30. Washington Wizards (9-51)
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Washington ended winless in February, though their losing streak was awfully predictable. They didn’t play a single non-playoff team for the entire month. After polishing off a two-game winning streak against the Pistons and Spurs, they embarked on a 14-game stretch of teams fighting for playoff spots. Jordan Poole recently was moved to the bench, which seems to have helped a bit with 30-point performances versus the Lakers and Cavaliers. The Daniel Gafford trade opened up a starting spot for Marvin Bagley III, who has been serviceable thus far. Deni Avdija enjoyed his best month as a pro in February, averaging 20.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 3.0 APG while shooting 50 percent from three.
29. Detroit Pistons (9-51)
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It’s safe to say there hasn’t been much to cheer about for Pistons fans this year. Ending their 28-game losing streak with a 129-127 win over the Raptors stands tall as the highlight of the year. A trade deadline that saw multiple veterans get swapped out allowed for young guard Jaden Ivey to get more minutes. The development of Ivey and Cade Cunningham should be the Pistons’ priority for the rest of the season.
28. San Antonio Spurs (13-48)
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The Spurs aren’t going to win a lot of the games the rest of the year, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters is they have an absolute superstar on their hands. Victor Wembanyama is living up to the hype, and then some. As a 20-year-old rookie, Wembanyama is averaging 20/10 while leading the league in blocks. Oh, and he shot over 40 percent from three in February. If the Spurs can surround the French phenom with solid role players, good luck to the rest of the league.
27. Charlotte Hornets (15-46)
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We could be seeing a massive shift in Charlotte’s philosophy unfolding. Entering the year, it was clear that LaMelo Ball was the team’s franchise player and the one who would help guide the Hornets out of mediocrity. However, Ball has been mired by injuries once again and it’s unclear if he’ll suit up at any point over the remainder of the year. In his place, rookie Brandon Miller has emerged as a budding star. The skilled forward was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in February and has started to come into his own. Miller is already a gifted offensive player who will only add more moves and counters to his bag as he matures.
26. Portland Trail Blazers (17-42)
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It’s unclear how aggressive the Blazers were during the trade deadline. A team headed towards the Draft Lottery, it was a bit surprising to see Portland hang onto their bundle of veterans. Of course, there’s a high probability that injuries played a part in the Blazers deciding to avoid any major moves. At any rate, the Blazers are looking to select high in the draft following a winless February. This team is filled with guards who all do the same thing. They desperately need a two-way wing in the draft to help bring all of their young pieces together.
25. Memphis Grizzlies (20-41)
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Chalk it up to a lost season for the Grizzlies. It started off rocky with Ja Morant having to serve a 25-game suspension to begin the year. Memphis was putrid without Morant and started the season 6-19. There was a jolt when Morant returned to the floor as the Grizzlies won their first four games with their star point guard back in the lineup. Then, Morant suffered a season-ending injury after just nine games. Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart got hurt three days apart and have been out since early January. The Grizzlies have gotten just 66 total games out of their three top guards. That’s impossible to overcome in a rugged Western Conference.
24. Toronto Raptors (23-38)
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It will be intriguing to see how the Raptors’ deadline decisions will play out. Instead of embracing a total rebuild, the Raptors seemingly targeted players who can help them now. By trading away Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby for proven players rather than draft assets, the Raptors are signaling they believe their current roster is good enough to make some noise in the Eastern Conference. At 23-38, that belief hasn’t materialized just yet. However, their star Scottie Barnes was recognized for his strong campaign by being named an All-Star (as an alternate).
23. Utah Jazz (27-34)
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Utah’s arrow is trending down, and it seems like they’ve dug themselves too deep a hole to get out of. It was a tough start to the year for the Jazz who were 7-16 midway through December. A couple of lineup changes sparked a massive run. By Feb. 6, Utah had clawed back to a .500 record of 26-26. It’s been downhill from there. They now find themselves in no man’s land. They’re firmly behind a few teams for the last play-in spot but are significantly ahead of the bottom-feeders. Will Hardy is a savvy coach. It will be interesting to see how he approaches the last stretch of the season with his team seemingly out of playoff contention.
22. Brooklyn Nets (24-36)
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The Nets are in the NBA’s purgatory. They have enough good offensive players who can fill it up on any given night. However, they currently find themselves just outside of a play-in spot. And, it seems like they’ve gotten worse as the season has gone on. The Nets are 4-8 over their last 12, and one of those losses came by 50 points. On the court, Cam Thomas’ improved playmaking has been a good sign. Thomas, who has been out since Feb 26, averaged 3.8 APG in February.
21. Houston Rockets (26-34)
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After a promising start to the year, the Rockets have fallen back down to Earth. Houston began the season 13-9 with some impressive wins. They defeated the Thunder, Lakers, Kings (twice), and Nuggets (twice) during that stretch. It’s been dismal ever since. Coach Ime Udoka seemingly can’t find a rotation he feels comfortable with. Former No. 2 pick Jalen Green has shown flashes but has been vastly inconsistent. Even Alperen Şengün has hit a rough patch. Prolonged stretches of bad play is not uncommon for young teams. The Rockets have plenty of talent. They’ll grow from this season and use it to get better moving forward.
