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NBA Power Rankings: Golden State still on top, LeBron James is ready for playoffs

By Mark Carman

Mar 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) high-fives forward Blake Griffin (32) after scoring the the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Staples Center. Left is Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes (22). The Clippers won 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) high-fives forward Blake Griffin (32) after scoring the the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Staples Center. Left is Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes (22). The Clippers won 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 27, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) and Phoenix Suns forward Marcus Morris (15) talk during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) and Phoenix Suns forward Marcus Morris (15) talk during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

18. Brooklyn Nets

Brook Lopez bought a house at Disney World and now has been named the Eastern Conference player of the week after posting 28.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.25 blocked shots in a 3-1 Nets week that included a win over Cleveland. Lopez is a free agent at the end of the year and it will be just like the Nets to either overpay for what turns out to be an injured player, or let him go and watch Lopez become a perennial All-Star elsewhere. The Nets have won five of six and have a huge game with Indiana to start off their week.

17. Phoenix Suns

Disappointing end of the season for the Suns who lost their last three at home to take them out of playoff consideration. That included a terrible loss to eight seed Oklahoma City where the Suns led 54-34 in the second quarter and by three heading into the fourth quarter only to lose by 12. Brandon Knight had missed eight games before getting back on the court versus OKC with a sprained ankle. The youthful Suns should be a playoff team next year.

16. Miami Heat

Miami is still trying to get healthy. They start off the week with Luol Deng (knee), Michael Beasley (elbow),  Chris Andersen (calf) Shabazz Napier (hip), and Hassan Whiteside (hand) all game-time decisions for Tuesday nights game with San Antonio. Thursday it is LeBron and the Cavs and a potential playoff preview. Dwyane Wade has yet to lose to LeBron since he went back to Cleveland, 2-0. Wade had 40/6/4 in Sunday’s win over Detroit still holding off father time.

15. Milwaukee Bucks

Give the Bucks credit for battling back from the near-dead. They had lost six games in a row and were on the verge of losing a seventh, but somehow pulled out a crucial one-point win over Miami and followed it up with another key win at home over Indiana. Khris Middleton beat the buzzer to beat the Heat in what was the craziest game of the week. The Bucks outscored the Heat 18-3 down the stretch and swept the season series. Ersan Ilyasova had a career-high 34 in the win over Indiana. Milwaukee hosts the Bulls this week in what is looking like a first round playoff match-up.

14. New Orleans Pelicans

Six of their remaining nine games are on the road for the Pelicans, who despite Kevin Durant being out for the rest of the year are long shots to catch Oklahoma City. A four-game losing streak that culminated with Wednesday’s two-point loss at home to Houston put the Pelicans in serious peril. The Pelicans led by 17 in the second quarter against the Rockets. Anthony Davis missed eight free throws. There is still time, only two games back in the loss column, but New Orleans is 14-21 on the road so far. There are no games left with Oklahoma City.

13. Oklahoma City

Going to be a tough week for OKC with games against Dallas, Memphis and Houston then the Spurs to kick-off next week. With Kevin Durant done for the year, Golden State has no chance to beat the best team in basketball, Golden State, in the opening round. The Thunder’s magic number to clinch a playoff spot is down to seven. Russell Westbrook will make it entertaining as he always does if and when they get there, but the Thunder can turn to next year. They don’t have enough fire power to outscore teams without Durant and their defense is still woeful.

12. Washington Wizards

Washington has lost five of six. They can’t beat good teams and they sometimes lose to teams like Indiana at home. John Wall is doing everything he can scoring 91-points in the last three games. They have a 97-percent chance of ending up as the fifth seed in the East with a playoff matchup with equally challenged Toronto. Anybody can win that series, but neither will beat Atlanta.

11. Toronto Raptors

Kyle Lowry has missed four of the last five games with back spasms and the game he played he lasted only 11 minutes Tuesday night against Detroit before suffering a setback. Toronto clinched the division title and at least the four seed nonetheless when they beat the Lakers Friday night. The Raptors could still end up losing home court to the Wizards, but it is unlikely. There are five teams – the Timberwolves, Knicks, Lakers, Kings and Magic – who allow more points per 100 possessions than the Raptors. Without Lowry, the Raptors don’t have close to enough firepower to overcome their defensive shortcomings.

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