Official /r/nba Power Rankings #12 (4.6.2023)

27/30 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	Bucks	--	56-22	Although the defeat to the Celtics was humiliating (to be fair, it was the team's fifth game in seven days, a back-to-back, and the Celtics managed to shoot over 50% from 3), a statement win over the Sixers ensured that the Bucks remain in the driver's seat for the #1 seed. With only four games left and the entire roster (sans Myers Leonard) in good health, Bucks fans couldn't really ask for more with only 4 regular season games remaining.
2	Celtics	+1	54-24	What a wild two weeks. The Celtics over the course of two days were embarrassed in a loss to the 34-44 Wizards who were without Beal and Kuzma, only to turn it around and blowout the 56-22 Bucks who with a win would have officially clinched the 1 seed and been able to take it easy over the remaining few games. Barring an absolute disaster, the Celtics should be locked into the 2 seed and on-paper, staring down a potential matchup with the Miami Heat in the 1st round of the playoffs. The Celtics only have 4 games left in the season, with matchups @76ers, Raptors at home twice, and then the season finale at home against the Hawks. Sadly, all three teams still have a reason to play as they're all locked in the playoffs/play-in, so they'll be trying their hardest to win.
3	Nuggets	+1	52-26	The Nuggets can clinch the #1 seed with just 1 win in these final 4 games, but with Jokic having missed the last 3 games with a nagging calf injury and 3 of the final 4 games being on the road, it's not a lock by any means. The team will have to lean on Jamal, MPJ, AG, and the stellar rookie wings Christian Braun and Peyton Watson to wrap up the season if Jokic is shut down until the playoffs.
4	76ers	-2	51-27	The Sixers seem to be running out of steam. With the health of Harden and Embiid being in question (with perfect timing might I add), Sixers faithful are left with the same question as always: "How will they put it together in the postseason?" Hopefully they are just coasting now that they seem to be locked into the 3-seed, but they might look destined for another early exit.
5	Cavaliers	--	49-30	The Cavs went 4-2 since the previous power ranking, as Evan Mobley continues his ascension. He’s averaging 18/10/4 on .607 ts% with 2.5 blocks over the last month. He’s scoring at will on the inside, he’s terrorizing 1-5 on defense while defending the rim at an elite level, he’s finding rebounds despite contesting more 3s than anyone else in the league, all while his passing becomes the most underrated part of his game. His mix of instincts and athleticism is what has everyone watching him salivating. No one younger than 23 has ever won DPOY, and while Mobley’s making a very strong case for it at only 21, he will ultimately fall short to another worthy candidate, and will have to settle for a first team nod… wait, this sounds vaguely familiar. Here’s hoping that one day, he’ll fall just short of being MVP of the league and have to settle for a first team nod.
6	Grizzlies	+2	49-29	As we approach the home stretch of the season, the team continues to look inconsistent. Letting the Clippers get out to a 20 pt lead, only to come back and win decisively followed up by being up big on the Bulls only to let them blow them out in the second half has been the story all season long. The team misses Adams badly, as they have all season since he went down with injury. The team continues to rely on Ja to have masterful performances and frankly he just hasn't been consistent enough since coming back from his suspension. With rumors of Adams returning in the last week of the season, the team has some time here to get the gears tightened up for a playoff push. In order for the season to not be a disappointment, we must win in the 1st round and unfortunately that looks like it could be against a blazing hot Lakers squad, a proven team in Golden State getting back its key player in Wiggins, or the Timberwolves who we've built a small rivalry with over the past year; all matchups where the Grizzlies could lose.
8	Suns	+1	43-35	KD is back! Go Sun! If Monty can figure these rotations out, and we can cut our opponents FTAs down by even a third, I think we'll be really dangerous.
