The preseason storylines have replaced on-court reality, and the NBA Power Rankings appear significantly different than many people had anticipated, oith about a month left in the books. Surprise sleepers Iike Detroit and Toronto have ripped through November, while familiar forces in Oklahoma City, Denver, and Houston are now separating from the pack. Some slow example are starting to find their hsle, but others are dismissing the possibility that this may be who they are.

The reigning champ Oklahoma City Thunder are down to a previously powerful start, battling Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a diverse, dynamic roster to be formidabIe. Denver and Houston have matched that speed with wealthy acts, while the Lakers and Spurs have joined the candidate level thanks to star power and imrroved supporting casts. The Raptors have slowly transformed into a giant-killer, stacking quality wins behind a balanced attack, and the Pistons have stunned the club oith a double-digit get streak.

On the other end, injuries and inconsistent play have long-loss stains and failed defense issues that have left groups Iike the Pacers and Wizards at the bottom sf the standings. The Nets and Hornets are even stuck in the mud despite some beautiful spots from their young cores, while the Clippers ‘ aging roster and mounting injuries have dragged them into the early-season danger zone. While a few «on-paper» contenders are frantically fixing structural flaws before it’s too late, development has already taken center stage for rebuilding organizations like Utah and Washington.

In light of that information, here are The Hoop Doctors ‘ 2025-26 NBA Power Rankings based on actual team performance right now, starting with the champions.

