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passionate basketball discourse
Post-All-Star Power Rankings
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02 Cleveland Cavaliers
A masterclass in disruptive defense ... Numbers don't always tell the full story, but in this case, they do a decent job. Oklahoma City is holding opponents to bottom-five marks in pretty much every offensive metric under the sun: effective FG%, rim FG%, mid-range FG%, three-point%, and TOV% — just to name a few. The Thunder opted not to dip into their cache of draft picks for an extra floor-spacer or secondary creator at the deadline. Time will tell if this offense can scale to the highest levels in April and beyond.
Record: 56-12
01 Oklahoma City Thunder
02 Cleveland Cavaliers
03 Boston Celtics
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04 New York Knicks
05 Denver Nuggets
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06 Memphis Grizzlies
07 Houston Rockets
08 Los Angeles Lakers
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09 Minnesota Timberwolves
10 Los Angeles Clippers
04 Dallas Mavericks
05 Memphis Grizzlies
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06 New York Knicks
07 Houston Rockets
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08 Milwaukee Bucks
09 Orlando Magic
10 Denver Nuggets
11 Minnesota Timberwolves
Boston Celtics
Los Angeles Clippers
Philadelphia 76ers
Golden State Warriors
12 Los Angeles Clippers
13 Philadelphia 76ers
14 Phoenix Suns
15 Los Angeles Lakers
16 Miami Heat
17 Atlanta Hawks
18 Indiana Pacers
19 San Antonio Spurs
20 Golden State Warriors
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15 Phoenix Suns
02 Oklahoma City Thunder
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Interior Reinforcement
OKC ranked 29th in D-REB% last
year. That mark should skyrocket
with Hartenstein in the fold.
Spotlight Player:
Isaiah
Hartenstein:
12-3
2
+9.7
RECORD
SEED
NET RATING
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
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4th
3rd
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It's micro-ball time ... The Thunder have scored at a ho-hum rate through eight games, but it's not going to matter for as long as they're surrendering 93.7 points per 100 possessions. Yes, you read that right, and no, this is not 2007. The only issue: both Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein are sidelined Opponents are shooting 55.2% at the rim (worst in the league), 35.6% from the mid-range (third-worst), and 28.7% from the perimeter (second-worst). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will always be the steady hand that guides the ship, but Chet Holmgren is generating some individual buzz as a future superstar and formidable DPOY prospect in his own right.
03 Cleveland Cavaliers
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Ascending Star
The Mobley star-leap is the next logical step for Cleveland to eclipse mid-playoff teams in the East
Spotlight Coach:
Joel
Embiid:
Record:
49-33
Wins O/U:
50.5
12-3
2
+9.7
RECORD
SEED
NET RATING
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
4th
3rd
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This team is humming ... Cleveland's firepower belies delicate balances within their accredited backcourt and frontcourt pairs. Maximizing the individual talents of both Darius Garland *and* Donovan Mitchell, as well as both Evan Mobley *and* Jarrett Allen has been a struggle over the past two years, but Kenny Atkinson seems to have found a middle-ground where everybody eats. The pace at which the Cavaliers are transitioning between actions in the halfcourt has been crucial in keeping defenses in rotation; thus widening gaps for dribble penetration and ensuing spray-outs to corner three-point shooters. Caris LeVert going scorched-earth mode off the bench (73.1% TS) certainly doesn't hurt either.
04 New York Knicks
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Connector
A seamless inside-out fit within
NY's desired offensive framework, provided he excels in the short roll.
Spotlight Player:
Karl-Anthony
Towns:
Record:
50-32
Wins O/U:
53.5
Net rating:
+4.9
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
4th
3rd
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Jalen Brunson's haven: an open canvas ripe with complimentary spacing, littered with defensive buoys, and tailored to his shotmaking virtuosity ... New York skirted the looming Julius Randle puzzle by swinging big for Karl-Anthony Towns, whose prowess as a rim-roller and spot-up shooter are much more compatible with the ball dominance of Brunson. The defensive tandem of Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby is manufactured to disrupt Boston on the wings, but the inevitable head-hunting of Brunson and Towns will necessitate creative off-ball coverages from Coach Tom Thibodeau. Deuce McBride will play a pivotal role in orchestrating second-unit offense and assuming marquee defensive assignments in spot starts.
