Power Ranking Every NBA Team’s Starting Lineup So Far

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15. Dallas Mavericks

Starters: Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith, Kristaps Porzingis, Dwight Powell

This lineup works on paper, especially when Doncic and Porzingis are clicking. They aren’t right now—their shooting rates are down across the board from last season—so the lineup isn’t working. More specifically, it’s being outscored by a whopping 14.6 points per 100 possessions over 96 minutes. That won’t continue when (not if) Doncic and Porzingis find their touch, which feels likely enough for this relatively lofting rank.

14. Memphis Grizzlies

Starters: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams

A month ago, this might have seemed like a best-case scenario in Bluff City. Now, it’s debatable whether this is even high enough. Morant is rocketing toward basketball’s galaxy of stars, Bane is launching up to 2020 re-draft boards and Brooks looks no worse for the wear after recovering from a broken left hand. Jackson has another level he can reach, and the Grizzlies will shatter even the most optimistic expectations if he does.

13. Toronto Raptors

Starters: Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam

Buy the Raptors’ stock while it’s low now, because this group has the talent to take off sooner than later—provided Anunoby’s hip injury doesn’t cost him too much time. There really isn’t a weak link in this group. VanVleet is rock-solid, Siakam has been hooping since his return, Barnes looks skilled beyond his years, Trent can catch fire from range and Anunoby was keeping on the Kawhi Leonard 2.0 track with early signs of a fifth-year leap.

12. Boston Celtics

Starters: Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Robert Williams III

This group was made to bottle up opponents defensively, and it has (94.4 defensive rating across 51 minutes). But the offense has encountered more turbulence than expected, as Tatum is having the worst shooting season of his career, and only Brown is converting 33-plus percent of his threes (or was before being sidelined by a right hamstring strain). Once Tatum gets right and Brown returns, though, the offense should do enough to complement this dominant defense.

11. Los Angeles Lakers

Starters: Russell Westbrook, Avery Bradley, Kent Bazemore, LeBron James, Anthony Davis

This is impossible. The lineup hasn’t earned a ranking this high (plus-1.3 net rating over 34 minutes), and the awkward fit with Westbrook might always be an issue. Even still, this seems too low for any fivesome that includes both James and Davis, who can dominate like few others. Plus one (or both) of Bradley or Bazemore probably doesn’t belong, but since James and Talen Horton-Tucker haven’t shared the floor yet, this had to do.