The latest rankings in the NBA show the continued success of the Nuggets and Jamal Murray, as well as the consistent performance of Ingram’s Pelicans.
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
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The teams included are LAC, LAL, MEM, MIA, MIL, and MIN.
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
Portland | Sacramento | San Antonio | Toronto | Utah | Washington5. Milwaukee Bucks
2023-24 record: 28-12
Upcoming matchups: at Detroit on January 17th, versus Memphis on January 18th, versus Oklahoma City on January 20th, and versus Charlotte on January 22nd.21. Golden State Warriors
2023-24 record: 18-22
The standout event from Sacramento this week was Mike Brown’s popular computer incident, which became a widely shared meme online and drew attention to the Kings. As the season reaches its halfway point, it’s clear that Sacramento is not dominating the Western Conference as it did last year. However, the Kings are currently in a strong position, ranked fifth in the West, and have a promising future with De’Aaron Fox (averaging 27.8 points per game) and Domantas Sabonis (leading the league with 12.7 rebounds per game) at the helm.Previous ranking: 26
The best plays of the week for the Cavs were highlighted by Mitchell’s Eurostep in Paris.
As we near the midpoint of the 2023-24 NBA season, all teams in the league are reassessing their needs for the upcoming month leading up to the trade deadline on February 8th at 3 p.m. ET.
Upcoming matches: against Miami on January 17th, against Chicago on January 18th, at New York on January 20th, and against Memphis on January 22nd.29. Washington Wizards
2023-24 record: 7-32
The top plays of the week for the Wolves were led by KAT’s powerful slam dunk.
The Milwaukee Bucks will face the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m.
The Mavericks will face off against the Lakers at 8:30 p.m. on ABC.
24. Toronto Raptors
2023-24 record: 15-25
Previous rankings: Post-Finals | Nov. 1 | Nov. 8 | Nov. 15 | Nov. 22 | Nov. 29 | Dec. 6 | Dec. 13 | Dec. 20 | Dec. 27 | Jan. 3 | Jan. 10
LeBron James has been an effective defender this season, with opposing players only shooting 40.8% when he is guarding them. This places him second in the league, right behind Jaden McDaniels (with a minimum of 250 possessions). Although some of the players he has guarded may not be top offensive threats, he has also faced strong opponents like Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler. According to ESPN Stats & Information, these two players are among the top 10 that James has guarded this season. His defensive skills will be crucial in balancing out the current offense-focused starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jalen Suggs has had a significant influence on the defensive end, but his offensive skills should not be overlooked. He has already made 73 3-pointers, surpassing his totals from his first two years, and has shown great improvement in his shooting percentages. As a rookie, he only shot 21.4% from 3, which was the second-worst among players with at least 150 attempts in a season, but this season he has improved to 38.6%.
Upcoming matches: Sacramento (Jan. 18), Portland (Jan. 19), Phoenix (Jan. 21), against Denver (Jan. 23)
2023-24 record: 10-29
2023-24 record: 8-29play
Upcoming matches: against Golden State on January 17th, against Oklahoma City on January 18th, at Houston on January 20th, and at New Orleans on January 23rd.play Check out the top performances by the LA Clippers in the previous week, featuring standout moments from Kawhi Leonard. Victor Wembanyama’s transition to center seems to be proving successful for the up-and-coming Spurs team. In the last 15 games, where Wembanyama has been starting as center, he has become the second rookie ever to achieve 300 points, 150 rebounds, 50 blocks, and 50 assists in a 15-game span since the official recording of blocks began in 1973-74. The only other rookie to accomplish this feat? Tim Duncan, a legendary big man inducted into the Spurs Hall of Fame. Previous ranking: 20 The Grizzlies have faced significant injuries to four of their starters, including Steven Adams and Ja Morant for the remainder of the season. This has given them the chance to find positives in the situation, such as the impressive performance of rookie GG Jackson. Despite being just 19 years old and on a two-way contract, Jackson has made the most of his opportunity for real NBA playing time. In the team’s recent games, he scored 20 points with 6 rebounds and 2 blocks against the Knicks and followed it up with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks in their win against the Warriors. