NBA 2022-23 3-week Power Rankings

 

NBA 2022-23 3-week Power Rankings

“Conditional” league-wide Performance (wins & losses)

Home-court Advantage:  95 – 63, .601

more successful 3FG’s:  102 – 36, .739 [20 games equal]

fewer unsuccessful FT’s:  68 – 74, .479 [16 games equal]

superior “Striping”:  95 – 52, .646 [11 games equal]

 

 

Power Rankings

No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers, 8-2 (8.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 15]

 

KK:  +4; (4 Road Wins – Home Losses) / No. 1 overall (tied)

Flow:  +3.10; (53.8 stops OF opp [No. 5] – 50.7 stops BY opp [No. 11] / No. 3 overall

Striping:  +1.65; (+4.35) conversions [No. 7] - (+2.70) opp conversions [No. 4] / No. 3 overall

SPOR-t:  +83; (586 [No. 9] – 503 [No. 1]) / No. 1 overall

Abacus Revelation: The surprising Vavs rank Top Ten in both scoring and points allowed.

 

No. 2 Milwaukee Bucks, 9-1 (25)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 8]

 

KK:  +2; (2 Road Wins – 0 Home Losses) / No. 5 overall (tied-5)

Flow:  +3.00; (55.4 stops OF opp [No. 2] – 52.4 stops BY opp [No. 19] / No. 4 overall

Striping:  +0.45; (+3.60) conversions [No. 13] - (+3.15) opp conversions [No. 8] / No. 11 overall

SPOR-t:  +77; (584 [No. 10] – 507 [No. 2]) / No. 3 overall

Abacus Revelation: Milwaukee’s defense allows the fewest ppg (102.7) in the NBA.

 

No. 3 Denver Nuggets, 7-3 (26.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 12]

 

KK:  +3; (3 Road Wins – 0 Home Losses) / No. 3 overall (tied)

Flow:  +1.80; (50.8 stops OF opp [No. 21] – 49.0 stops BY opp [No. 4] / No. 10 overall

Striping:  +0.95; (+3.75) conversions [No. 10] - (+2.80) opp conversions [No. 5] / No. 7 overall

SPOR-t:  +47; (609 [No. 4] – 562 [No. 9]) / No. 6 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Nuggets are the only team making more than half (.502) their FGA’s

 

No. 4 Phoenix Suns, 7-3 (29.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 1]

 

KK:  0; (1 Road Win – 1 Home Loss) / No. 12 overall (tied-6)

Flow:  +3.60; (52.5 stops OF opp [No. 10] – 48.9 stops BY opp [No. 2] / No. 1 overall

Striping:  +0.80; (+3.60) conversions [No. 13] - (+2.80) opp conversions [No. 5] / No. 9 overall

SPOR-t:  +49; (597 [No. 8] – 548 [No. 6]) / No. 5 overall

Abacus Revelation: Phoenix stands third in FG defense (.438).

 

No. 5 Utah Jazz, 9-3 (35.5)

[2021-22 Abacus Rank: No. 5]

 

KK:  +4; (4 Road Wins – 0 Home Losses) / No. 1 overall (tied)

Flow:  -0.42; (51.7 stops OF opp [No. 14] – 52.1 stops BY opp [No. 17] / No. 21 overall

Striping:  +3.17; (+5.00) conversions [No. 4] - (+1.83) opp conversions [No. 1] / No. 1 overall

SPOR-t:  +9; (615 [No. 3] – 606 [No. 27]) / No. 12 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Jazz rank No. 1 in defending the three-ball (.326).

 

No. 6 New Orleans Pelicans, 5-5 (41)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 19]

 

KK:  +2; (3 Road Wins – 1 Home Loss) / No. 5 overall (tied-5)

Flow:  +3.20; (53.3 stops OF opp [No. 7] – 50.1 stops BY opp [No. 8] / No. 2 overall

Striping:  -1.35; (+2.80) conversions [No. 24] - (+4.15) opp conversions [No. 26] / No. 28 overall

SPOR-t:  +75; (646 [No. 1] – 571 [No. 17]) / No. 4 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Pelicans are the NBA’s highest-scoring squad, 118.5 ppg.