20. Chicago Bulls (28-32)
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Brooklyn’s next-door neighbor in the NBA’s purgatory is the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls made one of the most puzzling decisions of any team at the deadline, opting to stand pat and not make any major moves. Of course, Zach LaVine was off the table following the news that he was undergoing season-ending surgery. However, the team failed to get anything for DeMar DeRozan’s expiring contract and held onto defensive specialist Alex Caruso despite reportedly receiving some lucrative offers. The Bulls currently hold a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference, but this is a team headed nowhere, and fast.
19. Atlanta Hawks (26-34)
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The Hawks are simply not a good basketball team. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are good players. Clint Capela is a great rebounder. The rest of the roster is filled with players who can knock down threes and play some defense. However, the parts don’t all fit together. The backcourt was never a clean fit, and that’s why so many were surprised to see Atlanta hold onto Murray through the deadline. Expect massive change across the roster this offseason after the Hawks inevitably bow out of the Play-In Tournament early.
18. Indiana Pacers (34-28)
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The Pacers have been a below .500 team for two months now. Tyrese Haliburton’s minutes have been up and down as he’s dealt with nagging injuries. There was a stretch earlier in the season where Haliburton was playing just 20 minutes a night so he could keep pace with the NBA’s 65 games played rule to be eligible for end-of-season awards. It still feels like the Pacers are a piece away (even after adding Pascal Siakam) from making serious noise in the Eastern Conference. Perhaps that piece is already on the roster and just needs to develop a bit more. Bennedict Mathurin has seen more playing time as of late and had two 30-point games in February.
17. Philadelphia 76ers (35-25)
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The 76ers are spiraling. We knew the team wasn’t going to perform at an elite level with Joel Embiid out. However, they’re facing a potential play-in scenario at their current rate. At this point, the 76ers will take any win they can get as long as Embiid is on the mend. That means they’ll need everything out of All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey. Maxey has carried the offense since Embiid has been out, and will need to play at an elite level if Philadelphia hopes to avoid the play-in.
16. Golden State Warriors (32-28)
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You can sum up the Warriors’ season in just their last month of play. Golden State was the hottest team in the league in February. With Draymond Green returning to an elite level defensively, the Warriors boasted a top-10 offense and defense during that month. Then, Golden State went into Boston having won 11-of-13. The Celtics proceeded to obliterate the Warriors by 52 points. It’s just one game, but a loss that big feels more significant this time of year especially when Stephen Curry scored just 4 points and went 0-for-9 from three in the blowout loss.
15. Los Angeles Lakers (33-29)
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Some stability has begun to show itself in LA. The Lakers went 8-3 in February with impressive wins over the Celtics, Knicks, Pelicans, and Clippers. Still, they can’t seem to figure out how to put away Denver. After getting swept in the playoffs last year, the Lakers have dropped all three games against the Nuggets this season. Each game seems to be close until the final minutes, and that’s when Denver begins executing at a more efficient level. A play-in spot for a Lakers team that has basically had fully healthy seasons from LeBron James and Anthony Davis is severely disappointing. And, that’s where this team is headed once again — the Play-In Tournament.
14. Orlando Magic (35-26)
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Magic fans hoping for a big trade deadline acquisition were left a bit disappointed. However, rolling with their current core might have been the best course of action, for now. Orlando is 11-3 over its last 14 games, and has been one of the league’s best defensive teams all year long. The formula for the Magic is simple. Swarm the other team with tall, athletic defenders who are willing to mix it up. On offense, the Magic can play through either of their 6-foot-10 wings who can both create. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner being willing to defer to the other for stretches is a huge bonus for this group.
13. New Orleans Pelicans (36-25)
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You can catch the Pelicans on some nights when they look like the team to beat in the Western Conference. And, there are other nights where they come out completely flat and lose to the Bulls at home. There’s hardly ever an in-between. The team’s volatility is represented in its star player, Zion Williamson. Williamson’s scoring and rebounding are down from last year, but he can put together stretches in games where he is completely unstoppable inside. His passing, which has always been a useful skill, has shined as of late. Since the calendar change to 2024, Williamson is averaging just under six assists per contest.
12. New York Knicks (36-25)
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The Knicks are seeing how a season can go sideways in a hurry. The Knicks were 32-17 to start February. They had been playing well while Julius Randle and OG Anunoby nursed injuries. The wheels began to fall off as the All-Star break approached. They’ve lost 8-of-12 and Jalen Brunson picked up a knee injury. All three of New York’s best players are on the mend. While none of them seem to be dealing with anything season-ending, playing without those three will severely limit the Knicks’ chances over the coming games. Every win and loss matters in a packed Eastern Conference. A short losing streak could tumble New York into a play-in spot.
11. Sacramento Kings (34-25)
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The Kings are a team that nobody in the Western Conference wants to face in the postseason. Sacramento broke its postseason drought last year and gave the defending champion Warriors all they could handle in a memorable seven-game series. After gathering a bit of experience, we’re excited to see what De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis have in store for an encore. The Fox-Sabonis duo is capable of destroying any of the league’s best defenses. Still, the question remains: Do the Kings have enough defense of their own to stop anybody?
