NBA Power Rankings Update: The Los Angeles Clippers Don't Need a Star to Get Things Done
Teams Ranked 10th to 1st
The Philadelphia 76ers make an appearance in the top-10, the Los Angeles Clippers take a leap, and the Golden State Warriors continue to slide.
| Ranking | Team | Record | nERD | Last Ranking | Plus/Minus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Philadelphia 76ers | 15-8 | 55.2 | 13 | 3 |
| 9 | Boston Celtics | 11-10 | 58.8 | 10 | 1 |
| 8 | Indiana Pacers | 13-9 | 60.1 | 7 | -1 |
| 7 | Charlotte Hornets | 11-10 | 62.1 | 8 | 1 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Clippers | 15-6 | 62.3 | 9 | 3 |
| 5 | Golden State Warriors | 15-8 | 64.5 | 4 | -1 |
| 4 | Denver Nuggets | 14-7 | 67.7 | 5 | 1 |
| 3 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 13-7 | 69.2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | Toronto Raptors | 19-4 | 73.8 | 2 | 0 |
| 1 | Milwaukee Bucks | 15-6 | 76.4 | 1 | 0 |
Risers
The Philadelphia 76ers have won six of their last seven games, earning them a spot in our top-10 for the first time since the second week of the 2018-19 season. Since the Jimmy Butler trade, the Sixers have gone 6-2, while the Minnesota Timberwolves have gone 7-2. Talk about a win-win deal.
The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now. They've won nine of their last 10 contests, putting them in first place in the Western Conference with a record of 15-6. Their fifth-ranked margin of victory (5.29) makes them seem legit, and they're doing it all without a traditional star player to lead the pack.
Fallers
The Indiana Pacers have lost three of their last five, causing them to slip ever so slightly in our rankings. They still sit fifth in the Eastern Conference with a respectable record of 13-9, however, and their eighth-ranked margin of victory (3.73) and fourth-ranked defensive rating (104.9) make it clear that they deserve to be a regular staple in our top-10.
The Golden State Warriors -- the team that has dominated the top of our power rankings for years -- slip another spot to fifth this week. After starting the season 10-1, they've lost seven of their last 12, putting them at 15-8 and third in the Western Conference. They're on the verge of getting back Stephen Curry (groin), however, and Draymond Green (toe) shouldn't be too far behind, so their current slump might not last much longer. We still give the Dubs a league-leading 26.6% chance of winning their third consecutive championship this year, so don't go counting them out based on this recent lull or anything.
