NBA Power Rankings: Week 21

Alright, I am back because James yelled at me. We are into the home stretch of the NBA season, it seems like we are pretty locked in with the play-off teams, but the seeding still needs to be figured out.

1. San Antonio Spurs

Last: #3

The Spurs are 15-1 in their last 16 games and sit just 3 games back of OKC. I really hope we get a Spurs and Thunder playoff matchup, but it would need to be in the Western Conference title game.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

Last: #2

OKC will most likely hold onto the top spot in the West, I just can’t imagine them losing 3 more games than the Spurs in the rest of the season. But, they sure don’t feel as bullet proof as they did last year.

3. Detroit Pistons

Last: #1

Detroit is starting to slip a bit, they have lost 4 in a row and their lead has crumbled to just 2.5 games over the Boston Celtics. They should be fine, but they will need to pick it up to hold onto that top spot.

4. Boston Celtics

Last: #8

Boston is on fire right now, oh and they just got Jayson Tatum back from injury. He is averaging 17.5 points per game so far in two games back and will be a big boost to a Celtic team that is ready for the playoffs.

5. New York Knicks

Last: #7

Since starting off the season with a middle of the road defense, the Knicks have really turned it on and started locking down on the defensive end. They went 3-2 against teams with a .500 record and are positioned well in the Eastern Conference.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers

Last: #10

This Cleveland team has all the right pieces to dominate on both ends of the floor, the problem is they don’t ever seem healthy at the same time. Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen have missed some time lately, but if they all get healthy for the playoffs watch out.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

Last: #6

Minnesota has climbed all the way up the 3rd seed in the West as I type this. They are only a game and half ahead of the Nuggets who are the 6 seed as of right now. They were on a hot streak and winning a lot of close games and getting blown out in their losses. This team is good.

8. Denver Nuggets

Last: #5

The Nuggets are technically the 6 seed, but are just 1 game back in the win column from the 3 seed. I have them slightly ahead of Houston and Los Angeles purely based on trust in the playoffs. Jamal Murray hurt his ankle which doesn’t help anything.

9. Houston Rockets

Last: #4

The Rockets got blown out in a Texas battle with San Antonio the other night, not a great look. Even with Kevin Durant now, how much do we trust this team to go on a run? At times they look like the 2nd best team in the West and other times look like a play-in team.

10. Los Angeles Lakers

Last: #11

Lakers fans, we need to have a serious discussion. Are the Lakers better without LeBron James? The Lakers took care of business without Bron against a good Knicks team. Luka and Reaves work so well together and the team gets clogged up with LeBron.

11. Phoenix Suns

Last: #9

The Suns got Devin Booker back and then James’s favorite player got arrested for a DUI. A relatively easy schedule this week, should keep the Suns firmly in place for the 7th seed, they feel pretty destined for the play-in.

12. Toronto Raptors

Last: #12

I don’t think I have moved the Raptors from the 12 seed in about 3 months. They sure feel like a tier below the 4 East teams I have in the top 6 in the rankings. But they should easily hold onto a 5th or 6th seed in the East.

13. Orlando Magic

Last: #NR

My Magic have climbed into the 6th seed in the East, but in a virtual tie with the Miami Heat. Yes, some of those wins are against bottom feeders, but a 20+ point win over the Timberwolves is a good sign.

14. Miami Heat

Last: #15

Miami is right behind the Magic and the 7th seed right now, they have also won 5 in a row. Wins over the Rockets, Hornets and Pistons are good wins. Can they jump the Raptors or Magic to secure a top 6 seed?

15. Charlotte Hornets