By 
2 weeks into the NBA season I want try and do weekly or biweekly rankings throughout the season so here’s the first edition of the Right Hook NBA rankings that are divided into categories so let’s begin with number 30.
Should be Relegated.
This category is for the absolute horrible & unwatchable that if the NBA had relegation they would be there.
30. Washington Wizards- If the NBA took anything from the English premiere league it should be relegation for God awful teams and play. So, in a tier of their own the Washington Wizards are in the perfect place, just an absolute disgusting watch and giving Jordan Poole the keys/green light may not be a wise choice.
Lottery maybe?
This category is for teams that may have some promise but will probably end up in next year’s draft lottery.
29. Utah Jazz- So far the Jazz have not caught the NBA off guard like they did to start last season. However, expectations should not be high for this team that is still under construction, Markkanen and Kessler have to be the force on this team but hopefully rookies Taylor Hendricks and Keyonte George will pick up during the year. With that ever-cherished draft assets/capital Utah can make a move to improve or be in good positions in the draft.
28. Portland Trailblazers- The Blazers are in a complete youth movement and are sorting out the roster for the future. Rookie sensation Scoot Henderson has had some struggles that should have been expected, big man Deandre Ayton is trying to prove why he was a number 1 pick, and the exciting rise of guard Shaedon Sharpe is something for Rip City to get excited about but that’s probably it this season going forward.
27. Detroit Pistons- Their record is a bit disappointing, but this Pistons team is promising. Cade Cunningham looks great and front runner for comeback player of the year, big man Jalen Duren is a force, and rookie Ausar Thompson has been a surprisingly good fit for them under Monty Williams. The Bad Boys may be coming back and competitive, yet the lottery is most likely awaiting them instead of the play-in or playoffs but will be fun to watch league pass.
26. Charlotte Hornets- One of the many surprises to start the season that I had little to no expectations for was the Hornets who are a competitive fun watch so far. A healthy LaMelo Ball hopefully will make a push to be an all-star but with sophomore big Mark Williams and rookie Brandon Miller make a very promising core that could sneak into the play-in picture but as shallow as the eastern conference is they will be on the outside come April.
25. San Antonio Spurs- And of course to close out this category are the Spurs, who a nightly check in on league pass or social media with Victor Wembanyama who has been a viral clip basically every night they play. The experimenting with Jeremy Sochan as a Draymond Green like point forward hasn’t been the best with Wembanyama like it is with guard Tre Jones, plus Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson going for it offensively make it clear that Popp and company are playing the long game with seeing what players fit best Wemby going forward.
UH-OH!!!
This category is for teams who should be concerned with how the season possibly unfolds.
24. Chicago Bulls- Not only should the Bulls be greatly concerned about the season but should be fire selling this roster off to do start over completely sending players like DeRozan, LaVine, Caruso, and Vucevic to viable contenders along with expecting that Patrick Williams was a miss. I have no idea what the front office is doing but a clear total tear down of this team is the best move for everybody instead of living in NBA purgatory.
23. Memphis Grizzlies- A team with high expectations has started out horribly, the Grizzlies have had a string of bad luck health wise with losing big men Brandon Clarke and Steven Adams for the seasons on top of the suspension of Ja Morant to start the season has led to some huge struggles in Memphis. Hopefully Morant’s return will right the ship especially offensively, but the Grizz are in danger of this season getting away from them in the rather competitive western conference.
22. Sacramento Kings- The Kings are a different kind of uh-oh here, as in uh-oh the league has caught on to us. Still one of the more explosive and fast offenses in the league, it looks like the rest of the NBA has prepared better for the Kings. An injury to De’Aaron Fox certainly hurts but the rest of the core has to take the next step or last season’s surprising run with look like a fluke as they will be in the play-in or out altogether.
Pleasant Surprises
This category is about the teams that so far have been a surprising to start the year out and deserve a little more respect going forward.
21. Brooklyn Nets- The sort of starless Brooklyn Nets has been surprising well more like Ben Simmons has been. Simmons looking a little like his old self has been extremely encouraging that he can still be effective on the floor and help this team. Bridges has been constant and guard Cam Thomas is certainly making a name for himself and should be promising for a team and fan base that has been through weird bad luck in recent years.
20. Orlando Magic- The Magic are certainly one of the teams that must see league pass options but are quietly making noise and could be due for a surge in the conference. With Banchero and Wagner continuing to gel, Jalen Suggs being absolute spark plug (Should have drafted him Toronto!) and rookie Anthony Black coming along well certainly has them ahead of schedule for most fans with a 4-3 record to start.