8	Kings	-2	47-31	This team isn't perfect by any means but if did something many fans haven't seen in a very long time… MAKE THE PLAYOFFS!! For many this will be enough, but if they want to avoid being swept they're going to have to figure out how to play defense and rebound as a team. I can't wait to watch them regardless! #LIGHTTHEBEAM
9	Knicks	-2	46-33	Randle out until the beginning of the playoffs. Brunson Burner incoming. Also, the meteoric rise of Immanuel Quickley has been a beautiful thing to witness. Quentin Grimes is a top 2 wing defender in the league don't @ me
10	Lakers	+6	40-38	The hopium is at an all-time high if you're a Lakers fan, the schedule has been relatively friendly but they did pick up vital wins vs. Thunder and Wolves which were huge boosts to the standings. The sudden return of LeBron James and the stellar two-way play of Anthony Davis has led to 6 wins in the last 7 games, as of Sunday night the Lakers are in possession of the 7th seed and are half a game from 5th seed! The 1.5 game cushion for the 7/8 play-in game, the upcoming schedule and the team being finally healthy as a whole (except for Mo Bamba) has led the fanbase to now be torn apart between wanting to avoid the Suns in the first round or the play-in. Lakers are currently on a 5-game road trip in which Anthony Davis is averaging 38.7p/11.7.r/1.7a/2.0b/1.0s on 65/33/81 splits through the first three games. A favourable seeding and a healthy Lakers have a case for a significant playoff run.
11	Warriors	+3	41-38	Just as it seems the Warriors are finding their stride just as they need to they lose to the Jokic-less Nuggets. Curry has looked close to his early season self. Kuminga is looking better every week. With Wiggins lingering in the shadows the Warriors aren't yet a full squad but rumors have been brewing that he will return soon.
12	Clippers	-2	41-38	Without PG, the playoffs look really tough. I have no doubt that the clippers can clinch an actual spot, but I worry about a 7 game series without PG13.
14	Nets	-2	43-35
14	Pelicans	+8	40-38
15	Heat	-4	41-37	Well, the last couple weeks did not go as hoped and it leaves our playoff hopes in more questionable standing. The games we lost were all against teams we could very well face in the play-in/playoffs. Bam Adebayo has also picked up an injury which has introduced Zeller more into the line up (got 20 points against the Mavericks). Our remaining games only have the 76ers being over .500, so we should win 3/4 at a minimum. However, the Nets and the Knicks are also dealing with similarly difficult games to close out the season, so it's a very likely possibility that we will be playing in the play-in. Looking at who the Raptors, Hawks, and Bulls face in their remaining games I would bet on us playing the Hawks. The Raptors are also a possibility, and both should be good match ups. Regardless of the play-in possibilities, we do not fare to make any noise this time around but we might as well enjoy it.
16	Raptors	+1	39-39	Raptors have looked good recently, winning 6 of their last 10 and being competitive every game. Unfortunately the ceiling for this team still looks like a 1st round exit.
17	Hawks	+1	39-39	The Midlanta Mids continue to be an all-around disappointment. Despite all the talent on the roster the team has been within a game of .500 for more than 2 months and are destined for the play-in games. Sure the Hawks could advance into the playoffs and maybe take a game or two off the Bucks or Celtics but does that really matter at this point? A season that was supposed to be a leap forward was marred by poor coaching, effort, and leadership from the day it started. The focus is now on next season where Quin Snyder has a chance to fully implement his system and get rid of anyone who won't fit in it.
18	Bulls	+2	38-40	The Bulls are on track to make the play in, and I am lucky to be writing this after the Bulls 40 point swing against the Grizzlies. We have Play in Champ Patrick Beverley on our team, so we are essentially guaranteed to get to the playoffs. Zach Lavine is back to his old self, being an elite scorer at all 3 levels. Coby White is becoming the 4th option, sometimes even the 3rd option, and primary bench scorer, which is amazing to see. Our young players have stepped up recently so DeRozan and Vuc don't need to be the people our team constantly relies on.
19	TWolves	--	39-40	In a season defined by injury and disappointment the trend continues on. After a 4 game win streak that included a win in Golden State and Sacramento thing fell apart for the Wolves between Naz reads injury and illness effecting the team. Now the Wolves will be playing for their lives in the home stretch to make it to the post season.
20	Thunder	-5	38-41	OKC really fumbled the bag a bit by dropping 2 of our easiest games on our schedule. The path to the play in is slim, but still there. So here's hoping!
