NBA Power Rankings: Grizzlies rise; Wolves tumble; plus the perfect gift for all 30 teams

If there are 12 days of Christmas, where does that leave us right now?

For everyone doing last-minute holiday shopping, I present to you some last-minute Power Rankings. It’s the time of the year when you want to get something for someone without being told, “You shouldn’t have.”

Last week, we looked at individual players who could be sensible outgoing trade candidates for each team. But every team would appreciate something under its tree or in its stocking or in its workroom inbox. Happy holidays to all.

A reminder: These Power Rankings won’t just rank every team. We will retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers every week:

• Top Contenders – Locked at five, these are the class of the league
• In a Good Place – Could be one team, could be seven teams.
• The Bubble – Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack.
• Not the Tier to Fear – Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do.
• Basement Floor – Bringing up the rear.

Let it snow (but not too much to cancel flights), and let us get into Week 9 of The Athletic’s NBA Power Rankings. Win/loss records are through Monday’s games; statistics are through Sunday.

Tier 1: Top Contenders

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (26-4)

Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W vs. MIL, W vs. PHI, W vs. UTA
Offensive rating: 121.0 (first)
Defensive rating: 109.7 (ninth)

Gift: Windex

Cleveland has made it to the best record in the league through 30 games. And all the Cavs really could use is some better work on the glass, as they rank only 19th in rebound percentage. This is a team with high-minute small guards and not a lot in the way of athletic size off the bench. But we’re nitpicking here.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-5)

Last ranking: 3
In the last week: W at ORL, W at MIA, W vs. WAS
Offensive rating: 114.8 (seventh)
Defensive rating: 102.9 (first)

Gift: Extra strength Windex

The two best teams in the league aren’t exactly the torchbearers of 1980s Pat Riley’s “no rebounds, no rings” motto. Only the Wizards and Nets are worse in rebound percentage than the Western Conference’s top team, the Thunder. But Isaiah Hartenstein is thriving, Jaylin Williams just came back, and Chet Holmgren is at least dressing up like Santa. That counts as progress.

Dressed as “Santa Chet” – Holmgren hosted a holiday party filled with food, crafts, games, and more for nine foster families from Citizens Caring for Children. pic.twitter.com/GhuV7YvrOz

— Andrew Schlecht (@AndrewKSchlecht) December 22, 2024

3. Boston Celtics (22-7)

Last ranking: 2
In the last week: L vs. CHI, W at CHI, L at ORL
Offensive rating: 118.9 (third)
Defensive rating: 109.3 (seventh)

Gift: “The Town”

Who are we kidding? Joe Mazzulla is probably already watching this movie right this minute.

4. Memphis Grizzlies (20-10)

Last ranking: 5
In the last week: W vs. GS, W at ATL, L vs. LAC
Offensive rating: 116.5 (fifth)
Defensive rating: 107.6 (fourth)

Gift: Herbal sleep elixir

The Grizzlies look like the most well-rounded bears in the NBA. They’re the only team with a top-five offense and defense. But they need to calm down sometimes. They rank 27th in turnover percentage, 26th in opponent free-throw attempt rate and 23rd in defensive rebound percentage. Memphis is fast and aggressive, but it could benefit from some relaxation.

5. Houston Rockets (20-9)

Last ranking: 6
In the last week: W vs. NO, W at TOR, W at CHA
Offensive rating: 112.2 (13th)
Defensive rating: 105.4 (second)

Gift: Flat iron

Whatever can inspire this team to keep things straight, Houston should be all for. And many of these players have great hair, so perhaps a flat iron could have intended uses too. But this gift is for a team that has struggled to keep its shots straight and on target, ranking in the bottom five in both field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. And the Rockets are still around league average offensively since they attempt more field goals per game than any team in the league. Maybe what they really need is Jimmy Butler’s 2023 Media Day perm …

Tier 2: In a Good Place

6. Dallas Mavericks (19-10)

Last ranking: 4
In the last week: L vs. LAC, W vs. LAC, W vs. POR
Offensive rating: 117.4 (fourth)
Defensive rating: 110.9 (11th)

Gift: Suzanne Vega

The Mavericks don’t need much. They’re playing fine. That is with Luka Dončić playing fine — by his standards, of course. There’s nothing wrong with 28.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 2.0 steals. Perhaps the Mavericks don’t need more, but we all know Dončić is capable of more. Maybe he needs a little more inspiration, and I can think of no one better than the Grammy-nominated Vega, who wrote “Luka” in the 1980s. I’m sure Vega could re-work it for Dončić.

