The 2024-25 NBA regular season ended in anticipation of a thrilling western conference playoff race. MVP front-runner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are favorites to make a deep run to the championship while the young Rockets want to prove they can compete and beat the best veteran teams. No one should underestimate the resurgence of Golden State or of either Los Angeles team. Denver remains the team everyone wants out in order to have a fair chance at the finals. Four talented squads will advance to the second round. Time to break down which four have the best chance.
#8 Memphis Grizzlies v. #1 Oklahoma City Thunder
Memphis will put up a fight, but Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is too much for the Grizzlies guards.
This should be one of the most fun first round series. Memphis and Oklahoma City have great guard and forward duos. Both teams have roster depth the remaining six western teams covet. Despite their similarities, there’s a clear winner here.
The Grizzlies have the players to double-team MVP favorite guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Should Memphis stick to that game-plan, the Thunder will let guards Alex Caruso and Luguentz Dort take more shots and chances to lead the offense. Oklahoma City also has the advantage at center with Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams over the Grizzlies Zach Edey.
Prediction: Thunder win series 4-2
#6 Minnesota Timberwolves v. #3 Los Angeles Lakers
There’s a lot of pressure on Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards to repeat last year’s postseason run to the conference finals.
There are a lot of fun storylines and history both teams share. Los Angeles revamped their roster mid-season while Minnesota upgraded theirs last offseason. Both teams have great guards and forwards. Even depth scoring and coaching have improved since the All-Star break.
The Lakers do have the better point-guard matchup with Luka Doncic over Mike Conley. Although Doncic and veteran forward LeBron James play great in the regular season, they elevate their performances once the postseason starts. Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards will keep the series close, but he can’t do it all by himself.
Prediction: Lakers win series 4-2
#7 Golden State Warriors v. #2 Houston Rockets
No matter what happens in this matchup, this will be the series in which Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) takes the next step in being a franchise star player.
One could not find a worse first round matchup for Houston if they tried. Golden State is 4-0 all-time in playoff series against the Rockets and has the second best league record since the trade deadline. While Houston is the best rebounding team and plays well around the basket, they’re ill-equipped to handle the Warriors exceptional shooting and improved all-around play. Coach Ime Udoka will use every tactic available to keep the series close, but there is only so much he can do before point guard Steph Curry and forward Jimmy Butler III take over and dominate game pace.
Prediction: Warriors win series 4-1
#5 Los Angeles Clippers v. #4 Denver Nuggets
Two of the NBA’s best players in Nikola Jokic and Kawhi Leonard are fully healthy. That makes for the best first round series this postseason.
This is the best first round series in either conference. Los Angeles is fully healthy and Denver has played better since coach Michael Malone was fired. Not only is MVP candidate Nikola Jokic fun to watch, it will be interesting to see how star forward Kawhi Leonard counters him on defense. Clippers guards James Harden and Kris Dunn will have a hard time defending Nuggets guards Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook. Los Angeles center Ivica Zubac is a good counter to forward Aaron Gordon.
If there are weaknesses on either team, it’s bench depth. Both franchises have great starters, but at some point Los Angeles has to rest theirs given how each has previous injury concerns. Denver can substitute their starters without worrying how it’ll take a toll on the team later in the postseason.
Prediction: Nuggets win series 4-2
Regular season western conference playoffs and play-in predictions record: 5-4
This could not be a more polarizing first round in the eastern conference. There are thrilling state and provincial rivalries, and then there are two simpler matchups. Despite the Washington Capitals being the best team in the east, their brilliant coach has never led a franchise into the postseason. The Carolina Hurricanes again have pressure to make it past the first round faster than their future opponents. The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators look to upend everyone’s predictions while Florida and Tampa Bay make another push to return to the championship round. Most teams have their hands full against deep rosters wanting a conference finals appearance. It’s time to break down which four teams have the best chance of advancing to the second round.
#7 New Jersey Devils v. #4 Carolina Hurricanes
Injuries to star players put more pressure on the rest of the roster (like forward Jesper Bratt) to do more against the tough Hurricanes.
This is the most lopsided NHL first round series. New Jersey won’t have center Jack Hughes, defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, and forward Timo Meier due to injuries. Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic has been benched due to conflicts with coach Sheldon Keefe. Carolina has the conference’s best home record, and their offense yearns to run the score up against a top five defense. This will be a fast series and an ugly end to the season for the Devils.
Prediction: Hurricanes win series 4-1
#8 Montreal Canadiens v. #1 Washington Capitals
Despite the one seed v. eight seed matchup, Washington v. Montreal will be violent and full of fights. Special teams will determine how fast the series ends.
Montreal remarkably went from the NHL’s second worst team to start 2025, to clinching the last playoff seed in either conference earlier this week. The Canadiens have a passionate, young and talented core coached by former Hall of Fame champion Martin St. Louis. They’re smart and constantly adapt to whatever situations are thrown their way.
Unfortunately, that won’t be enough against the top seeded Capitals. Washington had a top three offense and a top ten defense. Coach Spencer Carberry may the weakest link since he has not seen the playoffs as a coach before, but veteran team leaders Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome and Charlie Lindgren easily out-match Montreal’s young and inexperienced core.
Prediction: Washington wins series 4-2
#6 Ottawa Senators v. #2 Toronto Maple Leafs
The Battle of Ontario returns to the postseason for the first time in 21 years.
The Battle of Ontario could be the most important first round series in either conference. The winner not only plays the winner of the Battle of Florida series, but could wind up going to the conference finals depending on next round’s opponent.
Ottawa’s return to the postseason since their 2017 eastern conference finals appearance brings renewed vigor to the nation’s capital and the franchise’s fandom and ownership. Toronto has improved on defense and has the offensive firepower to outscore almost anyone, but the Senators are on another level when it comes to their provincial rivals. Usually, one wouldn’t pick the regular season series winner to replicate their success in the playoffs. However, the temptation to pick Ottawa wins out because they swept the regular season five game series against the Maple Leafs. Toronto tried to beat the Senators in different ways, but none were successful. If they had played each other three times, the Maple Leafs would be favored. Five straight losses to rising Ottawa shows how this series will turn out.
Eastern conference upset prediction of the first round: Senators win series 4-1
#5 Florida Panthers v. #3 Tampa Bay Lightning
Despite injuries and revamped rosters, the new round of the Battle of Florida will be fun to watch. Viewers want a nasty, seven game series.
If it’s not the Battle of Ontario winner, the Battle of Florida winner will determine who advances to the Stanley Cup finals in the eastern conference. The Sunshine State has represented the conference in the last five championship appearances. There’s a great chance the streak continues.
Florida and Tampa Bay look even to the average fan. To be fair, this is a 50/50 pick. For those who enjoy watching film, there are variables that decide who advances. The Panthers were battered with injuries to start 2025. Losing big name players like defenseman Gustav Forsling and forward Matthew Tkachuk were recent blows to Florida’s chances of winning the Atlantic division. Both are expected to play at some point, and the return of defenseman Aaron Ekblad (was suspended due to illegal substance use) are pluses. While this sounds good, it puts the Panthers at an early disadvantage against the determined and red-hot Lightning.
Tampa Bay is top three in total offense and defense. They know how to find every team’s weaknesses and play their best against championship contenders. The Lightning’s roster is fully healthy, focused and better coached this time. They also have the home ice advantage. Additional pressure on the Panthers to repeat last year’s championship run tilts this in Tampa Bay’s favor.
Prediction: Lightning win series 4-2
Regular season eastern conference playoffs prediction record: 6-2
The NHL’s western conference was the first to have every playoff spot clinched. Seeding was final after last weekend. Many wonder if either of last year’s conference finals participants can replicate their success and represent the west in the conference championship. No western team wants to go two years in a row without winning the Stanley Cup. President’s Trophy winners Winnipeg Jets improved this season but drew a difficult first round opponent. Los Angeles and Vegas have the capabilities to make deep playoff runs.Finally, the Colorado Avalanche have returned to their Stanley Cup champion selves after serious roster moves at the trade deadline. Only four teams will advance to the second round. Time to break down which four have the best chance.
