Week 4 Power Rankings: One Standout For Every Team

A lot has been going on around the NBA through one month of action. And, as with every NBA season, we’re seeing lots of guys get off to strong starts. So, today, let’s find one standout from 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;

Wembanyama Watch: They’re rebuilding and all they care about are some ping-pong balls in May.
WHAT IS GOING ON?: These teams shouldn’t be this bad…but here we are
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.
The Utah Jazz Tier: Pretty self-explanatory. Are the Jazz actually good or will they soon blow things up? Who knows?
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.

Tier 1: Contenders

#1 – Boston Celtics

Record: (11-3)
Net Rating: 6.4 (T-2nd)
Strength of Schedule: 22nd

Standout Player: Jayson Tatum

The tail end of the Celtics’ season was the prelude to what Tatum is doing this year. Boston’s meteoric rise to the top of the standings was supported by Tatum turning into a legitimate MVP candidate. But, the Celtics’ loss in the Finals was attributed to Tatum’s shortcomings.

Whether it be an injury, fatigue, or just plain inexperience, Tatum came up short. It took a toll on him. But here’s something that’s easy to forget. The kid is just 24 years old. Most generational talents not named Giannis don’t win their first title until their late 20s or 30s.

Losing in the Finals usually unlocks something, a new hunger in a player. But that wasn’t the only thing Tatum had to deal with in the offseason. He lost his head coach and his starting center. Talk about a busy off-season.

As the leader of this team, Tatum knew he had to step up. So he has. For the past couple of seasons, the basketball community has been putting JT near that superstar realm of NBA stars. Some people even considered him a superstar before this season. For the first time in his career, I think we can definitively call Jayson Tatum a superstar. He’s been that good.

31.9 points ~ 7.4 rebounds ~ 2.3 stocks ~ 49% FG ~ 64% TS ~ 7.2 BPM

*bold indicates career-high*

Not only has Tatum been hitting his outside shots, he’s been getting to the rim. He seemingly got even bigger and stronger in the offseason. Now, he’s one of the biggest mismatches in the league. You can’t stay in front of him. And, as of right now, he’s the frontrunner for the MVP award.

#2 – Milwaukee Bucks

Record: (10-3)
Net Rating: 4.3 (5th)
Strength of Schedule: 30th

Standout Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Without Khris Middleton, the Milwaukee Bucks have been just fine. Nobody expected the Bucks to struggle without their #2 option, but I don’t think anybody expected domination. Giannis Antetokounmpo has something to say about that.

The league’s best player is often overshadowed. Nobody talks about how good this guy is enough. He may never win another MVP award because voters are tired of voting for him. The league has never seen such a uniquely dominant force. No player can do what he does on both ends of the floor.

31.3 points ~ 11.8 rebounds ~ 5.2 assists ~ 58% TS ~ 2.4 stocks ~ 9.6 BPM

What can’t he do? It doesn’t matter that he doesn’t have a reliable outside shot. You cannot stop him when he gets a full head of steam downhill. The NBA’s best player is carrying the Bucks once again. Look out for this team once they get healthy.

#3 – Phoenix Suns

Record: (8-5)
Net Rating: 6.4 (2nd)
Strength of Schedule: 16th

Standout Player: Mikal Bridges

Surprise, surprise, the Phoenix Suns are good! I’m just as shocked as you. The Suns just win. It’s as simple as that. Mikal Bridges is a big reason for that. He’s developed into one of the premier role players in the NBA. With Cam Johnson going down with injury, the Suns will have to rely on Iron Man even more.

For the past three seasons, Bridges has steadily increased his offensive output while remaining highly efficient. This season, he’s added a playmaking element to his game. On top of that, he’s averaging a career-high 15.6 points per game.

While guys like Booker and CP-3 get all the spotlight, the Suns wouldn’t be contenders if it wasn’t for Mikal Bridges. He’s the only thing saving them from having one of the worst wing rotations in the league. Enjoy him, Suns fans. Savor that glorious two-way prowess.

