1. Boston Celtics
2017-18 record: 8-2
Riding an eight-game winning streak, the Celtics are the hottest club in the league. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Boston is the first team in NBA history to reel off eight straight wins after dropping the first two games of the season. In addition, the C’s have held their opponent under 95 points in each of those eight victories. It’s the longest such streak by a Boston team since November of 1950.
2. Houston Rockets
2017-18 record: 8-3
The Rockets offense is firing on all cylinders right now. They are averaging 125 points per game over their last three contests and have outscored their opponents by 64 points (375-311) in the process. The catalyst has been The Beard. Harden had a game for the ages on Sunday, pouring in 56 points (on 19-of-25 shooting) and dishing out 13 assists. He joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to tally more than ten assists and shoot better than 75 percent from the floor in a 50-point performance.
3. Golden State Warriors
2017-18 record: 7-3
After stumbling a bit out of the gate, it was only a matter of time before the Dubs got back on track and started obliterating opponents. The Warriors won three straight games last week, all by at least 19 points. Per NBA.com, the last team to do that was the Spurs in April of 2012. The Warriors are also the only team in the NBA to score at least 100 points and make 10 or more 3-pointers in every game this season.
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4. Minnesota Timberwolves
2017-18 record: 7-3
The Wolves have won five straight, and a winning streak of that length is rarified air for this franchise. It’s Minny’s first five-game winning streak since the 2003-04 campaign. Also, the Wolves current spurt is their best 10-game start to a season since 2001, when they won nine of their first 10. Minnesota is 7-1 in games in which Jimmy Butler has played.
5. Detroit Pistons
2017-18 record: 7-3
The Pistons winning seven of their first ten games is certainly surprising; almost as shocking as Andre Drummond being among the team leaders in free-throw shooting. Drummond, a career 38.9 percent shooter, has knocked down 75.0 percent (30-of-40) of his attempts from the charity stripe this season. To put that in context, Drummond has made more free throws on fewer attempts than Russell Westbrook, who is 29-of-50 from the line this season.
6. San Antonio Spurs
2017-18 record: 6-4
On Sunday, coach Gregg Popovich earned his 1,156th victory, passing Phil Jackson for sixth all-time. Even without the sidelined Kawhi Leonard, Coach Pop and the Spurs are still managing to find ways to win.
7. Memphis Grizzlies
2017-18 record: 6-4
The Grizz are off to a solid start despite subpar play from Mike Conley, who is fighting through a nagging Achilles injury. The bench has provided a massive boost for Memphis, as reserves are contributing over 44 points per game this season. Tyreke Evans has been particularly productive of late. Evans is averaging 24.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists over Memphis’ last four games.
8. Portland Trail Blazers
2017-18 record: 6-4
Speaking of players on a scoring surge, Damian Lillard has scored at least 30 points in four straight for the Blazers. He’s averaging 34.3 points, 7.0 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 treys over that stretch. He pumped in a season-high 36 points and dished out 13 dimes in Portland’s impressive win over the Thunder on Sunday.
9. Los Angeles Clippers
2017-18 record: 5-4
The Clippers are staggering, having lost four of their last five, and now it appears Danilo Gallinari may miss some time. “I can barely walk,” Gallinari told the Los Angeles Times. “I’ve been having pain the past two or three games, and now it’s getting to a point where I’m having problems walking, so I’ve got to take care of it.” Gallo will travel with the team on its three-game road trip (starting in San Antonio on Tuesday) but may need to rest his hip in order to let it heal.
10. Washington Wizards
2017-18 record: 5-4
The Wiz have been up-and-down over the first few weeks of the season, but registered an impressive road win Sunday in Toronto, playing without John Wall. Bradley Beal scored 38 vs. the Raps and is averaging 38.0 points (on 57.7 percent shooting) 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 triples over the Wizards last three games.
11. Philadelphia 76ers
2017-18 record: 5-4
The Process is a bit ahead of schedule. Despite limited contributions from 2017 No. 1 overall pick, the Sixers are picking up steam, thanks in large part to the incredible all-around play of 2016 No. 1 overall pick, Ben Simmons. Big Ben has already recorded two triple-doubles in the first nine games of his career. The only other player in NBA history with multiple triple-doubles within his first ten career contests is Oscar Robertson.
12. Toronto Raptors
2017-18 record: 5-4
The Raptors survived a tough six-game road swing last week but then dropped their first home game back in Toronto. The Raps are going to need Kyle Lowry to shake out of his early-season slumber. Lowry is averaging just 11.9 points (37.6 percent from the floor) in 30.6 minutes per game this season.
13. Oklahoma City Thunder
2017-18 record: 4-5
OKC has had a tough time closing out games this season. They’ve held fourth-quarter leads and been within one possession late in each of their four most recent losses. However, they have been better defensively than anticipated. With all that offensive firepower on the floor, it’s only a matter of time before they rip off a long win streak.
14. Orlando Magic
2017-18 record: 6-4
Orlando played shockingly well over the first eight games of the season. The Magic scored its most lopsided victory in franchise history when they demolished the Spurs by 27 points (114-87) and snapped a 17-game losing streak to Cleveland. Then, last Wednesday, they ended a nine-game skid at Memphis and improved to 6-2 and on the season. At that point, the Orlando offense was humming. In fact, according to Elias, they tied the 2015-16 Warriors for the most points scored (919) through the first eight games over the last 22 years. This was a remarkable feat for a team that finished 29th in offensive efficiency last season. However, the Magic followed up that strong start with back-to-back blowout losses at home to Chicago and Boston. Elfrid Payton has missed eight straight games with a strained left hamstring injury but is expected to play Wednesday against the Knicks.
