NBA Power Rankings: Every Team From Worst to First (Week 21)

NBA Power Rankings: Every Team From Worst to First (Week 21)

With just five weeks left in the regular season the playoff picture is finally starting to take shape. Well, more specifically the play-in picture, but teams are at least making it clear which direction they prefer to go for the rest of the season (mostly down if you’re near the bottom of the East). But up top it’s still getting feisty and we’ve got a new team taking over our number one ranking. Read on to see how this week’s rankings play out.

30. Washington Wizards

Last Week: 30

The leaders in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, they appear perfectly content with where they’re at and aim to be one of the three worst teams in the NBA to get the best shot at grabbing that top overall pick. However, Wizards fans may be raising their eyebrows as Washington’s won three of their last six games coming into Tuesday night’s action against the Detroit Pistons. Consider it a bit of a welcome surprise for those wanting to see wins no matter what, but there’s only three games between them and the Pelicans in the 4-pick. They likely won’t fall out of the top-three, but there’s no enough room to call this comfortable anymore if Washington plays competitively down the stretch.

29. Charlotte Hornets

Last Week: 28

Somehow they’re not eliminated from the playoffs yet. Same with the Wizards. Maybe that’s more of a sign of ineptitude at the bottom of the East more than anything, but they technically have a chance to pull off the impossible. That fact is meant to distract you from Charlotte’s -17.4 net rating in their last 10 games that’s paired with a league worst 101.3 offensive rating in that span. Mile Bridges is averaged 25.2 PPG over the last 10 while LaMelo Ball is mustering up just 17.0 PPG. As they fight to stay in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes it may not be surprising to see Ball, Bridges and potentially Mark Williams some rest down the stretch.

28. Utah Jazz

Last Week: 29

Utah holds the unique distinction of being the only team in the NBA currently eliminated from postseason contention. Congratulations Jazz fans, you did it! In all seriousness, the Jazz continue to hold out, or rest, their key players like Lauri Markkanen and John Collins. The last five weeks or so will simply be about developing for the future and keeping themselves in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes. The games should at least still be fun to watch, though, as long as you’re not counting on a Jazz win any time soon.

27. Brooklyn Nets

Last Week: 27

A nice win against the Lakers to snap a seven-game losing streak was probably good in the moment for the Nets and their fans. Almost upsetting the Cavaliers the next night shows they can still be a competitive team even while tanking. But ultimately the rest of Brooklyn’s season will focus on improving their draft positioning. They were tied with the Sixers for the number six pick coming into Tuesday night’s action. Given their upcoming contract situations, prioritizing a tank should be Brooklyn’s focus going forward.

26. New Orleans Pelicans

Last Week: 26

New Orleans has started to lean into the tank more recently as they’re starting to creep into a top three pick, putting a bit of pressure on the Charlotte Hornets (if you can frame it that way). The final bit of the season will simply be about health and development. One key piece that’s starting to develop a bit more is Jose Alvarado. He’s actually leading the Pelicans in assists over the last 10 games by averaging 5.2 APG, just a bit ahead of his season average. That development will be key for Alvarado if the Pelicans face more health issues next season.

25. Philadelphia 76ers

Last Week: 25

Another team in the East that’s signaled that it’s tanking is the Sixers, who have faced health and availability issues all season. They are in a spot where they need to keep their top-six pick or else it becomes the Oklahoma City Thunder’s. The last thing anyone in the West wants to see right now is the Thunder with another high pick at their disposal and the last thing Sixers’ fans want to see is them lose their pick after a tremendously terrible year. The Sixers will be fighting the Nets and Raptors for the number six pick and it’s in their best interest, and potentially the entire Western Conference’s interests, if they embrace the tank further.

24. Toronto Raptors

Last Week: 23

Just a week ago I felt like Toronto may be someone who could make a real run for the play-in. They had just beaten the Orlando Magic and were on their way to another victory in Orlando when head coach Darko Rajakovic sat his starters to end the game so his young guys could get experience closing games. Toronto still pulled off the win thanks to a last second three-pointer, but they’ve signaled that they’re fine letting their young guys get experience whether they win or lose. They still face an incredibly easy schedule to finish the season, but the play-in doesn’t appear to be a priority for the Raptors.

