Week 9 of the 2015-16 NBA season has come and gone and the centerpiece of the week was the Christmas Day schedule. During the five-game marathon, we found out that the Golden State Warriors are still the best team in the league, the San Antonio Spurs are human and the Oklahoma City Thunder may not be the team we all thought they were, even with Kevin Durant healthy. Let’s take a look at the newest batch of our NBA Power Rankings after all this crazy action.
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30. Philadelphia 76ers (2-30) Last Week: 30
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsThe 76ers' plan all season long has been to lose as many games as possible in order to be in prime position for the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. While they're still on that track, the team went out and traded for Ish Smith from the Pelicans and in his first game starting, the 76ers won. He's a talented player who could easily lead the team to more wins than they're looking for.
29. Los Angeles Lakers (5-26) Last Week: 29
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers are still really bad, but D'Angelo Russell and Larry Nance Jr. are beginning to make waves on a consistent basis. With Jordan Clarkson likely leaving in the offseason, the play of these two guys will go a long way in determining the type of free agents the Lakers can get. It also wouldn't hurt if the Lakers won the draft lottery and selected Ben Simmons.
28. Brooklyn Nets (8-22) Last Week: 28
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY SportsThaddeus Young, Jarrett Jack and Brook Lopez make a solid threesome, but when there's no other talent around them, it doesn't matter. The Nets need to add some talent through the draft and figure out what direction they want to go long-term. A rebuild would be the best move.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-19) Last Week: 23
Soobum Im-USA TODAY SportsThe Timberwolves took a tumble down the power rankings as Sam Mitchell's team lost all three games in Week 9. Fortunately, this season's record means nothing as the focus is on developing the young players for the future and the team is doing a great job of that. Karl-Anthony Towns is going to be a superstar for years to come, and the Timberwolves will likely add another high draft pick in 2016. Watch out for this team in coming years.
26. Phoenix Suns (12-20) Last Week: 21
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsThe Suns are a team in disarray. This past week, the team lost all three games, Eric Bledsoe tore his meniscus, Markieff Morris was suspended and Jeff Hornacek could be fired any day. With Brandon Knight being the only bright spot now, the Suns are likely headed for a terrible season.
25. New Orleans Pelicans (10-20) Last Week: 27
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsDon't look now, but the Pelicans are starting to play some solid basketball. Alvin Gentry's team took down the Trail Blazers and Rockets last week and took the Heat to overtime on Christmas. Tyreke Evans has been great since being inserted as the starting point guard, and Jrue Holiday is nearly 100 percent; expect this team to get better as the season goes along.
24. Milwaukee Bucks (12-19) Last Week: 26
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY SportsThe Bucks only had two games on the docket last week and finished 1-1 with a victory over the 76ers followed by a 21-point home loss to the Raptors. Michael Carter-Williams, Greg Monroe and Khris Middleton have played well lately, but they aren't getting much help.
23. Denver Nuggets (12-19) Last Week: 24
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY SportsThe Nuggets have been hammered with injuries over the last few weeks and it's beginning to take a toll. The team lost three of four games last week, with the only win coming over the struggling Suns. Will Barton has been a star for the Nuggets, and Kenneth Faried is a nice piece, but there just isn't a whole lot of talent left to be competitive.
22. Portland Trail Blazers (13-20) Last Week: 25
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY SportsThe Trail Blazers are one of the youngest teams in the NBA, but I really like how the roster is built for the future. Damian Lillard is a superstar and C.J. McCollum, Mason Plumlee and Allen Crabbe are pieces to build around. With a solid offseason, this team could be close to being a playoff contender as early as next season.
21. Utah Jazz (12-16) Last Week: 20
Rob Gray-USA TODAY SportsThe Jazz spent the first quarter of the season overachieving, but the team has begun to regress to the mean and it doesn't help that Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors and Alec Burks are all now injured. Gordon Hayward is a great player, but there's only so much he can do on his own.
20. New York Knicks (14-18) Last Week: 18
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY SportsSunday's loss to the Celtics completed a winless week for the Knicks, who are struggling to find success offensively. Outside of Kristaps Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony, there isn't a consistent third scoring option on the roster.
19. Sacramento Kings (12-18) Last Week: 22
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY SportsAfter impressive road wins over the Raptors and Pacers, the Kings had a chance to end the week with a 3-1 record if they beat the Blazers on Sunday night. Instead, they played their worst game of the week as C.J. McCollum lit them up and the Blazers pulled the mini upset.
18. Washington Wizards (14-14) Last Week: 19
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsPlaying without Bradley Beal, Nene Hilario, Drew Gooden and a less than 100 percent Otto Porter, the Wizards found a way to win all three games in Week 9. John Wall is playing out of his mind and the role players are stepping up to fill in for the injured guys which has made for some great basketball.
