The east was the first conference to seal both playoff and play-in spots. Milwaukee and Detroit clinched the fifth and sixth seeds before their final game last Sunday. Indiana and Orlando are young teams that again exceeded expectations and will use this postseason to learn how to improve for future playoff appearances. Most believe the conference finals will be a Boston and Cleveland matchup. Milwaukee missing key players throughout the playoffs solidifies this belief. Regardless, four talented and competitive teams will advance to the second round. Time to break down which four have the best chance.
#8 Miami Heat v. #1 Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland guard Donovan Mitchell should be the most dominant player in this series.
This is an embarrassingly lopsided series. Cleveland has better coaching, roster depth and all-around offense and defense. The Cavaliers should make quick work of Miami.
Prediction: Cavaliers win series 4-0
#5 Milwaukee Bucks v. #4 Indiana Pacers
It’ll be a long series for Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo against Indiana’s improved defense.
Similar to last year’s second round series, Indiana’s hot offense will face early tests from Milwaukee’s defense. Also similar is how the Pacers know how to beat and get past the Bucks in almost every way. Milwaukee will be the under-manned, lesser talented team the first few games of series with no Damian Lillard. Indiana’s defense has improved and their offense gets better each month. This should also be a quick series.
Prediction: Indiana wins series 4-1
#6 Detroit Pistons v. #3 New York Knicks
Detroit’s star point guard Cade Cunningham is a bright spot in a turn-around year. Unfortunately, that might not be enough against the veteran Knicks.
This should be one of the funnest playoff series regardless of the round. The physical, resurgent Pistons are this year’s darlings after an awful 2023-24 season. Forward Tobias Harris and guards Cade Cunningham and Tim Hardaway Jr. will be tough to defend against for New York’s Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. The Knicks do have the edge at center and small forward with Karl Anthony-Towns and Josh Hart. New York also has more depth and are better defensively than Detroit. On paper, the talent easily goes to the Knicks. Yet the Pistons will make this a longer series due to how well they match up.
Prediction: Knicks win series 4-2
#7 Orlando Magic v. #2 Boston Celtics
If Orlando wants to win this series, guards like Cole Anthony (50) have to consistently play their best on both sides of the ball.
This could be the east’s best first round series. Orlando won the regular season series despite both wins (one at the beginning of the season and one at the end) being months apart. Regardless, the Magic have the players, talent and coaching to take Boston a full seven games.
The Celtics have one of the deepest, most experienced rosters in the NBA. However, Boston hasn’t played at a consistent level like last year. If the Celtics want to keep the edge and escape a first round upset, they need guards Derrick White, Jrue Holliday and Peyton Pritchard to consistently play great.
Given how both of these teams didn’t play each other much throughout the regular season, Boston gets the nod given how well their deep roster adapts and has enough experience to get past a thinner Orlando roster.
Prediction: Celtics win series 4-3
Regular season eastern conference playoffs and play-in predictions record: 9-1
The 2024-25 NBA regular season ended in anticipation of a thrilling western conference playoff race. MVP front-runner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are favorites to make a deep run to the championship while the young Rockets want to prove they can compete and beat the best veteran teams. No one should underestimate the resurgence of Golden State or of either Los Angeles team. Denver remains the team everyone wants out in order to have a fair chance at the finals. Four talented squads will advance to the second round. Time to break down which four have the best chance.
#8 Memphis Grizzlies v. #1 Oklahoma City Thunder
Memphis will put up a fight, but Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is too much for the Grizzlies guards.
This should be one of the most fun first round series. Memphis and Oklahoma City have great guard and forward duos. Both teams have roster depth the remaining six western teams covet. Despite their similarities, there’s a clear winner here.
The Grizzlies have the players to double-team MVP favorite guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Should Memphis stick to that game-plan, the Thunder will let guards Alex Caruso and Luguentz Dort take more shots and chances to lead the offense. Oklahoma City also has the advantage at center with Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams over the Grizzlies Zach Edey.
Prediction: Thunder win series 4-2
#6 Minnesota Timberwolves v. #3 Los Angeles Lakers
There’s a lot of pressure on Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards to repeat last year’s postseason run to the conference finals.
There are a lot of fun storylines and history both teams share. Los Angeles revamped their roster mid-season while Minnesota upgraded theirs last offseason. Both teams have great guards and forwards. Even depth scoring and coaching have improved since the All-Star break.
