NBA · 1 year ago

SportsGrid’s NBA Power Rankings: Are These the Best Nuggets Ever?

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

1. Denver Nuggets
Last Week: 2(+1)

Next Three Games: vs. PHX, vs. MIN, vs. CLE

Since returning from the All-Star break, the Denver Nuggets have gone 15-2 and look unstoppable. Watching some of these games, they look even better than their peak last season, so I imagine this team running through the Western Conference playoff field. Still, they need to do some work to officially clinch the No. 1 seed, but with the tenth-easiest schedule remaining, I don’t imagine this team collapsing.

Finals Odds: +310
10. Phoenix Suns
Last Week: NR

Next Three Games: @ DEN, @ OKC, @ NOP

Really, Phoenix? Just as I was about to award the Phoenix Suns the eighth spot in these power rankings, they found a way to lose to the pitiful San Antonio Spurs without Victor Wembanyama. I’m sticking to my assertion that if the LA Clippers didn’t go 3-0 last week, they wouldn’t be in these power rankings, so I’m trying to forget the Suns' loss to the Spurs. Regardless, it’s apparent that we can’t judge the Suns until playoff time. Still, I worry it’ll be too late to get their stuff together. As they hit the road to Denver, Oklahoma City, and New Orleans over these next three games, I believe this will be the final test of the Suns' championship potential ceiling. It's make-or-break time.

Finals Odds: +2400
9. Orlando Magic
Last Week: NR

Next Three Games: vs. GSW, vs. LAC, vs. MEM

It’s time for the Orlando Magic to get some love. If it weren’t for the Oklahoma City Thunder being one of the best teams in basketball, the Magic’s success would be the season's feel-good story. Even though the Magic narrowly lost on the road to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night, after they beat the New Orleans Pelicans convincingly on Thursday night, we saw everything we needed to put the Magic in this spot. Paolo Banchero is becoming a star, Jamahl Mosley has become one of the league’s best coaches, and the role players around Paolo are finding their groove. The future is bright in Central Florida, but for now, we’ll see how close they come to stealing the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, especially considering the Cleveland Cavaliers struggled mightily this past week.

Finals Odds: +24000
8. New York Knicks
Last Week: 10 (+2)

Next Three Games: @ TOR, @ SAS, vs. OKC

The New York Knicks went 2-1 this past week, and we won’t penalize them for losing to the Denver Nuggets on the road. After Boston and Milwaukee, the Knicks are right there with Cleveland, Orlando, and a healthy Philadelphia for consideration as the third-best team in the East. It’s a wait-and-see until they get healthy again, but for now, the Knicks are doing everything to stay afloat with Jalen Brunson, who often needs to be Superman.

Finals Odds: +3000
7. Dallas Mavericks
Last Week: 7

Next Three Games: @ SAC, @ SAC, @ HOU

The Dallas Mavericks had a rather easy week as they went 3-0 against the Spurs and Utah Jazz twice. Frankly, there would have been an issue if they didn’t go 3-0. The Mavs are still battling it out with the Kings to escape from the Play-In Tournament, and they’ll have every chance to break out as their next two games are in Sacramento. After that gauntlet, they’ll travel to face the red-hot Houston Rockets, possibly the Mavericks' most difficult and most important week of the season.

Finals Odds: +3200
6. New Orleans Pelicans
Last Week: 6

Next Three Games: vs. OKC, vs. MIL, vs. BOS

The New Orleans Pelicans should be grateful they’ve won five of their last six games. A brutally tough five-game stretch awaits them, featuring Oklahoma City, Milwaukee, Boston, Phoenix, and Orlando. This week and a half will define the Pelicans' postseason future as true contenders or complete pretenders. Regardless, it’s been a fun run for these Pelicans, so basketball fans should be jumping to tune into these matchups.

Finals Odds: +6500
5. Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Week: 4 (-1)

Next Three Games: vs. DET, @ DEN, vs. CHI

The Minnesota Timberwolves have won five of their last six games, with the lone loss being to Denver on the second night of a back-to-back, and I think we can confidently say that the Wolves are doing better than anyone expected right now, considering what the sentiment was when Karl-Anthony Towns went down. Anthony Edwards is doing everything he can to keep the potential for the No. 1 seed alive, but it appears that it will all come down to their matchup in Denver this week. With a loss, they can essentially kiss the top seed goodbye.

Finals Odds: +3200
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
Last Week: 3 (-1)

Next Three Games: @ NOP, vs. HOU, vs. PHX

Oklahoma City fell out of the No. 1 seed in the West after being crushed by the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, but the Thunder still have two more games to play than the Denver Nuggets, opening up the window for them to climb back into that spot. However, with the fifth-hardest schedule in the NBA remaining compared to the Nuggets having the tenth-easiest, a lot will need to go right for this young squad. Dates with New Orleans, Phoenix, and a currently unstoppable Houston Rockets team this week put the Thunder getting right into the action.

Finals Odds: +1900
3. Milwaukee Bucks
Last Week: 5 (+2)

Next Three Games: vs. LAL, @ NOP, @ ATL

The Milwaukee Bucks have won four of their last five games, with their one loss coming to the Boston Celtics in Boston when they nearly took down the Cs without Giannis Antetokounmpo on the floor. We won’t penalize them for that. The Bucks look the most complete they have all season right now at the best time possible as we near the postseason and a virtual lock to clinch the No. 2 seed in the East, barring a collapse.

Finals Odds: +750
2. Boston Celtics
Last Week: 1 (-1)

Next Three Games: @ ATL, @ NOP, @ CHA

Yesterday, the Boston Celtics were the best team in basketball, as they were just one win away from officially clinching the No. 1 seed in the East. Still, last night, the Cs blew a 30-point lead to the mediocre Atlanta Hawks. Really, the Hawks? You couldn’t do it against an actual competent team? We know the Celtics have all the talent to win the championship. Still, losses like these quickly remind me of how bad the Celtics have looked at times in recent postseason, again calling into question if the Celtics are truly just a regular season juggernaut.

Finals Odds: +210
1. Denver Nuggets
Last Week: 2(+1)

Next Three Games: vs. PHX, vs. MIN, vs. CLE

Since returning from the All-Star break, the Denver Nuggets have gone 15-2 and look unstoppable. Watching some of these games, they look even better than their peak last season, so I imagine this team running through the Western Conference playoff field. Still, they need to do some work to officially clinch the No. 1 seed, but with the tenth-easiest schedule remaining, I don’t imagine this team collapsing.

Finals Odds: +310
10. Phoenix Suns
Last Week: NR

Next Three Games: @ DEN, @ OKC, @ NOP

Really, Phoenix? Just as I was about to award the Phoenix Suns the eighth spot in these power rankings, they found a way to lose to the pitiful San Antonio Spurs without Victor Wembanyama. I’m sticking to my assertion that if the LA Clippers didn’t go 3-0 last week, they wouldn’t be in these power rankings, so I’m trying to forget the Suns' loss to the Spurs. Regardless, it’s apparent that we can’t judge the Suns until playoff time. Still, I worry it’ll be too late to get their stuff together. As they hit the road to Denver, Oklahoma City, and New Orleans over these next three games, I believe this will be the final test of the Suns' championship potential ceiling. It's make-or-break time.

Finals Odds: +2400

SportsGrid’s NBA Power Rankings: Are These the Best Nuggets Ever?

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