Week 2 Power Rankings: Something Scary From Every Team

They’re back! After three or so months of hibernation, my infallible power rankings have made a triumphant return. After two weeks of action, here’s one scary thing for every team thus far.

Warning!

These power rankings are incredibly subjective. I may value certain aspects of teams more than you do. This is a great time to remind you that the power rankings are never wrong. I stand by every assessment I make until I can either scream vindication at something being correct or wiggle my way out of something being wrong. You have been warned.

And this year, in addition to ranking every team, every team will be in tiers. Here are my categories for this season, from lowest to highest;

WHAT IS GOING ON?: These teams shouldn’t be this bad…but here we are
Wembanyama Watch: They’re rebuilding and all they care about are some ping-pong balls in May. (how is this tier not the lowest??? – I love the NBA)
Play-In Hopefuls: Mediocre teams/rebuilding teams that are just starting to get competitive. Being a top ten seed in their respective conference is a good thing.
Play-In or Better: They’re going to be in the mix all year long, but don’t be surprised to see them in the Play-In Tournament.
Playoff Locks: It will be surprising to see them land in the Play-In Tournament. All but playoff locks.
Fringe Contenders: A piece away from being title contenders
Contenders: The only thing that can stop them is injuries. Or drama. One or the other.

Without further ado, let’s rank some teams.

NOTE: SMALL SAMPLE SIZE! NOTHING IS SET IN STONE!!!

Tier 1: Contenders

#1 – Milwaukee Bucks

Record: (6-0)
Net Rating: 8.8 (3rd)
Strength of Schedule: 28th

Even without Khris Middleton, Milwaukee’s vaunted defense has catapulted them to a 6-0 start. Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing some of the best basketball of his career, averaging 33.8 points on an absurd 59% shooting from the field to start the season.

Their depth is being tested with some injuries, but, for the moment, they’re passing with flying marks.

What’s Scary: Offense Outside of Giannis

Injuries to Middleton, Connaughton, and Ingles have made Milwaukee’s depth shaky to start the season. Milwaukee is in a similar situation to last year. Without Giannis’ heroic efforts, this offense would be drowning in the middle of the ocean.

But it’s a reminder that this team needs Khris Middleton to succeed. Is that damming? Not really. Relying on an All-Star is what every team with one does, but it does say something about this team’s depth. They’re not the Grizzlies or the Pelicans. They don’t go eleven or twelve deep down their bench. Health remains incredibly important for this team.

#2 – Phoenix Suns

Record: (5-1)
Net Rating: 12.3 (1st)
Strength of Schedule: 13th

The Phoenix Suns are a regular season machine, churning out wins like clockwork. Who cares if Jae Crowder quit or if Deandre Ayton got hurt? This team will be just fine. Even with their playoff implosion last year, this team remains elite.

The Suns are arguably the most well-rounded team in the NBA. They’re the only team that ranks both top four in offensive and defensive rating. Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges can’t seem to miss right now. Say what you want about the Suns, but there’s no denying their greatness.

What’s Scary: Chris Paul

For years, NBA fans have been trying to predict when Chris Paul would inevitably take a step back. This year might be the year. Paul hasn’t looked the same scoring the ball, not nearly as effective as in previous seasons. While he remains an elite floor general, this is the worst he’s looked as a Sun.

At 37 years old, how can the Point God hold up throughout a long, grueling season? Can he be there for the Suns come May and June? He looked like a shell of his former self in the late stages of that series versus Dallas. For Phoenix’s sake, they’re hoping the ageless wonder has some more gas in the tank for one more title run.

#3 – Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: (5-1)
Net Rating: 11.6 (2nd)
Strength of Schedule: 18th

Without Darius Garland, the Cavs have looked amazing. Donovan Mitchell has scored 30 or more points 5 times in just 6 games. Spida Mitchell has been amazing. So has Caris Levert, who has been this team’s unsung hero in the starting lineup.

The frontcourt combo of Mobley and Allen continues to shut down opposing teams, as the Cavs are a top-three defense in the league. Everything is going to plan for the Cavs, who are knocking on the door to competing for a title.

