The NBA season is nearly a month in giving us some context as to which teams are serious contenders and which teams will be at the bottom of the barrel throughout the year.
Unfortunately, injuries have played a major factor this year to the point that some are wondering if there are too many games played in this fast paced and highly-skilled era of basketball. Notable players that are currently hurt include:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Victor Wembanyama
Anthony Davis
Kawhi Leonard
Joel Embiid
Zion Williamson
Trae Young
Ja Morant
Jalen Williams
Paolo Banchero
Darius Garland
And plenty more...
Almost all those names on that list are the best player on their respective teams. So while there has been a month of NBA play, teams have barely played fully healthy.
This is our second iteration of our NBA Power Rankings, with our first being made a week before the season began.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets won't move from their respective spots, but the disappointing Los Angeles Clippers and Orlando Magic have fallen out.
10. Toronto Raptors (9-5) NR
Even after trading for Brandon Ingram, little was to be expected of the Raptors this year. They won 25 games last year and outside of the acquisition of Ingram for Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown, and a first-round pick, the team is virtually the same.
Ingram has been huge for Toronto. Even if his numbers (20.4 points per game on 49.3% from the field and 25.5% from three) don't look unbelievable, he has given Toronto a calming presence and identity on offense. If things go wrong, give the ball to Ingram and let him get to his spots and rise for his incredibly efficient mid-range shot.
After years of confusing offensive possessions in Toronto, Ingram looks a little like Pascal Siakam out there from their glory days.
Scottie Barnes has been his usual excellent self, and they've received major contributions from backup center Sandro Mamukelashvili who has drained 45.2% of his three pointers. After starting the season 1-4, Toronto has won eight of their last nine games.
9. Atlanta Hawks (9-6) Up 1
The Hawks entered the season as our 10th ranked team, and after a shaky start, things are starting to go according to plan. The offseason acquisitions of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, and Kristaps Porzingis made this a very dangerous team in our eyes.
Trae Young and Dyson Daniels have started the season miserably, each shooting less than 25% from three. They were 2-3 with Young, but they've gone 7-3 in his absences.
Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu have stepped up big-time. In his eight games without Young, Nickeil is averaging 19.6 points per game, Johnson 22.7 points, and Okongwu has pitched in 16.5 points per game.
This team has tremendous depth and length, and once Young and his teammates are all jiving together, they could be dangerous in the playoffs in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (9-5) Down 2
The Wolves have been good this season - they rank 6th in net rating and 9-5 is respectable, especially considering that Anthony Edwards has missed four games. They're big, strong, and lengthy which is a great formula for success in this era.
However, it does feel like there's missing pieces to this team. Having Alexander-Walker walk to the Hawks was brutal for the depth, and Naz Reid, Mike Conley, and Rudy Gobert have all taken a step back this year.
They're asking a lot from the small Rob Dillingham and unproven Jaylen Clark, and neither have shown much to be trustworthy in the playoffs.
Edwards, Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and Jaden McDaniels have provided a top-ten offense, but it can get streaky and volatile with Ant's shot-making, while the defense has been middle-of-the-pack.
Time will tell if there will be enough depth on this team to be taken seriously in the playoffs, and a trade or buy-out signing for a depth piece might need to happen. They've gotten progressively worse and thinner ever since the KAT-Randle trade, and it's difficult to see this team having enough to compete with OKC, Denver, and Houston in the West.
7. Los Angeles Lakers (11-4) NR
The Lakers were not ranked in our first power rankings article, but Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have been undeniable. The duo is averaging 62.7 points per game on great efficiency, and Reaves should be in the conversation for Most Improved Player.
L.A. plays a very deliberate brand of basketball and are only average 82.3 field goal attempts per game - last in the NBA. They limit opposition's possessions and hang around until one of Luka/Reaves catches fire.
LeBron James is back in the mix now and it'll take a couple games to see what the offense looks like with a third ball-dominant player reinserted into the lineup. He should push the pace however, giving the Lakers more avenues to score consistently.
Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart are all averaging over 10 points per game and it seems like the Lakers are deeper than initially thought.
6. New York Knicks (8-5) Down 1
Other than adding Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, these are the same Knicks from last year. The corps of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Miles McBride, and Mitchell Robinson remains very talented.
Brunson has missed the past two games with an ankle injury, but he's been spectacular, averaging 28 points and 6.5 assists per game on 46.7% shooting from the field.
There's nothing much else to say about New York, they are very solid and have as good a chance as any to come out as Eastern Conference champions.
Be sure to check out teams one through five in the article tomorrow.
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