The Utah Jazz have the perfect document within the Western Convention, and that is just one of many surprises which have percolated all through the primary month of the 2022 NBA season.
The ascending 8-2 Cleveland Cavaliers had an opportunity at a 9-1 begin and a share of first place within the Jap Convention earlier than blowing a 13-point result in the LA Clippers. The Clippers are beginning to discover their very own groove after a tough return for a now-sidelined Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. They may quickly be an early favourite within the wide-open West, particularly when Leonard returns.
The Atlanta Hawks made an early assertion by handing the beforehand undefeated Milwaukee Bucks their first loss, and so they pulled it off with out star level guard Trae Young. As soon as Younger is again on the court docket, the Hawks could possibly be adequate to problem Milwaukee or Cleveland within the East.
Luka Doncic is wanting like an early-season front-runner for MVP with a historic stat line for any participant over the primary 9 video games. The Dallas Mavericks have not confronted any of the opposite anticipated contenders within the West however, with Doncic enjoying at his present stage, they may show to be bother for any staff.
Observe: All through the common season, our panel (Kendra Andrews, Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin and Ohm Youngmisuk) is rating all 30 groups from high to backside, taking inventory of which groups are enjoying the perfect basketball now and which groups are wanting most like title contenders.
Earlier rankings: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
1. Milwaukee Bucks
2022-23 document: 9-1
Earlier week’s rating: 1
Regardless of shedding their first sport of the season to the Atlanta Hawks, the Bucks are nonetheless off to the perfect begin in franchise historical past on the power of the league’s No. 1 protection. Milwaukee continues to guard the rim at an elite stage with Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo patrolling the paint whereas making good on their preseason promise to chop the variety of 3s they provide up — limiting groups to 31.6 in 2022-23 after permitting an NBA document 40.6 makes an attempt final season.
— Collier
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
2022-23 document: 8-2
Earlier week’s rating: 3
The begin to the Cavaliers’ season has been a dream, with the staff sprinting out to an 8-2 mark and searching like a real contender within the East. However that does not imply losses such because the one Monday in opposition to the Clippers do not sting. The Cavs held a 13-point lead with 5 minutes to go earlier than the Clips’ remaining surge. On the brilliant aspect, Evan Mobley exploded for a season-high 26 factors within the loss.
— McMenamin
3. Phoenix Suns
2022-23 document: 7-3
Earlier week’s rating: 2
The Suns have an issue at small ahead. After Jae Crowder left the staff earlier than coaching camp whereas Phoenix labored to discover a commerce vacation spot, Cam Johnson — the man the franchise selected to raise within the lineup, resulting in the Crowder scenario within the first place — received injured. Johnson suffered a torn meniscus in his proper knee, requiring surgical procedure that’s anticipated to sideline him a few months. It could possibly be time for Josh Okogie to get a greater look.
— McMenamin
4. Boston Celtics
2022-23 document: 7-3
Earlier week’s rating: 4
Sam Hauser has taken benefit of Danilo Gallinari‘s damage to carve out a rotation spot in Boston. He is hitting 54% of his 3s and is nice sufficient defensively to remain on the court docket.
— Bontemps
5. Utah Jazz
2022-23 document: 9-3
Earlier week’s rating: 11
Jordan Clarkson is flourishing as a full-time starter — a task he hasn’t had since 2015-16. He is proving he can succeed as a playmaker and never only a gunner, averaging 5.2 assists — twice his profession fee. His 18.3 factors per sport is simply shy of his profession excessive from his 2020-21 Sixth Man of the 12 months season, and his .556 efficient discipline aim share is his finest but.
— MacMahon
6. Denver Nuggets
2022-23 document: 7-3
Earlier week’s rating: 9
In accordance with coach Michael Malone, the mix of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray is like peanut butter and jelly, and it is arduous to disagree. Murray is averaging 19.3 factors over his previous 4 video games, whereas Jokic is averaging 21.3 factors and 10 assists. However the Nuggets are nonetheless in determined want of defensive effectivity to match their offense.
— Andrews
7. Memphis Grizzlies
2022-23 document: 7-4
Earlier week’s rating: 7
Desmond Bane (24.0 factors per sport) has emerged into one of many league’s finest second offensive choices largely due to his growth creating off the dribble. He is capturing 45.9% on 8.5 3s per sport, together with 25-of-48 off the dribble. He was 20-of-57 on off-dribble 3s in his complete rookie season two years in the past.
— MacMahon
8. Portland Trail Blazers
2022-23 document: 7-3
Earlier week’s rating: 5
Coach Chauncey Billups has one thing brewing in Portland. The Blazers should not solely off to a 7-3 begin however they’re profitable in dramatic vogue, with two victories on buzzer-beating pictures. Josh Hart buried a 3 to finish a come-from-behind win at Miami. Three nights earlier, Jerami Grant surprised the Suns in Phoenix with a buzzer-beating shot. That’s the sort of profitable and late-game execution that makes a younger staff come collectively and imagine. And Damian Lillard is again from damage as effectively.
