Week 18 has passed in the NBA. If this were the NFL, we’d be done, even in the atrocious era of 17 regular-season games! (Seriously, 16 games is a wonderful number you can split five ways; 17 is a magazine some of you read in middle school.) Alas, this is the NBA, and we have just over 30 percent of the regular season left to play.
The priority shift is in full effect, and it will be reflected in this week’s edition. So much more needs to be seen as teams are back from the All-Star break and have all played multiple games.
We’ve been on trade deadline and All-Star-related material for the better (or worse, depending on your perspective) part of two months. Now we’re at the point in the season when teams are preparing for deep playoff runs, hopeful just to make the playoffs or firing up that tank.
One more note: This past weekend established our Phil Jackson 40 Before 20 Club. I wrote about this club four years ago — 17 of the last 18 NBA champions have won 40 regular-season games before their 20th loss. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are in, and weekend losses by the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies eliminated them from this prestigious class.
But the sign on the door has been clear: The first tier is locked at five teams! No more, no less. See you in June!
A reminder: These Power Rankings won’t just rank every team. We will retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers every week:
• Top Contenders – Locked at five, these are the class of the league.
• In a Good Place – Could be one team, could be seven teams.
• The Bubble – Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack.
• Not the Tier to Fear – Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do.
• Basement Floor – Bringing up the rear.
Win/loss records are through Monday’s games; statistics are through Sunday.
Tier 1: Top Contenders
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (47-10)
Last ranking: 2
In the last week: W at BRK, W vs. NY, W vs. MEM
Offensive rating: 122.0 (first)
Defensive rating: 111.2 (seventh)
Post All-Star break: This is going to make your cousin from Boston upset, but I’m giving the top spot back to Cleveland. The Cavs are reasonably healthy, they started the break with national television wins against some really strong teams, and after Oklahoma City’s blown lead against Minnesota on Monday night, Cleveland has the best record in basketball again.
GO DEEPER
How do you win an NBA title with small guards? Cavs hope it’s by ‘stockpiling wings’
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (46-11)
Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W at UTA, W at MIN, L vs. MIN
Offensive rating: 117.7 (fifth)
Defensive rating: 105.0 (first)
Post All-Star break: This isn’t an overreaction to losing on the second night of a back-to-back while finishing a game without the services of Isaiah Hartenstein (face) or Chet Holmgren (rest). I am going to be watching the shooting of Luguentz Dort, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso and Aaron Wiggins. When the playoffs start, those four players are going to get all the shots they can get, because teams will overplay Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and to a lesser extent Jalen Williams. Those four combined to miss 18 of 23 3s in Monday’s meltdown versus the Timberwolves.
Jaylen Brown and the Celtics have won nine of their past 10. (Bob DeChiara / Imagn Images)
3. Boston Celtics (41-16)
Last ranking: 3
In the last week: W at PHI, W vs. NY
Offensive rating: 119.0 (third)
Defensive rating: 109.6 (fifth)
Post All-Star break: The most encouraging part of Boston winning nine of its last 10 games? The Celtics have played championship-level defense. The Thunder are the only other team that has been top five on both ends of the floor. And the scariest version of the Celtics is how they respond to the rare losses. Boston hasn’t had a losing streak since Christmas, winning nine straight games following a loss. Only one of those response wins has come by fewer than a dozen points.
4. New York Knicks (37-20)
Last ranking: 4
In the last week: W vs. CHI, L at CLE, L at BOS
Offensive rating: 119.0 (fourth)
Defensive rating: 114.3 (20th)
Post All-Star break: I could just make another tier if I wanted to, but I’m not going to do that. I’ll just point out that a lot of weird things can happen in the playoffs and on the way to the playoffs. The Knicks know that very well, losing Julius Randle before the All-Star break last year while dealing with a rash of injuries until their elimination in the semifinals. New York has made it very clear this season that it’s not capable of beating the three teams ahead of it in these rankings. But the Knicks also are very good against everyone else, and they’re going to have to hope some other team takes out the squads they don’t match up well against. We have a long way to go, so let’s see how it plays out.