The Lakers do have the better point-guard matchup with Luka Doncic over Mike Conley. Although Doncic and veteran forward LeBron James play great in the regular season, they elevate their performances once the postseason starts. Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards will keep the series close, but he can’t do it all by himself.
Prediction: Lakers win series 4-2
#7 Golden State Warriors v. #2 Houston Rockets
No matter what happens in this matchup, this will be the series in which Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) takes the next step in being a franchise star player.
One could not find a worse first round matchup for Houston if they tried. Golden State is 4-0 all-time in playoff series against the Rockets and has the second best league record since the trade deadline. While Houston is the best rebounding team and plays well around the basket, they’re ill-equipped to handle the Warriors exceptional shooting and improved all-around play. Coach Ime Udoka will use every tactic available to keep the series close, but there is only so much he can do before point guard Steph Curry and forward Jimmy Butler III take over and dominate game pace.
Prediction: Warriors win series 4-1
#5 Los Angeles Clippers v. #4 Denver Nuggets
Two of the NBA’s best players in Nikola Jokic and Kawhi Leonard are fully healthy. That makes for the best first round series this postseason.
This is the best first round series in either conference. Los Angeles is fully healthy and Denver has played better since coach Michael Malone was fired. Not only is MVP candidate Nikola Jokic fun to watch, it will be interesting to see how star forward Kawhi Leonard counters him on defense. Clippers guards James Harden and Kris Dunn will have a hard time defending Nuggets guards Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook. Los Angeles center Ivica Zubac is a good counter to forward Aaron Gordon.
If there are weaknesses on either team, it’s bench depth. Both franchises have great starters, but at some point Los Angeles has to rest theirs given how each has previous injury concerns. Denver can substitute their starters without worrying how it’ll take a toll on the team later in the postseason.
Prediction: Nuggets win series 4-2
Regular season western conference playoffs and play-in predictions record: 5-4
This could not be a more polarizing first round in the eastern conference. There are thrilling state and provincial rivalries, and then there are two simpler matchups. Despite the Washington Capitals being the best team in the east, their brilliant coach has never led a franchise into the postseason. The Carolina Hurricanes again have pressure to make it past the first round faster than their future opponents. The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators look to upend everyone’s predictions while Florida and Tampa Bay make another push to return to the championship round. Most teams have their hands full against deep rosters wanting a conference finals appearance. It’s time to break down which four teams have the best chance of advancing to the second round.
#7 New Jersey Devils v. #4 Carolina Hurricanes
Injuries to star players put more pressure on the rest of the roster (like forward Jesper Bratt) to do more against the tough Hurricanes.
This is the most lopsided NHL first round series. New Jersey won’t have center Jack Hughes, defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, and forward Timo Meier due to injuries. Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic has been benched due to conflicts with coach Sheldon Keefe. Carolina has the conference’s best home record, and their offense yearns to run the score up against a top five defense. This will be a fast series and an ugly end to the season for the Devils.
Prediction: Hurricanes win series 4-1
#8 Montreal Canadiens v. #1 Washington Capitals
Despite the one seed v. eight seed matchup, Washington v. Montreal will be violent and full of fights. Special teams will determine how fast the series ends.
Montreal remarkably went from the NHL’s second worst team to start 2025, to clinching the last playoff seed in either conference earlier this week. The Canadiens have a passionate, young and talented core coached by former Hall of Fame champion Martin St. Louis. They’re smart and constantly adapt to whatever situations are thrown their way.
Unfortunately, that won’t be enough against the top seeded Capitals. Washington had a top three offense and a top ten defense. Coach Spencer Carberry may the weakest link since he has not seen the playoffs as a coach before, but veteran team leaders Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome and Charlie Lindgren easily out-match Montreal’s young and inexperienced core.
Prediction: Washington wins series 4-2
#6 Ottawa Senators v. #2 Toronto Maple Leafs
The Battle of Ontario returns to the postseason for the first time in 21 years.
The Battle of Ontario could be the most important first round series in either conference. The winner not only plays the winner of the Battle of Florida series, but could wind up going to the conference finals depending on next round’s opponent.