— Youngmisuk
9. Dallas Mavericks
2022-23 document: 6-3
Earlier week’s rating: 12
Luka Doncic has joined Wilt Chamberlain as the one gamers in NBA historical past to attain at the least 30 factors within the first 9 video games of a season. Doncic additionally has at the least 5 assists in every sport. The one different gamers to ever have a nine-game run of at the least 30 factors and 5 assists are Oscar Robertson, Tiny Archibald and James Harden, in accordance with ESPN Stats & Info.
— MacMahon
10. Atlanta Hawks
2022-23 document: 7-3
Earlier week’s rating: 13
The Hawks received again heading in the right direction with a win at New York on Nov. 2 and carried that momentum into dwelling victories over New Orleans on Friday and the beforehand undefeated Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night time. In opposition to Milwaukee the Hawks had been with out Trae Younger, who missed the sport with proper shin soreness. Younger additionally missed time in opposition to the Knicks after being hit within the face, however Dejounte Murray has stored Atlanta going. Up to now three video games, Murray has averaged 27.7 factors, 10.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds and three.7 steals.
— Lopez
11. Toronto Raptors
2022-23 document: 6-5
Earlier week’s rating: 8
Pascal Siakam was enjoying like a first-team All-NBA ahead earlier than he suffered an adductor pressure. Now, the Raptors should lean even more durable into their size and depth — together with rookie beginning middle Christian Koloko — to make up for his absence.
— Bontemps
12. New Orleans Pelicans
2022-23 document: 5-5
Earlier week’s rating: 6
Three of New Orleans’ 5 losses have are available additional time and two got here previously week. After Matt Ryan‘s desperation corner-3 pressured additional time in opposition to the Lakers, the Pelicans could not battle again to win. In opposition to Atlanta, New Orleans erased a 13-point deficit in a matter of 2½ minutes and even took the lead late however ran out of fuel on the second night time of a back-to-back. The loss to the Pacers was one other comeback try however the Pelicans once more fell quick. Afterward, Willie Inexperienced wasn’t joyful together with his staff’s efficiency, saying, “We won’t wait to begin making an attempt to play arduous with 1 / 4 and a half left within the sport. That is a direct reflection of me. I promise we might be higher.”
— Lopez
13. LA Clippers
2022-23 document: 6-5
Earlier week’s rating: 18
Per week in the past, the Clippers celebrated narrowly avoiding an embarrassing loss to the Houston Rockets with sighs of aid. This week, the Clippers are trending upward after their finest win of the season, over Cleveland. Beginning with that Halloween night time win over Houston, the Clippers have received 4 of their previous 5. Paul George, who has carried the staff with Kawhi Leonard sidelined, earned final week’s Western Convention Participant of the Week honors. Marcus Morris and Ivica Zubac are off to robust begins and the Clippers’ veterans are starting to settle into their roles, at the least till Leonard returns and the whole lot shifts once more.
— Youngmisuk
14. Philadelphia 76ers
2022-23 document: 5-6
Earlier week’s rating: 14
Now that Joel Embiid is again, Philadelphia will attempt to proper itself after an uneven begin to the season. However with Embiid nonetheless needing to work himself again into form, the 76ers should get extra from Tobias Harris as effectively.
— Bontemps
15. Golden State Warriors
2022-23 document: 4-7
Earlier week’s rating: 10
After a winless five-game highway journey, the Warriors got here again to San Francisco trying to find solutions. They discovered one in Stephen Curry, who single-handedly carried them to a win over the Kings. However proper now the Warriors have virtually nothing past Curry. Steve Kerr tried a brand new rotation in opposition to the Kings however utterly ditched it within the second half. So, the seek for protection, a strong bench and an identification continues.
— Andrews
16. Chicago Bulls
2022-23 document: 6-6
Earlier week’s rating: 20
Zach LaVine posted his first 30-point sport since April 2 on Monday night time as he continues to develop extra comfy enjoying on his surgically repaired left knee. The Bulls have been managing LaVine’s workload on back-to-backs, however the excellent news for Chicago is that the staff would not have one other back-to-back till Dec. 10.
— Collier
17. Minnesota Timberwolves
2022-23 document: 5-6
Earlier week’s rating: 15
The Timberwolves have misplaced 4 of their previous 5 — their solely win coming in opposition to the lowly Rockets — prompting Anthony Edwards to name the staff “delicate.” Maybe most regarding is that lineups that includes Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert common simply 101.4 factors per 100 possessions (worst within the NBA) in 206 minutes.
— Andrews
18. New York Knicks
2022-23 document: 5-5
Earlier week’s rating: 17
With Mitchell Robinson sidelined by a knee damage, Obi Toppin and Julius Randle have seen a while on the court docket collectively — one thing Knicks followers have been crying out for. And, up to now, it has helped: The Knicks received two of their previous three video games.
— Bontemps
19. Washington Wizards
2022-23 document: 5-6
Earlier week’s rating: 19
Bradley Beal was again in well being and security protocols final weekend however Washington managed to win for simply the third time in 9 video games. No less than the Wizards responded after the debacle final Friday, after they had been blown out by 42 to a Brooklyn Nets staff that was mired within the Kyrie Irving drama and did not have the purpose guard at dwelling. The schedule would not get any simpler with Dallas, Utah and Memphis visiting Washington within the subsequent three video games.
