Eastern Conference Power Rankings: Early-March Edition
1. Miami Heat (41-21) — prev. rank #2
The Heat are fresh off putting the defensive clamps down on the Bulls, securing a current 2-game lead atop the Eastern Conference standings. Miami has won four games in a row and 9 of the last 10, finishing the month of February tied with the Celtics for the best record in the NBA at 9-2. The Heat are still rocking a top-10 offense and top-5 defense.
A sound team and true contender can win in a variety of ways. Whether it’s Jimmy, Bam, Herro or Lowry, the Heat can have a different leading scorer out of their core four on any given night. The selflessness and togetherness of this group is steadily present.
The Heat’s depth hasn’t been the issue that many thought it would be. It’s been more of a strength if anything. Kyle Lowry missed Monday night’s game against the Bulls for personal reasons and Gabe Vincent filled in seamlessly, scoring 20 points in 33 minutes as the starting point guard.
And more help could soon be on the way. Victor Oladipo is rumored to make his season debut within the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile Markieff Morris, who hasn’t played since November 8th when Jokic blindsided him in retaliation, is also ramping up for a return to action.
A short two-game road trip at Milwaukee and Brooklyn is followed by a seven-game March homestand for the Heat against the Sixers, Rockets, Suns, Cavs, T-Wolves, Pistons and Thunder. The Heat are 21-7 at FTX arena.
2. Philadelphia 76ers (37-23) — prev. rank #4
The Sixers — and in particular, Daryl — finally got their man. (And they finally got rid of that other guy.) The Beard is officially in Philly and it’s off to a pretty damn good start: a beat-down of the T-Wolves and a Harden line of 29 points, 16 assists, 10 rebounds and 5 steals at MSG, the first Sixer in franchise history with a game of 25-15-10-5. But how long can this honeymoon phase last?
Philly’s new and improved Big 3 (Embiid, Harden and Maxey — sorry, Tobias) has put up 89 and 87 points combined in the first two games. That’s some serious firepower. The Embiid-Harden pick-and-roll game with Maxey slashing is already potent.
Even better for Sixers fans, Doc has shown capable of being cognizant enough to stagger lineups competently, keeping Embiid with Maxey and Harden with Harris — one of the duos on the floor at all times. The Tobias Harris with the bench lineups that Doc played down the stretch of the Eastern Conference Semis in last year’s playoffs have come a long, long way.
At some point, Seth Curry’s deadeye shooting will be missed, making the Niang, Danny Green and Korkmaz minutes even more important. But it sure helps to have a playmaker like Harden setting them up.
Thursday, March 10th vs. Brooklyn on TNT is the one circled on the calendar even though You Know Who will not be playing for the Nets. The Sixers have some other big games before that one. A rematch with the Knicks on Wednesday night, followed by the Cavs in Philly on Friday night. Then it’s a quick trip down to Miami and back to PA to host the Bulls. The next ten days will be telling.
3. Milwaukee Bucks (36-25) — prev. rank #1
The Bucks had lost 4 out of 5 before taking care of the Hornets on Monday night, a much needed win. The Bucks defense is starting to feel like a legitimate concern, but then again, it’s March 1st and the defending Champs know they have a long, long road ahead.
To pick out the most impressive stat from Giannis this season is an impossible task. But we’ll note that he is averaging a career high 6.0 assists per game. And in the 15 games that Giannis has 8 or more assists, the Bucks are 12-3.
Middleton and Holiday seem to be the ones who have not been consistently bringing their A-game on an every night basis. In the 14 games that Holiday has 4 or more turnovers, the Bucks are 5-9. He had two 7-turnover games in February.
Even before Pat Connaughton fractured his finger that required surgery, we were not particularly fond of the DiVincenzo trade that brought in Serge Ibaka. It’s understandable to want some additional size, but Ibaka has looked mostly creaky in his limited action this season. And the Bucks could have just kept Boogie!
Save for next Tuesday night at OKC, the Bucks have some mighty big games coming up, including home vs. the Heat, @Chicago and home vs. the Suns. And that Thunder game is followed by home vs. the Hawks and then @Golden State and @Utah. Milwaukee is currently 20-12 at home and 16-13 on the road.