Ottawa’s return to the postseason since their 2017 eastern conference finals appearance brings renewed vigor to the nation’s capital and the franchise’s fandom and ownership. Toronto has improved on defense and has the offensive firepower to outscore almost anyone, but the Senators are on another level when it comes to their provincial rivals. Usually, one wouldn’t pick the regular season series winner to replicate their success in the playoffs. However, the temptation to pick Ottawa wins out because they swept the regular season five game series against the Maple Leafs. Toronto tried to beat the Senators in different ways, but none were successful. If they had played each other three times, the Maple Leafs would be favored. Five straight losses to rising Ottawa shows how this series will turn out.
Eastern conference upset prediction of the first round: Senators win series 4-1
#5 Florida Panthers v. #3 Tampa Bay Lightning
Despite injuries and revamped rosters, the new round of the Battle of Florida will be fun to watch. Viewers want a nasty, seven game series.
If it’s not the Battle of Ontario winner, the Battle of Florida winner will determine who advances to the Stanley Cup finals in the eastern conference. The Sunshine State has represented the conference in the last five championship appearances. There’s a great chance the streak continues.
Florida and Tampa Bay look even to the average fan. To be fair, this is a 50/50 pick. For those who enjoy watching film, there are variables that decide who advances. The Panthers were battered with injuries to start 2025. Losing big name players like defenseman Gustav Forsling and forward Matthew Tkachuk were recent blows to Florida’s chances of winning the Atlantic division. Both are expected to play at some point, and the return of defenseman Aaron Ekblad (was suspended due to illegal substance use) are pluses. While this sounds good, it puts the Panthers at an early disadvantage against the determined and red-hot Lightning.
Tampa Bay is top three in total offense and defense. They know how to find every team’s weaknesses and play their best against championship contenders. The Lightning’s roster is fully healthy, focused and better coached this time. They also have the home ice advantage. Additional pressure on the Panthers to repeat last year’s championship run tilts this in Tampa Bay’s favor.
Prediction: Lightning win series 4-2
Regular season eastern conference playoffs prediction record: 6-2
The NHL’s western conference was the first to have every playoff spot clinched. Seeding was final after last weekend. Many wonder if either of last year’s conference finals participants can replicate their success and represent the west in the conference championship. No western team wants to go two years in a row without winning the Stanley Cup. President’s Trophy winners Winnipeg Jets improved this season but drew a difficult first round opponent. Los Angeles and Vegas have the capabilities to make deep playoff runs.Finally, the Colorado Avalanche have returned to their Stanley Cup champion selves after serious roster moves at the trade deadline. Only four teams will advance to the second round. Time to break down which four have the best chance.
#6 Edmonton Oilers v. #4 Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles’ 5-0 shutout win in Edmonton last Monday could be a preview for what happens in this first round series.
For the fourth year in a row, the Kings and Oilers face off in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Edmonton won the previous three matchups in seven, six and five games. This time Los Angeles is in the best position to win the series.
The Kings wound up with the best home record in the NHL and coach Jim Hiller has improved the roster’s playing style. Hiller’s decision to have a five forward look after the acquisition of forward Andrei Kuzmenko is brilliant and makes Los Angeles nearly unstoppable.
The Oilers have been inconsistent since Four Nations ended, and the health of star players has been their biggest issue. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm will miss the entire first round. Forwards Zach Hyman, Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane won’t be fully healthy. By contrast, the Kings’ five forward rotation preserves the health of defensemen Drew Doughty and Joel Edmundson. Los Angeles’ success coupled with the Oilers continuous struggles means the Kings should finally get past their rivals into the second round.
Prediction: Kings win series 4-2
#5 Colorado Avalanche v. #3 Dallas Stars
If Dallas has any chance of winning this series, depth players like defenseman Thomas Harley (55) have to play their best, all-around hockey.
Two months ago, we saw this as the best first round series in any conference. Dallas went all-in at the trade deadline for former Colorado forward Mikko Rantanen. The Stars’ seven game losing streak has them in panic mode and coach Peter DeBoer has no answers.
Meanwhile, the Avalanche are back to their dangerous selves and got some extra rest after a Sunday win in Anaheim. Their new goaltending duo of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood will fluster Dallas’ already frustrated offense and power-play units. Colorado also has better coaching and higher confidence.
