Advertisement

NBA Power Rankings: Top seeds facing balancing act

Golden State
Golden State

1. Golden State Warriors (Record: 60-13; last week: 1): Two interesting statistics about Stephen Curry: He is third in the NBA in steals per game (2.1) and 42nd in minutes per game (32.8).


Cleveland
Cleveland

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (Record: 48-27; last week: 2): The Cavaliers say it isn’t serious, but keep an eye on starting power forward Kevin Love, who reinjured his back in a narrow win over Philadelphia on Sunday.


Houston
Houston

3. Houston Rockets (Record: 50-23; last week: 7): After splitting the season series, the Rockets and Grizzlies should go down to the wire battling for seeding and the Southwest Division title.


Los Angeles
Los Angeles

4. Los Angeles Clippers (Record: 49-25; last week: 5): L.A. decided not to re-sign Nate Robinson, who has a knee injury, for the remainder of the season after his second 10-day contract expired. Robinson is expected to be cleared to play by week’s end.


San Antonio
San Antonio

5. San Antonio Spurs (Record: 47-26; last week: 6): The defending NBA champs are picking it up down the stretch as usual with a three-game winning streak and 13 victories in their last 16 games.


Atlanta
Atlanta

6. Atlanta Hawks (Record: 55-18; last week: 3): After clinching the East’s top playoff seed, Atlanta rested its starters in a loss to Charlotte on Saturday. The Hawks have been lackluster of late and appear in need of more rest.


Portland
Portland

7. Portland Trail Blazers (Record: 47-25; last week: 8): Portland has won three straight, but is just 5-5 in its last 10 games.


Memphis
Memphis

8. Memphis Grizzlies (Record: 50-24; last week: 4) The Grizzlies were leapfrogged by the Rockets in the standings after a third straight loss Sunday against the Spurs.


Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City

9. Oklahoma City Thunder (Record: 42-32; last week: 9): With Kevin Durant out for the rest of the season because of another foot surgery, Russell Westbrook and the Thunder must move on and focus on a playoff spot.


Dallas
Dallas

10. Dallas Mavericks (Record: 45-29; last week: 10): The Mavericks are a combined 2-5 against Memphis and Houston and will likely face one of those teams in the first round of the playoffs.


Chicago
Chicago

11. Chicago Bulls (Record: 45-29; last week: 12): Could Derrick Rose return Wednesday against Milwaukee? The Bulls have three off days to possibly get him ready.


Toronto
Toronto

12. Toronto Raptors (Record: 43-30; last week: 11): The Raptors are trying to hang on to the fourth seed in the East and the struggling Wizards are doing a great job of helping them out.


Washington
Washington

13. Washington Wizards (Record: 41-33; last week: 13): The Wizards could be a playoff disappointment, but remain a potentially scary foe because of their talent and depth and All-Star John Wall.


New Orleans
New Orleans

14. New Orleans Pelicans (Record: 39-34; last week: 15) The Pelicans still have some hope for the eighth playoff spot in the West, and New Orleans actually owns the tiebreaker over Oklahoma City.


Phoenix
Phoenix

15. Phoenix Suns (Record: 38-36; last week: 14): The Suns might want to start making their vacation plans. They are four games behind the Thunder and lost the tiebreaker after falling to Oklahoma City on Sunday.


Miami
Miami

16. Miami Heat (Record: 34-39; last week: 17): A great sign for the Heat is that Dwyane Wade has had some good games in March, including scoring 40 points against the Pistons on Sunday.


Utah
Utah

17. Utah Jazz (Record: 32-41; last week: 16): Thunder center Enes Kanter described his time with the Jazz as “a three-and-a-half-year frustration.” The Jazz were frustrated with his defense, too.


Milwaukee
Milwaukee

18. Milwaukee Bucks (Record: 36-37; last week: 20): The Bucks host the Hawks on Monday night in what could be a potential first-round matchup preview.


Brooklyn
Brooklyn

19. Brooklyn Nets (Record: 32-40; last week: 23): As part of the Joe Johnson deal, the Hawks can swap 2015 first-round picks with the Nets. And it’s not protected.


Boston
Boston

20. Boston Celtics (Record: 32-41; last week: 19): The Celtics’ playoff hopes could be aided by playing 10 of their final 16 games at home, but they are just 18-19 this season at TD Garden.


Denver
Denver

21. Denver Nuggets (Record: 28-46; last week: 22): Former Denver Nuggets coach Brian Shaw appeared to be in good spirits in his hometown of Oakland, Calif., last week.


Indiana
Indiana

22. Indiana Pacers (Record: 32-41; last week: 21): Injured guard Paul George (broken leg) is still day-to-day and the playoffs are still possible for the Pacers. Is it worth bringing him back this season?


Charlotte
Charlotte

23. Charlotte Hornets (Record: 31-41; last week: 18): From a playoff standpoint, the Bobcats’ game against Boston on Monday is big because a win would give the Hornets the tiebreaker.


Detroit
Detroit

24. Detroit Pistons (Record: 28-45; last week: 25): The Pistons have won four of their past five games, but it is likely too late to get back into the East’s lackluster playoff race.


Sacramento
Sacramento

25. Sacramento Kings (Record: 26-46; last week: 25): Assuming Chris Mullin takes the St. John’s University coaching job, Kings general manager Pete D’Alessandro would lose his top adviser.


Philadelphia
Philadelphia

26. Philadelphia 76ers (Record: 18-56; last week: 28) The Sixers are two wins (with eight games to play) away from 20 victories this season. Philadelphia won 19 games last season.


Los Angeles
Los Angeles

27. Los Angeles Lakers (Record: 19-53; last week: 27): Sorry, Magic Johnson. More losing is needed for the Lakers to help solidify their chances of keeping their top-five protected first-round pick.


Minnesota
Minnesota

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (Record: 16-57; last week: 29) So who is the NBA’s second-leading rookie scorer behind Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins? New York’s Langston Galloway. Seriously.


Orlando
Orlando

29. Orlando Magic (Record: 22-52; last week: 26): Shaquille O’Neal recently said: “Knowing what I know now, I would’ve stayed with the Magic in 1996.” The Lakers’ history would’ve been very different.


New York
New York

30. New York Knicks (Record: 14-60; last week: 30): Phil Jackson and the Knicks have lost a franchise-record and NBA season-worst 60 games with eight more contests remaining.

More NBA coverage: