NBA Week Four Power Rankings: Every Team’s Most Disappointing Player

*Stats and records from games on 1/19/21 are not included. 

1. Los Angeles Lakers Record: 11-4 Previous: 1

Despite blowing a 20 point lead to the Warriors on Monday, for the fourth straight week, the Los Angeles Lakers get the top spot. No one has really been disappointing for the Lakers, but Anthony Davis hasn’t played at an MVP level, although he’s still a top-five player. 

2. Los Angeles Clippers Record: 10-4 Previous: 2

The Clippers have been on a tear lately and went 3-0 last week, including blowout wins over Sacramento and Indiana. At age 34, Lou Williams seems to be past his prime as he’s averaging only 9.3 ppg, the lowest mark of his career since the 2006-07 season. 

3. Brooklyn Nets Record: 9-6 Previous: 11

The Brooklyn Nets shoot back up in the rankings after acquiring James Harden and going 4-0 last week. No one who remains on the Nets has been disappointing; however, Spencer Dinwiddie’s tearing his ACL is an enormous blow for Brooklyn. 

4. Milwaukee Bucks Record: 9-5 Previous: 3

Milwaukee earned close victories against Detroit and Dallas but couldn’t pull out a dub late against Brooklyn in week three. Signed to be a stable backup point guard, DJ Augustin has struggled so far, shooting an abysmal 32.8% from the field. 

5. Utah Jazz Record: 9-4 Previous: 7 

Quietly, the Utah Jazz have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winners of five straight games. Bojan Bogdanovic has struggled this year, with his scoring and percentages significantly down from last year despite the team’s success. 

6. Philadelphia 76ers Record: 9-5 Previous: 4

The 76ers got a pair of wins against a depleted Miami Heat roster before suffering a loss to Memphis and getting postponed against OKC last week. At age 24, Ben Simmons hasn’t shown much improvement and still refuses to take jumpers. 

7. Boston Celtics Record: 8-4 Previous: 5

After having three straight games postponed, the Celtics blew out Orlando before losing by 30 points to the Knicks last week. No one has been all that disappointing for Boston; however, Kemba Walker has been limited to only one game due to a knee injury so far. 

8. Indiana Pacers Record: 8-5 Previous: 8

The Pacers made a great move to acquire Caris LeVert, who unfortunately may miss an extended amount of time after an MRI revealed a mass on his kidney. Indiana was hoping Aaron Holiday would show a lot of improvement, but he’s struggled this year, shooting 35.6% from the field. 

9. Phoenix Suns Record: 7-5 Previous: 6

The Suns got hit by COVID, as three games were postponed last week, before the team lost to Memphis on Monday. While he hasn’t been bad, Deandre Ayton has been slightly underwhelming in year three, only averaging 12.9 ppg. 

10. Golden State Warriors Record: 7-6 Previous: 9

The Golden State Warriors had one of the best wins of the season on Monday, overcoming a 20 point deficit to pull out a late victory. Kelly Oubre Jr. has been one of the worst players in the NBA this year, recording an abysmal -4.5 OBPM through 13 games. 

11. Portland Trail Blazers Record: 8-6 Previous: 10

The Trail Blazers had an up-and-down week, going 2-2 with wins over Sacramento and Atlanta. Robert Covington has struggled to adjust in his first year with the team, shooting an awful 31.4% from the field while only scoring 6.6 ppg. 

12. San Antonio Spurs Record: 8-6 Previous: 20

Another team that has quietly played well, the Spurs went 3-1 last week, moving up eight spots on my ranking. LaMarcus Aldridge, however, has struggled, only averaging 14.4 ppg, the lowest mark of his career since the 2006-07 season. 

13. Memphis Grizzlies Record: 7-6 Previous: 24

With Ja Morant back, the Grizzlies look like playoff hopefuls as they went 3-0 last week, moving up 11 spots on my ranking. No one has been extremely disappointing; however, Dillon Brooks‘ numbers are down as he’s shooting 36.9% from the field through 13 games. 

14. Miami Heat Record: 5-7 Previous: 13

COVID issues have killed the Miami Heat, but they finally got some players back and beat the Pistons on Monday. Having missed six of the team’s 12 games, Jimmy Butler has been underwhelming, averaging 15.5 ppg, well down from last year. 

15. Denver Nuggets Record: 6-7 Previous: 15

The Nuggets continue to be underwhelming as they went 1-2 last week with close losses to Utah and Brooklyn. For the second straight year, Gary Harris has underperformed, shooting a mere 27.1% from beyond the arc through 11 games. 

