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With the NBA season close to the halfway point it is time for the Right Hook Ray power rankings. The first rankings were done back in November, so time has passed, and a lot has happened since, so we start this edition of the rankings with the teams playing the lottery odds full throttle coming into 2025.
Waving the Flagg (30-26)
This group is all the teams that should be preparing to get the best draft odds to draft Duke’s super prospect Cooper Flagg.
30) Washington Wizards
We start in the nation’s capital where there is a lot of sadness and frustration throughout the city. The Wizards, even with the progression of Coulibaly and rookie Alex Sarr is not enough to truly get invested in this team until the NBA lottery happens where hopefully they get a top three pick.
29) Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz once again has a reason to completely phone in yet another season, some injuries to some of their promising young players certainly put a damper on the season but Utah has a nice arsenal of picks going into this draft where they can draft Duke’s Copper Flagg. But if the Jazz don’t win this year’s lottery it is safe to assume the Jazz would set their sights on the 2026 draft where BYU’s AJ Dybantsa is currently the big prize who is in their backyard and can finally start over.
28) Toronto Raptors
27) Charlotte Hornets
26) Brooklyn Nets
Closing out this group is the Brooklyn Nets who should be obvious sellers heading into the trade deadline. Trading every possible asset away from Cam Johnson to Nic Claxton and whoever in between. Brookyln with the series of picks they have thanks to the James Harden and Kevin Durant trades have become a blessing where they can potentially draft Duke’s Cooper Flagg, which the irony of that possibility is so rich.
Tankers Anonymous (25 & 24)
This section is for teams that while entertaining and promising, should accept the possibility of “tanking” and look forward to the NBA lottery.
25) Portland Trailblazers
24) Chicago Bulls
The Bulls seem to be consistently in no-man’s land when it comes to either tearing it all down or going for a superstar, which is why the team is the mess we have seen the past few seasons. Zach LaVine is their biggest star and trade piece, but the Bulls management must decide what direction this team is going to follow going forward.
“In one dilly of a pickle” (Shoutout to Ned Flanders) (23 & 22)
This tier / group is for the teams that are complete disasters and have to make some serious choices sooner rather than later.
23) Philadelphia 76ers
Once again, I can go back to my favorite punching bag in basketball, Joel Embiid and the 76ers. This season has been and will be a massive disappointment. Embiid’s issues, Paul George’s health, and the unfortunate season ending injury of rookie Jared McCain has rightfully created some anger and despair in Philadelphia. Someone or some people will certainly be the scapegoats of this season but unless they finally give up on the Joel Embiid experience, the Sixers will continue to be a sad joke.
22) New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans continues to prove my superstition of being the worst cursed basketball city ever. From Pete Maravich to now Zion Williamson along with the complete lack of success thanks to the ownership, the Pelicans need to tear this down and moving somewhere else would be a great starting point. Trading Zion Williamson would be the best thing for all parties, finding a good deal for Brandon Ingram and/or CJ McCollum and just restart with the core of Herb Jones and Trey Murphy could be something for fans to root for because this team is talented on paper and when healthy, but the clock has run out on this post-Anthony Davis era.
Desperate Times (21 & 20)
This group of teams are officially in panic and total desperation.
21) Phoenix Suns
The Suns are suffering from the tried and true “New Owner Syndrome” where new owner Mat Ishbia made bad trades and decisions that have led to today where Phoenix has to either make or accept some underwhelming deals to do something at this point. Bradley Beal is the worst trade asset in basketball which makes this all difficult, followed by the limited market for Kevin Durant seems to feel like dark times ahead in the valley.
20) Miami Heat
If the chaos in the desert wasn’t bad enough, let’s head down to south beach where the Miami Heat are sitting on a very combustible situation. The Jimmy Butler vs. Pat Riley trade drama has officially taken over the season where the Godfather himself Pat Riley is going to have to do something to get the potential distraction of Jimmy Butler out and salvage this season best as possible. Jimmy Butler also has a limited market thanks to his reputation and this very idiotic second apron salary cap mess has not helped this situation, creating more tension with every passing day.
A Good Vibes Watch (19 & 18)
Named for teams that are simply a fun and hopeful watch.
19) Sacramento Kings
18) Detroit Pistons
The Pistons continue to be an absolute fun watch every night, where they can make a serious run for the play-in or potentially playoffs. Cade Cunningham hitting his stride that hopefully leads to an all-star appearance, and the chemistry of this group makes it impossible to not root for this long-awaited turnaround.
Running out of Time! (17 & 16)
This next group is for once contending teams or aging stars that are on borrowed time.
