NBA Eastern Conference Power Rankings - Week of Dec. 26th

Where do the Charlotte Hornets rank this week?

Here are your Eastern Conference Power Rankings for the Week of Dec 26th, 2023.

1. Boston Celtics (23-6) - The Celtics are establishing themselves as the best in the East, winners of three straight and 8-2 over their last 10. Celtics are 14-0 at home so far this season.

2. Milwaukee Bucks (22-8) - 2-1 week, with a loss on Christmas Day to Jalen Brunson and the Knicks. Bucks are only .500 in road games to date (6-6).

3. Philadelphia 76ers (20-9) - The key to staying near the top of the East is your home record. 76ers currently 12-4 at home, while only 8-5 away from Philly. 

4. Orlando Magic (17-11) - A very young Magic squad has fallen back to earth a bit going 4-6 in their last 10 games. However, they are 11-3 at home (see team #3) which is keeping them in the top five.

5. Miami Heat (18-12) - Wins over the Hawks, Magic and 76ers last week pushed the sneaky Heat into the top five. Keep an eye on Jimmy Butler and his crew, they have a knack of hanging around.

6. NY Knicks (17-12) - Huge win over Giannis and the Bucks on Christmas Day. This week the Knicks face three young gun squads in the Thunder, Magic and Pacers. 

7. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-13) - Tough start to the week, facing the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks before finishing the week vs. the Raptors. 

8. Indiana Pacers (14-14) - The young Pacers have lost two straight and are 4-6 over their last 10. Opportunity this week to right the ship a bit with games vs the Rockets and Bulls. 

9. Brooklyn Nets (14-15) - Nets get the Bucks in between games vs. the Pistons and the Wizards. 4-6 in their last 10 games.

10. Chicago Bulls (13-18) - Here's where the separation really starts to appear in the East. Doesn't get any easier for the Bulls this week with games vs. Hawks and Pacers before ending week with a back-to-back vs Joel Embiid and the 76ers

11. Atlanta Hawks (12-17) - 3-7 in their last 10, losers of two straight. Hawks feel like a floundering organization but they are far from the only ones in the room. Keep reading.

12. Toronto Raptors (11-18) - In the past two weeks the Raptors have won two games. 2-8 in their last 10, losers of three straight. May be sellers as we creep toward the NBA trade deadline. 

13. Charlotte Hornets (7-20) - The Hornets have lost seven straight. Injuries to multiple starters including PG LaMelo Ball, rookie F Brandon Miller, C Mark Williams etc. have made it impossible for Coach Steve Clifford to even know what his rotation will be until right before tipoff. 

14. Washington Wizards (5-23) - If the Pistons didn't exist, the Wizards would be the worst team in the NBA. 2-8 in their last 10. 

15. Detroit Pistons (2-27) - It would be funny if it was intentional and there was a generational talent coming out of the 2024 NBA Draft. But there isn't a guy like that this year and it doesn't feel like the Pistons expected to be THIS bad. Pistons have lost *checks notes* 26 games straight. 26! That's tied for the longest losing streak in NBA history with the 2013-14 76ers and 2010-11 Cavs. Pistons look to break the record Tues. vs the Nets.

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