Tag: basketball

August 2025 WNBA Power Rankings: Move Over Napheesa, it’s the A’ja Wilson Show

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Aces star center A’ja Wilson shrugs after she scored 29 points on her 29th birthday August eighth in Seattle.

For most of this season, the unanimous MVP pick has been Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier. Collier is a shut-down defender, an elite scorer and the Lynx’s team leader on every side of the ball. Without Napheesa Collier’s leadership, Minnesota is not seen as a championship contender despite the complimentary players, great coaching and first place record. Collier’s importance can’t be stressed enough.

So when she injured her ankle against the Las Vegas Aces on August 3rd, shockwaves rippled throughout the league. Collier will remain out another week as the Lynx stay on autopilot and try to keep hold of the top playoff seed. The conversation now pivots to who else could win Defensive Player of the Year and MVP. Many will ask and guess which other top players should be considered for the league’s top awards. The longer Collier stays out, the more likely voters go in another direction and choose someone else.

Defensive player of the year could go back to Minnesota’s newly acquired forward DiJonai Carrington. Not only was she the Dallas Wings’ best defender until her trade, she has elevated the Lynx defense since Collier’s absence. Seattle’s Ezi Magbegor and Gabby Williams have kept the Storm competitive in the playoff race as long as possible because of their improved defense. Opposing offenses hate going to the basket when Magbegor’s in the paint, and Williams is a menace one-on-one.

MVP talks may also shift to Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas, who has recorded five triple doubles this season (with four in August). The Mercury are a roller coaster since the signing of DeWanna Bonner, so the Thomas take may not go far. The biggest name that currently stands out for MVP is Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson. Voters could choose her for both MVP and DPoY.

A month ago, many were hoping Wilson wouldn’t injure herself with how many games the Aces had after the All-Star break. Not only has A’ja Wilson been on another level since play resumed, she’s finally getting needed help from the coaches and role players. Las Vegas has played like their former champion selves with how their offense shreds opposing defenses. They can keep up with almost every team on a nightly and weekly basis (except Minnesota) after their recent wins against New York and Phoenix.

Wilson’s performances this month show she’s not just a valid candidate for MVP, but still the league’s best player. Wilson’s 29 point performance on her 29th birthday (August eighth) led to a win in Seattle that gave the Storm their fourth straight loss and the Aces a top eight playoff seed. Two days later against lowly Connecticut, Wilson recorded the league’s first ever 30 point, 20 rebound game. Las Vegas had to fight for the victory, but there was never a doubt which team would win.

The Aces have won seven straight and nine of their last ten games. One factor that should help determine who wins MVP is how both teams would look without their stars. The Aces are not a playoff contender without A’ja Wilson. The Lynx boast one of the WNBA’s best players in Napheesa Collier, but anyone who has watched Minnesota closely knows the most important person on that team is coach Cheryl Reeve. The Lynx still haven’t lost a game since Collier injured her ankle in a 50+ point win against Las Vegas over two weeks ago. If Wilson missed over two weeks of the regular season, the Aces could be one of the worst teams to watch in professional sports.

There is balance and even irony here after Napheesa Collier tried closing the MVP race gap when A’ja Wilson won the award last year, because this year it’s Wilson trying to do the same to Collier. The most important factors will be how much longer Collier sits out and how Minnesota plays after a loss without her. If Las Vegas and Wilson keep winning pivotal games against the other top three teams before September, then the MVP conversation and pick may be a toss-up. Not to mention the other six teams will be upset the Aces are the worst team to play right before the playoffs. Only a well-built, well-coached and organized team could win a series against Las Vegas right now.

Reigning WNBA MVP center A’ja Wilson is second in points and rebounds, fourth in steals, third in blocks and double-doubles, and first in stocks and 30 point games this season.

Time for the final monthly power rankings of the regular season. Some teams will have tiebreakers based on how they perform on a neutral site.

#13 Connecticut Sun (last ranking: 13)

There is no doubt that this season has been one kick to the jewels after another for Connecticut. If it’s not being embarrassed each night and going in the record books for the wrong reasons, the growing takes about a bidding war regarding the Sun staying in Hartford versus moving to Boston dominate headlines. This may be one of the worst seasons a professional U.S. sports team has recorded in a long time.

#12 Dallas Wings (last ranking: 12)

There have been a lot of front office blunders and mis-managment this season. Very few understand why DiJonai Carrington was traded. Unanimous rookie of the year Paige Bueckers continues to play with an injured back. Coach Chris Koclanes seemingly has no idea what he’s doing nor can he utilize the best out of his forwards and centers. I would normally say the offseason would help, but with Dallas messing up more than one offseason, one has to wonder how much worse things can get.

#11 Chicago Sky (last ranking: 10)

Center Kamilla Cardoso has quietly been one of the best bigs since play resumed. Not only is she leading the team each game, she looks more confident and determined. Despite how well she has played, Chicago’s front office did nothing at the trade deadline and didn’t sign a meaningful player. How is it Indiana signed Odyssey Sims by August tenth when Chicago had at least two weeks to make the move? The Sky haven’t scored 80+ points since Angel Reese last played. Coach Tyler Marsh has no answers for how to improve the offense in the second half of each game and the schedule doesn’t get any easier.

#10 Washington Mystics (last ranking: 6)

Originally, the main article in these power rankings was supposed to be a proper conversation about Washington’s improvement since last season’s abysmal start. Then the Mystics traded Brittney Sykes to Seattle and last year’s first round pick Aaliyah Edwards to Connecticut. In the short-term, those moves torpedoed a lot of good feelings and serious playoff chances. What saves the Mystics from being worse than the three teams listed above is their front office’s long-term commitment to building a championship caliber roster via the draft and free agency. Washington drafted two talented rookie guards to build around and have made them the franchise faces. Now the Mystics have to add the proper forward and center depth around them this offseason.

#9 Seattle Storm (last ranking: 4)

In a complete and shocking reverse from last rankings, Seattle has tumbled since the All-Star break. Part of the fall is due to the trade for Brittney Sykes at the trade deadline and coaching. However, I see a more glaring problem: the Storm have an old starting five. Seattle’s double overtime loss to Los Angeles August second may go down as their most important game of this season and possibly this decade given how it exposed the team’s exhaustion against a younger, more inexperienced Sparks each minute. The Storm went from a dark-horse title contender to a probable, easy out if they make the playoffs. That is the biggest shock of the season.

#8 Los Angeles Sparks (last ranking: 11)

On the flip, Los Angeles’s double over-time home win against Seattle on August 2 may be the start of something special with this roster. The decision to give Cameron Brink a minutes restriction was a great call after her recent ankle scare in New York August 12. Brink looks fantastic after missing a year of play, and the starters are a handful for any team. Azura Stevens is an underrated three-point shooter and former Aces Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum compliment last year’s first round pick Rickea Jackson well. Outside of games against the Liberty, Mercury, and a weird loss to the Mystics, Los Angeles could roll into a lower playoff seed as one of the most dangerous teams this postseason.

#7 Indiana Fever (last ranking: 7)

Until they signed Odyssey Sims, injuries to Aari McDonald and Sydney Colson reduced Indiana to one starting guard. McDonald was also in the most improved player conversation after injuries to Kayla Thornton and Angel Reese. Many are left nervously wondering who else goes down to season ending injuries by next month, after guard Sophie Cunningham suffered what looked like a serious knee injury Sunday in Connecticut.

#6 Golden State Valkyries (last ranking: 9)

It’s a shame Kayla Thornton is lost for the rest of the regular season after suffering a knee injury after the All-Star game. It took a few weeks for Golden State to find a suitable replacement. Luckily they have something special with guard Tiffany Hayes. Hayes has played well this month as she’s second in team points and third in assists. The Valkyries drafted some great players their first year and coach Natalie Nakase could be a coach of the year finalist if Golden State hangs on to their current playoff position.

#5 Las Vegas Aces (last ranking: 8)

A’ja Wilson’s MVP-caliber play aside, two changes have made Las Vegas a better, more competitive team: trading for Dallas forward NaLyssa Smith, and coach Becky Hammon relegating Jewell Loyd to the bench.

Smith is already the second best rebounder on the Aces and gives her new teammates a cushion on defense. Her ability to take care of the opposing offense’s top scorer puts Wilson in better defensive positions and analyze how the offense can take advantage in transition.