#6 Edmonton Oilers v. #4 Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles’ 5-0 shutout win in Edmonton last Monday could be a preview for what happens in this first round series.
For the fourth year in a row, the Kings and Oilers face off in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Edmonton won the previous three matchups in seven, six and five games. This time Los Angeles is in the best position to win the series.
The Kings wound up with the best home record in the NHL and coach Jim Hiller has improved the roster’s playing style. Hiller’s decision to have a five forward look after the acquisition of forward Andrei Kuzmenko is brilliant and makes Los Angeles nearly unstoppable.
The Oilers have been inconsistent since Four Nations ended, and the health of star players has been their biggest issue. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm will miss the entire first round. Forwards Zach Hyman, Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane won’t be fully healthy. By contrast, the Kings’ five forward rotation preserves the health of defensemen Drew Doughty and Joel Edmundson. Los Angeles’ success coupled with the Oilers continuous struggles means the Kings should finally get past their rivals into the second round.
Prediction: Kings win series 4-2
#5 Colorado Avalanche v. #3 Dallas Stars
If Dallas has any chance of winning this series, depth players like defenseman Thomas Harley (55) have to play their best, all-around hockey.
Two months ago, we saw this as the best first round series in any conference. Dallas went all-in at the trade deadline for former Colorado forward Mikko Rantanen. The Stars’ seven game losing streak has them in panic mode and coach Peter DeBoer has no answers.
Meanwhile, the Avalanche are back to their dangerous selves and got some extra rest after a Sunday win in Anaheim. Their new goaltending duo of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood will fluster Dallas’ already frustrated offense and power-play units. Colorado also has better coaching and higher confidence.
Prediction: Avalanche win series 4-1
#7 Minnesota Wild v. #2 Vegas Golden Knights
Forward Matt Boldy’s played more games without scoring depth than he probably imagined and wanted to this year.
Many believe this series has the potential to be the NHL’s best and longest in the first round. As goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury’s legendary career draws to a close, the Wild finally have all their star players back and healthy for the playoffs. Unfortunately, they drew one of Fleury’s former teams for the first round. Vegas knows how to beat Minnesota in many ways. Unless the Golden Knights suffer serious injuries, the Wild don’t have a chance of winning this series. Vegas has a lot of former champions, scoring depth, shutdown defensemen and great coaches. These veterans won’t be phased by Minnesota’s last hurrah for Fleury, a goaltender they originally acquired in their 2017 expansion draft.
Prediction: Golden Knights win series 4-1
#8 St. Louis Blues v. #1 Winnipeg Jets
2025 Jordan Binnington is playing like the legend he was in 2019. That’s bad news for Winnipeg.
We’ve been here before. Of course the President’s Trophy winning Jets drew the most challenging first round opponent for any team. Coach Jim Montgomery made sure St. Louis clamped down on defense and improved on both offense and the power-play. This Blues team is eerily similar to the 2018-19 championship team that also faced Winnipeg in the first round of the playoffs.
The Jets won the regular season series but they’ll be without forward Nikolaj Ehlers for most of the first round. Winnipeg also has a lot of pressure to win a series after last year’s jaw-dropping collapse against Colorado. St. Louis has no pressure and is riding all kinds of highs after early season struggles. If that isn’t daunting enough, the superb play of Four Nations champion starting goaltender Jordan Binnington has been stellar. Binnington’s aggressive style will further frustrate the Jets offense and special teams deep into the series.
Western conference upset prediction of the first round: Blues win series 4-3
Regular season western conference playoffs prediction record: 6-2
Golden State’s interior went from overmatched to one of the league’s best after the trade deadline.
There was a startling trade in early February that sent the media into a frenzy. A superstar on a southern team that recently went to the NBA finals was traded to a pacific division franchise in California. The southern team that traded away their superstar clinched a play-in spot this past weekend while the California team is closer to a championship run than the last few years.
That’s right. As most know, the most immediate impactful trade at the deadline was Jimmy Butler III going from Miami to Golden State. The Warriors went from hanging on to a play-in spot to most likely to land the sixth, fifth or fourth seed. Given how Golden State’s star point guard Steph Curry is 37, passing the play-in round is important. Not only are the Warriors in a position to clinch a middle seed, they’ll draw an easier first round opponent should they remain in the top six.
Let’s take a look at the other teams in or tied for the top six, starting with both Los Angeles teams. The Lakers are still figuring out how to play point-guard Luka Doncic and forward LeBron James together. They had an inconsistent March despite quality wins. The Lakers might not play Golden State in the first two rounds. Meanwhile, the Clippers are playing their best basketball. There are questions about the long-term health of stars like Kawhi Leonard and Ben Simmons, but this team is likely to clinch a middle seed and avoid the Warriors unless it’s the conference finals.
Three younger teams dominate half the remaining spots. The Oklahoma City Thunder is the favorite to at least make the conference finals. Houston has impressed and is the second seed in the west. Memphis is the more veteran of the three and has better depth. The Thunder and Rockets have done well, but serious predictions show neither will last long in the postseason due to how their young cores don’t have as much playoff experience. The postseason shows which teams learn the most about their opponents’ weaknesses. We don’t know how Oklahoma City will play if MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is constantly double teamed. The Grizzlies may be an interesting watch, but general manager Zach Kleiman fired coach Taylor Jenkins last week (more on that later). Memphis could be one of the first teams out of the playoff race in both basketball and hockey should they stay in a slump.
That leaves the Denver Nuggets as the lone competent, veteran and former championship team. Not only does their future depend on the health of center Nikola Jokic, guard Jamal Murray and forward Aaron Gordon, the organization took multiple hits when owner Stan Kroenke fired both general manager Calvin Booth and coach Michael Malone this past Monday afternoon. It’s possible the Nuggets fizzle out and get bumped into the play-in bubble. Denver’s play will determine who gets to the conference finals. That means Golden State’s only real threats are the inconsistent Lakers and the falling Nuggets. Given how both teams played in March, they could also be eliminated before the conference finals.
Both Charles Barkley on TNT’s Inside the NBA and Bob Myers on ESPN believe Golden State is the best team after Oklahoma City in the western conference. Some of those reasons include better rebounding and interior play with Butler and Green working together near the basket, a more consistent scoring threat to help take pressure off Steph Curry, and Butler’s instant desire to win helps younger players like Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga play better without doing most of the scoring. The Warriors lost four games in March, three to lesser, play-in opponents. Their losses to Denver and Houston have been the only real challenge to the revamped roster.
It’s almost hard to believe most of Golden State’s 2024 stories were questions surrounding possible Steph Curry trade rumors this upcoming offseason to sports analysts on every major network and website wondering if this will be the franchise’s fifth championship in a decade. Not only is winning a title a possibility, most analysts believe it wouldn’t be a shock if the Warriors dominate the postseason. General manager Mike Dunleavy turned desperation at the trade deadline into a winning formula in one month.
Golden State’s Steph Curry (30) takes a three point shot in Madison Square Garden March 4th. Despite some minor injuries this season, Curry’s played well the last month because he’s not relied on to create all the scoring opportunities.
Here are the final 2024-25 NBA regular season power rankings.
#30 Utah Jazz (last ranking: 29)
After their March 31st 110-106 loss to Charlotte, Utah clinched their first 60 loss season in franchise history. Despite how long it took to reach this milestone, there were no positive moments for the Jazz this year. Thankfully, no one will remember.
#29 Washington Wizards (last ranking: 30)
Washington went from having one road win the first four months of the regular season to winning more on the road than at home to start April. The Wizards had a predictably awful 2024 but there are some positives to build on for next season.
#28 Charlotte Hornets (last ranking: 27)
Star point-guard LaMelo Ball was again placed on season ending injured reserve last month. Charlotte needs to prioritize adding depth scoring and getting to the free-throw line. All options should be considered on how to build a playoff-contending team.
#27 New Orleans Pelicans (last ranking: 28)
Starting forward Zion Williamson and shooting guard C.J. McCollum were placed on season ending injured reserve March 31st. Williamson played 30 games this season and McCollum’s not the same player he used to be. The Pelicans have big financial troubles and could dump most of their roster to both cut costs and not build a team in free agency. New Orleans is a failure after going all-in for and with Zion Williamson.