4. Chicago Bulls (39-23) — prev. rank #5
The Bulls had won 6 games in a row before most recently falling to two top-tier heavy hitters in the Grizzlies and Heat. Even so, the Bulls are still currently in 2nd place in the loaded East.
DeMar DeRozan’s historic stretch of 35-point games with 50% shooting has come to an end, but it was seriously scintillating and beautiful to watch. It was DeMarvelous — and at bare minimum, DeRozan deserves a mention in every MVP conversation.
Lost in the fact that DeRozan is having his best season in the 13th year of his career is the notion that Zach LaVine deserves a lot of credit for not only being cool with the new guy taking over his team, but also for encouraging it and being the first to toot DeRozan’s horn.
Both Lonzo (knee) and Caruso (wrist) were given 6-8 week timetables for their re-evaluations and it’s been 5.5 weeks now. There is also still a chance that Pat Williams makes a return before the end of the season. Any and all of these three will add defensive chops to a team that will surely need it come playoff time.
According to Tankathon, the Bulls have the third toughest remaining schedule. March includes @Atlanta, home for the Bucks (the very next night), @Philly, @Utah, @Phoenix and @Milwaukee. Talk about getting battle-tested and ready for the postseason.
5. Boston Celtics (36-27) — prev. rank #7
The Boston Celtics have been one of the hottest teams in the league but did just lose to a fast Pacers team on the second night of a back-to-back. Yet the Celtics still have the best point differential in the Eastern Conference and had the #1 defense in the NBA in February by a country mile.
Since January 1st, Jaylen Brown has seven games of 6 or more assists. JB only had one such game in the first 2.5 months of the season.
Time Lord has been unleashed! Coach Udoka started playing Time Lord off the ball on defense to great success. The 5-man lineup of Tatum-Brown-Smart-Horford-TLord is still crushing opponents.
The deadline trade for Derrick White has already been a significant boon. He’s a team-oriented and smart player who keeps the ball moving and communicates well on D.
The Celtics begin March with five out of the first six games in Boston, starting with the first three: Hawks, Grizzlies, and Nets. Then it’s a quick trip down to Charlotte before the Pistons and Mavs back at TD Garden, followed by a four-game West roadie: @Golden State, @Sacramento, @Denver and @OKC.
6. Brooklyn Nets (32-30) — prev. rank #6
The Beard departed Brooklyn as abruptly as he arrived. Seth Curry is just what the Nets needed. And Andre Drummond, too, for that matter — but to a lesser extent. It still all hinges on big questions surrounding the Nets new Big 3. KD (can he stay healthy for the stretch run?), Kyrie (when can he actually play home games?) and Ben Simmons (when will he play and what’s up with this back injury??)
The Nets defense in February? 29th.
The Nets offense in February? 23rd.
The Nets net rating in February? 29th. BUT: KD on da way.
The Nets have a rematch in Toronto tonight, followed by a three-game Eastern Conference roadie @Boston, @Charlotte and @Philly. (That last one is kind of a big game.) Since January 15th, the Nets have won one home game — against the Kings on Valentine’s Day in Seth Curry and Drummond’s Brooklyn debut.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (36-25) — prev. rank #3
The Cavs have lost 4 out of the last 5 games and are trending in the wrong direction as the injuries keep persisting in the worst way.
Garland has yet to play since the All-Star Game, dealing with lower back soreness. That’s quite concerning. LeVert is out another week-plus with a foot sprain while Rondo is out two weeks with a toe sprain. And this is all after Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio were lost for the season!
Brandon Goodwin gets a big shout out here for holding down the fort as best he can, logging some hefty minutes and dishing out a slew of dimes as the lead point guard.
The Cavs defense has regressed considerably, 24th over the last two weeks which is surprising considering that the twin towers in All-Star Jarrett Allen and likely Rookie of the Year Evan Mobley have still been in the lineup. Simply put, the Cavs defense plays better when Garland is out there.
March begins with six straight Eastern Conference opponents: home vs. the Hornets, @Philly, home vs. the Raptors, then @Indiana, @Miami and @Chicago. The Cavs are currently 19-10 at home and 17-15 on the road.
8. Toronto Raptors (33-27) — prev. rank #10
The Raptors were the hottest team in the league there for a second. But an 8-game winning streak turned into losing 4 out of 5 real quick. A get-right game against the Nets on Monday night was just what the doctor ordered. (And how about another tonight at home?)