23. Chicago Bulls

Last Week: 24

The Bulls appear to be the de facto winners of the 10-seed in the East thanks to the decisions of the teams below them. In terms of the franchise’s direction, some may have wanted them to embrace the tank. But they’ve kept a bit of their identity consistent in that they’re going to at least play high scoring games consistently. Josh Giddey has started to turn it on, averaging 23.1 PPG, 10.9 RPG and 8.4 APG in the Bulls’ last 10 games. They’re likely headed to the play-in and, if teams aren’t careful, they may surprise someone.

22. San Antonio Spurs

Last Week: 22

It’s a good thing that the NBA world and the state of Texas have much more of a focus on the failures of the Mavericks because San Antonio’s downfall without Victor Wembanyama has been pretty deflating for Spurs fans. Just 2-8 in their last 10, the Spurs can’t seem to get going after hanging around .500 nearly all season. De’Aaron Fox has seen a drop in production since coming over to San Antonio as well, making it seem like the trade for him may only pay off in future seasons when he can be paired with Wembanyama. As of now they’re pretty set into the #8 pick and likely can’t improve from that position without some real help.

21. Portland Trail Blazers

Last Week: 21

At five games back of the final play-in spot in the West, it may be tough for Portland to leapfrog Phoenix and overtake Dallas for the final spot. But the Blazers have at least made their season interesting over the past couple months. It hasn’t been as great as of late, as they’ve lost four straight, but they’re in a better spot than most thought they would be at the beginning of the season. Anfernee Simons has started to heat up as well, scoring 30+ in four of his last five games. The Blazers will want him to keep cooking as their upcoming schedule continues to stay rough.

20. Phoenix Suns

Last Week: 20

Sitting just 2.5 GB of the Mavericks for the final play-in spot in the West, the pressure is now on the Suns to make a run and try and save a very underwhelming season. Their offense has been in a great spot, posting up a 120.2 offensive rating in the last 10 games. But the defense has been a main reason they’ve been losing, posting up a 122.9 defensive rating in that span. If Phoenix is to make a run at the play-in, and given their current roster construction they almost need to, then the defense has to tighten up. The Mavs are on a freefall so the opportunity is ripe for the taking for the Suns.

19. Dallas Mavericks

Last Week: 16

Speaking of those Mavs, it just doesn’t seem to get any better for them. Over the last 10 games they’ve posted a -9.8 net rating, third worst in the league in that span. That’s amounted to a 2-8 record with wins over Charlotte and San Antonio. The defense has fallen off a cliff, allowing 122+ points in six straight games. Seven of their next nine games are on the road, a trip that should tell us a lot about their intentions of either trying to tank or attempting to stay in the play-in bracket. Given what’s happened this season, no one would fault them for wanting to prioritize their draft pick over the play-in.

18. Orlando Magic

Last Week: 17

Is it time to start worrying in Orlando? They’re a lock for the play-in but not all is well right now for the Magic. Losers in six of their last seven, they’re continuously underachieving and need to be thankful for their strong start this season. Their offense is shooting for a 49.8% eFG% over the last 10 games, second worst in the league in that span. The defense has been average, but they need the defense to be stout if their offense is going to stay lackluster. They’ll likely fall to the 9-seed when all is said and done and have a matchup with, more than likely, the Bulls in the first round of the play-in. But past that there are no guarantees for the Magic until they step it up offensively.

17. Miami Heat

Last Week: 18

We’ve got Miami bumped up a spot here but that’s less of an endorsement to what they’ve done and more because the Mavericks’ descent is just that incredible. The Heat have lost four straight games, including a three-point lost to the Hornets on Monday. Lucky for them they are sitting pretty comfortably in the play-in bracket and losing more games won’t fully hurt them. That’s great news because their upcoming schedule gets rough. Maybe they can view it as time to sharpen up, but regardless they need to turn things around so they can feel confident heading into the play-in tournament in a month.

16. Atlanta Hawks

Last Week: 19

Currently the leaders of the Southeastern Conference Invitational, I mean the Eastern Conference play-in bracket, Atlanta is quietly doing its thing. Just 5-5 over the last 10 games, they’re just doing what they need to do while the Heat and Magic falter. The Hawks are now in the 7-seed with a 1.5 game lead over Miami and Orlando. That’s not comfortable enough for them to take it easy down the stretch, but they’re getting themselves into a good position by simply not losing all that often like their counterparts. Their schedule to finish the season isn’t brutal, but it’s not filled with easy winners either. They’ll have a few tests before the play-in and will have to fight to keep the 7-seed.