#26 Philadelphia 76ers (last ranking: 23)
Whenever ESPN does a 30-for-30 on the 76ers Trust the Process era, it is going to be a wild watch. How mind-blowing that after the mid-2010s historically awful tanking by Philadelphia, none of it paid off in the draft, mid-season trades, or free agency. The highlight of Trust the Process is the infamous 2019 second round playoff exit where then-Raptor Kawhi Leonard hit a game winning three pointer and sent the Sixers home crying. No one could have predicted that before or after the COVID-19 pandemic.
#25 Brooklyn Nets (last ranking: 24)
How much does ownership regret not building a more competent team over trading for forward Kevin Durant and signing point guard Kyrie Irving? Much like Phoenix (more on them later), Brooklyn blew up a talented young core to try and make the NBA finals. The Nets were half a foot behind the three-point line away from the finals and maybe a championship. Still, would Brooklyn have been more competitive and in a better place than the previous win-now mindset?
#24 Toronto Raptors (last ranking: 26)
Toronto’s a great example of why it’s hard to make a play-in spot if there are too many losses before the final month and a half of the regular season. The Raptors won all but five games in March, but three of the five were by three points or less. Toronto had to win all seven of their April games and hope Chicago and Miami bottomed out in theirs. What a disappointing way to end the regular season!
#23 San Antonio Spurs (last ranking: 23)
As if February didn’t bring enough hardships, newly acquired forward De’Aaron Fox had season ending surgery on his left pinkie finger shortly after the last rankings were published. There are few teams that wanted the season to end faster than the Spurs.
#22 Phoenix Suns (last ranking: 20)
For the new readers and subscribers to this website, there is a great article about Kevin Durant in one of the first power rankings back in January 2024. With Durant done, Phoenix has to figure out how to re-build a competitive roster. To think the Suns at one time did an eight game trial run with Durant, Chris Paul, DeAndre Ayton and Devin Booker (the quartet was 8-0 playing together) before blowing it up for Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic shows exactly why this is the oldest NBA franchise to never win a title.
#21 Portland Trailblazers (last ranking: 21)
Coach Chauncey Billups struggled to make good decisions last year in Portland. This season he has done a much better job of coaching younger players, analyzing games and playing his starters’ minutes more efficiently. There weren’t many poor performances, and management has surprised viewers with how the Blazers’ roster is still developing and playing hard almost every game.
#20 Chicago Bulls (last ranking: 22)
Right now the national media wonders if Chicago will extend guard Josh Giddey or let him go back to Oklahoma City or sign with another team this offseason. The bigger questions are what will the Bulls do with guards Lonzo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu? Ball cannot stay healthy and probably should retire given how long it has taken his legs to recover. Trade rumors with Dosunmu have been constant since December. Chicago has been locked into the play-in round for a while. Will their frugal owner want to do a re-build again instead of paying top talent? We’ll find out in the upcoming months.
#19 Miami Heat (last ranking: 18)
Miami lost all but one game in March until the recent five game winning streak. Coach Erik Spoelstra is doing his best with what he has on the roster but this is not a team that will be taken seriously once the playoffs start. Don’t expect a stellar offseason either with how well former star Jimmy Butler’s playing and how he immediately re-signed to stay in Golden State.
#18 Atlanta Hawks (last ranking: 19)
If we took Atlanta’s hilarious mediocre records aside, third year guard Dyson Daniels should be a big name in the NBA right now. He has 224 steals in 74 games, averaging three per game. No one has had 200 in the last 15 years and no NBA player’s averaged three a game in the last 35 years. Dyson Daniels will be fun to watch in the play-in.
#17 Sacramento Kings (last ranking: 15)
Remember in February when I wrote interim Doug Christie had it easy until the next negative issue came up? Sacramento has lost eight of their last 12 and 12 of their last 18. The Kings are back to early season struggles and former franchise star forward De’Aaron Fox’s words about how it was the roster and not former coach of the year Mike Brown that let the team down rings more true now. The Kings might have a full re-build incoming.
#16 Dallas Mavericks (last ranking: 16)
Given everything that has happened to Dallas since February, would it be fair to put Jason Kidd in the coach of the year nomination? I don’t think most, if any of the other 29 coaches could do what Kidd’s done in two months. The Mavericks have a blueprint on how to stay competitive and despite rumors possible forfeited games due to most players being injured early to mid-March, Dallas has won five of their last ten games. The Mavericks could be favored in their play-in elimination game depending on who they play. That’s just as good as what Kenny Atkinson or Mark Daigneault’s done.
#15 Orlando Magic (last ranking: 17)
A young, competitive team is going to take bad losses once in a while. All of Orlando’s losses in March were to playoff hopefuls. On the plus side, the Magic snapped Cleveland’s impressive 17 game winning streak, won by 12 against the Lakers, and beat Milwaukee by two. Orlando is building something special that viewers should pay attention to the next few years.
#14 Detroit Pistons (last ranking: 11)
The only reason Detroit has bumped down despite their east conference position is because of how well Golden State has done since the trade deadline. The Warriors’ rise means a good number of teams got bumped a bit lower. The Pistons became the first NBA team this century to triple their total wins in one season. Detroit’s first round opponent will have their hands full.
#13 Milwaukee Bucks (last ranking: 9)
Milwaukee’s hopes for a deep playoff run ended when star point guard Damian Lillard was put on season ending injured reserve due to deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. Remember, forward Bobby Portis is still serving his 20+ game suspension. There is no guard depth that will keep the Bucks in close games against championship caliber opponents. That’s a shame since Milwaukee was playing some of their best basketball before Lillard’s diagnosis.
#12 Los Angeles Clippers (last ranking: 13)
If Los Angeles wound up as the seventh or eighth seed, they would give the second or first seed a lot of problems. Right now star point-guard James Harden and power forward Kawhi Leonard are fully healthy. Center Ivica Zubac and guards Ben Simmons and Kris Dunn are fantastic on defense. While it would be miraculous if everyone stays healthy given past injury patterns, the Clippers could do a lot of damage once they’re past the play-in round.
#11 Memphis Grizzlies (last ranking: 6)
It has been a chaotic April for the Grizzlies. Taylor Jenkins did a great job with a talented young core that at times needed more discipline. While we don’t know much about exactly why Jenkins was fired despite Memphis being the fifth seed before April first, one possible factor could be how the coach’s voice lost its impact within the locker room, according to Daily Memphian Chris Herrington. Another possiblity was Taylor Jenkins’ decison to diminish franchise star point-guard Ja Morant’s primary role in the offense. If so, that is a bold move coming from the general manager and front office. Morant’s injury history along with his on and off-court scandals involving firearms were valid reasons Jenkins may have believed a younger, more complete team was worthy of pivoting and playing to their strengths each week. General manager Zach Kleiman had better be right about this.
#10 Minnesota Timberwolves (last ranking: 14)
Minnesota has lost two games by more than five points once since the beginning of March. The Timberwolves are playing how many envisioned before the regular season began. The whole team is confidently playing their best and have beaten a lot of playoff contenders since the last rankings.
#9 Indiana Pacers (last ranking: 10)
It’s official. The third to sixth seed matchups we see in the first round of the eastern conference playoffs are the quartet of Milwaukee, Detroit, Indiana and New York. Indiana is the most exciting of the four teams and most dangerous. The Bucks and Pistons stand little chance of getting past their division rivals, but the Knicks would love a rematch of last year’s series if the Pacers take a few more losses by Sunday.
#8 Golden State Warriors (last ranking: 12)
How great would the Warriors be right now if Klay Thompson had stayed and general manager Mike Dunleavy still made the Jimmy Butler trade? Steph Curry might have more than 30 points per game and a better field goal and three point percentage (49% and 43% respectively). Golden State might also have more points off turnovers (25.3), turnovers forced (18.1) and assists (31.3) since the Butler trade. All three of those latter stats are best in the league. It’s possible we’d again be talking about how unfair it is the Warriors have another stacked roster and their dynasty won’t end.
