NBN Power Rankings: Tiny’s Kings Rise, OKC Thunders Into the Spotlight

The NBN’s five-day sample was small, but it was absolutely loud: Oklahoma City detonated Houston by 54 points, Sacramento kept rolling, and the Phoenix Suns slipped past Utah in a four-point alley fight. Because full-season records were not provided, each team’s record below reflects the supplied five-game window; 0-0 means no game appeared in the data, not a season-long verdict.

Championship Contenders

  1. Oklahoma City Thunder — Record: 1-0. Movement: Rising. The 130-76 demolition of Houston announced itself with bass-fog energy. Lester Conner averages 29.3 points, while Nate Thurmond owns the rebounding crown with 14.8 boards.
  2. Sacramento Kings — Record: 1-0. Movement: Rising. Nate “Tiny” Archibald leads the league with 31.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 8.7 assists. Sacramento has the MVP-caliber engine and the machinery to keep humming.
  3. Orlando Magic — Record: 1-0. Movement: Rising. Their 114-100 victory over Toronto was the cleanest statement among the five featured games. The Magic look dangerous whenever the pace turns into controlled chaos.
  4. Phoenix Suns — Record: 1-0. Movement: Rising. A 129-125 win over Utah required composure, not a coronation. Still, holding serve in a shootout is how contenders separate themselves from the merely exciting.
  5. Atlanta Hawks — Record: 0-0. Movement: Steady. Chris Paul is running the league’s premier offense with 28.6 points and 10.5 assists. When the assists land, Atlanta becomes a very difficult appointment.
  6. Brooklyn Nets — Record: 0-0. Movement: Steady. A terrifying two-headed monster: Shawn Marion rebounds at 12.6 per game, while Jay Williams dishes 10.4 assists.
  7. Dallas Mavericks — Record: 0-0. Movement: Steady. Ron Mercer scores 30.0 points, and Bill Russell averages 14.7 rebounds. Dallas has punch, size and enough efficiency to be a problem.

Playoff Hopefuls

  1. Utah Jazz — Record: 1-1. Movement: Steady. Utah split its two games, beating New Orleans before losing a 129-125 nail-biter to Phoenix. Competitive, competitive—and one possession from a much better week.
  2. Denver Nuggets — Record: 0-0. Movement: Steady. Zoran Radovic contributes 24.4 points and 10.3 assists across an efficient profile. Denver’s offense has a crisp,playmaking identity.
  3. Miami Heat — Record: 0-0. Movement: Steady. Terry Cummings is cleaning glass at a serious clip with 14.6 rebounds and 17.3 points. Miami’s floor game starts and ends with him.
  4. Milwaukee Bucks — Record: 0-0. Movement: Steady. Rashard Lewis is pouring in 30.0 points and adding 7.8 rebounds. His scoring touch gives ← All Articles