With week 7 done, the rankings for numerous NBA teams are all over the place. Quite a few contenders continue to struggle despite having a relatively healthy roster this season. As for the recurring theme this year, injuries have kept franchises from performing their full potential on the court. One of the bright spots is that the Eastern Conference teams have started to look competitive again after an abysmal start.
On the other hand, the West is loaded from 1 to 12. Just a couple of losses can cause an NBA team to slide three to five spots in the rankings. Without a doubt, this week was full of non-stop action in the court. Here are the rankings for all 30 NBA teams after week 7.
Who are the top-ranking NBA teams after week 7 of games?
30. Washington Wizards (Last Week: 30)
The 16-game losing streak is finally over for the Wizards. They somehow managed to survive Nikola Jokic’s 56-point explosion and hang on for the victory against the visiting Nuggets for their third win of the season. Winning that game could end up as their biggest highlight throughout the rest of the season.
29. New Orleans Pelicans (Last Week: 29)
Just when they had Brandon Ingram back in the lineup, he will miss time again after suffering yet another ankle injury. 1-9 in their last ten games, the Pelicans simply cannot catch a break, even with Dejounter Murray, CJ McCollum, and Trey Murphy back in the fold.
28. Utah Jazz (Last Week: 28)
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The Jazz boasts a tall frontcourt of Markkanen, Collins, and Kessler, but teams aren’t really scared to go up against the towering trio on any given night. They are 2-8 in their last ten games and are quickly sinking to the bottom part of the standings in the West.
27. Charlotte Hornets (Last Week: 25)
Expectedly, the Hornets crumbled without LaMelo Ball for most of week 7, save for a win against the struggling Pacers. One positive note is Brandon Miller’s ascension as one of the top shooting guards in the league, which is a welcomed sight for this cellar-dwelling franchise.
26. Portland Trail Blazers (Last Week: 24)
The Blazers are one of the best prime examples of how NOT to do a rebuilding team. Surely enough, they have an adequate number of young guys, but there is a crystal clear problem with how this team is structured. 2-8 in their last ten games, veteran guys like Jerami Grant and Deandre Ayton aren’t producing much on the court.
25. Toronto Raptors (Last Week: 26)
With their main guys mostly back, the Raptors have produced much better outcomes on the court. They went 5-5 in their last ten games and 2-2 in week 7. Except for a blowout loss against the west-leading Thunder squad, they were pretty much competitive this time around during their games.
Also Read: Power Ranking All 30 NBA Teams After Week 6 Games
24. Philadelphia 76ers (Last Week: 27)
Finally, the Sixers showed some semblance of life after their atrocious start early this season, and as a result, this team had a nice jump in this week’s NBA rankings. While Joel Embiid and Paul George are still far from their top form, their presence alone has been a major boost for this once-proud franchise. Going 3-1 in week 7 was a lot better than starting the season at 4-14.
23. Detroit Pistons (Last Week: 21)
We genuinely thought that the Pistons were trending in the right direction, but it’s safe to say that we were proven wrong yet again. While their win against the Knicks was a much-needed boost to their morale, the last 10 games were brutal for them. They only went 3-7, and some of the scores weren’t even close.
22. Chicago Bulls (Last Week: 23)
The Bulls “jumped” a spot in this week’s rankings solely due to other NBA teams struggling in week 7 more than them. They have now lost two straight and only went 4-6 in 10 games despite having a healthy roster most of the season.
21. Indiana Pacers (Last Week: 19)
Where do we even begin? This Pacers team is one of the few lucky ones who weren’t hit by the contagious injury bug that’s sweeping across the NBA, but they haven’t capitalized on their opportunities this season. With five games under .500, Indiana is facing a huge internal problem right now. They even lost to a LaMelo Ball-less Hornets to cap off week 7.
20. Brooklyn Nets (Last Week: 20)
You have to admire this Nets team. Ben Simmons is nowhere near his Sixers days, and Cam Thomas remains out due to an injury, but they continue to find a way to win games. They are 5-5 in their last games, and the games have been mostly competitive.
19. Sacramento Kings (Last Week: 22)
With a 3-2 record this week, the Kings are finally showing their potential as a squad. They still have a long way to go to catch up to the rest of the top teams in the West, but for the first time this season, they have shown that they have the potential to do it.
18. Phoenix Suns (Last Week: 15)
The Suns’ losses have kept piling up in week 7. With Kevin Durant out again after suffering yet another ankle injury, Phoenix is in limbo again. They have lost three straight and only compiled a 3-7 record in their last ten.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (Last Week: 18)
Week 7 was a good one for the Wolves as they managed to compile a 3-1 slate. The wins themselves were also impressive, as they were against fairly good teams in the West. While we can safely attest that they won’t be as good as last season, this squad is still a dangerous one due to Anthony Edwards’ presence.