04 Minnesota Timberwolves
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Ascending Star
The Towns trade paves a runway for Reid to seize closing-five minutes and tap into his big-time scoring upside
Spotlight Player:
Naz
Reid:
Record:
56-26
Wins O/U:
53.5
Net rating:
+7.1
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
4th
3rd
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Anthony Edwards spearheads a vault of depth and defense with endless lineup optionality; and potential role obscurity ... Whispers of doubt concerning the playoff reputability of Boston's rather simplistic, three-point-oriented system are somewhat sensible, but tell-all metrics support this iteration of the modern Celtics as the best we've seen. Whispers of doubt concerning the playoff reputability of Boston's rather simplistic, three-point-oriented system are somewhat sensible, but tell-all metrics support this iteration of the modern Celtics as the best we've seen. tell-all metrics support this iteration of the modern Celtics as the best we've seen.
05 Dallas Mavericks
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POA Reinforcement
Marshall may become a crunch-time fixture as Dallas' best point-of-attack defender. Can he up his 3P volume?
Spotlight Player:
Naji
Marshall:
Record:
50-32
Wins O/U:
50.5
Net rating:
+2.6
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
4th
3rd
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My defensive concerns have been assuaged ... Luka Doncic's slow start has been an offensive hindrance for the collective, especially given his prominence in Dallas' heliocentric framework, but things should
06 Philadelphia 76ers
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Please Stay Healthy
Philadelphia's title hopes bank on the playoff availability of Embiid. Don't expect to see him in back-to-backs.
Spotlight Player:
Joel
Embiid:
Record:
47-35
Wins O/U:
48.5
Net rating:
+2.8
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
4th
3rd
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A fragile regular season gamble, but potential playoff giant if healthy ... Philadelphia pried open their contention window with an excellent offseason. Paul George adds a legitimate third star who meshes wonderfully with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon, and Andre Drummond are veteran depth pieces who can plug holes with their two-way, shooting, and rebounding chops, respectively. And Jared McCain is an exciting investment as a supporting figure with wisdom beyond his years. The caveat: the wheels stop turning without Embiid and George, both of whom are capricious health bets. Expect a conservative regular season approach as Philadelphia optimizes for April and beyond.
07 Phoenix Suns
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New Skipper
Budenholzer loves his 3s, and Phoenix needs to shoot more of them this year to stay afloat in the math game.
Spotlight Coach:
Joel
Embiid:
Record:
49-33
Wins O/U:
50.5
Net rating:
+2.7
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
4th
3rd
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An immensely talented offense with booming upside if Mike Budenholzer can shake its archaic tendencies ... Last season felt like the floor for Phoenix's offense, and it still ranked ninth in points per possession. Their shot diet included heavy doses of mid-range jumpers and low frequencies from the paint and the perimeter. While they scored exceptionally well relative to their shot quality, it's imperative that they generate more attempts from high-efficiency areas of the court. This is why Bradley Beal's health is so important: he's their most reliable source of rim pressure and perhaps the only one consistently capable of triggering inside-out opportunities. Hopefully, Coach Budenholzer imports the three-point happy philosophies from his Milwaukee days.
09 Denver Nuggets
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Double Life
Which Murray are we getting: the '23 playoff edition or his alter ego from the Olympic flame-out?
Spotlight Player:
Joel
Embiid:
Record:
57-25
Wins O/U:
50.5
Net rating:
+5.9
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
4th
3rd
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The fractured, yet prevailing stomping grounds of the NBA's best player ... The Nuggets' projection as a 50+ win team despite the steady depletion of its roster is a testament to the greatness of Nikola Jokic. Last year, Denver was +12.6 per 100 possessions, a 67-win pace, with Jokic on the court, and -11.1, a 16-win (!!) pace, with him off. If anything, that margin could expand in light of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's departure. Christian Braun will be the surrogate starter as their remaining defensive counter at the point-of-attack, but he needs to boost his 3PA rate to avoid compounding Denver's pre-existent spacing issues. Their collective success swings largely on a) second-unit stability from Julian Strawther, Russell Westbrook, etc. and b) the reinvigoration of Jamal Murray.
10 Milwaukee Bucks
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Please Stay Healthy
Middleton's tertiary playmaking is vital, but he's played in just 88 games over the past two seasons.
Spotlight Player:
Joel
Embiid:
Record:
49-33
Wins O/U:
48.5
Net rating:
+2.7
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
4th
3rd
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My inclination to believe in Giannis is being tested ... The Bucks have the top-end talent to flourish as currently constructed, but it may require a few sips from the fountain of youth. They suffered from classic symptoms of old age last year: injury spells; marginal regression; and an inability to create extra possessions (25th in ORB%; 30th in DEF TOV%). You could also argue that there's more juice to be squeezed from the Giannis Antetokounmpo x Damian Lillard pairing. For such a hypothetically synergistic duo, they were oddly siloed in their work. Look for Giannis to up his 1.9 roll-man possessions per game considerably. Oh, and Khris Middleton needs to be at least somewhat healthy. The remaining roster isn't good enough to coast in his absence.