The second change had to happen before September. Loyd’s play got worse each game and she had to be benched at some point. Then Loyd herself requested that she come off the bench. Having Jewell Loyd watch and analyze what’s going on to start each game, make adjustments and then substitute in could be the difference from Vegas going home early to favored for a deep playoff run.

#4 Phoenix Mercury (last ranking: 2)

I have Phoenix above Las Vegas because they would have the advantage of winning a full series. The Aces struggled most of their last game against the Mercury and many believe forward Kahleah Copper would have a similar, if not better performance (she usually plays well in the postseason). However, Phoenix has been one of the more inconsistent teams since play resumed. One could say the Mercury are trying to figure out how to play veteran DeWanna Bonner with the starters, but that doesn’t explain why they look great for a few games and awful the next one or two. For a team that has one of the most talented rosters in the WNBA, Phoenix has been a disappointment.

#3 New York Liberty (last ranking: 3)

The same can be said with New York, but their excuse is Breanna Stewart hasn’t and probably won’t play this month because of a leg injury. Whenever the Liberty were hot, a crucial player went out for a month with an injury. It’s a shame too because without the injuries, New York could be the league’s best team.

#2 Atlanta Dream (last ranking: 5)

My predictions for Coach of the Year are between Natalie Nakase, Cheryl Reeve, and Karl Smesko. Smesko’s work with Atlanta catapulted the Dream from playoff outlier to second best. Atlanta is the best rebounding team and hard to stop at the three-point line. The Dream also caught a big break considering star guard Jordin Canada is sidelined for two weeks with a hamstring injury. Atlanta can’t afford to be without Canada the whole playoffs.

#1 Minnesota Lynx (last ranking: 1)

It is almost unfair how good Minnesota is despite Napheesa Collier’s ankle injury. Almost. Not even 24 hours after Collier was went down, the Lynx went all-in and picked up the ambitious Dijonai Carrington from Dallas. Minnesota is more aggressive on defense and veteran guard Kayla McBride has stepped up on offense. It is hard to fathom how the Lynx wouldn’t make the championship with how they adapt each game.

Forward Dijonai Carrington was thrilled to be traded to Minnesota since she stated her desire was to win a championship.

2025 WNBA First Half Questions, Power Rankings and All-Star Analysis

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What a fun season first half. Ratings are climbing and there is more demand. Unlike last season, most awards will be toss-ups. Whoever wins the MVP, Rookie of the Year or Most Improved Player award will be talked about for at least half a year. The eight team playoff race should also have an exciting finish. The bottom three spots will be up for grabs and could be determined by which star players miss significant time in the second half of the season. Here are some main questions and talking points that stand out most with the second half of the regular season starting tonight.

Which team has the best chance of winning the championship this year? Could the New York Liberty repeat as champions?

Minnesota and Phoenix are two of the WNBA’s best teams after the All-Star break. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they faced off in the 2025 championship.

If New York wants to repeat their title run, they need star players like center Jonquel Jones fully healthy and role players like Isabelle Harrison scoring and out-rebounding opposing offenses. The Liberty have been streaky but were good enough to be the second best team at the break.

The two teams that have a good chance to reach and win the championship are Minnesota and Phoenix. Despite the number of games the Lynx played the last three weeks, they’re still the league’s best team. Forward Napheesa Collier is (currently) a lock for league MVP and is the first Lynx player to lead the WNBA in scoring since Maya Moore. Cheryl Reeve remains the league’s best coach and gets the most out of a roster where the second best player is veteran guard Kayla McBride.

Yet the Mercury could be the most dangerous team entering the second half. They signed one of the league’s best all-time scorers in DeWanna Bonner not even a week after Indiana waived her. For now, the 16 year veteran comes off the bench (even with Satou Sabally out with an ankle injury). Many expect she’ll be a starter at some point before the playoffs. The starting five of Bonner, Sabally, Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas and Kalani Brown can overwhelm opponents and make Phoenix the most dangerous team entering August.

National media still struggles to cover the WNBA objectively on almost every level

Sports media’s obsession with certain WNBA stars like Caitlin Clark still alienates real and new fans of the sports. The launch of Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman’s StudBudz livestream All-Star weekend could be the push towards refreshing content the league needs to promote from their stars and colorful personalities.

Multiple things can be true: a good amount of the sudden, spike of interest in the WNBA is because of Indiana Fever star point guard Caitlin Clark getting drafted number one overall last year. The last two drafts have introduced stars at multiple positions in multiple cities. There’s also a bias in reporting on certain players, teams and games that have made watching much of the last two seasons difficult.

Say whatever you want about Chicago’s star forward Angel Reese, she is in the news for every possible reason. Audiences know when she doesn’t play well versus when she dominates. Clark was said and promised to be a lot of things during and after last year’s rookie season. Her struggles ranging from dribbling weaknesses to her road game shooting accuracies have silenced major sports outlets like ESPN, FoxSports and CBS. In fact, ESPN’s Andraya Carter made a weird pivot to start July by saying the face of the league (which was said to be Clark) should be a player who’s shown staying power and won championships.

How fascinating that when the topic is the WNBA, actual sports broadcasters, journalists and analysts suddenly don’t know how to do their jobs. They can skip over certain players struggling as much as they’re not praising certain rookie players, improved teams or other issues plaguing the league’s progress. Number one pick of this year’s draft Paige Bueckers has surprisingly become the best player on the Wings (despite how veteran guard Arike Ogunbowale was consistently the best scorer and most well known name for the franchise). Sadly, the media doesn’t cover how well Bueckers plays because she doesn’t feed into certain narratives. Many new fans who would love to hear about Washington rookies Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron. Veteran stars like Kahleah Copper should be as celebrated and talked about on a level similar to A’ja Wilson. Unfortunately, the league and media covering them either lack incentives to promote certain players or seemingly try to sabotage the product put out.

This is why the launch of the recent Twitch livestream StudBudz by Minnesota Lynx players Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman last weekend was important and a rousing success. Not only were the shenanigans, fun, light-hearted or engaging interviews with numerous All-Stars a refreshing watch, they wound up going viral and talked about everywhere in the U.S. sports world. No one would ever do or replicate something as fascinating and must-watch worthy in the NBA. This is what the WNBA needs and should have more focus on instead of traditionally nonchalant (and often woefully ill-informed) outlets spouting their own biases with women’s sports.

The hardest award to determine will be Most Improved Player

Forward Kayla Thornton (5) has been Golden State’s best player this season and is a favorite to be nominated for most improved player.

The WNBA’s Most Improved Player award has a lot of competition this year. All but three women will miss out despite improved stats and contributions to their team’s successes. Right now serious analysts have Chicago’s Angel Reese, Golden State’s Kayla Thornton and Seattle’s Gabby Williams as the top three choices. These three are the top reasons why their teams stay in the playoff race.

  • Angel Reese has taken a big step forward after last year’s season ending wrist injury. Reese has improved her shut-down defense and rebounding presence while improving her shooting and free-throw accuracy. Reese has also refined her passing to open teammates and has more control over the team’s offensive rhythm and her shot selection.
  • Kayla Thornton is Golden State’s motor each game. The brand new Valkyries leading scorer, rebounder and defender came off a 2024 championship determined to repeat or at least drag her team into the playoffs. She was one of the WNBA’s most underrated players and impressed viewers in the All-Star game.
  • Last power rankings gave Gabby Williams the credentials showing why she will be nominated. She is top four in every major stat category for her team. The Storm is also the fourth best team and has more than enough to win a series against New York, Connecticut and Minnesota. That starts with Williams’ multi-faceted play.

Whoever wins this award will be a bigger name next season for both their teams and national ratings. All three teams will be wise to continue building around these stellar stars in the offseason.

The biggest story of the season is under-reported…and could determine what happens the next few years

WNBA player leadership had a daunting task at the recent CBA meetings in Indianapolis. Right now the players (led by President Nneka Ogwumike) and the owners (led by commissioner Cathy Engelbert) are far apart on negotiations.

The WNBA’s two seasons of incredible, new-found popularity have upended a lot of previous discussions about how much revenue share, media rights, free agency, balance and control for both the league’s top corporate promoters and players should share. Three years ago, every side knew the gradually rising popularity would guarantee more rights and proper funding from the owners and league’s front office. It probably wouldn’t have been as bitter a fight given how all sides knew there was a lot at stake for the league.