19. Toronto Raptors- Have to admit the Raptors have surprised me, coming into the season I dreaded this team, but they have a true surprise for me and look like they can make their back into the playoff picture. With Dennis Schroder at point guard and the core of Siakam, Barnes, and Anunoby under new coach Darko Rajakovic has been hopeful despite some bad finishing in some games.
18. Houston Rockets- The Rockets have been rather surprising to start the season, with head coach Ime Udoka, veteran point guard Fred VanVleet leading this young core and the shocking positive presence of agitator extraordinaire Dillion Brooks has led to wins from a team with rather low expectations. Jalen Green seems to be evolving and Jabari Smith Jr is actually involved has been nice and give that rather passionate fanbase some stuff to look forward to.
17. Indiana Pacers- One of the more exciting and high scoring teams in the NBA are the Indiana Pacers, who play at an extremely fast pace that suits their core of all-star Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, newly acquired Obi Toppin and Bruce Brown have been fun to watch even when they give up a lot of points. Second year wing Bennedict Mathurin is in a bit of slump but should come out of it and will add more athleticism and explosion to this group.
Can Go Either Way
This category is for the teams that are unpredictable in the direction they are starting and could end up if they don’t adjust.
16. Miami Heat- The defending eastern conference champions have not started out well, the Heat usually are not juggernauts in the regular season where they are competitive enough to be in contention. With Caleb Martin and Jimmy Butler injured to start, the play from Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro have held down the fort keeping from being completely written off this early in the season.
15. Cleveland Cavaliers- If a team could be defined as vanilla then the Cavs would fit the bill. Nothing has stood out with them positive or negative but the looming situation of “Will Donovan Mitchell stay?” grows with every loss and if Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen playing together hurts the team’s potential puts Cleveland on the edge of this season being very successful or an absolute disaster.
14. New Orleans Pelicans- The Pelicans continue to be an absolute mystery, if it’s not injuries then it is the disappointing play from players who need to step up that has the Pelicans in a weird place. Of course Zion Williamson when he plays is incredible but can not play back to backs already, CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram are hurt has been rocky to start but young versatile wings Dyson Daniels and Herb Jones have been hopeful but in a city that has been just awful luck towards a Basketball since the 1970s continues to be bad as this promising roster continues to greatly disappoint and frustrate fans along with putting coach Willie Green in the hot seat unfairly.
13. Los Angeles Clippers- For the Clippers this season is an absolute win or bust situation especially with acquiring the controversial James Harden who is now on his third team in basically three years, now joins the Clippers to add even more pressure to a team trying to validate their big moves four years ago mortgaging the future for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to usher in a new era for the franchise. The concerns of the players and the fit, to the concerns of if their core can play enough to make a deep playoff run or even make the playoffs should make anyone invested in this team worry.
12. New York Knicks- Unlike the Clippers, the Knicks are in this category for basically one reason or in this case one player in Julius Randle. Randle plays a vital role in whether this Knicks team will continue to contend in the East or have this season go completely sideways because of Randle’s performance. However, the Knicks have been ok to start despite his slow start, Jalen Brunson continues to be a major all-star franchise guy, RJ Barrett and Quentin Grimes continue to evolve, and Donte DiVincenzo adds to the strong Villanova culture growing with Brunson and Hart certainly has Knick fans hold out hope for a big break in their favor.
11. Dallas Mavericks- Any team with Kyrie Irving certainly can go either way. But I must admit the Mavericks have been off to good start, Irving seems to be comfortable and happy in his role with this team as mega star Luka Doncic carries and leads them while Irving provides a solid scoring option. The Doncic/Irving duo paired with the surprising impact of rookie center Dereck Lively II as the rim running big has been an added bonus to the Mavericks and their start to the season.
Hunger Rising
This group is for teams that are young, talented, and potentially ready to make the next step and shake up the standings.
10. Oklahoma City Thunder- One of the teams that I was extremely high on coming into the season was the Oklahoma City Thunder who have not disappointed so far. Even with all-NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being out with injury and Josh Giddey’s shaky start shooting wise this team has been entertaining, competitive, and becoming a threat in the West.
Second year stud Jalen Williams, 3 & D wing Lu Dort, and the incredible play of rookies Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren have been promising especially in the case of Holmgren who would be the rookie sensation if Victor Wembanyama wasn’t around. Yes, it is early but there is something there with this young, talented team that’s legitimate.
9. Atlanta Hawks- The Atlanta Hawks have all the parts to be a legit contender, but it all falls back to Trae Young and his willingness to make better choices offensively especially playing off the ball creating space for others and take better shots will lead to great success for this team especially under coach Quin Snyder.