15. Cleveland Cavaliers
2017-18 record: 4-6
There are obviously some pressing issues in Cleveland right, but the biggest problem has been their defense, or lack thereof. Amazingly, the Cavs are (statistically) the worst defensive team in the NBA right now. They rank dead last in Defensive Efficiency, just behind the 1-11 Mavericks, allowing 111.7 points per 100 possessions. Cleveland has lost five of their last six overall and three straight at home. There’s still plenty of time left for the Cavs to get back on track of course, but they are off to an undeniably ominous start. It’s been over 35 years since a team had losing record through the first ten games of a season but still advanced to the NBA Finals.
16. New York Knicks
2017-18 record: 5-4
The Knicks are 5-1 over their last six. The Celtics (6-0) are the only team with a better record over that stretch. New York is averaging 108.4 points per 100 possessions over this recent span, which is tied for fifth in offensive efficiency. New York has also been above-average defensively. With Kristaps Porzingis guarding the rim and neophyte Frank Ntilikina protecting the perimeter, the Knicks have a chance to be solid on the defensive end for the first time in a very, very long time.
17. Utah Jazz
2017-18 record: 5-5
Two losses to end the week put an abrupt stop to momentum Utah was building. However, their defensive prowess should allow them to remain competitive all year long.
18. New Orleans Pelicans
2017-18 record: 5-5
The Pelicans have won two straight, but those two victories came against the Mavericks and the Bulls. And New Orleans needed overtime to get past Chicago. Nonetheless, the Pelicans dynamic duo of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins seem to be finding their groove and should be able to power them into playoff competition in the top-heavy Western Conference.
19. Milwaukee Bucks
2017-18 record: 4-5
The Bucks have lost three straight, including the first two games of their current four-game road swing. Milwaukee will have to travel to Cleveland and San Antonio this week, before heading back home to host the Lakers on Saturday.
20. Charlotte Hornets
2017-18 record: 5-5
Kemba Walker has played well, as expected, and Dwight Howard has exceeded expectations, but the Hornets still miss the versatile Nicolas Batum badly. Batum is reportedly ahead of schedule. He plans to be cleared to practice within the next ten days and could return to game action before the end of the month.
21. Denver Nuggets
2017-18 record: 5-5
The Nuggs had won four of five (including wins over the Heat and Raptors) until the Warriors ran them off the court on Saturday night. Still, Denver is moving in the right direction and has a chance to climb up the rankings.
22. Indiana Pacers
2017-18 record: 5-5
The Pacers have to very happy with the early season play of Victor Oladipo (who is averaging more points and shooting a higher percentage than Paul George) and Domantas Sabonis (who is one of only three players currently averaging a double-double while shooting over 60.0 percent from the floor). All of a sudden, Indiana’s hotly debated trade this summer doesn’t look so bad.
23. Miami Heat
2017-18 record: 4-5
The Heat almost blew a big lead to the Clippers on Sunday, but held on for a needed win. It was Miami’s first victory this season against a team with a winning record. The Heat had been 0-4 in such games heading into that matchup. The return of healthy Hassan Whiteside should help propel Miami going forward.
24. Los Angeles Lakers
2017-18 record: 5-5
The Lakers strung together two wins over the weekend, including an impressive victory over the Grizzlies on Sunday night. The improved play of Brook Lopez has been a major reason why L.A. has looked better of late. Over the first seven games of the season, Lopez averaged 11.7 points, 1.0 treys and 1.4 blocks. Over his last three contests, Lopez is averaging 27.3 points, 3.7 treys and 2.0 blocks.
25. Brooklyn Nets
2017-18 record: 3-6
After a promising start to the season, the Nets have now lost four in a row and have allowed at least 122 points in each of their three most recent defeats. Brooklyn has yet to win a game away from home (0-4) or beat a Western Conference opponent (0-3). They can snap both those streaks Monday night in Phoenix.
26. Chicago Bulls
2017-18 record: 2-6
After an embarrassing 101-69 blowout loss to the Thunder last Saturday, Chicago showed some fight last week. They secured an impressive win over the Magic in Orlando and took the Pelicans to overtime. However, they are still just 2-6 on the season and sit in the basement of the Central Division. The good news is they’re only a game behind the Cavs, who are in fourth place.
27. Phoenix Suns
2017-18 record: 4-6
The Suns won four of five following the firing of head coach Earl Watson and the dismissal of disgruntled point guard Eric Bledsoe. However, Phoenix has regressed back to the mean, getting blown out in New York and San Antonio last week.
28. Atlanta Hawks
2017-18 record: 2-8
Atlanta is 0-3 at home and is the only Eastern Conference team still without a home win this season. However, they knocked off the defending Eastern Conference champs in Cleveland on Sunday for their most impressive victory of the season.
29. Sacramento Kings
2017-18 record: 1-8
The good news: Rookie De’Aaron Fox is averaging 12.7 points and 5.0 assists per game.
The bad news: Fox leads the team in scoring and assists. Those are relatively paltry numbers for a team leader nine games into an NBA season.
30. Dallas Mavericks
2017-18 record: 1-10
It’s hard to imagine a worse start for the Mavs. They have the worst record in the league and have lost 10 of their first 11 games for the first time since the 1993-94 season, when they started the year 1-23 and ended it with a 13-69 record. Unfortunately, things may get far worse before they get better. Over their next ten games, the Mavs play the Thunder (twice), the Spurs (twice), the Cavs, the Celtics and the Grizzlies. Nine of their next ten opponents made the playoffs last season. The surging Timberwolves are the lone opponent over that span that did not qualify for the postseason last year.