15.6 points ~ 5.2 rebounds ~ 2.0 stocks ~ 55% FG ~ 65% TS ~ 2.7 BPM

Tier 2: Fringe Contenders

#4 – Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: (8-5)
Net Rating: 6.8 (1st)
Strength of Schedule: 26th

Standout Player: Donovan Mitchell

If not for some frustratingly close losses, the Cavs’ record would be better. Still, they’ve been one of the best teams in the East this season. Donovan Mitchell’s ascension into an MVP candidate is a big reason why. Darius Garland’s eye injury may have been a blessing in disguise for Cleveland in some ways.

With Garland out, Mitchell got total control of the offense. Even with Garland returning, it’s clear Mitchell is the alpha-scoring leader of this team. It “relegates” Garland to a pure point guard role, which suits him better, anyway.

In any case, Donovan Mitchell has been very good at basketball this season. Perhaps I never appreciated him in Utah because I disliked the Jazz. Mitchell is still shooting nearly ten triples per game, making more of them than ever before. But, that’s not why Mitchell has been so good this season.

He’s gotten to the rim more frequently and converted more of his attempts in the restricted area. With Garland out, Mitchell has increased his chops as a playmaker, averaging a career-high 6.1 assists per game. Oh. And I forgot to mention that Mitchell is trying on defense now. So, he’s basically Dwayne Wade. Not a bad player to add to your team in the offseason.

31.6 points ~ 6.1 assists ~ 51% FG ~ 43% 3-PT ~ 65% TS ~ 9.0 BPM

#5 – Memphis Grizzlies

Record: (9-5)
Net Rating: 0.9 (14th)
Strength of Schedule: 20th

Standout Player: Desmond Bane (Injured)

Desmond Bane is Memphis personified. He’s not some big-name free agent that the Grizzlies threw a boatload of money at. Nor is he the top draft pick that everybody expected to be good. The 30th pick in the 2020 draft, Bane had role player written all over him.

As a rookie, Bane was a pure shooter. He looked almost robotic when dribbling the ball. Still, he was a solid bench player. I don’t think anybody expected what happened next.

Last season, Bane doubled his scoring average. He became a more well-rounded player off the dribble and was one of the best pull-up shooters in the league. After a great first-round against Minnesota, the Warriors made an effort to smother him. They knew they couldn’t let him get hot.

This season, Bane has done it again. He’s getting to the free-throw line more. He’s become more efficient. The Grizzlies are relying on him to lead their second unit when Morant isn’t on the floor. And he’s averaging nearly 25 points per game. It’s one of the most surprising and unforeseen stories of the year.

Alongside Ja Morant, the Grizzlies have the best backcourt in the league. While Morant had star written all over him, nobody expected this from Desmond Bane. But, in just two seasons, Bane has worked his tail off to become one of the best two-guards in the league.

(Note: Bane is set to miss a few weeks with injury. What shitty timing)

24.7 points ~ 4.9 rebounds ~ 4.8 assists ~ 45% 3-PT ~ 62% TS ~ 5.5 OBPM

Tier 3: Playoff Locks

#6 – Atlanta Hawks

Record: (9-5)
Net Rating: 2.3 (11th)
Strength of Schedule: 15th

Standout Player: Dejounte Murray

The Atlanta Hawks aren’t dominating teams. Without Bogdan Bogdanovic, they have one of the worst bench units in the league. Let’s table those concerns for the moment. Dejounte Murray was added this offseason for two reasons. First, lessen the offensive burden on Trae Young. And secondly, to provide some defensive help. He’s done both of those things thus far.

Offensively, Trae Young is touching the ball for one less minute per game than he was last season. Atlanta is no longer so reliant on Trae to do everything for them. Defensively, Murray has helped the Hawks be a lot closer to average.

While the Hawks don’t look special, they’re more consistent and predictable this season. Most of that can be attributed to Murray, who has looked worth the haul that was given up to acquire him. The next question for Atlanta is how they can enter that contender realm?

