24/30 rankers reporting this week. /R/NBA's Power Rankings are published every two weeks which is a bit different from most rankings. Other than that we rank the teams the same way as our competition. If write ups are left blank the team rep decided not to submit. We encourage any user to fill in the blanks in the comment section.

# Team Δ Record Comment
1 Thunder — 64-14 I didn't get a chance to watch the most recent Houston or Lakers games. Coincidence? I think not….
2 Celtics — 58-20 The Celtics are 6-1 since the last rankings and are all but locked into the 2 seed. There technically is a scenario where the Celtics could end up in a tiebreaker with the Cavs if they were to lose-out their remaining games, but the chances of that happening are practically nil. The name of the game at this point in the season is health, and every player for the Celtics will likely get their turn to sit and rest throughout the remaining 4 games on the schedule. They'll face off against the Knicks and the Magic, before back-to-back games against the Hornets to end the regular season for god knows why. This time of season it's always fun to see bench players suddenly get the greenlight and main stage when starters are out, meaning a 20 or 30pt bomb could happen out of nowhere. Those final two games against the Hornets could very well have 4 or 5 Celtics resting and guys getting called up, paving the path for players like Scheierman, Walsh, Davison (who was just named G-League MVP), Peterson, or even Queta to end the regular season with an exclamation point.
3 Cavaliers — 62-16 This is the kind of season that is sad to see come to an end, with 4 games remaining, we could win out and tie our franchise record win streak… or we can continue to do what we’ve been doing: resting an 82-game determined Jarrett Allen in the second half of games while continuing to give other starters and key role players nights off for resting purposes. The cool thing with the extra play for the deeper rotation is seeing guys like Isaac Okoro come alive in the last couple of weeks. He’s seemed like his recent absence has given him a full seasons worth of rest as of late, as he has just been absolutely everywhere all over the court for us. If we get the current Okoro in the playoffs and the rest of the team plays the way we’ve played all year, that’s another key piece to the puzzle. We made the play-in 3 years ago, the first round 2 years ago, and the second round last year. Here’s hoping we manage at least continue that trend, but regardless of how the playoffs go, this Cavs team is here to stay.. with the possible exception of 6MOTY candidate Ty Jerome. Is the combo of his role, team success and his friendships on the team enough for us to extend him on early bird? If so, we’ll be right at this spot in the power rankings for the foreseeable future
4 Rockets — 52-27 Looking poised to enter the playoffs as the 2nd seed, this team has achieved far above what most would have predicted, and yet, it doesn't seem like betting markets and the media are quite ready yet to label this team as a contender. The key to shutting up the doubters will be for Thompson to keep clamping up stars, role players like Brooks and Smith to continue to put up 20 point performances, and for the team to improve in clutch time on close games.
5 Lakers +2 48-30 Austin Reaves is averaging 26.1/5.1/5.5 on 53/42/94 splits in the last 15-game stretch for the Lakers, that ranks him 14th across the league on the scoring list in this period, it's a shame that he isn't even sniffing the MIP conversation cos the league has its plot on that end. The formula is simple, the big 3 takes care of the offense, the role players gotta roll, cut and make their threes on O; communicate, hustle and hit the glass on D. The team showed competency taking down some West rivals in Memphis, Houston and OKC, with the latter being handed a pretty dominant blowout thanks to a surgical shooting display. The Lakers' intangibles make their playoff potential so much intriguing specially now having secured tiebreakers over all the teams seeded 4-8 and being 2 wins away from a 3rd seed. However, the team's ugly head rears when they show a lack of urgency and discipline that leads to transition basketball, evident in losses vs Bulls, Warriors, etc. A mentally locked-in Lakers team can legit win the Finals, but their floor could be, to no one's surprise, a first-round exit. A team with such low margin for error is going to certainly wanna hope to get on the right of the bracket as the season draws to a close.
