NBA Power Rankings: 50 Days In

Welcome to Stats Insider's NBA Power Rankings! 

We have custom built our Power Rankings to factor in past performance, current form, changes in lineup and personnel, and moves in betting markets. Every month (sometimes more), we'll run the numbers on all 30 NBA teams.

So without further ado, here are our NBA Power Rankings, as of day 50 of the NBA season, Wednesday December 5th:

Please note:

* These Power Rankings reflect the teams as they stand today, and will be updated regularly.

* This data should not be used for betting, only as a baseline of recent form. Check out our NBA match pages for all betting information.

* This is not a list of predicted finishing place or Championship chance. We have included Title chance probability as a seperate metric to the Power Rankings.

1. Golden State Warriors

% Chance of Winning Championship: 42.5% (down from 59.8% preseason)
Previous Rank: 1st

The Warriors have had their injury worries, but they're still the Warriors. With a thinner roster than in previous years, they rely on Steph Curry more than ever. Golden State are +13.6 points per 100 better with Steph on the floor than off. Until proven otherwise, health is the Warriors biggest obstacle.

2. Toronto Raptors

% Chance of Winning Championship: 11.0% (up from 2.7%)
Previous Rank: 6th

Toronto have jumped out of the blocks with a 20-5 record, three full wins than any other team in the league. They still have hurdles to overcome , but all is well so far for the Raptors. They're 3rd in Offensive Rating, 8th in Defensive Rating and 2nd in Net Rating, with Kawhi Leonard just heating up in his new environment. The East is officially on notice.

3. Houston Rockets

% Chance of Winning Championship: 7.7% (down from 10.1%)
Previous Rank: 2nd

Houston has a lot to prove to justify this ranking, considering they are 24th in Defensive Rating and just 17th in Net Rating, kept afloat by their 7th ranked place in Offensive Rating. Injuries have hurt them (so did Carmelo Anthony's defense but that's another story), so perhaps we'll see considerable improvement when they return to full health. But that is no guarantee with an ageing roster.

4. Denver Nuggets

% Chance of Winning Championship: 2.8% (up from 0.7%)
Previous Rank: 10th

Denver has been one of the surprise packets of the season, vastly improving their defense on last season's effort. Ranked 3rd in Defensive Rating, they are holding teams to just 103.5 points per 100 possessions. Their Offensive Rating is 9th and climbing since a slow start. They're deep, talented and have a unicorn in Nikola Jokic to build around. They might just be the 2nd best team in the Western Conference at the moment.

5. Oklahoma City Thunder

% Chance of Winning Championship: 2.9% (up from 1.4%)
Previous Rank: 8th

Since their 0-4 start, the Thunder are 15-3, and they might be the league's hottest team right now. Their defense is a multi-faceted, athletic beast, which ranks best in the league, holding teams to an incredible 100.5 points per 100 posessions, 2.6 points better than 2nd ranked Boston. They've finally figured out how to make it work without relying completely on Russell Westbrook who's already missed plenty of time, which is a scary thought for the rest of the NBA.

6. Boston Celtics

% Chance of Winning Championship: 8.0% (down from 8.1%)
Previous Rank: 3rd

It might be their recent three-game win streak, but the Power Rankings have faith in Boston to continue righting the ship after a barely .500 start to their season. Brad Stevens is fiddling with his rotations on a game-to-game basis, slowly finding the right mix of talent following the return of last season's injured stars, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward to the roster. Their Offensive Rating has climbed to 20th, which feels like an achievement considering how bad it had been. Are the Celtics turning the corner?

7. Milwaukee Bucks

% Chance of Winning Championship: 3.8% (up from 0.6%)
Previous Rank: 13th

Bucks fans will surely be screaming about this result and Giannis Antetokounmpo might want to punch us in the groin (ouch!), but Milwaukee sits 7th at the moment. They look like they belong a lot higher though, with the league's best offense, posting an absurd 115.5 points per 100 whilst also possessing the NBA's 6th best defense. MVP candidate Giannis and the Bucks aren't coming, they're already here.

8. Philadelphia 76ers

% Chance of Winning Championship: 4.4% (up from 4.3%)
Previous Rank: 4th

Philadelphia are down 4 spots, but they're adjusting to life with Jimmy Butler (and without "Process" die-hards, Robert Covington and Dario Saric) since his arrival from Minnesota and so far it's looking good. They're 11th in Offensive Rating, 11th in Defensive Rating and 10th in Net Rating so far this season, and improvement on both ends will be key to them climbing this list. They're really, really good, but they need to improve their consistency to compete with the league's elite.

9. Indiana Pacers

% Chance of Winning Championship: 1.5% (up from 1.3%)
Previous Rank: 9th

There were plenty of doubters in pre-season, but Indiana have done well to maintain and improve on the momentum they created last year. Victor Oladipo's injury has been a big blow, with the star out definitely, and the Pacers are 4-4 in his absence so far. Domas Sabonis has improved fantastically, which has helped, and they'll need more of that to keep things afloat until Oladipo returns to the lineup.

