NBA Power Rankings: The "other" historically dominant team

Playoff races in the NBA are often fruitless exercises, as the top teams in the league generally feast on the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference when the postseason arrives. However, this season’s race in the Eastern Conference could be especially interesting, simply because the teams at the top aren’t particularly scary with the potential exception of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

That serves as the backdrop of this week’s rankings, and out West, one of the top teams is suddenly struggling immensely. Let’s go.

41. No one was prepared for what transpired in Los Angeles on Sunday, as the Warriors were unceremoniously trounced by the woeful Lakers. However, one loss won’t remove Golden State from the top spot, as the Warriors knocked off Atlanta and Oklahoma City is solid fashion in the previous two games. Let’s just agree that the team on pace to break the all-time wins record should be number one.. (55-6). Previous: . Golden State Warriors. 1. team

Previous: . San Antonio Spurs. 2. team. 29. The Spurs are on pace to win 70 (!) games and they can’t get any national love. San Antonio is very much appreciated by writers and diehard fans, but it is absolutely crazy that a historically dominant group can’t even think about sniffing the top spot in NBA Power Rankings. That’s just where we are with the Warriors right now.. (53-9)

(44-17). Previous: . Cleveland Cavaliers. 3. team. 156. Coming off a two-loss week, there was skepticism about the decision to leave Cleveland at number three in last week’s rankings. That move paid off. The Cavs took care of business in the form of breezy wins against Boston and Washington, while holding on for a victory over Indiana earlier in the week. Cleveland is looking more like the top team in the East that everyone expected.

Toronto Raptors. 4. team. 81. From an outsider’s point of view, I’m not sure that everyone believes in the Raptors, but they should. Toronto ended this week with a thud in dropping a home game to the Rockets on Sunday, but this has been a lights-out offensive team in recent weeks and DeMarre Carroll should be back soon. They are clearly the 2nd-best team in the East and deserving of a top-five mark.. (41-20). Previous:

Los Angeles Clippers. 5. team. 77. Like the Raptors before them, the Clippers also dropped their most recent home game, and in this case, it came against the improving Hawks. It can’t be overstated just how impressive Los Angeles has been without Blake Griffin, though, to the point where Chris Paul <a href=. (40-21). Previous:

6. team. 149. The Thunder just can’t hold a lead. Oklahoma City imploded in grand fashion during the course of losses to both the Warriors and Clippers this week, and even with all of the potential this group presents with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the lows are very low. I still believe, but it’s taxing right now.. (43-20). Previous: . Oklahoma City Thunder

team. 18. The Celtics can’t match the top teams in the East (re: the Cavs) and that was confirmed with a blowout loss in Cleveland on Saturday. However, Boston took down the Jazz, Blazers and Knicks at home prior to that, and for my money, no one in the East is playing better than the Celtics when you remove the consensus top two from the equation.. (38-26). Previous: . Boston Celtics. 7

As discussed a week ago, the Hawks are coming alive at a good time. Atlanta followed up their resurgence from last week with another strong showing, posting a 2-1 record that was only blemished by a loss in Oakland. Moreover, the Hawks were able to go on the road and knock off the Clippers on Saturday, and that was a victory that impressed many around the league.. (35-28). Previous: . Atlanta Hawks. 8. team. 125

9. team. 110. Even without Chris Bosh, the Heat are firing on all cylinders right now. Most people would place Miami ahead of Atlanta, and that would be justifiable based on five straight wins for Dwyane Wade and company. It is difficult to trust this team long-term with Bosh out of the lineup, but the returns are fantastic right now.. (37-26). Previous: . Miami Heat

10. team. 170. Nobody is talking about Charlotte, but the Hornets look a lot like a playoff team to me. The addition of Courtney Lee has paid immediate dividends, and Steve Clifford continues to defy all reason with how he has produced an above-average defense with this roster.. (33-28). Previous: . Charlotte Hornets

(33-30). Previous: . Indiana Pacers. 11. team. 100. At first blush, a 2-2 week is nothing to get excited about, but it was actually a positive result for Indy. The Pacers were away from home for the entire stretch, and while they lost to the Cavs and Hornets, Indiana managed to take care of business against Milwaukee and Washington. The Pacers are just solid.