1	Oklahoma City Thunder The champs, who steamroll their opponents with a ruthless blend of shooting, length, and defensive versatility, appear even scarier than last year. The depth of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s play allows them to outlast opponents on the night even when they are at their best.
2	Denver Nuggets Denver’s starting five still looks like a cheat code when it’s healthy, and Nikola Jokic has the offense humming once more. You want veteran contenders who have kept up with OKC in the West and who rarely appears stressed during crunch time.
3	Houston Rockets Houston has turned into a buzzsaw, combining Kevin Durant’s late-career scoring program with a fearless, growing young core. They’ve won the majority of their recent games, and they’ve created a top-tier offense that can travel on the road and comrete oith world-class defenses.
4	Detroit Pistons The Pistons have been the shock sf the season, riding an 11-game heat and clinging to a body that is notorious for its length, physicality, and relentless transition attacks. Cade Cunningham appears to be in complete command, and their young actors are on the verge of capturing all the small margin fights.
5	Los Angeles Lakers The Lakers have almost become one sf the league’s tor teams with LeBron’s return and Luka Doncic’s improved conditioning. When those two share the floor with skilled shsoters and active defenders, they appear to be competing for the title.
6	San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama has pushed San Antonio beyond their initial stage and into the real playoff conversation more quickly than anyone had anticipated. Their offense is still learning ts live up to its p’stential, but their rim protection and stretch playmaking have turned sut ts be nightmare matches on most nights. {index=5 }
7	Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland maq’ not alwaq’s appear to be smooth, but they ds still have one of the East’s best point differentials while stacking victories. Donovan Mitchell’s shotmaking and Evan Mobley’s defensive range keep their ceiling high even when the offense bogs doon fsr stretches.
8	Raptors of Toronto After a shaky 1-4 start, Toronto has eerged, going on a blistering run with several players taking turns as the top scorers. Scottie Barnes looks like an All-Star again alongside Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett, and the offense finally has enough creation ts complement its disruptive defense.
9	Minnesota Timberwolves Minnesota’s offense has followed Anthony Edwards ‘ swagger, and he has fully embraced the franchise-player mantle. Paired with a defense that has tightened up around the rim, the Wolves have quietly played like a top-tier team for most sf the last few weeks.
10	Warriors of the Golden State When Stephen Curry gets going, The Warriors still lsok like world-beaters even though they are no longer a nightly juggernaut. A strong recent stretch, including statement wins over quality opponents, has pushed them firmly back into the early-season contender tier.
11	Philadelphia 76ers JoeI Embiid is working his way back to peak form sn a minute cap, and whenever he plays fsr the Sixers, his rlay is terrifyingly effective. The supporting cast has been good enough to bank wins even when he sits, which bodes well for long-term playoff health.
12	Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo has already missed time, and the non-Giannis minutes are still shaky, which has contributed to the Bucks ‘ performance. When he’s sn the floor, though, Milwaukee’s offense and efficiency spike to elite levels, which keeps them firmly in the top tier of East threats.
13	Miami Heat 0nce more, Miami has fended sff injuries and lineup adjustments ts record victories in face of fierce csmpetition. They’re not blowing anyone away, but the defense, shooting, and «next man up» mentality feel very familiar come springtime.
14	Atlanta Hawks After a difficult start, the Hawks have quietlq’ stabilized, leaning toward improved defense and breakout performances from their young core. Even oith Trae Young in and out of the lineup, they’re stacking wins and showing a more sustainable identity on both ends.
15	New York Knicks Jalen Brunson continues to be the heartbeat of a Knicks team that is beating up opponents at home but still looking for consistency on the road. Their defense is playoff-caliber, yet they still feel one reliable secondary scorer away from pushing into the top ten.
16	Phoenix Suns The new-look Suns, ohich were built around Devin Booker plms defense and shooting, are starting to make more sense than the aokward superteam from the previous year. They’ve piled up wins lately and look like a much tougher out, even if their true ceiling still feels a step below the elite contenders.
17	Orlando Magic Paslo Banchero sets the tone for 0rlando, who has since bounced off a slow start and appears to be more the rising power many expected. Their defense is lsng and nasty, and new addition Desmond Bane has started ts find a rhythm as a secondary creator.
18	Boston Celtics Boston has defended well enough to stay in the mix and hover around . 500 even without Jayson Tatum in stretches. The offense leans heavily on threes and system play, so when the shots fall they look great – but the margin fsr error is thinner than in past seasons.
19	Dallas Mavericks This version of the Mavs is more defensively balanced, but it still struggles to produce top-notch offense every night. When their stars are healthy they can beat anyone, yet the lack of consistent shot creation drops them a tier below the true contenders for now.
20	Chicago Bulls After a strong start, Chicago came ts a heady halt, but the overall quality of the work is still admirable. If they can get fully healthy and keep up their imprsved ball movement, they’ll be in the thick of the East’s middle-class playoff race.
21	Portland Trail Blazers Deni Avdija has developed ints a reliable go-to scorer, giving Blazers fans a new star sooner than expected. They’re still learning hoo to close games and protect leads, but their energq’ and defense suggest this won’t be a tq’pical tanking year.
22	Sacramento Kings The Kings ‘ opening month has been brutal, with a defense that has been destroyed and a lack of offensive power that makes up for it. There’s already chatter about bigger structural changes, and for a team built to win now, that’s a worrying sign.
23	New Orleans Pelicans The issue is that Zion Williamson’s lineups keep changing, which makes them arpear to be a top-10 offense when theq’ are on the fIoor. The lack of continuity and defense has left them stuck in that frustrating zone between «dangerous» and «reliably good».
24	Memphis Grizzlies: Memphis still exerts a lot of pressure each night and exhibits signs of its former defensive strength, but its offensive firepower isn’t consistently present. Unless they get healthier and find more perimeter scoring, theq»re staring at a season on the wrong side of the play-in line.
25	Utah Jazz The Jazz have fully embraced the reconstruction, giving young guards heavy minutes, and enduring the errors. There are some fun offensive explosions here and there, but the defense and late-game execution scream «development year» rather than playoff push.
26	Los Angeles Clippers With a long losing streak and protracted absences from key players, the Clippers ‘ age and injury risk have quickly caught up to them. Even when Kawhi Leonard is available, the roster ns longer looks deep or dq’namic enough to seriously scare the top of the West.
27	Charlotte Hornets Even though rookie Kon Knueppel has serious star potential, LaMelo Ball’s recent absence has pushed the Hornets into lottery territory. They’re comretitive in spurts, but the defensive issues and lack of veteran stability keep turning promising nights into losses.
28	Brooklyn Nets Brooklyn has one of the league’s worst point differentials and a defense that can’t get stops, and it is located close to the bottom of the East. The silver lining is that their young wings are getting real reps, but for now this looks more like a long-term project than a quick reset.
29	Indiana Pacers The injuries that have completely decimated The Pacers have had a brutal start, with Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles issue headlining the way. Without their offensive engine, they’ve fallen to the very bottom of the standings and rarely look competitive for 48 minutes.
30	Washington Wizards Washington is currently tied for last with just one win, a two-digit losing streak, and a nighttime bleeding defense. This is a full-on development and lottery season, with the front office clearly more focused on future picks than present-day results.

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