Scottie Barnes had an incredible game against the Nets, making his first 11 shots en route to 28 points, 16 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists. About as wild and thorough of a stat line for a rookie as you’ll see.
Losing OG Anunoby to a fractured finger has thrown a wrench into what the Raptors do. His absence is felt, especially on defense.
Malachi Flynn got the start for All-Star Fred VanVleet (knee) on Monday night and had his best game of the season, scoring 18 points, drilling three 3s and dishing 4 assists. He was +42 in 34 minutes!
A three-game homestand to begin March (Nets, Pistons and Magic) precedes a long six-game road trip: @Cleveland, @San Antonio, @Phoenix, @Denver, @Lakers and @Clippers. Yet the Raptors road record is pretty much the same as their home record which makes sense considering they didn’t even have any fans at home for a while.
9. Atlanta Hawks (29-31) — prev. rank #9
A 5-5 record in February looks mediocre at first glance, but then you remember that the Hawks are a below .500 team in a stacked Eastern Conference. There were some nice February wins against the Suns and most recently against the Raptors. All of the Hawks losses in February were to current playoff teams, save for the Spurs, a game they would surely like to have back.
Trae Young’s 41 points against the Raptors on Saturday night was his fourth game in February with 34 or more points, and all four of those games resulted in a Hawks win. It’s a good reminder that Trae Young can be the best player on the court on any given night.
The Hawks have been without John Collins since February 12th due a foot sprain. Bogdan Bogdanovic has helped pick up some slack, averaging 20 points per game over the last 2.5 weeks. His average for the season is currently at 13.6 points a night.
Atlanta had the 4th-most efficient offense in February, and the defense was 19th — a step up from their 26th ranked defense on the season.
Remember when the Hawks could not win a game at home? Since losing 10 straight at home, the Hawks have won 10 of the last 12 games at State Farm Arena. On the other hand, the Hawks away record is 11-18 and the next week is mostly on the road: @Boston, home for the Bulls, then @D.C., @Detroit and @Milwaukee.
10. Charlotte Hornets (30-32) — prev. rank #8
February was not kind to the Hornets. Not at all. The Hornets went 2-10 in the month with a cratering offense that had been their rock all season.
Gordon Hayward just can’t seem to shake that injury bug that’s permanently attached to him. On January 21st, the Hornets were red-hot and coming off a month-long stretch of 12-2 ball. But that’s precisely when the tide turned as Hayward first went out with an ankle injury that still has him sidelined.
Jalen McDaniels has also been out since January 21st, dealing with the first sprained ankle of his life. It sounds like his return could be imminent, though.
One bright spot has been getting to see rookie JT Thor get some run. Thor has undeniable length, and his 7-3 wingspan has helped add some defensive-orientedness to some of Borrego’s lineups.
The Hornets finish up a two-game roadie at Cleveland on Wednesday night. Then it’s back to Uptown for three: Spurs, Nets and Celtics. The Hornets are currently tied with the Hawks for 9th in the East with a two-game lead on the Wizards for the final spot in the play-in.
11. Washington Wizards (27-33) — prev. rank #11
The Wizards “blew it up” at the deadline, trading away Trez, Dinwiddie, Bertans and Aaron Holiday. The Wizards are 2.5 games out of the 10 seed. But why bother chasing the Hawks and Hornets when you can just tank this bitch out.
Bradley Beal’s season-ending ankle surgery locks in the fact that this was his worst season in a long time. Beal shot 30 percent from 3 and his .492 effective field goal percentage was his worst mark since 2014-15.
Porzingis has yet to play in a Wizards uniform and he has no timetable for return. Shut. Him. Down.
Kyle Kuzma has still been genuinely terrific. Some of his big games haven’t resulted in wins, but we’ll gladly tip our cap to 36 and 34-point outings from Kuz in back-to-back games.
The Wiz begin March with three at home vs. the Pistons, Hawks and Pacers. Then it’s hitting the road out West for four: @Clippers, @Lakers, @Portland and @Golden State. The Wizards record on the road? 12-17.
12. New York Knicks (25-36) — prev. rank #12
The Knicks season from hell continues. They won one game in February and are 3-15 over the last 18 games.