15. Sacramento Kings

Last Week: 15

With a +4.6 net rating over the last 10 games amounting to a 5-5 record you would assume that Sacramento got a bit unlucky in a couple games. Kings fans won’t feel that optimistic, though, simply because their wins came over cellar dwellers while their losses came to teams vying for the playoffs. That’s not going to sit well with Sacramento as they look at their upcoming schedule that’s chock full of playoff contenders. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are leading the way, both averaging 23+ PPG in the last 10, but they’ll need more support to be able to make a real statement and build confidence heading into the play-in.

14. Los Angeles Clippers

Last Week: 14

Is there a tougher team to understand in the league than the Clippers? After losing six of seven games they had won three straight before struggling with the New Orleans Pelicans. Whatever it is with the Clippers, they need to keep pushing to avoid the play-in. After sitting in the 6-seed for quite some time, they’ve fallen into the 8-seed. They’re not all that far back of the Warriors in the 6-seed, but given how hot Golden State has been as of late, and how strong Minnesota will be right in front of them, jumping back up will be a tall task to ask out of this squad.

13. Detroit Pistons

Last Week: 13

A couple losses in California finally slowed down the Pistons, but that probably doesn’t matter much to Detroit. In the grand scheme of things, they’re pretty much slated to make the playoffs and that’s all that fans are going to worry about for now. They’ve got a nice 5.5 game lead over Atlanta in the 7-seed and have next to no worries about slipping into the play-in. Cade Cunningham, a leading candidate for Most Improved Player, continues to spearhead the attack on offense, averaging 26.7 PPG over Detroit’s last 10 games. If you need a fun underdog to root for in the playoffs, you’ve found your crew here.

12. Milwaukee Bucks

Last Week: 11

Maybe a bit under the radar but Milwaukee had been on a bit of a roll prior to Tuesday’s last second loss to the Pacers. They had won 10 of 13 games before losing three straight to Indiana, Orlando and Cleveland. For the most part they had been winning with a good combination of defense and an offense that was putting up 120+ per game during the latter half of that streak. But in each of their last three games they’ve failed to reach that mark and in the first two they didn’t break 110. Milwaukee needs to fight to stay in the 4-seed, a seed that will be very important for whichever Central Division team ends up in that spot.

11. Indiana Pacers

Last Week: 10

Speaking of those Pacers, the Tuesday night win over the Bucks was a big on given they were on the second leg of a back-to-back and had gotten blown out by the Bulls the night before. Tyrese Haliburton’s return to the court certainly helped their cause on Tuesday and put them, Milwaukee and Detroit into a 3-way tie. Currently the order goes Milwaukee, Indiana and Detroit for seeds four through six. But each of these teams will be needing home court advantage for the first round as they’re likely to be facing each other. The Pacers are significantly better at home (20-10) and would certainly benefit from having home court over either the Bucks or the Pistons in the first round.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves

Last Week: 9

Maybe flying a bit under the radar, the Timberwolves are sitting just a half game out of the 6-seed in the West. Avoiding the play-in all together would be a great accomplishment for this crew that has been battling injuries in the second half of the season. Julius Randle has finally returned and is turning it up in terms of assists, putting up at least nine in three straight games. Rudy Gobert looks to be healthy again after returning to the lineup on Sunday, breaking a 10 game absence. Outside of a couple tough tests the schedule gets relatively easy for Minnesota, making them a threat to jump out of the play-in and snag the 6-seed or better.

9. Golden State Warriors

Last Week: 12

To say the Jimmy Butler trade sparked the Warriors would be an understatement. Since acquiring Butler they are 12-1 with him active. That’s quite the turnaround for a roster that desperately needed someone to be their catalyst. After posting a triple-double in their last game against Portland, Warriors fans have to be thrilled that they finally feel like they’re back. Golden State also leads the league in assists per game since Butler’s debut, making them an even more dynamic force on offense. They’re going to be tough to beat in the postseason once again.