What’s Scary: Backcourt Chemistry

While Caris Levert has been surprisingly good this season, Cleveland’s ideal backcourt is Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. But we haven’t seen the duo a lot due to Garland’s eye injury suffered in the season opener.

Mitchell has acted as the lead scorer and facilitator without Garland. How will that change when Garland gets back? Will the Cavs use Mitchell more as a scorer or continue to use him in the role he’s been in, just with fewer touches?

I wouldn’t say this is a major concern, but it is something to keep an eye on once Garland gets back on the floor.

Tier 2: Fringe Contenders

#4 – Memphis Grizzlies

Record: (4-3)
Net Rating: -4.2 (24th)
Strength of Schedule: 20th

Let’s just ignore that negative net rating for the moment. For the moment.

Even with some key pieces missing time, the Grizzlies haven’t missed a beat. This team’s depth is off the charts. Unknown guys like Santi Aldama and Jake LaRavia have filled in perfectly. This team is so good at finding guys who know how to play. It’s uncanny. Expect another high-flying, fun year for this electric factory.

What’s Scary: The Defense

Memphis is another team whose defense has looked poor in the early stages of this season. Last season, the Grizzlies excelled in forcing turnovers. They got in the passing lanes like no other. That isn’t happening as much this year, as Memphis is 14th is forced turnovers per game.

Without Jaren Jackson Jr., teams are shooting 64% at the rim, a big increase from last season. Memphis can’t be a true contender without a steady defense. I know they’re missing some of their better defenders, but this team will have to defend if they want to take that next step.

#5 – Boston Celtics

Record: (4-2)
Net Rating: 2.4 (11th)
Strength of Schedule: 15th

I predicted the defending Eastern Conference champs would start slow after their eventful off-season. I would like to repent for my sins. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been scoring like gangbusters to start the season. Malcolm Brogdon has helped steady the bench. Shockingly, this team looks good again. I’m just as surprised as you.

What’s Scary: The Defense?

Without their defense, the Celtics wouldn’t have made the Finals last year. This season, however, they’re winning despite their play on this end. Boston’s 22nd-ranked defense is far worse than where they were last year. So, what gives?

Boston remains an elite interior defense, ranking 2nd in opponent FG% at the rim. But Boston’s formula of forcing in-between shots hasn’t worked as well this season. The Celtics don’t want you to shoot threes or get layups. They funnel you to those in-between areas.

Last season, teams shot just 39% in those in-between areas (mid-range + non-RA paint). That’s what made their defense so elite. This season, however, teams are shooting 46.6% in those same two areas. Getting back Robert Williams sooner rather than later will help this team.

#6 – Golden State Warriors

Record: (3-4)
Net Rating: -3.9 (23rd)
Strength of Schedule: 21st

Uhhhh…earth to Warriors? It’s one thing to lose to the Nuggets or Suns. Those are good teams. But Charlotte and Detroit? That should raise some eyebrows. The Warriors have lacked a “sense of purpose,” according to Steve Kerr.

Slow stars are atypical for Golden State. This team is used to cruising through regular seasons. While they remain one of the more talented rosters in the NBA, the Warriors have to iron out some of their wrinkles before they can think about repeating as champions.

What’s Scary: 2nd Unit Cohesion

Golden State’s starting lineup of Curry, Thompson, Wiggins, Green, and Looney hasn’t been the problem. This unit knows each other well and fields an impressive 25.3 net rating. The problem has been the second unit.

Golden State lost most of its veteran bench in the offseason. Their bench looks nothing like it did last season. Wiseman, Moody, Donte DiVincenzo, Ty Jerome, and JaMychal Green are still adjusting. The second unit’s cohesion and chemistry are almost nonexistent.

Golden State’s bench is a -42 through seven games, 29th in the league. Strength in Numbers has always been the Warriors’ mantra. Right now, they have some work to do in that regard.