10. Utah Jazz

% Chance of Winning Championship: 1.6% (up from 1.5%)
Previous Rank: 7th

Utah have dropped 3 spots and rightfully so after a very poor start to the season on both ends of the floor. Their offense has fallen off a cliff, ranked 27th, whilst their lauded defense is just middle ranked (13th). Kyle Korver will be an interesting addition, but the Jazz now only have one player on the roster who can truly create his own shot (not-rookie-of-the-year, Donovan Mitchell). Still lots of work to be done in Salt Lake City.

11. New Orleans Pelicans

% Chance of Winning Championship: 1.8% (up from 0.7%)
Previous Rank: 11th

The Pelicans will continue to go as far as the health of Anthony Davis will take them, as injuries took a toll after an unbeaten start to the season through the season's opening games. Davis has looked increasingly like an MVP candidate - when hes on the floor - but he's already been sidelined twice with different injuries. The 26th ranked defense won't do if they want to be a playoff contender in the West.

12. Los Angeles Clippers

% Chance of Winning Championship: 1.0% (up from 0.2%)
Previous Rank: 19th

If you'd bet on the Clippers to be leading the West to kick off December, you'd be doing nicely right about now. The Power Rankings don't love them yet after such a small sample size,  but there's a lot to like about this roughneck Clippers outfit, built on the league's 4th best offense so far. They've had a lot of luck with injuries this season, and their continued success relies on their main guys staying healthy. And, Doc Rivers is Coach of the Year so far. Sorry, Mike Budenholzer.

13. Portland Trail Blazers

% Chance of Winning Championship: 1.5% (up from 0.6%)
Previous Rank: 14th

Portland did well early in the season to prove their doubters wrong, but their recent skid of 6 losses in 7 games has hurt them. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum have been brilliant as always, but they still have a lot to do to show they can be built around as a serious team. They've still got their issues defensively and it's what has been costing them of late, ranked 20th in the NBA.

14. Minnesota Timberwolves

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.7% (up from 0.5%)
Previous Rank: 16th

Minnesota is one of the league's most interesting teams, having traded away 4-time All Star, Jimmy Butler, but gaining roster mainstays, Dario Saric and Robert Covington, in return. Covington has been huge and is the sort of player Tom Thibodeau would clone in a lab if he could. Karl-Anthony Towns looks like an alpha dog once again, but Andrew Wiggins is a big concern. He looks about a $150 million mistake right now.

15. Charlotte Hornets

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.4% (up from 0.2%)
Previous Rank: 21st

What if Charlotte is... actually... good? This writer might be dazed by Kemba Walker coloured shades, but the Hornets really have been very impressive so far. They've got the league's 6th best offense, and rank in the top 10 in Net Rating. With a middle of the pack defense which just holds up most nights, James Borrego's men might just find a way into the playoffs and I very much doubt many teams want seven games of that.

16. Los Angeles Lakers

% Chance of Winning Championship: 3.7% (down from 4.2%)
Previous Rank: 5th

The Lakers have dropped 11 spots since the first rankings, but this feels like more because of the strength of the league and the Western Conference in particular, rather than ineptitude on the Lakers behalf. LeBron and co. are slowly figuring themselves out on both ends, and Tyson Chandler has been a stout addition on defense (now ranked 7th overall). If they can keep making strides on offense (14th), they will climb up this list with ease.

17. San Antonio Spurs

% Chance of Winning Championship: 1.2% (up from 0.5%)
Previous Rank: 17th

The Spurs should be thanking their lucky stars they are even 17th on this list, after an awful start to the season. They look like a team who belongs in a different era, and are lacking the athleticism and elite shooting to keep up with the rest of the league. Gregg Popovich's men take more mid-rangers than any other team, and it's shooting them in only one place - the foot - and not higher up on this list.

18. Detroit Pistons

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.8% (up from 0.5%)
Previous Rank: 18th

The Pistons have held firm in 18th, but they've been somewhat impressive under new coach Dwane Casey this season. Blake Griffin has looked like an MVP version of himself, and Casey has found enough use in the rest of their funky bit-parts to make it (sort of) work. They are tough defensively (as Motor City demands) and get enough done around Griffin on offense to make you sweat. Outside of that drubbing this week to Oklahoma City, they'll make you earn it every night.

19. Miami Heat

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.6% (steady at 0.6%)
Previous Rank: 12th

Miami are 19th and sliding at the moment, though they have a top 10 defense (just), they just don't do anything else particularly well to help them on a nightly basis. They're in salary cap hell, with a stack of bad contracts on the books. Longtime coach Erik Spoelstra makes it work as best he can with a steady collection of role players, but Goran Dragic's absence has really hurt them. Sorry Heat fans, but your team is just not very good this season.

