The newest set of NBA power rankings are here, with the two hottest teams in the league--the Grizzlies and Cavs--on top.
The Grizzlies have made up serious ground on the Warriors since acquiring Jeff Green, while the Cavs are rising quick in the Eastern Conference, figuring to get the No. 2 seed when all is said and done.
The Warriors are still winning a lot, just not as much, while the Hawks have been slumping lately.
Check out the full rankings below.
1. Memphis Grizzlies (41-14, second in West)
Since acquiring Green, Memphis has gone 15-3 and gained a little ground on the Warriors for the No. 1 seed. They’re now 3.5 games back. If Stephen Curry had been out for longer, the race would have tightened even more. More importantly, Memphis is 3.5 games ahead of Houston and has basically secured homecourt advantage for the first and second rounds of the playoffs.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (36-22, fourth in East)
The Cavs picked up a nice rotation piece in Kendrick Perkins--beating out the Clippers--and Kevin Love had one of his best games in Cleveland against the Pistons, absolutely decimating Detroit with his 3-point range. Cleveland should be in second place in the East by mid-March.
3. Golden State Warriors (44-10, first in West)
Fortunately, Curry’s injury wasn’t serious and he returned to help Golden State beat the Wizards in a narrow road win. Without their star guard, the Warriors dropped a road game to the Pacers. The Warriors are hoping that the Thunder stay hot and the Spurs stay cold, avoiding a first-round showdown with OKC.
4. Atlanta Hawks (44-12, first in East)
The Hawks have come back to Earth after their incredible win streak, but are still playing some of the best basketball in the East despite an ugly loss to the Raptors and a narrow loss to the Celtics. Atlanta is 7.5 games ahead of Toronto and should get the No. 1 seed; the big question is--who will they face in the first-round? Some of the options are primed for an upset, particularly the Pistons and Pacers.
5. Houston Rockets (38-18, third in West)
Houston isn’t doing so great without Dwight Howard, although the Rockets have managed to stay in the top four in the tough West. Houston is on course to take the most 3-pointers over one season in NBA history, but coach Kevin McHale wants them to focus more on scoring in the paint after going 26 percent from long range in the past four games.
6. Dallas Mavericks (39-20, fifth in West)
Rajon Rondo and coach Rick Carlisle may have blown up at each other during the Mavs win over Toronto on Tuesday, but the team has to be pleased with its three-game win streak--including two wins without starting small forward Chandler Parsons. Sporting a 13-0 road record against the Eastern Conference, the Mavs visit Atlanta on Wednesday.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (eighth in West)
Russell Westbrook is powering Oklahoma City into the playoffs, while boosting his profile for a potential MVP bid. The Thunder not only face decreased competition from the Pelicans (with Anthony Davis and others injured) and Suns (following the trades), but could overtake the struggling Spurs for the seventh seed. That would possibly match them up with the Grizzlies in the first round.
8. Portland Trail Blazers (36-19, fourth in West)
Two losses for the Blazers after the All-Star break, including a bad one to the Jazz. Portland can’t lose too many or will fall out of homecourt advantage in the first round. The Blazers are 23-6 at home and 13-13 on the road so far this season.
9. Toronto Raptors (37-20, second in East)
The Raptors offense carries them to wins on some nights but on others spells their demise. In three straight losses the team is shooting horribly. Emblematic of the struggles is Kyle Lowry, who shot 2-13 against the Rockets, 8-19 against the Hornets, and 4-15 against the Mavericks. “We are a jump shooting team, a pick and roll, jump shooting team,” coach Dwane Casey acknowledged before the last loss.
10. Chicago Bulls (36-21, third in East)
Devastating news for Chicago that Derrick Rose is injured yet again. The team has done well without him over the past few seasons, but not in the playoffs. Early reports indicate that he could possibly return in time for them this season. Either way, the Bulls will need to sign another point guard to help Kirk Hinrich and Aaron Brooks fill the void.
11. Milwaukee Bucks (31-25, sixth in East)
The Bucks have lost two games coming out of the break but remain one of the biggest surprises in the NBA, about to jump into fifth place in the East. The trade for Michael Carter Williams left many shocked. The former Sixers guard will play for Milwaukee for the first time on Wednesday against ... the Sixers.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (37-20, sixth in West)
Despite losing Blake Griffin to injury, L.A. has rolled through quality opponents following a brutal loss to the Thunder. DeAndre Jordan exploded in wins over the Mavericks, Rockets, and Spurs, putting up at least 20 points and 18 rebounds in each game. Jordan will be one of the biggest free agents this offseason, if he decides to explore his options.
13. San Antonio Spurs (34-22, seventh in West)
Tony Parker isn’t the only one struggling for San Antonio, which is in danger of slipping to eighth place in the West. “Can you point to anybody who is doing well?” Manu Ginobili said. “He’s struggling like the rest of us are struggling. It’s an ‘us’ thing. We as a team have to get it together.” The three-game losing streak includes a loss to the Jazz and a blowout against the Warriors.
14. Washington Wizards (33-24, fifth in East)
Washington is grappling with serious issues with starting shooting guard Bradley Beal’s injury exposing their lack of outside shooting besides him. In the six games that Beal has missed recently, the Wizards have only converted 33 of 117 three-point attempts--a 28 percent figure that would place them as the worst 3-point shooting team in the league. Washington has dropped eight of its last 10 games.
15. New Orleans Pelicans (29-27, ninth in West)
The Pelicans are putting up valiant efforts without Davis, Ryan Anderson, and Jrue Holiday, going 2-1 since the All-Star break after a three-game losing streak going into it. Still, with Oklahoma City’s explosion, the playoffs are looking less and less likely.
