NBA power rankings, rating the entire league from top to bottom. Our NBA power rankings are based mostly on how good teams really are, with recent performances taken into partial consideration. Updated regularly during the regular season, InsideHoops.com's NBA power rankings focus on the big, season-long picture. Enjoy them.
MINI NBA POWER RANKINGS: JAN. 18, 2012 Records are 2011-12 regular season wins-losses
This is a shorter version of our NBA power rankings. Full update for the entire league soon. But for now, here's who stands at the top:
1) Oklahoma City (12-2) - Kevin Durant is the InsideHoops.com pick for NBA MVP so far.
2) Chicago (13-3) - The Bulls keep doing it with defense.
3) Miami (9-4) - Been playing without Dwyane Wade.
4) Orlando (10-3) - Dwight Howard still wants to leave. He's thinking about the future, though.
5) Philadelphia (10-3) - Coach Doug Collins would be the InsideHoops pick for Coach of Year right now.
6) LA Lakers (10-5) - Andrew Bynum is having a career year so far.
7) Indiana (9-3) - Danny Granger has shot bricks, but the Pacers are balanced and deep.
8) Atlanta (10-4) - Doing just fine without center Al Horford, so far.
9) Portland (8-5) - Always solid and playing well as expected.
10) Utah (9-4) - Shocking the world, though no one takes them seriously yet.
11) Dallas (8-6) - The current NBA champs are slowly coming back to life.
12) LA Clippers (7-4) - Not amazing, but a good team and plenty of fun.
13) San Antonio (9-5) - Doing fine without Manu Ginobili, though it may not last.
14) Denver (9-5) - Nice balanced team getting contributions from all angles.
15) Houston (7-7) - Steadily improving each week, and looking good lately.
BOTTOM FIVE:
26) Toronto (4-10) - As expected, the Raptors struggles continue.
27) Detroit (3-11) - At least no home fans are actually seeing them lose.
28) Charlotte (3-12) - Fun to watch, even though they lose.
29) New Jersey (3-11) - Hurting without center Brook Lopez.
30) Washington (1-12) - Playing like an uncoached streetball squad so far.
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NBA POWER RANKINGS UPDATED JAN. 9, 2012 Records are 2011-12 regular season wins-losses
1) Miami Heat (8-1) - Leading the league with 108.33 PPG on a league-best 50.2% FG, this is the team to beat.
2) Chicago Bulls (7-2) - A fantastic defense and fantastic coach, and MVP Derrick Rose, means success.
3) Oklahoma City Thunder (8-2) - Outscoring opponents by just 3.4 ppg so far, Kevin Durant's thunder are still rising.
4) Portland Trail Blazers (6-2) - Defending the perimeter like crazy.
5) San Antonio Spurs (6-3) - The loss of Manu Ginobili should have an effect, soon. Great outside shooting early on.
6) Denver Nuggets (6-3) - Scoring 104 ppg (second best in league) on 48.3% FG (also second best), the Nuggets are balanced and dangerous.
7) Philadelphia 76ers (5-2) - Scoring 106.9 ppg (third best in league) while holding opponents to just 85.6 ppg. Very good defense so far. Philly is hot early.
8) Atlanta Hawks (6-3) - The usual for the Hawks: Pretty good, but we're waiting to see great. Nailing threes early on.
9) LA Lakers (6-4) - Kobe Bryant keeps chugging. Good start for Andrew Bynum. Lakers defense has opponents missing. Looking good but not great. Bricking threes.
10) Indiana Pacers (6-2) - Show style holds opponents to just 89.3 ppg. Squeezing out wins and barely outscoring opponents, though.
11) Orlando Magic (6-3) - Dwight Howard wants to be traded. It will probably happen around trade deadline time. As for now, Ryan Anderson has shined early.
12) Boston Celtics (4-4) - Weird stuff early as Celtics defense has been lacking, while offense is clicking. Barely missing threes early.
13) LA Clippers (4-2) - No surprise here: Chris Paul is making it easier for everybody to score. Barely missing their 2-point shots, bricking their threes.
14) Dallas Mavericks (4-5) - The champs are shooting just 41.4% FG and look like chumps early. Perimeter defense has been terrible.
15) Memphis Grizzlies (3-5) - Totally bricking from 3-point range in dramatic fashion: Just 20% 3FG so far. Lousy playmaking early.
16) New York Knicks (4-4) - OK start but frontcourt do it as individuals, and backcourt is lacking.
17) Utah Jazz (5-3) - Solid start, especially with team shooting just 26.5% from 3-point range.
18) Phoenix Suns (4-4) - Marcin Gortat leading team at just 12.3 ppg.
19) Milwaukee Bucks (2-6) - Need more from Stephen Jackson and Mike Dunleavy here, especially since Brandon Jennings is showing his limitations.
20) Minnesota Timberwolves (3-5) - Playing pretty well so far. Ricky Rubio has been solid for a rookie.
21) Houston Rockets (2-6) - Defense is a concern here.
22) New Orleans Hornets (2-6) - Eric Gordon has played just two games so far. He'll help when healthy. And just 8.5 PPG from Emeka Okafor isn't cutting it.
23) Cleveland Cavaliers (4-4) - Antawn Jamison, rookie Kyrie Irving, Ramon Sessions, and Anderson Varejao's hustle have Cavs playing decently.
24) Toronto Raptors (3-5) - Defense has actually been good so far. Opponents are missing shots against the Raptors. Decent coaching job early.
25) Golden State Warriors (2-6) - Monta Ellis is shooting bricks. Stephen Curry has an ankle issue, and David Lee is only frontcourt talent here.
26) Sacramento Kings (3-6) - Opponents score easily against the Kings, who are shooting bricks. Not the best combination. Need playmaker. Fired coach Paul Westphal.
27) Charlotte Bobcats (2-6) - Giving up 105.8 ppg, highest in the league.
28) Detroit Pistons (2-6) - Scoring a league-worst 84.3 ppg.
29) New Jersey Nets (2-7) - Playing without Brook Lopez leaves Deron Williams with little help on the floor. Nets are shooting bricks, hitting a league-worst 38.1% FG and aren't defending the perimeter at all.
30) Washington Wizards (0-8) - A roster of flawed players with limited basketball smarts. Coach Flip Saunders is on the hot seat. Can't shoot, not dishing assists.