21.5 points ~ 6.4 rebounds ~ 7.8 assists ~ 53% TS ~ 4.6 BPM

#7 – Dallas Mavericks

Record: (7-5)
Net Rating: 3.6 (6th)
Strength of Schedule: 10th

Standout Player: Luka Doncic

We all have our questions about Dallas’s sustainability. They’ve never relied on Luka Doncic more, as he’s averaging a 39% usage rate, which leads the league. No player has the ball in his hands more than Luka. You could argue that no team is affected more by one player than the Mavericks are with Doncic.

But there’s no denying that the results aren’t fun to watch. Doncic started the season by notching nine straight 30-point games. Doncic is scoring a league-high 34.3 points a night, the highest figure we’ve seen since James Harden in 2019.

The best, or maybe the weirdest part, has been Doncic’s 3-PT shooting. He’s only shooting 29% from deep on 8.2 attempts per game. If he was making his career 34% from downtown, he would be adding even more points to his total. Something to keep an eye on. In related news, Doncic is making an absurd 60% of his two-pointers.

Doncic has a chance to rival scoring seasons by the likes of Jordan, Iverson, or Harden. The Mavericks may not be contenders with that formula, but I’ll tune in and watch on League Pass. I can guarantee that much.

34.3 points ~ 8.7 rebounds ~ 8.1 assists ~ 2.0 steals ~ 60% 2-PT ~ 12.3 BPM

#8 – Portland Trail Blazers

Record: (9-4)
Net Rating: 1.9 (12th)
Strength of Schedule: 2nd

Standout Player: Jerami Grant

The Portland Trail Blazers are the #1 seed in the Western Conference. I would now like the season to halt and no more games be played. Even without Damian Lillard for a few games, the Blazers have looked strong to start the season. Newly added Jerami Grant is a big reason for that.

In Denver, Grant was under utilized. When he signed with the Pistons, he was asked to do too much. With the Blazers, he’s in the perfect situation. The Blazers need his scoring every night, but he’s not being asked to do everything.

Grant is averaging more than 20 points a night, but he’s been incredibly efficient while doing so. His career-high 46% shooting from behind the arc on more than 5.3 attempts per game has been eye-popping.

And to think, the Blazers only needed one future draft pick to get Grant. He’s been the perfect solution to their long need for a versatile wing.

20.7 points ~ 4.7 rebounds ~ 50% FG ~ 46% 3-PT ~ 63% TS ~ 2.3 BPM

#9 – Denver Nuggets

Record: (9-4)
Net Rating: 2.6 (9th)
Strength of Schedule: 28th

Standout Player: Michael Porter Jr.

After a slow start, the Denver Nuggets have been rolling. They’re 7-3 in their last ten games, sporting the league’s second best offense in that time frame. After recovering from back surgery, Michael Porter Jr. was a big question mark coming into this season.

How much could the Nuggets get out of him? Could Denver rely on him consistently? Those were the questions being thrown around entering this season. So far, Porter has more than put those questions to rest.

Similar to his historic sophomore campaign, Porter seems to make every shot he takes. His frame and fluidity make him one of the best shot-makers in the entire league. While Porter doesn’t attack the rim often, his jump shot is lethal.

While some development from Porter outside his scoring would be nice, he’s given Denver the shot in the arm offensively that they missed last season. To make a deep postseason run, Denver will need MPJ. Right now, it looks like they can rely on him.

18.0 points ~ 6.4 rebounds ~ 65% TS ~ 3.2 OBPM

#10 – New Orleans Pelicans

Record: (7-6)
Net Rating: 3.2 (7th)
Strength of Schedule: 21st

Standout Player: Brandon Ingram

New Orleans has had an up and down season. I think they’re better than their record suggests. Offensively, the Pelicans have one of the most talented top threes in the league. Brandon Ingram has been particularly excellent.

While Ingram has had less shots with Zion coming back into the picture, he’s been as good as ever. Ingram is making 47% of his 3-PT shots, a career-high mark. His mid-range scoring has taken a step back, but I don’t care.

