The Ultimate NBA Power Ranking

This Power Ranking takes a long time to put together because it is based exclusively on PVOA calculations from each NBA game (what is PVOA?). But I'm really pleased with the results I'm getting. The list below is beginning to take on a statistical legitimacy that I think truly reflects the ultimate on-court "power" of each NBA team. Thus I am going to post my power rankings every Sunday morning from now until the end of the season.

Remember, unlike other power rankings this power ranking is not based on record, its not based on how each team performed last season or the last couple of seasons, and it's not based on my subjective beliefs about which team is better than which other team... it is a comparative analysis based strictly upon how each team's offense and defense is performing against the average. Thus I feel like it is an accurate measure of each team's proven strength to date.

And so, here is this week's rankings, which incorporate all games through last night:

Bucks Diary NBA Power Ranking

1. Boston Celtics +12.81 (--)
2. San Antonio Spurs +9.79 (--)
3. Orlando Magic +7.96 (up 1)
4. Los Angeles Lakers +7.20 (down 1)
5. Detroit Pistons +6.09 (up 6)
6. Utah Jazz +5.32 (up 3)
7. Phoenix Suns +4.24 (down 2)
8. New Orleans Hornets +4.14 (down 1)
9. Dallas Mavericks +3.54 (down 3)
10. Toronto Raptors +3.27 (--)
11. Houston Rockets +3.22 (down 3)
12. Golden State Warriors +3.21 (up 3)
13. Washington Bullets +1.38 (down 1)
14. Indiana Pacers 0.00 (--)
15. Memphis Grizzlies -0.21 (up 4)
16. Cleveland Cavaliers -0.38 (down 3)
17. Denver Nuggets -1.15 (down 1)
18. Sacramento Kings -1.52 (up 6)
19. Atlanta Hawks -1.62 (up 1)
20. Miami Heat -1.95 (up 2)
21. Philadelphia Sixers -3.17 (up 4)
22. Portland Trailblazers -3.18 (down 1)
23. Charlotte Bobcats -4.66 (down 5)
24. Chicago Bulls -5.03 (up 3)
25. Milwaukee Bucks -5.07 (down 8)
26. Los Angeles Clippers -5.23 (down 3)
27. New Jersey Nets -5.46 (down 1)
28. Seattle Supersonics -8.54 (up 2)
29. Minnesota Timberwolves -9.12 (down 1)
30. New York Knicks -10.12 (down 1)

Best Teams last week: Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings
Worst Team last week: Your Milwaukee Bucks
Surprisingly strong team: Golden State Warriors
Surprisingly weak team: New Jersey Nets
On the rise: Utah Jazz
On the decline: Denver Nuggets

Comments

The Celtics and the Spurs are clearly separating themselves from the rest of the Association... Oddly enough, the Celtics are doing it with their stifling defense and the Spurs are doing it with their hugely productive offense... On the other hand, unfortunately for me, my Bucks appear to be descending to their natural position on the NBA food chain... Last week's surprising rise in the rankings by the Green and Red was almost entirely explained by Michael Redd's historically unsustainable superlative play... This week Redd was slightly below his career average and the bottom fell out for Milwaukee... The Bulls are getting it together--what kept them afloat was their defense, that never wavered... I've finally identified a completely average team -- the Indiana Pacers... Detroit was down, Detroit is back up... Minnesota, Seattle, and New York are playing musical chairs with the three worst positions.