We’re just over a week into the 2020-21 NBA regular season, which will run a slightly shortened 72 games, assuming that the league does not have an extended shutdown due to COVID-19. In most locales, fans are not yet allowed into arenas, but the games have gotten underway, and we’ve already started to see some intriguing outcomes.
Let’s take a look at our first set of power rankings for the season as you consider your NBA betting in the Association.
NBA News: Power Rankings for December 30
#1 Los Angeles Lakers
Adding Dennis Schröder to the roster has added a boost to the offense, a younger version of Rajon Rondo. Through three games, he’s averaging 14.3 points and six assists per game. He can take some of the pressure off LeBron James and pick up scoring slack when James or AD needs a rest.
#2 Los Angeles Clippers
For the second straight year, the Clippers beat the Lakers on Opening Night, but without Kawhi Leonard, there is a big dropoff right now, as we saw on Sunday when Dallas beat the Clippers by 51.
#3 Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are getting crazy offense from Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but their defense might be even better so far.
#4 Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks lost George Hill, Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews, and their replacements (Bobby Portis most notably) are not as good defensively. We saw this when Pat Connaughton had to guard Jayson Tatum down the stretch in a one-point loss to Boston.
#5 Miami Heat
Rookie Precious Achiuwa is already harassing the likes of Zion Williamson on defense, just two games in. Last year, Miami turned Bam Adebayo into a star, and Achiuwa could get there this year.
#6 Dallas Mavericks
Dallas set a shot-clock era record by posting a 50-point halftime lead over the Clippers — without Kristaps Porzingis, thanks to hustle from the opening whistle. They showed midseason chemistry despite adding Josh Richardson to boost defense and getting back Jalen Brunson and Dwight Powell.
#7 Philadelphia 76ers
Seth Curry’s shooting forces defenses to stay open instead of clogging the paint to keep Ben Simmons out of the lane. But will Joel Embiid (back tightness) ever reach 100 percent in terms of health?
#8 Phoenix Suns
Mikal Bridges has seen his scoring take off, and his shutdown defense is still a factor. Cam Johnson and Deandre Ayton, along with Bridges, could make the Suns a contender.
#9 Boston Celtics
Payton Pritchard, a rookie from Oregon, has come right in and delivered, knocking down three-balls and bringing energy to the point guard position. While Kemba Walker recovers from a knee problem, Pritchard and the rest of the depth will need to contribute.
#10 Denver Nuggets
Gary Harris still can’t score, Paul Millsap is a year older, Michael Porter Jr can’t defend reliably, and JaMychal Green is out. They don’t look like a team that put lightning in a bottle and ran to the West finals a year ago.
#11 Houston Rockets
James Harden seems more focused on getting traded than playing for the Rockets. Christian Wood, though, is a bright spot, putting up 31 points, 13 boards, three assists and a block in his Rockets debut and is an early contender for Comeback Player of the Year.
#12 Utah Jazz
Bojan Bogdanovic is a terrific driver to the rim, and he is a terrific shooter. However, he needs to learn how to dish while driving in order to find open shooters. That will help the Jazz offense take off.
#13 Toronto Raptors
Cliff Boucher became just the fifth player in NBA history to post at least 22 points, 10 boards and seven blocks in fewer than 30 minutes, joining Kareem, Kevin McHale, David Robinson and Ralph Sampson. He won G League Player of the Year in 2019, and he could just be emerging at the NBA level for the Raptors.
#14 Golden State Warriors
Obviously, with Klay and Draymond on the shelf, Golden State isn’t ready to contend yet. However, James Wiseman is showing a scoring touch that could help the Warriors improve sooner than planned.
#15 Indiana Pacers
Domantas Sabonis is having a monster season so far, putting up 24.3 points, 11 boards and seven assists per game, and he’s also playing shutdown defense. Of the big men in the league who serve as the center of the offense, only Nikola Jokic is better right now. He did not play in the bubble, but if he can stay healthy, he makes the Pacers an East contender.
#16 New Orleans Pelicans
Brandon Ingram is already off to a solid start, nailing three-balls off the dribble, which will open up his ability to slice to the rim. Through three games, he is scoring 26.7 points per game, and pulling down 7.3 boards and 6.7 assists per game.
#17 Portland Trail Blazers
The defense is still a question for the Trail Blazers, as we saw when they permitted 120 points to the Jazz. They’re permitting 119 points per 100 possessions, last in the league, through Sunday’s games. If you look on their roster, who will step up on defense?
#18 Memphis Grizzlies
Brandon Clarke has seen his shooting mechanics regress since last March, and his three-point percentage has suffered as a result. He was shooting 40.4 percent from downtown as a rookie, but those mechanics are turning him into a clanker.
#19 Atlanta Hawks
Nathan Knight has changed from an undrafted free agent post player who put up 20 points and 10 rebounds a game at William & Mary to a slasher who drains shots from downtown and finishes alley-oops. Can he keep it up?
#20 Minnesota Timberwolves
Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell have committed to hustle on defense, and that effort will work its way down the roster. Unfortunately, Towns is now out with a dislocated wrist with no timetable for a return. Can the Wolves never get a break?
#21 Washington Wizards
Washington blew a 17-point fourth-period advantage against Orlando, as head coach Scott Brooks has not figured out his rotations yet. Communication on defense is subpar, and Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook have not shown commitment or effort yet.
#22 San Antonio Spurs
Keldon Johnson, a second-year wing, is fun to watch as he crashed his way to the rim. Along with Lonnie Walker IV and Devin Vassell, the Spurs have three young wings who love to attack the hoop. And LaMarcus Aldridge, of all people, is knocking down threes.
#23 Orlando Magic
Markelle Fultz has returned, putting up 10 of his 26 points in the fourth period of that comeback over Orlando. His jumper is still iffy, but he drives hard to the rim, and he plays intense defense.
#24 Sacramento Kings
Tyrese Haliburton has been fun to watch so far, with 15 assists against just one turnover in three games. That’s not bad for a rookie point guard in an offense that can be limited. We’ll see what Buddy Hield and De’Aaron Fox can produce.
#25 Charlotte Hornets
LaMelo Ball is still adjusting to the game, shooting when he probably shouldn’t. He needs to grow as a playmaker to make the Hornets better.
#26 Cleveland Cavaliers
Collin Sexton is putting up 27 points per game, as he has finally figured out how to play the game at more than one speed. Previously, he would only play at full sprint, turning the ball over too often. He’s part of a gritty Cavs lineup.
#27 Detroit Pistons
Officially, the Pistons are focusing on player development this year. However, the team is giving too much time to Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose and Delon Wright, especially when those veterans are blowing late leads already.
#28 Chicago Bulls
Wendell Carter Jr could finally be back after three seasons of poor play. He put up 22 points against Golden State, along with 13 boards and four assists. Can he do this consistently?
#29 Oklahoma City Thunder
Al Horford and George Hill still have some mileage left on the engines, which will make the Thunder more competitive. That could also make Hill and Horford attractive bait for draft picks as Sam Presti looks to rebuild.
#30 New York Knicks
The Knicks aren’t often fun to watch, but when Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton combined for 56 points in their win over Milwaukee, we see that every rule has an exception.
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