#7 Denver Nuggets (last ranking: 4)
Years from now, we might look back at Denver’s double overtime home loss to Minnesota April first and wonder what would’ve happened had Russell Westbrook made his last second layup in double overtime to seal the win. The Nuggets struggled to score when center Nikola Jokic wasn’t playing and crumbled on defense after they started the game with a 21-5 lead. Former championship coach Michael Malone went off on his players for how they stopped listening to him and then Denver lost every game since that missed layup. This is a pivotal time for the Nuggets.
#6 Los Angeles Lakers (last ranking: 7)
Per Stat Mamba Luka Doncic averaged 30 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 8.6 apg, 4.3 3pm and a 40.5% 3pt in March. He’s the youngest Laker to average 30+ points per game in a single month since Kobe Bryant in 2003. Luka playing this well on a new team he was randomly traded to while recovering from mid-season injuries is terrifying for the other 29 teams.
#5 Houston Rockets (last ranking: 8)
There’s a lot to love with how Houston plays, especially when they out-rebound opponents and dominate near the basket. The Rockets can beat almost every team except the title and conference championship contenders. Any young, rising team would love to be where Houston is right now.
#4 New York Knicks (last ranking: 5)
Turns out New York gets a promotion after last month. They’re easily the best team of the third to sixth seed quartet. Now they have to focus on how to beat Boston and Cleveland.
#3 Boston Celtics (last ranking: 3)
Don’t let the ranking deceive you. Boston is the most dangerous of the top three teams in the NBA right now and they are heating up at the best time. Still, they also are not the unstoppable juggernaut they were last year. A series with Indiana, New York, Cleveland or Orlando could push the Celtics to at least six games. Boston also isn’t playing near the same level as western teams like Oklahoma City or Golden State.
#2 Cleveland Cavaliers (last ranking: 1)
It took until the beginning of April for Cleveland to fall out the number one spot. Losing four of eight games after their winning streak snapped against Orlando is part of it but the Cavaliers also needed some rest before the regular season ended. Three wins in four games to start the month helps.
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder (last ranking; 2)
Pick any Oklahoma City stat from this season, from the average point differential to the top scoring duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, nothing compares to this one: the Thunder went 29-1 against the eastern conference. That’s unheard of in league history. If OKC somehow wins the conference championship, nothing will stop them from winning the NBA finals.
MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander eases around Chicago’s Patrick Williams (44) during Oklahoma’s 145-117 home rout of Chicago on March 31st.
Mitch Marner’s OT winner in Boston February 25th sealed a three-goal comeback win by Toronto and pushed the Bruins closer to elimination from postseason contention.
Sports viewers have certain absolutes until they officially end. Some in the U.S. include Gregg Popovich coaching the San Antonio Spurs. Buffalo is forever cursed in the sports world. The unluckiest score in Atlanta, GA is 28-3. The best American college football rivalry is Ohio State and the University of Michigan.
One could say the NHL’s Boston Bruins making the playoffs every year due to veteran leadership and consistent play was a guarantee. It certainly seemed so, until this year. Boston has had a mediocre season since game one back in mid-October. The Bruins were so average, they fired coveted coach Jim Montgomery less than a month into the regular season.
There was a small winning streak after Montgomery’s firing, but there’s been no positive impact. If forward David Pasternak doesn’t score or get a point in a game, Boston probably loses. The Bruins are bottom ten in total offense and defense at five-on-five. The power-play is bottom five because of the anemic talent level. Every team penalty-killing against Boston knows who will get the on-goal shots and who’s the biggest scoring threat: Pasternak. The lack of offensive creativity was a problem before Halloween. Now discipline is a factor since Boston is tied for most penalty minutes.
But wait, it gets worse for Bruins fans. Two of their top scorers were dealt at the trade deadline. Former captain Brad Marchand had the second most points with 47. He had 21 goals and 26 assists before general manager Don Sweeney dealt him to last year’s Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Marchand was upset about this in his opening press conference. He’s right to be emotional. No NHL viewer can picture Marchand without him wearing the black, white and yellow wheeled B jersey. He was there for 16 years and helped the franchise win their first title of the 21st century. Marchand was a key player when Boston returned to the finals twice after winning a championship. The Bruins and Brad Marchand were a perfect pairing that equaled success. Sweeney traded him for a 2027 second round pick.
Marchand wasn’t the only trade piece Don Sweeney unloaded the last calendar year. At the deadline, Sweeney traded once coveted center Charlie Coyle to Colorado. The Avalanche struggled with roster depth until early March when general manager Joe Sakic made this move. Colorado is now in position to make a run at the one seed in the western conference. Don’t forget last offseason’s drama regarding which goaltender Boston would trade away. Former starter Linus Ullmark was dealt to Ottawa for their starting goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and forward Mark Kastelic. Many expected Ullmark would be moved but trading him to a rising playoff contender and division rival wasn’t a good idea. Right now the Senators are the seventh seed and Linus Ullmark has solidified their defense. On the other side, Korpisalo hasn’t played much this season and Kastelic’s still buried on a thin depth chart.
There were criticisms against Boston’s front office, general manager and owner back in (at least) the 2010s. Serious hockey analysts compared Don Sweeney to former Detroit Red Wings general manager and executive vice president Ken Holland. While Holland lasted longer and won more titles, the all-out trades to win a championship paired with no future roster depth developed in minor league programs mirror each other. Holland was lauded for his moves in Detroit as they almost set a record in playoff appearances. Almost. Tell me how that has worked out for them the last nine years.
It’s easy to say Sweeney and owner Jeremy Jacobs are the problems. The latter has always been an easy media target for his economic views. Sweeney has overstayed and done everything possible to keep his power. There’s no doubt the Bruins must begin a long, agonizing rebuild once the season ends. David Pasternak, Jeremy Swayman, Charlie McAvoy, Morgan Geekie, Pavel Zacha and Elias Lindholm are trade pieces Boston can use to get a haul of draft picks, aging talent and role players to help cushion the incoming fall. For the rebuild to succeed, Don Sweeney cannot return and meddle in the assessment of talent. He’s done enough damage.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney made aggressive trades to keep Boston a top team in the NHL for a decade. Now the Bruins will be aggressive in a re-build after those trades failed to result in a championship.
Here’s the final 2024-25 NHL regular season power rankings.
#32 San Jose Sharks (last ranking: 32)
The rookie of the year race is filled with four impressive names and San Jose’s first overall pick center Macklin Celebrini is one of them. Celebrini’s tied on the Sharks for most points and became the ninth player in NHL history to score 20 goals before the age of 19 on March 7th. While his optimism isn’t enough to drag San Jose out of last place, the team has improved. The Sharks have played harder compared to March 2024. Even if Celebrini doesn’t win rookie of the year, San Jose has a lot to look forward to the next few seasons.
#31 Chicago Blackhawks (last ranking: 31)
It would’ve been interesting to see how better the Sharks were had they kept center Ryan Donato. Donato leads Chicago in goals scored and is third in team points and assists. Letting go of Ryan Donato cost San Jose a chance of getting further ahead in their rebuild.
#30 Buffalo Sabres (last ranking: 30)
From defenseman Rasmus Dahlin being asked by reporters if he wants a trade, to TheAthletic ranking Terry Pegula the worst owner in the NHL, it has been a forgetful year for Buffalo. It wouldn’t be a surprise if both Dahlin and veteran star forward Tage Thompson push to leave this offseason. If former center Dylan Cozens was relieved get out after he felt he lost the love for the game (he’s not the first to say this within the last decade), that says a lot about how awful the organization is on and off-ice.
#29 Nashville Predators (last ranking: 29)
General manager Barry Trotz took the safe option and didn’t deal the franchise stars or top scorers. That appers to be a good decision since the first line of Luke Evangelista-Ryan O’Reilly-Steven Stamkos are finally playing well. It’s too little, too late for the Predators to make a playoff run, but this bodes well for next season if Trotz doesn’t make drastic changes.
#28 Seattle Kraken (last ranking: 28)
Sometimes we should take the inept roster building from the general manager Ron Francis conversation aside and think about what else burdens Seattle. There is good roster depth, but no star player or top end talent who can propel the Kraken into a serious playoff run. If your top goal scorer is Eeli Tolvanen, that’s a serious problem. Francis believed former first round pick Matty Beniers was supposed to be that star. Beniers is average at best and shouldn’t be a first line center.