Gone are those days. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s timid ineptitude at every level of attempting to run an increasingly popular sport continues to hold the league back, even against the wishes of various owners. The players now have more support from the public, partly due to the talented bigger names recently added to the league the last few seasons. Right now, the impasse could be similar to the 2011 NFL CBA talks and what led to lockouts in the NHL back in 2004 and 2012. It may be devastating for the WNBA to have a partial or full lockout after the league has grown this much the last three years.

(From top left to bottom right) WNBA players Caitlin Clark, Nneka Ogwumike, Angel Reese and Breanna Stewart wear shirts advocating for better pay and rights in the All-Star pre-game warmups last Saturday. The move instantly grabbed the mainstream media’s attention.

Now, it’s time for the monthly power rankings. These show where all 13 teams currently stand. Some teams will have tiebreakers based on how they could perform on a neutral site.

#13 Connecticut Sun (last ranking: 13)

Future Hall of Fame center Tina Charles was asked if she considers retirement after 2025. The 15 year veteran responded that she thinks about it everyday. If Charles didn’t consider it before signing with Connecticut last offseason, she definitely has each game with the Sun.

#12 Dallas Wings (last ranking: 12)

Paige Bueckers will easily win rookie of the year. She leads Dallas in points per game (almost three more than her dangerous scorer teammate Arike Ogunbowale), assists and steals. Opposing defenses already struggle to defend Bueckers. If the Wings can add more help at forward and center in the offseason, there might not be a limit to Paige Bueckers’ game.

#11 Los Angeles Sparks (last ranking: 10)

The move to cut forward Satou Sabally after the last rankings was published was weird. Although the move didn’t spark too much of a change, the Sparks remain difficult to read. They cannot get past Chicago but can beat Indiana and a resurgent Washington. I guess when the mentality is to outscore the other team with little defense, it simplifies things.

#10 Chicago Sky (last ranking: 11)

Chicago’s two wins over Los Angeles and a throwaway loss against Atlanta gives them the top ten edge. The loss against the Dream has only one major takeaway: if Ariel Atkins and Angel Reese are out, center Kamilla Cardoso has to play better and be the main star. Cardoso is the highest drafted player on the Sky and was out-hustled by 12 year veteran Brittney Griner the entire game. Perhaps there was some exhaustion given how Cardoso came back from the AmeriCup tournament, but she can’t have another performance like that as the star again.

#9 Golden State Valkyries (last ranking: 7)

Some readers probably thought I was too harsh with the WNBA’s newest team starting off well and how it wouldn’t last, but I wasn’t wrong. The Valkyries are 1-5 in their July games. Fortunately, Golden State finishes the month with Dallas, Connecticut and Atlanta. If they don’t win two of the three, August could be worse.

#8 Las Vegas Aces (last ranking: 8)

Yikes, what a drop! Vegas went from the WNBA’s top team for two years to a three way tie with Indiana and Washington for the 6-8 spot in the rankings.

If the Aces miss the playoffs, missing out on signing DeWanna Bonner after she was waived by the Fever will be a big reason. Center A’ja Wilson is going to have to drag Vegas through five games to end July and she’ll need all the available help. It will be difficult for her to be at 100% all of August.

#7 Indiana Fever (last ranking: 6)

The only reason Indiana hasn’t cratered is because of their bench scoring. Guards Sophie Cunningham, Aari McDonald and forward Damiris Dantas have been underrated in how the Fever steal wins from quality teams like Atlanta. Whether healthy or injured, franchise star point guard Caitlin Clark has cost Indiana a better season. She has a lot to work on by next year or there may be some uncomfortable conversations.

#6 Washington Mystics (last ranking: 9)

Amazing what a year can do for a team. Washington started off the 2024 season winless after one month of play. One year later they’re in the best position to start August on a playoff run against the more favored Aces and Fever. While rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen will make more mistakes during this run, guard Brittney Sykes and center Stefanie Dolson should cancel a good number of them out with their production and drive. Serious basketball fans must watch the Mystics soon.

#5 Atlanta Dream (last ranking: 4)

If we eliminate the easy home win against Chicago, Atlanta has lost three of their last four games. Probably the best example of what the Dream can’t afford to do is what happened in their July 12th loss to Indiana. All-Stars Allisha Gray and Brionna Jones combined for 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Atlanta’s best players were embarrassed by a younger, more determined Fever. They can’t afford to lose games against teams fighting to clinch lower playoff seeds.

#4 Seattle Storm (last ranking: 5)

Seattle is a dark horse to reach and win the WNBA finals. Like Los Angeles, they have been inconsistent in a July split with Connecticut, wins against Minnesota and losses versus Golden State. If the Storm can get on a roll and not be a mystery box every night, this could be the most dangerous team this postseason.

#3 New York Liberty (last ranking: 3)

It took a longer time than expected for New York to play at a high level without center Jonquel Jones for a month. Her return this week and the recent signing of veteran champion forward Emma Meesseman will make the Liberty a more fun and interesting team to watch. No matter what happens this week, their first game of the season against Minnesota will be must-watch t.v.

#2 Phoenix Mercury (last ranking: 2)

I had Phoenix at number one until both Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally went down with leg and ankle injuries. The timing of signing DeWanna Bonner couldn’t have been better. Bonner not only comes off the bench and plays solid minutes, but she’s easing in as a starter before the playoffs start. This potential run could mean a lot for the Mercury given what veteran forwards Alyssa Thomas and Sabally said about the incoming lockout becoming more real (the latter going as far as calling the league’s new proposal, “a slap to the face”).

#1 Minnesota Lynx (last ranking: 1)

For anyone questioning why Minnesota remains number one, consider they played eight games in 13 days before the All-Star break and won six. The rest came at the best time for the Lynx. One thing Minnesota can add by next month is a center or quality rebounder. If the Lynx can find or trade for one, they will be the unquestionable favorite to win the championship.

MVP favorite Napheesa Collier found out how Sky forward Angel Reese can shut her down in the paint. Collier returned the favor the following game with 29 points in their second win of the season against Chicago.

June 2025 WNBA Power Rankings: The Sky is Falling in Chicago

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Sky center Kamilla Cardoso’s (10, black) having a rocky start to her sophomore season. Despite her personal best performance against Los Angeles June 24th, she’ll be playing overseas the next month, seriously changing how Chicago can play without a dual threat center.

It’s been a rough time for the Chicago Sky. They fizzled out of a playoff run after last year’s All-Star break and haven’t recovered. Once Chicago was eliminated, the takes, criticisms, and opinions poured in on how they should improve. Most were fair and honest with coaching, adding depth and better roster pieces, and even changing the focus from star forward Angel Reese to third overall pick center Kamilla Cardoso. Sky management had half a year to seriously look at and fix the issues holding the team back from a better and more successful season.

The result? Chicago is easily one of the worst WNBA teams this year.

To the organization’s credit, they did try to address a lot of last season’s issues that made the playoffs an afterthought. The Sky brought back and signed former franchise legend and point guard Courtney Vandersloot to usher a more stable backcourt transition in free agency. They also drafted guard Hailey Van Lith and forward Maddy Westbeld in this year’s draft. Van Lith would take over once she felt ready and grew her game next to two talented sophomore stars. Chicago also added guard depth signing Ariel Atkins and Kia Nurse. Those moves were meant to give Vandersloot and Van Lith a cushion. It would be rough to make a 14 year veteran and a rookie create and lead the offense a whole season.

Add in new coach Tyler Marsh and this was supposed to be a team contending for one of the eight playoff spots. While growing pains were expected, the Sky are awful in a list of categories. The offense is bottom three in the league from points per game to free throw percentage. Chicago is last in turnovers per game (17.8, yikes) and bottom five in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2) Next month’s schedule doesn’t get easier. They’re 4-1 against three of the four worst teams (Chicago has the third worst overall record) but winless against the top eight playoff contenders. The Sky can pick up some wins the next couple of weeks, but they have four games in July against Minnesota. Don’t be surprised if the Lynx leave with four wins and make Chicago look like one of the most inept teams this season.

