Power Rankings, Week 20: Suns, Sixers on rise in season's final 2 weeks
NBA Power Rankings, Week 20
In this week’s power rankings, both the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns are ascending.
There are two weeks to go in the regular season, and the title picture couldn’t feel any more wide open.
LeBron James returned to the Lakers this weekend, but they are yet to play at the championship level. The Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, and LA Clippers are all performing exceptionally well, while the Utah Jazz is struggling due to the absence of their starting backcourt.
Throughout the season, the Brooklyn Nets have seemed like the Eastern Conference’s favorite, but their absence of James Harden and some weaknesses revealed in Sunday’s game in Milwaukee may be a concern. The Philadelphia 76ers are back in full form, and teams lower in the East such as the New York Knicks and Miami Heat, appear more threatening than they were a couple of weeks ago.
The postseason is nearing, yet it remains unclear how the teams will position themselves for the Play-In or the playoffs. Keep watching.
Note: For the seven teams that are at least four games out of Play-In Tournament position (the bottom three in the East and the bottom four in the West), season-recap notes below will be focused on their defense. See last week’s rankings for notes on their offense.
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
- Right Way: Damian Lillard (POR) was a plus-81 in four games last week.
- Wrong Way: Darius Bazley (OKC) was a minus-78 in five games last week.
Teams of the Week
- Make It Last Forever: Portland (4-0) — From a five-game losing streak to a four-game winning streak, the Blazers have turned things around quickly.
- Something Just Ain’t Right: Cleveland (0-4) — Remember when the Cavs were 8-7, having swept a two-game series with Brooklyn? That really happened.
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East vs. West
- The West is 220-194 (.531) against the East in interconference games after going 13-9 last week. With six more wins, the West will clinch a better record than the East for the 21st time in the last 22 seasons.
Schedule strength through Week 19
- Toughest: 1. Minnesota, 2. Sacramento, 3. Dallas
- Easiest: 1. New York, 2. San Antonio, 3. Phoenix
- Schedule strength is based on cumulative opponent record, and adjusted for home vs. away and days of rest before a game.
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Movement in the Rankings
- High jumps of the week: Portland (+6), Denver (+3), Miami (+3)
- Free falls of the week: LA Clippers (-4), Nine teams (-2)
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Week 20 Team to Watch
- L.A. Lakers — We’ve seen a lot of teams turn things around quickly this season, but the Lakers are running out of time and have a tough schedule this week. After they host the Nuggets (in the second game of a back-to-back) on Monday, they’ll have two days off. But that’s followed by another back-to-back, where they play the Clippers on Thursday and visit the Blazers (in what may be their most important game of the season) on Friday. They’re then back home to host the Suns on Sunday night.
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Previously…
- Last week: Clippers climb to No. 1 with 3 weeks left in regular season
- The archive: NBA.com Power Rankings
Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)
OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)
The league has averaged 99.7 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes and 111.5 points scored per 100 possessions this season.
NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, send him an e-mail or contact him via Twitter.
