Tag: lebron-james

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.

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.

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.

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.