There were complaints that the Sky made too many unnecessary changes by not bringing back leading scorer and talented point guard Chennedy Carter in the offseason. Carter made it known she didn’t want to come back unless coach Teresa Weatherspoon stayed. That wasn’t going to happen either because Weatherspoon was fired for a terrible end to the season for which she had no answers. (Yes, injuries were part of the season-ending slump but Weatherspoon was often out-coached), There were also reports suggesting she lost the locker room by playing favorites. Despite negative reactions from Weatherspoon’s firing, it was inevitable if there were internal problems and locker room leaks. As any sports fan understands, those problems don’t disappear because an offseason arrives. It grows the next season if not properly addressed.

This is what makes a lot of Chicago’s issues mind-boggling. The Sky never planned for what would happen if Courtney Vandersloot went down to a season ending injury. Hailey Van Lith is now the de facto starter, and while she may turn out to be a great player for the franchise, she’ll have a much different experience each game that she could’ve had better time preparing for if the team added better guard depth. Pundits want Chicago to make peace with Chennedy Carter and bring her back to the Sky. Carter isn’t going to come back anytime this year or next. Even if she could, her troubled past with multiple teams has been seen as too much of a liability. These same pundits also complain about the coaching change. Tyler Marsh might not be the right coach for this specific team/roster, but Weatherspoon wouldn’t do any better with this mess since she had no answers for how to make rookie center Kamilla Cardoso a consistent threat on offense and couldn’t get the most out of last year’s guard depth.

If the Sky added a coach with similar styles and experience like LSU’s Kim Mulkey or South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, this may be a much better, organized and disciplined team. It’s unfortunate both Cardoso and franchise star forward Angel Reese may not have the best chance of having that until next season.

If Chicago was serious about establishing a winning culture, they’d hire LSU’s Kim Mulkey by the All-Star break. Her success with Angel Reese and rookie Hailey Van Lith, plus added respect from Kamilla Cardoso could quickly fix most of the Sky’s on-court issues.

It’s time for the inaugural jdsportscorner WNBA power rankings. As I’ve done with the previous NBA & NHL rankings, these will show where all 13 teams currently stand. Some teams will have tiebreakers based off of how they’d perform on a neutral site.

#13 Connecticut Sun

Tina Charles is a top 25 WNBA player all-time, but if your current best player is a 15 year veteran playing close to 40 minutes a night, there’s a problem. The inconsistent Marina Mabrey is Connecticut’s second best player and now out at least three weeks with an injured left knee. This will be a long and stressful season for Sun fans, who also aren’t happy the team is in current discussions to relocate within the next few years.

#12 Dallas Wings

2025 first overall pick Paige Bueckers became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 200 points and 50 assists last Sunday. Dallas won’t have a great year due to how little defense they play, but the Bueckers pick is an instant success and should make the Wings a fun watch the next few seasons.

#11 Chicago Sky

Chicago picked up a much needed home win against the Sparks yesterday. Although this was the last game center Kamilla Cardoso will play with Chicago until near mid-July, (she will compete in the AmeriCup Tournament with Team Brazil starting June 28th) news that guard Moriah Jefferson could come back by the start of next month could make the Sky a more interesting team to watch. Chicago desperately needs a guard who can facilitate, play good defense, and take offensive pressure off Ariel Atkins and rookie Hailey Van Lith. We’ll also see how well team leader Angel Reese plays with no talented center taking pressure off her on both sides of the court.

#10 Los Angeles Sparks

Give Los Angeles credit for building a better roster than what they had two years ago. Unfortunately last year’s second overall pick Cameron Brink is still injured and guard Odyssey Sims has been out for personal reasons. That means the offense has to be almost perfect since the defense is a mess. Once both return, the starting five of Brink, Sims, Dearica Hamby, Rickea Jackson and Kelsey Plum can add another serious playoff contender to the western conference.

#9 Washington Mystics

The Sky are not the subject of the first power rankings article if they weren’t outscored 68-46 after a dominant first quarter and blew a 12 point first half lead against Washington on June 17th. Brittney Sykes’ 32 points were the major reason for a comeback, and further shows how desperate Chicago is to get better guards.

#8 Las Vegas Aces

Guards Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray each have 50 assists after a month into the season. Vegas is last in assists and that’s because they don’t have playmakers outside of Young, Gray or league MVP center A’ja Wilson. Jewell Loyd is a solid guard, but she’s not an upgrade over Kelsey Plum. Forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus is out for two more months because of pregnancy. Management has to get aggressive and sign someone like the newly, released DeWanna Bonner or make a trade for a few more complimentary players.

#7 Golden State Valkyries

It’s best to tune out the pundits and sports takes saying Golden State’s off to a great start in their first WNBA season. Six or seven teams look mediocre and earlier today, the Valkyries made an eyebrow raising move cutting guard Aerial Powers after she played well alongside Kate Martin. A rookie franchise is prone to making a lot of mistakes, but Golden State cutting top players doesn’t help their playoff chances.

#6 Indiana Fever

Are the Fever this good, or are the other seven teams that disappointing? It’s hard to get a read on Indiana as June ends, but it does feel like a team that could be dangerous after the All-Star break. Stephanie White is still learning and teaching a younger, more talented roster that will be around for a while. The Fever have to make sure no more injury concerns pop up this season.

#5 Seattle Storm

Gabby Williams makes Seattle a more complete team. She is the only Storm player who is top four in points scored (third), total rebounds (third), assists (second), steals (first), blocked shots (fourth) and three-point shots made (first). Seattle’s playoff and championship hopes depend on how well Williams plays.

#4 Atlanta Dream

The trio of Allisha Gray, Brionna Jones and Rhyne Howard gives Atlanta lots to love, but the free agent signing of Brittney Griner could be one of the most underrated additions last offseason. Griner’s defensive presence and veteran leadership makes the Dream one of the best defensive and rebounding teams in the WNBA.

#3 New York Liberty

First New York squeaked out some wins against Atlanta, Golden State and Indiana. Then they lost Jonquel Jones for almost two months to a right ankle sprain and their last three of four games. If the Liberty aren’t careful, that hot start to the season might be their highlight of 2025.

#2 Phoenix Suns

Kahleah Copper’s return instantly makes Phoenix a top three team in both the league and these rankings. Copper gives the Mercury an overwhelming edge to bully opponents in the paint on both sides of the court and the needed talent to put less skilled teams away early in games. Don’t be surprised if the trio of Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally make a run for the number one seed the next few months.

#1 Minnesota Lynx

Coach Cheryl Reeve and forward Napheesa Collier entered this season mad at losing the last game of the 2024 WNBA Finals. Collier is easily the league’s MVP choice a month into the season. Hopefully her back injury isn’t too serious because the Lynx are playing their best basketball since the mid-2010s dynasty days.

Napheesa Collier’s the first Lynx since Maya Moore to lead the league in scoring during the regular season.

2025 NBA Championship Finals Prediction

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The NBA conference finals went faster than many expected. Oklahoma City dominated Minnesota in five games while Indiana won a thriller series against New York in six. The Thunder lost only four games in three western conference matchups. Whoever wins this year’s championship deserves the praise and accolades. It’s time to break down which team has the best chance of winning their first franchise championship in the NBA’s 78th season.

#4 Indiana Pacers v. #1 Oklahoma City Thunder

This is the first thrilling NBA finals matchup we’ve had since Golden State won their last championship in 2022. Both teams are young, have fast-paced offenses and improved defenses. The Thunder have more depth while the Pacers have better coaching.

In both regular season games between Oklahoma City and Indiana, two things stood out: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored at least 33+ points, and forwards Luguentz Dort and Jalen Williams combined for 30+ points. There were roster changes and coverage improvements since both games were between late January and late March. Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton struggled shooting the ball in both games finishing with 50% accuracy or less and scored a total of 22 points.

If there is anyone who can elevate the Pacers in an unlikely finals run, it is coach Rick Carlisle. Back in 2011, Carlisle’s Mavericks won their first and only franchise title in what many believe is one of the most well-earned championships of all time against the star-studded Miami Heat. Unlike those Mavericks, the Pacers never beat their finals opponent in the regular season. If Carlisle steals a few wins against Oklahoma City, Haliburton has to play better, forward Pascal Siakam and center Myles Turner have to play their best on both ends of the court and bench players like Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell need to win their matchups against Cason Wallace and Jaylin Williams.

