11. Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic remains one of the NBA's most perplexing stars. Case in point? His last nine games. Denver had a four-game stretch in which Jokic averaged just 4.5 FG attempts per game while scoring in single digits each game. In the five games since? 16.2 FG attempts per game while averaging 21.6 points per game. In some ways, he's the perfect microcosm for a team that struggles to consistently play to their talent.
12. Boston Celtics
The Celtics simply are not playing very well right now. A month into the season and they're still searching for answers as the offence can't seem to find firm footing as they rank just 27th in offensive rating, sandwiched between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns who are a combined 5-24. There's simply too much scoring talent for the Celtics to be keeping that type of company.
And yet despite what's been an unsteady start, the Celtics rose to the occasion in a thrilling overtime win over the Raptors in a game that Kyrie Irving scored or assisted on 15 of Boston's 16 made field goals in the fourth quarter and overtime. That game served as a reminder that even though Boston's depth is touted as a primary reason to like their chances of making serious noise into June, it's Irving that can ultimately push the Celtics over the top in the biggest moments.
13. New Orleans Pelicans
14. Houston Rockets
Somewhat overshadowed by the abrupt end of the Carmelo Anthony era in Houston is the fact that the Rockets look to be getting back to themselves after a sluggish start. Four straight wins by an average of 15.8 points per game has the Rockets on the right side of .500 heading into a stretch of four games in six days against Eastern Conference teams. Chris Paul has averaged 20.3 points per game on 59% shooting during the win streak which should help calm some nerves for Rockets fans after CP3 shot just 39% this season prior to this stretch.
15. Utah Jazz
16. San Antonio Spurs
17. Detroit Pistons
18. Charlotte Hornets
Kemba Walker set a franchise scoring record in the OT loss to the 76ers (their second OT loss to the 76ers in a span of eight days) and became just the 26th player in NBA history to score 60 points in a single game.
The Hornets are one of the most confounding teams to begin the season as they have a losing record yet have the point differential of 10-5 team. This is a team that in the last two weeks has beat the Cavaliers by 32 and lost to the Cavaliers by 24.
19. Sacramento Kings
20. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks are in the midst of an impressive four-game win streak that includes win over the Thunder, Bulls, Jazz and Warriors. In the 15th game of his career, Luka Doncic scored a team-high 24 points and was plus-18 in the win over Golden State. How impressive has he been to this point? The last two players to match or exceed Doncic's points, rebounds and assists through 15 career games? Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson.
21. Orlando Magic
22. Minnesota Timberwolves
23. Brooklyn Nets
24. Miami Heat
25. Washington Wizards
26. New York Knicks
27. Phoenix Suns
28. Chicago Bulls
29. Atlanta Hawks
It was a rough week for Trae Young and the Hawks who went 0-3 including a 45-point drubbing in Denver. Young is in the midst of a shooting slump as he went 0-14 from beyond the arc last week.
30. Cleveland Cavaliers