#27 Philadelphia Flyers (last ranking: 25)
It’s not often you say an in-season trade winds up a quick failure but Philadelphia found a way. Many believed trading veterans Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost for Andrei Kuzmenko was redundant. A veteran forward and center for a struggling forward was an odd swap, but then trading Kuzmenko for a 2027 third rounder looks dumb. The Flyers either have no idea what they’re doing, or they are committed to a longer rebuild. It could be both.
#26 Pittsburgh Penguins (last ranking: 26)
Rest in peace to the hopes that Marc-Andre Fleury would reunite with Pittsburgh to finish his career. Even if Fleury were traded back to the Penguins at the March eighth deadline, the scoring defense is still the league’s second worst. The second all-time winningest goalie in NHL history deserves a better finish. Now if those takes were about the Vegas Golden Knights, that would’ve been more acceptable.
#25 Anaheim Ducks (last ranking: 27)
I don’t know what’s more amazing; the fact Anaheim was somehow in the playoff race this long despite having the second worst offense in the league, or John Gibson with the save of the year. We’re going to look back at both the Ducks season and Gibson’s career and wonder how both lasted this long together.
#24 New York Islanders (last ranking: 21)
The next few weeks will be interesting for backup goaltender Marcus Hogberg. The 30 year old net minder’s had a brief, average career. With Semyon Varlamov out the rest of the year, Hogberg has to play more since New York has a lot of upcoming games. If he can steal some wins before the start of April, general manager Lou Lamoriello could trade him to a team needing goaltender depth this offseason.
#23 Boston Bruins (last ranking: 19)
It’s unfair to pin a lot of the Bruins issues on interim coach Joe Sacco. At the same time, Sacco has done nothing to show he is the coach Boston needs moving forward or a coach who can turn around an NHL team. Don’t be surprised if he’s an assistant somewhere else next season.
#22 Detroit Red Wings (last ranking: 16)
As former coach Rick Bowness said last Sunday on TNT, Detroit has to go 11-3 or 12-2 in their next 14 games in order to make the playoffs. It’s likely they miss the postseason a ninth straight season after self-inflicted losses the last few weeks. The Red Wings also have the hardest remaining schedule in the NHL. It leaves a bitter taste as Detroit heads into their third straight offseason knowing red hot starts fizzled out the last two months of the regular season despite a high caliber offense leading the way.
#21 Calgary Flames (last ranking: 18)
Calgary has to stop taking penalties if they want to make the playoffs. They’re bottom five in penalty minutes and the penalty kill. That helps explain why the Flames have a -24 goal differential.
#20 Utah Hockey Club (last ranking: 22)
One of the reasons Utah’s in the playoff race is their top 15 power-play. There are no news stories of relocation, no pressure to close out the season wondering where they’ll play next year, and Andre Tourigny keeps proving why he’s a great coach in the league. It’s fair to pick the Hockey Club to upset both Vancouver and Calgary, and clinch the eighth seed. However, they aren’t the favorite due to another central division foe surging at the same time.
#19 Columbus Blue Jackets (last ranking: 17)
NHL Network’s Steve Konroyd said on Monday night most of Columbus’ regular season success came from playing carefree and not worrying about the playoff race. Now that the postseason is close, the Blue Jackets are starting to show some panic, fatigue and inexperience. It would be a shame if Columbus missed out on the playoffs because they got in their own way.
#18 New York Rangers (last ranking: 20)
The saddest part of New York’s drama-filled season is long-time t.v. play-by-play broadcaster Sam Rosen retiring after the Rangers are eliminated. Don’t expect New York to make the playoffs with their difficult schedule. After all the work Rosen poured in with the franchise, his reward is one of the worst PR disasters of a season from almost everyone in the organization. What an awful parting gift.
#17 Montreal Canadiens (last ranking: 24)
Former 2019 third overall pick Kirby Dach was placed on injured reserve March second because he needed season ending right knee surgery. Dach’s played 60+ games twice in his six year career and missed all but two games last season. What a painful career going from Chicago almost in a full re-build to season ending injuries in Montreal.
#16 Vancouver Canucks (last ranking: 14)
Captain Quinn Hughes is back to full health and center Elias Pettersson has played better this month. While Vancouver still struggles to score, the most important player right now is goaltender Kevin Lankinen. Starter Thatcher Demko got injured again and that means someone has to play their best in net every night if the Canucks have any hope of clinching a playoff spot.
#15 St. Louis Blues (last ranking: 23)
This is a new team since play resumed. St. Louis is 10-2-2 in their last 14 games, averaging four goals a game, 2.7 goals against, and have a 30% power-play. It would be a shock if St. Louis doesn’t make the playoffs with these numbers.
#14 Ottawa Senators (last ranking: 15)
So yes, I was critical of general manager Steve Staios trading forward Josh Norris to Buffalo for forward Dylan Cozens. Norris is a dangerous scoring threat when healthy and also plays center well. After Ottawa’s dramatic 2-1 home win against Detroit March 10th on Amazon Prime, it was easier to see why Staios made the trade. Cozens leads the team in scoring chances and slot shots and is second best in offensive zone puck recoveries and puck battles won (via SportsNet). The Senators have the most goals since December 13th and could upset the playoff picture with a deep run.
#13 New Jersey Devils (last ranking: 10)
The losses of franchise star forward Jack Hughes to a shoulder injury and defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler are big blows to New Jersey’s playoff hopes. The Devils go from potentially taking any eastern playoff contender to a full seven game series to hoping they don’t miss the postseason. Montreal and Ottawa won’t fall out of the race anytime soon, and that easily makes New Jersey the weakest of the top eight eastern teams. Let’s see if they can hang on to any of the lower three spots.
#12 Los Angeles Kings (last ranking: 13)
Andrei Kuzmenko getting to play on a first line with Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar will be interesting to watch the next month. Los Angeles needed another game changing forward who’s confidence will grow among two of the team’s best players. It would be a shock if Kuzmenko doesn’t play better before mid-April on any of the Kings four lines.
#11 Minnesota Wild (last ranking: 8)
NHL Network has kept track of Minnesota’s record their last 38 games and it’s eye-opening. The Wild started the season at 20-6-4, and gave the league best Winnipeg Jets some trouble. Their last 38 games? 18-19-1. Injuries to star players are mostly to blame for the downturn but it’s bizarre how far Minnesota has fallen.
#10 Edmonton Oilers (last ranking: 7)
It’s also eye-opening how average Edmonton has played once the Four Nations tournament ended. Outside of MVP favorite Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers are mediocre and won’t threaten serious playoff contenders. If Edmonton drew Vegas or Colorado in round one today, they’d be eliminated in five games. No one thought this a month and a half ago.
#9 Tampa Bay Lightning (last ranking; 11)
Tampa Bay was bound to be in the top ten at some point since they’ve been 12-3-2 since the start of February (that’s an NHL best .82 points percentage during that span). Between an eight game winning streak, captain Victor Hedman playing some of his most complete hockey the last few months, former team champion forward Yanni Gourde coming back and getting an additional forward with Oliver Bjorkstrand at the trade deadline, almost every team in the eastern conference will struggle with the Lightning once playoffs begin.
#8 Toronto Maple Leafs (last ranking: 9)
I don’t know how many other people caught this but Toronto’s February 25th 5-4 comeback overtime win in Boston was poetic given the Maple Leafs past struggles against the Bruins in the playoffs. The urge to say it was a regular season win was valid until Boston traded captain Brad Marchand and made it clear there’s an incoming rebuild. How fitting Toronto got karma for their 2013 game seven blunder to end the Bruins reign of playoff consistency in almost the exact same way.
#7 Colorado Avalanche (last ranking: 12)
It’s almost unbelievable this is the second time Colorado’s been in the top ten for this seasons power rankings. General manager Joe Sakic turned a stale roster into a dangerous team few contenders want to face in the playoffs. How much longer can Sakic get away with this?
