Can anyone slow the streaking Celtics?

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The picture of legitimate challengers in the Eastern Conference is being cleared by the murkiness of the west.

The Milwaukee Bucks have lost three of their last four games, including two to the Atlanta Hawks.

The Boston Celtics jumped into the top seed in the East because of Atlanta's dominance of Milwaukee.

In Wednesday's game, the Celtics will have to keep their streak alive. The show is on on Disney's cable channel.

After shattering expectations through the first few weeks, the Utah Jazz and Portland Trail blazers have come back to earth, but they are still atop the Western Conference. The West doesn't have a clear favorite, and plenty of fringe candidates could get into the discussion with a win streak.

We'll see where all 30 teams check in.

Our panel is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which ones are the best.

Week 1 and Week 2 were the previous rankings.

1. Boston Celtics 2022-23 record: 11-3

Previous ranking: 4

The Celtics are on a seven-game winning streak. The fact that Boston has the best offense in the NBA is even more impressive. The gap between the Celtics and the Kings is almost as big as the one between the Kings and Utah.

2. Milwaukee Bucks 2022-23 record: 10-3

Previous ranking: 1

The rotation has been hurt by injuries. In Monday's loss to the Hawks, Milwaukee was without Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Pat Connaughton, as well as other players. Milwaukee is now 23rd in offensive efficiency.

The person said "collie."

3. Denver Nuggets 2022-23 record: 9-4

Previous ranking: 6

Wednesday

Celtics-Hawks, 7:30 p.m.

Warriors-Suns, 10 p.m.

Friday

Bucks-76ers, 7:30 p.m.

Knicks-Warriors, 10 p.m.

It's all times Eastern.

The team was going to excel on defense according to the coach. The Celtics scored 131 points on Friday, but the Nuggets have the worst defense in the league.

The person said, "Assenys."

4. Portland Trail Blazers 2022-23 record: 10-4

Previous ranking: 8

Jerami Grant has scored in four of the five games he has played. He has scored 23 or more points in four of his last five outings and is currently averaging 25.4 points this month. They will play the Nets and Jazz at home before traveling to play Milwaukee, Cleveland, New York and Brooklyn.

5. Memphis Grizzlies 2022-23 record: 9-6

Previous ranking: 7

The full starting five won't be available for a long time. Jaren Jackson Jr., who had surgery to repair his broken foot, was ready to go after a Grade 2 injury to his big toe. Jackson scored seven points on 3-of-14 shooting in his first game.

6. Phoenix Suns 2022-23 record: 8-5

Previous ranking: 3

After starting 6-1, the Suns have lost four in a row. Chris Paul has been out of action for a while. Washington Jr. was able to fill in for him with 21 points and four assists against the Heat.

Mc Menamin.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers 2022-23 record: 8-5

Previous ranking: 2

After an eight-game winning streak, the Cavs have lost four in a row. The defeats have all been by seven points or less. It doesn't get any easier, with two games against Miami and Atlanta in the next six contests.

Mc Menamin.

8. Atlanta Hawks 2022-23 record: 9-5

Previous ranking: 10

The Hawks have accounted for two of the three losses the Bucks have suffered. The Atlanta Braves defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 121-106 in Milwaukee on Tuesday. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray combined for 40 points, but Atlanta came away with the win. In a win against Philadelphia, the duo combined for 36 points, which was the second lowest they scored together. The Hawks don't need their star guards to put up 25 each time.

9. Utah Jazz 2022-23 record: 10-6

Previous ranking: 5

The Jazz and Utah have both lost three in a row. Utah's guard trio is in the midst of a mini slump. During the losing streak, they have combined to average only 28.7 points on 30.3% shooting.

10. Dallas Mavericks 2022-23 record: 8-5

Previous ranking: 9

Reggie Bullock made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help the Mavericks hold off the Clippers. Luka Doncic was happy for him. There is a lot of pressure on Reggie to make a shot. The things he does on the court don't show up in the statistics.

11. Philadelphia 76ers 2022-23 record: 7-7

Previous ranking: 14

It was not clear where Philadelphia was going. The 76ers are in better shape today than they were yesterday. What's the reason? The version of the player who was a contender for the NBA's Most Valuable Player award each of the past two seasons has come back. He scored 26 of his team's 27 points in the fourth quarter to help the 76ers win their third game in a row.

12. LA Clippers 2022-23 record: 8-7

Previous ranking: 13

The Clippers came back from 25 down to win in Dallas, but it wasn't enough. The Clippers are competing and playing loose despite their busy schedule. The coach said that Leonard is getting closer to a return. The Clippers will have to adjust with several veterans going back to being role players.

13. Washington Wizards 2022-23 record: 8-6

Previous ranking: 19

The Wizards won four straight games despite Bradley Beal going into the league's health and safety protocols. During the streak, Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma stepped up, and the Wizards made 19 3s in the victory over Memphis.

14. Toronto Raptors 2022-23 record: 8-7

Previous ranking: 11

Dalano Banton scored a career-high 27 points and the Raptors beat the Pistons on Monday despite an injury crisis. It's going to be a challenge for Toronto to stay in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff picture until they get back on the court.

15. New Orleans Pelicans 2022-23 record: 8-6

Previous ranking: 12

Zion had 26 points on 8-of-9 shooting in the win against the Astros. It's the most points any player has had this season on fewer than 10 shots, and it's also the most points that he has had in his career on fewer than 10 shots. It was the fourth game of his career in which he scored at least 25 points. Bobby Jackson, Emeka Okafor, Robin Lopez, Anthony Davis and Julius Randle all have one such game.

16. Miami Heat 2022-23 record: 7-7

Previous ranking: 20

Miami has won three straight and seems to be getting back on track, thanks in part to the solid play of Bam Adebayo, who recorded 54 points, 25 rebound and five assists over his past two outings. Adebayo is leading the way with 19.1 points and 9.1 Rebounds.

Friedell's name is Friedell.

17. Golden State Warriors 2022-23 record: 6-8

Previous ranking: 15

The Warriors beat the Spurs by a large margin. It was their most complete performance on both ends of the floor for over an hour. The Warriors are 0-7 in away games this season, the first time a defending champion has gone 0-7 in away games since the Mavericks in 2011.

The person said, "Assenys."

18. Sacramento Kings 2022-23 record: 7-6

Previous ranking: 26

The Kings have won seven in a row. The Kings have won against teams that are either the top of their conferences or weaker than them. The remaining area of concern is the bottom five defense.

19. New York Knicks 2022-23 record: 7-7

Previous ranking: 18

The Knicks needed a victory in Utah on Tuesday night to start a five-game trip after being routed by Brooklyn and giving up 146 points to Oklahoma City. The next three opponents are Denver, Golden State and Phoenix. The city of New York is at.500.

20. Indiana Pacers 2022-23 record: 6-6

Previous ranking: 23

The NBA's leader in assists is expected to play Wednesday even though he injured his ankle in Indiana's most recent win. Indiana's offense is seventh in offensive efficiency this season, thanks in part to him.

The person said "collie."

21. Minnesota Timberwolves 2022-23 record: 6-8

Previous ranking: 17

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The Wolves are having a hard time. They trailed by 25 or more points in both of their home games. In just five games, Minnesota has fallen from ninth to 19th.

The person said, "Assenys."

22. Brooklyn Nets 2022-23 record: 6-9

Previous ranking: 22

The Nets have lost two in a row. In Tuesday's loss to the Kings, the Kings shot 59.6% from the floor and played harder than the Nets did. Ben Simmons played his best game of the young season on Tuesday, scoring 11 points and grabbing five rebound.

23. Chicago Bulls 2022-23 record: 6-8

Previous ranking: 16

The Bulls have lost some games. They can take solace in the fact that they've played the second toughest schedule in the NBA this season, but their offense is struggling, ranking 22nd in points per 100 possessions

The person said "collie."

24. Oklahoma City Thunder 2022-23 record: 6-8

Previous ranking: 24

Just the third player in NBA history to record triple-doubles in each of his first two career road games, Josh Giddey did it on Sunday at the Knicks. What about the other two? Luka Doncic is a basketball player.

25. San Antonio Spurs 2022-23 record: 6-9

Previous ranking: 21

The Spurs lost five games in a row after a 5-2 start. They snapped their skid with an 18 point win over Milwaukee. Keldon Johnson has scored at least 15 points in every game he has played this season. It's the longest such streak by the Spur since Leonard had 17 consecutive games of at least 15 points.

26. Charlotte Hornets 2022-23 record: 4-11

Previous ranking: 25

The good news is that LaMelo Ball is back on the floor after missing the start of the season with an ankle injury. Ball has 15 assists, but has seven turnovers.

Friedell's name is Friedell.

27. Orlando Magic 2022-23 record: 4-10

Previous ranking: 29

In the past week, the Magic have won over the Mavericks and Suns, and it has been thanks to the solid play of Wendell Carter Jr., who is currently averaging 18.4 points, 9.1 rebound and 3.4 assists.

Friedell's name is Friedell.

28. Los Angeles Lakers 2022-23 record: 3-10

Previous ranking: 28

The NBA's all-time leader in regular-season points is on the verge of being passed by the man known as King James. All year long, we will have complete coverage.

There is a game-by- game points tracker.

• A lack of shooters is affecting LeBron

• LeBron, KD and the sign of change

• LeBron's chase for other milestones

Could this week be the time for the Lakers to start playing better basketball? After beating the Nets, they have four days to prepare for the Pistons.

Mc Menamin.

29. Detroit Pistons 2022-23 record: 3-12

Previous ranking: 27

The Pistons have lost their last 12 games against Eastern Conference opponents. Detroit has been without Cunningham, who has missed three games in a row with a sore shin, and is expected to be reexamined this weekend.

The person said "collie."

30. Houston Rockets 2022-23 record: 2-12

Previous ranking: 30

In the past six games, Green has averaged 26.0 points on 53.8% shooting. He had a career-high seven assists in Monday's loss to the Clippers, making him the only 20-or- younger player in franchise history to do so.