30 Words for 30 Teams: Celtics lead, Cavs drop in NBA Power Rankings

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

1. Boston Celtics

Brad Stevens is working his magic once again, as the Celtics share the best record (5-2) despite Gordon Hayward's unthinkable injury in the season opener. The Duke combination of Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum is dominating.

2. Detroit Pistons

Stan Van Gundy deserves to kick back with an extra can of Diet Pepsi after back-to-back road wins over the Clippers and Warriors. Andre Drummond is also shooting 70 percent on free throws.

3. LA Clippers

Blake Griffin is re-emerging as a dark-horse MVP candidate after a sensational start to the season. Nobody seems to miss Chris Paul one bit, as the Clippers are playing with a palpable freedom and happiness that was missing for half a decade.

4. Memphis Grizzlies

Grit and Grind forever. Marc Gasol is anchoring the league's fifth-ranked defense while chipping in 20 points per night, and the emergence of Canadian Dillon Brooks has offset a slow start from Mike Conley.

5. Golden State Warriors

There's definitely a strong hint of the championship hangover looming over the Warriors. They simply don't care to play defense or take care of the basketball. But don't get it twisted - they're still the best team, by far.

6. Toronto Raptors

The new-look offense is garnering all the headlines, but the defense has been equally as impressive. Toronto held Portland to one field goal in the second quarter on Monday, thanks in large part to its surprisingly dominant bench.

7. Orlando Magic

Are the Magic really going to lead the league this year by hitting 44.1 percent from deep? No. But they're a deadly up-tempo team thanks to their cadre of long and athletic wings.

8. Houston Rockets

Chris Paul's knee injury is concerning, but even more worrisome is how the new foul rules are affecting James Harden, who's down from 10.9 to seven free-throw attempts per game.

9. Oklahoma City Thunder

Never mind those two unlucky losses to the Wolves that see their record at 3-3. The more telling stat is that Oklahoma City is outscoring opponents by 9.7 points per game thanks to instant chemistry between Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, and Paul George.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

10. Portland Trail Blazers

Playing the Suns twice in the first two weeks helps. Otherwise, this is the same Blazers team as always. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are getting theirs, but who's stepping up around them?

11. Washington Wizards

Otto Porter is playing like Kawhi Leonard these days, but the Wizards still can't get out of their own way. Challenging the Ball family and then losing to the Lakers is a bad, bad look.

12. Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo is scoring over 20 of his league-leading 34.7 points per game in the paint. He's been unstoppable. Everyone else? Iffy at best. Khris Middleton can't buy a jumper and Greg Monroe is struggling and injured.

13. Indiana Pacers

Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis are playing out of their minds in the Pacers' fast-break offense. It's the type of freedom Westbrook never allowed them last year.

14. Utah Jazz

The Jazz can't score, but neither can their opponents - limiting teams to 93 points per night in the modern NBA is ridiculous. Utah badly needs to trade for a shot-creator.

15. San Antonio Spurs

Gregg Popovich had his crew humming, but they've fallen apart on their East Coast swing with three straight losses to the Magic, Pacers and Celtics. In all fairness, they played four games in five nights without Kawhi Leonard.

16. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves have either been blown out, or been jussssssst getting by with some late-game heroics ... because they can't stop anybody. They're torturing Tom Thibodeau by conceding 115 points a night.

17. Charlotte Hornets

This latest Dwight Howard revival might actually stick, as he's enjoying his best season in years after reuniting with Steve Clifford. This looks like a playoff team once Nic Batum returns.

18. New Orleans Pelicans

DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis are both playing at top-five levels, but the supporting cast is hot trash. Jameer Nelson, signed as a last-ditch free agent, is already one of their best players.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers

Just look at how ridiculous this chart is - LeBron James is literally the only positive contributor on this Cavs team. Everyone else is underperforming.

20. New York Knicks

The Knicks are back (not really)! Right when it looked like Jeff Hornacek was about to be canned, the team bailed him out with three straight wins thanks largely to Kristaps Porzingis, who's now hearing MVP chants.

21. Brooklyn Nets

Look away, Lakers fans. The unceremoniously dumped D'Angelo Russell is averaging 20 points and five assists in 26 minutes per night while leading a shockingly watchable Nets team.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

22. Philadelphia 76ers

Ben Simmons is the real deal and Joel Embiid fundamentally changes the game on both sides of the ball. The Sixers just need better medical staff.

23. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers play fast and share the ball - but they can't shoot. The Lakers are Lonzo Ball.

24. Sacramento Kings

De'Aaron Fox makes five plays a night that leave you dumbfounded. Otherwise, the Kings are hard to watch.

25. Denver Nuggets

This could be the second coach firing of the season. The Nuggets entered the year with clear playoff expectations, but they're looking shoddy on both ends.

26. Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks are stingy on defense, but this team cannot score at all. Dennis Schroder is putting up the most empty 22 points and seven assists imaginable.

27. Miami Heat

Holding a team meeting just two weeks into the season? Damn.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

28. Chicago Bulls

At least they have Lauri Markkanen. Otherwise, the Bulls are a tire fire. ESPN's Nick Friedell's piece on Chicago's fall from grace in 12 acts is a must-read.

29. Dallas Mavericks

It hurts to watch Dirk Nowitzki end his career like this. The whole team is just so depressing, starting with Nerlens Noel, who really should have taken the $70-million contract in the summer.

30. Phoenix Suns

Firing Earl Watson didn't address the larger issue of the Suns having incompetent management and miserable ownership who've alienated every one of their quasi-stars in recent memory.