The NBA Power Rankings will not change again this week but that doesn’t mean they don’t look a lot different after a wild week in the association. The Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics both look a lot better on paper after upgrading before the NBA trade deadline while the Golden State Warriors were dealt a massive blow with potentially major ramifications. Here is a look at the NBA top five power rankings for this week.
1. Golden State Warriors (50-11)
Last Week: 1
NBA Championship Odds: -150
The Warriors became the first team to clinch an NBA playoff spot as early as February 25th since the 1985-86 Boston Celtics and yet this past week was considered an absolute disaster fro the franchise. Golden State lost Kevin Durant for at least the next four weeks due to an MCL sprain and bone bruise and they were very fortunate that he wasn’t lost for the season after an unlucky incident in which Zaza Pachulia fell in to his leg while trying to sell a foul call. In fact, there was a 10-15 minute window in which the Warriors thought Durant was done for the season and it was a scary wake up call for the entire NBA. With Stephen Curry set to crack the league’s all-time top-10 three-point scorers and Matt Barnes temporarily filling in for Durant it makes sense that Golden State will be just fine the rest of the regular season as long as they aren’t hit by any more injuries. However, Golden State will undoubtedly need Durant back if they are going to get back to the NBA Finals and take down the Cleveland Cavaliers for another ring.
2. San Antonio Spurs (46-13)
Last Week: 2
NBA Championship Odds: +650
A 6-2 mark on their annual Rodeo Road Trip left San Antonio 3.5 games back of Golden State for the best record in the NBA. The Spurs have the talent to compete with the Warriors but they will definitely be in better position if they have home court advantage in the playoffs and Durant isn’t at 100-percent. For now, San Antonio will concentrate on a strong finish and trying to steal home court from Golden State. That will be a tough test even with Durant sidelined but the Spurs are right there in the mix and as long as they can avoid the injury bug they will be a tough out for the Warriors come playoff time.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (41-18)
Last Week: 3
NBA Championship Odds: +250
Deron Williams missed an opportunity to be the hero in his first big moment for the Cavaliers when he missed a wide open three in the dying seconds of a 103-99 loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. Down two late in the fourth, LeBron James drew two defenders before kicking it out to a wide-open Williams, who couldn’t convert on the go-ahead three-ball. Cleveland lost the game and they are now just three games up on the Celtics for top spot in the Eastern Conference with a lot of basketball left to play. The addition of Williams and Andrew Bogut should help the Cavaliers in the long run but ultimately this team will need a LeBron James and Kyrie Irving healthy come playoff time. What happened to Durant should serve as a wakeup call for this group even as they turn their attention to locking down home court advantage down the final stretch.
4. Houston Rockets (43-19)
Last Week: 4
NBA Championship Odds: +1800
For all of the talk about the Warriors and Spurs in the Western Conference, the Rockets had to be thinking about the opportunity an injury to Durant would provide their franchise. Houston traded for another scoring option in Lou Williams to compliment their current Sixth Man of the Year award candidate Eric Gordon and suddenly this looks like a team that can’t be counted out. The Rockets already own the NBA’s second-highest scoring offense and they have recorded at least 100 points in 48 straight games, which is a franchise record. Houston also set the NBA record with nine games with at least 20 three-point field goals earlier this week. With the offense clicking at a record level, a healthy Rockets team can’t be overlooked in the Western Conference.
5. Boston Celtics (39-22)
Last Week: 5
NBA Championship Odds: +2000
Speaking of teams that can’t be overlooked, the Celtics just beat the Cavaliers in a thriller on Wednesday night to close the gap to three games at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Boston is now 14-6 in games that are decided by five points or fewer this season, which is tied for the second-best record in those situations. Isaiah Thomas had 31 points in the win over Cleveland while Jae Crowder had 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Celtics have shown they can at least compete with Cleveland and things will get a lot more interesting in the Eastern Conference if they can find a way to close the gap in the standings and steal home court advantage for the postseason.
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