2015 NBA Picks and Predictions: Power Rankings – Week 11

2015 NBA Picks and Predictions: Power Rankings – Week 11: The 2014-15 NBA season is closing in on its halfway point, and with injuries to LeBron James and Kevin Durant leaving the title hopes of both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder in doubt, some new faces have joined the list of contenders in both conferences. On that note, here is a closer look at my top five teams in the NBA heading into Week 11 of the season.

1. Golden State Warriors (29-5)

Stephen Curry is among the frontrunners for MVP honors and Klay Thompson is a lethal sharpshooter, but the Warriors and their top-ranked offense are more than just the “Splash Brothers.” Draymond Green has emerged as one of the most versatile two-way players in the NBA, Andre Iguodala is a defensive ace waiting to come off the bench, and Andrew Bogut and David Lee are just now getting healthy. New head coach Steve Kerr seems to have taken this talented group to the next level, and the depth and firepower of the Warriors gives them legit staying power.

2. Atlanta Hawks (29-8)

Remember when the Hawks were 7-6 and appeared headed to another solid but unspectacular season? Atlanta has been on a tear since the average start, going 22-2 and winning an NBA-best 13 games over teams that are above .500 in the process. Jeff Teague’s emergence as a consistent scorer and distributor at the point guard spot has been a big part of the team’s success, but with Al Horford and Paul Millsap in the frontcourt and sharpshooter Kyle Korver and defensive stopper DeMarre Carroll on the wing, Atlanta has a rock solid starting five. The Eastern Conference appears to be more wide open the previously expected, and the Hawks look poised to capitalize.

3. Portland Trail Blazers (30-8)

Yes, the Trail Blazers have somewhat benefited from an easy schedule, but there are plenty of other teams that have had easy roads and failed to capitalize. Plus, Portland has been winning games despite losing two centers to injury. Portland is currently leading the NBA in scoring defense, and thanks to LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard, the Trail Blazers have both an inside and an outside scoring option that can carry the load on any given night. Throw in Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum, and the Trail Blazers should only improve once their big men get healthy. Overall, this is a young team that hasn’t reached its ceiling.

4. Chicago Bulls (26-12)

The title hopes of the Bulls were supposed to depend on whether or not Derrick Rose could return to his MVP form. Instead, Rose’s return to form would simply be icing on the cake for what has suddenly become a team loaded with offensive weapons. Jimmy Butler has morphed into a Paul George-type two-way terror, and Pau Gasol has been a double-double monster in the post in his first year with the team. Rookie Nikola Mirotic had added further scoring punch to the frontcourt, and Joakim Noah is still around to anchor the defense. The Bulls already look like one of the frontrunners in the Eastern Conference, and if Rose does get close to his old self, the rest of the NBA needs to watch out.

5. Memphis Grizzlies (26-11)

After more holding their own despite an injury to double-double machine Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies not only welcome back Z-Bo, but they will welcome Jeff Green into the mix, as well, following a three-team trade. Green provides Memphis with a wing scorer that the team desperately needs, and he could be the missing piece to what was already a potential title-contending team. Throw in Mike Conley’s steady play at the point and Marc Gasol’s dominance in the post, and the Grizzlies could finally get over the hump this year.

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