Prediction: Avalanche win series 4-1
#7 Minnesota Wild v. #2 Vegas Golden Knights
Forward Matt Boldy’s played more games without scoring depth than he probably imagined and wanted to this year.
Many believe this series has the potential to be the NHL’s best and longest in the first round. As goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury’s legendary career draws to a close, the Wild finally have all their star players back and healthy for the playoffs. Unfortunately, they drew one of Fleury’s former teams for the first round. Vegas knows how to beat Minnesota in many ways. Unless the Golden Knights suffer serious injuries, the Wild don’t have a chance of winning this series. Vegas has a lot of former champions, scoring depth, shutdown defensemen and great coaches. These veterans won’t be phased by Minnesota’s last hurrah for Fleury, a goaltender they originally acquired in their 2017 expansion draft.
Prediction: Golden Knights win series 4-1
#8 St. Louis Blues v. #1 Winnipeg Jets
2025 Jordan Binnington is playing like the legend he was in 2019. That’s bad news for Winnipeg.
We’ve been here before. Of course the President’s Trophy winning Jets drew the most challenging first round opponent for any team. Coach Jim Montgomery made sure St. Louis clamped down on defense and improved on both offense and the power-play. This Blues team is eerily similar to the 2018-19 championship team that also faced Winnipeg in the first round of the playoffs.
The Jets won the regular season series but they’ll be without forward Nikolaj Ehlers for most of the first round. Winnipeg also has a lot of pressure to win a series after last year’s jaw-dropping collapse against Colorado. St. Louis has no pressure and is riding all kinds of highs after early season struggles. If that isn’t daunting enough, the superb play of Four Nations champion starting goaltender Jordan Binnington has been stellar. Binnington’s aggressive style will further frustrate the Jets offense and special teams deep into the series.
Western conference upset prediction of the first round: Blues win series 4-3
Regular season western conference playoffs prediction record: 6-2
Golden State’s interior went from overmatched to one of the league’s best after the trade deadline.
There was a startling trade in early February that sent the media into a frenzy. A superstar on a southern team that recently went to the NBA finals was traded to a pacific division franchise in California. The southern team that traded away their superstar clinched a play-in spot this past weekend while the California team is closer to a championship run than the last few years.
That’s right. As most know, the most immediate impactful trade at the deadline was Jimmy Butler III going from Miami to Golden State. The Warriors went from hanging on to a play-in spot to most likely to land the sixth, fifth or fourth seed. Given how Golden State’s star point guard Steph Curry is 37, passing the play-in round is important. Not only are the Warriors in a position to clinch a middle seed, they’ll draw an easier first round opponent should they remain in the top six.
Let’s take a look at the other teams in or tied for the top six, starting with both Los Angeles teams. The Lakers are still figuring out how to play point-guard Luka Doncic and forward LeBron James together. They had an inconsistent March despite quality wins. The Lakers might not play Golden State in the first two rounds. Meanwhile, the Clippers are playing their best basketball. There are questions about the long-term health of stars like Kawhi Leonard and Ben Simmons, but this team is likely to clinch a middle seed and avoid the Warriors unless it’s the conference finals.
Three younger teams dominate half the remaining spots. The Oklahoma City Thunder is the favorite to at least make the conference finals. Houston has impressed and is the second seed in the west. Memphis is the more veteran of the three and has better depth. The Thunder and Rockets have done well, but serious predictions show neither will last long in the postseason due to how their young cores don’t have as much playoff experience. The postseason shows which teams learn the most about their opponents’ weaknesses. We don’t know how Oklahoma City will play if MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is constantly double teamed. The Grizzlies may be an interesting watch, but general manager Zach Kleiman fired coach Taylor Jenkins last week (more on that later). Memphis could be one of the first teams out of the playoff race in both basketball and hockey should they stay in a slump.
That leaves the Denver Nuggets as the lone competent, veteran and former championship team. Not only does their future depend on the health of center Nikola Jokic, guard Jamal Murray and forward Aaron Gordon, the organization took multiple hits when owner Stan Kroenke fired both general manager Calvin Booth and coach Michael Malone this past Monday afternoon. It’s possible the Nuggets fizzle out and get bumped into the play-in bubble. Denver’s play will determine who gets to the conference finals. That means Golden State’s only real threats are the inconsistent Lakers and the falling Nuggets. Given how both teams played in March, they could also be eliminated before the conference finals.