Tier 3: Playoff Locks

#7 – New Orleans Pelicans

Record: (4-2)
Net Rating: 6.4 (5th)
Strength of Schedule: 5th

The New Orleans Pelicans should no longer be considered a team on the rise. They’ve already arrived. With a healthy Zion Williamson and a sneaky deep roster, this has been New Orleans’ chance to make a statement to the rest of the league. So far, so good.

Even with a difficult schedule, the Pelicans have looked like one of the best teams in the league. Their starting unit features so many lethal scorers. Head coach Willie Green has an endless supply of role players to rely on off the bench.

This team started the year 1-12 last year. Now, look at them. Oh, how things can change in a year.

What’s Scary: Health

Health is vital for every team in the NBA. It’s especially important for the contending ones, which is what I think New Orleans is now. Zion Williamson has already scared us with his fall against the Utah Jazz. Thankfully, he’s already back on the court, but that fall represents how fragile this team’s chances are.

For them to put their best foot forward, they need Williamson to be healthy. If not, it’ll more or less be the same as last season. And nobody wants that. We need to see this team in the limelight for once. Zion Williamson can’t be in street clothes once that happens.

#8 – Atlanta Hawks

Record: (4-3)
Net Rating: -1.2 (17th)
Strength of Schedule: 29th

After a sluggish, frustrating 2021 season, the Hawks appear to be back on track. A backcourt of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray is overwhelming for opposing defenses. Murray has also helped get Atlanta’s defense closer to average this season.

Fast starts from De’Andre Hunter and John Collins should make Hawks’ fans even more hopeful about their playoff chances this season.

What’s Scary: Rebounding?

I didn’t expect a team with Clint Capela to struggle with rebounding. But here we are. The Hawks are a bottom-10 reboudning team in the league. They’re allowing the 4th most offensive rebounds in the league. You can’t give teams that many extra opportunities and hope to win.

Maybe Onyeka Okongwu is the answer?

#9 – Portland Trail Blazers

Record: (5-1)
Net Rating: 4.6 (6th)
Strength of Schedule: 24th

What? My Portland Trail Blazers? This high on my power rankings? It cannot be! Believe me, I’m just as surprised as everybody else. Against all odds, this team is leading the Western Conference.

Josh Hart and Jerami Grant have prove to be valuable additions to the forward position. Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons reign threes from above, leaving their opponents no mercy. And, for once, there is some semblence of defense. We have reached Valhalla.

What’s Scary: Life Without Dame

Just as things were looking good, Dame’s calf sabotages the season early on. We’re without our saving grace for 1-2 weeks. In that time, we’re playing all of these teams;

Memphis
Phoenix (x2)
Miami
New Orleans

God help us all

#10 – Dallas Mavericks

Record: (3-3)
Net Rating: 8.2 (4th)
Strength of Schedule: 12th

The Dallas Mavericks should have a better record. If they hadn’t choked away their season opener against Phoenix, or edged out a win against New Orleans, or not lost to the OKC Thunder of all teams, they might be undefeated.

But that’s not what’s important. Luka Doncic leads the league in scoring, dominating the first half of games. Christian Wood has looked awesome off the bench for Dallas, his pairing with Doncic looking promising thus far.

Dallas looks more or less the same team as last year, which is a good thing.

What’s Scary: Overreliance on Luka

We can always say that the Mavericks rely on Luka to do too much for them. Right now, Doncic has been carrying the offense. Outside of him, the only other consistent contributors have been Christian Wood and Spencer Dinwiddie.

Therein lies the cap of this Mavericks team. They don’t have the depth to succeed deep in the playoffs. A one-man band has never worked in NBA history. The Mavericks need more than just those three guys to win.

Whether it be Dorian Finney-Smith, Reggie Bullock, or somebody via trade, Dallas needs more autonomy from Luka Doncic. Otherwise, it’ll be a repeat of what happened last year.

#11 – Denver Nuggets

Record: (4-3)
Net Rating: -2.8 (21st)
Strength of Schedule: 25th

I know it’s early, but I kind of expected more from the Nuggets. Sure, Denver is still working guys like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. back into the swing of things. I get that. But I would be lying if I said they’ve looked great so far.

