As we approach both the half-way mark of the NBA season as well as the trade deadline, we very much now know who the league's best, worst and middling teams are. 

The interesting thing about the NBA, however, is that 'power rankings' can change incredibly quickly, as one team goes on a hot streak, and another drops a couple of games most would expect them to win.

Each month we'll rank each franchise weighted to their recent performances, highlighting a key feature of their season so far.

Since the season began, each and all of the LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks have had their moments in the sun, but at any given time, only a single team can be ranked number one.

* These ratings are as per January 01, 2019.

1. MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Notwithstanding their Christmas Day beatdown at the hands of Philadelphia, the Bucks have been scintillating this season, out to a 31-5 start and seemingly headed for their second consecutive 60+ win season.

Incredibly, Milwaukee continues to operate at the league’s fastest pace, generating 104.6 possessions per 48 minutes, doing so while housing easily the league’s most efficient defense which is conceding just 101.6 points per 100 possessions- nearly a full three points better than the league’s next best unit, the Boston Celtics (104.3).

2. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

The Clippers have moved to within three games of the conference leading Los Angeles Lakers in the West, having already beaten their city rival twice this season. The vaunted Kawhi Leonard-Paul Georgecombo is starting to find its feet to devastating effect, with the duo accounting for a +10.6 net rating when sharing the court together.

3. BOSTON CELTICS

The Celtics appear to very much be the real deal this season, a campaign removed from all the chaos and innuendo which defined Kyrie Irving’s two-year stint in ‘The Garden’.

The Celtics' 23-8 start has them in first place in the highly-competitive Atlantic Division, with the young Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown pairing absolutely shining this season, to say nothing of Irving’s replacement in Kemba Walker who leads the team with 22.5 points per night, while hitting the three-point shot at a career-best 39.8%.

4. DALLAS MAVERICKS

The Mavericks have seemingly put their three-season playoff drought into a bin and set it on fire as they’ve torn out of the gates this campaign with a 21-12 start to the season. Yes, Luka Doncic has elevated his game to the point of serious MVP contention, however special mention must also go to their bench which is outscoring opponents by a league-best 3.9 points per game.

5. LOS ANGELES LAKERS

A four-game losing streak took a little bit of the shine off the Laker’s 24-3 start, however, all four defeats were losses were to playoff-bound opposition, with three by single figures.

The Lakers remain top seven in the league in both offensive and defensive efficiency and continue to maintain top billing in the Western conference standings, thanks in very large part to the LeBron James-Anthony Davistandem, which has a +10.5 net rating from the 755 minutes of floor time they’ve shared together.

If there is a problem for the Lakers it pertains to the contributions outside of their megastars with Kyle Kuzma (11.9 ppg) the only other player outside of James or Davis averaging double digit points this season. A further concern is the overall bench production, with Laker backups producing just 36.2 points per game, which ranks #15 in the league, and is in sharp contrast to their bitter rival LA Clippers whose bench leads the league with 50 points per night.

Futures: NBA Championship Probabilities

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6. TORONTO RAPTORS

The reigning NBA champs have overcome the loss of the their Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard, a lengthy injury list, along with enduring the league’s fourth most challenging schedule to date. Rather than wilt, the Raptors have thrived, with their 23-11 start meaning they are just a game and half out of first place in the Atlantic Division.

The Raptors have no less than five different players averaging at least 14 points per game this season, while third year player - and former first round pick - OG Anunoby, is having something of a breakout season, starting a team-high 32 games, averaging 30 minutes per night and emerging as the team’s most trusted defender.

7. HOUSTON ROCKETS

It’s a familiar story in South-East Texas, with the Rockets once again boasting outrageous offensive prowess (ranked #2 for both ppg and offensive efficiency) but middling when it comes to defense, with the Rockets conceding 109.6 points per 100 possessionswhich is good for just 16^th best in the league, and not in the ballpark of the kind of defensive numbers usually accompanying NBA champions.

8. UTAH JAZZ

The Jazz made the biggest in-season trade so far, adding in Jordan Clarkson while surrendering Dante Exum and a couple of second round picks in a bid to keep their talented squad in championship contention.

While the Jazz have hit the three ball at a league leading 38.9% this season, their overall offense remains concerning, ranked just 18^th for offensive efficiency while committing a massive 14.6 turnovers per 100 possessions, which is a number only Miami and Atlanta are performing worse in.

The Jazz are, however, 21-12 on the season and just five games adrift of the conference leading LA Lakers. Furthermore, the Jazz are 3-0 since Clarkson arrived in Salt Lake City, and while the sample is extremely small, they do house the NBA’s best offensive efficiency in that time, producing 120.2 points per 100 possessions, up sharply from the 108.3 overall figure.

9. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

The 76ers remain one of the league’s most confounding teams, capable of trouncing the likes of elite opposition such as Milwaukee and Boston, yet regularly succumbing to the likes of Orlando (twice), Phoenix and Washington.