GO DEEPER
Tale of the tape: Why the Knicks shouldn’t yet be considered in the NBA’s elite
5. Memphis Grizzlies (37-20)
Last ranking: 5
In the last week: L at IND, W at ORL, L at CLE
Offensive rating: 117.5 (sixth)
Defensive rating: 111.3 (eighth)
Post All-Star break: This is the first time since Week 2 that the Grizzlies aren’t top five on either end of the floor. Their defense has been getting cracked lately, with nine of their last 10 losses coming when they give up 120 or more points. Fouls, turnovers and rebounding remain persistent issues with a team that might be looked at as a preferable playoff matchup if those factors don’t improve.
Tier 2: In a Good Place
6. Los Angeles Lakers (34-21)
Last ranking: 8
In the last week: L vs. CHA, W at POR, W at DEN
Offensive rating: 114.3 (10th)
Defensive rating: 113.1 (13th)
Post All-Star break: Luka Dončić went into Denver and effectively napalmed what was previously understood about the Lakers being owned by the Nuggets. That major psychological hurdle was just as important as physically winning the game. The Lakers should be viewed like last year’s Dallas Mavericks — a team that spent the majority of the season looking mid in the Western Conference, only to dominate possession after possession (sorry, Mike Brown) better than any other team in the conference. I, for one, welcome our new overlords …
7. Denver Nuggets (38-20)
Last ranking: 6
In the last week: W vs. CHA, L vs. LAL, W at IND
Offensive rating: 119.4 (second)
Defensive rating: 113.9 (16th)
Post All-Star break: Denver is the West Knicks, only it has been dominated by the Knicks and Lakers in their last meetings, so it’s even more discouraging. The Nuggets failed in their nationally televised opportunity to validate their winning streak with a victory over a team that had a current record better than .500 by getting eviscerated by the Lakers. Bouncing back with a win at Indiana was a good recovery at least.
8. Houston Rockets (35-22)
Last ranking: 7
In the last week: W vs. MIN, L at UTA
Offensive rating: 113.7 (13th)
Defensive rating: 109.5 (fourth)
Post All-Star break: Just when it seemed like the Rockets may be completely over their February woes following an impressive win on national television against the Timberwolves, they go to Utah and allow at least 120 points for the fourth time since Jan. 29. Before that date, the Rockets had allowed 120 or more points only five times. Getting Jabari Smith Jr. back should help, and point guard Fred VanVleet should be back this week as well after spraining his ankle on the first day of this month.
9. Indiana Pacers (32-24)
Last ranking: 9
In the last week: W vs. MEM, W vs. LAC, L vs. DEN
Offensive rating: 114.7 (ninth)
Defensive rating: 114.3 (21st)
Post All-Star break: The question remains for the Pacers — will they guard well enough to let their sprinting offense cook? Of all the teams with winning records, none of them allow more paint points per game than Indiana (50.9, 27th in NBA), and the Pacers got cooked for a season-worst 74 points in the paint Monday by the Nuggets. The offense is going to be fine, and the depth and continuity are there, but Indiana needs to string a few weeks of better resistance together.
10. Milwaukee Bucks (32-24)
Last ranking: 11
In the last week: W vs. LAC, W at WAS, W vs. MIA
Offensive rating: 113.7 (14th)
Defensive rating: 112.2 (11th)
Post All-Star break: Milwaukee got terrible news with the suspension of Bobby Portis until the final week of the season. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have also been on various levels of restrictions as well. But Milwaukee has gotten solid contributions from trade acquisitions Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr. while developing much-needed cushion in the top six of the Eastern Conference.
