Advertisement

NBA Power Rankings: Spurs top final rankings of 2013-14 season

San Antonio
San Antonio

1. San Antonio Spurs (62-20; last week's ranking: 1): The Spurs have so far impressively responded from their loss in the 2013 NBA Finals. Now, they'll try to use that disappointment as fuel for the playoffs.


Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (59-23; last week's ranking: 2): Kevin Durant averaged a career-best 32 points this season. He averaged 30.8 in four games against the Grizzlies.


Los Angeles
Los Angeles

3. Los Angeles Clippers (57-25; last week's ranking: 3): The heated rivalry between the Clippers and Warriors renews in the playoffs. The teams got testy on Christmas, and their tempers don't figure to cool down in the postseason.


Miami
Miami

4. Miami Heat (54-28; last week's ranking: 4): The reigning NBA champions enter the playoffs with one victory in their past six games. LeBron James averaged 31.1 points in April.


Houston
Houston

5. Houston Rockets (54-28; last week's ranking: 5): Houston won its season series 3-1 against first-round opponent Portland. Dwight Howard averaged 25.5 points and 13.5 rebounds against the Blazers.


Indiana
Indiana

6. Indiana Pacers (56-26; last week's ranking: 8): The East's top-seeded Pacers lost six of 10 games going into the postseason. Facing struggling Atlanta in the first round could help their confidence.


Portland
Portland

7. Portland Trail Blazers (54-28; last week's ranking: 6): Second-year guard Damian Lillard is making his first playoff appearance. He never played in the NCAA tournament.


Golden State
Golden State

8. Golden State Warriors (51-31; last week's ranking: 7): With Andrew Bogut sidelined, the Warriors hope center Festus Ezeli, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, can make his season debut in the playoffs.


Memphis
Memphis

9. Memphis Grizzlies (50-32; last week's ranking: 11): Memphis is a scary opponent for the Thunder. The Grizzlies knocked Oklahoma City, which was missing Russell Westbrook, out of the playoffs last season.


Dallas
Dallas

10. Dallas Mavericks (49-33; last week's ranking: 9): The Spurs swept Dallas in four games this season. Dirk Nowitzki averaged 18.5 points and 16.7 percent 3-point shooting versus the Spurs.


Phoenix
Phoenix

11. Phoenix Suns (48-34; last week's ranking: 10): Phoenix fell shy of making the playoffs in the West, but rookie coach Jeff Hornacek is still a legitimate Coach of the Year candidate.


Chicago
Chicago

12. Chicago Bulls (48-34; last week's ranking: 13): The Bulls will again have to make their playoff push with Derrick Rose on the sideline.


Toronto
Toronto

13. Toronto Raptors (48-34; last week's ranking: 12): Coach Dwane Casey's agent met with Toronto GM Masai Ujiri last week. Casey is expected back.


Brooklyn
Brooklyn

14. Brooklyn Nets (44-38; last week's ranking: 14): Kevin Garnett and the Nets are hoping the extra days off – and no back-to-backs – will help them in the playoffs.


Washington
Washington

15. Washington Wizards (44-38; last week's ranking: 15): The Wizards are in the postseason for the first time since 2008 and also for the first time in the post-Gilbert Arenas era.


Charlotte
Charlotte

16. Charlotte Bobcats (43-39; last week's ranking: 16): Charlotte will enter its first playoff appearance since 2010 with wins in three straight games and eight of its past 10 contests.


Atlanta
Atlanta

17. Atlanta Hawks (38-44; last week's ranking: 17): The Hawks are making their sixth straight playoff appearance. They split their four games against the Pacers this season.


Minnesota
Minnesota

18. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-42; last week's ranking: 18): Assuming Rick Adelman leaves, a source said Minnesota's coaching wish list includes Tom Izzo, Fred Hoiberg and Stan Van Gundy.


New York
New York

19. New York Knicks (37-45; last week's ranking: 19): Outside of president Steve Mills, everyone else on the front-office and coaching staffs could be replaced by Phil Jackson.


Denver
Denver

20. Denver Nuggets (36-46; last week's ranking: 20): Denver's 10-year playoff streak came to an end this season. Long-time Nuggets athletic trainer Jim Gillen retired after 23 years.


New Orleans
New Orleans

21. New Orleans Pelicans (34-48; last week's ranking: 21): Guard Pierre Jackson, whose rights are owned by the Pelicans, plans to play for New Orleans in the Las Vegas Summer League.


Cleveland
Cleveland

22. Cleveland Cavaliers (33-49; last week's ranking: 22): Kyrie Irving said he doesn't "have a definitive answer" on whether he will accept a max contract offer from the Cavs this summer.


Detroit
Detroit

23. Detroit Pistons (29-53; last week's ranking: 24): The Pistons are looking for a new general manager and coach this summer.


Sacramento
Sacramento

24. Sacramento Kings (28-54; last week's ranking: 23) Forward Rudy Gay has a tough decision as to whether to opt out of the final year of his contract paying him $19.3 million.


Los Angeles
Los Angeles

25. Los Angeles Lakers (27-55; last week's ranking: 25): The Lakers will have a busy offseason this summer. The team figures to look drastically different next season.


Utah
Utah

26. Utah Jazz (25-57; last week's ranking: 26): The big questions for the Jazz this offseason is whether they will bring back coach Tyrone Corbin and re-sign free agent Gordon Hayward.


Boston
Boston

27. Boston Celtics (25-57; last week's ranking: 28): When asked after the season finale if he wanted to play for the Celtics next season, point guard Rajon Rondo said, "Next question."


Orlando
Orlando

28. Orlando Magic (23-59; last week's ranking: 27): Magic assistant general manager Scott Perry is an expected candidate for GM openings with Detroit and Cleveland, a source said.


Philadelphia
Philadelphia

29. Philadelphia 76ers (19-63, last week's ranking: 29): About the only good news that will come out of this forgettable season is Michael Carter-Williams likely winning Rookie of the Year.


Milwaukee
Milwaukee

30. Milwaukee Bucks (15-67; last week's ranking: 30): The Bucks finish this season with the NBA's worst record, and will have the best odds during the draft lottery on May 20.