16. Dallas Mavericks Record: 6-7 Previous: 12

After looking like they were set to go on a winning streak, the Mavericks have struggled, losing three straight games. Josh Richardson has been underwhelming, and it’s made worse by the fact that this team has sorely missed Seth Curry. 

17. Atlanta Hawks Record: 6-7 Previous: 17

A team that looked primed to turn it around from previous years, the Hawks have yet to make that giant leap forward through three weeks. Both Trae Young and John Collins have failed to live up to expectations, with their numbers significantly down from last year. 

18. Toronto Raptors Record: 5-8 Previous: 26

After a horrendous 2-8 start, the Raptors finally seem to have turned it around, winners of three straight games. Their big offseason signing, Aron Baynes, has looked horrible and is slowly losing playing time to MIP candidate Chris Boucher. 

19. Oklahoma City Thunder Record: 6-6 Previous: 21

Despite seemingly going into a rebuild this offseason, OKC remains in contention for a playoff spot in the West, 6-6 through twelve games. 17th overall rookie Aleksej Pokusevski has struggled mightily, shooting 26.9% from the field and 19.4% from three. 

20. New York Knicks Record: 7-8 Previous: 23

The Knicks continue to surprise many people as they are currently positioned as the sixth seed in the East through fifteen games. They’ve done all this despite the struggles of Reggie Bullock, who is shooting 38.7% from the field through 13 games. 

21. Cleveland Cavaliers Record: 6-7 Previous: 25

The Cavaliers went 1-1 last week with a win over the Knicks before having a pair of games postponed against Washington. Kevin Porter Jr., who has yet to appear in a contest for Cleveland, is now expected to be traded or released after he had an emotional outburst in the locker room. Hopefully, he can get the help he needs as he’s struggled with his mental health. 

22. New Orleans Pelicans Record: 5-7 Previous: 18

The Pelicans finally snapped their five-game losing streak on Sunday as they closed out a win over Sacramento. At age 23, Lonzo Ball has yet to take much of a leap forward, as he struggled through nine games before suffering a knee injury. 

23. Chicago Bulls Record: 6-8 Previous: 27

The Bulls snapped their four-game losing streak by winning a pair of games against Dallas and Houston last week. While his numbers have improved from last season, Coby White has been inconsistent at times in his second NBA season. 

24. Orlando Magic Record: 6-8 Previous: 14

After looking like a playoff contender to start the year, the Magic plummet ten spots in the ranking as they are currently on a six-game losing streak. In his third NBA season, the former sixth overall pick, Mo Bamba, has fallen out of the rotation and has only played 33 minutes this season. 

25. Charlotte Hornets Record: 6-8 Previous: 16

After a quick jump in the rankings, the Hornets come crashing down after going 0-3 last week. After looking like a MIP candidate the previous season, Devonte’ Graham has struggled, shooting an awful 31.5% from the field through 14 games. 

26. Sacramento Kings Record: 5-9 Previous: 19

The Kings had a rough week, going 0-3, with losses to the Clippers, Pelicans, and Trail Blazers. Buddy Hield‘s numbers are way down from last year as he’s shooting 36.7% from the field and 36.7% from three, both the lowest marks of his career. 

27. Houston Rockets Record: 4-8 Previous: 22

After trading away James Harden, the Rockets look like a lost cause for this season as they’ve lost four of their last five games. DeMarcus Cousins has been terrible in his return to NBA action, shooting 30.0% the field and having been ejected on two occasions.  

28. Washington Wizards Record: 3-8 Previous: 29

No team has been affected by COVID more than the Wizards, who will have had at least five consecutive postponements by next week. Not that expectations were high, but Russell Westbrook has been terrible for Washington, shooting 37.8% from the field and leading the league in turnovers per game. 

29. Minnesota Timberwolves Record: 3-9 Previous: 28

The Timberwolves own the worst record in the West as they have now lost nine of their last ten matchups. While his scoring numbers are adequate, Anthony Edwards has struggled to shoot the ball and possesses an atrocious -7.8 BPM through 12 games.  

30. Detroit Pistons Record: 3-10 Previous: 30

The Pistons have been last every week and did not do enough to help their case last week as they went 1-2. No one expected Blake Griffin to return to all-star form, but he’s been worse than expected, shooting 38.3% from the field through ten games.

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