The start of the New Year presents a chance for everyone to start anew, set goals and resolutions and look to improve their standing in 2025.
The very same goes for the NBA and its 30 teams, now two months into its season.
And, as the calendar turns, it’s happening at an inflection point for several franchises. Take, for instance, the defending champion Boston Celtics, who cruised through the first month-and-a-half of the season, only to lose four of their last six. Is it a sign for concern, or merely just a speedbump in a very long season?
Then there’s the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are on an NBA-best 11-game winning streak.
Here are the USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings at the turn of the calendar, with resolutions each team should carry into 2025.
USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (26-5)
The hottest team in the league with 11 consecutive victories, the Thunder resolve to make the most of Chet Holmgren when he returns from a pelvic injury.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (28-4)
Even the best team in the league has room to get better: The Cavs should resolve to improve their rebounding, where they are tied for 18th (43.7 per game).
3. New York Knicks (23-10)
Winners of 13 of 15, New York should retain its offensive balance and versatility, though defensive efficiency (112; 13th) and offensive rebounding (9.9 per game; tied for 21st) are areas of concern.
4. Boston Celtics (23-9)
The Celtics, losers of four of their last six, should find other ways to score when their 3 pointers aren’t dropping.
5. Memphis Grizzlies (22-11)
In spite of player availability issues, the Grizzlies have been steady and productive thanks to a deep bench. They should turn that depth into a trade ahead of the deadline to add a star.
6. Houston Rockets (21-11)
They’re young and crazy athletic and thrive on defense, but Houston is wildly inefficient on offense, ranking 28th in true shooting percentage (54.2%). They must practice patience and discretion in their shot selection.
7. Dallas Mavericks (20-13)
Facing at least a month without Luka Dončić (left calf strain), the Mavericks should develop ways to stay in contention in the loaded Western Conference – players like Klay Thompson and Quentin Grimes will need to step up.
8. Los Angeles Lakers (18-13)
Make use of the 3-point shooting and defense from Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, whom the Lakers just acquired in a trade with Brooklyn.
9. Los Angeles Clippers (19-13)
Keep Kawhi Leonard healthy once he returns.
10. Denver Nuggets (18-13)
Get Nikola Jokić more help ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves (17-14)
More scoring from the team that ranks 23rd in points per game and 21st in points per 100 possessions.
12. Atlanta Hawks (18-15)
Atlanta is among the best ball-sharing teams in the NBA and plays very quickly. The Hawks get better if they give it away less, improving on their 16.5 turnovers per game, tied for 25th.
13. Miami Heat (16-14)
They struggle defensively when Bam Adebayo is off the floor and struggle offensively when Tyler Herro is off the floor. The Heat must get their role players to step up so those drop-offs aren’t as pronounced.
14. Orlando Magic (20-14)
The Magic have thrived without their two stars, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, for much of the season. They should maintain their philosophy and defense when both return. And they should protect obliques at all costs.
15. Milwaukee Bucks (16-14)
Continued stellar play from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard who are the highest scoring pair of teammates in the league at 58.6 points per game.
16. Indiana Pacers (16-17)
Focus on the defensive end, where the Pacers have made incremental progress in the past 10 games.
17. San Antonio Spurs (16-16)
18. Golden State Warriors (16-16)
Shoot better from the field, especially inside the 3-point line – where the Warriors are tied for 26th in 2-point field goal percentage.
19. Phoenix Suns (15-16)
Extended time with a healthy Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. The Suns are 1-9 without Durant and 1-4 without Booker.
20. Philadelphia 76ers (13-17)
Their Big 3 of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George have played together just eight of Philadelphia’s 30 games – or just 26.7%. The Sixers should resolve to have them available far more often.
21. Chicago Bulls (15-18)
The Bulls should resolve to pick a lane – go all in for the playoffs or focus on keeping their 2025 first-round pick which is protected 1-10; if the Bulls finish with the 20th-best record or better, the pick goes to San Antonio. Today, the Bulls would give the Spurs the No. 11 pick.
22. Detroit Pistons (14-18)
Just a tad better shooting for Cade Cunningham who is turning into an All-Star at 24 points, 9.7 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game and 44.7% shooting from the field.
23. Sacramento Kings (14-19)
Find a head coach who lasts more than three seasons – something that hasn’t happened since Rick Adelman’s eight seasons from 1998-2006.
24. Brooklyn Nets (12-20)
The Nets are rebuilding, with 15 first-round picks (and 31 overall) over the next seven years. They should continue positioning themselves aggressively to add stars.
25. Portland Trail Blazers (11-21)
Make use of the trade deadline.
26. Utah Jazz (7-24)
Find individual and team defense that helps them climb out of the basement in points allowed per 100 possessions – a league-worst 119.8.
27. Washington Wizards (5-25)
They’re last in offensive rating (104.7), net rating (-13.2), player impact estimate (43.3). They should light candles, burn sage and hope and pray they win the NBA draft lottery and, thus, the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes.
28. Charlotte Hornets (7-25)
The Hornets have lost of 16 of their last 17, rank 28th in offensive rating (107.2). They should embrace offensive efficiency and improved shot selection at every turn.
29. Toronto Raptors (7-25)
The Raptors have lost an NBA-worst 10 consecutive games. They’ve allowed an average of 143.3 points per game over their last three. They’ve turned the ball over a league-worst 20.3 times over the last three. They should just focus on fundamentals.
30. New Orleans Pelicans (5-28)
They have the worst record in basketball, cannot get their players to stay healthy and appear headed toward a selloff at the deadline. Hopefully, they can construct a unified strategy, have faith and remember that pain is temporary.
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