There’s a four-team race at the top of the Western Conference.
The Thunder, Timberwolves and Nuggets are tied right now for the best record in the West. The Clippers are just 1.5 games behind those three. There’s only one game in the loss column separating all of them.
If you’d have told me that we’d be here at the beginning of the season, I’d have probably laughed at you. Sure, the Nuggets make sense. And so do the Clippers in a sense. I could’ve talked myself into the Thunder. But the Timberwolves? Nah, man. Come on.
Yet, here we are. These are the four teams battling at the top of the conference. And it looks like the Thunder might have a beat on the other three.
Oklahoma City has already beaten the Nuggets twice, the Timberwolves twice and the Clippers once. By the end of the month, there’s a realistic chance the Thunder will have tiebreakers against Minnesota and Denver.
The No. 1 seed in the conference is seriously in play for Oklahoma City. This was a team we saw in the play-in last season. That’s pretty incredible. I guess this is what parity looks like in the NBA.
Anyway, let’s dive into the power rankings.
30
Washington Wizards
The Wizard lost to the Pistons and the Spurs all in the same month. This team deserves to be dead last.
29
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons! Detroit got another win over the Wizards. That’s the fourth one for the season. We’re cooking with gas now, folks.
28
San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama has managed to look extremely impressive over the last month and change. With that said, the Spurs just aren’t very good. That’s not a knock on him — it just is what it is.
27
Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers had one of the toughest losses to the Thunder that I’ve seen this season. Not only did the officials miss a timeout from Chauncey Billups, they also ejected the head coach in a pivotal moment that led to two OKC free throws and a game-winning shot.
Just a bad look all around. But probably exactly what you’d expect for a tanking Trail Blazers team.
26
Charlotte Hornets
With LaMelo Ball back in the lineup the Hornets are looking much more competitive — just ask the Timberwolves. This team still isn’t good, but it’s far from the worst in the league. Plus, Ball is developing a bit of chemistry with Brandon Miller. They look good together.
25
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors move in getting Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett on the roster is a good, long-term one. They’re two players who fit the Scottie Barnes timeline. But this team isn’t good right now. And it’d probably be better off selling high on a few more players to build a better future.
24
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies suffered a big blow by losing Ja Morant — again — this season. Desmond Bane is out for the next month and change now, too, after suffering an ankle injury. It’s got to be on to next season for Memphis. That’s the focus now.
23
Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets are in such a weird space. The team has no reason to sell and tank because it doesn’t have its own draft picks. Yet, at the same time, it’s clear that this team isn’t very good. Brooklyn has to find a way to shuffle some pieces around and get competitive again. Or maybe sell high on some players to get better draft capital from other teams around the league.
22
Atlanta Hawks
Every time you’re out on the Hawks, the team just finds a way to reel you back in. That’s what the two Dejounte Murray game-winning shots were last week — a way to reel us back in. But don’t get it twisted. This team still isn’t very good. Murray probably won’t be in Atlanta by the time the trade deadline arrives.
21
Golden State Warriors
There’s nothing to really say about the Warriors. Rest in peace, Deki.
READ MORE: The basketball world showed so much love to Warriors assistant Dejan Milojević after learning of his death.
20
Chicago Bulls
I don’t know what to make of the Bulls anymore. There are games like the one against the Grizzlies where Chicago just looks like a completely dominant playoff team. But against playoff teams, the Bulls will get absolutely destroyed like what happened in the team’s game against the Cavaliers. It’s maddening on a night-to-night basis. That’s why this will be a play-in team.
19
Houston Rockets
The Rockets have had a brutal schedule over the last four games. Houston has seen New York, Boston twice, and Philadelphia. The Rockets lost all four of those games with the team’s only win coming against the Jazz in a 127-126 win at home.
This is an operation doomed for the play-in tournament unless Houston becomes a major seller here in the next month or so.
18
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz are solid — the team is 6-4 over its last 10 games. But it feels like Utah needs to pick a direction. The team isn’t necessarily trying to compete right now, but it’s too good to outright tank with pieces like Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson still playing major minutes. It feels like a fire sale is around the corner.
17
Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James’ ankle injury adds more concern for the Lakers when the team’s season already felt like it was teetering on the edge of disaster.