Both Charles Barkley on TNT’s Inside the NBA and Bob Myers on ESPN believe Golden State is the best team after Oklahoma City in the western conference. Some of those reasons include better rebounding and interior play with Butler and Green working together near the basket, a more consistent scoring threat to help take pressure off Steph Curry, and Butler’s instant desire to win helps younger players like Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga play better without doing most of the scoring. The Warriors lost four games in March, three to lesser, play-in opponents. Their losses to Denver and Houston have been the only real challenge to the revamped roster.
It’s almost hard to believe most of Golden State’s 2024 stories were questions surrounding possible Steph Curry trade rumors this upcoming offseason to sports analysts on every major network and website wondering if this will be the franchise’s fifth championship in a decade. Not only is winning a title a possibility, most analysts believe it wouldn’t be a shock if the Warriors dominate the postseason. General manager Mike Dunleavy turned desperation at the trade deadline into a winning formula in one month.
Golden State’s Steph Curry (30) takes a three point shot in Madison Square Garden March 4th. Despite some minor injuries this season, Curry’s played well the last month because he’s not relied on to create all the scoring opportunities.
Here are the final 2024-25 NBA regular season power rankings.
#30 Utah Jazz (last ranking: 29)
After their March 31st 110-106 loss to Charlotte, Utah clinched their first 60 loss season in franchise history. Despite how long it took to reach this milestone, there were no positive moments for the Jazz this year. Thankfully, no one will remember.
#29 Washington Wizards (last ranking: 30)
Washington went from having one road win the first four months of the regular season to winning more on the road than at home to start April. The Wizards had a predictably awful 2024 but there are some positives to build on for next season.
#28 Charlotte Hornets (last ranking: 27)
Star point-guard LaMelo Ball was again placed on season ending injured reserve last month. Charlotte needs to prioritize adding depth scoring and getting to the free-throw line. All options should be considered on how to build a playoff-contending team.
#27 New Orleans Pelicans (last ranking: 28)
Starting forward Zion Williamson and shooting guard C.J. McCollum were placed on season ending injured reserve March 31st. Williamson played 30 games this season and McCollum’s not the same player he used to be. The Pelicans have big financial troubles and could dump most of their roster to both cut costs and not build a team in free agency. New Orleans is a failure after going all-in for and with Zion Williamson.
#26 Philadelphia 76ers (last ranking: 23)
Whenever ESPN does a 30-for-30 on the 76ers Trust the Process era, it is going to be a wild watch. How mind-blowing that after the mid-2010s historically awful tanking by Philadelphia, none of it paid off in the draft, mid-season trades, or free agency. The highlight of Trust the Process is the infamous 2019 second round playoff exit where then-Raptor Kawhi Leonard hit a game winning three pointer and sent the Sixers home crying. No one could have predicted that before or after the COVID-19 pandemic.
#25 Brooklyn Nets (last ranking: 24)
How much does ownership regret not building a more competent team over trading for forward Kevin Durant and signing point guard Kyrie Irving? Much like Phoenix (more on them later), Brooklyn blew up a talented young core to try and make the NBA finals. The Nets were half a foot behind the three-point line away from the finals and maybe a championship. Still, would Brooklyn have been more competitive and in a better place than the previous win-now mindset?
#24 Toronto Raptors (last ranking: 26)
Toronto’s a great example of why it’s hard to make a play-in spot if there are too many losses before the final month and a half of the regular season. The Raptors won all but five games in March, but three of the five were by three points or less. Toronto had to win all seven of their April games and hope Chicago and Miami bottomed out in theirs. What a disappointing way to end the regular season!
#23 San Antonio Spurs (last ranking: 23)
As if February didn’t bring enough hardships, newly acquired forward De’Aaron Fox had season ending surgery on his left pinkie finger shortly after the last rankings were published. There are few teams that wanted the season to end faster than the Spurs.
#22 Phoenix Suns (last ranking: 20)
For the new readers and subscribers to this website, there is a great article about Kevin Durant in one of the first power rankings back in January 2024. With Durant done, Phoenix has to figure out how to re-build a competitive roster. To think the Suns at one time did an eight game trial run with Durant, Chris Paul, DeAndre Ayton and Devin Booker (the quartet was 8-0 playing together) before blowing it up for Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic shows exactly why this is the oldest NBA franchise to never win a title.
