30. Detroit Pistons (12-59)
Previous week ranking: 29th
There is a new (old) worst team in The Rankings this week. Detroit has fallen into a six-game losing streak and the players appear to be daydreaming of Cabo. Only two more weeks of suffering for Pistons fans, at least this season. Are you ready for the Detroit Tigers in the MLB?

29. Toronto Raptors (23-48)
Previous week ranking: 25th
It took everything in me to not put the Toronto Raptors in 30th, but if they go another winless week they will be there in short order. The Raptors have not had their full roster available, yet ten straight losses with an average margin of loss of 15.5 points is utterly embarrassing. Included in those losses are the Pistons and Wizards.

28. Washington Wizards (13-58)
Previous week ranking: 30th
Let’s go Wizards fans! What a week you had as the team is currently riding a two-game win streak after knocking off the Kings and Raptors. This upcoming week features the Bulls, Nets, and Pistons. Can we keep this hot streak going? The only loser is your draft pick.

27. Charlotte Hornets (17-53)
Previous week ranking: 28th
Can you have a four-loss week and move up in The Rankings? The Hornets are proof that as I have said numerous times before, the NBA bad teams are so so bad. With the Hornets being one of two teams with a double-digit negative point differential, it could be argued they are the worst team this year. The worst NBA team would be a fun bar conversation this season.

26. San Antonio Spurs (15-56)
Previous week ranking: 27th
Draymond Green reignited a hot debate in the NBA this week with his claim that Victor Wembanyama is already a top-20 player in the NBA. If you go through the top players it is a reasonable take honestly, and reasonable is not something that goes hand in hand with Draymond. Do you think he is already top 20?

25. Portland Trailblazers (19-52)
Previous week ranking: 26th
There is no debating that Portland is a bad basketball team, but man have they been through it recently. During their six-game losing streak they have played the Knicks, Pelicans, Clippers twice, and Nuggets. Unfortunately, it does not get easier tonight when they head to Houston to face possibly the hottest team right now in the Rockets.

24. Brooklyn Nets (26-45)
Previous week ranking: 23rd
Not to bask in the Nets’ calamity, but sometimes I reminisce on what has happened to this franchise over the last couple of years. Do you know that Kevin Durant was a member of the Nets 13 months ago? That feels like years at this point when you watch the current roster play in Brooklyn.

23. Memphis Grizzlies (24-47)
Previous week ranking: 24th
Memphis was officially eliminated from the playoffs this past week, but they also stopped their four-game slide. The Spurs versus Grizzlies game was a battle that no one cared to watch, but it came down to a last-second winner by Jaren Jackson Jr.

22. Utah Jazz (29-42)
Previous week ranking: 22nd
Everyone knows that Denver has a home-court advantage with the altitude. Does it apply to Utah too at a little over 4,000 feet? This season may prove yes as this Jazz team was 20-15 at home which when compared to their overall record is a stark contrast.

21. Chicago Bulls (34-37)
Previous week ranking: 20th
Chicago is likely stuck in the 9 or 10-seed heading into the postseason which lands them firmly in the Play-In Tournament. The good news for the Bulls is they have a relatively easy schedule to hopefully get some wins and gain confidence heading into April.

20. Atlanta Hawks (31-39)
Previous week ranking: 21st
The Hawks are currently the last team to get into the Play-In Tournament in the Eastern Conference. The interesting question that follows is are they the team you have the least confidence in for a one-game shot at the playoffs? I would argue no. Trae Young and Atlanta are a team that can show up on any given night and knock off anyone in that middle to late playoff range in the East.

19. Golden State Warriors (36-34)
Previous week ranking: 16th
Golden State is going in the wrong direction. They now sit only one game clear of the Houston Rockets for the 10th seed and the Play-In Tournament. Will Adam Silver really let the Warriors not make it? He may not have a choice with the Rockets dominating as of late and the Warriors looking fatigued and defeated.

18. Philadelphia 76ers (39-32)
Previous week ranking: 17th
The optimistic news that Joel Embiid is getting on the court in some capacity almost daily and ramping up is progressing is the only silver lining in Philly right now. Tyrese Maxey has been playing streaky basketball and the bench reliable has been inconsistent at best. The Sixers played a complete team game against the Clippers and will need that kind of production if they want to climb out of the Play-In Tournament with only 11 games left.

17. Miami Heat (39-32)
Previous week ranking: 14th
It is almost time for the Heat to wake up with the playoffs right around the corner. Miami will be a Play-In team this year, but it should be mentioned they were last season and ended up in the NBA Finals. The potential Play-In matchup against the Sixers has me very nervous as a Philly fan. Miami goes Jekyll and Hyde come playoffs.

16. Indiana Pacers (40-32)
Previous week ranking: 15th
Did you see the In-Season Tournament Championship rematch between the Lakers and Pacers? They combined for a total of 295 points and absolutely zero defense. Indiana seems to be a few years away from building a competitive team in a top-heavy Eastern Conference.