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Jackson is the second-youngest player in NBA history to achieve back-to-back 20-point games, with only LeBron James ahead of him. Upcoming matches: Toronto (Jan. 18), Memphis (Jan. 20), Phoenix (Jan. 22) Previous ranking: 23 Jalen Williams, a forward in his second year, has been making significant strides as a playmaker. This demonstrates the growth of the Thunder’s youthful and central players as they vie for the top position in the Western Conference rankings. In the last 10 games leading up to Tuesday’s game against the Clippers, Williams averaged 6.0 assists, with a personal best of 12 assists during a victory against the Heat. Prior to this stretch, he had only achieved six or more assists in four games this season. – MacMahon 9. Miami Heat Pelicans’ newcomer Jordan Hawkins, who had been given significant game time due to injuries at the start of the season, was left on the bench when the team’s players recovered. However, his impressive 34-point performance in Saturday’s victory against Dallas earned him a spot back in the rotation, displacing guard Jose Alvarado. With a record-breaking 21 consecutive games with a 3-pointer, Hawkins has proven himself to be a valuable offensive player for the Pelicans’ reserve team. Upcoming matches: Portland Trail Blazers on January 17th, Los Angeles Lakers on January 19th, Los Angeles Clippers on January 21st, and New York Knicks on January 23rd. Newest updates and information
Gain entry to unique and original shows, top-quality articles from our NBA experts, the complete 30 for 30 collection, and additional perks. Join now to access all of ESPN+’s features.Previous ranking: 27 Previous ranking: 21 Switch to a different team: Tim Hardaway Jr., who is in the running for Sixth Man of the Year, has been performing exceptionally well as a temporary starter for the Mavericks. He has helped the team win two out of three games while Luka Doncic recovers from a sprained right ankle. In those three games, Hardaway has averaged 32.3 points with a shooting percentage of .483/.500/.913. Along with Kyrie Irving’s impressive performance of 34.3 points per game during the Mavericks’ recent 5-2 homestand, they became only the second Dallas duo to each score at least 40 points in a game, with the first being Doncic and Irving in March of last season. Previous ranking: 22 The Knicks suffered a disappointing defeat against Orlando on Monday. They had a chance to win without Jalen Brunson for the second game in a row, but they struggled in the fourth quarter and only scored 16 points. However, there is some good news as they will be playing at home for the next two weeks and will only have one game outside of the Eastern time zone until the All-Star break, which is on February 12th in Houston. This information was shared by Bontemps. Toronto has experienced four consecutive losses, however, the recently acquired duo of Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett have adjusted smoothly to their new team. They have been averaging 18.9 and 19.9 points per game, respectively, and both have impressive 3-point shooting percentages above 40% in their first eight games with the Raptors. While there is still more progress to be made, the new players are integrating well with Scottie Barnes and meeting Toronto’s expectations. The best plays from the Clippers this week. Upcoming matches: against Orlando on January 17th, at Miami on January 19th, against Cleveland on January 20th, and at Sacramento on January 22nd. The Wolves continue to lead the Western Conference, having faced two challenges last week including a defeat in overtime against Boston and a victory against the rising Clippers. With the best defense in the NBA, Minnesota has kept their opponents under 100 points in 12 games, the most in the league (11-1). Their upcoming games against Detroit and Memphis, who are both in the bottom five for offense, should provide favorable matchups before facing off against second-ranked Western conference rival, Oklahoma City, on Saturday. On Tuesday night, Joel Embiid’s impressive streak of scoring at least 30 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 16 consecutive games was broken during his matchup against Nikola Jokic. However, Embiid’s exceptional skills were still on display as he recorded a remarkable 41 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists against his fellow MVP contender. The Philadelphia team has a record of 23-6 when Embiid is playing this season, as they secured a victory over the Denver Nuggets. — Bontemps Brooklyn is not having a great time. They recently lost an overtime game to the Trail Blazers and then lost again in Paris to the Cavs. Upon their return, they lost another overtime game to the Heat, bringing their total losses to eight out of their last nine games. Despite this, they are currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference and are competing for the final play-in spot. However, this is more a reflection of the weaker teams in the East rather than the Nets’ performance. Previous ranking: 3 22. Brooklyn Nets 7. LA Clippers Do you recall when Darius Garland (jaw) and Evan Mobley (knee) were both injured a month ago and there was tension building in Cleveland? Surprisingly, the Cavaliers have not only managed to survive without Garland, but they have also excelled, winning 10 out of 13 games since his absence. