The AccuScore computer reviews team statistics to date and rates teams along multiple statistical dimensions including average margin of victory, field goal percentage, opponent field goal percentage, rebounding differential, turnover margin, points scored and points allowed.

The team that is best in any area is scored 100% and the lowest rated team is 0%.  Every other team is rated 1-99% based on their relative strength in that dimension.  AccuScore looks at relative power because it is more informative than numerical ranking.  For example, Boston has started the season with a sizable lead in margin of victory and at 100% is a full 15 percentage points higher than #2, San Antonio.  The difference between #2 San Antonio and #3 Utah is just 5%.   The difference between #5 Orlando and #12 Houston is less than the difference between #1 and #2.

Our analysts are provided with the raw data.  They are allowed to weight the different statistics by importance.  For example, one analyst might prioritize turnover margin and weight it by 2x while de-valuing rebounding differential and scoring it just 0.5.  In this example, a team’s rating in turnover margin would be worth 4 times as much as their rebounding rating.  In addition to customizing the power rating formula, the analyst is given the option to adjust a team’s rating in any category if they feel that team will be improving or getting worse in that statistical category in the near future.

Each Analysts’ individual power rating is posted along with the average of each team.

Stephen Oh - AccuScore Analyst

Despite their string of losses I never lost faith in the Utah Jazz and was rewarded when Utah beat Dallas by 9 at home.  Even with their losses, the Jazz still rate highly in every key area except for defensive FG%.  This is a shock given the history of Jerry Sloan coached teams.  The losses could help the team in the long run by humbling the team, showing them that defense is the key to winning and as the team steadily improves this area they will get back to being considered a legit NBA title contender.

I’m also jumping on the Lakers bandwagon after their convincing win over Phoenix.  The team has everything you want in a team with multiple consistent perimeter shooters, good athletic wing-men, versatile ball-handlers, a now consistent low-post presence (Andrew Bynum), and arguably the best player in the game, Kobe Bryant.  If the Lakers continue to be in the top third of the league in defensive FG% and rebounding differential there is no reason to doubt that they could beat Phoenix, Dallas, or Utah in a 7 game series.  Notice I did not list San Antonio.  I have them ranked 3rd in my rankings.  They’ve had injuries to the Big 3 and still have played great.  If they go on their typical second half run, I expect San Antonio to emerge from the West again.

The Miami Heat are playing horrendous basketball. Alonzo Mourning is out and Shaq is playing poorly and due for an injury anytime now.  I expect their already low defensive FG% and rebounding rating to get even worse.   I do expect another underachieving Eastern Conference team, Cleveland, to start playing better.  The team will always be inconsistent offensively due to lack of consistent perimeter shooting, but good defense should be a constant.  Currently, the Cavs are at the 23rd percentile in defensive FG%.  I expect the team to get back to basics, play better than average defense and as a result get back into the middle of the playoff pack in the East with teams like Orlando, Toronto, Washington, Indiana and Philly. 

Another week gone by, and we’re starting to see some interesting developments in my latest rankings.  No surprise in the top 2 spots with Boston and Detroit leading the way.  It will be interesting to see how Boston holds up in the next week as they make their first west coast road trip facing Utah and the Lakers.  A lot of people believe that Boston’s top record is a result of their easy early season schedule.  The Celtics failed their first real test earlier this month, losing to Detroit, bringing about questions whether this team will be able to handle the other elite teams in the league.  However, wins over the Jazz and Lakers on the road would go a long way in proving their critics wrong.  Speaking of the Jazz, they’ve been struggling going 3-7 in their last 10 games, however it hasn’t hurt them too much yet in the power rankings.  We’ll see how long that trend holds up.
 
The biggest story in the NBA this month has to be the run that Portland has put together.  The Blazers are on an 11 game winning streak after losing to the Spurs to start out the month.  You may think that they’ve managed to pull this off against the bottom teams in the league, but during the streak they’ve managed to beat Utah (twice), Denver (twice), Golden State and New Orleans.  Brandon Roy has been extremely impressive in only his second year in the league.  He’s averaging 19 points, 5.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game and has been especially impressive during the streak.  This Portland team is definitely on the rise.  They were missing LeMarcus Aldridge for 5 games during the streak and still have their center of the future sitting on the bench in Greg Oden.  While they won’t be contending for a championship this year, give them some time to mature and look out league. 

Jonathan Lee    AccuScore Analyst
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The only two elite teams that seem to be cruising along like they should are both from the East.  The Celtics and Pistons are proving that they both are legit, and they will likely battle each other for a spot in the Finals.  Boston is in the midst of their first extended road trip out West, and it will be interesting to see how they fare.  The Spurs, despite various injuries that have knocked out Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, have continued to win no matter who plays.  They are clearly the team to beat out West, and that shouldn’t change until someone actually knocks them off in a seven-game series.

The team rising up the rankings is the Los Angeles Lakers.  The national media has finally caught on to terrific season young center Andrew Bynum is having after his breakout performance on Christmas day in a win over the Phoenix Suns.  I saw that game as a possible season-defining moment for the Lakers as it didn’t seem like a one-time fluke.  The Lakers actually controlled the game for much of the action, and look to be an even match for the Suns.  The trade for Trevor Ariza has already paid huge dividends as he provides energy and defense to pair with Luke Walton’s savvy and shooting ability on the wing.

The Blazers have won 11 in a row, but they still rank just 20th on my list because they are in the bottom half in the league in every category except field goal percentage.  I like how they are playing hard, and playing together, but effort and chemistry will only take them so far.  They will be legitimate playoff contenders next season, and for years to come, but not this season.  Portland has the youngest roster in the NBA so look for them to look for a solid veteran to add in the off-season.

Two teams falling rapidly are the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic.  The Rockets should be good, but there is just something wrong with the way they are constructed.  They have difficulty scoring even with great offensive players in Yao and Tracy McGrady on the floor for most of the game.  McGrady’s injury problems certainly don’t help, but I think the lack of a point guard and even a decent second low post option is really hurting Houston.  The Magic need to finally a banger down low to help out Dwight Howard just like they needed one for a young Shaquille O’Neal.  Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis are great offensively, but playing them together up front hurts Orlando’s defensive and rebounding capabilities.