NBA Power Rankings: Week 24
Week 24 of the NBA Power Ranking, we have just under two weeks left in the regular season. Some things are locked up, but there is a lot of seeding left to be determined. I am ready for the playoffs, I can tell you that.
1 - Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder if they go perfect the rest of the way will be a 70 win team. They are the favorite to win the Western Conference. Any number you look at about the Thunder is crazy, this team is going to be around for a long time.
2 - Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are still playing for the number 1 seed over the East. They haven’t been as dominant over the last few weeks, while I still think they should be one of the favorites to reach the NBA finals, but their chokehold on the east is loosening.
3 - Boston Celtics
While the Cavs are playing up and down, the Celtics are turning it on. They have an eight game win streak and have clinched at least one of the top seeds. For folks who are’t a fan of an Eastern conference team, a potential Boston and Cleveland matchup makes you salivate more than Tyler at Subway.
4 - Houston Rockets
Winners of 12 out of their last 13 the Rockets sit 2 games ahead of the Nuggets for the two seed. I still think that last game of the season against Denver could determine the seeding, but Houston is playing really well right now.
5 - Denver Nuggets
Jokic came back and the Nuggets looked much better, imagine that. The Nuggets would love to avoid the Timberwolves in the first round, they have lost 5 straight against Minnesota dating back to playoffs last year.
6 - Los Angeles Lakers
Just an absolute brutal loss to the Bulls again by the Lakers who are having some issues closing out games. But a huge win over the Grizzlies helps keep them hosting a first round playoff series. If they can play elite defense again, they have a shot.
7 - Golden State Warriors
Not the best showing for Jimmy Butler in his return to Miami, but Steph comes back and the Warriors get back on track. Part of the Warriors success recently is they have won the turnover battle in 20 out of their last 25 games.
8 - New York Knicks
The Knicks are just trying to survive to the playoffs and get Jalen Brunson back. Unless something drastic happens they are locked into the 3 seed. They just keep getting more and more injuries, how worried are we?
9 - Minnesota Timberwolves
The Wolves have a lot to play for, they are in a dogfight with some California teams for the 6 seed. The Timberwolves have been feeding Rudy Gobert in the paint and combined with Naz Reid the Wolves have outscored teams by 11 points in the paint per game.
10 - Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have had an up and down season all year. The defense has kept them in games, but they need more consistent offense. They will be fighting until the last day of the season.
11 - Memphis Grizzlies
Things are not going well for the Memphis Grizzlies. They fired their head coach Taylor Jenkins, two weeks before the playoffs. After an awful year last year, they had a good bounce back year after a lot of injuries, they are limping into the playoffs.
12 - Indiana Pacers
The Pacers have climbed all the way back to 4th in the East and will most likely play the Pistons in the first round. They will need to outscore everyone, their defense just can’t keep up with high level teams.
13 - Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are playing great basketball right now, their defense has been incredible of late and they should not be a team that gets looked over during the playoffs. What a year for Detroit.
14 - Milwaukee Bucks
Dame is still out, but there is some hope that he will play again this year. They have lost four in a row and still hold onto 6th in the East. A potential matchup with the Knicks in the 1st round would be fantastic.
15 - Dallas Mavericks
Anthony Davis has returned to the Mavericks lineup and they have won four out of their last five. I do think with AD they can make the play-in. This team has sustained so many injuries it may be tough to get out of the first round.
P.S. I am only doing the top 15 teams, if you want me to talk about you; be better, it’s that simple.