NBA Power Rankings: Warriors are back, Bulls are for real
The NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
As we near the one-month mark of the 2021-22 season, let's check in on the risers and fallers around the league.
1. Golden State Warriors (11-2)
Previous rank: 4
The Warriors are the NBA's hottest team, only suffering their first regulation loss Sunday on the road against the Hornets. Most games haven't been close, either, with all of their victories on their recent seven-game win streak coming by at least 13 points. Imagine when they're fully healthy.
2. Brooklyn Nets (10-4)
Previous rank: 5
It hasn't been a dominant start, but the Nets are making it work with MVP shortlist candidate Kevin Durant and the league's sixth-best defense. James Harden is still getting to the foul line half as often as he did two seasons ago, but his 54.1% effective field-goal rate is now above his career mark.
3. Phoenix Suns (9-3)
Previous rank: 20
The Suns have erased the memory of their clumsy 1-3 start. It's been an egalitarian effort, with seven players putting up at least 10 points per game during their current eight-game winning streak. Devin Booker hasn't even hit his stride yet.
4. Chicago Bulls (9-4)
Previous rank: 6
A 26-point beatdown at the hands of the Warriors on Friday was the Bulls' first come-to-earth moment this season. Instead of sulking after their biggest loss of the campaign, they finished the weekend with a 10-point road win, without Nikola Vucevic, over a good Clippers team.
5. Denver Nuggets (9-4)
Previous rank: 11
The Nuggets continue to grind the NBA down with the league's second-best defense. Their most-used lineup - Monte Morris and Will Barton in the backcourt, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Jokic up front - has held opponents to just 93.6 points per 100 possessions in 170 minutes.
6. Los Angeles Clippers (8-5)
Previous rank: 22
Broadly, the Clippers have a similar identity to Denver: so-so offense, crippling defense. With Kawhi Leonard out long term, L.A. has gotten great results from a committee of role players, including Luke Kennard, Isaiah Hartenstein, and the invigorated Nicolas Batum.
7. Washington Wizards (9-3)
Previous rank: 8
Washington continues defying expectations and sits first in the East with a 9-3 record. After years of patience, Bradley Beal's loyalty has paid off as he's now the centerpiece of a competitive, well-balanced Wizards roster.
8. Utah Jazz (8-5)
Previous rank: 1
The Jazz have hit a rough patch after a scorching 7-1 start to the season. Utah is allowing a whopping 114.5 points per 100 possessions over its last five games.
9. Miami Heat (8-5)
Previous rank: 2
The Heat's defense has taken a nosedive during its recent West Coast road trip. Miami is surrendering an average of 112.5 points on 46.2% shooting over its last four games.
10. Dallas Mavericks (8-4)
Previous rank: 17
Kristaps Porzingis has played much better since returning to the lineup. The big man is averaging 21.8 points on 50% shooting, as well as 8.5 boards and 1.3 blocks, over his last four appearances.
11. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-5)
Previous rank: 23
Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have helped the Cavaliers become a respectable defensive outfit. Cleveland only surrenders a point per possession in lineups featuring both members of its starting frontcourt, per Cleaning the Glass.
12. Milwaukee Bucks (6-8)
Previous rank: 3
The regular season doesn't matter too much for the defending champions, but the Bucks sit outside the playoff picture right now. Having more than 13 combined games from Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday would help.
13. Philadelphia 76ers (8-6)
Previous rank: 18
The 76ers, who are currently without Joel Embiid and Matisse Thybulle, have dropped four straight. Things won't get any easier for Philadelphia with a five-game West Coast road trip on deck.
14. Los Angeles Lakers (8-6)
Previous rank: 14
The Lakers' inconsistent play this past week was highlighted by a win over the talented Heat and a loss against the struggling Timberwolves. Thanks to key injuries, this group still hasn't found its footing yet.