A more promising development has been Ingram’s defense. For the first time in his career, he’s average defensively. That doesn’t sound impressive, but Ingram has never been known as a great defender. At 25 years old, could we see Ingram become more of a two-way wing? Who knows?

21.4 points ~ 5.8 rebounds ~ 47% 3-PT ~ 58% TS ~ 1.2 BPM

Tier 4: The Utah Jazz

#11 – Utah Jazz

Record: (10-5)
Net Rating: 4.6 (4th)
Strength of Schedule: 14th

Standout Player: Lauri Markkanen

With each passing day, it’s getting harder and harder to ignore the Jazz. Instead of making one of the ugliest tanks in league history, Danny Ainge has constructed a scrappy one. The Jazz have too many solid players to be tanking. Will Hardy has them spacing the floor and just carving up opposing defenses.

However, without Dirk Nowitz- I mean, Lauri Markkanen, the Jazz wouldn’t be where they are now. Markkannen battled injuries and inconsistent play in Chicago. He’s never really stood out anywhere he’s been. But something clicked when he went to play for Finland this summer in the EuroBasket 2022 Tournament.

Markkanen was a confident scoring machine. Instead of being a blip in the system, Markkanen has made it his new floor. This season, Markkanen has set career highs in points per game, field goal percentage, free-throw attempts per game, assists per game, true shooting %, and box plus/minus. He’s turned into one of the best-scoring forwards in the league.

His quickness and aggressiveness have been unlocked. We’re seeing a whole new player – one who seems like he’s going to be in Utah for the foreseeable future, whether they’re good or bad.

21.8 points ~ 8.6 rebounds ~ 53% FG ~ 63% TS ~ 3.6 OBPM

Tier 5: Play-In or Better

#12 – Brooklyn Nets

Record: (6-8)
Net Rating: 1.5 (13th)
Strength of Schedule: 13th

Standout Player: Nic Claxton

Since Jacque Vaughn took over as head coach, the Nets have turned things around in a big way. Some of that has to do with a totally not Anti-Semitic point guard being around, but I digress. Brooklyn’s defense, in particular, has spear-headed their turnaround over the past couple of weeks.

In the middle of this defense has been Nic Claxton. The Nets have longed for an anchor to their defense down low. Clearly, Ben Simmons can’t be that guy for this team. So, the burden has fallen upon Claxton. And he’s been doing a great job.

After a couple seasons of inconsistent minutes and development, Claxton is now one of the better starting centers in the league. Claxton has been the most efficient player in the league this season. His defense is as good as it’s ever been.

For all their instability, Claxton has been a steady presence down low. Finally, the Nets have something resembling a center. And, for the moment, they’ve righted the ship, a task that seemed impossible a couple of weeks ago.

11.9 points ~ 9.1 rebounds ~ 2.9 stocks ~ 72% FG ~ 0.6 DBPM ~ 1.2 BPM

#13 – Philadelphia 76ers

Record: (7-7)
Net Rating: 2.3 (10th)
Strength of Schedule: 8th

Standout Player: Tyrese Maxey

Joel Embiid’s recent historic performances deserve a lot of attention. Another 76er who deserves a lot of credit? Tyrese Maxey. Not only has Maxey turned into the reliable scorer that Tobias Harris hasn’t been, he’s filled in for former MVP James Harden, too.

Maxey is lightning in a bottle. Offensively, he’s one of the quickest guards in the league. Despite his size, getting to the rim is trivial. And, over the past few seasons, Maxey has developed into one of the best shooters in the league. This season, he’s turned into an All-Star-caliber scorer.

Defenses can’t contain the always-smiling Kentucky guard. Maxey is deadly from inside and outside the arc. Sure, he can’t play defense, but guys like Maxey aren’t plentiful around the league. If not for Maxey’s career year, the 76ers wouldn’t be where they are right now.