Unlike last year’s finals, the favored team won’t have it easy. Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault doesn’t have experience coaching in the NBA finals compared to the Pacers’ Rick Carlisle. This series could have a rough patch for the young, mostly inexperienced Thunder. Regardless of probable hiccups, Oklahoma City showed how to clamp and shut down Indiana’s stars. If the Thunder win this series, they’ll go into the offseason with a championship trophy, lots of draft capital and a parade to plan. Oklahoma City’s first franchise championship will make them the envy of the league and general manager Sam Presti one of, if not the best general manager in American sports this century.

Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 4-2 and win their first ever Larry O’Brien Trophy

2025 NBA Eastern Conference Second Round Playoff Predictions

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The first round was fun but didn’t have many surprises or upsets. New York’s last second win in Detroit helped avoid a full, seven game series. Cleveland swept Miami and both Boston and Indiana took care of Orlando and Milwaukee respectively in five games. All teams in this upcoming round made it to last year’s semi-conference finals. The Celtics and Knicks have great offenses and defenses to make a fun series while the Pacers will be more of a challenge for the Cavaliers. Two of the remaining four will advance to the conference finals. Time to break down which of the two have the best chance to make round three.

#3 New York Knicks v. #2 Boston Celtics

New York point guard Jalen Brunson (11) might not be enough to overcome Boston forward Jaylen Brown (7) and center Kristaps Porzingis (8)

This is the easiest series in either round. New York cannot beat Boston to save their lives. Asking the Knicks to beat the Celtics four times in seven games is too much. Pencil in Boston for the eastern conference finals.

Prediction: Celtics win series 4-1

#4 Indiana Pacers v. #1 Cleveland Cavaliers

If Cleveland wants to make this a fast series, players like center Jarrett Allen (31) have to shut down Indiana’s offense each game.

This isn’t the easy series many expect for Cleveland. Both teams pulled their starters in two of their four regular season games and Indiana has improved each week and month. We’ll see how ready the Cavaliers are to take the next step by winning a championship without LeBron James.

Cleveland is fortunate to have the better roster depth and to know the Pacers weren’t challenged much last round against Milwaukee. Both teams will go all-out in this series and try to undermine the other’s patience. Unlike the Cavaliers, Indiana’s defense isn’t as good and still reverts to bad habits when tested by star scorers. It might be a longer series many expect, but there’s no doubt who wins.

Prediction: Cavaliers win series 4-2

Eastern conference first round playoffs record: 4-0

2025 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Playoff Predictions

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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

2025 NBA Western Conference First Round Playoff Predictions

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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

April 2025 NBA Power Rankings: The Warriors Are Back in the Championship Conversation

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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.

March 2025 NBA Power Rankings: Texas Held ‘Em- The Probability of Why Dallas Dealt Away Luka Doncic

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There’s still shock over Dallas trading franchise star Luka Doncic (77) to the Lakers.

There’s irony in the biggest trade of the NBA season taking place less than a week after I published the last power rankings. For those who read the January rankings, you knew something was off after Dallas lost to Charlotte and New Orleans. These were the same Mavericks who beat Houston, Cleveland, Memphis and Denver before those losses. Everyone assumed Dallas had to make a minor move near the trade deadline and adjust their mindset given the opponents on the late February and early March schedule. The Mavericks made changes all right, but not the expected ones.

By now, you’ve heard Dallas traded face of the franchise and star point guard Luka Doncic and forwards Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris late night February first to the Los Angeles Lakers for former league MVP center Anthony Davis, shooting guard Max Christie, and a 2029 first round pick. Utah was involved and got point guard Jalen Hood-Schifano and two 2025 second round picks from each team.

Since the trade happened on a Saturday night, regular sports programming was disrupted. Everyone in the U.S. found out about it in different ways and each one left the announcers, reporters, fans, and even Utah Jazz general manager Danny Ainge in shock. Why and how could the Mavericks decide to trade their franchise cornerstone star to the LeBron James-led Lakers? Was general manager Nico Harrison as dumb as fans first thought? What happened behind closed doors that made Dallas decide to give up not just one talented star, but two talented forwards not even a full season after reaching the NBA Finals?

There are still no clear answers to any of these questions despite what Harrison and majority owners Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont publicly said. Many speculated Adelson, a big donor to the State of Israel, needed to recoup personal funds after the year and a half long war. That meant giving up the Mavericks’ biggest asset. When asked about the trade, Harrison remained adamant that Luka’s health and eating regimen were detriments and could no longer be tolerated. If that’s the case, Harrison shouldn’t have let go of the team doctor almost two seasons ago after forward Jalen Brunson was traded to New York. (The doctor reunited with Brunson shortly after.) Regarding the weight issue, one could reasonably argue that New Orleans’ Zion Williamson should be traded, and he’s never led the Pelicans to a conference championship.

Perhaps the main reason Doncic was traded stems from legal battles taking place between Miriam Adelson versus the state of Texas. Many were confused when one of Adelson’s responses about Nico Harrison trading their star point guard was, “the team isn’t moving to Vegas.” Not only was Adelson not asked about the status of the team, but the answer was at an inconvenient moment. It turns out the reason she said it stems from an ongoing lawsuit with state authorities over planned casinos in Dallas’ home stadium, American Airlines Center. Miriam Adelson has a point saying legalized gambling brings massive profits to professional basketball. She wants to make more money by adding the “Vegas experience” and two casinos within the stadium. Texas however still has laws in place that prohibit this despite the recent pushes by the state legislature and governor Greg Abbott. It was reported as far back as 2023 that Adelson and former majority owner Mark Cuban (who helped push the campaign) wanted to expand gambling within the state. Casinos were seen as an option.

Despite these pushes, the Texas judiciary hasn’t budged. The most likely reason for the Luka Doncic trade might be because the trio of Miriam Adelson, Patrick Dumont and Nico Harrison decided to force the public’s hand. That meant making a radical decision. If that meant trading Doncic to the league’s most popular team, so be it. It would throw the Dallas-Fort Worth area in chaos, but it would also let the state know how serious ownership is about making more money than it is about winning. Legalized gambling would make fans feel upset if the team gets worse, but the opportunities to win more money tempts other residents.

While this theory (and court case) may hold up as the main reason, it’s also possible Harrison thought the roster would be more balanced with bigger forwards and needed center depth. Kyrie Irving could go back to playing point guard while Klay Thompson returns to his starting role at shooting guard. It’s not a bad idea and there’s enough talent to make the postseason. However, the loss of Doncic and two talented forwards while getting an injury prone center may very well eliminate any chances the Mavericks have of returning to the NBA finals for at least a decade. Players now know the organization doesn’t reward nor respect loyalty despite their constant messaging for over 25 years. Miriam Adelson could be the real winner in the end, but the team and fans are the biggest losers.

Luka’s now the new stunning face of Los Angeles.

Here are the second power rankings of the calendar year. This will be the third and last time you see this notification in the regular season. Like the NHL rankings, some have tiebreakers based off how teams perform on a neutral site.

#30 Washington Wizards (last ranking: 30)

This is starting to be a destination players go to end their careers. First Khris Middleton was traded to the Wizards, then Marcus Smart. The veteran leadership could help younger talent develop but it’s more likely one of the two retires once the regular season ends.

#29 Utah Jazz (last ranking: 29)

The oddest part of the Dallas-Los Angeles-Utah trade might have been when general manager Danny Ainge said he only knew the specifics of the trade 30 minutes before it happened. There are league rules that can override and veto trades if they aren’t seen as fair or well-balanced. Ainge could have let the league know even by text ahead of time but chose not to.

#28 New Orleans Pelicans (last ranking: 27)

It is unfortunate Dejounte Murray suffered another serious leg injury this season. Murray’s season ended after he tore his achilles February first versus Boston. It’s been a brutal season of injuries for New Orleans.

#27 Charlotte Hornets (last ranking: 28)

Charlotte became the first team in NBA history to lose three straight games by 35+ points. One factor in those losses is the lack of talent the Hornets have outside star point guard LaMelo Ball and forward Miles Bridges. Charlotte sports fans should turn their attention to the Carolina Hurricanes the rest of this season.

#26 Toronto Raptors (last ranking: 26)

Toronto won three games in February. That is not a surprise given how hard the schedule was for the Raptors. What’s surprising is how that didn’t affect their postseason odds. Philadelphia and Chicago are awful and Brooklyn is inconsistent. Toronto has an easier month and a half left and could sneak into the play-in.

