Where Do Suns Land in First Week NBA Power Rankings
The NBA season is officially in full swing, with every team in the association having played at least two games since the 2023-24 regular season began last Tuesday.
This season has already delivered on much of the hype that has been built up, with fans being rewarded with everything from a LeBron James/Kevin Durant matchup for the first time since Christmas 2018 to Damian Lillard's Milwaukee Bucks debut, to many nail-biting contests, and everything in between.
One thing that obviously comes with the new season is the reactive aspect, and here we will take a dive into the ten best teams so far this season, combining a variety of factors from roster viability, to eye-test, to statistical-based facts.
This power ranking won't be too reactionary, for example, the Orlando Magic won't be included despite a league-best +17.5 point differential, after beating down bottom feeders in Portland and Houston.
HM: Indiana Pacers
The Pacers were a team who was frequently discussed as one that could potentially take a leap in the East this season. It certainly is early, but the team lead by Rick Carlisle has impressed through two games.
They are lead by franchise player Tyrese Haliburton, but have a deep team loaded with shooters and defenders. They have scored 143 and 125 through two games, and have 11 players averaging at least five points a game.
It'll certainly be tough for the Pacers to stay in this position all year, but the team looks like one that could fall within the top 6 in the East at season's end.
10. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks attempted to tweak the roster in the offseason to encourage an improved defense after a mightily disappointing showing in 2022-23, and that effort has seemed to have backfired, at least early on.
Dallas is 2-0 largely behind the heroics of Luka Doncic, who is averaging 41 points a game thus far. They ceded 119 points to the San Antonio Spurs and 120 points to the Brooklyn Nets, which saw Doncic win both games playing hero ball.
Dallas has also seen some surprisingly early positive results from rookie Dereck Lively II, but still look to have too many holes to be a legitimate contender.
9. Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City is a team who was thought to potentially make another jump this year after a surprising play-in bid following two years of tanking.
The Thunder got blown out against the Denver Nuggets but the two previous games were great performances, beating the Chicago Bulls so badly that Chicago had a players-only meeting after the contest, and squeaking by a good Donovan Mitchell-led Cleveland Cavaliers team.
OKC looks to be a team that can win any given night.
8. Sacramento Kings
The Kings would be higher if not for their loss to Golden State on Friday night. The league-best offense that powered them to 48 wins last year appears to have lost no steam, as the squad put up 130 on a solid Jazz team and 132 on a stout Lakers defense.
There is room for concern, however, despite the strong start. Star guard De'aaron Fox is likely going to miss time with an ankle sprain.
7. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are a squad that appears to be a step away from contention on a yearly basis, but never actually makes that step.
Once again, it's early, but New Orleans controlled their first two wins against playoff teams from last season against the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks. Star forward Zion Williamson participated in both games.
Sidekick Brandon Ingram continues to be a great compliment to Zion. C.J. McCollum appears to be more comfortable in the point guard spot.
The Pelicans have also overcome the absences of key contributors Trey Murphy III and Jose Alvarado early on, the potential of adding those two to a lineup lead by a healthy Williamson make them a wild-card in the west.
6. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors had a solid, if unspectacular week. The most recent NBA dynasty still feels like they are on the fringes of contention this year, having handled their last two games after a season-opening loss to the Suns.
While the Warriors did welcome back key contributor Draymond Green, no one has stood out through three games outside of Stephen Curry. Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody are still intriguing young players that could be the difference between contention and another disappointing exit in the postseason.
5. Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers had possibly the most dramatic offseason between the very public James Harden drama and whispers that franchise superstar Joel Embiid is unhappy.
The Sixers quietly had a pretty strong offseason outside of the Harden saga, hiring Nick Nurse as head coach and signing Kelly Oubre Jr. late in the offseason.
Embiid has been a top five player through the first week of the year. Tyrese Maxey looks as if he's made a leap into stardom. Kelly Oubre, Tobias Harris, and De'Anthony Melton all look like perfect supporting pieces, and Nurse looks to have finally righted many wrongs that former coach Doc Rivers created.
Philly could be a legitimate contender if they are able to either work out a path forward with Harden, or if they can move him for a good package of players that fit what they do, not much different from what Phoenix did with Deandre Ayton.
4. Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee came into the season as favorites to win the 2024 NBA title after making a move for Damian Lillard just a week prior to training camp.
One of the few teams to only have played two games in the opening week, the Bucks won a hard-fought game against the 76ers, and lost in blowout fashion to the meddling Hawks.
The loss to Atlanta was a bad one, but we won't drop Milwaukee too far just due to one bad performance. This is still a team that potentially has the highest ceiling of anyone in the NBA and will almost certainly win a lot of regular season games.
3. Boston Celtics
Boston has started out fairly strong this season, having beat conference rivals and fellow playoff teams in Miami and New York. The team looks as strong if not stronger defensively with the addition of Jrue Holiday, and all five starters average at least 13 points per game.
Kristaps Porzingis has averaged 23.5 PPG, and looks like a player worth moving Marcus Smart for so far.
The concern with Boston is the depth the team possesses, or lack thereof. The only player coming off the bench that could inspire any confidence at all in Celtics' fans minds is Al Horford - there's many questions past that.
2. Phoenix Suns
The Suns would be 3-0 this season without Bradley Beal for three games and Devin Booker for two, save for a fourth-quarter collapse against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Suns have exceeded popular expectation in almost every way so far, particularly defensively and with the depth questions the team has.
Phoenix looks to already be a good team now with just Kevin Durant leading the charge, and the thought of adding Booker and Beal back into the fray could reap incomprehensible results.
1. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are starting where they left off from last year, there's little to no drop off or "championship hangover" so far.
Denver dominated the Lakers and Thunder and controlled the game against the Grizzlies. Jokic still looks like the best player in the world, and Jamal Murray appears to already be building a case for being a first-time all star.
The Nuggets will likely remain at one until proven otherwise. They have earned it.
