Early Season NBA Power Rankings

The NBA season is less than a month old, but it’s not too soon to start taking a look at where teams stand. Are the preseason favorites living up to the hype? Is there a surprise team that’s bucking the odds and looking like a serious championship contender? Even over an 82-game season, first impressions mean something.

With every team playing at least 10 or 12 games, there is a good deal of information about each team. That can play to the advantage of fans who like to bet on NBA games. It’s also a good idea for those fans to explore sportsbook bonuses as a way to improve their odds or get bonus bets. It might also help to take a closer look at the top 10 teams in the NBA through the first few weeks of the season.

10. Rockets

Before the season, Houston had one of the most intriguing rosters. Early on, the Rockets have started to showcase some of their promise. They have seven players averaging double digits, although there isn’t much depth beyond that group. Nevertheless, Houston has a lot of options and young players who should continue to improve, making the Rockets an interesting team to watch.

9. Grizzlies

Even with some early-season injuries, the Grizzlies are showing that they’re back among the contenders in the Western Conference. Ja Morant going down with a hip injury is a little bit of a concern. However, the size and depth on the Memphis roster are impressive and should allow the Grizzlies to survive without their star point guard for a little while.

8. Timberwolves

As expected, it’ll take some time for the T-Wolves to get used to playing without Karl-Anthony Towns. However, the early returns on Julius Randle have been good while Anthony Edwards continues to shine. Given a little bit of time, Minnesota should be fine, so an uneven start isn’t the end of the world.

7. Mavericks

Only a few weeks into the season, the Mavs have already hit a speed bump. They’ve already lost twice to the Suns and lost a close game to the Nuggets, canceling out an early win over the T-Wolves. The sky isn’t exactly falling, especially with some injuries to the supporting cast. But it’s still fair to question how much Dallas has beyond Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

6. Suns

The Suns have a great record, but they aren’t winning games by big margins. They have a surprisingly low point differential for a team that’s off to such a fast start. The good news is that their trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal is finding ways to win close games. However, Durant is 36 and already missing time with an injury, so there should be questions about whether the law of averages will get to Phoenix at some point and those close wins will turn into losses.

5. Thunder

The injury to Chet Holmgren is no doubt a setback for Oklahoma City. But it’s not going to end his season, so he’ll be back at some point. Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an elite point guard and Jalen Williams looks like a potential all-star as well. There is enough to keep them going until they get back to full strength.

4. Nuggets

After losing their first two games of the season, the Nuggets have picked it up. With Nikola Jokic, Denver should be fine in the long run. If Jamal Murray is at his best, that’s also a good sign. But don’t sleep on Denver’s supporting cast. The Nuggets have more depth than most people realize, easing some of the burden on Jokic just in case he needs a breather every now and then.

3. Celtics

Despite a couple of close losses to good teams, the Celtics have been dominant early in the season. There doesn’t appear to be much of a championship hangover for Jayson Tatum and company. Meanwhile, the backcourt is as deep as you’re going to find with players who all excel in different areas. That depth and versatility will give Boston a strong chance to contend for the championship.

2. Warriors

With head-to-head wins over the Celtics and Thunder early in the season, the Warriors deserve to be ranked ahead of both. At age 36, it’s a little surprising to see Stephen Curry continuing to play at a high level. Fortunately, he and Draymond Green appear to have a strong supporting cast around them. It might not be up to Curry to carry Golden State every night, which will help the Warriors remain contenders in the Western Conference.

1. Cavaliers

As the last remaining unbeaten team in the NBA, the Cavs have to be at the top of the power rankings. Every other team in the league suffered multiple losses before Cleveland’s first defeat. That means something, even if they don’t look like a typical heavyweight on paper. The Cavs may not have the biggest stars in the game, but the backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland is something special while Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are a great tandem in the paint. Believe it or not, Cleveland’s fast start could be sustainable.