#25 Philadelphia 76ers (last ranking: 23)

Speaking of Philadelphia, this has to be one of the most disappointing teams we’ve seen. Former league MVP center Joel Embiid is shut down the rest of the season with lingering knee injuries, forward Paul George is still whining about mediocrity and having to stop side hustles from interfering with his play, and the 76ers have lost eleven of their last 12 games. The Trust the Process era is over.

#24 Brooklyn Nets (last ranking: 25)

It doesn’t help that despite a good February, Brooklyn lost to lowly Washington twice. Injuries and suspensions played a part in four of the five losses to end last month and could cost the Nets a play-in spot. Losing close games to Oklahoma City and Cleveland because De’Angelo Russell’s injured or Nik Claxton is suspended one game adds up after a while.

#23 San Antonio Spurs (last ranking: 21)

Outside of trading for Sacramento star forward De’Aaron Fox, February was one of their worst months in franchise history. San Antonio lost both sophomore star center Victor Wembanyama to blood clots in his right shoulder and future Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich to health setbacks after suffering a stroke in November. Then starting point guard Chris Paul said he was retiring after this season. The Spurs will miss the play-in, but it’s a rare time most viewers are relieved given the serious issues holding back San Antonio’s improvements.

#22 Chicago Bulls (last ranking: 22)

The Bulls kept Nikola Vucevic despite rampant trade rumors but dealt Zach LaVine to Sacramento when there’s no solid option at power forward. This again proves why Chicago’s one of the worst run teams in the NBA. It’s no wonder the Spurs see them as a great trade partner.

#21 Portland Trailblazers (last ranking: 24)

Don’t be fooled with this placement. Portland has improved as I talked about in the last rankings, but that doesn’t mean they’re close to being a top 20 team. If anything, this says more about the teams behind them and how far some have fallen.

#20 Phoenix Suns (last ranking: 20)

Hilariously, Miriam Adelson wasn’t the worst owner or loser at the trade deadline. That honor goes to Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia who relentlessly told the media all of 2024 there was no way star forward Kevin Durant would hit the trade market. When reports broke out days before the trade deadline that Ishbia was trying to see what he could get for Durant, it was understandable Durant’s reaction would be negative. Kevin Durant now wants out due to Mat Ishbia’s two-faced guarantees. The Suns might lose a lot more talent in free agency because their owner doesn’t know when to shut up.

#19 Atlanta Hawks (last ranking: 12)

Thankfully the Hawks came back to earth. Though they’re 28-34, Atlanta’s back in the play-in and the east has stabilized. We can all breathe relief.

#18 Miami Heat (last ranking: 18)

Jimmy Butler getting traded refreshed the locker room and let the players get back to playing hard. Yet Miami is 5-8 since trading Butler to Golden State (the Warriors are 9-2 with Butler). It might take a while for the team to fully move on from owner Pat Riley’s tantrum.

#17 Orlando Magic (last ranking: 13)

New Orleans gets a lot of heat for how poorly they’ve played despite injuries. Orlando is in a similar position, but they still won a lot of games due to great coaching and how younger stars like Paolo Banchero don’t want to lose. It may not look like it right now due to current struggles and inconsistency, but the Magic have improved. They’re just learning the hard lessons many teams go through before making deep playoff runs.

#16 Dallas Mavericks (last ranking: 14)

I originally wrote the Mavericks would be fine in the short-term due to how the current guard tandem of Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson would be enough to get them into the play-in, but after Kyrie Irving tore his ACL in a blowout home loss to Sacramento, I don’t know if Dallas can hang onto the last play-in spot. Imagine being a Mavericks fan since the Luka Doncic trade and seeing the series of events that have taken place after January. The first two months of 2025 must feel like two different years for Dallas.

#15 Sacramento Kings (last ranking: 19)

I’m also not sure pairing DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine is a good idea considering how things didn’t work out in Chicago. More importantly, LaVine isn’t better than De’Aaron Fox. At some point the Kings front office must decide if this roster is enough to get back to the second round of the playoffs.

#14 Minnesota Timberwolves (last ranking: 17)

Star shooting guard Anthony Edwards improved some of his play last month. However, the rest of Minnesota isn’t doing well. The Timberwolves turn the ball over a lot and have struggled against most playoff contending teams with better records. They didn’t have consecutive wins until this past week. It’s a bit surprising given some of the roster improvements, but general manager Tim Connelly has more work to do in the offseason.

#13 Los Angeles Clippers (last ranking: 10)

That was a disappointing month for Los Angeles. Losses to Toronto, Detroit and both the Pacers and Lakers (twice) knock them into the play-in. That’s a shame given how well they’ve looked most of the season.

#12 Golden State Warriors (last ranking: 16)

Golden State getting Jimmy Butler was the best, immediate impact trade at the deadline. The Warriors go from a play-in team to top five in the west. Golden State now has to make the decision of what seed they want. Some analysts believe the seed opposite of where Memphis lands in the first round. The Warriors should at least try for a top four seed and draw a team like Houston. It’s a better choice than drawing Denver on the road to start round two of the playoffs.

#11 Detroit Pistons (last ranking: 15)

Nobody could’ve predicted Detroit just outside a top ten power rankings or close to having a top ten league record to begin March. Not only is J.B. Bickerstaff a great choice as coach of the year, but Cade Cunningham could get some league MVP votes. He’s in the top three for almost every team stat.

#10 Indiana Pacers (last ranking: 9)

Their lethal offense is back. Indiana put up at least 110 points in all but one game in February and show no signs of letting up after their routs against Chicago and Houston. The defense has faltered but there’s still time to get back to the late 2024 improvements before the postseason.

#9 Milwaukee Bucks (last ranking: 7)

There was criticism over Milwaukee trading a veteran star like Khris Middleton to Washington for forward Kyle Kuzma. Before February ended, the Bucks had the highest scoring trio in the league with 72 points per game from Kuzma, Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. If Milwaukee keeps this production the next two months, there may not be a team that can stop them in a seven game series. That’s big for a team that lost forward Bobby Portis Jr. to a 25 game suspension.

#8 Houston Rockets (last ranking: 4)

I flipped Houston with Denver on this list because March is where veteran playoff teams start to distance themselves. The Rockets are a young, rising and well-coached team, but let’s keep in mind the teams listed below would win a best of seven series against them. Houston’s inexperience shows at times and that’s ok. Growing pains were predicted.

#7 Los Angeles Lakers (last ranking: 11)

For anyone who’s read this blog over the years, you know there’s caution exercised against teams (no matter the sport) that add at least one super-star. Just because Los Angeles added Luka Doncic, doesn’t mean they’ll go to the NBA Finals. The Lakers have a lot of holes on defense with Anthony Davis now in Dallas, though the Doncic-led offense cancels out most of those issues. Despite the winning streak, the Los Angeles has a lot to work on. Let’s see how things are in April.

#6 Memphis Grizzlies (last ranking: 6)

Memphis didn’t have a great February, but it wasn’t enough to knock them out in the rankings. The Grizzlies need to bounce back after some questionable losses. March will say more about where Memphis is headed than any month the last year and a half.

#5 New York Knicks (last ranking: 5)

It’s possible I leave New York at five in the next rankings too. Via ESPN, the Knicks are 0-7 against the Thunder, Cavaliers and Celtics. New York is stuck as the third best team in the eastern conference. While that says how good they are, it also says how high their ceiling is with this current roster.

#4 Denver Nuggets (last ranking: 8)

Every loss Denver took last month was against a really good or improved team. Playoff experience makes the ranking swap with Houston logical. The Nuggets will be hard to beat the next two months.

#3 Boston Celtics (last ranking: 3)

As a matter of fact, the first to third spots could stay the same next month too. The Celtics had some struggles last month and it’s more confusing than the previous ones. Sometimes teams get bored before the playoffs, but this isn’t a team that looks bored. It leaves one to wonder what’s going on behind closed doors.

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder (last ranking: 2)

The NBA Network had a great discussion after Oklahoma City’s overtime loss to Minnesota on February 24th. The Timberwolves found ways the last quarter and a half in regulation and all of overtime to constantly double-team MVP candidate point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It slowed down an offense that scored 102 points in three quarters, to 26 the last two. Watch for this to be the new method on how to stop the Thunder, especially in the playoffs.