7. New York Knicks (19-10)

Last ranking: 7
In the last week: W at MIN, W at NO, W vs. TOR
Offensive rating: 120.2 (second)
Defensive rating: 112.5 (14th)

Gift: A rubbish bin

How many times have you watched a Knicks game when the outcome has clearly been determined with several minutes left in the fourth quarter, and yet Mikal Bridges is still out there? Tom Thibodeau probably does not realize he is allowed to play more than 10 players in a game. This would be the perfect item for Thibodeau to feel more comfortable about the concept of garbage time.

8. Orlando Magic (19-12)

Last ranking: 9
In the last week: L vs. OKC, W vs. MIA, W vs. BOS
Offensive rating: 110.0 (25th)
Defensive rating: 106.2 (third)

Gift: Coal

Oh, wait. Not coal. More like Cole. As in Cole Anthony! Even he acknowledged how challenging this season has been for him after an emotional comeback victory against the Miami Heat in which he scored 35 points off the bench and helped Orlando overcome a 25-point deficit. The Magic lost backup center Moritz Wagner for the season in that game as well. Anthony is a high-vibrations teammate, and he needed that moment Saturday night. And as the Magic get thinner, they could use Anthony’s on-court contributions as well.

9. Denver Nuggets (16-11)

Last ranking: 10
In the last week: L at POR, W at NO, W vs. PHO
Offensive rating: 115.8 (sixth)
Defensive rating: 112.5 (15th)

Gift: A double-digit deficit

Hear me out here. The Nuggets have trailed by more than 10 points in a game 18 times already this season. They already have won seven of those games. Denver leads the NBA in most games won this season after trailing by more than 10 points. Sure, being down that much is annoying, and you lose often. But the Nuggets are showing they will continue to fight better than any team in the league, and those comebacks are from a team that ranks dead last in 3-point attempts too.

10. Milwaukee Bucks (16-12)

Last ranking: 11
In the last week: L at CLE, W vs. WAS, W at CHI
Offensive rating: 112.7 (12th)
Defensive rating: 111.3 (12th)

Gift: NBA Cup meaning

I’m sure a lot of folks out there want the NBA Cup winner to have some kind of extra advantage. A tiebreaker! All of the tiebreakers! A guaranteed playoff spot! The ability to pick your playoff spot! The only team that might care about that stuff now is the Bucks, winners of the 2024 Cup. They have a new banner now, but if anyone wants to invent a midseason change for the Bucks, they’d obviously benefit from it.

11. LA Clippers (17-13)

Last ranking: 14
In the last week: W at DAL, L at DAL, W at MEM
Offensive rating: 110.7 (20th)
Defensive rating: 108.2 (fifth)

Gift: Santa Claws

You read that right: Santa Claws. It’s just Kawhi Leonard. They need that player back (when he is ready, of course). But, yes, the Clippers are more than treading water in the West without Leonard doing more than putting on the practice uniform. They might not be contenders with Leonard, but the Clippers have earned the right to see how high Leonard’s optimal play can take them.

Tier 3: The Bubble

12. Golden State Warriors (15-13)

Last ranking: 12
In the last week: L at MEM, W at MIN, L vs. IND
Offensive rating: 111.7 (15th)
Defensive rating: 109.7 (eighth)

Gift: Combination lock

I cannot get over how the Warriors flaunted their largesse of depth to begin the season, only for all of the downfalls of too many players in the rotation to hit by Thanksgiving. Now, the Warriors not only have to integrate a new player into the mix, but one who does not exactly fit in Dennis Schröder. This all has to be frustrating for coach Steve Kerr, so he gets a gift to remind him how satisfying it can be to get the right numbers in place.

13. Miami Heat (14-13)

Last ranking: 13
In the last week: L vs. OKC, L at ORL, W vs. BRK
Offensive rating: 113.4 (10th)
Defensive rating: 110.9 (10th)

Gift: Pepto Bismol

This can be for Jimmy Butler’s stomach woes that have kept him off the floor for most of the past week. But it could also be for coach Erik Spoelstra, who is often without Butler and left to figure it out. Or it could be the primer that the team needs in the event it is forced to move on from Butler.

