It has been a rough time to watch Miami Heat basketball the last few years. The ugly trade fiasco between star forward Jimmy Butler and the front office scared off a lot of top talent who may have wanted to play in the city. Owner Pat Riley went from someone who was cool and players wanting the attention of, to being called an egotistical and rigid cheap-skate. Regardless of which side is correct, anyone with working eyes knew Miami remained one of the most agonizing teams to watch on any given night. Coach Erik Spoelstra is the one holding everything together. His only player who could gain recognition among casual fans would be center Bam Adebayo. And so he did.
Adebayo has been a roller coaster center throughout much of his league tenure. He’s a stalwart on defense who makes opposing players take more shots outside the paint, but his offense is inconsistent. In fact, his offense (or lack thereof) has led to NBA fans and viewers calling him Scam Adebayo whenever he has gone close to scoreless in important regular and post-season games. Bam Adebayo is a C-rate player many NBA stars don’t fear or have to worry about countering. Which is why his 83 point game March 10th against Washington has brought a wild range of emotions.
At least with Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 and Kobe Bryant’s 81, it made sense they could have a historical game at some point. After all, both were considered the NBA’s best players in those timeframes. To this day, any all-time great list or statistic that has Chamberlain on it is viewed favorably and admirably. Bryant will stay revered for another few decades given how many people respected and applauded his dedication to professional basketball. But Bam? It is as confusing as it is almost unbelievable.
This is not to say Bam Adebayo isn’t deserving of our accolades. He is in every way. He wants to compete, and playing one-on-one with his girlfriend, the best women’s basketball player on the planet A’ja Wilson, has paid off. It’s how it happened and the timeframe that matters more.
Let’s start at the beginning of his record setting night. The Washington Wizards have been dreadful all season and were realistically eliminated from play-in contention two and a half months ago. Coach Brian Keefe, feeling he had nothing to lose, decided rookie center Alex Sarr and the Wizards defense would foul Adebayo at every possible chance and send him to the free throw line. The plan was out-of-the-box different and would have a chance to stick…if Adebayo didn’t average 75% accuracy at the free throw line. Had this been against Milwaukee and Giannis Antetokounmpo, this would be a winning formula. We would laud Keefe for creativity. Instead, Keefe opted for this formula against the Heat center, and Bam Adebayo had a monster night. He attempted an NBA record of 43 free throws and made another NBA record 36. No player had ever attempted 40 before March 10th. It should have been clear then that Washington should not have fouled Adebayo at all after the first quarter. Alas, they did not adjust their game plan. He ended up with 31 of Miami’s 40 points before the second quarter.
What was bizarre about Keefe’s coaching in this game was how he rarely changed anything. Rookie Alex Sarr has been a solid candidate for rookie of the year so far, but he couldn’t contend with Adebayo that night. A coach who pays attention to details would have forced another player to beat them and score more consistently. The only Heat player who came close to scoring 20 points was…journeyman forward Simone Fontecchio. Miami’s guards did next to nothing while their bigs had a performance for the ages. Brian Keefe should or could have played all his centers and forwards at the same time.
The fact Washington didn’t adjust raises a lot of questions. Commissioner Adam Silver and various companies and executives have started more conversations on how to limit tanking. The average viewer wouldn’t be crazy to suggest that the Wizards intentionally lost that game. This also happened at a time when Silver is trying to preserve what he can of the sports’ ratings. As mentioned in previous power rankings, things look more grim by the day for the NBA. There are so many issues and Silver seemingly has no idea what to do. This is a game that could define Silver’s tenure more than we’d like to admit.
Possibly the wildest thing about Bam Adebayo’s 83 point performance is how sports media’s coverage had no idea how to cover this. It came out five nights later that the 150-129 win in Washington D.C. was on the same day as Bam’s now-deceased grandmother’s birthday. How was that buried despite ESPN and basketball fanatics staying on top of stats for almost everything? Granted, sports journalism isn’t the same now as it was 20 years ago (I should know), but it still stuns how there are more people than expected who are baffled rather than celebratory.
Here are the final 2025-26 NBA regular season power rankings.
#30 Washington Wizards (last ranking: 29)
NBA Twitter made jokes that ever since Washington re-named their team from the Bullets to the Wizards, everything has gone downhill. Seriously, seeing the list of most embarrassing moments in franchise history, it’s hard to argue against that. I would also add a 16 game losing streak this season to the franchise’s ongoing fiascos.
#29 Brooklyn Nets (last ranking: 26)
We might remember how bad a lot of teams were this season but Brooklyn might be the most forgettable. I can’t think of a single positive the Nets had. How is it possible for a team based in New York City to be so irrelevant and forgettable? That is a wild accomplishment from owner Joe Tsai.
#28 Indiana Pacers (last ranking: 28)
I don’t think anyone had Indiana being a bottom three NBA team this season at any point. Sure, they would probably be bad without star guard Tyrese Haliburton but wow they’re terrible without him. Everything that could have gone wrong this season, did. The worst part is that all of this would have been fine if the Pacers won that NBA finals game seven in Oklahoma City.