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers (last ranking: 1)

Not only was Cleveland the first team to lock up a playoff spot, they’re the most fun team to watch every night and currently have a 12 game winning streak. Shooting guard Donovan Mitchell should win league MVP this year for how he has both elevated his game and made everyone around him better.

Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell (45) is having his best season yet.

Analyzing a Decade into Adam Silver’s Tenure, Part Two: A Wounded League Limps Through Disasters It Created

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NBA ratings have fallen for years. Some factors for the decline include the league leaning on older veterans stars and poor promotion.

Read with discretion: this article contains multiple, public opinions that have been supported and given the green light by the editor, promoter and owner of this website. These views contain the true thoughts of the writer in regards to what’s going on with one of America’s top sports.

In part one of Adam Silver’s decade long analysis, I wrote about a lot of active, on-court issues the league’s struggling with such as All-Star game changes, the in-season tournament and sometimes lack of respect for current leadership. Many people agree the new rules created many issues that’s turning the sport into a laughingstock (see Philadelphia 76ers). Puns are everywhere online and even shows like TNT’s Inside the NBA joke about them. While a lot of these issues can be quickly fixed, the long term problems show the league’s in worse shape than many believe.

The biggest issue is the rise of sports gambling since its legalization in spring 2018. Play rapidly became an afterthought. Yes, the profits are too good to pass up and there are many benefits the move brings. However for this league, it’s a cause for concern. For those who may not or don’t remember, former referee Tim Donaghy fixed NBA games in the early and middle 2000s before sports gambling was legalized. Donaghy began as an honest ref who cared about the game. However his eventual greed led to a lifelong ban from the sport. Throughout then-commissioner David Stern’s tenure, there were theories and reports of rigging games, seasons, stats and even dynasties (Shaquille O’Neal’s story on how he went to Orlando is worth a read if you’re suspicious). That doesn’t go away just because the executive changes or something becomes legalized. On the contrary, it grows.

Many believe the NBA, like the NFL, is so enamored with promoting sports betting and gambling that it’s affecting on-court play. Last spring, Raptors forward Jontay Porter was subject to an investigation into betting on his personal performances. Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert accused referees calling fouls on him to be on the take, feeding into the narrative officials fix games in order to meet a certain over/under or matched stat lines for star players. Then there’s Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff who told media outlets that when he coached Cleveland, fans/gamblers got ahold of his phone number and insinuated things about his family over a parlay.

Legalized sports gambling has affected every major North American sport, but Adam Silver was the first commissioner and executive to openly embrace it once the U.S. Supreme Court legalized the industry. A good number of viewers aren’t enamored with the NBA anymore because of nightly or weekly bets. We’ve seen people go from fans and viewers of the game to watching the sport because they can hit a parlay or a correct over/under if certain stat-lines and point margins are final.

This isn’t the only financial issue the NBA’s going through. Since the pandemic ended, Silver’s failed to promote its product to a broad range of people. Consider this: when Michael Jordan retired from Chicago in 1999, he took 50% of the NBA fandom. Jordan’s popularity was (and still is) unlike anything we’ve seen outside the NFL. It grew so much that when he left the NBA the sport never recovered nor found the desired replacement. This isn’t about stars Kobe Bryant or LeBron James not being some of the best players since Jordan retired either. It’s about who could win the public over in droves and entertain like none other.

Losing half the fandom with a retirement meant an inevitable decline. We’re now seeing the effects. NBA supporters are mostly older adults (anyone born in the early 1990s and before) or those who became fans last decade. Casual fans are at a loss and struggle to follow what goes on. Ask the average NBA fan who was this year’s number one draft pick. They might know the team that had the pick, but not the player. What about the other picks in the top five? That’s a serious problem.

Both audiences and players are hit with another financial problem: the sport is expensive. Unless you have a kid who’s into basketball and played it recently or even gone to summer camps, it would be eye-opening to learn that the sport costs around $30-100 an hour to train. Playing for an AAU team costs around $300-600. That’s without travel, shoes, food, hotels, gas, fluids and much more factored in. Watching the sport is expensive too. Many audiences found out when the Los Angeles Clippers opened their brand new stadium, tickets cost around $200 to attend, and that’s without parking fees. Then there’s television and broadcasting rights issues. Most games aren’t shown on national television, dampering potential interest on new or rising fans. The league’s making so much money because of t.v. deals but struggles to air games that would draw huge ratings. A great example of this was December first’s Houston Rockets v. Oklahoma City Thunder 6 p.m. (U.S. central time) game. It was a matchup between what’s now the top two teams in the western conference and it should’ve been aired on either ESPN or TNT. Instead it was blacked out on all t.v. stations and was only aired if someone bought NBA’s League Pass.

This is why the NFL is king and everyone else takes a backseat. For all the complaining audiences and analysts do about the U.S.’ most popular sport, commissioner Roger Goodell has an understanding of when to air and flex games. The NFL even passed rules to flex certain matchups on different nights of the season. Sadly, the NBA usually airs one of four teams (usually New York, Boston, Golden State or a team from Los Angeles) and let the remaining 26 fight over what’s left.

Finally, one of the biggest issues the league has is competing against overseas programs that play more physical and have better coaches. Some stars recently said that leagues in China are better because they play the more physical 1990s and early 2000s version of basketball. Former champion point guard B.J. Armstrong said earlier this month that, “the coaching there (Europe) is better than over here.” Former players recognize that the sport’s top talent is coming from Europe, Africa and even east Asia. It won’t be a surprise when the NBA’s problems grow and top talent leaves to play elsewhere.

Nothing’s more American than gambling your future away in a bundle for NBA League Pass. For the love of God, please call that number.

Here’s the first power rankings of 2025. Similar to the NHL rankings, this one will be objective in placement as there’s been just two articles throughout the season.

#30 Washington Wizards (last ranking: 30)

The trade of Jordan Poole to Denver for Michael Porter Jr. says more about how the Wizards didn’t want Poole anymore. Poole wore out a six win team. He has nowhere to go but up.

#29 Utah Jazz (last ranking: 29)

Another point about the gambling fiasco that isn’t talked about is how it affects games from the coach perspective. Jazz coach Will Hardy had an eerie warning when asked by Salt Lake Tribune beat writer Andy Larsen on how common this is. Hardy said that while it hasn’t reached the tension J.B. Bickerstaff had in Cleveland, he admitted fans yell crazy things at him every night. At least one person from the crowd; home or away go off on a particular player, the spread, points, rebounds, minutes, or fouling at the end of games. This will get worse before it gets better.

#28 Charlotte Hornets (last ranking: 26)

Charlotte’s won five of their last ten (including a split with the Suns) and stole a win from Dallas on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Considering the Hornets won one game last month, they look good to start 2025. Now they have to work on offensive scoring.

#27 New Orleans Pelicans (last ranking: 21)

If we want to defend the NBA for one thing that’s out of their control, it’s the promotion of a younger generation of players who were labeled the next big stars. The league and many fans of the sport believed Pelicans forward Zion Williamson was going to be the next big name back in 2019. Commissioner Adam Silver, analysts and fans couldn’t foresee his weight issues, constant injuries or him getting bogged down in porn scandals. In five seasons, Williamson went from the hottest name and number one pick to being suspended for showing up late to the team’s January 10th flight to Philadelphia and possible trade talks. He’s played in fewer games this regular season than NFL San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall, and Pearsall was shot in the chest before training camp. You can’t blame that on the commissioner.

#26 Toronto Raptors (last ranking: 28)

Toronto won more games in January than they did all of December. The Raptors weren’t going to make the play-in but losing all but two games to end 2024 damages a potential run to end the regular season.

#25 Brooklyn Nets (last ranking: 19)

The current losing streak all but eliminates Brooklyn from any potential play-in talk. It’s surprising given how many good players are on the roster. General manager Sean Marks could deal a lot of talent at the trade deadline in March.

#24 Portland Trailblazers (last ranking: 25)

More teams are learning to play Portland hard. The Trailblazers occasionally steal a win from contenders like Denver or Milwaukee. Whether it’s Chauncey Billups’ coaching or a better roster this season, there’s sustainable growth and development.

