Nets Hold Onto the Top Spot. NBA Week 12 Power Rankings

Here are your Week 12 NBA Power Rankings:

Biggest Positive Movers: Grizzlies and Pelicans

Biggest Negative Mover: 76ers

Drop Outs: Clippers

Newcomers: Pacers

10. Indiana Pacers - Last Week: Unranked

The Pacers are a confusing team, and the fact that they've popped in and out of these rankings all year proves that. Tyrese Haliburton has been a high-tier all-star this season, and in my personal opinion is the best playmaker in the league. The only issue is that the roster that surrounds him is below average. Despite this, Haliburton has been able to boost the production of teammates like Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, which has led to the Pacers not being half bad. Some nights they come out and look like a well oiled machine, getting wins over contending teams and looking good while doing it. Other nights they look like the young team that they are, and end up losing games they should win. This team will age well over the years, and for the time being they will likely duke it out in the play-in tournament.

9. Dallas Mavericks - Last Week: 9

Over the last week Luka Doncic has decided to turn into the greatest basketball player of all-time. Whether it was the first 60-20-10 game in NBA history or just countless fifty point bombs, Luka carried this team to an undefeated week. The only reason they didn't move up the rankings is because they got these wins against bad teams. They do have two games against cupcakes this week, but they also play the Celtics and Pelicans. If Luka can keep this level of play up I don't see why they can't keep the winning streak alive and prove that they are a better team than many of us thought they were to start the season.

8. Milwaukee Bucks - Last Week: 6

Okay so the Bucks are in a weird spot this week. They started the week with an overtime loss to the Bulls, a team that has not been very good this year. They then got a win over the Timberwolves, before losing to the Wizards with Giannis, Jrue, and Middleton out. If you don't count that last loss they really don't deserve to drop on the rankings, but the teams above them did something that I though gave them the edge. I still believe that the Bucks are one of the best teams in the league, but the last couple of weeks they have just looked average.

7. Philadelphia 76ers - Last Week: 3

I hope we all understand why the 76ers were at 3 last week, and subsequently why they took a steep drop this week. After going on a long win streak they strolled into this week and immediately lost to the Wizards and Pelicans. They picked up a win against the Thunder, but I don't put a ton of stock into wins against teams in that tier. Joel Embiid and James Harden have still been playing great, but the rest of the team is just not fantastic. They are going to have those points in the season where those two guys are able to carry this team to long win streaks, but for the most part the 76ers are going to get beat by well-rounded well built teams.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers - Last Week: 5

The Cavaliers really only dropped because other teams performed better this week. They did drop a game to the Pacers, but like I said when covering the Pacers, that's not a horrible look. This is still the same Cavaliers team that we have seen all year long. We know what to expect from them at this point, and unless something drastic happens they will be in these middle spots for the entire season. This week they play the Bulls, Nuggets, and Suns twice, which is definitely a difficult slate. With this Cleveland team I could see them winning all of those games, but I could also see them losing all of those games. The best way to put it is that they are much better than the majority of teams in the league, but compared to the top teams they are very average.

5. New Orleans Pelicans - Last Week: 8

I think the Pelicans are very similar to the Cavaliers. A team that has a couple bonafide stars and several very good supporting pieces, but they are still an average contender. Much like the Cavaliers this is a team that can beat any team they play, and in the same breath can lose to any team they play. This past week they beat the Timberwolves and 76ers, but lost to the Grizzlies in an important game to secure the higher seed in the Western conference. Zion is incredible when he's healthy, and the same thing goes for Brandon Ingram, but when this team has to rely on CJ McCollum they don't look great. I am afraid that we aren't going to see this team completely healthy when it matters this season, which does effect their potential greatly.

4. Memphis Grizzlies - Last Week: 7

After struggling big time last week the Grizzlies had a major bounce back week this time around which bumped them up on this board. They lost to the Suns to start the week, but then got wins over the Raptors, Pelicans, and Kings to finish the week. I think the Grizzlies also fall into the same tier as the Pelicans and Cavaliers, but they may be slightly better. They have a perfect mix of offense and defense, and as long as everyone can stay on the floor they are definitely a contender. They get an easy slate this week with games against the Hornets, Magic, and Jazz to likely extend their winning streak another week.

3. Boston Celtics - Last Week: 2

The Celtics dropped a slot this week because they lost the head-to-head matchup against the Nuggets, but other than that they've looked great. They beat the Rockets and then beat a Clippers team that has looked pretty good as of late. They have held onto their top spot in the East and in the league, and will probably continue to do so throughout the majority of the season. This week they have easy games against the Thunder and Spurs, but they also play a Mavericks team that has been very hot as of late. I would be sure to tune into that game in particular, because I believe that Tatum vs. Doncic is the next great NBA rivalry and you should try to watch them play against eachother every time you get the chance.

2. Denver Nuggets - Last Week: 4

All season I have been critical of the Nuggets, but they have been on a heater lately. Apart from a quick hiccup against the Kings, they have been by far the best team in the West as of late. Their win over the Celtics that I already mentioned was huge, and may go down as the win that pushed them to getting the one seed in the West come the end of the regular season. This week they have the Timberwolves, Clippers, and Cavaliers, which is a slate that could mean a lot for them. All winnable games against decent enough teams could cement them as the best team in the West. Jokic alone has been incredible, but the rest of the team has come together, and if they can keep it up they have a very good shot at going all the way.

1. Brooklyn Nets - Last Week: 1

The Nets have been by far the best team in the league the past two weeks. They are still riding their 11-game win streak, a steak that will likely be extended this week. Kevin Durant has looked like one of the top three best players in the league, Kyrie has returned to form, and Ben Simmons looks better and better every week. I seriously think that if this team stays healthy there is no team that should beat them in a series. They have more offensive fire power than any team in the league, and have still managed to maintain a decent enough defense. All in all, when this team is clicking they are the best team in the league, and as of late they are clicking like nobody else.