Welcome to Def Pen’s NBA Power Rankings, updated every Monday. These rankings aren’t necessarily based solely on talent level or team potential.They’re about who’s better right now/who has played better as of late. If a team has lost their last 5 games, they’re probably going to drop (at least) a few spots, even if they’ve got “better” players than a team ranked above them.
Biggest Jump: Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic: Up 4
Biggest Drop: Miami Heat: Down 3
1. Golden State Warriors
Record: 69-8
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
The Warriors have now won 69 games, just the 4th team ever to do so. The Warriors will look to beat the all-time record of 72 wins. Their final 5 games: vs. Minnesota, vs. San Antonio, @ Memphis, @ San Antonio, vs. Memphis.
2. San Antonio Spurs
Record: 64-12
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
The Warriors have been so good that the Spurs have been criminally underrated by many this season. The Spurs’ winning percentage this season of 84.2% is the third best of all time… behind the 2015-16 Warriors and the 1995-96 Bulls.
3.Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 53-24
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
Fourth quarter woes continue for the Thunder. Nevertheless, this is a dangerous team. If they can figure out how to close games, they should be able to make some noise in the playoffs.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 55-22
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
The Cavs lost to the Rockets last week, but proceeded to rattle off 3 games in a row — vs. the Nets, Hawks, and Hornets. LeBron thinks this team is playoff-ready. We’ll see.
5. Boston Celtics
Record: 45-32
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
The Celtics beat the Warriors! Without Jae Crowder!! In Oakland!!! Talk about impressive. That was the Warriors’ first home loss all season. You deserve to make the top 5 when you beat one of history’s best teams. The C’s followed that up with a win over the Lakers in their last matchup against Kobe.
6. Toronto Raptors
Record: 51-25
Last Week’s Ranking: 4
The Raptors are enjoying the best season in franchise history, and will look to make a deep playoff run. This team should not be underestimated; they could very well make the finals.
7. Los Angeles Clippers
Record: 48-28
Last Week’s Ranking: 11
Blake Griffin is finally back, and surprise surprise, the Clippers jump up 4 spots. They took down the Wizards 114-109 in Griffin’s debut, though Griffin played just 25 minutes. The Clippers could very well go undefeated for the rest of the season; they play the Lakers twice, the Suns once, and the Grizzlies once. The only games that they may struggle with are vs. Dallas or in Utah.
8. Atlanta Hawks
Record: 45-32
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
The Hawks have lost their last two games to the top two teams in the East(Cavs and Raptors). They don’t have the easiest schedule coming up, with three of their remaining 5 games coming against The Cavs, Raptors, and Celtics. Atlanta has had the second best defensive efficiency in the league this season, but their offense has been middle-tier.
9. Charlotte Hornets
Record: 44-32
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
Despite a slow start to the season, this has been a great all-around year for Charlotte. They’re a top-10 team in offensive and defensive efficiency.
10. Utah Jazz
Record: 39-38
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
The Jazz are a good team, and I’m a big fan of their young talent. They have a good shot at making the playoffs, but they’re going to have to step up. They have games against the Spurs, Clippers, and Mavs left on the schedule.
11. Miami Heat
Record: 44-32
Last Week’s Ranking: 8
The Heat did not have a good week, losing to the Lakers and Trail Blazers. This is a good team, though. I for one would not want to be matched up with them in the first round.
12. Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 41-37
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
The fact that Portland is a 40+ win team is frankly unbelievable given the low, low expectations for them during the offseason. The Blazers had won four games in a row — including impressive wins over Miami and Boston — before being blown out by Golden State
13.Detroit Pistons
Record: 41-36
Last Week’s Ranking: 12
The Pistons played well when it mattered most, and find themselves tied with the Pacers for the 7 seed. Unless the Pistons choke massively and the Bulls start winning consistently, Detroit will make the playoffs.
14.Indiana Pacers
Record: 41-36
Last Week’s Ranking: 13
The Pacers haven’t beaten a team slated to make the playoffs since March 15(Celtics). The Bulls, 2 games back, will do what they can to leapfrog Indiana if they slip up, and take the 8 seed.
