NBA Power Rankings: Reshuffling every tier of contenders
By Jakob Ashlin
With All-Star weekend in the rearview mirror, it’s a perfect time to reevaluate every NBA team’s standing in the title race.
NBA All-Star weekend has officially passed us by. The NBA playoffs will begin in less than two months. Now is the perfect time to look around the association and reevaluate each team’s standing in the title race.
Some teams have cemented themselves as prime championship contenders. Some teams are well-positioned to land either Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson, and some teams are making questionable decisions to win now.
I have separated all thirty teams into eight tiers. These tiers represent where they stand right now.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the NBA tier rankings.
NBA Power Rankings Tier 1: Contenders
These teams have the best odds to win the title.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are currently riding a 12-game winning streak. During that span, Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 34.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, while shooting 57.9 percent from the field. Remember, the Bucks took the Boston Celtics to seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last year without Khris Middleton. If Milwaukee is healthy, they are the team to beat in the East.
Boston Celtics
Fresh off their first NBA Finals appearance since 2010, the Celtics have not taken their foot off the gas pedal. They currently own the best record in the NBA (42-17), and Jayson Tatum is averaging 30.6 points per game, which puts him on pace to break the franchise’s single-season scoring record. Right now, the Celtics are the only team in the league to rank in the top-five in both offensive rating and defensive rating.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have the best record in the Western Conference (41-18). Nikola Jokic is averaging a triple-double and he has a real chance to win his third consecutive MVP. With Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. back on the court, the Nuggets are in their best position yet to make a Finals run in the Jokic era.
Los Angeles Clippers
Are the Clippers team statistics eye-popping? No. Still, this is simple. The Clippers are 19-9, when both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are in the lineup.
Since Jan, 7, Leonard is averaging 27.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.9 steals. He is shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 46.5 percent from three. The Clippers’ five-man lineup of Leonard, George, Terance Mann, Marcus Morris Sr., and Ivica Zubac has a net rating of plus-14.8.
Furthermore, the Clippers got better with the trade deadline additions of Bones Hyland, Eric Gordon, and Mason Plumlee. Will the Russell Westbrook give the Clippers positive minutes? That remains to be seen. Ty Lue has the depth to experiment, and in the worst-case scenario, he can simply revert back to Mann and Hyland.
Phoenix Suns
After an embarrassing playoff exit to the Dallas Mavericks, the Suns’ championship window appeared to be closed. Then, they traded for Kevin Durant. Durant has not made his team debut, yet, as he is recovering from a knee injury. On talent alone, the Suns have enough to make a legitimate run.
Still, it is too early to call them the frontrunners in the West. Will Durant stay healthy? Can Chris Paul keep up with the other playoff point guards (Jamal Murray, Kyrie Irving, Ja Morant)? Do they have enough depth? Regardless, the Durant-Booker combo should be one of the most dangerous in the league, and the Suns are firmly in the mix.