6 Knicks +2 50-28 Brunson is back. He's shaking off rust. In the meantime, we've seen the team really step up offensively. The Bard, writing for the most righteous fae Ariel in The Tempest, uses the term "Lingering Perdition" to cast maleficence unto the antagonists Alonso, Antonio and Sebastian. In modern terms, it emphasizes a curse of slow and frightening ruin. This is how I would describe the rise of OG "The Demon" Anunoby in Brunson's absence. A spirit of vengeance, he has played at a level of basketball completeness we haven't seen since the rise of Kawhi Leonard. Averaging a couple free throws under 50/40/90 for this stretch, all the while playing elite defense on multiple positions, he's emblematic of a team that no longer has to hand Brunson the keys and pray come crunch time. He's been far more fluid with the ball in his hands than before, and this Knicks fan is optimistic that those habits are here to stay. NOTE: I will be visiting the family in France for most of April (Happy Passover) then will be in the Holy Land to visit even more family. If any of you want me to make a prayer for you or yours, feel free to DM me and I'll do so. May peace come in our time.
7 Clippers +4 46-32 At the time of writing, The Los Angeles Clippers, a team who many believed didn't have enough depth left after the loss of Paul George, are currently fifth in the Western Conference. This old ass team, led by a duo of aging stars, have turned this team from potential OKC pick-fodder to one of the sleeper picks to have a deep playoff run. Despite this, we can't celebrate too quickly, because we are one of 4 Western Conference playoff teams that share the same record. With 4 games left in the regular season (including a potentially incredibly important game against GSW on the last day), we can potentially either move all the way up to 3rd in the West, but also can move down all the way to 8th. Like the great Ralph Lawler once said, fasten your sealtbelts, we are going down to the wire this season.
8 Warriors -2 46-32 With the loss last night the Warriors are now locked into a 4 way tie at 46-32 between the 5th and 8th seed with a tie breaker over the Timberwolves and Grizzlies but not the Clippers. Warriors play the Clippers the last game of the seasons which could decide their play in fate. Podz has been on fire the past two games. Maybe Steph's worse game of his career was the last game but the 3 games prior he averaged 41.7 ppg. Hopefully he bounces back these next 4 games to close out the season on a high note and avoid the play in.
9 Nuggets -4 47-32 With just one week left in the season, the Nuggets have entered a tailspin in April, losing their last 4 games. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who's watched the Nuggets this year, as the same problems that have plagued the team all season (injuries to starters, zero bench production, poor POA defense, inconsistent production from everyone not named Jokic) have all made themselves apparent in the final stretch. The Nuggets maintain a tenuous grip on the 4th seed, but with just one game separating the 4th and 8th seeds, there's even a chance of the Nuggets falling into the play-in. Despite the recent struggles and the ever decreasing odds of a Finals appearance this year, favorable seeding could help the Nuggets make a deep playoff run.
10 Pacers -1 47-31 The Pacers are rolling as the playoffs approach. Indiana needs just 2 more combined wins + Milwaukee losses to clinch a top 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Much has been made about Tyrese Haliburton's play post-All Star Break, but really, he has been sensational since mid-December. Even with his rough start to the season, many advanced metrics have him among the top guards in the league this year, and his impact can truly be seen once the free-flowing offense gets going. Another 3rd team All-NBA selection isn't out of the question at this point.
11 TWolves +1 46-32 Things are wild in the West and the Wolves are locked into this crazy play in set. Despite a 5 game win streak the Wolves have not been able maneuver out of the play in. With 4 games remaining winning likely clears them of the additional play in game, but 1 slip and the Wolves likely playing for they're playoff hopes.
12 Grizzlies -1 46-32 The Memphis Grizzlies have had a rough two weeks—like Ja trying refrain from finger shooting rough. They've dropped 4 of their last 7, including losses to the Lakers, Celtics, and Warriors, and fired coach Taylor Jenkins in the process. Interim coach Tuomas Iisalo’s debut has been less than ideal but they did manage to win their last two.