22.8 points ~ 4.4 assists ~ 45% FG ~ 41% 3-PT ~ 56% TS ~ 0.8 OBPM

#14 – Chicago Bulls

Record: (6-8)
Net Rating: -0.2 (18th)
Strength of Schedule: 1st

Standout Player: Ayo Dosunmu

The Chicago Bulls are stuck with this aging roster that doesn’t know how to score. One of their few bright spots is 2021 second-round pick Ayo Dosunmu. Without Lonzo Ball, Dosunmu has taken the mantle of starting point guard.

Thus far, Dosunmu has looked good in that role. His playmaking still needs some development, but he’s looked efficient and productive as a scorer. But, Dosunmu has made his money on the defensive side of the ball. He’s just one member of Chicago’s elite defensive backcourt.

While he still has a ways to go, Dosunmu has showed some encouraging signs for the future this season. Heck, he might be thrust into a bigger role when the Bulls inevitably blow this team up. We’ll leave that talk for another day.

11.7 points ~ 49% FG ~ 58% TS ~ 0.3 DBPM

#15 – Toronto Raptors

Record: (8-7)
Net Rating: 2.6 (8th)
Strength of Schedule: 24th

Standout Player: Pascal Siakam (Injured)

Pascal Siakam was looking like an MVP before he got injured. Siakam helped lead the Raptors to the postseason with a strong second half of the season. He looked fully realized this season. The Raptors got off to a hot start but have since petered off since Siakam left the lineup.

Siakam was more aggressive, getting to the line 7.7 times per game, a career-best. He was also averaging 7.7 assists, another career-high. The Raptors were giving Siakam the ball more than ever. Everything flowed through him, and it was working.

Hopefully, when Spicy P returns from injury, he can continue at the pace he was at. For all the scrutiny he got in the past few years, he looked like he was turning over a new leaf into being a franchise cornerstone. I’ll save that bold statement in my back pocket for the moment.

24.8 points ~ 9.3 rebounds ~ 7.7 assists ~ 48% FG ~ 57% TS ~ 6.2 BPM

#16 – LA Clippers

Record: (8-6)
Net Rating: -1.5 (23rd)
Strength of Schedule: 29th

Standout Player: Paul George

The LA Clippers look like the same team from last season. Without Kawhi Leonard, they’re merely mediocre. Paul George is one of the few players on their roster capable of scoring. It’s not looking great if we’re being honest.

George has remained excellent on both sides of the floor. He’s handled a leadership role surprisingly well. The days of PG-13 dominating teams with his athleticism are all but over. This version of George is more jump shot centric than ever.

I just wish Kawhi Leonard was healthy alongside him. LA has been 60-22 in the regular season when both those guys are on the floor. It’s a shame that Kawhi’s knee is sabotaging against him right now.

24.5 points ~ 6.1 rebounds ~ 46% FG ~ 58% TS ~ 2.5 BPM

#17 – Minnesota Timberwolves

Record: (6-8)
Net Rating: -1.1 (21st)
Strength of Schedule: 25th

Standout Player: Naz Reid

The Minnesota Timberwolves are another team that has been supremely disappointing this season. Their struggles have been talked about at nauseum, so I won’t get into that today. For now, let’s talk about Naz Reid, the player who is becoming harder to ignore with each passing game.

With Minnesota employing a two-center starting lineup, Reid doesn’t exactly fit in with what the T-Wolves are trying to do. That being said, Chris Finch can’t not play him. Off the bench this season, Reid has been scoring and defending at a high level.

Reid has always been a solid player, and while his numbers aren’t career-bests, it’s clear the Timberwolves are making room for him. Think of Reid as a DH in baseball. You can’t afford to not have his bat in the lineup, but he doesn’t really fit in anywhere else.

8.4 points ~ 59% FG ~ 65% TS ~ 1.7 BPM

Tier 6: Play-In Tourney Hopefuls

#18 – Miami Heat

Record: (7-7)
Net Rating: 0.3 (15th)
Strength of Schedule: 11th

Standout Player: Max Strus

Max Strus is another Miami Heat role player who appeared out of nowhere to contribute. Strus played just two games in the NBA before entering Miami’s system in the 2020-21 system. And over the past few seasons, Miami has developed him into a real weapon.