#6 Carolina Hurricanes (last ranking: 5)
A lot of regular season stats are eye-roll worthy, but some stick throughout the season. A team’s record at home versus on the road is one of them. Carolina has the NHL’s best home record at 27-7-1. Outside Raleigh they’re 14-15-3. The Hurricanes can’t afford to lose home ice advantage especially to a team like Tampa Bay.
#5 Dallas Stars (last ranking; 4)
Trading forward Logan Stankoven to Carolina for forward Mikko Rantanen screams all-in for winning a championship this year. There are four teams in the western conference that could both go to the finals and win the championship. Only Dallas has all the pressure to win or see the season as a failure.
#4 Vegas Golden Knights (last ranking: 6)
For everything said about Boston this season, one imagines somewhere in a dark corner of Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy’s mind, he’s sitting back and laughing with his 2023 championship ring. While the Bruins flounder in mediocrity, the Golden Knights lost their first home game to a division rival this month and had three shutout wins the last two weeks. Vegas has a case they’re the best team in the western conference, the NHL, and are the biggest postseason threat.
#3 Florida Panthers (last ranking: 2)
Had Florida not lost to Montreal and the Islanders back-to-back, they would’ve had the number one spot on these rankings. Despite getting former Bruins captain Brad Marchand and goaltender Vitek Vanecek at the trade deadline, this is where the loss of star defenseman Aaron Ekblad hurts most. Fortunately, Ekblad will miss only two postseason games. If the Panthers dip in the standings, it leaves the Atlantic division race open for Ottawa, Tampa Bay and Toronto to steal one of the top seeds.
#2 Washington Capitals (last ranking: 3)
Last ranking I lauded Washington’s top line for leading the team to first place in goal scoring. This month it’s the Capitals second line stepping up. Since play resumed, the line of Connor McMichael, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Tom Wilson has scored 13 goals, and scoring chances v. chances allowed is 3-1 in their favor. Washington’s rising at the best time and they will be one of the hardest teams to eliminate in the playoffs.
#1 Winnipeg Jets (last ranking: 1)
Originally I swapped Florida and Winnipeg because of consistency until last weekend. The Jets dominated the win-now Stars and shook off a trap game in Seattle two days later. If their only lull of were losses to Philadelphia and New York, that says how great Winnipeg’s been this season.
Josh Morrissey (44) and Kyle Connor hug after a dominant home win against Dallas last Friday. Connor’s two goals and an assist helped make Winnipeg’s win look easy.
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.
It’s been a fun first half of the season. The Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals have the most points and the best records in their conferences. Alexander Ovechkin gets closer to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals scored record each week. The MVP race is a toss-up and every playoff spot is up for grabs in the eastern conference. There should be a wild finish to the second half of the regular season. Here’s the top takes, questions and answers as the Four Nations tournament takes place.
Is there any consistent, great team or does it vary by month?
Winnipeg celebrates a shutout home win over Carolina February 4th. The Jets have the most points this season.
It’s hard to choose which team is the best this season and too soon to say. While Winnipeg’s easily the best and most complete team, their previous playoff blunders makes analysts second guess how good they’ll be when it matters most. Washington’s the top team in the eastern conference, but this will be Spencer Carbery’s first season he coaches a team into the playoffs. Vegas, Florida, Carolina, Dallas, Edmonton and Toronto had some slumps the first few months. It’s likely most of the playoff contenders are waiting for rivals to slip up once play resumes and make a more determined push. We’ll find out which teams are for real in the March power rankings.
It seems the MVP race is cluttered, but is there a clear Jack Adams (coach of the year) set of finalists?
Columbus’ Dean Evason is a top three pick for the Jack Adams award.
Most pundits believe Washington’s Carbery, Winnipeg’s Scott Arniel, and either Ottawa’s Travis Green or Vegas’ Bruce Cassidy will be the Jack Adams nominees. The Senators are the only team of the four mentioned to not be in the top three of their conference. Therefore, the winner could be chosen by how well their team does in the playoffs.
My three are different. The Jack Adams award should be for the best coach regardless of talent. Columbus’ Dean Evason should be first. No one had the Blue Jackets near the eighth seed, especially once their best player was tragically killed in the offseason. New Jersey’s Sheldon Keefe has excelled where predecessor Lindy Ruff fell short and the Devils defense has improved in every aspect. Finally, I’ll take St. Louis’ Jim Montgomery as the third option. As readers know from previous rankings, Montgomery was fired from Boston one month into the regular season and hired a few days after by the Blues. The Bruins haven’t fixed the offensive issues after firing him, but St. Louis is eight points out of the eighth seed and is one of the most underrated teams in the league after hiring Montgomery.
If I had to pick one of the three choices given, Dean Evason’s the easy winner for coach of the year.
How many big trades will there be once play resumes? Will there be any teams selling to re-build?
Colorado’s blockbuster trade of Mikko Rantanen sent shockwaves through both conferences. It may not be the last before the deadline.
The eastern conference (more on them later) is loaded with star players and depth that won’t sniff the postseason. By contrast, the western conference has a few surprising playoff favorites that disappointed. It’s unknown which team starts the upcoming trade frenzy, but Nashville, New York and Pittsburgh are big names to watch. The first two have stars they can unload for additional cap space and draft picks. I expect a lot of teams in both conferences to make moves the last week of the trade deadline given how close most are in the standings.
Speaking of close teams, what’s going on with Vancouver? Are they a favorite to go far in the postseason? Is there any way they can get back to last year’s form?
The J.T. Miller v. Elias Pettersson riff ended with Miller traded to the Rangers. General manager Patrik Allvin’s move will be analyzed at every angle years from now.
This is the best question asked so far. Real hockey fans wondered how Vancouver played lifeless once the regular season began. That’s uncommon for Rick Tocchet coached teams. It turns out assistant captain J.T. Miller and the most talented player on the team Elias Pettersson had a rift behind closed doors. While Pettersson is their most coveted player, Miller spent six seasons holding the Canucks together no matter the problems. At one point during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was the only player on the team to not fall ill. His leadership kept Vancouver a contender even when Pettersson struggled to score.
Team president Jim Rutherford made the situation worse when he told the media that no matter what happened in negotiations, there were only short-term solutions. A few analysts thought dealing both players to separate teams could be a good move. There wouldn’t be a bias to either and it would help the Canucks re-group some talent without causing a fuss. This is Vancouver, so they did the opposite and dealt an assistant captain to a team that also backstabbed player leadership within the last few months.
There are more issues like the fragile goaltending situation when Thatcher Demko continued to miss time and came back around the holidays. The defense has regressed and captain Quinn Hughes struggled. Now Hughes is out due to an undisclosed, lower body injury. The Miller-Pettersson issue was one more thing to deal with and the organization hasn’t handled these issues well. If you want to feel bad for anybody, it should be Rick Tocchet. This is the second time he’s coached a team where upper management’s botched trades and roster talent.
It’s definitely a sad topic to read on. However for every low, there’s a high. Vancouver might have it rough, but some of the younger teams and eastern conference squads look really good. Which of these teams are for real and will make the playoffs?
There’s a trio of good, young teams and they’re all in the eastern conference. New Jersey, Ottawa and Detroit are the hottest names to play against for any playoff contender. From new coaches to defensive additions and scoring depth, all three should make the postseason with how well they play compared to Boston, Pittsburgh and the New York Rangers. Montreal is a close fourth, but they’re still re-tooling the roster and played tired after a long winning streak. It’s likely they miss the playoffs.
To take it further, I see this question as which of the three teams will go further in the postseason. Most likely, Detroit draws the winner of the metropolitan or atlantic division, and be easily eliminated (unless that hilariously becomes Ottawa). It then comes down to which veteran teams draw the Senators or Devils. The reigning champion Panthers and the rising Maple Leafs would struggle more with New Jersey while Ottawa could keep it close with almost every team. I’d go with the Devils because of their combined experience and how they’ve fixed more long-term mistakes this season.
Detroit’s red-hot on every side of the puck and would make the playoffs if the season ended today.
Here’s the second power rankings of the year. This will be the third and last time you see this notification in the regular season. Here’s where all 32 teams objectively stand going back to January. Some have tiebreakers based off of how they’d perform on a neutral site.
