NBA Power Rankings: The Penultimate Push
Well, here we are. April’s knocking. There’s pollen in the air, and suddenly everyone’s wondering if the Wolves are about to get sucked into the play-in like it’s the basketball version of the Sarlacc Pit. Yep—NBA playoff season is officially around the corner. That means it’s time for our second-to-last edition of this year’s power rankings. Buckle up.
Let’s dive in:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (62-12) Previous Rank: 1
Remember when the Thunder were that adorable young team with upside? They’re now the Death Star. They’ve got the 1-seed in the West wrapped up like a Chipotle burrito, and they’re staring down 70 wins. It will take 17 straight if they’re going to do it. I don’t know if it happens, but here’s what I do know: they’ll be locked in down the stretch, which is great news for the Wolves who could use an assist from OKC against some critical conference opponents.
2. Boston Celtics (55-19) Previous Rank: 2
Boston’s cruising. They know who they are, they’re not catching Cleveland for the top seed, and they’re fine with that. Tatum’s ankle is the only real concern, but if he’s upright, this team is still a buzzsaw. Their game plan for April? Stay healthy, dodge weird vibes, and win.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (60-15) Previous Rank: 3
The Cavs have gone full cruise-control mode. 5-5 over their last 10 isn’t great—but when you’re sitting atop the East and your ticket to the second round is already laminated, you can understand the casual vibes. That said, if they keep playing like they have been, and Boston smells blood, things could get very interesting.
4. Houston Rockets (49-26) Previous Rank: 4
I don’t know what’s more impressive: Houston’s climb up the standings or the fact that they’ve made “scrappy, physical, playoff nightmare” a legitimate brand. They’re currently holding down the 2-seed out West and doing it with purpose. Remember when people laughed about Houston’s chances this year? No one’s laughing now.
5. Golden State Warriors (43-31) Previous Rank: 6
Steph’s back. Jimmy Butler’s here. And the vibes? Chef’s kiss. They’ve worked their way out of the play-in for now and are eying that 4-5 matchup like it’s a fresh batch of warm banana bread. Don’t be shocked if they climb even higher. This team knows how to win when it matters. Also, Jimmy in the playoffs is basically a Marvel villain. Nobody wants that smoke.
6. Indiana Pacers (43-31) Previous Rank: 5
Tough week for the Pacers. Losses to the Lakers and Thunder are forgivable, but that 43-point demolition of the Wizards was downright cathartic. Halliburton is still doing Halliburton things, and this team plays like they all listen to DMX before tip-off. You don’t want to face them.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (43-32) Previous Rank: 9
You know when your favorite band drops a bad album, then follows it with a banger to remind everyone who they are? That’s the Wolves right now. Two big wins—over the Suns and the pesky Pistons—were exactly what the doctor ordered after that rollercoaster week against Indiana and New Orleans. The good news: they have the easiest schedule left in the West. The bad news: this team occasionally plays like they just discovered basketball. But hey, if Ant stays aggressive and Julius Randle plays bully ball instead of chucking 26-footers, this is a real playoff threat.
8. Los Angeles Clippers (42-32) Previous Rank: 7
The Clips are trying. You have to give them that. The close losses to OKC and Cleveland aren’t red flags—they’re battle scars. They’re 7-3 in their last 10, and if Kawhi and Harden can just stay upright, this is still a dangerous team lurking in the middle of the bracket.
9. Detroit Pistons (42-33) Previous Rank: 10
The NBA’s most respectable glow-up continues. The Pistons are no longer the sad, plucky rebuilding squad—they’re here. They’ve won 5 of 7 and are handing out black eyes to playoff hopefuls. Even in their loss to Minnesota, they made it a war. This team has the attitude of a bar bouncer and the skill to back it up.
10. Denver Nuggets (47-28) Previous Rank: 11
Nikola Jokic is doing everything short of playing defense for the other team just to give the Nuggets a chance. They’re hanging on to the 3-seed, but it feels like they’re duct-taping this thing together. If they end up matched against Minnesota, the Jokic vs. Gobert battle might actually swing the series. Or it might just swing Rudy’s elbow—who knows?
11. New York Knicks (47-27) Previous Rank: 12
New York’s figuring it out. Four wins in five games, and they’re slowly re-emerging as a top-three team in the East. Their ceiling depends entirely on how healthy they are by mid-April, but there’s a world where this team is playing in the Eastern Conference Finals. There’s also a world where they catch a quick out to a motivated Giannis or get bullied by Detroit. That’s the Knicks experience.
12. Los Angeles Lakers (45-29) Previous Rank: Not Ranked
They’re back! Kind of! Barely! Look, it hasn’t been pretty—they’ve lost 4 of 6—but LeBron is still LeBron, and they gutted out a one-point win over Indiana to at least stay afloat in the standings. The question now: can they get healthy and actually get dangerous in April? Or are they just this year’s version of “too little, too late”?
Falling Off: Milwaukee Bucks (40-34) Previous Rank: 8
And there you have it. One more edition to go. By this time next week, we’ll be days away from playoff basketball, and hopefully the Wolves have taken care of business and climbed out of the dreaded play-in. The schedule is soft. The path is clear. Time to find out who’s serious… and who’s just flirting with relevance.