Strus is one of the best pure shooters in the NBA. This season, he’s been prolific. On just under eight attempts a night, he’s hitting 38% of his threes. Strus is also one of the best catch-and-shoot shooters in the NBA, making more than 40% of his 3s off the catch.

The 26-year-old was undrafted out of DePaul. He’s a grinder. He wasn’t a highly touted prospect. Strus fits in with Miami like a hand fits a glove. Miami’s shooter factory has one more deadly addition.

14.7 points ~ 38% 3-PT ~ 60% TS ~ 0.5 OBPM

#19 – Sacramento Kings

Record: (6-6)
Net Rating: 0.1 (16th)
Strength of Schedule: 18th

Standout Player: De’Aaron Fox

Things weren’t looking good for the Kings after their 0-4 start to the season. We were all prepared to notch yet another tally on Sacramento’s neverending playoff drought. But, since then, they’ve turned things around. De’Aaron Fox has led the way, getting the Kings back to 0.500.

Fox is a confusing player. The Kings have already given him a max extension, but he’s never made an All-Star or All-NBA team. But the Kings chose Fox over Haliburton last March. They obviously think they can build around him.

This season, Fox has continued to shine. Here’s the kicker. For once, he’s been efficient. Fox has never been a highly efficient player…until this year. I still don’t know how he’s shooting 38% from downtown. Nobody can stop the speedy guard right now. He’s getting to wherever he wants.

Mike Brown has this young team playing hard every night. And now they’re winning. For the Kings to get back to the playoffs, they’ll need De’Aaron Fox to reassure all their confidence in him.

25.5 points ~ 5.1 rebounds ~ 6.0 assists ~ 1.3 steals ~ 55% FG ~ 64% TS ~ 4.6 BPM

#20 – OKC Thunder

Record: (6-8)
Net Rating: -0.5 (19th)
Strength of Schedule: 7th

Standout Player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

What Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is doing right now isn’t out of the ordinary. Despite OKC’s tanking efforts, SGA has been a near All-Star caliber player for years. It was just a matter of time before the rest of the league took notice.

Watching SGA run an offense is so smooth. It just feels right. His slippery ball-handling and elusiveness make him impossible to stay in front of. Give him too much space, and he’ll gladly shoot it. Shai is one of the most fun players to watch in the league. And right now, he’s torching any living entity in front of him.

It’s never been a question about talent for Shai. The problem has always been recognition, and right now, he’s getting it. Now it’s time to tell Sam Presti to start building around him.

31.5 points ~ 5.8 assists ~ 54% FG ~ 63% TS ~ 8.2 BPM

#21 – Indiana Pacers

Record: (6-6)
Net Rating: -0.1 (17th)
Strength of Schedule: 12th

Standout Player: Tyrese Haliburton

Before the season, I predicted that Tyrese Haliburton would average 20 points and 10 assists. So far, so good on that front. Haliburton is the mold for the perfect NBA point guard. He can do it all and would fit on every NBA team.

It still doesn’t seem real that the Pacers stole one of the best young point guards in the league. Haliburton is leading the NBA in assists right now. Even though he’s averaging more than ten assists per game, his ast:to ratio is above three.

That elite playmaking hasn’t come at the expense of Haliburton being inefficient. He remains one of the steadiest scorers in the league. And, for the first time in his career, Tyrese Haliburton is an above-average defender. My mouth is salivating and has already been glued to the floor for minutes. My favorite prospect from the 2020 NBA Draft is looking like he’ll be a game changer for years to come.

20.5 points ~ 10.3 assists ~ 1.8 steals ~ 48% FG ~ 62% TS ~ 6.6 BPM

#22 – Washington Wizards

Record: (8-6)
Net Rating: -1.5 (22nd)
Strength of Schedule: 5th

Standout Player: Kyle Kuzma

Kyle Kuzma was run out of Los Angeles with nothing but the clothes on his back. Despite never doing anything wrong, Lakers nation grew tired of him. His punishment? Getting sent to the lawless hell that is Washington.