21	Mavericks	-8	37-42	The Mavs' season did not go as expected at all, coming off of a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2022. They had high expectations, but the first game of the season ended up being a great metaphor for how the season would go: Build a strong lead vs Phoenix, only to blow the lead and lose the game. They would do this exact thing multiple times the rest of the year, and multiple times to Phoenix. The Mavs lost to the Hornets twice, couldn't hit free throws to beat Atlanta Sunday, and now face Sacramento, Chicago, and San Antonio to close the year. The Mavs are in danger of entering purgatory for this offseason, potentially losing their pick (top 10 protected) while also missing the playoffs. The Mavs also have Kyrie Irving as an upcoming FA, which will drastically shape the Mavs' future.
22	Jazz	-1	36-42	With the season coming to a close, it’s time to shamelessly promote the Jazz stars for the final time this year. Walker Kessler is a future DPOY. His time as a starter has seen the Jazz become the best team in the entire league at defending shots within 10 feet of the basket. Lauri Markkanen is your MIP. Undoubtedly. He recently became the first player in NBA history to record 100 dunks and 200 threes in a single season to show off his scoring versatility. After starting in the All-Star game earlier this season he hasn’t slowed down either, averaging 29/9 on 60% TS. Danny Ainge promised in the preseason promised "Exciting Basketball" and these two franchise centerpieces have certainly delivered
23	Magic	+2	34-44	Paolo is the Rookie of the Year.
24	Wizards	-1	34-44	This is a public service announcement that Corey Kispert has either tied or surpassed his career high in points in 3 out of the last 5 games and no one is talking about it because something happens in the league that overshadows his efforts. Maybe it is the panic that he is about to get get married, maybe it is the fact that Kyle Kuzma isn't playing (it is because Kyle Kuzma isn't playing), but he has been out of his mind and it has been an incredible viewing experience -- even as the Wizards find themselves eliminated from play-off contention. Don't get me wrong, watching losing basketball is not fun. But it has been therapeutic to watch some players get meaningful minutes that fans have been begging for only to watch said players struggle in this new found role. Maybe, just maybe, some members of the Wizards organization actually know what they're doing even if things aren't panning out in the ideal manner. The tank is completely on as showcased by Wes Unseld Jr actually listening to Deni Avdija's calls for a challenge when he clearly did something stupid that either lead to a turnover or a foul call. It won't be a fun final couple of weeks. Then again, you get pleasant surprises like beating the Celtics by 19.
25	Pacers	-1	34-45	Just a few more games remain, and it seems apparent that the Pacers are trying to improve their draft probability as much as possible. Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner haven't played many games over the past several weeks, so Indiana has used this period to experiment with different lineups involving the younger players. 3 losses would be ideal for Indiana to close the year, securing them the fifth best lottery odds.
26	Trail Blazers	--	33-45
27	Hornets	--	26-53	The Hornets will finish the season strong after an injury-riddled mess of a year. I think all hornets fans were disappointed with the performance of the team this year - even those who believed it could go badly. After back to back play in tournament losses, this is a fanbase starving for some improvement. Unfortunately, our offseason moves have not facilitated that improvement. I think Lamelo Ball has shown enough for the Hornets to pay him whatever they can to maximize team control, and hope to build a winning team around him. Our fate, as it stands, hangs in the balance while we wait to see what lottery ball comes up for us. Will it be the ball with the ticket to Wembanyama and a conference finals in the next five years? Or will it be just another ball that leads to mediocrity. You’ll have to follow along with a new power ranker to find out, as this is my last ever contribution to this project. I’ve enjoyed writing these blurbs for the past few years and arguing with you all in the comments. Go Hornets.
28	Spurs	--	20-58	Pop the Champagnie Spurs fans, the season is nearly over. It's hard to not get your hopes up for a top-2 pick, but do keep in mind that we only end up there 27% of the time and we only end up in the top-4 52% of the time. We're still gonna need a lot of luck to pull this one out, but I have faith that the Spurs FO will still make good on our highest FRP since Tim, regardless of where it lands.
29	Rockets	--	19-60	Another painful season nears its end, and the questions remain much the same as they were at the start of the season. Is Silas the right man to take us out of the rebuild? Are the youngsters going to be able to maintain their form from after the all-star break? Of course, the biggest question of all is perhaps the one that is left to luck. Come May 16, we'll find out if there is a silver lining to the suffering.
30	Pistons	--	16-62	1-20 in the last 21 games. Tank rolls on. The only question is "does the tank destroy our young players' psyches long term?". Probably. Exhibit A: Killian Hayes.