GO DEEPER
How the Bucks plan to move forward after Bobby Portis’ 25-game suspension
11. Detroit Pistons (32-26)
Last ranking: 12
In the last week: W at SA, W at ATL, W vs. LAC
Offensive rating: 113.5 (15th)
Defensive rating: 112.4 (12th)
Post All-Star break: Detroit has won more games this season than the previous two seasons combined. And the Pistons showed they can put up more than 140 points one night while holding a team under 100 points the next. I love the balance of the roster, especially now that they have Dennis Schröder as Cade Cunningham’s backup. This is turning into a very well-balanced squad.
GO DEEPER
Cade Cunningham’s monster half carries surging Pistons: ‘Reminds me of a Luka Dončić’
Tier 3: The Bubble
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (32-27)
Last ranking: 13
In the last week: L at HOU, L vs. OKC, W at OKC
Offensive rating: 113.7 (12th)
Defensive rating: 110.7 (sixth)
Post All-Star break: No team has played in more clutch-time games than the Timberwolves, and no team has lost more clutch-time games either. But they showed a lot of mettle in coming back from a 25-point deficit on Monday to beat the Thunder for the second time this month, and they almost beat them Sunday as well. Minnesota is getting real contributions from rookies Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr., along with 2023 second-round pick Jaylen Clark, who is looking like a prime promotion candidate with his superb defense and improved shooting.
Derrick Jones Jr. and the Clippers have struggled since the All-Star break. (Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn Images)
13. LA Clippers (31-26)
Last ranking: 10
In the last week: L at MIL, L at IND, L at DET
Offensive rating: 111.2 (21st)
Defensive rating: 108.8 (third)
Post All-Star break: For the second time in two years, the Clippers have stumbled hard coming out of the break. This time around, it’s a combination of new players finding their way as well as the best players not being available. But even when Kawhi Leonard (foot), Norman Powell (knee) and Ben Simmons start playing consistently and in the same game, the Clippers are going to need to do something about teams deciding that pushing the pace frequently softens their otherwise sturdy defense.
14. Golden State Warriors (30-27)
Last ranking: 16
In the last week: W at SAC, W vs. DAL
Offensive rating: 112.7 (16th)
Defensive rating: 111.6 (ninth)
Post All-Star break: The one team to beat the Warriors since Jimmy Butler III debuted was the Mavericks, and Sunday’s blowout win over Dallas in Butler’s home debut more than made up for that. This is no longer a team that feels the need to play 13 players. Golden State defends with urgency while moving the ball precisely. It’s a legitimate threat to climb out of the Play-In range.
GO DEEPER
Cade Cunningham’s monster half carries surging Pistons: ‘Reminds me of a Luka Dončić’
15. Sacramento Kings (29-28)
Last ranking: 14
In the last week: L vs. GS, W vs. CHA
Offensive rating: 115.5 (seventh)
Defensive rating: 114.2 (19th)
Post All-Star break: The Kings just joined the Celtics and Grizzlies as the only teams in the league to win multiple games by at least 40 points this season following their destruction of the Hornets on Monday. But that followed a crucial blowout loss to the Warriors, the third 20-point loss under Doug Christie this season following three such defeats under Mike Brown to start the season. Sacramento can be dominant one night and quite vulnerable the next. In this year’s West, that’s a hallmark of a Play-In team.
16. Dallas Mavericks (31-27)
Last ranking: 15
In the last week: W vs. NO, L at GS
Offensive rating: 115.0 (eighth)
Defensive rating: 113.4 (14th)
Post All-Star break: Kyrie Irving is having a spectacular season, and he already has nearly as many 30-point games this season (12) as he had all of last season (13). But Irving has also had eight games already this season in which he finished with more field goal attempts than points. He had only six of those games last season. Having to go up against Dončić on Tuesday may be a sobering reminder of how much more volatile Irving’s offense is now that he is the only legitimate star shot creator on his team.
Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear
17. Orlando Magic (29-30)
Last ranking: 18
In the last week: W at ATL, L vs. MEM, W vs. WAS
Offensive rating: 107.4 (28th)
Defensive rating: 108.3 (second)
Post All-Star break: The Magic are in the middle of a stretch in which they play seven straight home games and 11 games in a row in their local time zone. The one road game during that span was the win at Atlanta, a significant equalizer given the standings between the current Nos. 7 and 8 seeds in the East. Jalen Suggs, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have played only one game together since November began. If Suggs can make it back during this homestand, then it would give Orlando a chance to get back over .500, but Suggs is still struggling to recover from a quad contusion and hasn’t been cleared for contact.
18. Atlanta Hawks (27-31)
Last ranking: 17
In the last week: L vs. ORL, L vs. DET, W vs. MIA
Offensive rating: 111.3 (20th)
Defensive rating: 113.4 (15th)
Post All-Star break: The Hawks went from allowing 148 points to the Pistons on Sunday to allowing only 86 to the Heat on Monday. Dyson Daniels is going to have a very interesting Defensive Player of the Year candidacy. On one hand, his larceny is unmatched — 14 more steals in three games since the All-Star break. On the other hand, Atlanta’s defense is 6.7 points per 100 possessions better when Daniels is off the floor this season, the worst differential of any Hawks player who was with the team before the trade deadline.
19. Miami Heat (26-30)
Last ranking: 19
In the last week: W at TOR, L at MIL, L at ATL
Offensive rating: 111.0 (22nd)
Defensive rating: 112.1 (10th)
Post All-Star break: Jimmy Butler got off a sinking ship. Or maybe it was one of the vessels during the International Boat Show that takes place every February in Miami. Either way you look at it, the Heat have lost eight of 11 games, needed overtime to escape Toronto and haven’t beaten a team with a current winning record since Jan. 7. That win, by the way, was at Golden State. It appears Terry Rozier has been excised from the rotation, along with Haywood Highsmith and Jaime Jaquez Jr., while Kevin Love hasn’t played in consecutive games since Christmas.
20. San Antonio Spurs (24-31)
Last ranking: 20
In the last week: W vs. PHO, L vs. DET, L at NO
Offensive rating: 112.1 (17th)
Defensive rating: 114.1 (18th)
Post All-Star break: It’s simply devastating to see that Victor Wembanyama’s first All-Star season is already over because of deep vein thrombosis. Add that to the uncertainty of coach Gregg Popovich’s return following a mild stroke in November, and San Antonio is left in a holding pattern while it starts contract-year point guard Chris Paul next to trade acquisition De’Aaron Fox.
21. Phoenix Suns (27-30)
Last ranking: 21
In the last week: L at SA, W at CHI, L at TOR
Offensive rating: 113.7 (11th)
Defensive rating: 115.8 (26th)
Post All-Star break: The Suns keep changing coaches, but the reality is that this continues to be a misshapen roster that puts little pressure on offenses before or after shots. Phoenix has shooting talent, but a typical Suns game consists of watching their opponents get more field goal attempts than they do. They continue to take a step back year over year.
22. Brooklyn Nets (21-36)
Last ranking: 22
In the last week: L vs. CLE, W at PHI, L at WAS
Offensive rating: 108.4 (27th)
Defensive rating: 114.4 (22nd)
Post All-Star break: Brooklyn’s front office signed renowned tank commander Killian Hayes to replace Ben Simmons, only for Nic Claxton to do things like swoop in and win a game over Paul George. The Nets did follow up that accident by becoming the first team all season to fail to score 100 points against the Washington Wizards. These Nets games are going to be a real adventure down the stretch, because they might be too well-coached and play too hard to fully bottom out.
23. Portland Trail Blazers (25-33)
Last ranking: 25
In the last week: L vs. LAL, W vs. CHA, W at UTA
Offensive rating: 110.4 (24th)
Defensive rating: 114.7 (23rd)
Post All-Star break: Portland is still playing with real purpose, even with the multi-week absence of center Deandre Ayton and the team’s precarious spot in the standings. It’s not yet shutdown time for veterans such as Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons and Deni Avdija, while recent lottery picks Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe have to wait to get full run while coming off the bench.
