NBA Power Rankings February
By Haskel Canagarajah
Power Rankings (Correct as of Feb 20 - March 1)
Golden State Warriors - The Warriors continue to put points on the board currently averaging about 113 points a game.
Atlanta Hawks - The Hawks had a 19 game win streak and looked like the best team in the league, but they are currently on a two game losing streak, including a blowout loss to Toronto.
Memphis Grizzlies - The Grizzlies have been fairly quiet in the NBA, but they’re still playing pretty good basketball, though their play has declined from the level it once was at.
Toronto Raptors - The Raptors used to be the second - best offensive team in the league (Golden State) but they’re offensive play has been slowly declining, nonetheless they’re still one of the elite offenses in the league.
Cleveland Cavaliers - With all the offensive talent on this team, it’s been unimpressive to see how this team had progressed throughout year, but they’re starting to look like the team everyone hoped they’d be here in February, thus they get the no.5 position.
Portland Trail Blazers - Portland has a very good offense, but they’re defensive play has really picked up and they’re starting to look like a big threat on both ends of the floor.
Houston Rockets - Missing Dwight Howard is going to be big for the Rockets, a lot of the scoring load is going to be piled up even more on James Harden, and they’re going to be missing a huge defensive presence inside the paint. If they want to get a good seed at the end of the season they’re going to have to adapt on offense and play very good defense inside the paint.
San Antonio Spurs - The defending champs don’t seem to be playing at a very good level this season as compared to what we’ve seen in the past. But unless something really crazy happens they will be in the playoffs.
Dallas Mavericks - Monta Ellis is playing well, along with Nowitzki and the Mavs, they hold the 6th playoff seed in the west.
Chicago Bulls - The Bulls used to be really good in the beginning of the season, but they’re play has decreased and Derrick Rose isn’t playing at the level that Bulls fans want him to be, Derrick Rose blamed the losses on bad teamwork in an interview in January.
Los Angeles Clippers - The clips will be without Blake Griffin, but that won’t do as much damage to the team as most people think it will. The Clippers also have Chris Paul and big man DeAndre Jordan to anchor the team.
Oklahoma City Thunder - The team was expected to start out the season great, but they didn’t. But now they’ve been putting up W’s, and as of February 25th they’re on a 7 game winning streak.
Milwaukee Bucks - This team’s success has been based off of teamwork and good coaching. Jason Kidd has done a fantastic job turning Average/Below Average players into pretty great players. It was surprising to see them give up on Brandon Knight and take Michael Carter Williams just before the trade deadline, but this trade added good depth for the bucks.
Detroit Pistons - The Pistons had a good streak of wins earlier in the season, but since then they haven’t been as good, they traded sixth man DJ Augustin before the trade deadline.
Washington Wizards - The Wizards currently hold the 5th spot in the East after dropping from third in early February.
New Orleans Pelicans - Most of the team’s big stars have been struck by injury lately, including big man Anthony Davis.
Phoenix Suns - The team reshaped it’s backcourt before the trade deadline, dishing out Isaiah Thomas to Boston and Goran Dragic to Miami while adding Brandon Knight from Milwaukee. They are currently in a three team race for the final playoff spot in the West.
Indiana Pacers - Paul George is still out, but the organization is optimistic he’ll return to play this year, they currently have the final playoff spot in the East, but a couple of losses could easily change that, they have won 7 of their last 9 games. Their most notable wins in this period have come to Cleveland and Golden State.
Boston Celtics - The Celtics are in rebuilding mode, they’ve been on almost all of the headlines when it comes to trades, and expect it to be that way during free agency as well. It’s going to be hard to sneak into the playoffs for Boston this year, but next year they could really make some noise.
Miami Heat - This year just sums up how bad the Heat are without LeBron, they currently have the second to last playoff spot in the East, but Chris Bosh (They’re leading scorer) is out for the rest of the season with a blood clot in his lungs, the Heat will have to somehow find a way to keep themselves in that 7th position.
Charlotte Hornets - This team has lost six of it’s last seven contests and are fading fast.
Brooklyn Nets - Deron Williams hasn’t played as well as fans hoped and Brooklyn hasn’t been winning a lot of games. They’re tied for the final playoff spot in the East.
Utah Jazz - It’s a season that’s no different for Utah, near last in the Power Rankings....Again.
Orlando Magic - This team showed some hope in the beginning of the season, but recently it hasn’t been good, they have a very slim chance at making the playoffs. Interim head coach James Borrego is 4-4 with the team after they fired Jacque Vaughn.
Sacramento Kings - The Kings are 2-2 since George Karl took over the Head Coaching position.
Denver Nuggets - They have lost nine straight at home...so much for Home Court Advantage....
Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe Bryant is out...that’s about all you need to know.
Minnesota Timberwolves - They won’t make the postseason this year, but they did acquire Kevin Garnett from Brooklyn, and Zach LaVine is starting to show some promise.
New York Knicks - What Mike Woodson did last year doesn’t seem so bad now does it, New York....The Knicks continue their struggle with first year coach Derek Fisher.
- Philadelphia 76ers - The 76ers continue to post losses after starting 0-17 in the beginning of the season, but at least we know the 2015-16 starting lineup....2015 Draft Pick 1....2015 Draft Pick 2....2015 Draft Pick 3....2015 Draft Pick 4....2015 Draft Pick 5....great plan there Philly!