10. Dallas Mavericks (34-27)
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At their best, the Mavericks are a tough team to beat. Any defense will have trouble matching the firepower of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving. However, Dallas’ season may end up being decided by its role players. The team added P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford at the deadline. Washington has emerged as a key piece, while Gafford has seen his playing time decrease from his time with the Wizards. Head coach Jason Kidd has his hands full trying to secure a rotation that will work. The Mavs lost four of five following a seven-game winning streak.
9. Phoenix Suns (35-26)
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One thing about the Suns is abundantly clear: when their three stars play, they are tough to beat. However, getting all three to play together has become increasingly difficult. Devin Booker has most recently been forced to miss time. Surprisingly, it’s been the 35-year-old Kevin Durant who has been Phoenix’s most durable star. The Suns have gotten strong contributions from the role players all year long. Grayson Allen leads the league in three-point percentage and Jusuf Nurkić recently posted a 31-rebound game.
8. Miami Heat (34-26)
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The Heat are getting hot at just the right time. Miami is 10-3 over its last 13, and has flashed the defense, toughness, and grit that they’ve shown in recent playoff runs. Jimmy Butler is playing excellent basketball as of late — highlighted by a 37-point game versus the Jazz. The addition of Terry Rozier hasn’t paid dividends just yet, but his two-way ability will be vastly important come playoff time. With multiple Eastern Conference teams dealing with various ailments, the path for Miami to make its third NBA Finals run in five years is wide open.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (39-21)
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Cleveland has been trading wins and losses over the last couple of weeks. This comes after the Cavs went on a stretch of 17 wins in 18 games. The team had just gotten healthy with Darius Garland and Evan Mobley returning, only for Donovan Mitchell to land on the injured list with a bum knee. The record would look a bit worse if Max Strus didn’t knock down one of the wildest buzzer-beaters of the season to shock the Mavericks. Outside of Strus’s prayer, the Cavs have been disappointing as of late. They dropped a home game to the Knicks without Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Jalen Brunson (played one minute before getting hurt).
6. Milwaukee Bucks (40-21)
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The Bucks have enough to win an NBA title. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a top-5 player in the league, and there aren’t many better No. 2’s than Damian Lillard. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez are experienced pros who know how to get it done in the postseason. And, we’ve seen guys like Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton rise to the occasion during Milwaukee’s previous playoff runs. Hiring Doc Rivers was an intriguing move, but the front office believes the veteran coach can take this team where it needs to be. Defense has been an issue all season long, and it may ultimately expose this team if they face off against a top offensive team in the playoffs.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (42-19)
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It’s going to be difficult to take Minnesota seriously as a contender until they put together a deep postseason run. The Timberwolves were mocked endlessly for the trade that brought in Rudy Gobert, but Minnesota may get the last laugh on that one as the French center is a sizable favorite to capture his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024. Will we see Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony-Towns take the next step in the playoffs? If the Timberwolves want any chance of making a Finals run, their two go-to options will have to outplay all of the other All-Stars in the Western Conference.
4. Los Angeles Clippers (39-20)
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That loss to the Lakers will sting for a bit. The Clippers blew a 21-point fourth-quarter lead to their in-house rivals. With losses in three-of-four matchups this year, it’s the first time since 2012 that the Clippers will have dropped the season series to the Lakers. No matter, the Clippers are far ahead of the Lakers in the standings, and will more than likely have homecourt advantage for at least a first-round matchup. Playing their last season in the same arena as the Lakers, this might be the best chance the Clippers have ever had to make it out of the Western Conference playoff bracket.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (42-18)
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The Thunder have nights where they look absolutely unstoppable. Then, some nights they reveal themselves as a bunch of 20-somethings who are still trying to find their footing. And, that’s okay for the second-youngest team in the league who are currently in first place in the Western Conference. The Thunder have won seven of eight with the lone loss being a double-digit defeat to the lowly Spurs. Locking down the top seed could go a long way for this group. 67-percent of all title winners have been one of the two No. 1 seeds.
2. Denver Nuggets (42-19)
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The Nuggets simply have the Lakers’ number. It seems like every time these two teams match up, it always goes down the same way. Both sides play mostly even for the first 90 percent of the game, and then the Nuggets make all the right plays down the stretch and cruise to victory. That was the formula in the Nuggets’ recent win as they spoiled LeBron James’ 40,000-point achievement night. Michael Porter Jr. made every shot (10-for-10) that he attempted as Denver defeated the Lakers for the seventh-straight time.
1. Boston Celtics (48-12)
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The Celtics’ are still the team to beat. Barring health, they boast the league’s most complete starting lineup. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White are the league’s best defensive backcourt. They recently held Stephen Curry to just four points in a 50-point win over the previously red-hot Warriors. They are the team to beat this year. At their peak, no team can match Boston’s firepower or two-way versatility. It will take an enormous effort to knock off this group in the postseason.