20. Dallas Mavericks

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.4% (up from 0.2%)
Previous Rank: 23rd

Dallas might be 20th but they're climbing this list with some nice offensive play, led by Rookie of the Year frontrunner, Luka Doncic. The Mavericks are 10-2 at home this season, and have been wiping the floor with opponents in Texas. They have one of the league's more impressive young cores, and it looks like they've found their new franchise guy in Doncic. Things are on the up in Dallas and for the first time in two decades they're not relying on Dirk Nowitzki.

21. Washington Wizards

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.3% (down from 0.5%)
Previous Rank: 15th

Washington were in freefall a couple of weeks ago but have steadied the ship somewhat since then. Calls of blowing it up still seem premature, but questions must be raised about whether the Wizards can still build around a weird three-man core of John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter. Kelly Oubre Jr hasn't panned out as expected, and Dwight Howard is out indefinitely leaving them well short of a big man. The Wiz are bottom ten in all three major metrics, and it's not going to get better. Expect some moves sooner or later.

22. Cleveland Cavaliers

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.1% (down from 0.2%)
Previous Rank: 22nd

Cleveland should thank their lucky stars they somehow snuck into 22nd place. They've been on a slight uplift since Larry Drew took over for Tyronn Lue, but ultimately this just not a good squad. Rookie guard Collin Sexton is getting plenty of minutes now, but they are putting out the league's worst defense on a night-to-night basis. Things are going to get worse before they get better for Cleveland.

23. Brooklyn Nets

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.1% (steady at 0.1%)
Previous Rank: 25th

Brooklyn has lost 7 games in a row, and has struggled mightily since Caris LaVert's injury. Kenny Atkinson is doing what he can with an increasinly limited roster, but the biggest problem for this team is that they don't do anything particularly well. 13th in Offensive Rating, 19th in Defensive Rating and 20th in Net Rating, Brooklyn fans... keep being patient.

24. Memphis Grizzlies

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.8% (up from 0.1%)
Previous Rank: 27th

Memphis seems determined to prove the Power Rankings wrong, amidst a 13-9 start. Veterans Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, alongside rookie Jaren Jackson Jr have been nothing short of superb, and now the question is how long can the Grizz stars stay healthy? Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has done a brilliant job, and is in the Coach of the Year conversation. Can the Grizz keep it up?

25. Orlando Magic

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.1% (steady at 0.1%)
Previous Rank: 29th

Say it with me now Orlando fans... the Magic might not be horrible! Steve Clifford has done a terrific job with his misfit roster so far, making DJ Augustin (somewhat) a legitimate starting Point Guard in the league and working out a solid athletic rotation between Aaron Gordon, Jonathon Isaac, Mo Bamba and Nikola Vucevic that doesn't kill their spacing too much. The rankings bely the way they play, the Magic might really be a Playoff contender in the weaker Eastern conference. You can do this Orlando!

26. Sacramento Kings

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.1% (steady at 0.1%)
Previous Rank: 30th

Sacramento must have read our initial Power Rankings, because they've jumped out of the blocks fast to start the season. They've logged impressive wins over Oklahoma City (twice), Utah and Minnesota, and De'Aaron Fox is definitely a Most Improved Player candidate. With Dave Joerger's job still not safe, the question is now how long will it last?

27. New York Knicks

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.1% (down from 0.2%)
Previous Rank: 20th

The Knicks just aren't very good, to put it simply. And that's okay! They actually don't want to be. The New York Tanks, I mean Knicks (sorry New Yorkers!), are putting minutes into their young guys and are actually committed to seeing it out. They are firmly in the race for Zion Williamson and co, as superstar forward Kristaps Porzingis continues his long rehab from his knee injury whilst his team piles up the losses. Things are actually going to plan...

28. Atlanta Hawks

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.1% (steady at 0.1%)
Previous Rank: 26th

Much like the Knicks, all is going to plan for the Hawks, who are firmly entrenched in tank mode. Trae Young has been impressive, racking up good box score numbers. Where he really impresses though is as a playmaker, and the shooting will come as he gets more used to the pace of the NBA. One piece of a big puzzle is there, but there's a long road ahead for Atlanta yet.

29. Chicago Bulls

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.1% (steady at 0.1%)
Previous Rank: 28th

Fresh off firing Fred Hoiberg, the Chicago Bulls are still committed to losing. Jim Boylen replaces Hoiberg (for at least the rest of the season), and Zach LaVine will continue jacking up countless shots as primary scorer. Lauri Markkanen has returned from injury which is good news, but there's not much more to look forward to for this Bulls squad at the moment.

30. Phoenix Suns

% Chance of Winning Championship: 0.1% (down from 0.2%)
Previous Rank: N/A

Down 30-plus points to the Sacramento Kings on their home floor as we speak, things are going from bad to worse for the bottom ranked Phoenix Suns. Journeyman Trevor Ariza is out the door once December 15 comes, and Devin Booker is sidelined with a second hamstring injury this season. #1 draft pick, DeAndre Ayton continues his bright play, however, which is something.

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