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has mentioned that Garland will be returning soon, raising the question of whether Donovan Mitchell, who has been averaging 28.8 points and six assists during the team’s five-game winning streak, can maintain his impressive performance once the All-Star guard is back on the court. 10. Cleveland Cavaliers play Upcoming matches: against Dallas on January 17th, against Brooklyn on January 19th, against Portland on January 21st, and at Los Angeles Clippers on January 23rd.11. New Orleans Pelicans 15. Phoenix Suns In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers are steadily moving up in the standings and eagerly await the return of guard Darius Garland, who has been sidelined since December. The Miami Heat are also looking to make their usual second-half push, led by star forward Jimmy Butler. Before Tuesday’s game against Sacramento, the Suns had won their previous three games with three different players scoring at least 30 points in each game. Grayson Allen scored 31 points against the Heat, Bradley Beal scored 37 points against the Lakers, and Devin Booker scored 34 points against the Blazers. However, despite Kevin Durant scoring 30 or more points in seven out of eight games this season, the Suns have a record of 7-8 in those games. This does not indicate a deficiency in Durant’s performance. He has played the most games for the team and has not had enough support from his teammates on the court. – McMenamin On Monday, the Pistons won against the Wizards in their home game, breaking a seven-game losing streak and an 18-game losing streak on the road. This impressive win was achieved without key players Cade Cunningham, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Monte Morris. Alec Burks, coming off the bench, scored a remarkable 34 points, while Jalen Duren contributed 20 points and 19 rebounds to secure Detroit’s fourth win of the season. However, the team’s upcoming schedule poses a challenge as they are set to face the top-ranked Western Conference team, the Timberwolves, this week followed by a back-to-back game against the Bucks. The Pacers continue to depend on their high-ranking offense, which has an average of 121.6 points per 100 possessions. However, opponents have been able to find success against them by slowing down their offense even just a bit. This season, Indiana has not won any games when scoring 110 points or less. Currently in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, just above the improving Knicks, the Pacers are working hard to maintain their spot in playoff contention. After losing two games in a row, the Pacers are now on a trip to the West Coast, where they will face Sacramento, Portland and Phoenix to complete a six-game series on the road. Upcoming matches: against Houston (January 17), against Washington (January 18), against Toronto (January 20), at Brooklyn (January 23). Dame Time takes the top spot in the Bucks’ top plays of the week. Upcoming matches: against Golden State on January 10th, against Denver on January 12th, against Dallas on January 13th, and against Dallas again on January 15th. Despite the return of Draymond Green from his suspension, the Golden State Warriors are still facing concerns. Their latest loss to the undermanned Grizzlies adds to a growing list of disappointing performances this season. It’s becoming increasingly challenging to pinpoint the root of their problems and find a solution. Green has acknowledged a lack of personal pride among the team, and he believes it will continue to hinder their success unless it is addressed. As the season reaches its midpoint, the Warriors are still searching for a clear plan to overcome their struggles. The Washington Wizards made a trade with the Detroit Pistons, acquiring Marvin Bagley III, Isaiah Livers, and two future second-round picks in exchange for Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala. Instead of waiting until the trade deadline, the Wizards acted early to add these assets to their roster. While they did take on Bagley’s .5 million contract for 2024-25, they also gained two more second-round picks to add to their collection. Bagley, who is only 24 years old, may be able to live up to his potential as the No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft and provide much-needed depth at the center position.17. Utah Jazz Upcoming matches: Atlanta Hawks on January 17th, Philadelphia 76ers on January 19th, Miami Heat on January 21st, Cleveland Cavaliers on January 22nd. 18. Houston Rockets Although the focus was on the recent matchup between Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic and its potential impact on the MVP race, Jokic would have preferred to trade his 25 points and 19 rebounds for a victory against the Sixers. In their first game of the season, Embiid and the Sixers came out on top against Denver on Tuesday. Jokic will need to help the Nuggets get back on track as they travel to face Boston, Washington, Indiana, and New York before returning home for a rematch with the Sixers. 