NBA Power Rankings: Sixers continue to climb in the Eastern Conference

Posted by Admin December 26, 2024 NBA

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The Christmas Day holiday has officially passed on the NBA calendar and now is the “unofficial” start to the season. Now is the time when everybody turns their attention to the league as teams begin to figure out who they are moving forward.

In the East, the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers have been terrific while the Philadelphia 76ers have gotten off to a tough start amid injuries, but have begun to show signs of life. The New York Knicks have figured it out while the Orlando Magic cannot be forgotten about. The Milwaukee Bucks have begun to surge as well after their slow start.

Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been at the top while teams like the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Dallas Mavericks will be teams to worry about as well.

With that said, here is the eighth edition of the NBA Power Rankings:

30. Washington Wizards (4-23)

Previous ranking: 30

The Wizards are still struggling along in this 2024-25 season. One has to believe Kyle Kuzma will be moved soon. Especially, when considering the team’s focus on the likes of Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr, and others.

29. New Orleans Pelicans (5-25)

Previous ranking: 29

The Pels have had the season from basketball hell. Everybody has missed time due to injuries and Zion Williamson has played only six games to begin the season. It might be time for New Orleans to consider moving on from Williamson and figure out the next move for the future.

28. Toronto Raptors (7-23)

Previous ranking: 27

The Raptors have lost eight in a row and are dealing with injuries of their own. On paper, this is a solid young squad in Toronto led by Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley, but they have all missed time due to injuries and Toronto hasn’t been able to see them all together for much time.

27. Utah Jazz (7-21)

Previous ranking: 28

Utah has picked it up recently including putting on a show in Detroit. The Jazz also beat Brooklyn while giving Cleveland a fight before falling short. However, Utah is still dead last in defensive rating and have a date with surging Sixers up next.

26. Charlotte Hornets (7-22)

Previous ranking: 26

The Hornets have been a disaster. Even with the return of LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges to the floor, Charlotte has not been able to gain any traction and it had a player’s only meeting after a blowout loss to the Rockets at home. The talent is there on paper, but the Hornets have to figure out how to make it work.

25. Portland Trail Blazers (9-20)

Previous ranking: 25

The Blazers began the week with an impressive win over Denver, but then got blown out by the Spurs and Mavericks. The inconsistency in effort level has been alarming for coach Chauncey Billups’ team and he and his staff have to figure things out. The front office also has to figure out its plan for the deadline in February.

24. Brooklyn Nets (11-18)

Previous ranking: 23

The Nets are beginning to embrace the tank. They have struggled since trading Dennis Schroder and one has to figure that Brooklyn will soon move Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and even Ben Simmons could be moved. Brooklyn fans should hold on to the hope that Cam Thomas will return soon.

Previous ranking: 24

The Sixers continue to rise in the East. After a statement win on Christmas over the Celtics, they are only a game back of the Bulls for the No. 9 seed and only 3.5 games back of the Heat for the No. 6 seed. Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid are leading the way for a talented group that’s beginning to turn a corner.

22. Chicago Bulls (13-17)

Previous ranking: 21

The Bulls have lost two in a row following their own impressive win in Boston. They got their butts beat the Celtics in the rematch in Chicago and then got blown out by the Bucks. The beat goes on for a team that really needs to make changes at the deadline in the worst way possible.

21. Sacramento Kings (13-17)

Previous ranking: 19

The Kings are a confusing bunch. They are in the top 10 in the league in offensive rating, and haven’t been terrible defensively, while also having a plus-1.2 points differential, and yet they are four games under .500 and are the No. 12 seed in the West. Coach Mike Brown needs to figure things out and quickly.

20. Detroit Pistons (13-17)

Previous ranking: 22

Talk about a team that has made a big turnaround. The Pistons are still struggling, but when considering they won only 14 games in all of the 2023-24 season, the 13 wins they have at the moment are extremely impressive. Cade Cunningham has a serious case to be named an All-Star as he continues to lead Detroit back to relevance.

19. San Antonio Spurs (15-15)

Previous ranking: 18

The Spurs are still improving, but they let a few games slip away. Too many mistakes down the stretch cost them a win in Philadelphia on Dec. 23 and they couldn’t capitalize on a Victor Wembanyama masterclass in New York as they fell to the Knicks on Christmas Day. Growing pains for San Antonio to improve on.

18. Atlanta Hawks (15-15)

Previous ranking: 15

The Hawks continue to be an up-and-down group. They followed up their run to the NBA Cup semifinals with losses to Memphis and San Antonio before handing Minnesota a loss. This is a talented group, but Atlanta has to decide what type of team it is with the deadline approaching.

17. Miami Heat (14-13)

Previous ranking: 14

The Heat had a miserable loss in Orlando when they saw a 25-point lead slip away to a Magic team missing their top three players. One has to wonder about the psyche of this team when considering all of the Jimmy Butler trade rumors, but one has to believe Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra will have this team moving forward again.