17. Houston Rockets (16-16) Last Week: 16
Thomas Shea-USA TODAY SportsWeek 9 was a microcosm of the Rockets' season as they beat the Hornets to begin the week, but followed that up with a loss to the Magic. On Christmas Day, they took care of the Spurs which was their best game of the year, but followed that with a loss to the Pelicans the following night. If the Rockets don't get scorching hot soon, then there will be some serious offseason changes.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (17-16) Last Week: 15
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY SportsThe Grizzlies have played 33 games this season, and they still don't know their identity. The only consistent players are Mike Conley and Marc Gasol and that makes it tough on any given night figuring out if someone else is going to step up to help out. With wins over the Lakers and 76ers this week, and losses to the Wizards and Hornets, this wasn't a good week for the Grizzlies.
15. Detroit Pistons (17-14) Last Week: 12
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY SportsThe Pistons are about to get a big boost with the return of Brandon Jennings from injury. With Andre Drummond having a career year, and Reggie Jackson playing great basketball, this team could be primed to make a run in the near future.
14. Dallas Mavericks (17-13) Last Week: 13
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsThe Mavs started Week 9 with a four-point road loss to the Raptors. In that game, Deron Williams suffered a hamstring strain and missed the last two games of the week. In his place, J.J. Barea led the Mavericks to two wins and scored 58 total points in those games. It will be interesting to see what Rick Carlisle does when Williams is ready to return.
13. Charlotte Hornets (16-13) Last Week: 11
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY SportsThe Hornets have a lot more talent than they get credit for, but Steve Clifford's team just hasn't been able to get on a prolonged streak. Possibly with Al Jefferson returning, that run could be right around the corner.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (18-13) Last Week: 8
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsThe Clippers took a bit of a slide this week despite winning two of their three games. Blake Griffin's partially torn left quad is the main reason for the drop as there aren't a whole lot of options for Doc Rivers to turn to at power forward.
11. Indiana Pacers (17-12) Last Week: 6
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY SportsThe Pacers lost two of their three games in Week 9 and a lot of the struggles had to do with Paul George. Since starting the season off on fire, George has hit a wall and he can't seem to turn things around. If the Pacers are going to make the playoffs this season, George is going to have to return to his pre-injury form for good.
10. Orlando Magic (17-13) Last Week: 14
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY SportsAlthough they couldn't complete the Week 9 three-game sweep, the Magic won on the road against the Knicks and beat the Rockets at home. A late surge by the Heat in Sunday's game was a bit disappointing, but this team seems to be finding ways to win. If it continues, Scott Skiles need to be in the Coach of the Year conversation.
9. Chicago Bulls (16-12) Last Week: 7
David Banks-USA TODAY SportsThe Bulls got some tough news when it was announced that Joakim Noah would miss two-to-four weeks. With his absence, the Bulls lost at home to the Nets and on the road against the Mavs while somehow beating the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Christmas Day. Unless Derrick Rose figures things out -- which may be happening of late -- or the Bulls pull off a trade for another shooter, I don't like their chances of being a contender this season.
8. Boston Celtics (18-13) Last Week: 17
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY SportsThe Celtics won all four games last week and also got Marcus Smart back on Sunday against the Knicks. With their next three games coming against the Lakers followed by a home-and-home against the Nets, the Celtics could really begin to make some noise in the Eastern Conference.
7. Miami Heat (18-11) Last Week: 5
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY SportsThe Heat began Week 9 with a home loss to the Pistons, but recovered to take down the Pelicans and Magic. I love the trio of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside, but there isn't a whole lot of help for those three guys. I worry that Wade and Bosh could begin to wear down as the season goes on.
6. Toronto Raptors (19-12) Last Week: 9
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY SportsThe Raptors squeaked by the Mavericks to begin Week 9, then demolished the Bucks on the road to finish out a 2-0 week. With Jonas Valanciunas and DeMarre Carroll returning, the Raptors look poised to stake claim to a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference.
5. Atlanta Hawks (20-12) Last Week: 10
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY SportsThe Hawks are in the midst of a six-game winning streak that has put them in the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. It's amazing that Mike Budenholzer keeps getting so much out of this roster that doesn't have a lot of individual talent.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (19-9) Last Week: 3
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsNo team disappointed me last week more than the Cavaliers. With a big matchup against the Warriors on Christmas Day, the Cavaliers lost a hard-fought game 89-83. They played hard and had a chance to win at the end, I have no problem with that. The problem lies with the game the following night against the Blazers when the Cavaliers stunk up the place and lost 105-76.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (21-10) Last Week: 4
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY SportsI was totally blown away by the Thunder's home loss to the Bulls on Christmas Day, but they won their other three games of the week, so I'll take it as a grain of salt. I'd still like to see the Thunder add a more consistent third scoring option, but there's a lot to like about this team as long as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are healthy.
2. San Antonio Spurs (26-6) Last Week: 2
Soobum Im-USA TODAY SportsThe Spurs utterly shocked the nation when they lost to the Rockets on Christmas Day. Although it was a bad loss, this team is clearly the second-best team in the NBA and will be the Warriors' biggest obstacle come playoff time.
1. Golden State Warriors (28-1) Last Week: 1
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsI don't know what I can say about this team that hasn't been said. The Warriors have three absolute superstars and surround them with the best group of role players in the league. Barring any sort of serious injury, it's going to take a miracle for a team to beat the Warriors four times in seven games.