#27 Sacramento Kings (last ranking: 30)
Sacramento failed to be a playoff contender this year but there were bright spots. Forward DeMar DeRozan has been one of them. After an exciting March 16th win against Utah, DeRozan became the oldest player to post a 40 point and ten assist game at 36 years and 220 days old. DeRozan has had a lot of bad luck before he landed with the Kings, but to his credit, he has always been a solid and dependable player.
#26 Utah Jazz (last ranking: 25)
It didn’t look like it most of the season, but Utah took a few steps forward with their young talent. Star point guard Keyonte George impressed viewers before he landed on IR. Center Kyle Filipowski will be a pillar in the Jazz’s success the next five years and guard Isaiah Collier was the focal point of a league high-passing offense.
#25 Dallas Mavericks (last ranking: 24)
Dallas won three games in March and five total since the All-Star break. The Mavericks went from play-in team to irrelevant fast despite number one overall pick Cooper Flagg playing better each game. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Dallas’ unstable front office puts the blame on Jason Kidd and fires him after the season ends.
#24 Memphis Grizzlies (last ranking: 23)
If you wanted to know how far Memphis has fallen in not even three seasons, take a look at the team stat leaders. There is not one recognizable name anyone who watched the Grizzlies two years ago would recognize. To make it worse, former second overall draft pick Ja Morant has played a total of 79 games in three seasons. The NBA board of governors will vote for which cities get new franchises, and it would not be a surprise if the Grizzlies relocate–again–because of the few resources and talent available.
#23 New Orleans Pelicans (last ranking: 27)
New Orleans had a solid March compared to a lot of other teams. However, it didn’t mean much because the Pelicans were eliminated from play-in contention. If this is their last season in Louisiana, it ended with a bizarre whimper.
#22 Chicago Bulls (last ranking: 21)
Say what you want about guard Josh Giddey, but he plays hard no matter how depleted the talent is. If Chicago wants to compete next season, they will need Giddey to stay and lead what will be a rookie dominated roster.
#21 Milwaukee Bucks (last ranking: 22)
Whatever people think about Milwaukee’s issues this season, it appears everyone is united in how the organization should move on and replace coach Doc Rivers. Rivers had a longer coaching career than he should have despite a lot of highlight moments and games. The Bucks need someone who can get the best out of Antetokounmpo and the roster around him again.
#20 Golden State Warriors (last ranking: 14)
With all the teams locked in for the play-in and playoffs, coach Steve Kerr made the right move keeping star point guard Steph Curry out this long. The Warriors needed to see who could play well without any veteran stars. Golden State can still build off of forward Draymond Green and guard Brandin Podziemski playing well almost every game, but they still need to see how consistent Kristaps PorziÅgis can be. One plus has been the emergence of guard Pat Spencer. He could be a valuable bench player once Steph Curry returns.
#19 Portland Trailblazers (last ranking: 17)
Center Donovan Clingan took a big step in his second NBA season. Clingan quickly discovered that while he isn’t a scorer, he is a good rebounder, defender and perimeter player. Portland has a bright future because of how Donovan Clingan does all the uncomfortable work few players want to do.
#18 Los Angeles Clippers (last ranking: 19)
This feels like the last season we could see Los Angeles make a playoff run. The Clippers are second to last in rebounds and last in assists. They like defense and free throws, but are average at best. Los Angeles hasn’t played well against most playoff favorites lately and that is a clear sign a rebuild is coming.
#17 Miami Heat (last ranking: 15)
The Heat had a hot start to March with five wins in their first six games in the month. They have one win in the last three weeks. Every time viewers think they have a clear grasp with what’s going on in Miami, something unexpected happens. Good luck figuring this team out.
#16 Orlando Magic (last ranking: 16)
Throughout Orlando’s disappointing season, one stat has stood out like a sore thumb. Franchise star power forward Paolo Banchero leads the Magic in rebounds with 8.3. He cannot do it alone. Orlando is 20th in total rebounds and struggle getting second chance opportunities on offense while giving opponents second plus scoring chances. The Magic need to find a quality rebounder in free agency or the draft.
#15 Charlotte Hornets (last ranking: 18)
Since the five game winning streak, Charlotte has cooled off a bit. They’re still a dangerous team learning how to play well against quality opponents. What has helped is better shooting accuracy and bench players buying into coach Charles Lee’s system. The Hornets might not go far in the playoffs this year, but they will be an interesting team to watch next season.
#14 Phoenix Suns (last ranking: 12)
Despite forward Dillon Brooks being out of the lineup, Phoenix has played a lot of playoff teams hard. In six of their last seven losses, the Suns have lost by single digits. Phoenix has over-performed and will be a tough out in the playoffs.