16. San Antonio Spurs (Last Week: 13)
A busy four-game schedule and the Spurs only came out with a 1-3 record. Victor Wembanyama was out for a couple of games, and the Spurs are a completely different team without him. Still, they didn’t fall too far in this week’s rankings, as this NBA squad still accumulated a positive result in their last ten games, going 6-4.
15. Denver Nuggets (Last Week: 12)
The Nuggets had no business losing to a bad team like the Wizards, but they did it anyway. Even with Nikola Jokic’s 56-point outburst, they failed to secure the win and spoiled their MVP’s night. Michael Porter Jr’s game has stagnated. This could be it regarding his ceiling as a player. Even Jamal Murray has lost a step or two. Is it time to hit the panic button?
14. Los Angeles Lakers (Last Week: 10)
LeBron James and the Lakers had a busy week. They played four games in seven nights but ended up with a 1-3 record. Amid Father Time talks, LBJ had a very good week in the scoring department. However, going 3-7 in their last ten generally means that they are far from contention this season after much hope at the start in the weekly NBA rankings.
13. Atlanta Hawks (Last Week: 17)
Are the Hawks the giant slayers in the NBA? Except for their lackluster loss to the Nuggets at the end of week 7, they have been playing very good basketball lately. They went 6-4 in their last ten games and 3-1 this week.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (Last Week: 11)
The Clippers are in a little slide right now, but looking at the bigger picture, they weren’t that bad. Kawhi Leonard has not suited up in a single game this year. James Harden has done all the heavy lifting, but their bench guys and even some of their surprise starters have played admirably this season.
11. Milwaukee Bucks (Last Week: 14)
Winners of eight out of ten games, the Bucks are starting to prove to all their naysayers that they still have what it takes to be a contender, at least in the Eastern Conference. They need to do better on the road, though, as they only went 4-7 in that department.
10. Miami Heat (Last Week: 16)
Arguably the biggest jumpers in this week’s NBA rankings, the Heat are finally hitting their stride on the court. Bam Adebayo has woken up from his slump as of late and is finally contributing to the team’s recent success. Tyler Herro is seeking his first all-star nod because of the way he’s playing this season.
9. Golden State Warriors (Last Week: 8)
Can Jonathan Kuminga keep up his fine play on the offensive end throughout the season? If he can, then this Warriors squad will surely create some noise in April. Due to the recent dip in their performance, the Dubs are reportedly active in the trade market, seeking to land a star to pair with Stephen Curry before 2024 ends.
8. New York Knicks (Last Week: 9)
The Knicks went 7-3 in their last ten games and are slowly separating themselves from the middle of the pack to the upper part of the Eastern Conference. While it has been mostly a collective effort from them, offseason acquisition Karl-Anthony Towns is emerging as their go-to guy this season.
7. Houston Rockets (Last Week: 5)
The Rockets only went 2-2 this week, losing a pair of games to California-based teams such as the shorthanded Clippers and the Warriors. They definitely had a statement win against the west-leading OKC Thunder in week 7.
6. Orlando Magic (Last Week: 4)
The injury bug just struck Orlando again. While Paolo Banchero is nearing his return, Franz Wagner is now out indefinitely with a shoulder injury. 8-2 in their last ten games, it will be interesting to see if the Magic can hang on to their spot in the Eastern Conference standings with both of their stars out.
5. Dallas Mavericks (Last Week: 12)
The hottest team in the NBA right now, Dallas has been lighting it up all over the court in the last couple of weeks. They now have won seven straight games and are quickly establishing themselves as a true contender in the league. Luka Doncic has been playing superbly since his return from an injury.
4. Memphis Grizzlies (Last Week: 6)
This is the highest ranking for this squad since the start of the 2024-2025 NBA season, and they deserve every ounce of it. While Ja Morant isn’t scoring like he used to a couple of years ago, the rest of the team has picked up the slack offensively. They sucked the air out inside the Celtics’ home court after they came away with a statement win to cap off week 7.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (Last Week: 3)
The Thunder are riding on a three-game winning streak right now. They are hanging on to the top spot in the West, but they have some serious competition just right around the corner. While SGA isn’t getting MVP love the same as last year, he continues to play like one for this young squad.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (Last Week: 2)
The Cavs had a relatively easier schedule in week 7, and as a result, they came out with a 3-1 slate. They do have the best record in the Eastern Conference, but Boston is only a couple of games behind them. Cleveland is nearly unbeatable at home, going 13-1 this season so far.
1. Boston Celtics (Last Week: 1)
Week 7 was not a cakewalk for the Celtics, but they managed to come out with a 3-1 record. They could have gone 4-0 but failed to topple Ja Morant and the Grizzlies on their home court. Regardless, with Kristaps Porzingis back in the starting lineup, this Celtics team is looking formidable on both ends of the court. They are the defending champs, after all.
Also Read: Ranking All 30 NBA Teams’ Owners From WORST To FIRST For The 2024-25 Season
