Eastern Conference Power Rankings: April 2025 Edition
April is here!
Two weeks left in the NBA regular season means we have our last Power Ranks of the 2024-25 SZN.
LET’S GET IT.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (60-15) - prev. #1
March: (11-6) No. 8 offense / No. 14 defense
A 16-game winning streak followed by a 4-game losing streak out West was wild to see, but we know the Cavs are focusing on just being ready for the playoffs.
The ship was righted with the Jazz, Blazers and Spurs — but then that loss to the Pistons without Cade raised our eyebrow again.
Truth be told, the regular season work for the Cavs is complete at this point. The true test of the playoff jungle awaits.
2. Boston Celtics (56-19) - prev. #2
March: (14-1) No. 2 offense / No. 10 defense
The Celtics only loss in the month of March was to the Thunder and they have been rollin’.
It seems like the more creative the Celtics get with their lineups and rotations, the better they play. An easier schedule helps as always, but this is always the time of the year that the Celtics get fully prepared for the yoffs.
It’s time to see what the defending champs are made of.
3. New York Knicks (48-27) - prev. #3
March: (8-7) No. 21 offense / No. 8 defense
Without Brunson, the offensive and defensive numbers have flipped from last month. (Having Mitchell Robinson back has also boosted the backbone of the defense.)
The Knicks obviously miss Brunson’s offense and especially his late-game Captain Clutch heroics. And yet, they have unlocked more of Bridges and Anunoby without him. Something to monitor as Brunson hopes to return before the end of the season to get some reps before the playoffs, where MSG will be a rockin’.
4. Detroit Pistons (42-33) - prev. #5
March: (9-6) No. 9 offense / No. 6 defense
The scuffle vs. the T-Wolves and Bad Boys vibes are the headline.
But does everyone realize that the Pistons have been getting even better, a top-10 offense and top-10 defense for the second straight month. They beat the Cavs without Cade and have the No. 4 net rating over the last 50 games (!!!).
Expectations for the playoffs have to be tempered. This team is playing with HOUSE MONEY.
5. Indiana Pacers (44-31) - prev. #6
March: (11-6) No. 12 offense / No. 12 defense
After a 3-game losing streak, the Pacers have heated all the way back up, winning 9 of the last 12 games.
Haliburton is over 40 percent from 3 for a third straight month and his long-range shooting will be imperative to the Pacers playoff chances.
An interesting question: would the Pacers rather play the Pistons or Bucks in the first round? Gotta be the Bucks, right?
6. Milwaukee Bucks (41-34) - prev. #4
March: (7-9) No. 13 offense / No. 15 defense
The very unfortunate headline here is Dame being out indefinitely with a scary thrombosis / blood clot issue in his calf.
The Bucks have been reeling, 4-9 over their last 13 games and a 4-game losing streak before getting right with a beatdown of the Suns.
The Good news is that Bobby Portis will be back from his 25-game suspension before the playoffs begin. The bad news is that this team is straight cooked without Dame.
7. Orlando Magic (37-40) - prev. #7
March: (7-8) No. 23 offense / No. 3 defense
For all of their recent struggles, the Magic did pull off some good wins in March, taking down the Bucks in Milwaukee, Cavs in Cleveland and Lakers at home.
The offense is playing better as Paolo has fully regained his beginning of the season form, scoring 30+ points in seven games (!!) last month.
A rematch vs. the Cavs in the 1st Round could be quite interesting.
8. Atlanta Hawks (36-39) - prev. #9
March: (9-5) No. 4 offense / No. 20 defense
The Hawks were on a March downswing with a 3-game skid — nothing that a whooping of the Bucks on Sunday night couldn’t fix behind Risacher’s career-high 36. (But then they lost to the Blazers at home.)
Ice Trae’s consistency and numbers are not getting nearly enough buzz. He has 16 games with 15+ assists this season with nobody else having more than 10.
