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The Right Hook rankings are back! Started out pretty good but 2 weeks later there are some big changes because of the shocking effect and success of the in-season tournament has possibly established the true contenders and who simply are not good enough to pretend. So, let’s begin the second edition of these rankings with the bottom simply called “Just awful”.
Just awful (30-25)
This group is simply the worst in the NBA regardless of how bright or dark their futures may be.
30) Washington Wizards: Expect one team to be at the start of these rankings and they are the Washington Wizards. What more is there to say? Jordan Poole’s one-man show has not been good or exciting especially averaging a little over 17 points a game when he is supposedly the lead guy doesn’t lend much confidence. Despite the small bright spots of Kyle Kuzma and rookie Bilal Coulibaly this team is an absolute mess that does not inspire or retain fans’ interest in the team and their future.
29) Memphis Grizzlies: Who knew one person’s suspension could totally derail a potentially promising season? Well Ja Morant and his rather stupid antics led to a 25-game suspension to start the season leaving his team in a bad place. That along with rotten injury luck to big men Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke has led to the Grizzlies horrible start. At 5-14 with Morant out for at least 8 more games pretty much sets the scene for this season Memphis being an unfortunate throw away that might finally force this team to make some moves to maximize the core’s potential if they want to be regular contenders in the west.
28) Utah Jazz: Being awful is one thing but being boring, bland, and awful is a bit much but describes the Utah Jazz. Nothing really jumps out as extremely bad, but this roster is just what it is considering their market and appeal to any future stars. Rookie Keyonte George gives a jolt of excitement and interest to the team, but the rest of the team just don’t add up and with GM Danny Ainge their future can change quickly but looks like they are being patient with taking any action at the moment.
27) Chicago Bulls: The Bulls could be lower in these rankings but I’m giving this team the benefit of a doubt where they will finally admit defeat to the construction of this team and tear this whole thing down to the studs. Zach LaVine regularly expresses his unhappiness, Patrick Williams showcasing his bust potential and coach Billy Donovan absolutely helpless should bright and large neon red flags for the Bulls to completely start over.
Trading away LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso can bring back some pieces to properly rebuild in Chicago depending on the market for each player of course. But right now, the future in Chicago is possibly the darkest it has ever been if things continue as they are going currently.
26) Portland Trailblazers: This should not be a surprise with this incredibly promising young group, but the slow and rough start of rookie sensation Scoot Henderson has many already writing him off as a bust, but I am not doing that because rookie point guards always have a rough start but end up being fine and I expect that to be the case with Henderson. Especially with Ayton, Sharpe, and Grant to work with this Blazers team won’t be in the mix this season but certainly will show lots of promise going forward if that core stays together.
25) San Antonio Spurs: Continuing the young promising team theme we end this group with the Spurs, who obviously are figuring out who and what they are as team that are in no rush in the development of Victor Wembanyama who has taken a slight step back in the rookie of the year chase at the moment, but his progression is still exceptional. The Spurs have more to be excited about than we expected to start the season but are on schedule with the development of the team and their future.
Make a trade! (24-20)
This group is made up of teams that need to shake things up and make a trade or trades to jumpstart their teams going forward.
24) Charlotte Hornets: The Hornets are a team with no true direction, sadly with another injury to their young all-star LaMelo Ball certainly is a downer for us fans but the play of rookie Brandon Miller has been rewarding but this team is need of move or two to make this team potentially interesting. Perhaps making a trade for Bulls star Zach LaVine or someone like that could do the treat but leaving this roster as is just absolutely stupid to do.
23) Detroit Pistons: Despite going winless last month the Pistons can still be one of the younger and more promising teams in the NBA if they make some moves. Even with Monty Williams questionable coaching calls and being 2-18 this team can certainly turn it around by trading away some people at some of more crowded positions. Possibly trading away Killian Hayes, RJ Hampton, Bojan Bogdanovic, Marvin Bagley III, Isaiah Stewart and possibly Jaden Ivey could solidify roles on the team while bringing in some win now veterans to hopefully change the fortunes in Motown much sooner rather than later.
22) Brooklyn Nets: The Nets have become a team where you can dump your middle tier talent, reclamation projects, and on the verge stars and have a sometimes-pesky team. Mikal Bridges leads this team where he can be a major part of a contending team but is the star is up for debate, breakout season for guard Cam Thomas and with Ben Simmons out again with injury leaves a lot to be desired but big man Nic Claxton can possibly attract some building blocks for Brooklyn to do some sort of quick rebuild to be back in the eastern conference mix going forward.
21) Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks are on the edge this season with all the talent under their new coach Quin Synder for a full season will decide what this team looks like after this season. Is Trae Young’s time running out? What happens with Dejounte Murray and the next contract? Can Onyeka Okongwu finally become the starting center? A lot is being asked and certainly needs to be answered this year somehow in order to keep the bright future of this team going or this will fall off a cliff quicker than expected.
20) Toronto Raptors: The Raptors certainly are a team that needs to make a trade! Yes I am a Raptors and Hawks fan but clearly this construction of the team needs to be broken down and sold off and finally call for a rebuild. The frosty relationship between Pascal Siakam and management over his extension is a good place to start despite I’m a fan of Siakam’s he certainly can help many contending teams and get a great return back for him, same applies with 3 & D stud OG Anunoby can certainly lead to a potential fast turnaround especially with the management in place but sadly it is just time to bring this run to an end in the 6.
The Glory Days All-Stars
This group is for the teams that are living off their star players past success and standings in the NBA but now are older, slower, and possibly just not as good as they once were or what people are used to.
19) Golden State Warriors: And the perfect place to start for this group is the Warriors who are clearly determined to die on their sword of not breaking up Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green while quickly given up on potential young talent and predecessors like James Wiseman and Jordan Poole along with getting older and smaller instead of younger and bigger like the rest of the league.
The antics of Green and Thompson are now doing more harm than anyone wishes to say out loud especially when they are not performing up to past standards certainly screams for a change on this team if they wish to maximize the remaining prime years of Curry. But if Curry and more importantly coach Steve Kerr continues to have that blind spot then we can fairly say the end of this era of the Warriors is happening despite their delusions in the building.
18) Los Angeles Clippers: When it comes to the Clippers this team is absolutely screaming “WIN RIGHT NOW” with no draft picks until 2030 along with the complete uncertainty of whether stars James Harden, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard will be around long term presents a very grim future for the second team in LA. Coach Tyronn Lue is in a tough spot keeping everyone engaged or happy when a majority of the starters demand the ball can lead to extremely explosive trainwreck this season that is being built on past accomplishments, performances and potentially naïve hope.
Wild Cards (17-13)
This group of teams can seriously change the look of the playoffs and title pictures if things line up at the right time.
17) Cleveland Cavaliers: One of several times in a weird limbo are the Cavs, where there is something either missing or is greatly holding them back. With Donovan Mitchell’s future looms heavy this team should be more established in the east but whether Evan Mobley finally excels as a small ball center, or it is time for coach JB Bickerstaff to go and bring in a new voice/vision for this team something needs to happen if Cleveland wants to be in the mix at the top.
16) New Orleans Pelicans: The Pelicans have an abundance of talent but when it comes to their future it comes down to health and if star Zion Williamson can be great on a consistent basis while playing Brandon Ingram and Dyson Daniels. That along with health are what is holding back this team, but with plenty of solid draft picks and players the Pelicans can make a big move to boost their chances with maybe making a trade for LaVine, DeRozan, and others could be what this this franchise needs most.
15) Houston Rockets: One of the big surprises of the season has been the Rockets, who had low expectations starting the season now can be in the mix of the competitive western conference. Again, the professionalism of coach Ime Udoka, guard Fred VanVleet and veteran Jeff Green was what has been missing with this team along Dillion Brooks competitiveness under control has help and inspired the young rockets from Jalen Green to Alperen Sengun to Jabari Smith Jr has help the Rockets work their way out of drudges of the NBA.
14) Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers will always be wild cards if LeBron James continues to carry the burden of his teams while Anthony Davis underdelivers and the role players come up short. But the Lakers are mercenary franchise and will certainly be looking for another mercenary rental piece to bring in to swing the season around, Sadly Austin Reaves slow start hasn’t helped but hopefully he will turn it around or be an enticing trade piece to bring in someone to make sure the Lakers have a deep playoff run and not was another LeBron season.
13) Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks are quietly sticking around out west and can pull another surprise run if everything stays in place. Of course, the Kyrie effect is always in play when he is involved even he is playing well next to Doncic, and rookie Dereck Lively II being a great big man for Luka with the stabilizing play of Seth Curry has Dallas in a good place right now that can make a leap if things line up.
In-Season Tourney Elevators (12-10)
This group is the team that has gotten a major boost from competing in the in-season tournament.
12) Indiana Pacers: The Pacers are the most exciting offense to watch this season so far and are probably going to be my pick to win the in-season tournament and shock everyone. Tyrese Haliburton is playing incredibly, and his supporting cast fit him perfectly with Obi Toppin and Myles Turner certainly makes Indiana a team that is scary play against on any given night.