The bright spot is RJ Barrett, who exploded for 30 points in the first half against the Heat last Friday night, scoring a career-high 46 points in all. Since January 10, Barrett has four games of 30 or more points. (But don’t remind Knicks fans who was drafted one spot ahead of Barrett.)
The biggest bummer is still some combination of Julius Randle’s New York fall from grace and the failed Kemba Walker experiment. Kemba’s homecoming to an up-and-coming Knicks team seemed so meant to be, but it was anything but. He’s been shut down for the season.
The Eastern Conference has been an entirely different animal this season, but it’s still alarming how much Elfrid Payton, Reggie Bullock and D-Rose meant to everything the Knicks did last season.
To make matters worse, March begins with a Knicks seven-game road trip: @Philly, @Phoenix, @Clippers, @Sacramento, @Dallas, @Memphis and @Brooklyn.
13. Indiana Pacers (21-42) — prev. rank #13
The Indiana Pacers now have an identity. The new look run-and-gun version is definitely a lot more fun than the previous aimless edition. They still aren’t winning too many games, which is perfectly fine. (Yes, we are very pro-tank here at this point in the season.)
Tyrese Haliburton has not wasted any time putting on a show in Indiana and showing Pacers fans (and the world) why everybody was so upset when the Kings traded ‘Rese. The big assist games have been a joy. He’s averaging 10 assists per game in a Pacers uniform!
It’s funny that Haliburton and Jalen Smith are teammates now, because they were always linked through the Draft Day What If thought of: What if the Suns had drafted Haliburton instead of Jalen Smith at 10th overall? (Answer: they wouldn’t be teammates on the Pacers right now.)
Word on the street is that T.J. Warren has been practicing!? In a limited capacity, but it’s still crazy news considering we haven’t seen Warren since December of 2020.
The Pacers are in the midst of a four-game road trip with another game in Orlando on Wednesday night. Then it’s up to Detroit and to D.C. before returning home for one against the Cavs, followed by two more on the road at San Antonio and at Atlanta. The Pacers are 6-24 on the road this season.
14. Detroit Pistons (15-46) — prev. rank #15
Don’t look now, but after an 8-game losing streak that started February, the Pistons have won 3 out of the last 4 games! That includes Detroit’s first win over the Hornets since October 2017, snapping an insane 15-game losing streak against Charlotte.
Cade Cunningham is getting more comfortable by the day. He stays calm and poised under pressure, smooth sailing in the clutch for a rookie.
Jerami Grant is still here. The Pistons couldn’t find a deadline deal for him, but they did take a flier on Marvin Bagley, who has had some positive contributions so far as a Piston. (He’s also currently day-to-day with an ankle.)
Say what you will about Killian Hayes, but the guy can sling the rock, including the game-winning inbounds pass to Kelly Olynyk on Sunday night in Charlotte for the buzzer-beater in OT.
The Pistons have two more on the road at D.C. and at Toronto. Then it’s back to the 313 for a three-game homestand against the Pacers, Hawks and Bulls. Detroit is currently a half-game ahead of Orlando for the worst record in the league, and a half-game ahead of the 3rd-worst Rockets. (All of the bottom-3 records get the best odds for a top-4 pick and the best odds at landing #1.
15. Orlando Magic (15-47) — prev. rank #14
Even though they are here at the bottom, the fighting Orlando Magic ride a two-game winning streak into the month of March behind the return of one Markelle Fultz!
Fultz’s first game back was bliss: 10 points and 6 assists in 16 minutes, including an assist on his first offensive possession. It’s so great to have him back. The jumper looked smooth, too!
Before the Fultz return, it was the Big Chum Game against the Rockets where Chuma Okeke dropped a career-high 26 points in 32 minutes off the bench. Big Chum also had 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block. A stat-sheet stuffer!
Now the Magic just need to get Jonathan Isaac back. He’s been traveling with the team, but apparently is not practicing 5-on-5 yet. Kinda crazy considering his last NBA game was in August of 2020 in the bubble…
The Magic will go for three W’s in a row on Wednesday night against the Pacers again. Then it’s hitting the road for two, at Toronto and at Memphis, back home for the Suns, then down to Nola before a six-game homestand: T-Wolves, Sixers, Nets, Pistons, Thunder and Warriors.
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