NBA Power Rankings Based on Championship Odds (How Will the West Shake Out?)

The NBA season is inching closer and closer to the trade deadline, but the Western Conference has just about every single team alive at this point in the season.

The No. 12 seed and No. 5 seed are separated by just two games, and you can go even further with the No. 13 seed and No. 3 seed being separated by just six games.

Essentially, everyone is alive outside of the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, which could make a for a fun trade deadline as teams try to make a play-in tournament push.

The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers have both jumped into the top-five in the West, and it could be time to re-consider them as NBA Finals contenders.

Let's dive into our latest Power Rankings:

1. Boston Celtics (+390) Last Week: No. 1

Boston still has the best record in the NBA, but it would love to get Marcus smart (ankle) back in the lineup sooner rather than later.

2. Denver Nuggets (+800) LW: No. 2

The Nuggets have been dominant at home (22-4), and they've opened up a two-game lead in the West, one of the few teams that are safe.

3. Milwaukee Bucks (+800) LW: No. 4

Milwaukee has won four straight since Khris Middleton returned, and they are 8-3 with him this season. If he can stay healthy, Milwaukee has a chance to win the East.

4. Philadelphia 76ers (+1200) LW: No. 4

Philly has been dominant since James Harden got back from a foot injury, making the top of the East a fun race between the Sixers, Celtics and Bucks.

5. Memphis Grizzlies (+1100) LW: No. 3

Memphis has a really solid young core, but it may benefit from making a deal for a proven rotation player at the deadline.

6. Brooklyn Nets (+600) LW: No. 4

The Nets are staying afloat without Kevin Durant thanks to some impressive play by Kyrie Irving.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers (+2200) LW: No. 8

Cleveland is elite at home (21-5), but it's in danger of slipping to the No. 6 seed with the Miami Heat playing better lately.

8. Los Angeles Clippers (+1300) LW: No. 10

Don't look now, but the Clips are one of the best offenses in the NBA as of late and have won five of their last six games.

9. Golden State Warriors (+1100) LW: No. 13

Steph Curry is playing at an MVP-level for Golden State, and the Warriors have a real chance to end up in a top-3 spot in the West.

10. Sacramento Kings (+8000) LW: No. 6

Sacramento is still the No. 3 seed in the West, but the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors are making a push for that spot...

11. Miami Heat (+4500) LW: No. 11

Miami is healthy and playing better, but losses like Sunday's to the Charlotte Hornets show that this team may need another piece.

12. Dallas Mavericks (+3500) LW: No. 12

Will the Mavericks get Luka Doncic some help at the deadline? This supporting cast is one of the worst of a playoff-caliber team in the NBA.

13. New Orleans Pelicans (+3000) LW: No. 9

The Pelicans have lost eight straight games and need Zion Williamson back in the lineup with them falling to the No. 8 seed.

14. Phoenix Suns (+1800) LW: No. 18

The Suns are back in the No. 7 spot in the West, and they could make a run once Devin Booker returns to the lineup.

15. New York Knicks (+20000) LW: No. 14

Tom Thibodeau's crew keeps flipping from an elite defense to an elite offense in stretches, but it needs more bench help to truly push for a top-six spot in the East.

16. Minnesota Timberwolves (+20000) LW: No. 17

Until Karl-Anthony Towns returns, the Wolves have a limited ceiling in a close Western Conference.

17. Utah Jazz (+40000) LW: No. 16

Lauri Markkanen and the Jazz have to be one of the best surprises of the 2022-23 season, but can they hang on in the West?

18. Atlanta Hawks (+9000) LW: No. 15

The Hawks have fallen under .500 again this season, and they may need to move John Collins at the deadline just to shake things up.

19. Oklahoma City Thunder (+60000) LW: No. 20

The Thunder are still in the playoff mix at this point in the season, something very few would have expected prior to this season.

20. Washington Wizards (+50000) LW: No. 25

Washington's rollercoaster of a season continues, winning six straight to jump into the No. 9 spot in the East.

21. Chicago Bulls (+35000) LW: No. 21

Chicago may have the best trade chips available at the deadline, but whether or not they move them remains to be seen.

22. Portland Trail Blazers (+15000) LW: No. 24

The Blazers could end up being sellers at the deadline with Jusuf Nurkic and Josh Hart rumored to be available.

23. Los Angeles Lakers (+4800) LW: No. 22

The Lakers got Anthony Davis back, but they still are outside of the play-in picture in the Western Conference.

24. Toronto Raptors (+10000) LW: No. 21

It may be time for the Raptors to sell, especially since they have some upcoming free agents (Gary Trent Jr. and Fred VanVleet) on the roster.

25. Indiana Pacers (+50000) LW: No. 23

Tyrese Haliburton's injury has brought the Pacers back to earth, as they're not out of the play-in picture in the East.

26. Orlando Magic (+100000) LW: No. 26

The Magic have really turned things as of late, and they could sneak into a play-in spot...

27. Charlotte Hornets (+100000) LW: No. 28

The Hornets could be sellers at the deadline with players like Kelly Oubre Jr. and Gordon Hayward potentially available.

28. San Antonio Spurs (+100000) LW: No. 28

The Spurs have had the worst net rating in the NBA for quite some time, but they still don't have the league's worst record.

29. Detroit Pistons (+100000) LW: No. 29

It's time for the Pistons to start consider a trade of some of their veterans, as they are way out of the playoff race in the East.

30. Houston Rockets (+100000) LW: No. 30

For a team with a ton of young, offensive minded players, the Rockets have a terrible offense, ranking dead last in the NBA in offensive rating.

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.