The final week of the NBA regular season is upon us, and there are still plenty of teams fighting for playoff and play-in tournament position, especially in the Western Conference.
One of those teams is the Los Angeles Lakers, who are now the No. 7 seed in the West and two games over. 500. They have come on strong since the trade deadline, and the return of LeBron James has Los Angeles in striking distance for the No. 5 seed in the West with four games left in the season.
However, the Lakers still fall outside one key statstic that has held true for over 25 season of NBA champions. Since the 1996-97 campaign, every NBA champion has finsihed in the top eight in the NBA in net rating.
Does that trend continue?
FINAL WEEK OF THE SEASON NET RATING UPDATE
— Peter Dewey (@peterdewey2) April 4, 2023
*Since the 1996-97 season, every champion has finished inside top 8 in net rating*
1. Celtics 📈
2. Cavs 📉
3. Sixers
4. Grizzlies
5. Bucks 📈
6. Nuggets 📉
7. Kings
8. Knicks
In the hunt:
9. Suns
10. Pelicans
I need the playoffs... https://t.co/hDtm8F3nl4
The Eastern Conference seems to be stronger than the Western Conference, but more teams in the West can move up in the standings over the final few games of the season.
Let's break down each team still in the race in our latest NBA Power Rankings:
1. Milwaukee Bucks (+310) Last Week: No. 1
2. Boston Celtics (+320) LW: No. 2
3. Phoenix Suns (+450) LW: No. 4
The Phoenix Suns have not lost a game with Kevin Durant. They're going to be a scary matchup in the postseason.
4. Denver Nuggets (+800) LW: No. 4
5. Philadelphia 76ers (+1000) LW: No. 5
The Sixers are a top team in net rating, and if they can hold up health wise, they have a legit shot to win a title this season.
6. Memphis Grizzlies (+1500) LW: No. 6
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (+4500) LW: No. 7
Are the Cavs undervalued at +4500? Cleveland is No. 2 in net rating and No. 1 in defense, but its odds have it in the middle of the pack for contenders.
8. Los Angeles Lakers (+1600) LW: No. 16
Don't look now, but the Lakers are in striking distance of the No. 5 seed and have LeBron James and Anthony Davis healthy...
9. Sacramento Kings (+7000) LW: No. 8
The Kings are one of the best teams in the NBA record wise, but until they win a playoff series oddsmakers aren't going to take them seriously.
10. New York Knicks (+9000) LW: No. 9
Julius Randle's ankle injury could throw a wrench in New York's potential postseason run.
11. Golden State Warriors (+1400) LW: No. 11
The Warriors are expected to get Andrew Wiggins back for the postseason, but the team is in danger of ending up in the Play-In Tournament in the West.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (+2000) LW: No. 10
The Clippers have a huge game against the Lakers on Wednesday that could decide the No. 5 seed.
13. Brooklyn Nets (+35000) LW: No. 13
Brooklyn deserves a ton of credit for hanging in the top-six in the East despite the trade deadline moves the team made.
14. New Orleans Pelicans (+15000) LW: No. 15
Brandon Ingram has been elite for the Pels, who are now eighth in the West. Ingram is averaging 29.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game over his last 10.
15. Miami Heat (+13000) LW: No. 12
I would not want to face Jimmy Butler in the playoffs, but the rest of the Heat team? Not as worried.
16. Minnesota Timberwolves (+25000) LW: No. 14
Three straight losses, including one as a 17-point favorite, have dropped the Wolves to No. 9 in the West.
17. Toronto Raptors (+30000) LW: No. 18
The Raptors will be in the Play-In Tournament, and they still have a shot at a top-eight seed.
18. Chicago Bulls (+100000) LW: No. 19
The Bulls are No. 2 in the league in net rating since the All-Star break. This team is sneaky in the Play-In Tournament picture.
19. Atlanta Hawks (+30000) LW: No. 17
This may be a hot take, but Atlanta is the worst of the teams in the Play-In conversation in the East. I think the team could miss the final playoff field.
20. Oklahoma City Thunder (+100000) LW: No. 20
I love this young OKC squad, but even if it makes the Play-In Tournament, it's going to have some tough matchups to actually reach the postseason.
21. Dallas Mavericks (+35000) LW: No. 21
The Mavericks are on the outside looking in of the Play-In with three games to play, and they have been rumored to be considering sitting Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving so they can keep their first-round pick which is top-10 protected.
22. Orlando Magic (+100000) LW: No. 25
The Orlando Magic are 29-24 over their last 53 games. They are going to be a playoff contender next season.
23. Utah Jazz (+100000) LW: No. 23
Utah is likely going to fall short of the Play-Pn, but the team has shown some promise with a new young core.
24. Washington Wizards (N/A) LW: No. 22
Washington has been eliminated from postseason contention.
25. Indiana Pacers (N/A) LW: No. 24
Indiana has been eliminated from postseason contention.
26. Portland Trail Blazers (N/A) LW: No. 24
Portland has been eliminated from postseason contention.
27. Charlotte Hornets (N/A) LW: No. 27
Charlotte has been eliminated from postseason contention.
28. San Antonio Spurs (N/A) LW: No. 29
San Antonio has been eliminated from postseason contention.
29. Houston Rockets (N/A) LW: No. 28
Houston has been eliminated from postseason contention.
30. Detroit Pistons (N/A) LW: No. 30
Detroit has been eliminated from postseason contention.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.