NBA Power Rankings: The 4th Quarter Begins (3/6/23)

The NBA has entered its 4th quarter, and definitely some movement in the rankings since last checking in post trade deadline. With around 18 games to go, teams begin to secure their playoff seedings or draft picks.

Team (Record, Z-Score, Previous Ranking)

1. Denver Nuggets (45-19, .771, 1): The Nuggets continue grow their lead on the top spot in the NBA according to the model. Despite a relatively average defense, their three point shooting (1st in the league) and offensive rating (2nd in the league) keep the Nuggets above everyone else.

2. Boston Celtics (45-20, .670, 2): The Celtics are 4-3 in their last seven games with a couple questionable losses along the way. They seem to be slightly shifting the way that they are playing, as they used to dominate on the offensive end, and hang in there on defense. It seems that both of these numbers are starting to level off into a more balanced team. Could be a good sign of things to come once the playoffs hit.

3. Sacramento Kings (37-26, .631, 3): It is March 6th and the Sacramento Kings have the best offense in the NBA. Mike Brown should be the coach of the year this season, as this team is truly playing some awesome basketball specifically on that offensive end. Sacramento would host a playoff series if the season ended today.

4. Philadelphia 76ers (41-22, .558, 5): The 76ers have been in some dramatic games over the past week or so, are 7-3 in their last 10 and are 2-1 in their current road trip with wins over Miami and Milwaukee. They are now the second best three point shooting team in the league, trailing Denver by 0.3%. Their finishing schedule still ranks as one of the hardest remaining in the league. Still though, they are in a relatively comfortable spot at #3 in the East, 2.5 up on the Cavs and 3.5 up on the Knicks.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers (40-26, .440, 4): The Cavs have been hanging in there after their extremely hot start of the season. They have the highest average margin of victory of any team in the NBA and do a really good job of limiting turnovers. Compared to the 76ers, they have one of the easiest remaining schedules. Can they close the gap?

6. Memphis Grizzlies (38-25, .399, 6)

7. Milwaukee Bucks (45-20, .379, 13): The Bucks finally are beginning to get their respect jumping six spots into the top 7. The reason why? Their offensive game over the past couple of weeks. The Bucks are now almost a perfectly "average" offense, and an above average three point shooting team. They are a defensive minded team, with an offense starting to come to turn it up.

8. Phoenix Suns (36-29, .2761, 10)

9. New York Knicks (39-27, .2759, 16): The Knicks are on a tear right now. They've rattled off nine wins in a row, many of them against quality opposition. The New York Knicks now have a top five offense in the NBA, ahead of teams like Grizzlies, 76ers, Suns and Cavaliers. Can a team with an awesome offense, but one that doesn't shoot the three well, survive come the playoffs?

10. Oklahoma City Thunder (30-34, .229, 7)

11. Golden State Warriors (34-31, .215, 11)

12. New Orleans Pelicans (31-33, .104, 8)

13. Portland Trail Blazers (30-34, .073, 12)

14. Brooklyn Nets (36-28, .051, 14)

15. Utah Jazz (31-34, .020, 9): One of the feel good stories is starting to come to an end. The Jazz went from 6, to 9, to 15 in the past three rankings. Their offense is still clicking, but the defensive side has turned into a very ugly part of this team. That combined with the 2nd worst turnover differential in the league is going to make it hard for them to hang in there in the #9 seed in the West.

16. Washington Wizards (30-34, .006, 17)

17. Toronto Raptors (32-33, -.0082, 15)

18. Dallas Mavericks (33-32, -.0088, 18)

19. Atlanta Hawks (32-32, -.021, 19)

20. Los Angeles Lakers (31-34, -.037, 21)

21. Los Angeles Clippers (34-33, -.064, 23)

22. Chicago Bulls (29-36, -.074, 20)

23. Indiana Pacers (29-36, -.144, 24)

24. Minnesota Timberwolves (34-32, -.171, 22)

25. Orlando Magic (27-38, -.411, 26)

26. Miami Heat (34-31, -.416, 25): Yes, the Heat are disrespected in this ranking, but it is hard to believe that they are a legitimate contender at this point in the year. Their "home-and-home" against the 76ers last week was the perfect example. They shoot the lights out in a gritty three-point victory in Philadelphia. Two days later, get absolutely smoked on their home court against an "Embiidless" 76er team. Hard to believe in a team with the 27th ranked ORTG to go far in the playoffs, but we shall see.

27. Detroit Pistons (15-49, -.720, 27)

28. Charlotte Hornets (20-46, -.789, 28)

29. Houston Rockets (15-49, -1.07, 29)

30. San Antonio Spurs (16-49, -1.15, 30): Seems like a three-team race for the #1 pick at this point. The Spurs are squarely in that race along with Detroit and Houston. The only two categories that the Spurs rank above average in are Pace and Assist %. Everything else leaves much to be desired, but maybe that is their point.