The home stretch of the 2024-2025 season is upon us. 18 games are remaining, and the playoff picture is coming into focus. Below is a breakdown of Week 21 NBA Team Power Rankings.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland owns the NBA’s best record at 54-10, clinched a playoff spot, and has a 14-game winning streak. They’re going to be a dreadful matchup for any opposing playoff team. Will a lack of experience hinder them at any point during the playoffs?
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City has played the NBA’s top defense for most of the season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to carry the team and is the MVP front-runner. Their lack of playoff experience could be a factor, but the Thunder should find themselves in the Western Conference Finals.
3. Boston Celtics
Boston is destined to see an uptick in performance as the playoffs start. Their playoff experience should not be ignored, and they are searching for a back-to-back championship. Will Boston be the team to knock off Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals?
4. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have moved into the Western Conference’s 2nd seed. They’ve played well of late, but their main objective is entering the playoffs with a healthy roster. If they reach the Western Conference Finals and win, they can be the favorite in the Finals.
5. Denver Nuggets
The veteran squad is playing well, but minor injuries are hitting the roster. Denver should be a veteran squad expected to increase their production as the playoffs start.
6. Golden State Warriors
The acquisition of Jimmy Butler has righted the ship in Golden State. The Warriors are 11-1 since Butler arrived and currently sit in the Western Conference’s 6th seed. Butler will be heavily relied upon come playoffs, or an early exit will occur.
7. New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson is set to miss two weeks with an ankle injury. New York needs a healthy Bruson in the playoffs, or this team will fall short in their quest for an NBA championship.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
Rudy Gobert is off the injury list, and the Timberwolves finally have a healthy roster. Should they finish as a play-in team, Anthony Edwards will be the driving force to move Minnesota through the play-in tournament.
9. Indiana Pacers
Indiana is holding onto the East’s 5th seed, and while they will be a tough playoff matchup, their lack of experience could be the reason they stumble. However, the stars must perfectly align for the Pacers to win the NBA Finals.
10. Memphis Grizzlies
A fully healthy roster can carry this team far. However, they played over the weekend without Jaren Jackson Jr., and his absence was reflected in the team’s inability to dominate the paint. A loss of any core player would cause the Grizzlies to fail to reach the conference finals.
11. Houston Rockets
Houston looks to finish the season on a high note, and health will be the focus as the playoffs approach. A healthy roster can carry the Rockets deep into the playoffs, but they do not have the depth to overcome a team like Oklahoma City.
12. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have the talent to get through the play-in tournament, but their core’s age could play a factor as the playoff series begin.
13. Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis, Lillard, and Kuzma will be deciding factors during the Bucks’ playoff run. Their lack of depth can be an issue early into the playoffs.
14. Detroit Pistons
Detroit owns the East’s 6th seed, and while the young Pistons will be a tough playoff matchup, they’re a few seasons away from being serious contenders.
15. Sacramento Kings
Sacramento’s making it through the play-in tournament comes down to the availability of Domantas Sabonis. If he plays, they have a chance of moving through.
16. Atlanta Hawks
They can make it through the play-in tournament, but do opposing conference foes view Atlanta as an actual threat?
17. Portland Trail Blazers
Portland has their work cut out for them to make the play-in tournament. If they succeed and move on, they won’t go far in the playoffs.
18. Phoenix Suns
Kyrie Irving’s season-ending injury opens the door for Phoenix to jump Dallas and end the season in the play-in tournament. Even then, will their lack of depth be a reason to expect an early playoff exit?
19. Orlando Magic
Orlando is the team to watch in the play-in tournament. They’ve faced adversity throughout the season and will enter the play-in games playing with house money.
20. Miami Heat
They will be in the play-in tournament, but they lack a true superstar to push them into the playoffs.
21. San Antonio Spurs
It’s the same weekly story for San Antonio: This is a lost season, but they have the pieces to become serious contenders in the upcoming seasons.
22. Dallas Mavericks
They trade one of the youngest, brightest superstars in the game and see the main return go down to injury. The loss of Kyrie Irving makes this season tough to stomach for any fan of the Dallas Mavericks.
23. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are hanging onto the Eastern Conference’s last play-in spot, but they aren’t fooling anyone. They are not serious contenders.
24. Toronto Raptors
Toronto will be looking to land a solid spot in the upcoming draft.
25. New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans’ front office has much work to do this offseason. They must find a way to keep their roster healthy.
26. Brooklyn Nets
They can slide into the play-in tournament, but they won’t make it through.
27. Philadelphia 76ers
The long, trying season is almost over. However, they may sneak into the play-in tournament.
28. Washington Wizards
They’ve set themselves up to land Duke’s Cooper Flagg in the upcoming draft.
29. Charlotte Hornets
They will be a bottom-feeder until the front office gets serious about winning.
30. Utah Jazz
A complete rebuild is needed. They must tear it down and move players for assets.