 

No. 7 Toronto Raptors, 6-5 (42.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 10]

 

KK:  +1; (2 Road Wins – 1 Home Loss) / No. 10 overall (tied)

Flow:  +2.09; (51.6 stops OF opp [No. 19] – 49.5 stops BY opp [No. 6] / No. 9 overall

Striping:  -0.77; (+3.36 conversions [No. 16] - (+4.14) opp conversions [No. 24] / No. 21 overall

SPOR-t:  +79; (605 [No. 5] – 526 [No. 3) / No. 2 overall

Abacus Revelation: Toronto ranks in the Top Three in both forcing TO’s and avoiding them.

 

No. 8 Chicago Bulls, 6-6 (45.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 18]

 

KK:  0; (2 Road Wins – 2 Home Losses) / No. 12 overall (tied-6)

Flow:  +2.25; (53.7 stops OF opp [No. 6] – 51.4 stops BY opp [No. 14] / No. 8 overall

Striping:  -0.25; (+3.67) conversions [No. 12] - (+3.92) opp conversions [No. 21] / No. 16 overall

SPOR-t:  +39; (568 [No. 18] – 529 [No. 4]) / No. 7 overall

Abacus Revelation: Chicago is Top 10 in making treys but Bottom 10 in taking them ???

 

No. 9 Atlanta Hawks, 7-3 (47)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 13]

 

KK:  +2; (3 Road Wins – 1 Home Loss) / No. 5 overall (tied-5)

Flow:  +0.40; (52.1 stops OF opp [No. 12] – 51.7 stops BY opp [No. 15] / No. 17 overall

Striping:  +1.10; (+3.30) conversions [No. 18] - (+2.20) opp conversions [No. 2] / No. 6 overall

SPOR-t:  +2; (601 [No. 7] – 599 [No. 26]) / No. 17 overall

Abacus Revelation: The hawks rank No. 1 in TO% (.105).

 

No. 10 Memphis Grizzlies, 7-4 (48)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 6]

 

KK:  +2; (3 Road Wins – 1 Home Loss) / No. 5 overall (tied-5)

Flow:  +0.64; (51.4 stops OF opp [No. 20] – 50.7 stops BY opp [No. 12] / No. 15 overall

Striping:  -0.55; (+3.18) conversions [No. 19] - (+3.73) opp conversions [No. 18] / No. 18 overall

SPOR-t:  +34; (629 [No. 2] – 595 [No. 24]) / No. 8 overall

Abacus Revelation: The athletic Griz are the league’s No. 2 team in OR% at .286.

 

ABACUS INFOMERCIAL

Masters of the Craft (Part 1)

Which teams are performing the rudimentary skills of the game most proficiently at both ends of the floor? Let’s consider six elements of play: FG shooting, three-point shooting, Points per Game, Offensive Rebounding, the matter of turnovers and the SPOR-t score of our ratings. These teams hold a Top Ten rank offensively and defensively:

FG%: Brooklyn, Cleveland, LA Clippers

3FG%: Philadelphia, New Orleans

PPG: Cleveland

OR%: Toronto, Indiana, Milwaukee

TO%: Toronto, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Phoenix

SPOR-t: Toronto, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Phoenix

 

No. 11 Boston Celtics, 7-3 (49.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 3]

 

KK:  +3; (4 Road Wins – 1 Home Loss) / No. 3 overall (tied)

Flow:  -0.10; (50.7 stops OF opp [No. 22] – 50.8 stops BY opp [No. 13] / No. 18 overall

Striping:  +2.45; (+6.05) conversions [No. 1] - (+3.60) opp conversions [No. 17] / No. 2 overall

SPOR-t:  -50; (535 [No. 25] – 585 [No. 19]) / No. 26 overall

Abacus Revelation: The C’s average over 40 3FGA’s per game, 47% of their shots.

 

No. 12 Portland Trail Blazers, 7-3 (51)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 26]

 

KK:  +2; (4 Road Wins – 2 Home Losses) / No. 5 overall (tied-5)

Flow:  +1.60; (52.1 stops OF opp [No. 11] – 50.5 stops BY opp [No. 9] / No. 11 overall

Striping:  -1.05; (+3.05) conversions [No. 21] - (+4.10) opp conversions [No. 23] / No. 23 overall

SPOR-t:  +16; (575 [No. 15] – 559 [No. 7]) / No. 10 overall

Abacus Revelation: Portland ranks No 3 in 3FG accuracy (.395).

