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NBA POWER RANKINGS: Where each team stands after 6 weeks

1. Golden State Warriors

NBA POWER RANKINGS: Where each team stands after 6 weeks
Sports1 min read

2. San Antonio Spurs

2. San Antonio Spurs

Record: 18-4, 2nd in West

Offensive rating: 104. 4, 4th

Defensive rating: 92.0, 1st

One thing to know: The Warriors are so good that it's overshadowed the Spurs quietly dominating. Kawhi Leonard has emerged as a top-10 player, Tony Parker has found his legs again, and this team is already rolling despite dealing with the LaMarcus Aldridge adjustment period.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: 14-7, 1st in East

Offensive rating: 104.4, 3rd

Defensive rating: 100.8, 14th

One thing to know: The Cavaliers haven't wowed yet, but they're close to becoming whole as Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert — 40% of their starting lineup — prepare to return from injuries.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

Record: 13-8, 3rd in West

Offensive rating: 107.9, 2nd

Defensive rating: 99.9, 10th

One thing to know: The Thunder's starting five has a defensive rating of 90.5 — which would be the best in the league if it were maintained. That gets blown to pieces when the Thunder's bench comes in; they have a 112.1 defensive rating and have been outscored by 15.

5. Miami Heat

5. Miami Heat

Record: 12-7, 2nd in East

Offensive rating: 102.2, 13th

Defensive rating: 96.0, 2nd

One thing to know: Rookie Justise Winslow has quietly been a force for the Heat — Chris Bosh is the only Heat player with a better on-court net rating.

6. Indiana Pacers

6. Indiana Pacers

Record: 12-8, 4th in East

Offensive rating: 103.4, 9th

Defensive rating: 99.4, 9th

One thing to know: A three-game swoon has cooled off the Pacers, who have wowed with an efficient offense and stingy defense. Paul George is an MVP candidate if the Pacers can hang in the top-four of the East all year.

7. Los Angeles Clippers

7. Los Angeles Clippers

Record: 12-9, 5th in West

Offensive rating: 104.1, 6th

Defensive rating: 101.8, 18th

One thing to know: The Clippers are already trying to unload Josh Smith and Lance Stephenson, who haven't helped the Clippers' weak bench at all.

8. Charlotte Hornets

8. Charlotte Hornets

Record: 12-8, 5th in East

Offensive rating: 103.9, 7th

Defensive rating: 99.3, 7th

One thing to know: Nicolas Batum may prove to be the quietest big addition of the offseason. He's averaging a career-high 17 points with six rebounds and nearly five assists per game while shooting 40% from three.

9. Toronto Raptors

9. Toronto Raptors

Record: 13-9, 6th in East

Offensive rating: 104.1, 5th

Defensive rating: 100.6, 12th

One thing to know: Kyle Lowry is having the best season of his career, and arguably the best of any Eastern Conference point guard.

10. Dallas Mavericks

10. Dallas Mavericks

Record: 13-9, 4th in West

Offensive rating: 102.5, 11th

Defensive rating: 100.5, 11th

One thing to know: Despite an offseason that was largely considered a strikeout, Rick Carlisle has cobbled together a surprisingly competitive team. They've also had the easiest schedule so far.

11. Chicago Bulls

11. Chicago Bulls

Record: 11-7, 3rd in East

Offensive rating: 97.5, 26th

Defensive rating: 97.1, 4th

One thing to know: Fred Hoiberg's lineups are inconsistent, Derrick Rose is wildly inefficient, and they have the second lowest margin of victory among above-.500 teams. Something doesn't feel right with this team.

12. Atlanta Hawks

12. Atlanta Hawks

Record: 13-9, 7th in East

Offensive rating: 103.7, 8th

Defensive rating: 100.6, 13th

One thing to know: The Hawks haven't pieced back-to-back wins since a seven-game win streak that ended in the first week of November.

13. Memphis Grizzlies

13. Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 12-10, 6th in West

Offensive rating: 98.9, 24th

Defensive rating: 103.9, 25th

One thing to know: NBA.com's John Schumann sums up how strange the Grizzlies are: "Grizzlies have losses by 19, 20, 30, 37 & 50 points. They're 12-10 w/ the point differential of a team that's 7-15."

14. Boston Celtics

14. Boston Celtics

Record: 12-9, 9th in East

Offensive rating: 101.8, 16th

Defensive rating: 97.0, 3rd

One thing to know: Isaiah Thomas is playing himself into an All-Star spot, averaging 22 points and six assists per game.

15. Orlando Magic

15. Orlando Magic

Record: 12-9, 8th in East

Offensive rating: 100.1, 20th

Defensive rating: 98.0, 5th

One thing to know: The Scott Skiles effect is real: The Magic are allowing seven fewer points per 100 possessions this season, and they've won seven of their last eight games. Victor Oladipo is thriving in a bench role.