#23 Philadelphia 76ers (last ranking: 27)

Nothing highlights the on-court problems plaguing the NBA like Philadelphia. If Joel Embiid’s load management stories weren’t bad enough, the ongoing Paul George controversies where he’s bored of playing center makes anyone laugh, scream or grow outraged. Certain dynasties, stars and eras have been hated more for doing less, but boredom of playing a position and sitting out games because of small injuries has got be one of the most blatant offenses to the sport and anyone looking up to athletes. It has to be fixed.

#22 Chicago Bulls (last ranking: 24)

Given how sloppy and soft the 76ers are, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Bulls clinch the last play-in spot early. Despite the constant trade rumors of forward Zach LaVine, Chicago plays hard and has enough to keep the three game gap ahead of Philadelphia.

#21 San Antonio Spurs (last ranking: 23)

If there’s any young star the NBA needs to slam audiences in the face with, it’s San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama. Last month he became the first NBA player to record multiple games of 10+ blocks at the age of 20 or under. Wembanyama plays in a beautiful city that’s growing in size and popularity and is located in the second most populous state. San Antonio is also well integrated and friendly to foreigners. This is a reflection of the demographic changes within the U.S. and if the NBA can’t capitalize off of the perfect opportunities Victor Wembanyama creates for marketing, the sport will not survive.

#20 Phoenix Suns (last ranking: 12)

The decision to move on from guard Bradley Beal and center Jusuf Nurkic means Phoenix’s front office was fed up with how both players underachieved. It also helps keep franchise star forward Kevin Durant satisfied and find better complimentary players. Don’t be surprised if the Suns trade for talented players in Brooklyn or New Orleans in March.

#19 Sacramento Kings (last ranking: 14)

Maybe the firing of former coach of the year Mike Brown was justified. The team regressed after a return to the playoffs two years ago and a trip to the play-in last year. However there’s uncertainty and a disturbing feeling that the players quit when things got difficult. Right now it won’t matter because the Kings have won seven of their last ten. It is something to keep in mind when Doug Christie has the interim tag removed and there’s another losing streak.

#18 Miami Heat (last ranking: 20)

The Jimmy Butler fiasco is a black eye for the organization. Butler’s personal issues go back to earlier 2024 and the franchise hasn’t let up. Owner Pat Riley’s been right on a lot of things throughout his time in the NBA but this is not one of them. If anything, Riley might have alienated a lot of top talent from ever coming to play for the Heat. As for Butler, it would make sense to let him go where he wants with little pushback.

#17 Minnesota Timberwolves (last ranking: 7)

Watch this important four and a half minute clip that aired on January second on TNT’s Inside the NBA after Boston beat Minnesota 118-115. What Shaquille O’Neal said about what’s gone on with franchise star guard Anthony Edwards at the 2:03 mark was perfect. Edwards is a young, fantastic player who’s still learning how to read defenses. Opposing teams don’t care about complaints and they sure don’t mind if he isn’t learning when to pass the ball and find open lanes to the basket. Kenny Smith had a great followup on how great players make their teammates better by making plays and the focus on being a scorer. That clip is the Timberwolves’ lesson from the 2024-2025 regular season.

#16 Golden State Warriors (last ranking: 6)

Wow. Golden State went from one of the western conference’s best teams to being just outside the play-in. A lot of issues keep popping up and it’s a wonder they’re still competitive any given week. The Warriors will be active at the trade deadline. Who they trade and move on from is hard to predict.

#15 Detroit Pistons (last ranking: 22)

There are a lot of underrated stars in the NBA but Detroit’s franchise star point guard Cade Cunningham is one of the most overlooked. After a dismal 2023-24 season, Cunningham’s in the top three of the Pistons scoring, rebounding, assist, steals and block shots stats. Detroit will be a fun postseason watch if they can make the play-in or steal a top six playoff seed.

#14 Dallas Mavericks (last ranking: 11)

It’s one thing to lose by double digits to Houston, Cleveland, Memphis and Denver. Most viewers knew all four would be some form of good this season. Losses to lowly New Orleans and Charlotte in a week was concerning. Dallas has to play better next month if they want to reach the playoffs and not have a hard opponent in the play-in round.

#13 Orlando Magic (last ranking: 5)

Injuries battered Orlando the last month and a half. Losses included both Wagners, Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac and Cole Anthony. While former first overall pick Paolo Banchero returned, the Magic are bottom three in almost every offensive category. No one needs the All-Star break more than Orlando.

#12 Atlanta Hawks (last ranking: 18)

Atlanta’s 10-12 since the last rankings and for those keeping track, that means they’re a hilarious 22-24 throughout the season. Hawks fans may not like how I’ve made their beyond average record a running theme, but this is how sports journalism works. It’s also alarming that Atlanta’s a few wins from being top four team in the eastern conference.

#11 Los Angeles Lakers (last ranking: 9)

NBA Network had a wild stat for the Lakers; they have have lost by 20+ points seven times this season, the most for any team in the league. For the most part Los Angeles has been a solid team most of the year. When the Lakers play well, they can hang with almost anyone. When they lose, they play like one of the NBA’s worst teams. Go figure.

#10 Los Angeles Clippers (last ranking: 10)

Only Oklahoma City and Memphis have won more than 17 home games this season in the western conference. Intuit Arena is glamorous and the Clippers finally play well in their new building. While it was later than anyone expected, it wouldn’t be a shock if that gave Los Angeles a different kind of home court advantage the rest of the season.

#9 Indiana Pacers (last ranking: 17)

The top offensive unit from 2023-2024 is finally back after sleepwalking through the first two and a half months of the season. Indiana should be fun to watch next month with how everything’s clicking on offense and the defense has improved.

#8 Denver Nuggets (last ranking: 4)

Center Nikola Jokic proves almost every game he’s the best player in the NBA. Outside of Jokic, Denver can’t figure out who’s their second best player. While most agree it’s point guard Jamal Murray, he needs to get back to his old championship form and forward Aaron Gordon has to step up. It would be a shame if the Nuggets can’t make another deep postseason run because no one outside of Jokic breaks out.

#7 Milwaukee Bucks (last ranking: 15)

Many believe Milwaukee’s the team that trades for Heat star forward Jimmy Butler after the organization told forward Khris Middleton he’s out of the starting lineup indefinitely on January eighth. Last week ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported forwards Middleton, Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton could be moved to bring in a major impact player. If Butler is that player, the trade would vindicate the Damian Lillard move and instantly make the Bucks the championship favorite…even if Doc Rivers is their coach.

#6 Memphis Grizzlies (last ranking: 16)

It shouldn’t surprise many readers Memphis is this high. Unless you were new to the NBA last season, the Grizzlies haven’t been awful for a while due to their abundance in young talent. With few injuries this year, Memphis picked up where they left off in the 2022-23 season. Now viewers can wonder if they’ll make a deep playoff run.

#5 New York Knicks (last ranking: 6)

New York looked tired until they picked up three wins last week. If the Knicks keep this winning streak going, they could be one of the league’s best teams the second half of the regular season. That should worry the other eastern conference favorites.

#4 Houston Rockets (last ranking: 13)

Houston’s progress is legit and they don’t yet have a top ten scoring offense. General manager Rafael Stone’s building a roster that will be dangerous for years to come. Beating the Rockets in a best of seven series will be hard for any western conference team to do no matter the veteran talent available.

#3 Boston Celtics (last ranking: 2)

If any other NBA team was 32-15, we’d be praising their playoff potential and coaching. Boston’s looked vulnerable much of the last month and a half which is surprising given how they could jump over Cleveland. Perhaps the Celtics will unleash that next level once March starts, but it’s got to be puzzling for those who look at the roster and last year’s championship and not see a team dominate almost every game.

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder (last ranking: 3)

Thunder fans may not like this ranking but the team up next has the better conference and home record. Plus Oklahoma City is still young and figuring out how to play to their strengths. That’s chilling for the rest of the league.

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers (last ranking: 1)

Donovan Mitchell is having an MVP season (he’s top four in team stats in points, rebounds, assists, and steals) and Kenny Atkinson is an easy coach of the year candidate. Cleveland’s held up after their fiery start to the season and it doesn’t look like that’ll end anytime soon.

Guards Jaylon Tyson (left) and Darius Garland (right) celebrate during a thrashing of Phoenix on January 20th.