#32 San Jose Sharks (last ranking: 31)
Three teams are all but eliminated from playoff contention. San Jose is one and they’ve been dreadful since the calendar flipped to 2025. At least they got all their trades done early so there’s nothing to pay attention to the rest of the season.
#31 Chicago Blackhawks (last ranking: 32)
Chicago’s the second team easily eliminated. Unlike the Sharks, the Blackhawks need to make more moves. The goaltending duo of Petr Mrazek and Arvid Soderblom will be in high demand and Chicago must decide how deep they should go into their rebuild. They’re not competitive in the standings so it wouldn’t surprise many to see the Blackhawks veterans land on playoff favorites.
#30 Buffalo Sabres (last ranking: 30)
If you had Buffalo as the third team, congratulations. The Sabres are the only eastern conference team that won’t sniff the postseason given how many points they have to get after playing 54 games. It’s ok to wonder if owner Terry Pegula will let go of coach Lindy Ruff after the season. Ruff did a subpar job at best and it could be the end of his long coaching career if Pegula decides to move on.
#29 Nashville Predators (last ranking: 29)
By now, you’ve figured I won’t quit on Nashville because of who their general manager is, the roster he put together, and how there’s something to salvage. While I’m not changing that view, the Predators probably won’t make the postseason because they have 45 points after 54 games. What will be interesting is how Nashville plays when they come back from break. Will the Predators finally get it together and become the team no one wants to play, or will GM Barry Trotz pull the plug and get creative in trades and roster decisions before the playoffs? These could be the most pivotal two weeks for the franchise this decade.
#28 Seattle Kraken (last ranking: 27)
It’s jaw-dropping how Seattle’s taken a few steps back after their postseason run two years ago. The steal of their first full roster was goaltender Philipp Grubauer after a trade with Colorado. Grubauer was put on waivers at the end of January. General manager Ron Francis has spectacularly failed to make the Kraken competitive and many will look at his expansion draft blunders in a different light because of it.
#27 Anaheim Ducks (last ranking: 25)
Until last week, Anaheim won 20 of 21 games this season when they scored three or more goals a game. The defense is ok but the offense is the league’s worst. That’s a shock.
#26 Pittsburgh Penguins (last ranking: 20)
Since both New York teams improved after the last rankings, attention returns to Pittsburgh and coach Mike Sullivan. The Penguins have the second worst defense and two 20+ goal scorers. One has to wonder when there’s a coaching change this year.
#25 Philadelphia Flyers (last ranking: 23)
Give credit to coach John Tortorella for making Philadelphia competitive this season. The Flyers were predicted to be a bottom-dwelling team from start to finish (despite how Tortorella gets the most out of his rosters), and this is easily the worst in the metropolitan. It took four months for Philadelphia to run out of gas, but the Flyers are respectable given how hard they compete every week despite the lack of talent.
#24 Montreal Canadiens (last ranking: 22)
Montreal had an impressive winning streak to close out 2024 and extend into 2025. Unlike Detroit, Ottawa and New Jersey, the Canadiens don’t have the depth or experience to maintain long winning streaks late in the regular season. There’s a lot for Montreal to feel good about, but the roster needs more work. They’ll have an interesting offseason.
#23 St. Louis Blues (last ranking: 23)
If there’s any case for Jim Montgomery winning coach of the year in St. Louis, look at the team stats versus where they are in the standings. The Blues are a bottom ten team in a lot of categories on every side of the puck (led by second worst penalty kill). Yet they’re out of the eighth seed by eight points. If St. Louis makes the playoffs, it forces analysts and voters to try and give Montgomery a case for the award.
#22 Utah Hockey Club (last ranking: 21)
To follow up from last month’s analysis, Nick Schmalz’s season slump makes forward Dylan Guenther a focal point in Utah’s offense. Guenther’s tied for the team lead in goals with 20 and tied for third most points on offense with 41. He’s only played 44 games. Dylan Guenther will be a key player in the Hockey Club’s rise.
#21 New York Islanders (last ranking: 26)
The strangest part about New York’s seven game winning streak wasn’t how great the team felt, it was conversation about how center Mathew Barzal is a bust after needing another surgery on his left kneecap and how general manager Lou Lamoriello wants to trade defenseman Noah Dobson. The Islanders could be one of the hottest teams in the league, but management again found a way to mess up the good mood.
#20 New York Rangers (last ranking: 28)
It’s been a rough season for the players in New York. That’s why Jonathan Quick’s 400th career win (the most for a U.S. born goaltender) is a season highlight. General manager Chris Drury could reward Quick for reaching that milestone by trading him once the Four Nations tournament ends.
#19 Boston Bruins (last ranking: 14)
General manager Don Sweeney’s almost out of moves after hiring former Stanley Cup champion team captain Zdeno Chara to a front office position. The firing of Jim Montgomery looks worse each week and Boston’s fallen behind Detroit and Ottawa. The Bruins should move assets near the trade deadline since there’s not enough on the team to make this year’s playoffs.
#18 Calgary Flames (last ranking: 17)
Whatever Calgary’s doing this season works. The Flames won’t go away despite the offensive and penalty killing woes. A three game losing streak somehow means they’re three points back of the eighth seed and Vancouver. Go figure.
#17 Columbus Blue Jackets (last ranking: 18)
If you need anymore convincing of how Dean Evason is coach of the year, look at defenseman Zach Werenski. Werenski’s tied with Hall of Famer Bobby Orr for the fourth longest home point streak in NHL history with 21. He also leads Columbus in assists and total points. There will be a lot of close award races but the Norris trophy (won by the best defenseman) is Zach Werenski’s to lose.
#16 Detroit Red Wings (last ranking: 24)
General manager Steve Yzerman picked the right interim coach. Todd McLellan’s hiring brings necessary discipline, accountability and freedom for Detroit to do what they want on every side of the puck. At one point the Red Wings had a 50% power-play and a 71% penalty kill. They’ve tallied impressive wins and put playoff contending teams on alert with their re-awakened vigor.
#15 Ottawa Senators (last ranking: 15)
We’ve finally reached the point where Detroit and Ottawa will be close in the standings and rankings for a while. Both teams made Tampa Bay play at a Stanley Cup caliber level this past week despite the losses.
On the Senators end, they were impressive until their Sunshine State roadtrip. Ottawa’s not a Stanley Cup contender, but they’ll be hard to beat four times in a best of seven series should the defense not revert to bad habits.
#14 Vancouver Canucks (last ranking: 19)
If we put the loss to Dallas aside, Vancouver’s 3-1 after trading J.T. Miller January 31st. The lone loss against a resurgent Red Wings is fine. Shutting out Colorado and winning a heavyweight game against Toronto are plusses. A painful chapter closed and this is where coach Rick Tocchet can finally bring the best out of his players.
#13 Los Angeles Kings (last ranking: 9)
I get why Los Angeles fans could be upset but this ranking should show how good the other 12 teams are this year. The Kings are tied for the league’s best scoring defense and could be a sixth seed at best by April. Another example of how the NHL is the best sports league in North America and a cruel one.
#12 Colorado Avalanche (last ranking: 13)
The same applies with Colorado. The Avalanche don’t have the depth but coach Jared Bednar’s still got them as a top six seed. The goaltending duo of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood will be fun to watch the next few months.
#11 Tampa Bay Lightning (last ranking: 11)
I personally think both coach Jon Cooper and starting goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy took the upcoming games against Ottawa and Detroit personally given how Tampa Bay’s been stuck in the middle of the eastern conference most of the season and lost to both teams a few times in 2024. What better way to pull ahead before the trade deadline than smacking around two division rivals with confident coaches leading their teams back to playoff contention? The Lightning will be deadly the second half of the regular season.
#10 New Jersey Devils (last ranking: 7)
Some New Jersey fans might be disappointed the Devils are ranked this low, but a good number might not be once I reiterate something NHL Network analyst Mike Johnson stated January 19th after a 2-1 loss to Ottawa. A lot of New Jersey’s early season success was from a power-play that got the Devils to quick leads. Five-on-five is the biggest area New Jersey has to fix. Despite injuries and illnesses, they can’t rely on the power-play to score and get early leads with the playoffs two months away. The Devils could make a move at the trade deadline.