#21 Portland Trailblazers (last ranking: 21)
Coach Chauncey Billups struggled to make good decisions last year in Portland. This season he has done a much better job of coaching younger players, analyzing games and playing his starters’ minutes more efficiently. There weren’t many poor performances, and management has surprised viewers with how the Blazers’ roster is still developing and playing hard almost every game.
#20 Chicago Bulls (last ranking: 22)
Right now the national media wonders if Chicago will extend guard Josh Giddey or let him go back to Oklahoma City or sign with another team this offseason. The bigger questions are what will the Bulls do with guards Lonzo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu? Ball cannot stay healthy and probably should retire given how long it has taken his legs to recover. Trade rumors with Dosunmu have been constant since December. Chicago has been locked into the play-in round for a while. Will their frugal owner want to do a re-build again instead of paying top talent? We’ll find out in the upcoming months.
#19 Miami Heat (last ranking: 18)
Miami lost all but one game in March until the recent five game winning streak. Coach Erik Spoelstra is doing his best with what he has on the roster but this is not a team that will be taken seriously once the playoffs start. Don’t expect a stellar offseason either with how well former star Jimmy Butler’s playing and how he immediately re-signed to stay in Golden State.
#18 Atlanta Hawks (last ranking: 19)
If we took Atlanta’s hilarious mediocre records aside, third year guard Dyson Daniels should be a big name in the NBA right now. He has 224 steals in 74 games, averaging three per game. No one has had 200 in the last 15 years and no NBA player’s averaged three a game in the last 35 years. Dyson Daniels will be fun to watch in the play-in.
#17 Sacramento Kings (last ranking: 15)
Remember in February when I wrote interim Doug Christie had it easy until the next negative issue came up? Sacramento has lost eight of their last 12 and 12 of their last 18. The Kings are back to early season struggles and former franchise star forward De’Aaron Fox’s words about how it was the roster and not former coach of the year Mike Brown that let the team down rings more true now. The Kings might have a full re-build incoming.
#16 Dallas Mavericks (last ranking: 16)
Given everything that has happened to Dallas since February, would it be fair to put Jason Kidd in the coach of the year nomination? I don’t think most, if any of the other 29 coaches could do what Kidd’s done in two months. The Mavericks have a blueprint on how to stay competitive and despite rumors possible forfeited games due to most players being injured early to mid-March, Dallas has won five of their last ten games. The Mavericks could be favored in their play-in elimination game depending on who they play. That’s just as good as what Kenny Atkinson or Mark Daigneault’s done.
#15 Orlando Magic (last ranking: 17)
A young, competitive team is going to take bad losses once in a while. All of Orlando’s losses in March were to playoff hopefuls. On the plus side, the Magic snapped Cleveland’s impressive 17 game winning streak, won by 12 against the Lakers, and beat Milwaukee by two. Orlando is building something special that viewers should pay attention to the next few years.
#14 Detroit Pistons (last ranking: 11)
The only reason Detroit has bumped down despite their east conference position is because of how well Golden State has done since the trade deadline. The Warriors’ rise means a good number of teams got bumped a bit lower. The Pistons became the first NBA team this century to triple their total wins in one season. Detroit’s first round opponent will have their hands full.
#13 Milwaukee Bucks (last ranking: 9)
Milwaukee’s hopes for a deep playoff run ended when star point guard Damian Lillard was put on season ending injured reserve due to deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. Remember, forward Bobby Portis is still serving his 20+ game suspension. There is no guard depth that will keep the Bucks in close games against championship caliber opponents. That’s a shame since Milwaukee was playing some of their best basketball before Lillard’s diagnosis.
#12 Los Angeles Clippers (last ranking: 13)
If Los Angeles wound up as the seventh or eighth seed, they would give the second or first seed a lot of problems. Right now star point-guard James Harden and power forward Kawhi Leonard are fully healthy. Center Ivica Zubac and guards Ben Simmons and Kris Dunn are fantastic on defense. While it would be miraculous if everyone stays healthy given past injury patterns, the Clippers could do a lot of damage once they’re past the play-in round.
