NBA Power Rankings

Updated: Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

By Mike Elworth. Follow Mike @MikeElworth24. For site updates follow @walterfootball.

Ed. Note: This edition of the Power Rankings just include teams bound for the playoffs and the play-in.

Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee has been my title pick since the start of the season, and that hasn’t changed. The Bucks still have Giannis Antetokounmpo, and there is not a person on earth who can stop him from dominating a game. Milwaukee’s elite defense will also be on display, and there are few offenses that won’t struggle facing Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez giving 100 percent defensively. The Bucks have to make their threes if they want to win again, and they also need Middleton healthy, as he is their No. 2 scorer. It’s pretty ridiculous that Milwaukee has the most wins in the league with him playing less than half the season. Mike Budenholzer is a fantastic coach.

Philadelphia 76ers
Like Giannis Antetokounmpo, nobody can stop Joel Embiid, who is a truly special player. He has no weaknesses offensively, and is a huge and athletic marvel. He has a reputation for his playoff issues, but with James Harden and Tyrese Maxey, they are too talented for an epic loss to a lesser team. I also love Philadelphia’s role players, which should be huge for the team in the playoffs as the game slows. P.J. Tucker’s game was made for the playoffs; Tobias Harris has the ability to make fans forget about his contract; and the 76ers have scorers galore, so I see a team that’s a true contender. As for the Joel Embiid for MVP debate? I choose Denver’s Nikola Jokic.

Boston Celtics
I’ve said this on numerous occasions, but I think the Celtics have the league’s best roster 1-12. The problem is that in the playoffs, it’s about the 1-8. In that case, there are several teams that are superior, the Bucks among them. The Celtics could win a title, but I see them having trouble winning games in the playoffs if one of Jayson Tatum or Jalen Brown struggle.

Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have been the No. 1 team in the West for most of the seaon and still are. They are far from perfect though, mostly on defense, and if Nikola Jokic isn’t on his game, they are in trouble. Denver’s fantastic depth, like Boston’s also becomes less valuable in the playoffs, so Denver really needs to play perfect basketball to win a title. As I wrote, to me, Jokic is the MVP and he should win his third straight; a center averaging a triple-double with assists shouldn’t actually be happening.

Golden State Warriors
Golden State will face a tough task if it wants to repeat, which I think is possible, although not likely because the competition is much tougher this season in the West with Denver healthy, Phoenix with Kevin Durant, and Memphis and Sacramento young and hungry. Luckily for the Warriors, they have Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, but the old guys can no longer carry the team. It is time for the young guys led by Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga to really take a few more steps.

Phoenix Suns
So far, the Suns have had Kevin Durant healthy for seven games. That cannot be sufficient time for him to take the lead or Devin Booker to take a secondary role, and Phoenix’s recent additions like T.J. Warren, Darius Bazley and Terrence Ross have had just weeks to adjust there. There are a lot of questions, but this team’s talent is ridiculous. The Suns could use one guard and scorer, but really, they are stacked.

Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies with Ja Morant are a fantastic basketball team. Offensively, things are obviously centered around Ja Morant and his talents, but for the first time with Morant, Memphis has a team that fits well around him. Desmond Bane is an excellent Robin to Morant’s Batman; the Grizzlies have two enforcers in Steven Adams and Dillon Brooks; and Jaren Jackson Jr., although an all-star, is still a pretty quiet star. Memphis had two pretty bug issues; age and its bench, and although age still is the issue, the addition of Luke Lennard was excellent. I still think the Grizzlies are not quite a title team.

Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers have arguably the East’s top-ranked guard duo, two excellent big man, and quality depth, but they have one issue, lacking a player with the talent to win them a title. I have no issues with Donavan Mitchell, who is arguably among the first 10 talents in the NBA, but I just cannot see him as the man on a title team.

Sacramento Kings
I have followed the Kings closely this season. They are fun, and I love the pairing of De’Aaron Fox and Damontas Sabonis leading this team to the playoffs again. The NBA is a tad prettier with the Kings a decent team. The problem with them is that I see no chance of them winning a series. They have no experience; they are very young; and they lack a single player among the 20 biggest talents.

Los Angeles Clippers
So, for those who care, I at least have the Clippers over the Lakers, but there literally is not one part of the Clippers organization that thrills me in the least. It’s the same fancy dress they’ve paraded to the playoffs for several years and only added Russell Westbrook to it. Boring may be what works for the Clippers though because Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are fantastic. Although I have the Nuggets winning the conference, I can see a number of teams with legitimate claims to the title, and the Clippers are one of them.

Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are the flashy version of the Clippers. The Clippers have their two stars, but instead of one fancy toy they just got and are learning to use, the Lakers have like 19. I’m not exactly a huge fan of their moves, although I really like the additions of Jarred Vanderbilty and Malik Beasley, but getting D’Angelo Russell himself was perfect. The Lakers needed a third scorer, a point guard, and at least one more shooter and Russell has helped them in all three regards. I see very little flash or wins coming for the Lakers if LeBron James can’t become 28 again, but seeing how they use their toys will be fascinating.

New York Knicks
I struggle to put this into intelligent words, but the Knicks are “meh.” “Meh” isn’t very descriptive, but they’re a “meh” team with a solid record. R.J. Barrett still hasn’t taken the jump to all-star; Julius Randle has been averaging hollow numbers for years; and if your biggest star is Jalen Brunson, you have a problem. Those are straight facts, my friends, and the Knicks know pretty well they will lose to the Cavaliers and Donovan Mitchell, ironically.

Brooklyn Nets
Nobody gave the Nets much hope after they traded Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, as we wondered who would become “the guy.” Personally, I thought they lacked someone, but Mikal Brodges has quickly come to be Brooklyn’s franchise player and is one of the elite two-way stars in the league. Cam Johnson was also in the Durant deal, and while he should be re-signed, he was overpaid. Add in Nic Claxton and the several more young talents on the roster, and the Nets have something on the verge of special. However, Brooklyn has little chance of beating the 76ers.

Toronto Raptors
The Raptors will be against my Bulls in the play-in. Toronto has a deep and talented roster, but the team needs Scottie Barnes to continue to develop to reach its potential. The Raptors are likely to lose at least one of Fred Van Vleet and Gary Trent Jr., so this might be a very different squad next season.

Miami Heat
The Heat are easy to gameplan for; you are getting a physical beating, but in the case of most teams, they cannot score at your level. Miami lacks the offense to win in the playoffs and need to find a scorer in free agency.

Minnesota Timberwolves
Well, it was looking murky early, but the Timberwolves were eighth in the West and will make the play-in tournament. Minnesota was actually pretty hard to properly rank because the team just got its star big man Karl Anthony Towns healthy and he is balling. Mike Conley, whom the Timberwolves acquired via trade, has also played very well for them and has given them a veteran presence they’ve needed. I’ve given Minnesota a lot of flack for the Rudy Trade Mistake, but I personally wasn’t someone who thought Anthony Edwards would become a true star. I actually like most of Minnesota’s roster, but the team has no chance if it wins the play-in.

Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder just making the play-in is incredible considering it was thought they were planning on tanking, more so when potential stud rookie Chet Holmgren was told he would miss the season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has continued to lead this team and has become one of the truly elite players in the NBA. Josh Giddey, meanwhile, has become a fun and capable second option. If Giddey continues to become a more acurrate three-point shooter, he could also be an allstar. Let’s face it, the Thunder may win their spot in the playoffs, but they would be swept by Denver. Next season with Gilgeous-Alexander, Giddey, Holmgren and the rest of their talent, the Thunder could become a legitimate playoff team.

New Orleans Pelicans
If New Orleans had Zion Williamson, the team would be climbing at least five spots, but the combination of C.J. McCollum and Brandon Ingram really frightens nobody. To their credit, the Pelicans have been winning a lot recently, but they are missing Williamson, so they have no chance in the play-in tournament.

Chicago Bulls
Zach Lavine has been playing like a superstar recently, and being led by Patrick Beverly, the Bulls’ rough season has become somewhat happy. Yes, I’m technically a Bulls fan, but I see them winning the play-in tournament before likely being swept by the Bucks. As for the direction of the Bulls, they have to re-sign Beverly and Coby White, who has turned into a high-level sixth man. I would, however, allow Nikola Vucevic to walk and trade DeMar DeRozan for assets. Chicago needs to retool around Lavine, not rebuild.

Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks’ season has been a mess, and really, their season will likely end with them losing to the Heat. If Atlanta wins the play-in tournamenr, the team will maybe win one game against the Celtics, lose quickly and get a trade request from Trae Young. The Hawks could be on the verge of rebuilding.