LA is under .500 once again this year and if James’ ankle poses any long-term problems, the Lakers are going to be missing the key to unlocking what little offense the team already had. It’s a tough spot to be in.
16
Orlando Magic
The Magic are coming back down to Earth a bit from the hot start the team had. Orlando is 23-21 as the No. 8 seed in the East now. The sputtery offense is weighing down the team’s defense. Orlando needs to make a trade and find a more consistently efficient offensive answer at guard. Could Tyus Jones be in play? That’d be a nice move.
15
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks feel like a team that should be a lot better than it is. But between injuries to key players and just completely inconsistent play on the defensive end, the Mavs are only 24-19 and just dropped two straight to the Lakers and Celtics.
14
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers still aren’t healthy, but once Tyrese Haliburton can return to the team once and for all, the combination between he and Pascal Siakam is going to be formidable. Indiana should have some teams in the East pretty scared.
READ MORE: Pascal Siakam trade grades.
13
Sacramento Kings
After missing out on Pascal Siakam, it feels like the Kings are in a bit of a purgatory state. This team is really good — good enough to compete with some of the best in the conference on a night-to-night basis. But it’s hard to say this team has enough talent to beat the best in the conference in a single series.
12
Miami Heat
The Terry Rozier trade is going to make the Heat a lot better. Kyle Lowry’s offense has been non-existent in January. Rozier will be the third or fourth option for Miami, but he’ll still be able to hit shots. That’ll be so important for Miami in the long run.
READ MORE: Terry Rozier trade grades.
11
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are quietly the No. 5 seed in the West so far this season. New Orleans is one good winning streak away from moving up the standings in a serious way. This feels like a team that needs a good consolidation trade for a talent on the win.
10
New York Knicks
Speaking of teams on winning streaks, the Knicks are on one again, too. New York has four straight wins and OG Anunoby is fitting in like a glove. Even with Isaiah Hartenstein out the Knicks’ center rotation has held steady behind solid play from Precious Achiuwa. This is just a really good team right now, folks.
9
Phoenix Suns
The Suns are getting hotter and hotter by the team — pun intended. Seriously, though, the team has won six games in a row with Kevin Durant looking like an MVP candidate. Well, you know, if Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic didn’t exist.
8
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the hottest team in the NBA right now. The team’s eight-game winning streak is the longest in the NBA at the moment and the Cavs are doing it without Darius Garland and Evan Mobley in the lineup. Donovan Mitchell deserves some All-Star starter consideration.
7
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks completely broke the NBA this week. In a 24 hour span, the team fired one coach and hired another one — all amid a 30-13 run as the No. 2 seed in the East. I guess that’s what two close games against the Pistons will do to you.
RELATED: Anything less than a championship is a failure for the Bucks.
6
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves are still in a great spot despite the extremely weird week the team is having so far. Karl-Anthony Towns managed to get benched during one of the most electrifying scoring performances we’ll probably see all year long. The team also lost to the Hornets.
We’ll see how things go for the Wolves from here, but Minnesota is still in good position.
5
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have been the best team in the NBA since Russell Westbrook made the move to the bench in November. After such a sluggish start to the James Harden era, the Clippers are right there at the top of the conference as the No. 4 seed. But don’t get it twisted — the No. 1 seed is only 1.5 games away.
4
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are tied atop the west with the Thunder and the Timberwolves for first place. It was at about this time last season that the Nuggets kicked things into high gear heading into the All-Star break and built a lead on their quest for the No. 1 seed. We could see that again this year, but OKC and Minnesota are standing in the way.
3
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers are rolling again and Joel Embiid looks as good as he ever has. This team has won six straight games and — aside from a Nuggets rematch — there’s a pretty easy schedule ahead of it for the next week or so.
RELATED: Joel Embiid has probably already locked up the NBA’s MVP award.
2
Oklahoma City Thunder
As I said in the preamble above, the Thunder are in prime position to win the west. Obviously, it’s only still January. A lot can change between now and April, but the Thunder should finish in a great position.
1
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are still the creme of the crop in the NBA. This team just seems to have it every single night no matter who is in or out. The Celtics are just the league’s dominant team — even after a tough loss to the Nuggets.
