Welcome NBA Fans! With the All-Star game in the rearview mirror, we’re officially two months until the NBA playoffs.
It will be interesting to see how the stars that were dealt with at the deadline impact how their team will perform in the final stretch and how the play-in race takes form. Unfortunately, there were mixed reviews on the new NBA All-Star game format. Nevertheless, the NBA games should pick up and become more interesting going into the postseason.
Let’s get right into it!
Next Week: March 1, 2025
Risers: Nets + 7, Clippers +4, Warriors, Magic +3
Fallers: Suns -5, Heat, Blazers -4, Spurs -3
NBA Power Rankings Week 17
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 44-10 (1) –
This Thunder is probably the clear favorite and is the most complete team in the NBA. The biggest weakness for this team is whether will they let their inexperience get the best of them in the postseason like last year. If the saying “Defense wins championships” is true, then the odds look great as the OKC defense has been the best by far.
Week Record: 3-1
2. Cleveland Cavaliers 44-10(2) –
This team has been the clear dominant team of the Eastern Conference and could even make it to the NBA Finals. In the past 3 weeks, Cleveland has bounced back by winning 7 of their 8 games. The biggest threat will be the Celtics where they have a 1-2 record against them.
Week Record: 2-0
3. Denver Nuggets 36-19 (3) –
Fun Fact. The Nuggets remain the only undefeated team in the NBA for February. And it’s insane that Nikola Jokic is arguably having his best season and might not win MVP. Jokic currently might be a top 20 player of all time at this point. He’s that good. The Nuggets have had the best offense in the NBA since January.
Week Record: 3-0
4. Boston Celtics 39-16 (5) +1
Boston might not be as dominant as they were in the regular season compared to last year. However, this past week the Celtics have had 3 double-digit wins. The Celtics appear to have that switch to where they can turn in on and cruise. Let’s see if Boston can enter the postseason on a high note or not.
Week Record: 3-0
5. New York Knicks 36-18 (6) +1
The Knicks are still one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and the NBA. However, the biggest takeaway was that the Knicks are not even on the same level as the Celtics. This week, New York got blown out by Boston for the second time this season.
Week Record: 2-1
6. Memphis Grizzlies 36-18 (4) -2
The Grizzlies have rebounded in a significant way compared to last season. This has been due to the emergence of Jaren Jackson Jr, the return of Ja Morant, and having one of the best benches in the NBA. However, the season ends, give the Grizzlies props for fully recovering after last year’s gap season.
Week: 1-2
7. Los Angeles Lakers 32-20 (8) +1
Luka looked a little rusty in his first games against the Jazz, but the games were against the Jazz. The defense will be the biggest question mark for the rest of the season especially since the Mark Williams trade fell through and how well Luka and LeBron can coexist.
Week Record: 2-1
8. Los Angeles Clippers 31-23 (12) +4
It is safe to say that the Clippers should not be Kawhi’s team anymore. This should belong to James Harden the only player that represented the Clippers in the All-Star Game and Norman Powell who is having a career year. With those 2, the Clippers are still a playoff contender which is well above preseason expectations.
Week Record: 3-0
9. Houston Rockets 34-21 (7) -2
Despite a slight regression in the past couple of weeks, the Rockets are on pace to be a 51-win team which is a significant improvement compared to their 22-win season from 2 years ago and 41-win last season. Also, Alperen Segun became the first all-star to represent the Rockets since James Harden in 2020.
Week Record: 2-2
10. Minnesota Timberwolves 31-25 (10) –
Despite it being a down year for Julius Randle, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been picking up steam in recent weeks and got a big win against the Thunder. Let’s see if this team can get past the play-in and make another deep run.
Week Record: 2-2
11. Golden State Warriors 28-27 (14) +3
The Warriors might have developed a crazy target on their back going into the final break of the season. Draymond Green stated during All-Star Weekend that “Golden State will win the championship”. The Warriors even with Jimmy Butler haven’t proven to be a top 4 team.
Week Record: 3-1
12. Indiana Pacers 30-23 (9) -3
The Pacers have cooled off since their hot surge in January and are hoping they can maintain their position in the top 4 of the East. Benedict Murthidin has been a beast off the bench in the past couple games averaging 23 points a night.
Week Record: 2-1
13. Detroit Pistons 29-26 (16) +2
A 3-0 week is still impressive despite the wins that came from 3 bottom-feeding teams. Detroit going into the All-Star break is 2.5 games ahead of Orlando for the 6th seed. This team was only expected to win 25-30 games and now are 29-26. JB Bickerstaff deserves Coach of the Year.
Week Record: 3-0
14. Milwaukee Bucks 29-24 (11) -3
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been out with an injury for a couple weeks and the Bucks are hoping to have him before the next week. Milwaukee going into the final stretch has the 7th toughest remaining schedule.