13 Bucks — 44-34 Will Dame be able to play again this season?? That's kinda all that matters. (Shoutout to KPJ for being surprisingly good and stepping up in Dame's absence) (Shoutout to Giannis for the first ever 35/15/20 game)
14 Pistons — 43-35 Detroit has struggled against the West but has played well against the east. Good thing thing there are only East teams in the playoffs…well most of the playoffs.
15 Magic +3 38-40 Locked into a play-in spot, Paolo and Franz putting the team on their back and role players are shooting significantly better post All-Star Break. If they can keep this up, the Magic might have a chance to make some noise in the playoffs but knowing it's starting off against the Cavs or Celtics puts a damper on expectations. Potential revenge series from last season or a matchup against the champs.
16 Kings — 38-40 The Sacramento Kings have been playing mid basketball but they still have a chance at the playoffs. DeRozan, Sabonis, and LaVine are doing everything short of selling popcorn at halftime, while the bench looks like it’s stuck on the loading screen. Sitting 10th in the West, they’re clinging to that play-in spot like it’s a loose ball in Game 7​.
17 Hawks -2 37-41 These last couple of games have been rough, as opposing teams have realized that if they pull Okongwu away from the rim the team has no other players that can reliably provide rim defense. Injuries in the frontcourt have really hollowed out the defense, and unless Quin starts trusting Mo Gueye more then I don't really see a world where that improves these last couple of games. The Hawks are currently in 8th, 1 game behind Orlando and 1 game ahead of Chicago. With two of our four remaining games against Orlando, whether the team ends up in the 7/8 or 9/10 game will likely come down to if we can at least split those games.
18 Bulls +1 36-42 The Bulls have been a rollercoaster: the Lakers game was the first loop, the Dallas game was the bottom where you have to get off and wait in line again. Coby White dropped 37 on Charlotte, trying to carry them into the play-in. They’re 9th in the East, they’re clinging to the play-in like it’s 1998 and MJ’s about to walk back in.
19 Mavericks +3 38-41 Luka returns to Dallas this week, which headlines everything Mavs. The play-in is the least anticipated postseason game in franchise history. These two sentences sum up the Mavs season quite well in my opinion.
20 Heat +3 35-43 Since the last time we did rankings, we had the Heat go on a little win streak. This streak means we're locked into the play-in and will have a little bit of a postseason. With 4 games left, we could improve our play-in position although there's not a big difference between who we get. We're going to have to play 2 match ups and they're all difficult match ups. Tyler Herro and a few other players are also nursing injury, but let's just be happy that we will see some postseason basketball after this tumultuous season.
21 Suns -4 35-43 Those four games showed us what this team could be. Everything else showed us who they really are. This may be the worst season in Suns’ history. With the players brought in, the future we sacrificed, and the money spent, not winning the West would have been a disappointment. The highest payroll in NBA history will end the year with a losing record, not even make the play-ins, and give the Rockets a lottery pick. I stand by what I said that we do have the start of a young foundation, but there will be major consequences. There can be no one left off the table this offseason, not even Booker. The coaching staff and FO are likely to be purged from top to bottom. The organization has lost a lot of faith from an already fickle fanbase, but no consequence can be worse than forcing us to watch this version of the team for another year.
22 Trail Blazers -2 35-44 The Blazers have been tanking so hard NASA might draft them. Scoot’s still out after his concussion, but Deni Avdija— has been one of the few bright spots in Portland averaging 23.5 since all star break and 30.4 the past 5 games. At this point it's probably worth sitting him and relying on Blazerman to be their most consistent performer.