#11 Memphis Grizzlies (last ranking: 6)
It has been a chaotic April for the Grizzlies. Taylor Jenkins did a great job with a talented young core that at times needed more discipline. While we don’t know much about exactly why Jenkins was fired despite Memphis being the fifth seed before April first, one possible factor could be how the coach’s voice lost its impact within the locker room, according to Daily Memphian Chris Herrington. Another possiblity was Taylor Jenkins’ decison to diminish franchise star point-guard Ja Morant’s primary role in the offense. If so, that is a bold move coming from the general manager and front office. Morant’s injury history along with his on and off-court scandals involving firearms were valid reasons Jenkins may have believed a younger, more complete team was worthy of pivoting and playing to their strengths each week. General manager Zach Kleiman had better be right about this.
#10 Minnesota Timberwolves (last ranking: 14)
Minnesota has lost two games by more than five points once since the beginning of March. The Timberwolves are playing how many envisioned before the regular season began. The whole team is confidently playing their best and have beaten a lot of playoff contenders since the last rankings.
#9 Indiana Pacers (last ranking: 10)
It’s official. The third to sixth seed matchups we see in the first round of the eastern conference playoffs are the quartet of Milwaukee, Detroit, Indiana and New York. Indiana is the most exciting of the four teams and most dangerous. The Bucks and Pistons stand little chance of getting past their division rivals, but the Knicks would love a rematch of last year’s series if the Pacers take a few more losses by Sunday.
#8 Golden State Warriors (last ranking: 12)
How great would the Warriors be right now if Klay Thompson had stayed and general manager Mike Dunleavy still made the Jimmy Butler trade? Steph Curry might have more than 30 points per game and a better field goal and three point percentage (49% and 43% respectively). Golden State might also have more points off turnovers (25.3), turnovers forced (18.1) and assists (31.3) since the Butler trade. All three of those latter stats are best in the league. It’s possible we’d again be talking about how unfair it is the Warriors have another stacked roster and their dynasty won’t end.
#7 Denver Nuggets (last ranking: 4)
Years from now, we might look back at Denver’s double overtime home loss to Minnesota April first and wonder what would’ve happened had Russell Westbrook made his last second layup in double overtime to seal the win. The Nuggets struggled to score when center Nikola Jokic wasn’t playing and crumbled on defense after they started the game with a 21-5 lead. Former championship coach Michael Malone went off on his players for how they stopped listening to him and then Denver lost every game since that missed layup. This is a pivotal time for the Nuggets.
#6 Los Angeles Lakers (last ranking: 7)
Per Stat Mamba Luka Doncic averaged 30 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 8.6 apg, 4.3 3pm and a 40.5% 3pt in March. He’s the youngest Laker to average 30+ points per game in a single month since Kobe Bryant in 2003. Luka playing this well on a new team he was randomly traded to while recovering from mid-season injuries is terrifying for the other 29 teams.
#5 Houston Rockets (last ranking: 8)
There’s a lot to love with how Houston plays, especially when they out-rebound opponents and dominate near the basket. The Rockets can beat almost every team except the title and conference championship contenders. Any young, rising team would love to be where Houston is right now.
#4 New York Knicks (last ranking: 5)
Turns out New York gets a promotion after last month. They’re easily the best team of the third to sixth seed quartet. Now they have to focus on how to beat Boston and Cleveland.
#3 Boston Celtics (last ranking: 3)
Don’t let the ranking deceive you. Boston is the most dangerous of the top three teams in the NBA right now and they are heating up at the best time. Still, they also are not the unstoppable juggernaut they were last year. A series with Indiana, New York, Cleveland or Orlando could push the Celtics to at least six games. Boston also isn’t playing near the same level as western teams like Oklahoma City or Golden State.
#2 Cleveland Cavaliers (last ranking: 1)
It took until the beginning of April for Cleveland to fall out the number one spot. Losing four of eight games after their winning streak snapped against Orlando is part of it but the Cavaliers also needed some rest before the regular season ended. Three wins in four games to start the month helps.
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder (last ranking; 2)
Pick any Oklahoma City stat from this season, from the average point differential to the top scoring duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, nothing compares to this one: the Thunder went 29-1 against the eastern conference. That’s unheard of in league history. If OKC somehow wins the conference championship, nothing will stop them from winning the NBA finals.
MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander eases around Chicago’s Patrick Williams (44) during Oklahoma’s 145-117 home rout of Chicago on March 31st.
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