Offensively, even though the numbers don’t look great, I’m not concerned. They have Nikola Jokic. They’ll be fine. But defensively? I knew this team wasn’t the 1985 Bears or anything, but at least last year, they were average on this end.

I was very high on Denver’s chances this season. A lot of people were, and rightfully so. Right now, the Nuggets are the second most disappointing team in the state.

What’s Scary: Jamal Murray

Michael Porter Jr. hasn’t missed a beat after missing most of last season. The same can’t be said about Jamal Murray, who has looked a step slow this season. ACL injuries can take a lot away from players, but Murray has never been a player who relied heavily on athleticism to get things done.

Denver has been managing Murray’s workload to start the season, but the early returns have been poor. Across the board, Murray’s offensive numbers are down. His defensive numbers are also worse than ever before.

Denver’s title hopes depend on Murray being close to what he once was. 13.8 points on 42% shooting won’t get the job done. The question is, does Murray have what it takes to get Denver over that hump?

#12 – Toronto Raptors

Record: (4-3)
Net Rating: 3.1 (8th)
Strength of Schedule: 1st

The Raptors have played one of the hardest schedules in the NBA. While the numbers don’t show it, I’ve been impressed with them thus far. Not only has Pascal Siakam regained his All-NBA prowess, but the Raptors are the NBA equivalent of hell.

Every single possession is a battle, a struggle. Nick Nurse has an ungodly amount of length at his disposal. A whole stable of switchability to blanket opposing offenses. This team is scrappy, edgy, and rugged. I overlooked them again heading into this season, which looks like a mistake.

What’s Scary: The Second Unit

Toronto relies too much on their starters. Nick Nurse’s starters ran out of gas last season after playing heavy minutes in the regular season. A similar thing will likely happen this season. But you can’t fault Nurse when his bench is paper thin.

There are no guards off the bench to speak of. None. Nada. Toronto relies too heavily on its starting five, which holds them back. As much as I would love to buy into Chris Boucher carrying the bench, I can’t see that as a viable option.

More or less, the Raptors are the same team as they were last year.

#13 – Philadelphia 76ers

Record: (4-4)
Net Rating: 2.5 (10th)
Strength of Schedule: 8th

The Philadelphia 76ers have righted the ship after a 0-3 and 1-4 start. Still, I have my concerns about this team. What we saw in the first few games can’t disappear from my memory with the wave of a wand.

From a lack of energy, poor defense, or a stagnant offense, things didn’t look great in the city of brotherly love. If not for the Phillies and Eagles keeping the city distracted, there would be a lot more heat on this team. Consider yourselves lucky.

What’s Scary: A Lot of Things (but mostly defense)

Philly’s defense has been surprisingly bad this season. I know relying on a 37-year old PJ Tucker to be your perimeter stopper is a bad idea, but things haven’t looked great on this end.

Opposing teams are shooting 70% at the rim. What’s worse is that the 76ers’ transition defense has been laughable. Teams are scoring 18.0 fastbreak points per game against Philly. The worst part is that miscommunication is frequent and effort is minimal. If this team’s slim title chances wanted to get any bigger, they have to start playing defense.

#14 – LA Clippers

Record: (3-4)
Net Rating: -6.3 (27th)
Strength of Schedule: 26th

The Los Angeles Clippers were billed as the team of endless depth coming into this season. Nobody can stop this team if they’re healthy, we thought. While nobody’s talking about it, this team has looked putrid to start the season.

Kawhi Leonard doesn’t look healthy, and he may never look like himself again. While you’re thinking about that, how about this offense? What’s going on? You know things are bad when the only team worse than you are the goddamn Lakers. Turnovers and crappy shooting have run rampant thus far.

This team was firmly in the contender tier coming into the season. Right now, the only thing working is Markieff Morris.

