NBA Power Rankings: Spurs on top? Kawhi not
A new team has climbed to the top of our NBA Power Rankings.
The season is winding down and after months of everyone knowing that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors would meet for the third consecutive year in the NBA Finals, it’s looking more likely that we see two other teams face off for the title this season. Cleveland looks like it’s getting healthy at the right time, but the East also looks a lot tougher than it’s been in awhile. Meanwhile, as the Warriors continue to wait on Kevin Durant to return to 100 percent, the San Antonio Spurs are trying to take away home court advantage from them.
Things are changing daily and with 15 games left there are a lot of interesting races left. Will the Lakers be able to keep their top-three protected pick? Will the Pelicans? Just how many games can the Nets lose? What is going to happen at the top of the Eastern Conference? Before answering those questions and more, let’s take a look at where the 30 NBA teams stand as of now.
Los Angeles Lakers 20-48
Last week: 1-6
Last rank: 27th
The Buss family is in the middle of a war, but for the Lakers, the tanks are driving over the Staples Center court every night. Will D’Angelo Russell be the piece to bring the Lakers back to prominence?
Philadelphia 76ers 24-43
Last week: 2-6
Last rank: 29th
The Process was the talk of the town for Philadelphia fans, but has some of the shine worn off as the team looks to lose out as the season comes to an end? On the bright side, Dario Saric is quietly having a Rookie of the Year-caliber season.
Brooklyn Nets 12-54
Last week: 3-5
Last rank: 30th
The Nets are still the worst team in the NBA, but they get bumped up only because the Lakers and Sixers are actively trying to lose as many games as they can. For Brooklyn, they just don’t have the talent to compete. By the way, they’re likely going to send the picks that become Markelle Fultz and Luka Doncic to Boston the next two seasons.
Orlando Magic 24-44
Last week: 2-6
Last rank: 28th
The only positive to come out of this Magic season is that the team has finally decided that Aaron Gordon is their power forward of the future.
Sacramento Kings 27-41
Last week: 2-6
Last rank: 23rd
Remember when Willie Cauley-Stein was a thing? That faded fast. Buddy Hield’s transformation into the next Steph Curry is taking longer than Perry Ellis’ college career at Kansas.
Phoenix Suns 22-46
Last week: 4-5
Last rank: 26th
Devin Booker is well on his way to being the next great shooting guard in the league. Meanwhile, his Kentucky backcourt running mate, Tyler Ulis is earning playing time and praise in his extended role post All-Star break. P.S. can someone see if Leandro Barbosa is done prematurely celebrating yet?
New York Knicks 27-41
Last week: 3-5
Last rank: 22nd
This stealth tank job to finish the season is the second greatest thing Phil Jackson has done as President of Basketball Operations of the New York Knicks. The first of course being his “how’s it goink?” tweet.
New Orleans Pelicans 27-41
Last week: 4-4
Last rank: 24th
Either the Anthony Davis (who’s really good) and DeMarcus Cousins (who’s also really good) tandem isn’t working out as well as many hoped OR the Pelicans are trying to twist the knife in Vlade Divac and the Kings by managing to hold on to the top-three protected pick they sent to Sacramento as part of the Cousins trade.
Minnesota Timberwolves 28-39
Last week: 4-3
Last rank: 25th
Weekly reminder: Karl-Anthony Towns is the future of basketball, prepare yourselves now for the impending takeover.
Dallas Mavericks 29-38
Last week: 5-3
Last rank: 21st
Dirk Nowitzki became the sixth player in NBA history to score 30,000-plus points in his career. The German superstar is a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer when he decides to hang them up –which allegedly won’t be after this season.
Portland Trail Blazers 30-37
Last week: 6-3
Last rank: 20th
The murmurs of the Trail Blazers needing to trade away one of Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum have quieted ever since the team added Jusuf Nurkic. Portland looks like the team most likely to capture the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
Chicago Bulls 32-36
Last week: 2-7
Last rank: 14th
Aside from their customary TNT Thursday bump (where they defeated the Warriors at home), things have been less than stellar for the Bulls lately. Trading Jimmy Butler looks more and more likely this summer the longer this downward spiral continues in the Windy City.
Indiana Pacers 35-33
Last week: 4-4
Last rank: 13th
Paul George could be joining Jimmy Butler as part of the “Likely to be Traded this Summer” list. The Pacers’ hopes of rebuilding a contender on the fly have so far produced poor results.
Charlotte Hornets 29-39
Last week: 4-5
Last rank: 19th
Charlotte has strung together an impressive week and in the race for one of the bottom seeds in the East anyone is capable of snatching a spot. For the Hornets coming down the stretch, their ceiling is the roof.
Milwaukee Bucks 33-34
Last week: 7-2
Last rank: 18th
PLEASE BASKETBALL GODS, GIVE US POSTSEASON GIANNIS. I mean, you do see what he’s been doing on the court this year right? (We also request a fully healthy Jabari Parker, k thanks!)