The 140: NBA Power Rankings, Week 4 - Northern Uprising

Tuesday. NBA Power Rankings. Each team gets no more than 140 characters. Let's get right down to business. 

1. Toronto Raptors (12-2)
(Last Week: 6)

Toronto's taken its "Fuck Brooklyn!" ethos and applied it to the entire league, especially at home, where the Raptors are 31-8 in 2014.

2. Golden State Warriors (10-2)
(Last Week: 2)

Steve Kerr's already in the Warriors' record books thanks to Golden State's best start in franchise history. That didn't take long at all.

3. Memphis Grizzlies (12-2)
(Last Week: 1)

The Grizzlies are a NBA-best 45-15 in 2014, and the league's best team in close games. This team's legit. 

4. Houston Rockets (11-3)
(Last Week: 2)

James Harden's shirt cost the Rockets two spots in the rankings. 

5. Portland Trail Blazers (11-3)
(Last Week: 4)

If the Trail Blazers played on the east coast, they'd be considered the best team in the league. 

6. San Antonio Spurs (9-4)
(Last Week: 9)

Second-best defense in the league. The Spurs are looking like the Spurs again. 

7. Dallas Mavericks (10-5)
(Last Week: 7)

Dirk Nowitzki says the Mavs are a "bitch to guard." He's never been more right. 

8. Chicago Bulls (8-5)
(Last Week: 5)

If Derrick Rose could stay healthy, the Eastern Conference would have more than one team in the top seven in The 140. 

9. Washington Wizards (9-3)
(Last Week: 8)

The East is a joke, example 972,323:

But, still, how good has Paul Pierce looked in D.C.? 

10. Sacramento Kings (8-5)
(Last Week: 10)

Accurate:

(Courtesy: @SacramentoKings)

11. Phoenix Suns (9-6)
(Last Week: 14)

It's almost a shame the Suns don't play in the East, where they would actually make the playoffs, and win a round or two. 

12. Los Angeles Clippers (8-5)
(Last Week: 15)

The Clippers are going to be fine:

13. New Orleans Pelicans (7-5)
(Last Week: 12)

The Anthony Davis Tweet of the Week is more serious in nature, but still goddamned impressive:

14. Cleveland Cavaliers (6-7)
(Last Week: 11)

You can't take the Cleveland out of the Cavaliers, even if they've got LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving. 

15. Miami Heat (8-6)
(Last Week: 13)

Dwyane Wade's day-to-day. He's missed seven games in a row. There's no way he's 32. Also, my God, Shabazz Napier:

16. Atlanta Hawks (6-5)
(Last Week: 17)

The Hawks are a game above .500 and the fifth seed in the East. Congratulations?

17. Milwaukee Bucks (7-7)
(Last Week: 16)

I should be over it by now, but I'm not. I'm just not. Jason Kidd should have to wear a tie. It isn't right. There are rules.

18. Indiana Pacers (6-8)
(Last Week: 18)

Can an Eastern playoff team that finishes below .500 still boast the Coach of the Year? Because it's Vogel. 

19. Brooklyn Nets (5-8)
(Last Week: 21)

The Nets move up two spots because of this, the greatest Vine of all time:

20. Denver Nuggets (6-7)
(Last Week: 25)

Winners of four in a row heading into Tuesday night, the Nuggets were never as bad as they looked to start the year. 

21. Orlando Magic (6-10)
(Last Week: 19)

Some team's got to be ranked 21st. Why not Orlando?

22. Utah Jazz (5-10)
(Last Week: 23)

Trey Burke or Dante Exum? Is it too soon to be wondering? 

23. Boston Celtics (4-8)
(Last Week: 24)

The 76ers play better defense than the Celtics. 

24. Oklahoma City Thunder (3-12)
(Last Week: 22)

It's going to be pretty awesome when KD and Westbrook come back to lead the Thunder to No. 7 or 8 in the West and a first-round upset.

25. Los Angeles Lakers (3-11)
(Last Week: T30)

Indeed, Weezy. Indeed. I say this sincerely: Swaggy P is a gift. The NBA is so much better with him than without. 

26. Charlotte Hornets (4-11)
(Last Week: 20)

Lance Stephenson is shooting 37 percent from the floor and averaging 9.8 points. He's the Hornets - disappointment - personified.

27. New York Knicks (4-11)
(Last Week: 28)

Not sure how New York moved up, but Pablo Prigioni experienced what it's like to be a Knicks fan after taking a shot to the groin:

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-9)
(Last Week: 27)

The Timberwolves have one win in their last eight. It came against the Knicks, who should be ashamed of themselves, by 16. 

29. Detroit Pistons (3-10)
(Last Week: 26)

The Pistons won the NBA Finals in 2004. That almost seems impossible to fathom in 2014. What a shame. 

30. Philadelphia 76ers (0-14)
(Last Week: T30)

"We don't want sympathy," head coach Brett Brown said last week. Well, too bad. Without sympathy, the 76ers have nothing.