What’s Scary: The Klaw

All of LA’s title hopes were pinned on Kawhi Leonard being Kawhi Leonard again. Leonard tore his ACL back in the 2021 postseason, giving him a long time to recover. Even with his lengthy injury history, nobody expected anything but excellence from Kawhi this season.

Instead, Kawhi hasn’t played in back-to-back games, much less start a game this season. Yeah, you heard that right. Leonard has played just 42 minutes this season. It raises concerns about Leonard’s overall health.

Leonard, the doctors, or the Clippers clearly don’t trust that knee. This roster will be in a constant state of flux as Leonard works his way back. Roles and minutes will be changed based on the health of Kawhi. That’s not good.

Oh, and now they’re sitting Kawhi for the next few games. How lovely.

Tier 4: Play-In or Better

#15 – Minnesota Timberwolves

Record: (4-3)
Net Rating: 2.6 (9th)
Strength of Schedule: 30th

Adding Rudy Gobert made the Timberwolves larger than life. Our expectations for this team were high, but Minnesota is still getting through all of the growing pains of life with Rudy. Losing twice to the Spurs proves as such.

While adding Gobert has helped their defense a lot, the offense has been far from ok. Karl-Anthony Towns is still adjusting to how to play with Gobert, and D’Angelo Russell continues to underperform.

Still, if this team can click, they’re going to be hard to stop. It’s just a matter of when and if they can accomplish that feat.

What’s Scary: The KAT/Gobert Dynamic

There are two dynamics between Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert; offensively and defensively.

Starting offensively, Rudy Gobert has never had so many opportunities. Minnesota is actively seeking him out, which is a good thing. Towns, on the other hand, is still adjusting. His shooting figures have plummeted this far, but he’s looked better with each passing game. That spacing and relationship will only get better with time.

Defensively, the Timberwolves have somewhat abandoned the aggressive, blitz-heavy scheme they relied on last year. Towns no longer has to do too much on that end. Minnesota is running more drop coverage, a scheme that Gobert helped champion in Utah. Minnesota’s defense hasn’t been the problem this season.

It’s too early to tell if this partnership is doomed or just beginning to blossom. Minnesota is still figuring out what can and cannot be done with these two. Until they do that, expect a few more ugly losses.

#16 – Chicago Bulls

Record: (3-4)
Net Rating: -0.4 (16th)
Strength of Schedule: 10th

The Bulls have looked very good and very bad this season. They’ve had two good wins against the Heat and Celtics, two playoff teams from last season. That was what this team struggled with last season. They couldn’t beat the best of the best.

Chicago then followed up those impressive performances by getting blown out by the Cavs and losing to the Spurs. Nice. Without Lonzo Ball, this team isn’t at full strength, which is sad. Still, I think the Bulls can build upon their successes from last season.

What’s Scary: The Starting Lineup

Every NBA teams’ starting lineup is supposed to be their best collection of players. That is, unless you’re the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have already used three different starting lineups this season. Spoiler alert: they’ve all been bad;

Caruso ~ DeRozan ~ Lavine ~ Williams ~ Vucevic: -15.0 net rating (20 mins)

Caruso ~ Dosunmu ~ DeRozan ~ Williams ~ Vucevic: -27.0 net rating (30 mins)

Dosunmu ~ Lavine ~ DeRozan ~ Williams ~ Vucevic: -7.0 net rating (35 mins)

I honestly don’t know how to explain this. Maybe somebody should tell the Bulls that they’re starting lineups are supposed to be good.

#17 – New York Knicks

Record: (3-3)
Net Rating: 2.1 (12th)
Strength of Schedule: 16th

Jalen Brunson is him.

Brunson has helped steady this team greatly. That’s what he was brought in to do. Last season, this team was all over the place. That isn’t the case this season, and you can attribute that to the addition of Brunson.

Julius Randle has looked better now that he isn’t asked to do everything for this offense. Brunson has somewhat alleviated all the problems this team had last year. New York still plays hard, and they’re going to hover around 0.500 this season. Not too shabby.

What’s Scary: RJ Barrett

RJ Barrett has kind of been the odd-man left out offensively. Barrett isn’t getting those same driving looks as his co-stars. If New York could find a way to involve him more, that would be great.