The Cliffhanger
8. Milwaukee Bucks- The Bucks, despite their exciting offseason with acquiring Damian Lillard, has not started as many expected. Clearly still figuring out things offensively but the bigger concern is on defense where perhaps they will greatly miss Jrue Holiday will be something to monitor as the season progresses with the Bucks if they can be average when defending the perimeter. Giannis looks incredible and even with some hiccups Damian Lillard looks like himself and them as duo is already dangerous while figuring out each other.
But with rookie head coach Adrian Griffin, the potential lack of depth, and not talked about enough concern of Khris Middleton’s health and availability could easily make this highly promising season turn quickly into an abject failure that could lead to massive changes again to make the best of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s prime years.
Too Early to Tell
This group is for teams that are unclear as to how to truly decide what they are to start the season.
7. Phoenix Suns- The Suns like the Clippers are trying to build a championship team through the now old model of “Super teams” with multiple stars, but newly added Bradley Beal has not played yet along with Devin Booker out already has led to Kevin Durant carrying the burden and playing large minutes doing a lot on both ends of the floor is not a wise thing if the goal is winning the title with Durant healthy because of his injury history and mileage on his body should raise major concern for the Suns and the structure of this roster.
8. Los Angeles Lakers- The Lakers are the other team that you can’t call what this team can be considering their multiple year “plan” of Anthony Davis being the number one option in order for this team to make it to the finals, which has proven wrong with Davis out with an injury because of the number of minutes played already. Coach Darvin Ham and LeBron James wanted to put James on minutes restriction in order to maximize him for the postseason has already been scrapped in order for this team to be truly competitive with James entering his 21st season. Breakout player Austin Reaves has struggled to start but for Laker nation hopefully that changes if the Lakers have real title aspirations.
The Sleepers
This category is for the teams that could sneak into the title conversation and should be taken more seriously as potential threats.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves- I can admit when I am wrong and so far to start this season I was wrong about the Timberwolves. The wolves have been incredible to start especially on the defensive end where their size and length has just been overwhelming for teams, we are witnessing the ascension of superstar in Anthony Edwards who has absolutely incredible as he is finally the centerpiece of the team, and the supporting cast has complemented him well. Center Rudy Gobert looks the best he has looked in a while, Jaden McDaniels is emerging as a potential first team all-defense candidate and even Karl-Anthony Towns has been surprisingly good in the scheme of things but let’s see how long this lasts but at the moment the T’Wolves look like real contenders.
4. Philadelphia 76ers- Probably the biggest sleeping giant in the eastern conference is the 76ers and may not be the Bucks. Despite the James Harden drama they have seem to quickly move on from it and are going forward with Tyrese Maxey’s evolution that has accelerated under the amazing Nick Nurse that has changed offense to empower others to contribute offensively like Tobias Harris to lighten the load on the reigning MVP Joel Embiid who has been solid to start but the pace they are playing at could be a concern when it comes to Embiid but right now Philadelphia is turning a possible nightmare into a blessing in disguise.
3. Golden State Warriors- The old reliable Warriors remain in the top of the league and seem to stabilize the team with the addition of Chris Paul in charge of bench/second unit which has been great for their young assets like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody but has also given some relief to Stephen Curry when comes out keeping things on track. It may too early to say if Jordan Poole was a chemistry issue or not, but the Warriors look more like themselves compared various points last season.
The Unbelievable
The last group is for the two teams that are head and shoulders above the rest of the NBA.
2. Boston Celtics- The Celtics have looked phenomenal to start season, the additions of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis have just opened everything offensively from the incredible spacing to just destroying mismatches has made them a nightmare to defend while their defense has been in sync. The Holiday/White combination is the scariest backcourt defense to face because of their versatility, size, and grit challenges everyone then you add in the rim protection of Porzingis makes that defense impossible to get good shots on.
Despite the start the concern of Porzingis injury history and Jaylen Brown’s questionable play to start is something that keeps me from putting the Celtics being number one in the rankings are absolutely the best team in the eastern conference.
1. Denver Nuggets- The defending champion Denver Nuggets top the rankings at number one because they picked up where they left off from the finals. Jokic is playing on a completely different level, Aaron Gordon continues to be the x-factor, and despite a hamstring injury to Jamal Murray the “next man up” mentality has kept the Nuggets on top with quality play from Christian Braun, Reggie Jackson, Peyton Watson as well as rookies Julian Strawther and Jalen Pickett which seems like the Nuggets will be in the championship picture barring a major season ending injury to Jokic or Murray.