Memphis Grizzlies. 12. team. 211. I have no idea what to make of the Grizzlies. On one hand, they are playing quite well when evaluating the standings. On the other, Marc Gasol is gone for the season and this is a team that just lost to the Phoenix Suns on their home floor. We’ll split the difference with their ranking.. (37-25). Previous:

team. 64. Stan Van Gundy’s team still has a real problem with its bench, but Detroit flashed their ceiling with a 20-point drubbing of Portland this week. At worst, this is a team to be afraid of in the future.. (32-31). Previous: . Detroit Pistons. 13

34. It is too early to pronounce Portland dead, but I fear that the Cinderella-type run is over. The Blazers have lost three straight games, and while they all came on the road against quality Eastern Conference teams, the magic appears to be waning a bit for a team that was overachieving.. (33-31). Previous: . Portland Trail Blazers. 14. team

(30-32). Previous: . Washington Wizards. 15. team. 142. The Wizards are looking more like they should and that coincides with a largely healthy roster. Randy Wittman’s job security is still minimal, but Washington could make a run at the playoffs with how they are playing currently.

79. Losing to the Kings and Nuggets in back-to-back games is a clear recipe to drop in the rankings. These things happen during the course of an 82-games season, but for a team with talent issues, it is tough to tell what the immediate future holds for the Mavs.. (33-30). Previous: . Dallas Mavericks. 16. team

Houston Rockets. 17. team. 169. No team in the NBA is more frustrating than the Rockets. Houston went on the road and knocked off Toronto on Sunday evening, but prior to that, they lost to both the Bucks and the Jimmy Butler-less Bulls this week. Effort is a real issue for this squad and that is inconceivable in March with a playoff spot on the line.. (31-32). Previous:

Chicago Bulls. 18. team. 24. The Bulls had lost four straight before knocking off Houston, but on the bright side, Jimmy Butler is back in the lineup after an 11-game absence. It is “do or die” time for Chicago, but with their best player now available, this ranking is probably too low.. (31-30). Previous:

89. This is where the big drop-off happens, as the previous 18 teams are legitimately contending for playoff spots. However, the Bucks are improving late in the year, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is rounding into star-like form. It’s the little things.. (26-37). Previous: . Milwaukee Bucks. 19. team

Previous: . Denver Nuggets. 20. team. 73. A home loss to the hapless Nets keeps Denver from rising this week, but the Nuggets are quietly fun to watch. This is a group without a single standout entity, but Denver is well-coached (shout-out to Mike Malone) and there is hope for tomorrow and beyond.. (25-38)

team. 38. This week presented the full Orlando Magic experience. The team soundly defeated the Chicago Bulls before turning around and imploding in an 18-point home loss to the Suns. Scott Skiles is doing Scott Skiles stuff and I guess that is interesting? We’re trying here.. (27-34). Previous: . Orlando Magic. 21

22. team. 118. Utah is the biggest faller of the week, simply because they haven’t captured their peak despite relative health. The Jazz were probably over-ranked a week ago, but after another uninspiring week, this team just might not find its stride in time to make a dent on the playoff race.. (29-33). Previous: . Utah Jazz

New York Knicks. 23. team. 27. The sheer existence of Kurt Rambis as an NBA head coach is… something. Positively, New York did beat a previously hot Pistons team to cap the week, so it wasn’t a complete disaster.. (26-38). Previous:

(25-36). Previous: . Sacramento Kings. 24. team. 84. Losing five of six isn’t a crime when each loss comes against a playoff-bound team, but the Kings remain a beautiful disaster. On the bright side, we can’t talk about their roster being blown up… at least until the final regular season game occurs.

86. The Wolves beat the Nets soundly to close the week, which is a good sign, but Minnesota is a bad defensive basketball team. At least Karl-Anthony Towns exists.. (20-43). Previous: . Minnesota Timberwolves. 25. team

(18-45). Previous: . Brooklyn Nets. 26. team. 147. The Nets fall below Minnesota this week on the basis of a 14-point road loss that saw Brooklyn allow 132 (!) points to the Wolves. It should be noted that this team is overachieving based on its talent, but that is the nicest thing I can force myself to say.

I just can’t defend the Pelicans anymore. New Orleans has lost four straight and, even with Anthony Davis on the roster, this is a grease fire on a regular basis.. (23-38). Previous: . New Orleans Pelicans. 27. team. 69

28. team. 66. I have no idea how, but the Suns have won back-to-back games. Beyond that, both wins (over Orlando and Memphis) came on the road, and Phoenix almost looks like a basketball team again. Who knew?. (17-46). Previous: . Phoenix Suns

29. team. 20. No, I don’t care that the Lakers beat the Warriors. That performance was (much) more about Golden State flopping than anything else, and Byron Scott’s crew is still brutal. Sorry, Kobe fans.. (13-51). Previous: . Los Angeles Lakers

(8-55). Previous: . Philadelphia 76ers. 30. team. 93. 12 losses in a row will take you to the basement in a hurry. Philly was supposed to occupy this space for much of the season, though, and the fact that they haven’t could be construed as a positive spin.

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NBA Power Rankings: The ‘other’ historically dominant team

By Brad Rowland | Mar 7, 2016