 

No. 13 New York Knicks, 5-5 (55)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 16]

 

KK:  0; (2 Road Wins – 2 Home Losses) / No. 12 overall (tied-6)

Flow:  +2.30; (54.7 stops OF opp [No. 3] – 52.4 stops BY opp [No. 18] / No. 7 overall

Striping:  -1.10; (+33.5) conversions [No. 17] - (+4.45) opp conversions [No. 28] / No. 24 overall (tied)

SPOR-t:  +22; (604 [No. 6] – 582 [No. 18]) / No. 9 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Knicks rank No. 2 in FG defense and No. 10 in 3FG defense.

 

No. 14 Dallas Mavericks, 6-3 (59.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 7]

 

KK:  0; (1 Road Win – 1 Home Loss) / No. 12 overall (tied-6)

Flow:  +0.67; (49.0 stops OF opp [No. 27] – 48.3 stops BY opp [No. 1] / No. 14 overall

Striping:  +0.39; (+3.00) conversions [No. 22] - (+2.61) opp conversions [No. 3] / No. 13 overall

SPOR-t:  -7; (584 [No. 10] – 591 [No. 23]) / No. 18 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Mavs attempt five more FT’s per game than opponents, No.2 league-wide.

 

No. 15 Indiana Pacers, 5-5 (68.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 22]

 

KK:  0; (2 Road Wins – 2 Home Losses) / No. 12 overall (tied-6)

Flow:  -4.20; (50.2 stops OF opp [No. 24] – 54.4 stops BY opp [No. 27] / No. 28 overall

Striping:  +0.40; (+5.25) conversions [No. 2] - (+4.85) opp conversions [No. 30] / No. 12 overall

SPOR-t:  +6; (574 [No. 16] – 568 [No. 13]) / No. 14 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Pacers are Top Ten in both taking and making 3FG’s.

 

No. 15 Philadelphia 76ers, 5-6 (68.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 11]

 

KK:  -1; (3 Road Wins – 4 Home Losses) / No. 18 overall (tied-6)

Flow:  -0.82; (48.6 stops OF opp [No. 29] – 49.5 stops BY opp [No. 5] / No. 22 overall

Striping:  +1.36; (+5.00) conversions [No. 6] - (+3.50) opp conversions [No. 10] / No. 5 overall

SPOR-t:  -32; (532 [No. 26] – 564 [No. 11]) / No. 21 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Sixers rank fourth in both making and defending three-point shots.

 

No. 17 Brooklyn Nets, 4-7 (69.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 14]

 

KK:  -2; (2 Road Wins – 4 Home Losses) / No. 24 overall (tied)

Flow:  +2.55; (51.5 stops OF opp [No. 20] – 48.9 stops BY opp [No. 3] / No. 5 overall

Striping:  -0.36; (+3.50) conversions [No. 15] - (+3.86) opp conversions [No. 19] / No. 17 overall

SPOR-t:  -35; (560 [No. 22] – 595 [No. 24]) / No. 23 overall

Abacus Revelation: The soap-opera Nets do stand No. 7 in both FG% (.476) and FG “D” (.450).

 

No. 17 Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-6 (69.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 29]

 

KK:  -1; (1 Road Wins – 2 Home Losses) / No. 18 overall (tied-6)

Flow:  +0.50; (54.0 stops OF opp [No. 4] – 53.5 stops BY opp [No. 23] / No. 16 overall

Striping:  -0.65; (+2.65) conversions [No. 26] - (+3.30) opp conversions [No. 12] / No. 20 overall

SPOR-t:  +7; (577 [No. 14] – 570 [No. 16]) / No. 13 overall

Abacus Revelation: OKC ranks second in both forcing TO’s (.156) and protecting the ball (.106).

 

No. 19 Washington Wizards, 5-6 (71.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 23]

 

KK:  0; (3 Road Wins – 3 Home Losses) / No. 12 overall (tied-6)

Flow:  +0.91; (50.7 stops OF opp [No. 23] – 49.8 stops BY opp [No. 7] / No. 13 overall

Striping:  -2.00; (+2.14) conversions [No. 29] - (+4.14) opp conversions [No. 24] / No. 29 overall

SPOR-t: +5; (566 [No. 20] – 561 [No. 8]) / No. 15 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Wizards rank No. 28 in both making and defending 3FG’s … Ouch!