But, Kuzma has used his exile to rehabilitate his image. Kuzma has been valuable for Washington this year, a team that looks to be in play-in contention. Kuzma isn’t doing anything groundbreaking. A lot of the underlying numbers don’t think he’s that valuable. And that may be true.

But think about it like this. Who would the Lakers kill to have right now? Kyle Kuzma. LA traded away a burdening young wing for Russell Westbrook, one of the worst trades we’ve seen in recent history. For that, and that alone, I think Kuzma deserves some restitution.

18.4 points ~ 7.9 rebounds ~ 46% FG ~ 55% TS

#23 – New York Knicks

Record: (6-7)
Net Rating: -2.3 (25th)
Strength of Schedule: 17th

Standout Player: Obi Toppin

I don’t know what the New York Knicks are doing anymore. They don’t have an identity. Their youngsters have been rotting on the bench while undeserving veterans hog all the minutes. It seems like the Tom Thibodeau era will be over sooner rather than later, which is a good thing.

Obi Toppin is an enigma, a mystery. The Knicks have never given him a lot of minutes off the bench. Sure, I don’t think Toppin is some sort of game changer, but I think he deserves some more minutes. This season, Toppin has been a knockdown shooter and a solid defender.

He’s been a spurt of energy for a team that always looks flat and a step slow. What does that mean for his minutes? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Toppin hasn’t seen an increase in minutes. This a reminder that this guy was the eighth pick in the draft a few years ago. Tyrese Haliburton would be pretty nice right about now.

10.1 points ~ 40% 3-PT ~ 61% TS ~ 2.7 OBPM

#24 – San Antonio Spurs

Record: (6-8)
Net Rating: -7.3 (28th)
Strength of Schedule: 9th

Standout Player: Devin Vassell

After a fast start, the Spurs have been in freefall lately. It’s what we expected of this team coming into the season. Devin Vassell was one of the few good players on this roster. This season, Vassell has quietly blossomed into one of the better wings in the league.

Not only is Vassell creating on his own more than ever, but he’s also having his best season. Off the dribble, Vassell is leaps and bounds better from where he was as a rookie. He remains a great catch-and-shoot gunner from outside. And he’s always been a good defender.

A lot of times, it’s commonplace to see young players struggle with a lot more volume. Remember when we talked about Jerami Grant having to do too much in Detroit? Well, the same thing could have happened to Vassell. So far, he’s handled his larger role with open arms, and he’s thriving.

19.5 points ~ 46% FG ~ 57% TS ~ 2.7 OBPM

Tier 7: WHAT IS GOING ON?

#25 – Golden State Warriors

Record: (6-8)
Net Rating: -0.5 (20th)
Strength of Schedule: 23rd

Standout Player: Stephen Curry

The Warriors may have just sent James Wiseman to the G-League. Klay Thompson may be washed. Golden State may not have a bench unit. All of that doesn’t matter. Why? Well, because there’s this guy named Steph Curry.

The baby-faced assassin is the only reason the Warriors have their heads above water. As his veteran teammates decline around him, Curry remains one of the best players in the league. What more is there to be said? There hasn’t been a player like Curry in league history, and I’m willing to be there won’t be another one.

No player creates more chaos and space on offense. Defenses bend over backward to stop Curry, which usually leads to good looks for everybody else. That’s not happening right now, but that’s now Curry’s fault. After a rough regular season last year, Curry is again lighting the league on fire.

Until the Warriors get the wheels churning, Curry will have to be otherwordly for this team to succeed. Time and time again, Golden State has asked their golden boy to do this. I have no reason to believe he won’t do it again.

31.5 points ~ 6.6 rebounds ~ 6.4 assists ~ 52% FG ~ 43% 3-PT ~ 69% TS ~ 11.0 BPM

#26 – Los Angeles Lakers

Record: (3-10)
Net Rating: -6.0 (27th)
Strength of Schedule: 3rd

Standout Player: Nobody

The Lakers don’t have anybody doing anything out of the ordinary. Their season has been a slog. They’re one of the worst teams in the league, and I don’t see them getting better. And they’re about to gift-wrap the Pelicans a top pick because of the Anthony Davis trade a few years ago.