15. Los Angeles Lakers (39-32)
Previous week ranking: 18th
Los Angeles was another team, similar to Miami, that snuck into the playoffs and went to a Conference Finals. It gives weight to the concern that players do not care about the regular season which of course is not a great look for the league. Still, for a team to have to play more road games and more intro rounds, I think unfortunately for the Lakers, last year is likely more of a one-off than a future trend.

14. Houston Rockets (35-35)
Previous week ranking: 19th
Three weeks ago, the Rockets sat at 26-34 preparing for the early offseason. Then they became the hottest team in basketball and are seriously threatening Adam Silver’s playoffs with both the Warriors and Lakers. Houston is on an eight-game winning streak and if they keep this up, they will spoil Silver’s hopes and be a hard out for anyone in the first round.

13. Cleveland Cavaliers (43-28)
Previous week ranking: 10th
The Cavs are in the third seed in the Eastern Conference, but falling fast. Cleveland was without Donovan Mitchell this past week although even with him they have not seemed like the impressive team at the start of the New Year. If I were Cleveland, I would be scared of any matchup in the playoffs as they are trending towards a first-round out.

12. Sacramento Kings (41-29)
Previous week ranking: 12th
Sacramento won three of four games this week and the head-scratcher was the loss which came to the Washington Wizards. It may have been a schedule loss, but every game matters for a team that sits a half-game out of the 6-seed and avoids the Play-In Tournament.

11. LA Clippers (44-26)
Previous week ranking: 9th
Struggles in the City of Angels for the Clippers surprisingly do not have to do with health. They continue to keep up this path of a .500 basketball team for a month and it may start to become a concern. Can a team with this much talent turn it around on a whim or is age catching up to some of the veterans?

10. Phoenix Suns (42-29)
Previous week ranking: 13th
Phoenix took advantage of an easy schedule to win three straight games and keep themselves in the 6-seed in the Western Conference. Devin Booker is playing basketball at the level we know he can and put up 62 points in the last two games. In one of those games he sat out the fourth quarter too. The firepower on this Suns team should scare all challengers.

9. Dallas Mavericks (41-29)
Previous week ranking: 11th
Luka Doncic and the Mavericks are in the spin cycle of the Western Conference where three teams are within a half-game around the Play-In cutoff. Dallas matched the Suns with three wins of their own, although the competition was tougher for the Mavs. The final two weeks are going to feel like playoff basketball for some teams.

8. Orlando Magic (42-29)
Previous week ranking: 8th
The Magic have had a number of weeks hovering just outside of the Top 5 in The Rankings. In the Eastern Conference with the Cavaliers struggling and the Knicks battling the injury bug, the Magic have moved within one game of the third seed. That statement feels almost impossible for such a young and ignored team most of the season.

7. New York Knicks (42-28)
Previous week ranking: 7th
If the Knicks are healthy, I believe a realistic ceiling is a Conference Finals berth. As mentioned last week, the defense this team plays is unmatched and will only pick up come playoffs. With Jalen Brunson leading the way, the Garden is going to be an electric playoff environment for the first time in over a decade.

6. New Orleans Pelicans (44-27)
Previous week ranking: 6th
Even though the Pelicans are currently fifth in the Western Conference, it feels like they are flying way too much under the radar. They should not be a dark horse, but it almost seems like they are. And if that is the case, I would start to pay attention because New Orleans is a realistic contender as currently constructed. Brandon Ingram avoided a serious injury and as long as he returns promptly, they will be dangerous.

5. Milwaukee Bucks (46-25)
Previous week ranking: 4th
Sitting second in the Eastern Conference is nothing to sneeze at. However, the fact that the Bucks are 11 games out of first is staggering. Boston is clearly a better team and they proved that in a 122-119 win over Milwaukee which was the Bucks’ only loss in their last 5 games.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder (49-21)
Previous week ranking: 3rd
It was easy to be a fan of the Thunder until March Madness started and AT&T ruined that with the commercial of SGA and Chet Holmgren singing acapella. Regardless, OKC is at the next step of proving they are here to stay. Entering the playoffs at the top of the West will come with big expectations for a young roster that may not be ready for them just yet.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-22)
Previous week ranking: 5th
Anthony Edwards is must-see TV every night he plays, full stop. The dunk he had over John Collins was one of the best in-game dunks I have seen in my life. It feels likely weekly, Edwards is trying to end people’s careers by putting it on their heads at the rim and I cannot wait to see him when the lights are shining brightest.

2. Denver Nuggets (50-21)
Previous week ranking: 2nd
Denver has moved to the 1-seed in the Western Conference, their rightful position after winning the NBA Championship last season. They took out the Knicks and Timberwolves this week and as exciting as a number of teams in the West are this year, you will have to go through Denver to get to the promised land.

1. Boston Celtics (57-14)
Previous week ranking: 1st
It is just as exhausting for me as I’m sure it is for you reading this to see the Celtics sitting in first week after week after week. They are unquestionably the best team and have won 20 of their last 22 games. Jayson Tatum is tracking towards the future face of the league and at the moment no one in the Eastern Conference has a chance against Boston in a 7-game series.