NBA · 5 months ago

Power Ranking the 8 Remaining Teams in the NBA Playoffs 2nd Round

John Canady

Host · Writer

8) New York Knicks
After a regular season, where the New York Knicks struggled against the top teams in the league, they had the opportunity to prove they're the real deal against the Detroit Pistons in round one. However, New York narrowly survived that series despite winning it 4-2. If a few questionable calls had gone the opposite way, the Knicks could have been on the couch watching the rest of the playoffs unfold. That doesn't mean the Knicks didn't win that series fair and square, but it's more to emphasize how struggling to get out of that series quickly before a matchup with the defending champions could come back to haunt them. For now, the Knicks round out the list at No. 8.

Odds to Win NBA Championship: Knicks +5000

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1) Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder were the first team to advance to the second round on either side of the NBA Playoff bracket after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies easily in four games. Ja Morant's injury played a role in the Thunder's road success, but even in the first couple of games, OKC proved to be on a different level. As a top contender in the Western Conference, the Thunder are ranked No. 1.

Odds to Win NBA Championship: Thunder +130

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2) Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics didn't sweep the Orlando Magic, but they proved that their championship roster from last season has the experience and personnel to adjust on the fly and play in different ways to get the job done. Although the Magic may not seem like a formidable opponent, they ranked at the top of the league defensively for a reason, and they proved why through each of the five games. Despite that, the C's prevailed and proved they're a genuine threat to win the NBA Championship in back-to-back seasons.

Odds to Win NBA Championship: Celtics +195
3) Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the Miami Heat in round one, easily winning the series 4-0. Cleveland impressed, but considering the Heat looked like a team that couldn't refrain from beating themselves, it's hard to evaluate how the Cavs may handle a top team in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Regardless, any team that managed to sweep their opponent in the opening round has to rank within the top three.

Odds to Win NBA Championship: Cavaliers +500
4) Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves entered the series against the Los Angeles Lakers as the underdogs. Even when Minnesota led the series 3-1, many believed that the T-Wolves would blow the lead and wind up being on the losing end of yet another 3-1 comeback by LeBron James. However, Minnesota silenced the noise and proved everyone wrong by taking care of business and sending the Lakers home in five games. Moving forward, there's a real possibility that Anthony Edwards can lead his team to the same place they were last year with a chance of finally getting over the hump.

Odds to Win NBA Championship: Timberwolves +1500
5) Golden State Warriors
Another team that had an up-and-down season this year was the Golden State Warriors. Ahead of the trade deadline, there wasn't much belief that the Warriors could make a run to get in the playoffs, let alone a run towards a championship. That was until they acquired Jimmy Butler III, of course. Golden State turned things around since acquiring Butler III and managed to fight their way into the postseason and take out the No. 2 seed in the West as a No. 7 seed. The Dubs have the personnel and experience on the roster and the coaching staff to make a run.

Odds to Win NBA Championship: Warriors +4100
6) Denver Nuggets
Another team that not many expected much out of entering the postseason was the Denver Nuggets, who made headlines by firing long-time head coach Michael Malone weeks before the postseason began. Outside of the Nuggets roster, it was hard to find any real confidence supporting the idea of Denver moving past the LA Clippers after they built arguably one of the league's deepest rosters ahead of the February NBA trade deadline. Regardless, MVP finalists Nikola Jokic found a way to lead his team to round two, and although it took a Game 7 win on their home court to do it, they found a way to finish the job and keep their season alive.

Odds to Win NBA Championship: Nuggets +4000
7) Indiana Pacers
After an Eastern Conference Finals appearance last season, the Indiana Pacers entered this season with high expectations. After a rough start to the season, the confidence surrounding a similar postseason run this year began to fade. However, Rick Carlisle's squad turned the corner at the midseason mark and never looked back. They find themselves in round two after a dominant 4-1 series win over the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Considering the Bucks' struggles this season, it's hard to gauge how much of a threat the Pacers are, but early signs suggest that they could be a tough out for any team.

Odds to Win NBA Championship: Pacers +6500
8) New York Knicks
After a regular season, where the New York Knicks struggled against the top teams in the league, they had the opportunity to prove they're the real deal against the Detroit Pistons in round one. However, New York narrowly survived that series despite winning it 4-2. If a few questionable calls had gone the opposite way, the Knicks could have been on the couch watching the rest of the playoffs unfold. That doesn't mean the Knicks didn't win that series fair and square, but it's more to emphasize how struggling to get out of that series quickly before a matchup with the defending champions could come back to haunt them. For now, the Knicks round out the list at No. 8.

Odds to Win NBA Championship: Knicks +5000

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1) Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder were the first team to advance to the second round on either side of the NBA Playoff bracket after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies easily in four games. Ja Morant's injury played a role in the Thunder's road success, but even in the first couple of games, OKC proved to be on a different level. As a top contender in the Western Conference, the Thunder are ranked No. 1.

Odds to Win NBA Championship: Thunder +130

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Power Ranking the 8 Remaining Teams in the NBA Playoffs 2nd Round

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