14. Los Angeles Lakers (16-13)

Last ranking: 17
In the last week: W at SAC, W at SAC, L vs. DET
Offensive rating: 111.5 (17th)
Defensive rating: 114.5 (21st)

Gift: A previous version of D’Angelo Russell

Russell failed to break 20 minutes in Monday’s home loss to the Detroit Pistons. That was the fourth time that has happened this season, eclipsing last year’s number of games in which Russell didn’t make it to 20 minutes. Coach JJ Redick hasn’t been able to get Russell going after removing him from the starting lineup.

15. San Antonio Spurs (15-14)

Last ranking: 19
In the last week: W vs. ATL, W vs. POR, L at PHI
Offensive rating: 111.4 (18th)
Defensive rating: 112.9 (17th)

Gift: UFO

Victor Wembanyama’s status as the league’s alien phenom should at least allow him to have his own unidentified flying object to accompany him. But perhaps we have not heard of such an arrangement yet because there is a fear that Wembanyama would block it. Wembanyama has 95 blocked shots this season, 31 more than anyone else in the NBA.

16. Indiana Pacers (15-15)

Last ranking: 20
In the last week: W at PHO, W at SAC, W at GS
Offensive rating: 112.7 (11th)
Defensive rating: 114.3 (20th)

Gift: The Western Conference

Who would have thought that what the Pacers needed this whole time to get back on track is to be on the road and out of their time zone? After winning in Golden State on Monday night, the Pacers have a 7-3 record against the West. That is the most by any Eastern Conference team, though it should be noted that the Cavaliers have won all six of their games against the West. On the flip side, Indiana is 8-12 against the East.

17. Atlanta Hawks (15-15)

Last ranking: 16
In the last week: L at SA, L vs. MEM, W vs. MIN
Offensive rating: 110.6 (21st)
Defensive rating: 113.2 (18th)

Gift: 1978

Monday’s win against the Timberwolves was a rare occurrence that saw the Hawks make more 3s than the opposition. No team has been outscored from 3 like Atlanta has been to begin this season. Removing the 3-point line would benefit this team tremendously, on both ends of the floor. The Hawks are certainly built for the pre-Magic and Bird NBA.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (14-14)

Last ranking: 8
In the last week: L vs. NY, L vs. GS, L at ATL
Offensive rating: 110.3 (23rd)
Defensive rating: 108.3 (sixth)

Gift: A Snickers bar

You know, it’s not even that the Timberwolves lose games. It is that they look like the most miserable team in the league when things are not going their way. The question is whether this is who they are going to be all season long. There’s a good team in there — somewhere.

19. Phoenix Suns (14-14)

Last ranking: 15
In the last week: L vs. IND, L vs. DET, L at DEN
Offensive rating: 114.0 (ninth)
Defensive rating: 115.8 (24th)

Gift: Booker and Durant games

When the Suns have Devin Booker and Kevin Durant both available, they are 13-3 this season. You see the math when one of those stars is out: Phoenix has lost 11 of 12 when Booker or Durant is sidelined. It’s like how the Arizona Cardinals look good with quarterback Kyler Murray to begin seasons, until the new Call of Duty game comes out.

20. Sacramento Kings (13-17)

Last ranking: 18
In the last week: L vs. LAL, L vs. LAL, L vs. IND
Offensive rating: 114.5 (eighth)
Defensive rating: 112.9 (16th)

Gift: De’Aaron Fox’s Jerry West Trophy

In 2023, Fox won the Clutch Player of the Year Award and was the recipient of the first Jerry West Trophy. DeMar DeRozan finished third that year and was second in the voting last year behind only Stephen Curry. So of course DeRozan and Fox team up this season and turn the Kings into an absolutely incompetent clutch-time team. No team has played in more clutch-time games this season, and no team has lost more of them than the Kings, who are 6-12 in such games. The Kings are capable of being a decent team, but their inability to close games out has sapped so much goodwill from their place of strength.

Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear

21. Detroit Pistons (13-17)

Last ranking: 22
In the last week: L vs. UTA, W at PHO, W at LAL
Offensive rating: 111.2 (19th)
Defensive rating: 113.9 (19th)

Gift: Another ballhandler

Only Nikola Jokić and Tyrese Haliburton handle the ball more than Cade Cunnighmam this season. In what is perhaps a related observation, only James Harden and Trae Young average fewer turnovers per game than Cunningham. Detroit, get the man someone else who can dribble.

22. Chicago Bulls (13-17)

Last ranking: 21
In the last week: W at BOS, L vs. BOS, L vs. MIL
Offensive rating: 112.1 (14th)
Defensive rating: 116.0 (25th)

Gift: The Grinch

In addition to being a mean one, The Grinch is known for his ability to steal. And that is something the honorable Bulls simply don’t believe in. No team is worse at forcing turnovers, and only the Nets, Pistons and Jazz average fewer steals per game than the Bulls. If they’re not going to do it, The Grinch will.