23 Spurs -2 32-46 Stephon Castle for ROTY. It's really all we have at this point (though we did nearly have a Houston-over-Duke comeback on the Cavs the other day which was cool). All due respect to Zaccharie Risacher, he's an awesome player (I loved him predraft last year) and I think he's showing all the promise that was hoped that can make him a very worthy #1 overall pick. But I like Castle more (duh, obviously) and most every metric, other than efficiency, is in Castle's favor (and even then, Risacher's .525 EFG/.548 TS% isn't so insurmountable over Castle's .472 EFG/.517 TS% that it wipes out all of Castle's other advantages). They're both really great players, but Castle's been doing more for longer so that's why I'm taking him (and, you know, he plays for my team of course). The Spurs close out the season with @LAC, @GSW, @PHO, and TOR.
24 Raptors — 29-50 There are only three games left in the season. The record may be similar to last year however, we actually have exciting young players to see next year. This isn't the team that started Javon-Freeman Liberty, Jamius Ramsey, Kobi Simmons, Malik Williams, and Muhamadou Gueye. I'm looking forward to next season full of optimism!
25 Nets — 25-53 The Brooklyn Nets have been in a competitive tank since Cam Thomas went down. They win a few to make it look like they aren't tanking but they just aren't good enough. They scraped by with a win over the Mavs, but since then, they've been staying the course for a nice lottery pick.
26 Pelicans +1 21-57 The past two weeks haven’t just been rough for the Pelicans—they’ve been a reminder that the franchise is stuck in neutral. Once hyped as a rising force with Zion at the helm, the team now drifts between failed expectations and unclear direction. They’re not rebuilding, not contending, just existing—burning through seasons, talent, and fan patience. This isn’t just a cold streak; it’s a sign of a franchise with no map, no momentum, and no idea what it wants to be.
27 76ers -1 23-55 To loosely quote TrillBroDude, Cooper Flagg better get used to seeing those types of meltdowns because he'll have many more in a Sixers jersey. The Sixers have lost an astonishing amount and have managed to put in an absolutely serious tank job after starting way too late with a "belief" they could still compete. Are the injuries real? Yes. Absolutely. And it is quite curious that the Embiid saga took the surgery route when that seemed to be thrown out originally. He will probably never be the player he was again, but can he go that Bill Walton route and accept a lesser role (assuming the Sixers are able to draft a "ready out of the box" player in this year's draft)? There is still a chance the pick doesn't convey, and that could mean the difference between the death of this Sixers team or its final attempt at a rebirth.
28 Hornets — 19-59 Not sure how much more hornets anyone can take. LaMelo’s out for the season but that's nothing new. The tank is beefy and strong. Only looking forward to the lottery at this point.
29 Wizards — 17-61 "We're still not good. While teams are throwing together their worst line-ups, removing or limiting staters' appearances, we're still doing the same but getting overly excited about the performance of our rookies in the process. I want to be excited about Bub Carrington dropping 32 points against a great defensive team like Orlando. But I know just how quickly Orlando got their act together. This season was solely centered around the team's ability to get the number one overall pick in the NBA draft and when it mattered the most, they beat the Sacramento Kings. Utah has executed the tank to perfection while the Wizards still can't execute a half-court offense."
30 Jazz — 16-63 Before this season, the Utah Jazz were the only team in the history of the league to never lose 60 or more games in a season. Despite the fine we had a couple of weeks ago for benching Markkanen without probable cause, he has only played 4 games since February 23. Jordan Clarkson has been shut down for the season, and Cody Williams looks like a bust. Keyonte George had one of the best games of his career Sunday against Atlanta, going for 35 points on 10-19 shooting. All Jazz fans have to look forward to is the Draft Lottery, held in about 5 weeks. We'll see if the NBA will grant the Jazz with the prize of drafting #1 overall.

