Week 14 NBA Power Rankings: The Suns Reign Supreme While the Bulls Take a Slip

Image © Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

✍️ Written by :

Frank Weber

🗓 Updated :

Aug 23rd 2023

1. Phoenix Suns (33-9) (+1)

I seem to always serve myself a nice, hot, steamy serving of my own words every time I do one of these. It was just last week where I said: “this Warriors team will remain in the #1 sport for a long time.”

Since then the Warriors have gone 1-3, and are having a worse January than the Detroit Pistons.

But my NBA Power Rankings work with a “next man up” mentality, so here comes the Suns (*queue the Beatles music*).

The Suns are 6-1 so far in January, and star guard Devin Booker is averaging 25 points per game in this stretch. They have the third-highest scoring offense in the entire league, and the second-highest defensive rating to match.

BetMGM currently has them as the team with the fourth-highest odds to win the NBA Championship at +800. If you want to place that bet, click HERE to see if BetMGM is available in your area!

2. Memphis Grizzlies (30-15) (+1)

The Grizzlies franchise-record 11 game winning streak was broken Friday night, when the Grizzlies were blown out by Luka Doncic and the Mavs. Ja Morant was incredible during the win streak, winning the Western Conference’s player of the week award twice during the 11 game stretch.

Ja Morant is currently my favorite to win the MVP, and if you’d like to back OddsSeeker click HERE to see which sportsbooks are available in your area.

3. Golden State Warriors (31-12) (-2)

The Warriors are 4-5 in the month of January and have not been producing like they would’ve hoped since the return of Klay Thompson. Draymond Green is out for at least another two weeks, and Stephen Curry is currently battling an injury of his own. While I think it’s way too early to panic, it’ll be interesting to see how the Warriors respond to a bit of injury trouble.

4. Utah Jazz (29-14) (+2)

I have an apology to make. I’ve been disrespectful to the Utah Jazz, and I’m sorry. I will no longer ignore what the Mormons have going on in Utah. The Jazz saw an awful 1-4 stretch during Rudy Gobert’s COVID absence, but his return saw an 18-point, 19-rebound, two-block performance out of the big man. With Gobert back in the lineup, they should have no issues staying atop the NBA Power rankings.

5. Milwaukee Bucks (27-18) (-)

The Bucks have this weird thing going on where they show up against good teams, but couldn’t be bothered against the rest. In the past couple of weeks, they have wins over the Warriors and the Nets–but losses to the Raptors (twice), the Hornets (twice), and the Pistons.

6. Miami Heat (27-16) (+1)

*insert eyeball emojis here*

Are the heat…really good??? The Heat were on a four-game winning streak before running into a mission-given Joel Embiid, and are 7-3 in their last 10. The Heat have only lost five games at home this season, so if you want to hope in on the trend and place some bets on them to win at home, it may be a good idea.

7. Chicago Bulls (27-14) (-3)

Womp Womp Womp.

The Bulls are amidst their first skid of the year, and with games against the Grizzlies, Cavs, and Bucks in their immediate future, it may be hard to roll out of. The Bulls have a bottom-half defense and a mid-tier offense, so we may be witnessing the beginning of the end for this Chicago Bulls team.

I’m sure they’ll go 4-0 next week and I’ll be eating my words again, but until then, I’m right.

8. Brooklyn Nets (27-15) (-)

The Nets dodged a bullet this week after Kevin Durant’s imploded knee just turned out to be an MCL strain. He’ll be out for the next 4-6 weeks, so the Nets will have to survive with only James Harden and half of Kyrie Irving for the next two months.

If they can make it out of this alive, they’ll prove their depth–which is essential for a late playoffs run.

9.Philadelphia 76ers (25-17) (-)

In Joel Embiid’s last 10 games, he’s averaging 31.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Once the Sixers are able to ditch Ben Simmons (and reportedly Tobias Harris) and can get Embiid some help, this Sixers team will be one of the best in the NBA. Until then, they’ll continue to reside on the outside looking in.

10. Cleveland Cavs (26-18) (+4)

The Cavs come into this week on a four-game win streak and finished their six-game road trip with a 5-1 record. Darius Garland continues to make his case for the 2022 All-Star game, averaging 20.6 points and 10.1 assists per game in the month of January.