Josh Giddey and the Bulls keep hanging around the playoff picture. (Bill Streicher / Imagn Images)
24. Chicago Bulls (23-35)
Last ranking: 24
In the last week: L at NY, L vs. PHO, W at PHI
Offensive rating: 111.8 (18th)
Defensive rating: 115.8 (27th)
Post All-Star break: It’s not often that you see a team trail by nearly 50 points and lead by 50 points in the same season, let alone the same month. But less than two weeks after the Bulls trailed by 49 points in their building against the Pistons, they went up 50 in Philadelphia. What’s even more confounding is how Chicago didn’t even have Nikola Vučević for all of Monday’s game against the Sixers, while Lonzo Ball missed the second half. The Bulls aren’t good, but they’re going to push for a spot.
25. Toronto Raptors (18-39)
Last ranking: 26
In the last week: L vs. MIA, W vs. PHO
Offensive rating: 110.2 (25th)
Defensive rating: 115.6 (25th)
Post All-Star break: The Raptors are four games in the loss column out of the final Play-In Tournament spot. But Brandon Ingram has yet to take the floor since being acquired at the trade deadline. The way Toronto moves the ball and hits the paint makes it a tough team to deal with as a potential spoiler.
Tier 5: Basement Floor
26. Philadelphia 76ers (20-37)
Last ranking: 23
In the last week: L vs. BOS, L vs. BRK, L vs. CHI
Offensive rating: 110.9 (23rd)
Defensive rating: 115.6 (24th)
Post All-Star break: Their disgraceful season continues. Joel Embiid might be done after playing in only 19 games; he hasn’t had a 30-point game since the end of December. Paul George only had three 30-point games this season, and he hasn’t scored 20 all month. Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey is out here playing 12 games that the Sixers lost this season in which he has played at least 40 minutes. No other player in the league this season has more than eight games that his team lost while playing at least 40 minutes. I made sure there was a spot in the cellar for them during their eight-game losing streak, currently the longest in the NBA.
GO DEEPER
Why Sixers must shut down Joel Embiid before it’s too late
27. Charlotte Hornets (14-42)
Last ranking: 27
In the last week: W at LAL, L at DEN, L at POR, L at SAC
Offensive rating: 107.0 (29th)
Defensive rating: 114.0 (17th)
Post All-Star break: They brought the show to Los Angeles, shutting down the Lakers after halftime and getting a win against “the other team.” The Hornets have lost the last three games by a combined 109 points.
28. New Orleans Pelicans (14-43)
Last ranking: 29
In the last week: L at DAL, W vs. SA
Offensive rating: 109.7 (26th)
Defensive rating: 118.0 (28th)
Post All-Star break: Kelly Olynyk has his visa, Zion Williamson is starting at small forward, Yves Missi is healthy and Trey Murphy III is getting all the shots he could possibly want. If nothing else, the Pelicans will keep it interesting. Sad, but interesting.
29. Utah Jazz (14-43)
Last ranking: 28
In the last week: L vs. OKC, W vs. HOU, L vs. POR
Offensive rating: 111.4 (19th)
Defensive rating: 118.3 (30th)
Post All-Star break: This is the NBA’s worst defense, but Will Hardy is continuing to find moments of development. The latest breakthrough was on Saturday, where Keyonte George outscored the entire Rockets bench by himself. Whatever the next step is in Utah’s rebuilding project, it certainly has a future second-unit creator in George.
30. Washington Wizards (10-47)
Last ranking: 30
In the last week: L vs. MIL, L at ORL, W vs. BRK
Offensive rating: 105.5 (30th)
Defensive rating: 118.1 (29th)
Post All-Star break: Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart have worn the uniform now. Washington has four more losses than any other team in the league, But the presence of Middleton and Smart to go with Jordan Poole gives Washington enough talent and experience to compete and win games. The Wizards may need to get creative to stay in last place.
GO DEEPER
Jordan Poole has rejuvenated his career — thanks to the coach who benched him
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(Top photo of Evan Mobley: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