4 comments

  1. BIAS RANKINGS!

    Team | Rank | Ranks Above Avg | Lover | Ranks Below Avg | Hater |
    :– | :-: | :-: | :– | :-: | :– |
    [](/ATL) Hawks | 17 | 2 | 4 Tied | -2 | 5 Tied |
    [](/BOS) Celtics | 2 | 1 | 3 Tied | -4 | [](/TOR) /u/Jaseen |
    [](/BKN) Nets | 25 | 2 | [](/OKC) /u/AnkitPancakes | -2 | [](/LAL) /u/JilJungJukk |
    [](/CHA) Hornets | 28 | 6 | [](/OKC) /u/AnkitPancakes | -2 | [](/LAL) /u/JilJungJukk |
    [](/CHI) Bulls | 18 | 3 | 2 Tied | -4 | 2 Tied |
    [](/CLE) Cavaliers | 3 | 1 | 12 Tied | -1 | 2 Tied |
    [](/DAL) Mavericks | 19 | 4 | [](/PHX) /u/ajteitel | -6 | [](/OKC) /u/AnkitPancakes |
    [](/DEN) Nuggets | 9 | 4 | [](/DAL) /u/rps215 | -4 | [](/IND) /u/imkunu |
    [](/DET) Pistons | 14 | 4 | 2 Tied | -2 | [](/GSW) /u/swollencornholio |
    [](/GSW) Warriors | 8 | 4 | 2 Tied | -4 | [](/DAL) /u/rps215 |
    [](/HOU) Rockets | 4 | 1 | 2 Tied | -6 | [](/OKC) /u/AnkitPancakes |
    [](/IND) Pacers | 10 | 4 | 4 Tied | -3 | 2 Tied |
    [](/LAC) Clippers | 7 | 2 | 3 Tied | -7 | [](/PHX) /u/ajteitel |
    [](/LAL) Lakers | 5 | 1 | 2 Tied | -7 | [](/ATL) /u/not-a-potato-head |
    [](/MEM) Grizzlies | 12 | 4 | [](/PHX) /u/ajteitel | -3 | [](/ORL) /u/albinorhino21 |
    [](/MIA) Heat | 20 | 6 | [](/ATL) /u/not-a-potato-head | -2 | 3 Tied |
    [](/MIL) Bucks | 13 | 5 | [](/DAL) /u/rps215 | -2 | [](/ATL) /u/not-a-potato-head |
    [](/MIN) TWolves | 11 | 8 | [](/OKC) /u/AnkitPancakes | -1 | 2 Tied |
    [](/NOP) Pelicans | 26 | 3 | [](/MIN) /u/flyingscissor | -4 | [](/OKC) /u/AnkitPancakes |
    [](/NYK) Knicks | 6 | 2 | 4 Tied | -6 | [](/BKN) /u/BasedGodProdigy |
    [](/OKC) Thunder | 1 | 0 | 22 Tied | -1 | 3 Tied |
    [](/ORL) Magic | 15 | 1 | 2 Tied | -5 | [](/MIA) /u/beefat99 |
    [](/PHI) 76ers | 27 | 3 | [](/OKC) /u/AnkitPancakes | -3 | [](/TOR) /u/Jaseen |
    [](/PHX) Suns | 21 | 4 | [](/MIA) /u/beefat99 | -2 | 4 Tied |
    [](/POR) Trail Blazers | 22 | 6 | [](/MIN) /u/flyingscissor | -1 | 2 Tied |
    [](/SAC) Kings | 16 | 1 | 2 Tied | -3 | 4 Tied |
    [](/SAS) Spurs | 23 | 3 | [](/ORL) /u/albinorhino21 | -4 | [](/OKC) /u/AnkitPancakes |
    [](/TOR) Raptors | 24 | 3 | 2 Tied | -2 | [](/OKC) /u/AnkitPancakes |
    [](/UTA) Jazz | 30 | 2 | 2 Tied | 0 | 18 Tied |
    [](/WAS) Wizards | 29 | 2 | 2 Tied | -1 | 4 Tied |

    * Boring ranker of the week is [](/DEN) /u/bigred27 with a 0.95 standard deviation
    * Crazy ranker of the week is [](/ATL) /u/not-a-potato-head with a 2.47 standard deviation

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