#9 Toronto Maple Leafs (last ranking: 5)
On the contrary, while many Toronto fans might feel confident, a good number are nervous about how the Leafs could at best win the atlantic division or at worst, fall behind against Tampa Bay, Ottawa and Detroit. The Maple Leafs can get past the Lightning, but they’ve struggled against the Senators and Red Wings. A first round matchup against either young team could lead to a surprise exit given how both Ottawa and Detroit play physical and care-free.
#8 Minnesota Wild (last ranking: 6)
They won’t win the central division but Minnesota’s impressive. Unfortunately that’s enough to get them a four or five seed in the postseason. It’ll be interesting to see if the Wild make any trades before the deadline to shore up their third and fourth lines.
#7 Edmonton Oilers (last ranking: 10)
If one of my coach of the year candidates didn’t seem passable, know Kris Knoblauch was fourth on my list. He knew back in October this was like running a marathon, and he managed the minutes of Edmonton’s best players well. Not only is forward Leon Draisaitl a leading MVP candidate, the Oilers are tied for both the pacific division lead and the second seed in the western conference.
#6 Vegas Golden Knights (last ranking: 1)
The reason Edmonton hasn’t run away with the pacific division or the second seed is because Vegas played better the first four months. The Golden Knights have the second best power-play despite a slow January. Expect Vegas to go on a winning streak when play resumes. It’ll be a fun division race to watch.
#5 Carolina Hurricanes (last ranking: 8)
Although Carolina’s 3-3 since trading for forward Mikko Rantanen, the Hurricanes did well in January. They surpassed New Jersey as expected and scored four or more goals in six games the last month and a half. Now they need to put together a winning streak of at least five games.
#4 Dallas Stars (last ranking: 12)
Trading for forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci were big moves. However analysts leaked Dallas is trying to trade for a big name player before the deadline. If the Stars land this supposed player, they could be the favorites to win the Stanley Cup (depending on who they draw in the playoffs of course).
#3 Washington Capitals (last ranking: 4)
Washington has the second best offense in the NHL and the first line is among the best. Center Dylan Strome is the team leader in assists and points while the captain Alex Ovechkin leads in goals. This is easily the best Capitals team since Barry Trotz wasn’t re-signed.
#2 Florida Panthers (last ranking: 3)
Much like Tampa Bay, Florida played some of their best hockey this season right before the break. The Panthers proved they’re saving their best for the second half of the regular season after a shutout against Los Angeles, a narrow win against St. Louis and a thrashing of Ottawa.
#1 Winnipeg Jets (last ranking: 2)
The most realistic answer to the first question asked at the beginning of this article is this ranking. The league’s best is the one with two eight game winning streaks in one season. That’s incredible since no one predicted this before October. Winnipeg’s also tied for first in scoring defense and has the best offense and power-play.
One could also say this ranking answers the second question asked earlier. Despite the cases for Dean Evason winning coach of the year, Scott Arniel is lauded for getting the Jets to play at a better competitive level and could get a unanimous win for the Jack Adams. All Winnipeg has to do is play like this in the postseason.
Josh Morrissey (white) celebrates after scoring an overtime winner in Washington February 1st.
The Super Bowl features the best team in each conference. Kansas City and Philadelphia mirror each other in their running games, solid quarterback play and total defense. Both offensive and defensive lines play better each week and the secondaries know when to shut down receivers. It’s time to reveal which team has the best chance of winning the Vince Lombardi trophy and why.
#1 Kansas City Chiefs v. #2 Philadelphia Eagles
The AFC’s top seed and the NFC’s second seed excel in running the ball, executing deep-ball plays and have a lot of speedy playmakers. These combinations could result in the best game of the year. A sequel to the championship matchup two years ago, Andy Reid and Nick Sirianni have been coaches on both teams and know what they want in star players. Both quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes II and Jalen Hurts struggled at times this year but always found ways to play their best and win when it mattered most. Just as last round proved, this is where depth decides the champion.
Like the last time these teams met in Super Bowl 57, both the winner of this game and the champion of the 2024-25 season will be determined by each team’s offensive and defensive lines. Philadelphia retooled their offensive line after center Jason Kelce retired. Cam Jergens comfortably took over at center and the Eagles added right guard (formerly tackle) Mekhi Becton in free agency. Left guard Landon Dickerson and tackle Jordan Mailata should have a better game than two years ago when both were young and struggled to handle Kansas City’s blitzes.
This line is tasked with stopping the defensive line trio of Tershawn Wharton, George Karlaftis and Chris Jones. Wharton is exceptional in stopping the run and has improved on rushing the passer while Jones and Karlaftis are closer to their prime and give opposing tackles headaches. Jones will have more difficulty getting pressure on Philadelphia starting quarterback Jalen Hurts this time since he’ll face off against a healthy Lane Johnson at right tackle. This re-match could alter the blitz schemes from Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and give Jalen Hurts more time to find open receivers.
On the other end, the Eagles defensive interior doesn’t have the depth it did two years ago. Josh Sweat, Nolan Smith Jr., Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter are pretty good. However, they’re at a disadvantage against Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith. Kansas City’s interior offensive, line led by Humphrey and Smith, will have an easier time (after a week of rest) against a younger defensive front that’s not as deep or experienced. That will show late in the second half.
Finally, coaching will determine who wins. Two years ago, many thought Philadelphia would get their second Super Bowl trophy because Kansas City’s Andy Reid was well known for blunders such as timeout mismanagement and choking leads away. These views switched after Reid’s offense led the Chiefs to a second Super Bowl title (in his tenure). While Philadelphia’s head coach Nick Sirianni is great at finding opponents weaknesses and doesn’t let up, he doesn’t have answers for the gritty, physical style Kansas City plays. The Chiefs offense makes better adjustments and has one of the best scoring defenses in NFL history. It wouldn’t be surprising for Kansas City to have one of their best second half performances and a comeback win thanks to Andy Reid’s second half changes.
Super Bowl 59 Winning Prediction: Chiefs win a league record third straight Super Bowl 33-28 and take home their fifth Vince Lombardi Trophy.
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.
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.
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.
Three games remain. Four teams with two in each conference. The remaining two in the NFC are the east wildcard Washington Commanders and their division winning rival Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams have potent offenses, solid quarterbacks, hard-hitting defenses, and intelligent coaches. Time to determine who will advance to the Super Bowl.
#6 Washington Commanders v. #3 Philadelphia Eagles
In a thrilling divisional conference finals matchup, the winner could be determined by which starting quarterback has the better game.
Conference championship games featuring division rivalries are some of the best and most memorable playoff games in NFL history. Casual viewers can remember which year a team won a Super Bowl because of a rare, divisional matchup in this round. It’s also more fun if the teams split their regular season series.
Washington has nothing to lose since no one expected they’d reach the conference finals with first year head coach Dan Quinn re-vamping the roster. Philadelphia has to protect starting quarterback Jalen Hurts as much as possible after he suffered a knee injury last weekend. That means the winner of this game will be determined by two factors: the better receiving core and which offensive and defensive lines plays best.
Both teams have great receiving cores and tight-end depth. The Commanders great play-calling and complimentary slot receivers will be a reason the game stays close. However, the Eagles have better receiver depth with Jahan Dotson and Parris Campbell. Philadelphia’s receiving core should have another big game against a mediocre secondary.
Philadelphia’s receiving core features one of the league’s best wideouts in A.J. Brown (11). Brown was great against Washington’s secondary in both regular season games.
There’s no offensive and defensive line comparisons. The Eagles dominate both sides of the line of scrimmage and overwhelmed the Commanders with their pass rush and running game in both matchups. The offensive line cleared paths for starting runningback Saquon Barkley in both high scoring divisional games. Washington doesn’t have the same number of highly skilled players on both sides of the ball the Eagles do. That will show in the second half.
Finally, all five previous rookie quarterbacks who went to a conference championship game lost. Second overall pick Jayden Daniels might not play like a rookie, but his team’s not where they want to be yet. Philadelphia has more roster depth at their disposal to tire out the Commanders.
Prediction: Eagles win the NFC championship 34-28 and advance to Super Bowl LIX
JD's Sportscorner 