17) Los Angeles Lakers
As the Lakers turn latest season started later than many of us expected, but with the new year came the whispers of the roster needing an upgrade has set the rumor mill into high gear when it comes to what big trade can the Lakers make to contend in the west or is it time to trade one of their big superstars? I assume LeBron James will never be traded which leaves Anthony Davis who could certainly demand a respectable haul to salvage the rest of the decade in Laker Nation but could upset LeBron and his goals which raises the question if the front office would even care at that point?
16) Golden State Warriors
Now to the Bay area where the now famed run of this Warriors team is ending raising the question of whether Stephen Curry will stay with the team? Time will tell but this season hopefully becomes pivotal when it comes to where this team wants to go for the rest of this decade.
Hot-N-Fun
15) Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks remain to be one of the best NBA league pass watches this season, things seem to be coming together with this team especially with Trae Young trusting his teammates who help mask Young’s defensive flaws. Quin Synder should be a coach of the year candidate, especially if the Hawks make the playoffs where they could be legit threats for some of the higher seeds in the eastern conference.
First Round Scaries (14 & 13)
This group is for the young upstart teams that the top two seeds in each conference need to be afraid of.
14) Indiana Pacers
Although they made the eastern conference finals last year, the Pacers have taken a slight step back but are somehow more dangerous this season. Tyrese Haliburton seems to be not at 100% health wise from his injuries last season, but the supporting cast has been great especially the play of Mathurin and Jarace Walker (FINALLY) makes Indiana not a pushover for whoever is on top of the east.
13) San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are right on schedule with this progression led by the phenom Victor Wembanyama. The addition of Chris Paul has been one of the under the radar signings of the offseason as well as rookie Stephon Castle getting momentum right now may lead to Spurs being back in the playoff picture this season, while telling the rest of the western conference that they will be regular fixtures in the playoffs for quite some time.
Don’t count us out! (12-10)
Teams that have not lived up to preseason expectations but are still dangerous teams when the playoffs start.
12) Minnesota Timberwolves
The T’Wolves certainly look like the losers in that Karl-Anthony Towns/Julius Randle trade where they are not the same team, they were just last year. Anthony Edwards is having an excellent season, but the fit of this new core has caused a lot of frustration that seems to be sorted out recently. If Minnesota wants to get back into the mix out in the west, then playing Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid more in crucial minutes is the key regardless of how much they are paying Mike Conley Jr and Julius Randle this season to prevent this season from being a complete failure.
11) Los Angeles Clippers
10) Orlando Magic
Sleeping Giants (9 & 8)
These two teams were considered legit contenders coming into the season but started slowly. Yet as the season continues on these teams are forming into potential championship contenders.
9) Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks still have some concerns, but it seems like the light switch has gone off finally. Giannis and Dame seem to be gelling well, Doc Rivers is trusting some younger players in big moments gives much hope to this team making it to the eastern conference finals if the standings work in their favor.
8) Dallas Mavericks
The Contenders (7-1)
The final group is pretty simple, all these teams at the moments are legit contenders for a serious playoff run or possibly the finals.
7) Houston Rockets
Houston this season feels like Oklahoma City during the last season where their surge up in the west has been one of the brightest stories this season. While the Rockets maybe a out of nowhere superstar trade away to put them over the top or stick with this young core through the season making Houston a serious team this season and going forward.
6) Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies continue to show how dangerous of team they can be, but injuries continue to be the thing that holds people back from fully believing in them.
5) Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic continues to prove he is the best player in the world and salvage a potential disaster season, and I never thought I would say this, but Russell Westbrook may be the best sidekick for the Joker on this Nuggets team.
4) New York Knicks
The Knicks are right where I thought they would be, but I remain horrified on Thibs irrational minutes load coming back to hurt this team specifically the Villanova three, but another thing I have to admit being wrong about is… Karl-Anthony Towns who has been impressive so far. Clearly a legitimate rim protector is needed for this Knicks team to make a conference finals run but I can’t see any reason for the Garden to not be rocking come late May or possibly June.
3) Boston Celtics
Like the Celtics, I don’t have a lot to say check back with me when it’s April.
2) Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City continues to be dominant being on pace to a 70-win season and this is without Chet Holmgren. But once Holmgren returns this team can potentially go to a different level, particularly on defense, which should terrify the NBA if that happens.
- Cleveland Cavaliers
The number one team in my rankings are the Cavs who have been unbelievable so far. The core of Mitchell, Garland, Allen, and Mobley are finally playing at a level that we have waited for thanks to the runaway winner for coach of the year Kenny Atkinson who has untapped this team’s potential to be a force in the eastern conference.