Week Record: 1-3
15. Dallas Mavericks 30-26 (13) -2
In his first game as a Maverick, Anthony Davis looked dominant and solid. Yet, AD left the game with a groin and will be out for a month. Nevertheless, the Mavericks were a 1 point game away from an undefeated week. Dallas will need a lot of their role players to step up to get into the postseason.
Week Record: 3-1
16. Sacramento Kings 28-27 (17) +1
The Kings had a pretty solid week and Zach Lavine has a couple of great games in his first week in Sac Town. It will be a challenge for Sacramento to get into the playoffs as they will have the 2nd toughest schedule returning from the All-Star Game.
Week Record: 3-1
17. Orlando Magic 27-29 (20) +3
The Magic have played better in the past week as they were able to get a couple of wins. Franz Wagner has been playing extremely well since the start of the New Year and looks like he might be the #1 option offensively, especially with Paolo Banchero struggling since returning from injury.
Week Record: 2-1
18. Brooklyn Nets 20-34 (25) +7
The Nets are 6-1 since February 1. Should Nets be excited that their team is competitive and can be decent or upset that this hurts their odds at a top 3 pick? A crazy statistic is that for February the Brooklyn Nets have the best defense. What the? Give them credit this team plays hard.
Record: 3-0
19. Miami Heat 25-28 (15) -4
The post-Jimmy Butler has gotten off to a rocky start as Miami lost 5 straight games going into the All-Star Weekend. Luckily, the Heat are in the “Leastern Conference” and they can slide back above the play-in by being just over .500. Luckily, their schedule is one of the easiest after the break.
Week Record: 0-3
20. San Antonio Spurs 23-29 (17) –3
The first week with D’Aaron Fox going into the All-Star Weekend was an adjustment period. Nevertheless, the Spurs got a quality win against the Wizards and nearly beat the Magic from a Paolo Banchero game winner. The next 29 games will be crucial if the Spurs want to snap their 5 year playoff drought.
Week Record: 1-2
21. Atlanta Hawks 26-29 (23) +2
This season has been defined as inconsistent and a roller coaster-like feeling. A good example would be their game against the Bucks. The Hawks were up by 10 in the first quarter and then were outscored by 28 in the following quarter. Atlanta still won, but this team has zero consistency.
Week Record: 1-2
22. Phoenix Suns 26-28 (18) -5
Who would have thought the Suns who started 7-1 would be on the outside of even making the play-in tournament? It appeared Kevin Durant may have been the X-Factor. However, Phoenix is 1-6 since February 1 and it appears this superteam has been a failure.
Week Record: 0-3
23. Portland Trail Blazers 23-29 (19) -4
Portland followed up from a 4-0 week, with an 0-3 week. Nevertheless, you can’t be disappointed in this team as they are a frisky team that can fight with most teams on most nights. There has been overall improvement in the season.
Week Record: 0-3
24. Philadelphia 76ers 20-35 (22) -2
It’s time for Philly to throw in the towel. This team is on a 5 game losing streak and this team practically has no chance of avoiding the play-in, let alone a top 8 seed. Paul George has struggled tremendously and Joel Embid might not even play more than 25 games this season.
Week Record: 0-4
25. Toronto Raptors 17-38 (26) +1
With Brandon Ingram’s contract extension, we could see this core developing together or the next few years. Or perhaps, this could be a trade chip if it doesn’t work out in the next few seasons. Nevertheless, this season is lost, but it will interesting to see how Brandon Ingram plays alongside Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett.
Week Record: 1-2
26. Chicago Bulls 22-33 (24) -2
At least Chicago appears to be tanking or leaning towards it. In the past week, the Bulls had had the worst net rating in the NBA losing by a margin of 26 points. This includes a 40-point loss to the Detroit Pistons. All 3 losses have been by 18 points or more.
Week Record: 0-3
27. Utah Jazz 13-41 (29) +2
A big win over the Lakers was a positive thing for the Jazz as they had a big game from Lauri Markanen who had 32 points on 61% shooting. The occasional wins are okay but Utah needs to go all in on the tanking.
Week Record: 1-3
28. New Orleans Pelicans 13-42 (27) -1
A highlight from a dismal season was a 43-point game from CJ McCollum to help the Pelicans snap a 10-game losing streak. It has been a real downer this year. Hoping the losing will pay off by grabbing a top 3 pick.
Week Record: 1-3
29. Charlotte Hornets 13-39 (28) -1
Since January 20, the Hornets have gone 2-10 and are likely going to be out of playoff contention for the 9th straight season. It appears that the Hornets are stuck in a deep rebuild without real hope. A big takeaway would be Moussa Diabate’s breakout game against the Nets with 21 points on 81% shooting.
Week Record: 0-3
30. Washington Wizards 9-45 (30) –
You have to give it to the Wizards. Despite, a winless week going into the All-Star weekend, Washington has played competitive basketball. Still, the Wizards are the only team in the NBA with single-digit wins. At least, they won’t be the worst team in NBA history!
Week Record: 0-3
Main Image: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
