Chuddy's NBA Power Rankings: Week of February 26th

Welcome to the fourteenth installment of King Chuddy’s weekly NBA power rankings, and the second post-all star edition! As always, these rankings will fluctuate based on the team's performance during the previous week and any changes in personnel, health, schematics, or overall quality of play. These rankings are NOT predicting for the future, or used to determine odds of ultimately winning the title, they are just based on what the team has done recently and what is their immediate outlook. For example, most people would likely think the Lakers or Warriors have a much better chance of actually winning a title than teams like the Pacers or Kings, but they simply have not played better this season so the rankings reflect that. Think of these rankings as something more like the top 25 rankings in college basketball/football and they should make more sense. Feel free to leave your comments/opinions and tell me why I’m wrong, or why I am a genius. Without further ado…

1. Boston Celtics (45-12, Last week: 1) - The Celtics have now won 8 straight games, they’ve won 8 straight road games, and they’re starting to look like a well oiled machine. Can they keep up this level of focus?
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-17, Last week: 4) - The Thunder have ripped off 5 straight, and climbed back to the top of the West standings. They’ve been boatracing opponents lately including a demolition of the Clippers.
3. Denver Nuggets (39-19, Last week: 6) - After a little downturn, the Nugs have turned things right back around and put together a championship caliber performance to close out the Warriors on Sunday.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-17, Last week: 2) - The Wolves suffered an ugly home loss to the Bucks and continue to show warts with their offense, especially in late game situations.
5. Milwaukee Bucks (37-21, Last week: 14) - Big bounce back week for the Bucks, including a signature win in Minnesota. They look like a much better team on both sides of the ball.
6. Los Angeles Clippers (37-19, Last week: 5) - The Clippers look like they’ve hit a bit of a wall lately; they’ve looked a step slower and a little older recently. They may just be coasting to the playoffs now, or may actually be showing signs of fatigue.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (37-19, Last week: 3) - The Cavs have cooled off a little, but are still clinging to the 2 seed in the East. There are still concerns about how their four main pieces can fit together.
8. Sacramento Kings (33-23, Last week: 13) - Big week for the Kings, rattling off three straight wins, including an impressive road win over the Clips. They’ve got their work cut out for them to stay in the top 6, but so far so good.
9. Indiana Pacers (33-25, Last week: 16) - The Pacers have won three straight and Haliburton is starting to look like his old self again. They’ve quietly pulled within shouting distance of the 4 seed in the East.
10. Dallas Mavericks (33-24, Last week: 8) - The Mavs had been the hottest team in the West until running into the Pacers on Sunday. They’ve still looked good since the trade deadline, but they’ll need a strong close to the season to avoid the play-in.
11. New Orleans Pelicans (34-24, Last week: 9) - The Pels just keep showing high highs and low lows. They’ve been struggling lately, but largely due to missing their point guards.
12. Phoenix Suns (34-24, last week: 7) - The Suns still can’t keep their big 3 on the court together and it’s becoming a bigger concern as the season winds down. They’ve been winning at home, and I like the Royce O’neal addition, but they’re far from contender status.
13. New York Knicks (34-23, Last week: 15) - The Knicks’ push for a top seed has been derailed by injuries, but they’re still hanging near the middle of the East playoff picture, and should get Anunoby and Randle back soon if Brunson can just hold the fort a little longer.
14. Golden State Warriors (29-27, Last week: 11) - They got run off the floor by Denver, but overall the Dubs have been looking strong since Draymond came back. Moving Klay to the bench seems to have given him renewed energy as well. They look like they’ll at least make the playoff and nobody will want to face them.
15. Los Angeles Lakers (31-28, Last week: 10) - Another team that looks locked into the play-in and nobody will want to play. The Lakers continue to struggle to find steady production around LeBron and AD, but they’ve been far more consistent lately - at least when those two are on the court.
16. Miami Heat (31-25, Last week: 17) - The Pelicans looked like they got Jimmy Butler and the Heat’s attention the other night during their mini brawl. The Heat have been stringing some wins together and should be getting some cavalry back soon.
17. Orlando Magic (32-26, Last week: 12) - The Magic still look a guard short and a season away. This season has been a step in the right direction, but making it out of round 1 would be a surprise.
18. Philadelphia 76ers (33-24, Last week: 18) - The 76ers simply aren’t a good team without Joel Embiid. So much of what they do is built around him. They’ve been hemorrhaging games lately and there’s no reason to think that will change. The question is just how far will they fall before the big guy gets back? 
19. Chicago Bulls (27-30, Last week: 20) - The Bulls keep grinding out wins and have been very solid in crunch time this season. Their ceiling is still low, but they’ve at least all but locked up a play-in spot and could give someone trouble in that one-game scenario.
20. Utah Jazz (27-31, Last week: 19) - The Jazz have been free-falling down the standings since the trade deadline and the teams ahead of them keep winning. The gap may be too much to overcome and Utah may shift towards developing their young players down the stretch anyway.
21. Houston Rockets (25-32, Last week: 21) - The Rockets’ early season success was perhaps a little fluky, as they’ve still got a long way to go before even being a playoff team. But this season has still been a big leap in the right direction. It has been interesting lately to see Ime Udoka start to hold Jalen Green accountable as his minutes have been yanked around and he hasn’t been closing games.
22. Atlanta Hawks (25-32, Last week: 22) - The Hawks just got word that Trae Young needs surgery on his hand and will be reevaluated in four weeks. I’m not even sure that will make the team worse as Dejounte now just slides in as the main ballhandler and they should be better on defense. Either way they’re likely locked into the 10 seed.
23. Charlotte Hornets (15-42, Last week: 23) - The Hornets have been surging since the trade deadline, winning 5 of 6, including winning in Utah for the first time since 2006 and Portland for the first time since 2008. They actually play defense now too.
24. Toronto Raptors (21-36, Last week: 26) - The Raps have won two straight and appear to be making a concerted push for the play-in. If anyone can catch the Hawks it’s likely them.
25. Brooklyn Nets (21-35, Last week: 25) - I don’t even know what this team is anymore. If they had their own pick I’m sure they’d tank, but instead they’ll likely try to push for the final play-in spot until that dream is officially dead. We’ll at least see if Kevin Ollie can coach.
26. Memphis Grizzlies (20-37, Last week: 24) - The Grizzlies have been such an admirable team to watch and support. The talent gap on a nightly basis is extreme but they play hard and play good team basketball on both ends. At least a couple of their G-League finds seem like actual players going forward - GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. specifically.
27. San Antonio Spurs (11-47, Last week: 27) - Wemby keeps getting better and better but the team is still really bad. They can keep games interesting and Wemby’s stat lines are comical but they really need to go get him some help this offseason.
28. Detroit Pistons (8-48, Last week: 28) - The Pistons have at least played mostly competitive basketball lately, and it looks like their young guys are coming along. There’s plenty of hope for a Cade/Duren/Ivey/Ausar core, but they’re nowhere near ready to win, and Monty Williams’ “coaching” isn’t helping.
29. Portland Trail Blazers (15-41, Last week: 29) - Things have gone sideways in a hurry for the Blazers as the injuries have piled up and the team is in full on tank mode for the most part. It’s a shame as it’s been mostly a lost season for Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe - AKA the future of the team.
30. Washington Wizards (9-48, Last week: 30) - Things are bleak in Washington. They’ve lost 11 straight and are somehow only half a game ahead of the Pistons for the worst record in the league.