15. Dallas Mavericks
Record: 39-38
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
Just when I thought Dallas was dead, they win four in a row, and J.J. Area earns player of the week honors(what is happening?). The Mavs currently have the eighth seed, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Houston overtake them for it given how difficult Dallas’ remaining schedule is.
16. Chicago Bulls
Record: 39-38
Last Week’s Ranking: 18
The Bulls are starting to pick things up. After dropping four straight, they’ve now won three of their last four. It would take a borderline miracle for them to make the playoffs at this point, but it’s possible.
17. Houston Rockets
Record: 38-39
Last Week’s Ranking: 15
I’ll be disappointed if Houston fails to make the playoffs. Despite all their shortcomings, the Rockets have talent, and a first-round series with them vs. Golden State or San Antonio would be pretty fun. Currently, the Rockets don’t hold a playoff spot, but they do have a pretty easy schedule coming up.
18. Washington Wizards
Record: 37-40
Last Week’s Ranking: 16
The Wizards aren’t exactly making the playoff push that many expected. The Wiz have lost three of their last four, and five of their last sneve. That about does it for their playoff odds.
19. Orlando Magic
Record: 33-44
Last Week’s Ranking: 23
The Magic have won four of their last five games, which doesn’t really matter at this point. Good for them, though.
20. Sacramento Kings
Record: 31-46
Last Week’s Ranking: 23
The Kings won 30 games for the first time in DeMarcus Cousins’ six-year tenure in Sacramento. I’m not sure whether Kings fans should be celebrating or crying. Probably crying.
21. Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 41-36
Last Week’s Ranking: 21
The Grizzlies have lost six in a row now, and their remaining schedule is remarkably tough. They could miss the playoffs, in which case Dallas, Utah, and Houston could all make it.
22. Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 32-45
Last Week’s Ranking: 24
This has been a bad season for Milwaukee, but fans should still be happy with it. Greek Freak’s evolution and Jabari Parker’s flashes of brilliance made it worth it.
23. Denver Nuggets
Record: 32-46
Last Week’s Ranking: 24
The Nuggets have lost four of their last five. This hasn’t been a great season for Denver. They aren’t going to have a top draft pick, and obviously won’t make the playoffs. However, fans have a lot to be excited about. This roster is overflowing with young talent.
24. New York Knicks
Record: 31-47
Last Week’s Ranking: 22
Kristaps Porzingis made this season more fun than a typical Knicks season. Still, I’m sure this team would like to finish with a winning record sometime soon.
25. New Orleans Pelicans
Record: 29-47
Last Week’s Ranking: 27
I figured the Pelicans were dead in the water once Anthony Davis was pronounced out for the season. However, the Pels have shown signs of life, winning three of their last four games. Still, that may not be the best thing. This team should probably be tanking. Their first priority should be trying to draft a star to pair with Anthony Davis.
26. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 24-49
Last Week’s Ranking: 26
Karl-Anthony Towns has been absolutely tremendous this season. His PER of 22.7 is the highest for any rookie since Arvydas Sabonis in 1995-96.
27. Brooklyn Nets
Record: 21-56
Last Week’s Ranking: 25
After winning back-to-back games against the Pacers and Cavaliers, the Nets have regressed to their norm, and have now lost five in a row.
28. Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 16-60
Last Week’s Ranking: 28
The Lakers move up a spot after beating Miami in overtime. This team as a whole is pretty terrible. There have been bright spots, however. One of those bright spots is the play of Julius Randle. The 21-year-old has averaged a double-double this season, and is top-five in the league in defensive rebounds.
29. Phoenix Suns
Record: 20-57
Last Week’s Ranking: 28
Tyson Chandler had a monster 21-point, 18-rebound game against the Jazz, but the Suns still lost, marking their sixth consecutive defeat.
30. Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 9-68
Last Week’s Ranking: 30
This tanking effort is pretty incredible. The Sixers have lost games 12 in a row, and 25 of their last 26. If they lose their final 5 games(against New Orleans, New York, Milwaukee, Toronto, & Chicago), they will tie for the second-worst single-season losing season in NBA history.
