NBA Power Rankings: The Top 15 Teams

There are roughly 15 games remaining in the regular season, and the league’s best teams have ramped up their play to end the season with the NBA’s best record. Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and Detroit are continuing to dominate the rest of the league. The Eastern and Western Conference play-in tournament is starting to come into focus currently. The biggest surprise is Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks failing to reach the playoffs and play-in tournament. As the league prepares for the regular season’s home stretch, here are the top 15 NBA teams entering the week of March 16^th.

 

15. Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia is struggling and shows no signs of getting out of its funk. The offense and defense look lethargic, and opponents are taking advantage of the team’s struggles. Likely headed for the Eastern Conference play-in tournament, the 76ers have their work cut out for them.

14. Miami Heat

Miami’s strong play has put them in contention for the Eastern Conference’s 6^th seed. The offense continues to carry the team and has jumped to 2^nd in efficiency. The Heat are a team that can pull an upset in the playoffs.

13. Orlando Magic

Orlando is playing well and are winning close games. The defense has taken a step back in recent seasons, but there is a noticeable difference in how the offense continues to grind late into games. Entering the playoffs with continued strong play will be highly beneficial for this young Magic team.

12. Toronto Raptors

Of the Eastern Conference’s top six teams, Toronto has been the only team under .500 over their last 10 games. The rough stretch has dropped the team to sixth, and Miami is at their heels. The Raptors are headed to the playoffs but would prefer to do so without having to survive the play-in tournament.

11. Phoenix Suns

The team’s hot play has kept them in contention for the 6^th seed in the Western Conference. They’ve been in this position for much of the season, but the recent lapses by Denver have Phoenix within 1.5 games of the sixth seed. The Suns have time to either jump into one of the Western Conference’s six seeds or enter the playoffs as the favorite to make it out of the play-in tournament.

10. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets’ slide has seen the team drop winnable games. However, the team can’t get over the recent hump of winning two games and losing two games. Peyton Watson is nearing a return to the court and will provide Denver with much-needed depth.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota is on cruise control and waiting for the regular season to end and the playoffs to begin. The Timberwolves are one of the few NBA teams that do not have any injuries to their roster. The team ranks 5^th in offensive efficiency and is ready to ride the offense in pursuit of the NBA Finals.

8. Houston Rockets

The Rockets are a tough matchup, and the team’s defense continues to strangle opposing offenses. Houston ranks 4^th in defensive efficiency and is one of the league’s best at preventing opponents from rebounds and second-chance points. The team’s defense will be the reason they have a chance to upset Oklahoma City or San Antonio in a playoff series.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers played .500 basketball over the last 10 games, but are still within three games of the Eastern Conference’s 2^nd seed. The team’s offense continues to improve and has risen to 3^rd in efficiency. Cleveland will be a tough playoff matchup for any Eastern Conference opponent.

6. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have hit another gear and are the current 3^rd seed in the Western Conference. After being dormant in the 6^th seed, Los Angeles has gone on a run since February 28^th. This is the momentum the team needs as the regular season ends.

5. New York Knicks

Led by a top defense, New York continues to keep pace with Detroit and Boston. The Knicks are within six games of the Eastern Conference’s top spot but have one game (vs Boston) remaining against the two teams ahead of them in the standings. New York’s ready to begin their hunt for a second consecutive appearance in the conference finals

4. Boston Celtics

The team has moved within 4.5 games of Detroit and have Jayson Tatum back on the court. The team is monitoring Tatum’s minutes, but his return is a boost for the roster. The Celtics are ready to get the playoffs started.

3. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons still hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference, but Boston and New York are ready to make a push in the final 16 games of the regular season. From March 17^th to April 12^th, 10 of 15 games are against opponents that will be in the playoffs or play-in tournament. The Pistons need to continue playing as one of the top teams in the league.

2. San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are within three games of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The final stretch of the regular season will come down to the wire if the team is to end the regular season sitting atop the Western Conference. As of today, the Spurs are the best team to beat the Thunder in the playoffs.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

While Western Conference opponents are amid hot stretches, the Thunder are on a tear of their own. Oklahoma City hasn’t dropped back-to-back games since February 4^th and 7^th. The Thunder are still the NBA’s best team until proven otherwise.