NBA Power Rankings: Reshuffling every tier of contenders
By Jakob Ashlin
NBA Power Rankings Tier 2: Dark horse contenders
These teams have the talent to be championship contenders, but they also have real question marks.
Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving could give the Mavericks the best offense in the NBA. In 58 minutes together, Doncic and Irving have produced an offensive rating of 125.9. To put that into perspective, the Denver Nuggets have the best offensive rating in the NBA at 117.6. However, defense remains a big question mark. The Mavericks are 24th in the NBA in defensive rating, and they lost arguably their best perimeter defender in Dorian Finney-Smith.
Miami Heat
Never count the Heat out. Jimmy Butler is consistently one of the best playoff performers, and Erik Spoelstra is an elite head coach. This team was only one shot away from making it to the finals last season. Regardless, knocking out the Bucks and/or Celtics will be a tall task, but it’s not impossible.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers have one of the best all-around rosters in the league. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland are elite scorers. In addition, Cleveland quietly has the best defensive rating in the league. The Cavaliers should be contenders in the years to come, but the Bucks and Celtics have been on a different level this season.
Memphis Grizzlies
A month ago, the Grizzlies had a real argument to be in the contender category. However, they have gone 5-9 since Jan. 18. Teams that build positive momentum as the regular season progresses usually find success in the playoffs, and the Grizzlies are following the opposite pattern. There is still plenty of time for them to turn it around.
Golden State Warriors
This season has not gone according to plan for the defending champions. They are currently in ninth place in the Western Conference at 29-29. Stephen Curry is recovering from a knee injury.
The Warriors’ championship core remains in place. In the meantime, they will have to weather the storm without Curry and remain in at least play-in position. If they make the playoffs, they will face a much tougher road. The Nuggets have Jamal Murray back. The Clippers have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George back. The Suns added Kevin Durant, and the Mavericks added Kyrie Irving.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings do not have a superstar to rival Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Nikola Jokic, Kawhi Leonard, or Kevin Durant, but they keep on lighting the beam. Sacramento’s offense has been elite. They are second in offensive rating (117.3) and third in true shooting percentage (60.7 percent). On paper, this roster should not make it through three playoff rounds. On the other hand, I am wary to put a ceiling on them given their regular season performance.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans find themselves in the same boat as the Grizzlies. After a blistering start, they have gone 9-17 since Dec. 27. They have the talent to jump back up to the “contenders” tier before the regular season ends. Brandon Ingram has returned to the lineup, but Zion Williamson remains sidelined. Moving forward, health will remain a vital concern for the team.
Philadelphia 76ers
Ranking the Sixers was an internal struggle. Joel Embiid is a top-five player, and they have the fourth-best record in the NBA.
Still, I am reluctant to get fooled again. Since 2013, Doc Rivers has consistently coached some of the best rosters in the league, and he has not reached the Conference Finals. Embiid has dealt with injuries in four out of his last five playoff runs; the lone exception was during the bubble in 2020. During last year’s playoffs, James Harden recorded a 16.8 PER, which was his lowest mark since his rookie season.
Can the Sixers put it all together? Certainly, but everything has to go right.