25. Memphis Grizzlies The Blazers suffered defeats in all three of their games this week, with an average margin of 32 points. On Thursday, they faced a devastating 62-point loss against the Thunder. Despite showing signs of progress, such as a 3-3 record in a six-game period in late December, Portland struggles to maintain momentum and has a 1-7 record in their last eight games. Moving forward, the biggest challenge for Portland, especially this season, is achieving consistency. – Andrews Upcoming matches: against Brooklyn on January 17th, against Indiana on January 19th, at Los Angeles Lakers on January 21st, at Oklahoma City on January 23rd. Previous ranking: 24 Please be advised that during the regular season, our group (Kendra Andrews, Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, and Ohm Youngmisuk) will be evaluating and ranking all 30 teams in order of performance, assessing which teams are excelling on the court and have potential to become title contenders. Friday The Boston Celtics will face off against the Denver Nuggets at 7:30 p.m. The Mavericks will face off against the Warriors at 10 p.m. Upcoming matches: at New Orleans (January 17), versus San Antonio (January 19), versus Philadelphia (January 20), at Minnesota (January 22). The Bucks have recovered from a short losing streak at the beginning of the month and have won three games in a row. This includes a dominant win against the Celtics and a last-second shot by Damian Lillard to beat the Kings. Lillard now has four game-winning shots at the buzzer in his career, with only LeBron James having more among current players with seven. Up next for Milwaukee is a highly anticipated match against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are on a winning streak, on Wednesday night. They will then travel to Detroit for two games. Take a look at the best highlights from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the last week. 13. Indiana Pacers The Rockets’ defense, which had shown significant improvement, has now declined and is allowing an average of 118.9 points per 100 possessions. As a result, Houston has lost eight out of their last 12 games and their record has fallen below .500. This decline began on the night when defensive specialist Dillon Brooks, who was acquired in free agency, suffered an oblique injury and was unable to play for the following nine games. However, even with Brooks’ return over the weekend, the Rockets’ defensive struggles continued. In his first two games back, losses to the Celtics and 76ers, the team had a 131.9 defensive rating. Experience the top performances of the week from the Heat, featuring Bam Adebayo flaunting his complete repertoire of slam dunks. Karl-Anthony Towns had an impressive dunk against the Magic, adding to the list of Timberwolves’ powerful slam dunks in the past week. Since December 21st, the Utah Jazz have achieved the best record in the NBA, with a 12-2 record during that time. They are currently on a six-game winning streak, which is the longest since head coach Will Hardy’s second year. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Jazz have set a new franchise record by scoring at least 130 points in the last three games. During this winning streak, Lauri Markkanen has averaged 27.2 points, Collin Sexton 23.3 points, and Jordan Clarkson 20.8 points. Previous ranking: 12 We are only 23 days away from the deadline. There are many questions surrounding the Phoenix Suns. Can the Pistons win their fifth game? Will any team defeat the Celtics? Let’s examine this week’s rankings. After being out for six games due to a foot injury, Zach LaVine, a guard for the Bulls, has seamlessly integrated into the team’s offensive strategy. During this time, the Bulls have won four out of six games and LaVine’s stats include an average of 16.8 points, 5.7 assists, and 6.5 rebounds with a shooting percentage of 49%. This performance has only added to his already high value in the trade market leading up to the deadline. — Collier Take a look at the best moments from the Milwaukee Bucks, including a smooth game-winning overtime shot by Damian Lillard. The Hawks’ win against the Spurs on Monday prevented them from dropping further on a list of teams with poor performance. By securing a 109-99 victory, it was the first time this