In fact, the Sixers have lost six of their last nine matches to find themselves in third place in the Atlantic division, while hitting the three-ball at just 34.1% during the last nine games, which is nowhere near the kind of efficiency needed to compete for a championship in the modern game. Their overall number is 36.2% which is still good for just 12^thposition overall.

The Sixers do, however, remain a beastly team on the boards, ranked second in the league for rebound differential at +5.8 and third for blocks at +1.7.

10. INDIANA PACERS

The Pacers have done an exceptional job keeping pace with the barnstorming Bucks, eight games adrift form the all conquering Milwaukee in the Central Division, and if the playoff started today would own the fifth seed.

Speaking of playoffs, Indiana are well on course for their ninth play-off appearance in ten seasons, continuing to stay relevant despite the absence of their two-time all star, Victor Oladipo, who is expected back this month. The Pacers lead the league where assist-turnover ratio is concerned, at 1.93, which is a testament to the play of former Milwaukee Buck, Malcolm Brogdon, who has assumed the point guard role in Indianapolis, and has been positively brilliant, leading the team with 7.4 assists per night, while also contributing a career-high 17.7 ppg.

11. OKLAHOMA CITY

The Thunder have been one of the NBA’s most refreshing stories this season, projected by all and sundry to be found among the league cellar dwellers but instead maintaining a play-off spot for most of the season.

It’s been a remarkable season by Oklahoma City who have endured profound roster loss over the last few tears with all of James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Paul George moving on.

What’s even more remarkable about the Thunder’s 18-15 start to the season is that it’s been accomplished playing the league’s ninth hardest schedule to date, boasting wins over the like of Dallas, Toronto, Philadelphia and the Clippers.

RELATED: Stuck in the Middle of a Thunder Storm

12. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

When the Pelicans drafted Zion Williamson with the #1 overall back in June, and later traded franchise superstar Anthony Davis to the Lakers for a smorgasbord of assets, they wouldn’t have envisaged that come January they’d be marooned at 11-23 with little going right outside of Brandon Ingram who has broken out this season averaging 25.3 ppg while hitting the three at an outstanding 40.9%.

As New Orleans continues to drift further away from a playoff spot, it may look to trade their star point guard Jrue Holiday who is averaging 20 points and 6.6 assists per game this season.

13. SAN ANTONIO SPURS

San Antonio have ridden out a deplorable 7-14 start, reviving their season in December and keeping alive their phenomenal streak of 22 consecutive seasons of playoff basketball. 

Over their last ten games the Spurs have actually boasted the best points per game offence in the league, averaging 118.3 points. If the Spurs are to remain in playoff contention that simply must do better against .500 or worse teams where they boast just a 10-9 mark on the season which is the sixth worst mark in the Western Conference.  

14. MIAMI HEAT

Another of the league’s surprise packets, out to a 24-9 start and ten game lead in the Southeast division.

The Heat have punished opponents all season with their multi-dimensional attack which has no less than seven different players averaging double digits where points per game are concerned.

Jimmy Butler has fit in perfectly on South Beach leading the team in both points and assists, however its been Bam Adebayo’s breakout season which has grabbed most of the headlines, with the former first round pick out of Kentucky responsible for 20 double-doubles on the season, and, along with LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of just three players with at least 20 DD’s to go along with multiple triple double games.

15. DENVER NUGGETS

The Nuggets have won 9 of their last 11 games and moved within three games of the very top of the Western Conference. Full credit to head coach Mike Malone who continues to fly under the radar as one of the league’s very best minds, this year installing a much slower tempo (the Nuggets play at the league’s second slowest pace) yet, still overseeing a team which is ranked #12 overall where offensive efficiency is concerned and #1in the league over their last 11 games averaging 116.2 points per 100 possessions.

16. CHICAGO BULLS

It’s saying something about the overall quality in the Eastern Conference that the 13-21 Chicago Bulls are just two games outside of a playoff spot. To date, the Bulls have played quite easily the NBA’s most gentle schedule and outside of the Atlanta Hawks house the league’s second least efficient offense.

17. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Incredibly, and like the Bulls in the East, the Grizzlies are just two games adrift from a playoff spot in the West despite their dreadful 13-21 record.

Unlike the Bulls however, the Grizzlies have two bonafide young stars to build around with 20-year olds Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson excelling this season, both averaging more than 17 points per nightwith Morant the presumptive favourite to land Rookie of the Year honours.

18. ORLANDO MAGIC

Despite their tropical locale, the Magic are very much a nose to the ground, blue-collar type team and the embodiment of their head coach, Steve Clifford..

At 15-19 they presently occupy a playoff spot however that position hasn’t arrived through beating high-quality opposition. In fact, the Magic are 2-15 against .500 or above opposition.

19. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

Things are getting rather dire for the Blazers, losers of five in a row, with their most recent defeat coming at the hands of the overly deplorable New York Kicks, and to the tune of 24 points.