11 Orlando Magic
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Central Sun
Dual-functioning as a forward on defense and pseudo-point on offense. He's their first pillar for success.
Spotlight Coach:
Joel
Embiid:
Record:
46-36
Wins O/U:
48.5
Net rating:
+2.7
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
4th
3rd
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A battering defensive unit banking on internal improvements to iron out some offensive wrinkles ... Orlando has increased their win total by 12 games in consecutive seasons -- a steep, but absolutely sustainable trajectory if everything breaks right developmentally. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a nice enhancement to their spacing issues, but not enough to dismiss their shortage of high-level on-ball playmaking. That insertion needs to come from within, which necessitates improved floor-processing abilities from Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs -- all of whom have flashed cause for optimism. The good news: their switchability and physical imposition on defense offer an extremely high floor regardless.
12 Indiana Pacers
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Curveball
Whirlwind playmaking is Indiana's primary weapon, but Mathurin's self-creation offers some fun diversification
Spotlight Coach:
Joel
Embiid:
Record:
46-36
Wins O/U:
47.5
Net rating:
+2.7
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
4th
3rd
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An eccentric point-churner, heliocentric antithesis, and embarrassment of second-unit riches ... Indiana has regular-season powerhouse potential, driven by a combination of impeccable offensive coherence and boundless supply of bench depth. As absurd as it sounds, you could argue that the minutes distribution actually makes more sense with a couple of injuries. There's only so much floor time to go around, but shaving off the end of the rotation would expense meaningful contributors. Regardless, lock them in as a high-octane scoring group with league-best potential if Tyrese Haliburton rediscovers his top gear as a flame-thrower and passing virtuoso. The other end is more of a question mark, especially with the incremental regression of Myles Turner's defensive output.
13 Memphis Grizzlies
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Please Stay Healthy
Ja Morant is one of the most scintillating players in the
leaugue ... when he plays!
Spotlight Coach:
Joel
Embiid:
Record:
46-36
Wins O/U:
47.5
Net rating:
+2.7
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
4th
3rd
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A revitalized heavyweight with sharp teeth and dashing bravado, but one too many potential pitfalls until proven otherwise ... I'm inches from loving this Memphis team, but I can't get all the way there just yet. I'd argue their ceiling is as high as any rendition of the Morant-led Grizzlies to date. They're uniquely equipped to veer between brisk pace-pushing and a slower, skull-mashing approach predicated on brick-wall screens, low-post creation, and unrelenting rim deterrence from Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey. Ultimately, too many questions enter the season unresolved. Will stylistic motives clash? Will their stars stay healthy? Can the youngsters be relied upon for meaningful contributions?
14 Los Angeles Lakers
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Please Stay Healthy
Ja Morant is one of the most scintillating players in the
leaugue ... when he plays!
Spotlight Coach:
Joel
Embiid:
Record:
46-36
Wins O/U:
47.5
Net rating:
+2.7
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
4th
3rd
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A tug-of-war between elite top-end talent and a soul-less supporting cast ... L.A.'s projected starting lineup was +6.8 per 100 possessions last year,
MOST NOTABLE DEVLOPMENTS...
02
BOSTON CELTICS
BOSTON CELTICS


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A walking shotmaking-tsunami paired with a staunch defensive nucleus. Whispers of doubt concerning the playoff reputability of Boston's rather simplistic, three-point-oriented system are somewhat sensible, but tell-all metrics support this iteration of the modern Celtics as the best we've seen.
39-12
RECORD (1st)
121.3
OFFENSIVE RATING (2nd)
111.6
DEFENSIVE RATING (3rd)
Boston isn't blitzing teams off the floor to the extent we saw earlier this season, but they remain in cruise control as the Eastern Conference 1-seed and minimally, within the innermost circle of title contenders. Bad habits of the old have leaked into some recent play. An inconcievable home loss to a LeBron-less, AD-less Lakers squad saw Boston's offense sputter completely out of order, morphing away from structure and intention in favor of freelancing and iso-ball... ...and yet, the way in which fans and media amplify and extrapolate each individual C's loss speaks volumes to their standing within the NBA landscape. Letdown games are met with disproportionate criticism, when in reality, their season-wide constitency remains unparalleled. A stronghold on the throne in net rating and record while boasting a top 3 offense AND defense undoubetdly bodes well for Boston's championship aspirations.