16. Utah Jazz

16. Utah Jazz

Record: 9-10, 7th in West

Offensive rating: 102.0, 14th

Defensive rating: 101.6, 17th

One thing to know: The Jazz have seen a major slip in their defense this season, and it will only get worse with Rudy Gobert out with an MCL sprain.

17. Houston Rockets

17. Houston Rockets

Record: 10-12, 8th in West

Offensive rating: 101.2, 16th

Defensive rating: 106.2, 27th

One thing to know: The Rockets have been perhaps the most disappointing team in the NBA, and yet they sit in 8th place. It stands to reason that a team with James Harden and Dwight Howard will improve on both ends of the floor.

18. Detroit Pistons

18. Detroit Pistons

Record: 12-10, 10th in West

Offensive rating: 98.6, 25th

Defensive rating: 99.4, 8th

One thing to know: Andre Drummond is on pace to become the first player to average 16 or more rebounds per game since Dennis Rodman in 1996-97.

19. New York Knicks

19. New York Knicks

Record: 10-12, 12th in East

Offensive rating: 99.1, 23rd

Defensive rating: 101.6, 16th

One thing to know: Kristaps Porzingis is not only defying expectations, he's defying comparisons — we haven't seen a player like him before.

20. Washington Wizards

20. Washington Wizards

Record: 9-10, 11th in East

Offensive rating: 99.6, 22nd

Defensive rating: 103.5, 22nd

One thing to know: What's going on with this team? The offense was supposed to be rejuvenated with a small-ball look, and instead they're one of the least efficient teams in the league, while John Wall has gotten off to an unexpectedly slow start.

21. Phoenix Suns

21. Phoenix Suns

Record: 9-13, 9th in West

Offensive rating: 102.0, 14th

Defensive rating: 103.2, 19th

One thing to know: Despite seemingly ending their summer beef at the start of the season, the Suns are reportedly shopping Markieff Morris.

22. Minnesota Timberwolves

22. Minnesota Timberwolves

Record: 8-12, 10th in West

Offensive rating: 101.0, 19th

Defensive rating: 101.5, 15th

One thing to know: The Wolves are 7-7 with Ricky Rubio in the lineup and 1-5 in games he's missed.

23. Milwaukee Bucks

23. Milwaukee Bucks

Record: 9-13, 13th in East

Offensive rating: 99.6, 22nd

Defensive rating: 105.1, 26th

One thing to know: The Bucks have fallen off on defense, and ESPN's Zach Lowe writes that the NBA has caught on to the Bucks' lengthy, frenzied defensive scheme.

24. Sacramento Kings

24. Sacramento Kings

Record: 8-15, 13th in West

Offensive rating: 102.3, 12th

Defensive rating: 106.5, 28th

One thing to know: The resurgence of Rajon Rondo has been an unexpected development. His numbers this season are comparable to his peak seasons with the Celtics.

25. Portland Trail Blazers

25. Portland Trail Blazers

Record: 9-14, 11th in West

Offensive rating: 102.8, 10th

Defensive rating: 103.6, 23rd

One thing to know: After starting the season 4-2, the Blazers have gone 5-12. They just don't have the talent to compete every night.

26. New Orleans Pelicans

26. New Orleans Pelicans

Record: 5-16, 14th in West

Offensive rating: 101.1, 18th

Defensive rating: 108.8, 30th

One thing to know: Injuries have played a big part in the Pelicans' regression, but the coaching change from Monty Williams to Alvin Gentry hasn't looked good. Gentry was supposed to liven up the offense and bring his defensive experience with the Warriors last year to NOLA. They're worse on both ends of the floor this year.

27. Denver Nuggets

27. Denver Nuggets

Record: 8-14, 12th in West

Offensive rating: 97.4, 27th

Defensive rating: 103.8, 24th

One thing to know: Emmanuel Mudiay's numbers have come crashing through the floor, as his shooting efficiency has gotten worse each month. He's shooting 25.6% from the field in four games in December.

28. Brooklyn Nets

28. Brooklyn Nets

Record: 6-15, 14th in East

Offensive rating: 97.0, 28th

Defensive rating: 103.4, 21st

One thing to know: The Brooklyn Nets desperately want to win games, just to avoid sending a high first-round pick to the Celtics this year.

29. Los Angeles Lakers

29. Los Angeles Lakers

Record: 3-18, 15th in West

Offensive rating: 96.5, 29th

Defensive rating: 107.2, 29th

One thing to know: Even rookie D'Angelo Russell recognizes it's easier playing in lineups without the increasingly inefficient Kobe Bryant.

30. Philadelphia 76ers

30. Philadelphia 76ers

Record: 1-21

Offensive rating: 91.3, 30th

Defensive rating: 103.3, 20th

One thing to know: It sounds like Sam Hinkie's "Process" may be over.

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