8. Houston Rockets

Last Week: 8

Houston had been in a tough spot after losing three straight but they’ve responded by winning another three straight games. It’s gotten them to a game back of Memphis for the Southwest Division lead. More importantly than the division title, the difference between them and Memphis is also the difference between a four and a five seed. For both Houston and Memphis, that means it’s a fight for home court. The Grizzlies have been there before, but these Rockets haven’t. Therefore, they need to do all they can to secure home court. With Los Angeles likely to falter a bit without LeBron James, there’s a chance Houston could pass either the Lakers or Grizzlies if they keep it up with their soft upcoming schedule.

7. Memphis Grizzlies

Last Week: 7

Similar to the Rockets, the Grizzlies were on a bit of a worrying slide before winning three straight and righting the ship. They’ve succeeded this season by playing a lot of team ball and being a bit unpredictable in terms of who’s going to be the biggest threat on any given night. That’s continued to a degree, but the volume of support is lowering in the last 10 games. Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. are all averaging 20+ PPG in the last 10 games but no one else is averaging more than 11.8 PPG. They need more offensive support from other weapons to keep their unpredictability as a weapon. With Houston on their heels, they need to fight to keep home court advantage for the first round.

6. Los Angeles Lakers

Last Week: 4

With LeBron James set to miss multiple weeks, the Lakers’ high after the Doncic trade has certainly hit a bit of a buzzkill. His absence, if not already obvious, was abundantly clear when the Lakers couldn’t even beat the Brooklyn Nets. They’ll face real tests to finish up the season and, without James active, it may be a tough task. They are tied with the Grizzlies and have just a one game lead over the Rockets. If they slip up too much they can fall from the 3-seed with the 5-seed with ease.

5. New York Knicks

Last Week: 5

Similar to the Lakers, they’re going to have to fight without one of their best players as Jalen Brunson will miss multiple weeks with a sprained ankle. They’ve missed him for two games but won one of those by 29 points against the Kings. Maybe they’ll be fine, but it will be a big opportunity for Miles McBride, who put up 21 points in that 29 point blowout against Sacramento. As we’ve mentioned in these power rankings previously, New York is comfortably in the 3-seed so they can afford a couple losses if need be.

4. Denver Nuggets

Last Week: 6

A beneficiary to the Knicks and Lakers’ injury situations, the Nuggets get bumped up a little bit. A huge bounce-back win over the Thunder on the second leg of their back-to-back series certainly helps their cause. They handed the Thunder their biggest home loss of the season, though just the day before the Thunder had a huge fourth quarter to blowout the Nuggets. Sitting in the 2-seed, Denver will need to continue to get huge pushes from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray as they end their schedule with quite a few competitive games.

3. Boston Celtics

Last Week: 3

If they weren’t already eight games back of the Cavs, their remaining schedule would give the Celtics a great chance to jump to the top seed in the East. But that probably doesn’t matter much to them at this point given how comfortably they are set in the 2-seed. Boston has won five straight games and faces a huge test on Wednesday against a Thunder team that will be looking to bounce back after a tough loss. They may have to face the Thunder without Jayson Tatum, who’s dealing with a right knee issue. Luckily they’ve built up enough of a cushion to not let a loss to a contender bother them as Tatum’s health for the playoffs is much more consequential, so they’ll let him rest if need be.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

Last Week: 1

After a big nationally televised win against the Nuggets on Sunday, they got dealt their worst home loss of the season on Monday. To pour some salt in the wound, they lost Jalen Williams due to a hip injury. The extent of Williams’ injury isn’t quite known yet, but the Thunder’s gameplan against Denver noticeably changed after he exited and Denver took control of the game. His absence will put more pressure on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to lead the Thunder as he has been all season. With a huge lead over Denver in the 2-seed, OKC’s not at risk of dropping any and can prioritize Williams’ health for a postseason run.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

Last Week: 2

Back in the top spot, the Cavaliers just keep on rolling. The only team in the NBA to clinch a playoff spot so far, they’ve won 15 games in a row after avoiding a scare against Brooklyn on Tuesday night. Their net rating during the win streak is sitting at +14.3, which I don’t believe I need to tell you is leading the league. They are the team to beat in the NBA. They’ll have a tough test against Memphis coming up on Friday, but outside of that it’s not a terribly tough schedule for Cleveland to finish the year. If they’re lucky they’ll have a chance to notch 70 wins. But regardless they’ll be almost assured to make the Eastern Conference Finals as our number one team this week.