For the moment, Barrett has been relegated to being a catch-and-shoot shooter. The problem is, he can’t shoot. Barrett is making just 24% of his catch-and-shoot opportunities. Maybe that contract extension was a bad idea after all.

Tier 5: Play-In Tourney Hopefuls

#18 – Utah Jazz

Record: (6-2)
Net Rating: 4.5 (7th)
Strength of Schedule: 17th

This Jazz team was left with too many spare parts to fail. Utah has been that scrappy, underdog team that teams can’t get rid of. Every possession is a battle. Lauri Markkanen dominates you on the other end. It’s one of the unlikliest success stories of the year, and I LOVE it.

Unfortnately, that leads me to my next point…

What’s Scary: Danny Ainge

This Jazz team is too good. Danny Ainge is going to blow things up very, very soon. He won’t stand for this. This team is ruining his tank aspirations. At best, this team is a first-round exit. Guys like Conley, Clarkson, Beasley, and maybe even Sexton and Markkanen have to go if the Jazz want Wembanyama or Scott Henderson.

For the moment, the Jazz can enjoy playing spoiler to the rest of the league. But, in the coming weeks, this team will get torn down to its stubs.

#19 – Washington Wizards

Record: (3-4)
Net Rating: -2.3 (19th)
Strength of Schedule: 19th

Washington has again started things off strong defensively. Wes Unseld Jr.’s group is proving to be a feisty group on that end. Losing Delon Wright is a big blow, but Deni Avdija is helping lead a defense that has looked good at times this season.

However, the offense is what has been holding this team back. The Wizards don’t make a lot of threes, they don’t get to the free-throw line, and they don’t generate a lot of second opportunities. In other words, they’re not great.

What’s Scary: Perimeter Defense

Since Delon Wright went down with injury, this team can’t stop a parked car. The Indiana Pacers scored 127 points on them. Yes, those Indiana Pacers. Delon Wright was one of this team’s few good perimeter defenders.

Other than him, the seldom-used Deni Avdija is this team’s only hope. The Wizards can’t stop anybody, which is a problem because their offense can’t keep up.

#20 – Charlotte Hornets

Record: (3-4)
Net Rating: 1.4 (13th)
Strength of Schedule: 23rd

Relying on Dennis Smith Jr. and Nick Richards to succeed isn’t a great plan if you ask me. Even without Lamelo Ball, this team has managed to stay afloat. But, my expectations for this team remain tabled. I think a lengthy rebuild is approaching.

What’s Scary: Sustainability

Dennis Smith Jr: 12.3 points ~ 6.4 assists ~ 54% TS ~ 2.6 DBPM

Nick Richards: 11.3 points ~ 7.0 rebounds ~ 69% TS (nice) ~ 2.9 OBPM

Tell me with a straight face that these two guys can do this for a whole season. That’s right, you can’t.

Tier 6: Wembanyama Watch

#21 – San Antonio Spurs

Record: (5-2)
Net Rating: -0.2 (15th)
Strength of Schedule: 11th

Keldon Johnson, the face of the franchise (for the moment), has looked awesome. He’s leading a surprisingly fast, youthful, and athletic Spurs team that looks nothing like they have in years prior. If we ignore Josh Primo, everything has been going well for this team.

I didn’t foresee this team bullying the Timberwolves as much as they have, but here we are.

What’s Scary: Not The Right Time

For the Spurs, the goal has always been to get Victor Wembanyama. Now, unlike the Jazz, the Spurs won’t trade everybody. They might get rid of Doug McDermott or even Jakob Poeltl. But they have to hope this young core doesn’t win too much.

Tanking culture isn’t fun, but getting Wembanyama would be a one-way ticket to contention for years to come. You can’t throw that away for a team that might make the play-in tournament.

#22 – Indiana Pacers

Record: (3-5)
Net Rating: -2.3 (20th)
Strength of Schedule: 27th

Tyrese Haliburton and Ben Mathurin have looked awesome thus far. Mathurin has been breaking rookie scoring records, off the bench, no less. These two have been the backcourt of the future that this team envisioned.