03
DENVER NUGGETS
DENVER NUGGETS


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A synergistic closing five spearheaded by an unrelenting 7-foot offensive virtuoso, paired with the NBA's most prolific playoff riser. Denver's ghastly -10.3 net rating with Jokic off the court looms large over their title hopes, but the defending champs are a force to be reckoned with regardless.
35-16
RECORD (4th)
118.9
OFFENSIVE RATING (8th)
114.6
DEFENSIVE RATING (12th)
Denver is a known quantity: the stomping grounds of NBA's best player, an uncoquerable starting-five with minimal bench support, and practically a shoe-in to pop back up into contention come April. The non-Jokic minutes remain a chink in the armor, especially without the stablizing second-unit presence of Bruce Brown, but the head of Denver's rotation remains as talented and well-oiled as anybody's.
04
Oklahoma City Thunder
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER


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A cavalcade of dynamic young complementary pieces guided by the steady hand of the uber-talented Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Newly-acquired Gordon Hayward adds a veteran presence with savvy playmaking chops at either forward spot. OKC remains vulnerable on the boards, a potential pressure point for opponents come playoff time.
35-16
RECORD (2nd)
120.4
OFFENSIVE RATING (5th)
112.7
DEFENSIVE RATING (5th)
No team has leapfrogged the obligatory growing pains of a rebuild quite like the Oklahoma City Thunder, whose trajectory from bottom-feeder to title-threat has been nothing short of remarkable. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has ascended into the pool of super-mega-stars and, check this, has scored under 20 points just three times in 51 games this year. Jalen Williams is due to rip off 20-5-5 on marvelous shooting splits while guarding the opposing first option on a nightly basis. Chet Holmgren is a two-way stud with arms extending into space and a 40% 3PT stroke. What's not to love? The Thunder face an inevitable long-term predicament with Josh Giddey, who I still value as a meaningful asset rightfully miscast in OKC. Giddey's skillset necessitates reps as the lead offensive orchestrator, but simply doesn't warrant touches next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, and Isaiah Joe slot into that 4th/5th option spot more seamlessly as floor-spacers and point-of-attack defenders. Gordon Hayward is an enticing deadline acquisition. He offers tertiary creation and playmaking but, unlikely Giddey, can favorably blend his skillset with an off-ball role while leveraging viable three-level scoring.
05
NEW YORK KNICKS
NEW YORK KNICKS

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A bruising, resilient embodiment of the tenacity of New York City. The Knicks balance an immensely talented 10+ man rotation with the pragmatism of their drillmaster, Tom Thibodeau. Jalen Brunson's heroics warrant MVP contention and Donte DiVincenzo is breathing fire from behind the three-point line.
33-18
RECORD (8th)
119.1
OFFENSIVE RATING (7th)
113.0
DEFENSIVE RATING (7th)
OG Anunoby has been a seamless compliment to New York's rugged brand of basketball, offering a trusty hand from beyond the arc (39% on 1.8 3PM with NYK) while doing what he does best: blowing up screens, caging handoffs, and stifling isolations on the other end. He's been a gamebreaker with the Knicks, who have slingshotted from the play-in picture to the upper shelves of the Easter Conference. But OG has been FAR from the only driver of recent success. Jalen Brunson has been a hot knife through butter, generating volume offense out of thin air. Isaiah Hartenstein was a man-possessed for a stretch of weeks, hunting side swipes, safeguarding the rim, and terrorizing opponents at the rim -- all at once. Oh, and Donte DiVincenzo? He's BURRYING teams from behind the arc right now. A recent myriad of injuries have nerfed New York just a bit, but the newly-acquired Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks are welcomed reinforcements.
NBA
MVP
LADDER
BY JACKSON BOAKE
UPDATED: 02.05.2024
A bi-monthly (ish) canvassing of the NBA landscape, polling the respective power of all teams nestled above the league's playoff equator. The criteria is somewhat blurred, but considers recent success
MOST NOTABLE DEVLOPMENTS...