#13 Toronto Raptors (last ranking: 11)
While Atlanta keeps winning, Toronto and Philadelphia are fighting for the sixth seed. Fortunately for the Raptors, they have at least six winnable games and only a couple against serious playoff teams the next few weeks. If Toronto wins the games they should, it’s possible all six eastern conference spots will be locked up by next week.
#12 Philadelphia 76ers (last ranking: 13)
ESPN broke a stat that star center Joel Embiid has missed as many games as he’s played since Philadelphia drafted him 11 years ago. One day we will find out about the extent of Embiid’s leg and knee injuries, and we won’t be surprised he missed that many games.
#11 Atlanta Hawks (last ranking: 20)
There were predictions Atlanta could play better and have better game plans after Trae Young was traded to Washington but wow, the Hawks look almost unstoppable. Atlanta dominating the NBA in assists and assists-to-turnovers shows how bought in this young roster is with coach Quin Snyder. Wild how the Hawks and Orlando Magic switched season fates in the eyes of many analysts.
#10 Houston Rockets (last ranking: 7)
Remember when I wrote last month that the Kevin Durant leaks at the All-Star game was a much bigger deal than just jokes? It has shown with how Houston has played. The Rockets were humiliated in two critical games against the Lakers, were upset by the depleted Warriors and Bulls, and were crushed against San Antonio and Denver. Houston clearly won’t have home court advantage, but what could be worse is how coach Ime Udoka and viewers are realizing both guard Amen Thompson and forward Alperen Sengun aren’t the long-term answers on both sides of the ball. There are a lot of things to say about Durant outside of his championship tenure in Golden State, but one that’s gaining traction is team killer. Whether that’s fair or not, the results wouldn’t deny it.
#9 Minnesota Timberwolves (last ranking: 10)
Minnesota deserves some leniency for how they’ve played recently after Anthony Edwards was out for an inflamed right knee injury. The Timberwolves may have a bumpy start to the playoffs, but their depth is getting quality minutes most teams wouldn’t allow. Minnesota’s trade for Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu is again paying off, much to Bulls fans’ chagrin.
#8 Cleveland Cavaliers (last ranking: 9)
As of this writing, Cleveland is finally playing like they did last season. If the Cavaliers keep playing like this heading into the playoffs, there is no doubt they’ll have a longer postseason run than last year.
#7 Los Angeles Lakers (last ranking: 8)
The nine game winning streak was a great show of March dominance, but I’m not convinced Los Angeles is an elite or top tier team right now. The Lakers have to play a critical end of their schedule the next week and a half, and that will show if they’re actually ready for the playoffs. We shouldn’t forget that Los Angeles has struggled on defense most of this season. Can this team win at least two series in shootout fashion? Their first round opponents will be either Houston, Denver or Minnesota. It looks more like no than yes.
#6 Denver Nuggets (last ranking: 6)
A lot of viewers don’t know how good Phoenix has been this season because the NBA doesn’t know how to flex games. The Suns are well coached and even without star players, their defense flusters a lot of opponents. Last week, Denver center Nikola Jokic shredded them in Arizona for one of their most important wins of the season. A 23 point, 17 rebound, 17 assist game may not be seen as impressive as an 83 point game, but you cannot deny that Jokic is the most complete center we’ve seen in at least two decades.
#5 New York Knicks (last ranking: 5)
New York is finally out of their slump and are one of the hottest NBA teams to start April. The biggest factor might be everyone coming back from IR and being healthy at the same time. If the Knicks stay healthy, they’re an easy pick to make the conference finals.
#4 Boston Celtics (last ranking: 4)
There’s no take right now that should say anything about Boston panicking. The return of star forward Jayson Tatum gives the Celtics plenty of time to play their stars together before the postseason. Everyone in that organization wants this right now if that means a deep playoff run.
#3 Detroit Pistons (last ranking: 1)
J.B. Bickerstaff is doing his best coaching right now with point guard and former MVP favorite Cade Cunningham lost for the season. The number wins without Cunningham shows how determined and improved top to bottom the Pistons are. While there are serious doubts Detroit can keep this going the last week and a half of the season and most of the playoffs, we should remember that the Pistons played well without Cunningham during most of their 15 game winning streak months ago. Detroit isn’t bowing out of the playoff race anytime soon.
#2 San Antonio Spurs (last ranking: 3)
With Cade Cunningham out of the MVP conversation, the should-be favorite pivots to San Antonio center Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama’s taken such a massive leap in his third year that it has elevated both the team and future expectations. The Spurs have just two losses in the last 57 days. That is not possible without Wembanyama dominating almost every game. What does it say about how great the French phenom is that we now view elite, veteran point guard De’Aaron Fox as underrated to the Spurs success?
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder (last ranking: 2)
Oklahoma City lost only one game in a month. Most of the struggles the Thunder had to start 2026 were taken care of and worked through. Outside of one matchup in the western conference, Oklahoma City looks the favorite to return to the finals and repeat their title.
JD's Sportscorner 