Still, for some reason, this team has Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. WHY?

What’s Scary: Chris Duarte’s Deminished Role

This take held more luster before Duarte scored 30 points last night. This is what I get for posting a day late. Still, Duarte hasn’t looked special this season. I wasn’t expecting the 25-year-old sophomore to break out or anything, but I expected him to be better.

Instead, he was getting 15-20 minutes a night and struggling to crack double digits in the scoring column. With Buddy Hield and Mathurin, finding minutes will be hard. Once Hield leaves town (which will happen at some point, right?), I think things should free up for him.

#23 – Oklahoma City Thunder

Record: (3-3)
Net Rating: 0.4 (14th)
Strength of Schedule: 7th

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is again showing us why the Thunder need to be good sooner rather than later. Impressive wins over Dallas and the Clippers have had SGA at the forefront of their attack. His slippery ball-handling and awkward jump shot make him one of the most fun players in the league.

Even with Chet Holmgren out for the year and Josh Giddey out with injury, SGA makes this team a joy to watch. And this team plays defense! Sam Presti’s team is slowly coming to fruition.

What’s Scary: Lu Dort

It’s easy to forget the Thunder gave Lu Dort a 5-year/$82.5 million dollar extension this summer. Money doesn’t matter for the Thunder. They’re rebuilding. Still, giving Dort that extension was always risky. His tenacious defense remains, but what about his offensive abilities? Would those ever develop? So far, the answer has been no.

Trying to score with this Thunder offense isn’t easy. SGA is an outlier. But Dort hasn’t shown much improvement offensively this season. He’s shooting 36% from the field and 17% from 3-PT land. Trusting him to be a creator on offense may be a little too aggressive. Maybe give Josh Giddey more of those touches when he gets back. Just a thought.

#24 – Orlando Magic

Record: (1-6)
Net Rating: -4.8 (26th)
Strength of Schedule: 4th

Paolo Banchero is the real deal. It looks like the Magic didn’t mess up the first overall pick in the draft. Franz Wagner also appears to be a great complementary piece for this franchise. Other than that, it’s another year of hoping for development.

This year, Magic fans are hoping guys like Jalen Suggs can take a step forward. Suggs started the year off well, but he’s been hurt ever since. Ugh.

What’s Scary: 3-PT Shooting

Other than Terrence Ross and occasionally Cole Anthony, this team can’t shoot to save their lives. JFK would still be alive if the Magic wanted to assassinate him. Too far? Yeah, I thought so.

You can’t win basketball games shooting 31% from deep. What’s worse is the Magic are also converting just 35% of their wide-open looks. When they’re wide-open, the Magic are average from long range. That’s laughable.

#25 – Houston Rockets

Record: (1-7)
Net Rating: -9.1 (30th)
Strength of Schedule: 2nd

The Rockets would be the worst team in the league under normal circumstances. They’ve had one of the hardest schedules in the league, with almost all of their games on the road. It’s tough for young teams to survive in those conditions, and the Rockets haven’t.

I still like this roster, but they’ve been thrown into the fire. Let’s give them some more time before we evaluate.

Tier 7: WHAT IS GOING ON!

#26 – Sacramento Kings

Record: (2-4)
Net Rating: -2.1 (18th)
Strength of Schedule: 14th

The Kings have looked better in recent games after their 0-4 start. De’Aaron Fox and Kevin Huerter have been setting the world on fire. Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis have been stop gaps in the frontcourt.

The problem? Defense. Even with Mike Brown, this team can’t seem to stop anybody. If cloning technologies were available, the Kings would make 15 Davion Mitchells and call it a day. But they can’t do that. Unfortunately.

(Note: Sacramento’s home games have been awesome this season. That crowd is really into things, which is great.)

What’s Scary: The Defense

The Kings are the 21st ranked defense in the NBA. While they’ve technically improved from last season, it’s by a small amount. Sacrameto is 30th in opponent FG% (48.9). They don’t force a lot of turnovers and they foul you a lot.