23. Philadelphia 76ers (10-17)

Last ranking: 23
In the last week: W vs. CHA, L at CLE, W vs. SA
Offensive rating: 107.6 (27th)
Defensive rating: 112.2 (13th)

Gift: Bubble wrap

The Sixers have a winning record with Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey playing together. Unfortunately, that winning record accounts for only a 3-2 mark. Philadelphia has established that it is not built to withstand an injury to a star.

24. Brooklyn Nets (11-18)

Last ranking: 24
In the last week: W at TOR, L vs. UTA, L at MIA
Offensive rating: 111.5 (16th)
Defensive rating: 116.6 (26th)

Gift: Another trade

Getting Schröder shipped out was only the beginning of the fire sale in Brooklyn, a needed purge given the goals of the organization that do not include missing out on this draft lottery. The Nets need losses, and there are still too many players on the team who contribute to winning. Usually, that’s a good thing. But this is the bed the Nets have made.

25. Portland Trail Blazers (9-20)

Last ranking: 26
In the last week: W vs. DEN, L at SA, L at DAL
Offensive rating: 107.4 (28th)
Defensive rating: 117.0 (27th)

Gift: Anfernee Simons at the buzzer

Christmas came early for the Trail Blazers when Simons beat the Nuggets at the buzzer before the weekend. It was the first time Portland had a buzzer-beating, game-winning field goal at home since Damian Lillard ended the Russell Westbrook and Paul George Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2019 playoffs.

ANT CALLS GAME 🚨 pic.twitter.com/JQkZr6rJpM

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 20, 2024

Tier 5: Basement Floor

26. Toronto Raptors (7-23)

Last ranking: 25
In the last week: L vs. BRK, L vs. HOU, L at NY
Offensive rating: 110.4 (22nd)
Defensive rating: 115.5 (23rd)

Gift: A glimpse of their real lineup

The five-man lineup of Immanuel Quickley, Gradey Dick, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl played only four minutes together last season. But at least it happened at all last season. That five-man lineup has yet to take the floor together in 2024-25. And at this point, it’s not like the Raptors want to thrive with this group all of a sudden.

27. Charlotte Hornets (7-22)

Last ranking: 27
In the last week: L at WAS, L at PHI, L vs. HOU
Offensive rating: 108.2 (26th)
Defensive rating: 114.9 (22nd)

Gift: Dell Curry

The Hornets are the only team in basketball that is bottom 10 in 3-point percentage and takes more than 40 3s per game. They are the team that makes people mad when it comes to missed 3-pointers. No, you do not want them to shoot midrange field goals either, as they’re even worse at making those shots relative to the rest of the NBA. As part of the TV broadcast crew, Curry actually has to watch these chuckers every game. He was part of the most accurate 3-point shooting team ever, the 1997 Hornets that made 42.8 percent of their 16.9 attempts. Charlotte needs Dell to show this group how it is done.

28. Utah Jazz (7-21)

Last ranking: 28
In the last week: W at DET, W at BRK, L at CLE
Offensive rating: 110.1 (24th)
Defensive rating: 119.4 (30th)

Gift: The Eastern Conference

Perhaps the Jazz and the Pacers could be each other’s Secret Santa and just swap conferences? Utah is an abysmal 3-19 in the West. But the Jazz are 4-2 against the East! And they went to Cleveland and hung in there for a half.

29. New Orleans Pelicans (5-25)

Last ranking: 29
In the last week: L at HOU, L vs. NY, L vs. DEN
Offensive rating: 106.3 (29th)
Defensive rating: 117.7 (28th)

Gift: Highlights of Zion Williamson in the Play-In Tournament

Things really haven’t been the same for the Pelicans since Williamson’s 40-point performance on April 16. He hurt his hamstring that night, missed the rest of the postseason and now is out again with a hamstring injury while the Pelicans invent ways to blow games.

30. Washington Wizards (4-23)

Last ranking: 30
In the last week: W vs. CHA, L at MIL, L at OKC
Offensive rating: 104.1 (30th)
Defensive rating: 118.1 (29th)

Gift: Legos

This team’s losses match the average age on the roster now, and Washington is rebuilding. It’s only right that the kids get a real gift here, given what we have seen from them and what we will see from them.

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(Top photo of Desmond Bane: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)