At 14-21 Portland’s six consecutive seasons of post-season basketball looks in jeopardy with so many questions surrounding the composition of the franchise from the tenure of head coach Terry Stotts to whether it truly is time to break up the Damian Lillard-CJ McCollum backcourt.

20. PHOENIX SUNS

The Sun’s exceptional 7-4 start has quickly become a lovely memory with Phoenix now marooned at 13-21 having lost 9 of their last 11 games. During that 11-game run the Suns have hit the three-ball at a deplorable 31.3%, while they are giving up 114.0 points per 100 possessions which is the third worst mark in the league during that span.

21. BROOKLYN NETS

Like the Celtics, the Nets have thrived without Kyrie Irving, riding a 12-9 streak, while their $141 million point guard is out injured. With Irving in the squad the Nets were 4-7 with a career-high, and completely unsustainable 34% of the Nets' offense running through the former #1 pick.

22. SACRAMENTO KINGS

Eight losses in a row and yet another season without playoffs is looming for the long-suffering Kings.

Sacramento bought in head coach Luke Walton to give them a more Warriors-like identity, with the likes of Buddy Hield, De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley and Harrison Barnes theoretically qualifying as the kind of high-paced, lights out shooting unit which fuelled so much of Golden State’s success.

Instead, the King’s offence is operating at the league’s slowest pace generating just 96.7 possessions per 48 minutes. Most confounding is that they were #5 in this metric last season without Walton averaging 103.1 possessions.

23. WIZARD WIZARDS

Despite so much of the doom and gloom that surrounds the Wizards, with their 10-22 record on the season indeed backing up the pessimism, they have been something of a revelation this season from an offensive standpoint with only Dallas, Milwaukee and Houston boasting better efficiency numbers. Washington are also rarely turning the ball over, with their 11.9 giveaways per 100 possessions the sixth best mark in the league.

They have however been a train wreck on defense conceding 116.7 points per 100 possessions which is easily the league’s worst mark.

24. NEW YORK KNICKS

Another season of abject misery in Manhattan has been masked somewhat by the Knick’s current three-game winning steak. Julius Randle has exploded over the last few games with scores of 33, 30 and 20 while the Canadian rookie, and #3 overall pick RJ Barret has flashed his potential throughout the season averaging 13.5 ppg, however he desperately needs to lift his three-point shooting which is stuck at a lowly 31.9%.

25. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Unlike the Knicks, the Warriors have only known glorious success in recent which is why, for the most part, their horrendous 9-26 is being understood as a manifestation of an exhausted franchise completely snake bit by injury.

Golden State are positioned in the league’s bottom seven for both offensive and defensive efficiency, and while Deangelo Russell is averaging 23.2 points per night, his usage share sits at an enormous 32.3% which is a number franchise legend Steph Curry has surpassed just once in his glittering career.

26. DETROIT PISTONS

Ten games less than .500 and we’re not even at the halfway point of the season and there’s a familiar air of stagnation about this year’s Pistons. While they have hit the three-ball at 37.6%, the third best mark in the league, they are just one of four teams in the East, along with the Knicks, Atlanta and Washington to boast a losing record against sub .500 opposition.

27. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

The Wolves, like the Suns, started the season promisingly with their 10-8 making fans in the Twin Cities believe that their second playoff appearance in 16 seasons was within reach.

They’ve instead cratered, winning just two of its last 13 games and housing the league’s second least efficient offence during that span.

Look for Minnesota and General Manager Gersan Rosas to make some major roster changes which could even include Andrew Wiggins who though has had something of a breakout season, continues to frustrate the Wolves fan base, hitting the three-ball this year at an horrendous 32.6% clip.

28. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

The Cavs house the 26^th ranked offense in the NBA, their 1.28 assist to turnover ratio qualifying as the league’s worst while they are a defensive sieve, conceding 114 points per 100 possessions which is the worst mark in the league outside of Washington.

Somehow, however, Cleveland are 10-23 which incredibly has them within just four games of a playoff spot in the East.

Second-year point guard Collin Sexton has averaged 18.3 ppg since December however is hitting the three-ball at a preposterously low 11.1%.

29. CHARLOTTE HORNETS

The Hornets are working with the league’s sixth youngest squad and have adjusted well to life after Kemba Walker to sit just three games out of a playoff spot. Unfortunately for Charlotte, they have the league’s 6^thmost challenging schedule form here on in with multiple games against the Lakers and Bucks still on their docket.

30. ATLANTA HAWKS

Much was expected of the Hawks this season with their young, though highly talented roster expected to take flight.

While Trae Young has been exceptional, averaging 28 points and eight assists per night, he has lacked consistent contribution form his teammates which is why the Hawks are stuck at 7-27 and seemingly headed for the league’s very worst record. The Hawks are 1-17 against opponents who are .500 or better this season.

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