NBA Power Rankings: 30 Words for 30 Teams

Welcome to theScore's biweekly NBA power rankings, where you'll find roughly 30 words on all 30 teams every other Monday through the end of the season.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (26-7)

The Cavaliers have experienced their ups and downs, but the reigning champions are only focused on two things: their title defense and punking the Warriors. Having 36-year-old Richard Jefferson cram on Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson was particularly cruel from Team Petty.

2. Golden State Warriors (30-5)

The Warriors are over-complicating their embarrassment of riches on offense. Case in point: Stephen Curry has had the ball for fewer minutes per game than Andrew Harrison and Ish Smith. Let Chef Curry cook.

3. Houston Rockets (27-9)

Mike D'Antoni forces you to pick your poison - either guard James Harden one-on-one, or send help and risk an open three or dunk. It's that simple, and yet nobody in the league can stop the Rockets, who only lost twice in December while averaging 120 points per game.

4. San Antonio Spurs (27-7)

The Spurs rank top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency, because of course they do - they're deep and run two full units of quality players. In so many words, the Spurs are the most predictable team in the league.

5. Toronto Raptors (23-10)

Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan represent the league's highest-scoring backcourt, but the Raptors are still one piece away from truly pushing for a championship. General manager Masai Ujiri should be lighting up Atlanta's hotline asking for Paul Millsap.

6. Utah Jazz (22-13)

George Hill continues to miss time with minor injuries, but the Jazz are so deep it hardly matters. Utah is the only team in the league to have 12 players with a PER of 11 or higher.

7. Boston Celtics (20-14)

The Celtics are finally living up to lofty preseason expectations now that everyone is healthy. Isaiah Thomas is unstoppable, Avery Bradley has continued his career year, while Al Horford is settling into his new digs. There's just one problem: Boston is 0-9 against top-six teams.

8. Oklahoma City Thunder (21-14)

Russell Westbrook detests the conversation about triple-doubles (what doesn't Russ detest?), but it's unavoidable. He's averaging 30-10-10 almost halfway through the season, and remains the sole reason for OKC's success.

9. Atlanta Hawks (18-16)

Hit pause on that fire sale - the Hawks are turning it around. The league's most unpredictable team took down the Spurs last week and now boasts victories over OKC, Toronto, Cleveland, and Houston.

10. Memphis Grizzlies (22-14)

Chandler Parsons has been terrible coming off his latest injury (5.5 points in 18 minutes per game), but the Grizzlies keep on grinding no matter what. Recent wins over the Rockets and Thunder cemented Memphis as a titan in the West, even though its hardly ever discussed.

11. Milwaukee Bucks (17-16)

Bucks rookie point guard Malcolm Brogdon is turning out to be the steal of the draft at No. 36. Brogdon took over starting duties for Matthew Dellavedova after dunking on LeBron James and Kyrie Irving - that's how you earn a promotion.

12. Charlotte Hornets (19-16)

Kemba Walker deserves to make his first All-Star Game, but faces stiff competition from a glut of deserving guards out East. Perhaps the league will toss Charlotte a bone and pick Walker after moving the showcase game to New Orleans.

13. Washington Wizards (16-17)

John Wall says his Wizards deserve more national TV appearances. With more plays like this - and a few more wins following Washington's disastrous start - Wall just might get his wish.

14. Los Angeles Clippers (23-14)

Besieged by injuries, the banged-up Clippers have dropped five straight and frustrations are boiling over. But at least there was time for a father-son bonding moment when Doc and Austin Rivers got booted from the same game.

15. Indiana Pacers (17-18)

Paul George sounds downright miserable, but things are starting to look up with a pair of wins to open 2017. What Indiana lacks most is an identity - will they outscore teams or are they a lockdown defense? Nobody knows.

16. Orlando Magic (16-20)

There are signs of life for the Magic if you squint hard enough. Orlando's inept offense has suddenly come to life by averaging 111 points per game over their last 12 contests. Pair that with a solidly average defense and there could be a playoff appearance come April.

17. New Orleans Pelicans (14-22)

The Pelicans took advantage of a fairly easy schedule by winning six of their last 10 games. Beating the banged-up Clippers, the struggling Knicks, and the Heat is nothing to write home about, but the Pelicans have to start somewhere after beginning 0-8.

18. Sacramento Kings (14-19)

Thanks to old friend Rajon Rondo's latest blow-up, the Kings no longer look like the most inept front office in the league.

19. Portland Trail Blazers (15-21)

It's not a coincidence that Portland's defense tightened up during Damian Lillard's absence, but now the Blazers are sorely lacking offense. If only this were baseball and Lillard could play DH.

20. Denver Nuggets (14-20)

Never mind that Jusuf Nurkic is unhappy with his marginalized role - sacrifices had to be made for the greater good. Denver's center of the future is Nikola Jokic and he's doing his best Arvydas Sabonis impersonation with his passing wizardry.

21. Detroit Pistons (16-20)

Stan Van Gundy is trying every trick in the book. He went on the offensive by calling out his star players, but when that backfired, he switched his tune and started blaming himself.

22. Chicago Bulls (17-18)

Who could have foreseen Rondo demanding a trade out of Chicago after getting benched? It's not like he burned bridges on his way out of Boston, Sacramento, and Dallas.

23. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-23)

The Timberwolves could really use a deadline deal to bring in a veteran big who can defend. Could a former Tom Thibodeau disciple in Taj Gibson become available if Chicago's season goes south?

24. Dallas Mavericks (10-24)

The Mavericks face a moral dilemma during what could be Dirk Nowitzki's final season. Dallas should tank and restock their team with badly needed youth, but Nowitzki still wants to make a playoff push. The Mavericks' actions at the trade deadline will spell out their true intentions.

25. Los Angeles Lakers (12-25)

The Lakers depend on the likes of Tarik Black, Thomas Robinson, and Nick Young to give strong performances if they have any hope of winning, which is why they have little hope of winning on most nights.

26. Philadelphia 76ers (8-24)

Lend Joel Embiid a helping hand. He needs to be in the All-Star Game before he lands a date with a mystery lady from Twitter.

27. New York Knicks (16-18)

The Knicks have perfected the art of imploding by January. Losers of five straight, head coach Jeff Hornacek openly questioned if his team even has the capability to play defense (they're not).

28. Phoenix Suns (10-25)

The most disappointing part of Phoenix's depressing season is everything.

29. Miami Heat (10-25)

Even Pat Riley knows it: Miami needs to tank. That starting five should never happen in an NBA game.

30. Brooklyn Nets (8-25)

Brooklyn's only win over the last two weeks came off a Randy Foye game-winning three at the buzzer. Meanwhile, Jeremy Lin has made more appearances for Marvel than the Nets.