16. Phoenix Suns (15-14)

Previous ranking: 13

The Suns had a good Christmas Day win over the Nuggets at home as they look to build some consistency for the future. There are rumblings that they will throw their hat in the Jimmy Butler ring, but that remains to be seen. Butler possibly joining Kevin Durant would be intriguing in the West.

15. Indiana Pacers (15-15)

Previous ranking: 20

The Pacers have begun to figure it out. They have won five in a row and are looking like themselves again following a tough start to the season. Coach Rick Carlisle continues to give Tyrese Haliburton the freedom he needs to lead this offense and Indiana continues to put its faith in the star guard as time moves on.

14. Golden State Warriors (15-14)

Previous ranking: 16

The Warriors saw another one slip away on Christmas with a close loss to the Lakers as they are now 3-7 in their last 10 games. Golden State continues to flounder and one has to wonder what its future is as it could begin to make some major moves at the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Steph Curry is still playing at a high level. The Warriors can’t waste him.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-14)

Previous ranking: 12

One has to wonder what the Wolves are thinking right now as the Julius Randle fit next to Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert continues to be clunky. The Wolves did pick up a win in Dallas on Christmas, but Minnesota is clearly not the same and is taking steps backward following the Western Conference finals run in 2024.

12. Los Angeles Lakers (17-13)

Previous ranking: 17

The Lakers almost choked one away to the Warriors on Christmas before Austin Reaves saved the day on the road. Either way, the Lakers are 5-5 in their last 10 games as they have been on the seesaw a bit in terms of the playoffs and the play-in as of late. They have to figure out the right combination around LeBron James going forward.

11. Los Angeles Clippers (17-13)

Previous ranking: 11

This Clippers team will be dangerous once Kawhi Leonard returns. When will the superstar forward return? Nobody knows. However, his presence next to James Harden and Most Improved Player candidate Norman Powell should do wonders for LA in the West race.

10. Denver Nuggets (16-12)

Previous ranking: 10

Despite the loss in Phoenix on Christmas, the Nuggets have looked better as of late. Nikola Jokic continues to lead this group as he puts up otherworldly numbers and Denver is beginning to get healthier. They still have work to do, but the Nuggets remain a dangerous group in the Western Conference.

9. Milwaukee Bucks (16-12)

Previous ranking: 9

The Bucks took a humbling loss to the Cavs following their NBA Cup championship run, but then bounced back with a blowout win over the Bulls. As long as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are healthy, then Milwaukee will be a contender. One has to wonder if it will call up the Nets and see what it will take to get Cam Johnson.

8. Dallas Mavericks (19-11)

Previous ranking: 6

The Mavs put on a valiant effort on Christmas before falling to the Wolves at home, but the bigger loss is Luka Doncic. Losing him to a calf injury for what is expected to be an extended period of time puts more pressure on Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson to keep Dallas afloat in the competitive Western Conference.

7. Orlando Magic (19-12)

Previous ranking: 8

The Magic are one impressive bunch. The fact that they are seven games over .500 despite not having Paolo Banchero for a majority of the season and also losing Franz Wagner to injury recently is a testament to their depth and coach Jamahl Mosley for the work he’s done. Orlando is on the rise in the East and could be a legitimate contender.

6. Memphis Grizzlies (20-10)

Previous ranking: 5

A Healthy Grizzlies team is a scary one. Memphis has a plus-9.7 point differential and is led by legitimate stars in Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. Coach Taylor Jenkins deserves a lot of credit for Memphis being in the position it’s in, but the Grizzlies having a clean bill of health is a big help, too.

5. New York Knicks (20-10)

Previous ranking: 7

The Knicks have won five in a row and have begun to build some real chemistry. Mikal Bridges was phenomenal on Christmas Day and the Jalen Brunson-Karl-Anthony Towns duo is growing by the game. The presence of OG Anunoby has also been a big help and coach Tom Thibodeau is pressing the right buttons. New York has found a rhythm as it climbs the ladder in the East.

4. Houston Rockets (20-9)

Previous ranking: 4

This Rockets team continues to keep it pushing. They’re stealing wins against the league’s best competition while crushing the teams they should. A core led by Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, and Amen Thompson along with the veteran presence of Fred VanVleet continues to make Houston a scary bunch.

3. Boston Celtics (22-8)

Previous ranking: 2

The Celtics have had a few hiccups as of late including blowing a big lead in a loss to the Magic in Orlando and letting one slip away to the Sixers on Christmas. One can argue that Boston is on cruise control as it guides itself through the regular season. Either way, the Knicks are nipping at their heels so the Cs need to get back on track.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-5)

Previous ranking: 3

Not counting the NBA Cup final loss to the Bucks, the Thunder are riding an 8-game winning streak. Oklahoma City sports the best defensive rating in the NBA as well as a top 10 offense and is looking to build as time moves on. One has to wonder how dangerous the Thunder will be when Chet Holmgren returns.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (26-4)

Previous ranking: 1

The Cavs continue to be a machine. Evan Mobley has taken some serious steps forward in his game while Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland continue to make things happen in the backcourt. In order for Cleveland to truly be considered a challenge to Boston, it will need Mobley to continue to grow and be that No. 1 guy for this group.