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ALEXANDRE SARR
Big Perth Wildcats, NBL
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10.5
POINTS / GAME
5.2
REBOUNDS / GAME
1.3
BLOCKS / GAME
31%
THREE-POINTERS
Supersized forward with gobs of defensive talent and a maturing offensive arsenal
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AGE: 19
WT: 220
HT: 6'11"
WS: 7'4"
Sarr marks another huge hit from the French pipeline as a modernized, multipositional big. The defensive upside is frightening: a towering, lengthy frame complimented by sharp instincts and fluid mobility. His refined understanding of varying coverages and rotations make for a seamless fit within pretty much any defensive scheme. Sarr isn't a "freak" athlete, per se, but his space-warping ubiquity as a weakside rim protector warps through space space-warping ubiquity jumps through the television. The offense isn’t nearly as far along, but Sarr wields a diverse skillset with tangible traces of the prototypical modern big man. Proper utilization will be key– while flashes of self-creation chops should be explored, Sarr’s toolsy skillset is best optimized in the short roll. If proficient ball skills materialize, he has genuine upside as a suffocating downhill attacker who can both score at the rim and spray passes to open shooters. Sarr gets end-to-end quickly and demonstrates a willingness to rip defensive rebounds from the sky to ignite opportunities in transition. Ideally, he’d land in an uptempo ecosystem furnished with athletic running mates. There's some Holmgren-esque coast-to-coast intruige here, but Sarr's ball-handling isn't nearly as far along. The reservation: most of the offensive promise is hypothetical. He'll be way overstretched in a primary (or even secondary) shotmaking role as a rookie, which is why fit is *especially* important here. NBA teams typically froth over Sarr’s archetype, but not necessarily with the top pick. He's the guy you want in the movie, but maybe not on the poster. In a draft lacking upper-eschelon talent, do you swing for the guy with the highest median-outcome? If so, Sarr is probably your pick.
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NIKOLA TOPIC
Point Guard Crvena Zvezda, Serbia
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10.5
POINTS / GAME
5.2
REBOUNDS / GAME
1.3
BLOCKS / GAME
31%
THREE-POINTERS
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AGE: 18
WT: 200
HT: 6'6"
WS: 7'4"
Zippy straight-line creator with prodigious playmaking instincts
Sarr marks another huge hit from the French pipeline as a modernized, multipositional big. The defensive upside is frightening: a towering, lengthy frame complimented by sharp instincts and fluid mobility. Sarr demonstrates a refined understanding of varying schemes, coverages, and rotations. His space-warping ubiquity and quick second jumps mirror the likes of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Chet Holmgren– a pair of proven NBA shot-stuffing stalwarts. Perhaps indisputably, Sarr is equipped with all the tools of a defensive ace. The offense isn’t nearly as far along, but Sarr wields a diverse skillset with tangible traces of the prototypical modern big man. Proper utilization will be key– while flashes of self-creation chops should be explored, Sarr’s toolsy skillset is best optimized in the short roll. If the ball skills materialize, he has genuine upside as a suffocating downhill attacker who can both elevate near the rim and spray passes to open shooters. Sarr gets end-to-end quickly and demonstrates a willingness to rip defensive rebounds from the sky and manufacture transition opportunities. Ideally, he’d land in an uptempo ecosystem furnished with athletic running mates. The reservation: most of the offensive promise is hypothetical. Foreseeable day-one struggles in an overstretched role aren’t uncommon, but leaps and bounds stand between Sarr and efficient shotmaking. NBA teams typically froth over Sarr’s archetype, but not necessarily with the top pick.
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ZACCHARIE RISACHER
Forward JL Bourg, France
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10.5
POINTS / GAME
5.2
REBOUNDS / GAME
1.3
BLOCKS / GAME
31%
THREE-POINTERS
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AGE: 18
WT: 200
HT: 6'6"
WS: 7'4"
Fluid 6'9" playmaker with a rapidly ascending perimeter skillset
Sarr marks another huge hit from the French pipeline as a modernized, multipositional big. The defensive upside is frightening: a towering, lengthy frame complimented by sharp instincts and fluid mobility. Sarr demonstrates a refined understanding of varying schemes, coverages, and rotations. His space-warping ubiquity and quick second jumps mirror the likes of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Chet Holmgren– a pair of proven NBA shot-stuffing stalwarts. Perhaps indisputably, Sarr is equipped with all the tools of a defensive ace. The offense isn’t nearly as far along, but Sarr wields a diverse skillset with tangible traces of the prototypical modern big man. Proper utilization will be key– while flashes of self-creation chops should be explored, Sarr’s toolsy skillset is best optimized in the short roll. If the ball skills materialize, he has genuine upside as a suffocating downhill attacker who can both elevate near the rim and spray passes to open shooters. Sarr gets end-to-end quickly and demonstrates a willingness to rip defensive rebounds from the sky and manufacture transition opportunities. Ideally, he’d land in an uptempo ecosystem furnished with athletic running mates. The reservation: most of the offensive promise is hypothetical. Foreseeable day-one struggles in an overstretched role aren’t uncommon, but leaps and bounds stand between Sarr and efficient shotmaking. NBA teams typically froth over Sarr’s archetype, but not necessarily with the top pick.