We dogged the Hawks for trading away De’Andre Hunter (still can’t believe there was no 1st round pick), but dammit if Caris LeVert, Georges Niang and Terance Mann don’t always play hard and unselfish. They will not rollover if and when they make it out of the play-in.
9. Chicago Bulls (34-42) - prev. #10
March: (9-6) No. 14 offense / No. 13 defense
The baby Bulls have been the MF talk of the town! And how could they not be after a stretch of winning 9 of 11.
That INSANE comeback in the last 12 seconds vs. the Lakers with Josh Giddey’s halfcourt buzzer beater was probably the Game of the Year. And don’t let it overshadow the Bulls monster win in LA where Giddey almost had a quadruple double (15 points, 10 rebounds, 17 assists, 8 steals) and Coby White scored 36 and Buzelis 31.
It’s so fun to see late-season teams coalesce after the trade deadline and All-Star break. This team playing free from the chains of Zach LaVine.
10. Miami Heat (34-41) - prev. #8
March: (6-11) No. 24 offense / No. 7 defense
The Heat have won 5 in a row and did beat the Warriors in Jimmy’s return to the shores of Biscayne Bay, but the 10-game losing streak that happened beforehand holds more weight to their March outlook.
Even so, Spo will take all the momentum he can get while getting prepared for the inevitable play-in. Would we really be surprised if he pulled some voodoo magic with Herro and Bam?
11. Toronto Raptors (28-48) - prev. #13
March: (10-5) No. 26 offense / No. 1 defense
When you first glance at Toronto’s March numbers, it’s alarming. The No. 1 defense!?
But when you look under the hood, you see the schedule included the Wizards three times, Jazz twice, Sixers, Spurs, Nets and Hornets.
Even so, you can only play the teams in front of you and the Raptors have taken care of business against the rest of the lower class of the league.
BONUS: Some Who He!? characters have been getting a ton of run: Jared Rhoden, A.J. Lawson and Orlando Robinson.
12. Washington Wizards (16-59) - prev. #14
March: (6-11) No. 29 offense / No. 21 defense
Where were you on the ides of March when Alex Sarr dropped 34 in Denver, going toe to toe with the Joker, and then Jordan Poole ignited a Poole party, scoring 14 in the 4th, including the ice-cold dagger 3 from 30 feet in Westbrook’s grill to win it.
The post trade deadline and post All-Star Wiz kids are playing free and with purpose, guided by the veteran castaways Marcus Smart and Khris Middleton.
13. Charlotte Hornets (19-56) - prev. #15
March: (5-12) No. 27 offense / No. 22 defense
LaMelo officially joins the list of Hornets out for the rest of the season as he undergoes two minor procedures for ankle issues.
But the Hornets had a spunky run in March, winning a stretch of 3 out of 4 games that included a 17-point comeback vs. the Nets. Miles Bridges had four 30-point games in two weeks.
The Hornets have already shown a lot more fight late in the season under Charles Lee than they ever did under Steve Clifford.
14. Brooklyn Nets (25-51) - prev. #11
March: (4-13) No. 28 offense / No. 19 defense
Gone are the remnants of this beginning of the season Young Surprise Team that has now embraced their inevitable tanking tendencies.
Since Feb. 24, the Nets are 4-16, ahead of only the Sixers and Jazz.
But hello Drew Timme (!!) who recorded a double-double in his first NBA game and had a G League game where he dropped 50 points (!!!). Timme alone makes the Nets more fun to watch over the last two weeks of the season if you’re an absolute sicko like yours truly.
15. Philadelphia 76ers (23-53) - prev. #12
March: (3-14) No. 22 offense / No. 29 defense
What was originally a joke, that the Sixers should tank to try to keep their draft pick, became actual reality.
The Sixers have handled the execution of that exceptionally well, a record of 4-25 over the last two months. That’s the worst record in the league over that stretch, the best possible tank job you can do.
Per Ziller: It’s looking like a 64% chance the Sixers keep a top-6 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft in lieu of giving their selection to the Thunder.
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