 

No. 20 Golden State Warriors, 4-7 (73.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 2]

 

KK:  -1; (0 Road Wins – 1 Home Loss) / No. 18 overall (tied-6)

Flow:  -2.82; (51.7 stops OF opp [No. 13] – 54.5 stops BY opp [No. 28] / No. 24 overall

Striping:  +1.55; (+5.14) conversions [No. 3] - (+3.59) opp conversions [No. 15] / No. 4 overall

SPOR-t:  -43; (551 [No. 23] – 594 [No. 23]) / No. 25 overall

Abacus Revelation: Uncharacteristically, the Dubs stand No. 16 in 3FG accuracy, .359.

 

ABACUS INFOMERCIAL

Masters of the Craft (Part 2)

Are not the exceptionally inept worthy of some recognition? Here are the teams that hold a Bottom Ten offensive and defensive ranking in our key elements of play: FG shooting, three-point shooting, PPG, Offensive Rebounding, Turnovers and SPOR-t.

FG%: Toronto, Indiana, Miami, Houston

3FG%: Orlando, Washington, Minnesota

PPG: Detroit, Houston, LA Lakers

OR%: Brooklyn, Atlanta

TO%: Orlando, LA Clippers

SPOR-t: Brooklyn, San Antonio, Golden State

 

No. 21 Minnesota Timberwolves, 5-6 (76.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 9]

 

KK:  -3; (1 Road Win – 4 Home Losses) / No. 26 overall (tied-4)

Flow:  +2.45; (55.7 stops OF opp [No. 1] – 53.1 stops BY opp [No. 21] / No. 6 overall

Striping:  -1.32; (+3.09) conversions [No. 20] - (+4.41) opp conversions [No. 27] / No. 27 overall

SPOR-t:  +4; (572 [No. 17] – 568 [No. 13]) / No. 16 overall

Abacus Revelation: The T’wolves are in the bottom 10 in both making and defending the 3-ball.

 

No. 22 Sacramento Kings, 3-6 (78.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 28]

 

KK:  -1; (2 Road Wins – 3 Home Losses) / No. 18 overall (tied-6)

Flow:  -3.11; (50.0 stops OF opp [No. 26] – 53.1 stops BY opp [No. 22] / No. 26 overall

Striping:  +0.94; (+4.11) conversions [No. 8] - (+3.17) opp conversions [No. 9] / No. 8 overall

SPOR-t:  -38; (526 [No. 28] – 564 [No. 11]) / No. 24 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Kings are No. 2 in the league in Defensive Rebounding (.809).

 

No. 23 Miami Heat, 4-7 (80.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 4]

 

KK:  -3; (1 Road Wins – 4 Home Losses) / No. 26 overall (tied-4)

Flow:  -0.27; (51.7 stops OF opp [No. 15] – 52.0 stops BY opp [No. 16] / No. 19 overall

Striping:  -0.18; (+4.59) conversions [No. 5] - (+4.77) opp conversions [No. 29] / No. 15 overall

SPOR-t:  -11; (528 [No. 27] – 539 [No. 5]) / No. 19 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Heat rank No. 3 in forcing TO’s (.153).

 

No. 23 Orlando Magic, 2-9 (80.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 27]

 

KK:  -3; (0 Road Wins – 3 Home Losses) / No. 26 overall (tied-4)

Flow:  +1.09; (51.7 stops OF opp [No. 15] – 50.6 stops BY opp [No. 10] / No. 12 overall

Striping:  -2.05; (+2.05) conversions [No. 30] - (+4.09) opp conversions [No. 22] / No. 30 overall

SPOR-t:  +13; (581 [No. 13] – 568 [No. 13]) / No. 11 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Magic own the league’s fourth best FG% (.478).

 

No. 25 Houston Rockets, 2-9 (82.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 30]

 

KK:  -1; (1 Road Wins – 2 Home Losses) / No. 18 overall (tied-6)

Flow:  -6.00; (48.7 stops OF opp [No. 28] – 54.7 stops BY opp [No. 29] / No. 30 overall

Striping:  +0.55; (+3.73) conversions [No. 11] - (+3.18) opp conversions [No. 10] / No. 10 overall

SPOR-t:  -34; (583 [No. 12] – 617 [No. 28]) / No. 22 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Rockets are the top Offensive Rebounders (.296) in the league.