season that they kept their opponent’s score below 100 points. Prior to this, Atlanta had allowed their opponents to score at least 100 points in 108 consecutive games, tying with the 1961-62 Warriors for the fourth-longest streak in NBA history. This puts them behind the 1959-62 Knicks (190), 1981-82 Nuggets (136), and 1967-69 Rockets (115). The team is now faced with a decision: should they end the partnership between Dejounte Murray and Trae Young? If not, they will have to continue fighting to stay in the play-in tournament. Recently, the Clippers appeared to have overcome their struggles with injuries, but Ivica Zubac suffered a calf injury and will be sidelined for at least a month. Luckily, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden are still healthy (knock on wood), but the team will feel the absence of their starting center. Zubac had been playing exceptionally well, averaging 12.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, and was a strong contributor in pick-and-rolls and in the post. With him out, Mason Plumlee and Daniel Theis will need to step up and anchor the inside. Previous ranking: 11 After being out for six weeks due to an ankle injury, LaMelo Ball has returned to the court. However, the main point guard for the team has not yet been able to lead the Hornets to a win. In all fairness, with a record of 8-29, it has been a struggle for most players. In his first game back against San Antonio, Ball had 28 points and five steals. He followed it up with another strong performance of 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three steals against Miami. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, Charlotte has suffered five consecutive losses and has only won one out of their last 17 games. Miami’s defense has improved recently, returning to its high-performing level. In December, they allowed an unusual 116.0 points per 100 possessions, but now they have become the third team this season to hold their opponent to under 100 points in three consecutive games. In their most recent game against Brooklyn on Monday, they won 96-95 in overtime. Since January 1st, the Heat have only allowed 108.8 points per 100 possessions, making them the third-best defensive team in the league. — Lopez 1. Boston Celtics Upcoming matches: playing against Boston on January 17th, Charlotte on January 19th, Washington on January 20th, and Philadelphia on January 22nd. The traditional powerhouses of the Western Conference are still facing difficulties and uncertainty. Despite the comeback of Draymond Green, the Golden State Warriors are still declining. The Los Angeles Lakers, with a fully recovered LeBron James and Anthony Davis, are in dire need of a spark to improve their record, which has fallen below .500. The Miami Heat’s best plays of the week included multiple impressive dunks. • Scores: Significant issues that all teams must address • Windhorst: Gaps in team rosters for top contenders. • Experiment with your trade on the NBA trade simulator. Boston is currently leading the league with the best record and net rating (9.8) this season. But things could potentially improve even further. Based on ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, Boston has been assigned the second-most manageable schedule for the rest of the season, and the easiest among all Eastern Conference teams. It would be quite a feat for Boston to not end the season with the top record in the league. — BontempsPrevious ranking: 14 Upcoming matches: against San Antonio on January 17th, against Denver on January 19th, at Houston on January 21st, at Dallas on January 22nd.Previous ranking: 18
2023-24 record: 22-18
2023-24 record: 24-16
2023-24 record: 7-32
2023-24 record: 19-238. Philadelphia 76ers
2023-24 record: 26-13
2023-24 record: 16-23
2023-24 record: 27-13
2023-24 record: 26-1423. Atlanta Hawks
2023-24 record: 16-23
2023-24 record: 23-15
2023-24 record: 24-17
2023-24 record: 22-186. Dallas Mavericks
2023-24 record: 24-17
2023-24 record: 22-20
2023-24 record: 19-20
2023-24 record: 4-36
2023-24 record: 15-25
2023-24 record: 20-21
2023-24 record: 23-17
2023-24 record: 28-14
2023-24 record: 23-17
2023-24 record: 31-9
2023-24 record: 23-17
2023-24 record: 28-11
Should the Cavaliers consider trading Mitchell?
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Tissot t-Sport PRC 200 NBA Special Edition Silver Men’s Watch – Swiss Quartz, 42mm Case, Stainless Steel Bracelet – Authentic with Box and Paper Included
Brand: Tissot Model: t-Sport prc 200 NBA special edition Gender: Male Movement: Swiss Quartz Case shape: Round Case size: 42mm Case Thickness: 12.5mm Case Material: Stainless Steel Case Color: Silver…
The post Tissot t-Sport PRC 200 NBA Special Edition Silver Men’s Watch – Swiss Quartz, 42mm Case, Stainless Steel Bracelet – Authentic with Box and Paper Included appeared first on 247sports News.