11) New York Knicks: The blue collar, gritty Knicks are another team that should scare you every night because they are going to play you tough and make you earn everything that game. Jalen Brunson continues to solidify his top 10-8-point guard status potentially be an all-star this season, Julius Randle seems to have turned it around and Mitchell Robinson being a menace on the offensive glass makes this Knicks team very much in coach Thibodeau’s image.
10) Sacramento Kings: Last but not least in this group is the Kings who seemed to have taken that step to being serious contenders especially after last week’s game against the Warriors where the dynamic of that rivalry has certainly shifted in Sacramento’s favor. De’Aaron Fox has exploded into the sort of early MVP discussions, but this team seems to be building off last season and will be in the top of west all season.
Young & Hungry
9) Orlando Magic: Two teams in my rankings have their own category and the Magic are not just young and hungry but dangerous as well. At 14-6 with one the best defensive team ratings this team seems to be ahead of schedule. Led by versatile big men Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero taking massive leaps thanks to their playing this summer’s FIBA World Cup with the intensity of guard Jalen Suggs and the surprising contributions of rookie Anthony Black and Jonathan Issac (a blast from their past) has put this team in the mix of things and may just upset some preseasons favorites if everything stays on point.
The Vets (8-6)
This group is the seasoned and grizzled teams that have been around and can easily be title contenders but should not be written off.
8) Milwaukee Bucks: As long as Giannis Antetokounmpo is breathing the Bucks are always in the title picture simple as that. Damian Lillard has shown his last game scoring and shot creating is something this team has needed desperately but the lack of good perimeter defense and depth certainly will be the thing that sinks this team’s championship dreams if it does not get corrected. First year coach Adrian Griffin has not had the best start but because of the team he is coaching I will bet on the talent to correct things and keep them in the run for the title.
7) Phoenix Suns: The Suns are certainly a win now team especially with this roster, no Bradley Beal yet should be concerning but not as much as the minutes and burden being put on Kevin Durant whose injury history tell us at the rate he’s playing he is going to miss significant time. Which would be disastrous for Phoenix, even with Booker returning and playing like an MVP this team’s chemistry is not set until Beal, Durant and Booker are on the floor together otherwise this will be another heartbreaking season in the valley.
6) Miami Heat: Heat Culture is a real thing because no matter who leaves, who is injured, who is not performing this team continues to be a tough out and it is always next man up. Even with Butler missing some games the play of Bam Adebayo has kept this thing going and continues to make the Heat dangerous as always.
Sleepers
5) Oklahoma City Thunder: One of the teams I had high hopes for has panned out so far is the Thunder, who have completely taken the NBA by storm. Currently second in the west at 13-6 certainly has placed them firmly in the mix a top of the west where they can upset some teams legitimately. With Chet Holmgren exploding on to scene and potentially is the front runner for rookie of the year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to cement his place in the top tier of players even with the unfortunate distraction of the Josh Giddey situation this team is thriving and could be ahead of schedule of where they should be.
Contenders (4 & 3)
This group is for the teams that should be taken seriously and can make a real run for a title.
4) Minnesota Timberwolves: The T’Wolves continue to amaze me with their play as they are currently first in the conference, the rise of Anthony Edwards continues to be the force behind this surge and there is something with this team but I do not trust Karl-Anthony Towns to continue being ok with his position and can easily flip their season upside down if he decides to not be happy with his role but right now are very serious contenders if nothing changes.
3) Philadelphia 76ers: Life without James Harden continues to be great for the Sixers, the team seems to have something offensively under Nick Nurse who has unlocked Tyrese Maxey and has discovered a potential new layer to reigning MVP Joel Embiid’s game has unlocked a lot for himself and others which is leading to great start to a potential disaster of a season if it went differently.
Head & Shoulders (1 & 2)
These are the best 2 teams in the league with a clear separation between them and the other teams.
2) Denver Nuggets: The defending champs may not be atop of the western conference, but they are the team to beat and can easily blow any team away. With Jamal Murray out, Nikola Jokic continues to be the best offensive force in all of basketball and it is not even close. The next man up mantra comes up again with this team where Reggie Jackson has stepped into Murray’s role and been incredible but clearly Denver’s approach to the season is that it is a marathon and not a sprint where tell will be one of the final 4 teams when the playoffs come around.
- Boston Celtics: This Celtics team is unbelievable and seems to not be slowing down anytime soon. The Holiday and Porzingis additions have been absolute gold for this team but still need to worry about Porzingis health history but that starting line up is absolutely terrifying despite the shaky start of Jaylen Brown’s season the Celtics are the clear number one team not only in the east but league wide.