Defense has gotten in the way of promising teams over the past few seasons. Not even Mike Brown can fix this side of the ball. That’s scary.

#27 – Miami Heat

Record: (2-5)
Net Rating: -3.1 (22nd)
Strength of Schedule: 6th

The Miami Heat don’t have identity yet. Similar to their 2021 season, they appear sluggish and slow. I don’t trust their role players one bit. Even worse, I don’t trust Kyle Lowry. He’s been awful this season and I don’t know what Miami can even get out of him.

Miami is an aging, veteran team in desperate need of a spark right now. Maybe Udonis Haslem can punch a hole in the wall or something.

What’s Scary: The Vibes

Where’s the competitive fire? I feel like this team should be at each other’s throats by now. Jimmy Butler needs to stir up some drama. This team has already gotten into a fight, and maybe they need another one. They need something to get them going.

Heat culture looks very sickly right now.

#28 – Detroit Pistons

Record: (2-6)
Net Rating: -7.9 (29th)
Strength of Schedule: 22nd

Cade Cunningham is doing everything we asked him to do. Even with a higher usage rate, he’s been more efficient and turned the ball over less. Cade has been the steady floor general presence this team needs. And, unlike last year, he has some help.

Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey have been lightning in a bottle. Ivey, in particular, looks like the perfect backcourt partner for Cade. Bojan Bogdanovic has been shooting like god himself this season, leading to a nice contract extension. Shooting 51% from deep on 7.4 attempts a night will do that for you.

This team is bad, but they’re a fun kind of bad. Their teal jerseys are also sexy as hell.

What’s Scary: Dwane Casey Isn’t Leaving A Mark

Teams who fade in the second half usually have coaches to blame. Half-time is a chance to adjust, re-assess and find some more energy. For a young team like the Pistons, simply staying in games is a challenge. In the first half, they’ve been able to do that. I can’t say the same about their second halves of games.

1st Half: -5.6 net rating

2nd Half: -10.2 net rating

The Pistons get worse as games go on. That’s not a good thing, even if you’re building. Dwane Casey still hasn’t gotten his young players to play for an entire 48 minutes. I think the Pistons need a new coach, one that relate to their players more.

Or one who just isn’t Dwane Casey.

#29 – Los Angeles Lakers

Record: (1-5)
Net Rating: -4.4 (25th)
Strength of Schedule: 9th

The Lakers may have found something by putting Russell Westbrook off the bench. After all, it’s how they got their first win of the season. Somehow, the Lakers are not the worst team in the league, which should tell you something about where we are.

Still, this team’s chances are nonexistent. Lebron passing Kareem’s all-time scoring record will be the highlight of the season.

What’s Scary: Literally Everything

I think Westbrook coming off the bench is the only good thing this team has done. Other than that, everything has been terrible. LA’s offense is one of the worst I’ve ever seen. They can’t shoot. Most of their possessions end with exasperated looks and arm gestures.

The energy always looks off, and they don’t have any sparks. I don’t think the front office will bother to improve this team. What’s the point? It’s just a matter of time before Lebron leaves to play with his son. Until then, there’s going to be a lot of ugly basketball.

#30 – Brooklyn Nets

Record: (2-5)
Net Rating: -6.5 (28th)
Strength of Schedule: 3rd

This team is such a mess. They just fired Steve Nash after a 2-5 start. Nash’s tenure as Nets head coach was playing damage control. That’s all he did here. And while Nash isn’t a revolutionary coach, I think he did the best he could with this dumpster fire. Nash has earned some time off.

Ben Simmons is useless. Kyrie Irving is anti-Semitic. Still, the Nets think they win a title. So, they hire Ime Udoka. You know, the dude that got suspended for one year because of disorderly conduct with the Celtics? Yep, that’s the guy that can solve all of this teams’ problems.

For a team denouncing anti-semitism, getting this guy really puts their foot down on the whole ethics thing. God, I hate this team.