dončić-less Lakers in which he was held in check offensively, Cade Cunningham provided a reminder of why he’s received All-NBA and All-Star honors the last two seasons, dropping a 52-point, 11-assist double-double in Thursday’s double-overtime win over the Wizards. (Last week, 6th)
Two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has found his rhythm as a scorer (30.5 points per game, second in the league), but the dip in playmaking (4.5 assists — his lowest mark since 2019-20) stands out amid the Thunder’s three-game losing streak in light of Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace being sidelined. (Last week, 4th)
Nikola Jokić is starting to look closer to his typical self while he and Jamal Murray (career-high 26.2 points) continue to carry a significant offensive load. (Last week, 15th)
The Grizzlies were the early-season darlings after starting 6-0. And there’s still plenty to be excited about with Ty Jerome (25.4 points, 5.3 assists) having a career year and Cameron Boozer (15.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists) creating early Rookie of the Year buzz. But the Grizzlies were coming back down to Earth, losing four of five games before a much-needed win over the Pelicans on Friday. (Last week, 10th)
The Warriors were one of the hottest teams in the league, winning eight straight games, before Steph Curry went down with a torn oblique and suffered back-to-back losses to the Rockets and Spurs. The time without their franchise icon will be a test for the rest of the roster. (Last week, 11th)
The defending champions were looking like they were turning a corner on their season, having won four straight games, before back-to-back losses to the Cavaliers and Pacers. They should be fine in the long run, but they need better play from Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart. (Last week, 14th)
The Hawks continue to be solid but haven’t shown the ability to compete with the league’s best teams. They’re 0-4 against teams .500 and above and 7-2 against teams below .500. (Last week, 13th)
Cooper Flagg continues to shine in his second NBA season, dropping 43 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in Monday’s win over the Pacers. And Kyrie Irving (21.6 points per game) looks like his pre-ACL injury self. (Last week, 17th)
The Heat are finding their groove after starting the season 0-4. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo are finding ways to better coexist, combining for 74 points in Friday’s win over the Cavaliers. (Last week, 19th)
Meleek Thomas (13 points on 49% shooting, 47.3% on 3-pointers) has been a revelation for the Cavaliers, who acquired the guard out of Arkansas with the No. 34 pick in June’s draft. The Cavaliers, who’ve lost five of their last seven games, have needed every bit of Thomas’ contributions in light of James Harden and Peyton Watson having slow starts to the season. (Last week, 12th)
The Suns have benefited from an easier schedule, picking up wins over the Hornets and Clippers this past week. The home victory over the Rockets and former star forward Kevin Durant last weekend stood out as a potential turning point of the season. (Last week, 23rd)
The Raptors, who’ve lost three straight games, continue to miss Kawhi Leonard, who remains sidelined as he works his way back from left knee swelling. (Last week, 16th)
Franz Wagner has reached another level during the Magic’s three-game winning streak, averaging 34 points, 7.8 assists and 7.5 rebounds over the last week. With Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs still sidelined, the Magic are going as far as Wagner can take them. (Last week, 24th)
Just when life without Tyrese Haliburton looked like it was going to be filled with doom and gloom, the Pacers picked up back-to-back wins over the Wizards and Knicks to close out the week. Pascal Siakam (22.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists) continues to be a steady presence. (Last week, 21st)
The Wizards have lost six straight as the level of competition picks up with their schedule. The roster, led by Anthony Davis (25.6 points, 10.5 rebounds), has the requisite talent to be better than they have been lately. (Last week, 18th)
The vibes in New Orleans have taken a turn after five straight losses and a trade request from Dejounte Murray. Losing three straight games by a combined 116 points has been a lowlight for any team across the league. (Last week, 20th)
The Hornets ended their six-game losing streak by beating the Cavaliers on Monday. But Kon Knueppel being sidelined for at least the next few weeks has tempered any potential excitement for what this season could’ve been for the Hornets. (Last week, 22nd)
The Clippers won two of their three games this past week, including the victory over the Thunder, ending a dreadful stretch of basketball. (Last week, 25th)
The Nets made 20 3-pointers in their recent win over the Pelicans, the second time they’ve reached that mark this season. So much of their offensive success is tied to whether they’re making perimeter shots. (Last week, 26th)
The Jazz have the league’s longest active losing streak at 11 consecutive losses. But at least rookie Darryn Peterson is starting to find his groove, averaging 24.4 points over his last five games. (Last week, 27th)
The overtime win over the Hawks was a pleasant surprise. But Caleb Wilson suffering a fractured hand took away a lot of the minimal excitement surrounding the Bulls for the next few weeks. (Last week, 28th)
The Kings followed up their first win of the season over the Mavericks with five straight losses. Yuck. (Last week, 29th)
The Bucks continue to understand what life looks like after trading away a franchise icon near the prime of his career a year or two too late. (Last week, 30th)
