My rankings for each NBA team going into April:
1. Phoenix Suns (61-14)
The Suns have been the best team in the NBA all season. They have done a very good job of staying healthy and consistent. Devin Booker has been playing at an MVP level. Chris Paul hasn’t skipped a beat coming off injury. Deandre Ayton is a top 10 center in the league and Mikal Bridges has been very good defensively this year. They are the team to beat.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (46-28)
The Bucks have been playing very well lately, but nobody has been talking about them. They are getting healthy and Giannis could win MVP. With how hard the East is, it will be very hard to make the finals, but they are surprisingly sneaky right now, and they could be in a position in the end to repeat as champions.
3. Memphis Grizzlies (53-23)
The Grizzlies are really good. Ja Morant is another MVP candidate. However, Morant is injured and I don’t know when he will return, and how good he will be when that happens. We’ll see when it’s all said and done.
4. Boston Celtics (47-29)
The Celtics have been arguably the best team in the NBA since the beginning of February. Their defense has been amazing, and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been electric. My problem though, is the injury to center Robert Williams. He will be out for a while and will probably miss the 1st round of the playoffs. This should be problematic for their run for a championship.
5. Miami Heat (48-28)
They are currently no. 1 in the East and have been on kind of a spill lately. I expect them to get their act together by the time the playoffs start, but if they don’t then they will be in trouble.
6. Golden State Warriors (48-28)
They have been on a bad stretch in a while, but assuming Steph Curry comes back, the Warriors should be able to be really good when it matters most.
7. Philadelphia 76ers (46-28)
The 76ers have been okay, but they will need to rely on James Harden getting better down the stretch if they want to make it far in the playoffs.
8. Brooklyn Nets (39-36)
The Nets have a great offense. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are both top 10 scorers in the NBA, and having both on the same team is dangerous. If their defense can pick it up, then they probably won’t be able to make it to the finals.
9. Dallas Mavericks (46-29)
Luka Doncic has been playing amazing, and their other guards have played well, but I haven’t seen enough from their frontcourt to consider them real contenders.
10. Utah Jazz (45-30)
The Jazz have a lot of potential, but they haven’t been able to stay healthy. I don’t see them getting past the 2nd round.
11. Denver Nuggets (45-31)
They have Jokic, but with Murray not returning anytime soon, I doubt they will be able to make a long run.
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (43-33)
The Timberwolves have been playing well lately and KAT is one of the top shooting centers in the country, but they don’t quite have the depth to win a playoff series.
13. Chicago Bulls (43-32)
They haven’t played good at all lately because they haven’t been healthy. If they can get everyone back, then they could make some noise.
14. Toronto Raptors (43-32)
They have a good team unit, but with a lack of size and not much star power, I don’t see them getting past the first round.
15. Cleveland Cavaliers (42-33)
The Cavs had a great start to the season, but it has been derailed by injuries. They could be at risk of missing the playoffs by losing in the play-in.
16. Charlotte Hornets (39-37)
17. Atlanta Hawks (38-37)
18. LA Clippers (36-39)
19. New Orleans Pelicans (32-43)
20. New York Knicks (34-42)
21. Washington Wizards (32-42)
22. San Antonio Spurs (31-43)
23. LA Lakers (31-43)
24. Sacramento Kings (27-49)
25. Portland Trailblazers (27-48)
26. Indiana Pacers (25-51)
27. Oklahoma City Thunder (22-53)
28. Detroit Pistons (20-55)
29. Houston Rockets (20-56)
30. Orlando Magic (20-56)
Major Contenders
- Phoenix Suns
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Boston Celtics
- Miami Heat
Minor Contenders
- Golden State Warriors
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Brooklyn Nets
Spoilers
- Dallas Mavericks
- Utah Jazz
- Denver Nuggets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Chicago Bulls
1st Round Exits
- Toronto Raptors
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Charlotte Hornets
- Atlanta Hawks
- LA Clippers
Low-End Play-In
- New Orleans Pelicans
- New York Knicks
- Washington Wizards
- San Antonio Spurs
- Los Angeles Lakers
Lottery
- Sacramento Kings
- Portland Trailblazers
- Indiana Pacers
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Detroit Pistons
- Houston Rockets
- Orlando Magic
JacobErwin.com 