NBA Power Rankings: Miami Heat Remain at the Top

1 Miami Heat (65-16)

It’s been a historic season for the Miami Heat. Not only have they clinched home court advantage throughout the NBA Playoffs, but they also broke the franchise’s regular season wins record and have eclipsed the most home wins (36) in franchise history. LeBron James will most likely win his fourth Most Valuable Player award in five seasons and Head Coach Erik Spoelstra is one of the favorites to win Coach of the Year. It must be nice to be a Heat fan these days.

2 Oklahoma City Thunder (60-21)

The Thunder joined the Miami Heat as the second team to pass the sixty-win plateau. OKC also secured their spot as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with their win against the Sacramento Kings Monday night, 104-95. While the Spurs and Nuggets deal with injuries, the Thunder are looking like the favorites to come out of the West for the second straight year.

3 New York Knicks (53-28)

The Knicks clinched the No. 2 seed in the East after a big win against the Pacers Sunday afternoon, 90-80. New York has won fifteen of its last seventeen games and look like the team that started out the year 18-5. Experts are predicting a Heat/Knicks Eastern Conference Finals but New York will have to get through the Boston Celtics then potentially the Pacers or Bulls. The good news is Tyson Chandler, Kenyon Martin, and Rasheed Wallace will all be ready for the playoffs, giving the Knicks one of the toughest front-courts in the NBA.

4 Denver Nuggets (56-25)

It’s been a great season for the Denver Nuggets. They set a franchise record with fifty-six wins and are virtually unstoppable at home (37-3). As the Nuggets are fighting off the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies for the third seed in the West, they are more concerned with the health of Kenneth Faried as the playoffs are right around the corner.

5 Los Angeles Clippers (54-26)

How big was the win at Memphis last Saturday? Huge. The Clippers took the season series from the Grizzlies (3-1) and if they win their final two games—if they nor the Grizzlies get the No. 3 seed in the West—they will have home-court advantage against the Grizzlies in the first round.

6 San Antonio Spurs (58-23)

The Spurs have lost seven straight road games and are no longer looking like the favorites to represent the West in the NBA Finals. Will Tony Parker be healthy enough to lead the Spurs through the playoffs?

7 Memphis Grizzlies (55-26)

Memphis is No. 1 in the league in points allowed (89.1) but are just twenty-sixth in points per game (93.4). They’ll need to score more in the playoffs if they want to get past the first round this season.

8 Brooklyn Nets (48-33)

The Nets have looked like a much better team since the re-emergence of Deron Williams and the defensive presence of Reggie Evans.

9 Indiana Pacers (49-31)

Indiana has lost four out of five games and are hoping to see Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs instead of the feisty Bulls.

10 Houston Rockets (45-36)

Houston will enter the playoffs as the team no one wants to face.

11 Golden State Warriors (46-35)

One could argue Golden State would want to challenge the much older San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

12 Los Angeles Lakers (44-37)

The NBA world was devastated with the news that Kobe Bryant would miss the rest of the year with a torn Achilles tendon. It’s time for Dwight and company to step up in the next game against the Rockets and beyond.

13 Utah Jazz (43-38)

Utah must win its final game against the Grizzlies and will need the Lakers to lose against the Rockets to make the playoffs.

14 Chicago Bulls (44-37)

Although the Bulls are a team the Eastern Conference contenders are trying to avoid, they aren’t expected to make a lot of noise in the playoffs without Derrick Rose.

15 Boston Celtics (41-39)

Boston will look to upset the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs. Jeff Green will need to show out if they stand a chance.

16 Atlanta Hawks (44-36)

The only remaining playoff seeds in the Eastern Conference that are not set in stone are the fifth and sixth seeds. If Atlanta wins their next two, they will face Brooklyn in the first round.

17 Dallas Mavericks (40-41)

The playoffs won’t be the same without Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks.

18 Milwaukee Bucks (37-44)

Brandon Jennings believes his team could upset the Heat in the playoffs, but Milwaukee couldn’t even beat the Bobcats nor Magic in the past week.

19 Minnesota Timberwolves (30-51)

Minnesota’s miserable season got even worse with the news that Kevin Love would not be returning and would need surgery on his knee.

20 Washington Wizards (29-52)

Washington will be a team to watch out for next season.

21 Detroit Pistons (29-52)

Will Lawrence Frank get another opportunity to coach this young Pistons squad next season?

22 Toronto Raptors (32-48)

Even though the Raptors failed to make the playoffs, they have some nice pieces moving forward.

23 Philadelphia 76ers (33-48)

Doug Collins won’t be returning to coach the 76ers next season.

24 Portland Trail Blazers (33-47)

Portland was once fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. Now, they have lost eleven games in a row.

25 Sacramento Kings (28-53)

Sadly, these could be the final games played as the Sacramento Kings.

26 New Orleans Hornets (27-54)

Time will tell if Eric Gordon will be a “Pelican” next season.

27 Phoenix Suns (25-56)

Phoenix notched a surprising win against playoff-bound Houston Monday night.

28 Cleveland Cavaliers (24-57)

The Cavaliers couldn’t even beat the Heat’s C- team at home.

29 Charlotte Bobcats (20-61)

The Bobcats have won an astounding two games in a row.

30 Orlando Magic (20-61)

After a 12-13 start, the Magic have gone 8-48 and are fighting the Bobcats for the worst team in the NBA.