15. Toronto Raptors (7-7)
Previous rank: 21
Scottie Barnes continues to make a strong case for being the Rookie of the Year front-runner. The Florida State product leads all first-year players with 16.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
16. Boston Celtics (6-7)
Previous rank: 19
Dennis Schroder and Marcus Smart have enjoyed elevated offensive roles in the wake of Jaylen Brown's hamstring injury. The duo is averaging 36.7 points and 10.5 assists in the four games since Brown was sidelined.
17. Charlotte Hornets (8-7)
Previous rank: 12
Take away four straight losses to the California teams, and the Hornets would have one of the NBA's better records. LaMelo Ball's inconsistencies have plagued Charlotte.
18. New York Knicks (7-6)
Previous rank: 7
The Knicks' starting lineup might need a shake-up. New York's five-man unit of Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier, and RJ Barrett owns a minus-14.4 net rating per 100 possessions.
19. Memphis Grizzlies (6-7)
Previous rank: 15
Ja Morant's time to be a regular All-Star consideration has arrived. The Grizzlies floor general is scoring over seven points per game (26.2) more than last season (19.1) and swiping a career-high 1.7 steals.
20. Portland Trail Blazers (6-8)
Previous rank: 12
The Trail Blazers have acted like an aging prizefighter, swinging wildly but leaving themselves susceptible to knockouts. Despite a nearly neutral net rating of minus-0.5 points per 100 possessions, only two of their games have been decided by five or fewer points.
21. Indiana Pacers (6-8)
Previous rank: 24
The Pacers could be turning a corner with five wins in their last seven games. Rookie guard Chris Duarte has excelled in a starting role, averaging 14.3 points, 4.4 boards, and 2.1 assists across 14 appearances.
22. Atlanta Hawks (5-9)
Previous rank: 10
What happened to the Hawks? Losers of six straight before Sunday, Atlanta has its 28th-ranked defensive rating to blame for the struggles. Things will get tougher now that De'Andre Hunter is out for about eight weeks.
23. Oklahoma City Thunder (5-7)
Previous rank: 29
Wins are going to be hard to come by this season for the Thunder, so beating the Spurs, Pelicans, Kings, and the LeBron-less Lakers during a four-game streak is a nice surprise. Lu Dort looked strong in that stretch, putting up 19.8 points and five rebounds per game.
24. Sacramento Kings (5-8)
Previous rank: 16
After it seemed like the Kings may have taken the leap into playoff contention, they went ahead and lost four straight games, including three where they failed to top 104 points.
25. Minnesota Timberwolves (4-8)
Previous rank: 9
A 3-1 start to the season turned out to be false hope for Timberwolves fans, as a recent six-game losing streak has Minnesota back in its familiar spot near the bottom of the Western Conference.
26. San Antonio Spurs (4-9)
Previous rank: 25
The Spurs have yet to win back-to-back games this season, but they've largely remained competitive in each contest. San Antonio only has two losses by more than 10 points so far.
27. Orlando Magic (3-10)
Previous rank: 26
With Jalen Suggs struggling, Franz Wagner has become the most exciting Magic rookie early on. The 20-year-old wing is averaging 13 points on 35.6% shooting from distance, along with 1.5 steals per game.
28. Detroit Pistons (3-9)
Previous rank: 30
Cade Cunningham's been inefficient so far in his rookie season, but he's managed to elevate his play late in games. After Saturday's win over Toronto, the No. 1 pick is now shooting 5-of-7 in clutch situations.
29. Houston Rockets (1-12)
Previous rank: 28
When Kevin Porter Jr., Eric Gordon, Jae'Sean Tate, and Christian Wood man the court together, the Rockets are plus-13.4 per 100 possessions. The group's net rating has stayed positive with guard Jalen Green and center Alperen Sengun - two very different rookies. At least there's that.
30. New Orleans Pelicans (2-12)
Previous rank: 27
The Pelicans are tailspinning, but that hasn't stopped Jonas Valanciunas from producing eye-popping numbers in his first year with New Orleans. The Lithuanian is posting 19.6 points and 13.5 rebounds through his first 15 games.