— Youngmisuk
20. Miami Heat
2022-23 document: 4-7
Earlier week’s rating: 21
The Warmth proceed to battle to search out their stride as Josh Hart and the Blazers broke Miami’s coronary heart with a buzzer-beater Monday night time — Miami’s third loss in its previous 4 video games. Jimmy Butler is simply 15-for-42 over his previous three video games.
— Friedell
21. San Antonio Spurs
2022-23 document: 5-6
Earlier week’s rating: 16
After lacking 4 video games with a sore left knee, Devin Vassell returned final Friday in opposition to the Clippers and put up a career-high 29 factors whereas capturing 12-of-16 from the sphere and 4-of-5 from deep. He did it whereas enjoying simply 25 minutes. Vassell turned the third participant in Spurs historical past to attain that many factors in these couple of minutes, becoming a member of Manu Ginobili (29 factors in 25 minutes on Jan. 17, 2014) and Patty Mills (32 factors in 25 minutes on Feb. 8, 2014, and 31 factors in 22 minutes on Nov. 1, 2019).
— Lopez
22. Brooklyn Nets
2022-23 document: 4-7
Earlier week’s rating: 23
Kyrie Irving‘s suspension continues to hover over the group — however the Nets have really performed higher basketball in latest days, thanks largely to Kevin Durant, who’s capturing 50.6% from the sphere over his first 4 video games in November. Ben Simmons returned to the lineup Monday after lacking 4 video games due to a swollen knee, however now the Nets want Seth Curry to get going. Curry is simply 1-for-12 over his first three video games since coming back from offseason ankle surgical procedure.
— Friedell
23. Indiana Pacers
2022-23 document: 5-5
Earlier week’s rating: 25
The Pacers have received back-to-back video games in opposition to the Miami Warmth and New Orleans Pelicans and proceed to be led by Tyrese Haliburton, who’s averaging 21.7 factors, 9.7 assists and 5.0 rebounds. He’s the primary participant in Pacers historical past to common 20 factors and 9 assists via the staff’s first 10 video games.
— Collier
24. Oklahoma City Thunder
2022-23 document: 4-6
Earlier week’s rating: 24
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having a profession yr on the offensive finish as he averages 30.8 factors on 53.9% capturing — in addition to hitting 62 of 64 free throws. He’s additionally getting it finished on the defensive finish, averaging 2.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per sport. His 32 mixed “shares” are tied with Anthony Davis for fourth-most within the league amongst all gamers, and Gilgeous-Alexander and Davis are the one two gamers ranked within the high 20 in each steals and blocks per sport.
— Lopez
25. Charlotte Hornets
2022-23 document: 3-8
Earlier week’s rating: 22
Charlotte comes into the Wednesday sport in opposition to the Blazers having misplaced 5 straight. Because the Hornets look forward to LaMelo Ball (ankle) to return, P.J. Washington has put collectively a few good video games in a row. He has 43 factors and 7 rebounds over his previous two video games.
— Friedell
26. Sacramento Kings
2022-23 document: 3-6
Earlier week’s rating: 27
The Kings can take a optimistic observe in that almost all of their video games over the previous few weeks have been extraordinarily shut. Their two losses final week had been selected controversial no-calls — a journey on Tyler Herro and a foul on Klay Thompson — however a loss continues to be a loss.
— Andrews
27. Detroit Pistons
2022-23 document: 3-8
Earlier week’s rating: 28
Bojan Bogdanovic has slot in properly since being traded to the Pistons simply earlier than coaching camp, each as a veteran presence and mentor off the court docket and for his manufacturing on the court docket. He’s averaging a career-best 19.5 factors whereas capturing 46.8% on 3s.
— Collier
28. Los Angeles Lakers
2022-23 document: 2-8
Earlier week’s rating: 26
It might be arduous for the Lakers’ season to be off to a worse begin. They’ve misplaced their previous three video games by a mean of 17 factors as their protection has slipped and the damage bug has already began to chew (thumb surgical procedures for Dennis Schroder and Thomas Bryant and diseases for LeBron James, Patrick Beverley and Lonnie Walker IV).
— McMenamin
29. Orlando Magic
2022-23 document: 2-9
Earlier week’s rating: 30
The Magic cannot discover many wins, however No. 1 decide Paolo Banchero simply retains getting higher and higher. He had 30 factors and 6 rebounds within the loss Monday and he’s now the third rookie in Magic historical past with consecutive 30-point video games, becoming a member of Shaquille O’Neal and Dennis Scott, in accordance with ESPN Stats & Info.
— Friedell
30. Houston Rockets
2022-23 document: 2-9
Earlier week’s rating: 29
No. 3 general decide Jabari Smith Jr.’s pure soar shot was one of many causes he was such a prized prospect, however he has been way more miss than hit to begin his rookie season. Smith has the worst discipline aim share (.303) and efficient discipline aim share (.385) amongst gamers who’ve tried at the least 100 pictures from the ground.
— MacMahon