Fun.

Tier 8: Wembanyama Watch

#27 – Charlotte Hornets

Record: (4-11)
Net Rating: -5.4 (26th)
Strength of Schedule: 27th

Standout Player: Jalen McDaniels

Even with LaMelo Ball returning, the Hornets aren’t very good. With Miles Bridges out of the picture for the foreseeable future, Jalen McDaniels is Charlotte’s best young wing. This season, he’s looked really good, especially on defense.

McDaniels is playing more minutes than ever. He’s shooting a blistering 40% from downtown, which keeps him on the floor. The other thing that makes Steve Clifford, aka America’s most boring coach (followed closely by whoever coaches at a northeastern college), play McDaniels is his defensive prowess.

On a team that’s allergic to defense, McDaniels is one of their few plus defenders. With a 7-0 wingspan, Steve Clifford will hope to clone McDaniels 15 times if he wants a competent defense.

9.9 points ~ 5.0 rebounds ~ 40% 3-PT ~ 0.9 DBPM

#28 – Orlando Magic

Record: (4-10)
Net Rating: -2.2 (24th)
Strength of Schedule: 19th

Standout Player: Wendell Carter Jr.

Orlando is an endless vault of length and forward depth. It’s easy to focus on Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, or even Bol Bol. One player who doesn’t get enough credit is Wendell Carter. Carter is another young Bulls forward who has gone onto greener pastures elsewhere. How’s it going, Lauri?

This season, Carter has turned himself into a stretch big. He saw the writing on the wall. For him to get minutes, he knew he had to be able to space the floor. Someone had to make room for Paolo’s thundering drives down the lane.

Carter has not only diversified his offense without a floor general alongside him, but he remains an average defender. All in all, that contract extension Carter inked last season is looking like it was the right decision.

16.3 points ~ 9.1 rebounds ~ 51% FG ~ 37% 3-PT ~ 63% TS ~ 1.3 BPM

#29 – Houston Rockets

Record: (2-12)
Net Rating: -8.6 (29th)
Strength of Schedule: 4th

Standout Player: Alperen Sengun

There’s not a lot going right for the Rockets. As it turns out, relying on two isolation-centric guards to be your offense isn’t a great idea. Anyway, Alperen Sengun is one of the few good players on this team. The Turkish boy wonder earned a starting spot this season with the departure of Christian Wood.

So far, Sengun has been awesome. He’s scoring effectively in the paint, gobbling up offensive rebounds, and playing solid defense. Sengun has looked a lot more in control and poised offensively.

While he mainly serves as the de facto rebounder for Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr, Rockets fans have to be encouraged by what they’ve seen from the free throw whisperer this season.

16.1 points ~ 8.7 rebounds ~ 57% FG ~ 64% TS ~ 1.9 OBPM

#30 – Detroit Pistons

Record: (3-12)
Net Rating: -9.6 (30th)
Strength of Schedule: 6th

Standout Player: Bojan Bogdanovic

Bojan Bogdanovic was the only veteran Jazzman Danny Ainge decided to trade away. Bogdanovic didn’t have any expectations in Detroit. Most of the spotlight would be on Cunningham and Ivey in the backcourt.

As of right now, Bogdanovic has been a flame thrower. His play was so good that the Pistons immediately gave him a two-year extension. One look at his shooting numbers, and you’ll see why they did that.

Bogdanovic is shooting a ridiculous 42% from 3-PT land, and is averaging 20 points a night for just the second time in his career. I figured that the Pistons would try and trade the guy at the deadline for some value. Right now, even if they’re rebuilding, it looks like the Pistons may have found a reliable scorer to put next to their burdening young core. That sounds like a good deal to me.

20.1 points ~ 50% FG ~ 42% 3-PT ~ 66% TS ~ 3.4 OBPM

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