 

No. 26 Los Angeles Clippers, 6-5 (83.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 20]

 

KK:  +1; (4 Road Wins – 3 Home Losses) / No. 10 overall (tied)

Flow:  -0.36; (52.6 stops OF opp [No. 9] – 52.3 stops BY opp [No. 18] / No. 20 overall

Striping:  -1.14; (+2.73) conversions [No. 25] - (+3.86) opp conversions [No. 19] / No. 26 overall

SPOR-t:  -62; (500 [No. 30] – 562 [No. 9]) / No. 27 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Clippers rank dead last in per-game scoring (103.8).

 

No. 27 San Antonio Spurs, 5-6 (89.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 21]

 

KK:  -1; (3 Road Wins – 4 Home Losses) / No. 18 overall (tied-6)

Flow:  -4.18; (50.1 stops OF opp [No. 25] – 54.3 stops BY opp [No. 25] / No. 27 overall

Striping:  +0.27; (+3.86) conversions [No. 9] - (+3.59) opp conversions [No. 15] / No. 14 overall

SPOR-t:  -63; (561 [No. 21] – 624 [No. 29]) / No. 28 overall

Abacus Revelation: Pop’s Spurs play at the league’s fastest Pace, 103.

 

No. 27 Charlotte Hornets, 3-8 (89.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 17]

 

KK:  -2; (2 Road Wins – 4 Home Losses) / No. 24 overall (tied)

Flow:  -2.00; (52.4 stops OF opp [No. 11] – 54.4 stops BY opp [No. 26] / No. 23 overall

Striping:  -0.91; (+2.18) conversions [No. 28] - (+3.09) opp conversions [No. 7] / No. 22 overall

SPOR-t:  -22; (567 [No. 19] – 589 [No. 21]) / No. 20 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Hornets miss almost six-and-a-half FT’s per game (No. 28).

 

No. 29 Detroit Pistons, 3-8 (105.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 25]

 

KK:  -3; (0 Road Wins – 3 Home Losses) / No. 26 overall (tied-4)

Flow:  -5.36; (48.6 stops OF opp [No. 29] – 54.0 stops BY opp [No. 24] / No. 29 overall

Striping:  -0.59; (+2.82) conversions [No. 23] - (+3.41) opp conversions [No. 14] / No. 19 overall

SPOR-t:  -100; (544 [No. 24] – 644 [No. 30]) / No. 30 overall

Abacus Revelation: The Pistons rank No. 8 in defending the three-ball (.343).

 

No. 30 Los Angeles Lakers, 2-8 (108.5)

[2022-23 Abacus Rank: No. 24]

 

KK:  -4; (0 Road Wins – 4 Home Losses) / No. 30 overall

Flow:  -3.10; (52.8 stops OF opp [No. 8] – 55.9 stops BY opp [No. 30] / No. 25 overall

Striping:  -1.10; (+2.20) conversions [No. 27] - (+3.30) opp conversions [No. 12] / No. 24 overall (tied)

SPOR-t:  -74; (514 [No. 29] – 588 [No. 20]) / No. 29 overall

Abacus Revelation: Despite their struggles, the Lakers are playing at the second-fastest Pace (102.9).

The Grading Scale

“Flow”: this calculation puts a number to a team’s unsuccessful possessions (i.e. the other guys’ “stops”). Just take their missed field goals (attempts minus makes), subtract the offensive rebounds, and then add the turnovers. The “scores” represent per-game performance.

“Striping”: this calculation measures the impact of missed free throws and made treys. By subtracting the former from the latter [3’s minus missed FT’s], we identify a team’s gain or loss in points through “specialty shooting.” Again the “scores” are per-game. (A further division by two converts “points” to “conversions” – thus they can be combined with the “Flow” score.)

KK: Karl Kount – named for George Karl – is a way to measure a team’s grit and savvy through its ability to defend its home court and win on the road, a simple calculation for generally reliable info.

 “SPOR-t”: SPOR-t stands for “Shooting Plus Offensive Rebounds minus turnovers.” Add a team’s FG percentage and its offensive rebounding percentage (o. boards divided by the sum of those o. boards and the opposition's d. boards). Then subtract the percentage of a team’s possessions lost to turnovers. For example, a team shoots field goals at a .488 clip, offensive rebounds at a rate of .199, and commits a turnover on .143 of its possessions. So its SPOR-t is (488+199-143) or 544. Once again, our measurement will be the difference between the SPOR-t scores of a team and its opposition.

                                                                                                                                                                                           

We’ll rank the teams from 1 to 30 in all criteria and simply add up the rankings. Low score wins, naturally.