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BDL Power Rankings v4.0, where the Celtics are rising and the Nets are sunk

Every Thursday, we’ll reveal the week’s BDL Power Rankings, while highlighting the NBA’s movers and shakers. This is version 4.0. As always, the order is indisputable, although you can present your arguments in the comment section. Watch the video above to discover where your team ranks. Below are this week’s most volatile teams.

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THREE UP

6. Boston Celtics (last week: 9th)

With a decisive win over the Utah Jazz (i.e., the West’s version of themselves), the Celtics moved to 15-6 in games that feature Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford and Jae Crowder. Their starting unit ranks among the league’s most effective, outscoring foes by 7.2 points per 100 possessions, even before a wave from the deep C’s bench washes over teams. Their only losses since the start of December have come against the league’s elite, and Thomas has emerged as a bona fide franchise player, what with his 52 points against the Miami Heat this past Friday and a career-high 15 assists as an encore on Tuesday. Oh, and Boston fans will be happy to know the Brooklyn Nets dropped back into last place in this week’s BDL Power Rankings, so those No. 1 overall pick odds are looking awfully good right now, too.

10. Milwaukee Bucks (last week: 12th)

With a 1-2 punch of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker at the top of the bill, the Bucks have settled into top-10 ratings on both offense and defense. The Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz and L.A. Clippers are the only other teams that can make that claim. The absence of Khris Middleton is still striking, but the emergence of second-round pick Malcolm Brogdon, who dropped his first career triple-double over the weekend, has helped stem the tide. And it doesn’t hurt that Giannis has been especially Greek Freaky on the team’s current three-game win streak.

[Related: Why Oklahoma City could remain the best fit for Russell Westbrook]

20. New Orleans Pelicans (last week: 22nd)

Over their last five games, the Pelicans own the league’s best defensive rating (95.1 points per 100 possessions), jumping from a middle-of-the-pack defense to a top-10 unit for the season. Since Dec. 10, their losses have come against the Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers. Meanwhile, they’ve taken care of business against the rest of the NBA, with Anthony Davis obviously posting monster numbers and rookie Buddy Hield finally showing the shooting stroke that made him the No. 6 overall pick.

THREE DOWN

Where Isaiah Thomas has help in Boston, Russell Westbrook has little in Oklahoma City. (Getty Images)
Whereas Isaiah Thomas has help in Boston, Russell Westbrook has little in Oklahoma City. (Getty Images)

11. Oklahoma City Thunder (last week: 8th)

With two straight losses and three in their past four games, including a 34-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Thunder have fallen back to earth. Their defense remains a top-10 outfit, but it’s shown signs of fraying. OKC has always been walking a tightrope, as everyone wonders how much longer Russell Westbrook’s triple-double production can keep it together. They haven’t snapped yet, despite Westbrook’s recent ejection and subsequent complaints, but things seem tenuous wth this team.

17. New York Knicks (last week: 15th)

The Knicks are making a second straight appearance in this “three down” section, as they’ve run their losing streak to six games dating back to Christmas. Their defense has always been shaky, and now the offense has dropped to below average, and combined the two units are being outscored by 3.7 points per 100 possessions — a mark that’s only matched by seven other teams. And teams with four 30-plus-year-olds in the starting lineup generally don’t find more gas in the tank come midseason.

28. Los Angeles Lakers (last week: 26th)

Once a feisty bunch under new coach Luke Walton, the Lakers owned a 10-10 record at the end of November, exceeding expectations for a team that finished second-to-last season and would have liked to turn the keys over to a series of recent lottery picks. But let’s not forget this is a team that is relying heavily on Nick Young, Lou Williams and a 79-year-old Luol Deng, which is probably why they now own the league’s worst defense and have won all of three games since the start of December.

Previously, on BDL Power Rankings:

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Ben Rohrbach is a contributor for Ball Don’t Lie and Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!