Eastern Conference Power Rankings: Feb. 2025 Edition

The first month of 2025 is in the books.

That means it’s time to drop some fresh power ranks.

LET’S GET IT!

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (39-9) - prev. #1

January: (10-5) No. 1 offense / No. 24 defense

Following up a 12-1 jolly December was always going to be a tall task, but the Cavs endured their first 3-game losing streak of the season in January and slipped up on the defensive end, giving up 130+ points in losses to OKC, Philly and Houston.

Even so, they still have the best record in the NBA and a current 5.5-game cushion atop the Eastern Conference.

The No. 5 scorer on the best team in the league? Ty MF Jerome.

2. Boston Celtics (34-15) - prev. #2

January: (10-6) No. 13 offense / No. 5 defense

The bells of concern have been ringing in Boston, but this here blog isn’t truly worried about the C’s. The Dog Days of Winter wait for no defending Champs.

That being said, losing at home to the Hawks (again), at Toronto and getting thumped by the Lakers on TNT is eyebrow raising for sure. But Tatum has been phenomenal, including last night’s game-winner in NOLA, and Joe Mazz seems to revel in the jagged rockiness.

Here is a bellwether stat: in games that Derrick White has 5+ assists, the C’s are 15-1 this season.

3. New York Knicks (32-16) - prev. #3

January: (9-6) No. 6 offense / No. 16 defense

A current 5-game winning streak and 7 of the last 9, the Knicks just set a franchise record for points scored in a 3-game stretch with 143, 143 and 122.

Even more impressive is that those games were against current Western Conference playoff teams in the Kings, Grizz and Nuggets. (Okay, yes, Kings are technically play-in, but still.)

There are some big games on the schedule before we get to the All-Star break: Lakers on Saturday night primetime, Rockets, Celtics on Saturday night primetime again and at the Pacers on TNT Tuesday.

4. Indiana Pacers (26-20) - prev. #8

January: (10-2) No. 4 offense / No. 3 defense

HELLO PACERS! Welcome to the party that is the 2024-25 NBA SZN.

The ‘Cers started the season 10-15 and have since gone 16-5, rocking a top-5 offense and defense in January. It has been against a favorable schedule, however, taking down the Cavs by 15 in Cleveland is very noteworthy and beating the Pistons is a lot more difficult than it used to be.

It’s no surprise that as soon as Hali found his 3-ball (44 percent from 3 in January), the Pacers offense took flight once again.

5. Milwaukee Bucks (26-20) - prev. #4

January: (9-6) No. 9 offense / No. 12 defense

The Bucks were taking care of a soft January schedule that included a stretch of winning 8 of 9, but then they stumbled into February with recent losses that sting quite a bit.

There was a loss to the Nets at home, to the Blazers twice and getting absolutely crushed by the Knicks 140-106 and Spurs 144-119.

Surprise: It’s difficult to win games when you give up 140+ points.

6. Detroit Pistons (24-24) - prev. #10

January: (10-6) No. 22 offense / No. 4 defense

The Young Surprise Team that was promised!

The Pistons won 10 games in the month of January which is pretty good considering THEY WON 14 GAMES ALL OF LAST SEASON.

Losing Jaden Ivey for the season still sucks, but All-Star Cade has taken a sure fire leap. He’s No. 3 in the NBA in total assists and already has 7 triple-doubles notched in his belt. Those lefty runners off the glass are fierce!

7. Orlando Magic (24-25) - prev. #6

January: (4-11) No. 30 offense / No. 14 defense

The wheels finally started to fall off the wagon here as the injuries reached a truly ridiculous level, but the boys are back?

Paolo and Franz have returned to action, although the Magic have lost 8 of the last 10 just as Suggs went down with a quad injury. Honestly, Suggs might be the most important player to this team. The Magic are 20-15 with him and 4-9 without.

Overall, the Orlando defense has held it down, it’s the offense that’s still been in the dregs of the league.

8. Miami Heat (23-23) - prev. #7

January: (7-9) No. 24 offense / No. 20 defense

Who needs Jimmy Butler when you have Kel’el Ware!?

Out of nowhere, like a breeze in the middle of the night, Ware has ascended to the Rookie of the Year favorite. This is a guy who hadn’t played more than 20 minutes in game until Jan. 2! But he’s shooting 62 percent on 2’s and 41% from 3.

We shall see if it’s sustainable, but regardless — Ware has made watching Heat games sans-Jimmy far more enjoyable. Much less like attending a death metal concert while trying to answer emails.

9. Philadelphia 76ers (19-28) - prev. #9

January: (6-11) No. 15 offense / No. 28 defense

For as bright and promising as their 9-3 December record was, a 7-game losing streak in January cratered the Philly basketballin’ vibes once again.

BUT WAIT! Then the shorthanded Sixers won 4 in a row, including massive wins at home vs. the Cavs and Lakers (!!), infusing minuscule hope if only because the 9 games below .500 Sixers are just one game back of the current 10-seed.

Would you want to play a fully healthy and RAMPED UP 76ers team in Round 1?

BONUS: In case you’re curious: The Sixers have played 10 games with Embiid, Maxey and PG, resulting in a 7-3 record but not since Jan. 4.

10. Atlanta Hawks (22-26) - prev. #5

January: (4-11) No. 27 offense / No. 11 defense

The Hawks ride unfortunate news along with a 7-game losing streak into February.

The awful, no good sucky poo poo headline here is that Jalen Johnson will miss the rest of the season with a torn labrum. He was legit one of the most fun players this season, a key component to what the Hawks were able to accomplish on a nightly basis. Not to mention a fantasy basketball savant. Big sigh. Injuries are the worst.

Atlanta’s offense in January was bottom of the barrel, but that top-11 defense for the month is something to keep an eye on.

11. Chicago Bulls (21-28) - prev. #11

January: (6-10) No. 23 offense / No. 19 defense

If the Bulls end up in the Bradley Beal business that would actually be pretty on brand.

Beal is very familiar with the treadmill of mediocrity, having run on it for a decade in D.C. The Wiz made it to the 2nd round three times in the 2010’s, precisely the same number as the Bulls.

LaVine has actually played quite well this season, auditioning himself to the tune of 24 points a night with 44.6 percent from 3, a career-high. Surely the Bulls sell high. SURELY.

12. Toronto Raptors (15-33) - prev. #15

January: (8-7) No. 20 offense / No. 8 defense

From Dec. 5 to Jan. 11, the Raptors won one game. ONE. A record of 1-16 over that five-week stretch.

Then the Raptors won five in a row and 7 of 8 before dropping one to the Bulls last night.

The 2025 transformation occurred with an easier schedule, yes, but the Raps did beat the defending-champion Celtics.

Something else to monitor: the winning started when Quickley went out of the lineup again and Cowboy Bruce Brown started seeing an uptick in usage.

13. Brooklyn Nets (15-33) - prev. #12

January: (3-13) No. 28 offense / No. 21 defense

Cam Thomas has been missed, out with a hammy since the Nets win in Milwaukee on Jan. 2nd.

D-Lo back in Brooklyn just feels right. It’s honestly surprising that he doesn’t shoot the ball more.

Where were you on the legendary random Saturday night in January when the Nets lost to the Jazz in OT and the Nets' leading scorer was Tosan Evbuomwan. (Yeah… WHO HE!?)

14. Charlotte Hornets (12-33) - prev. #14

January: (5-8) No. 26 offense / No. 6 defense

From Nov. 23 to Jan. 5, the Hornets won one game. ONE. A record of 1-18 over that six-week stretch that included an 8-game losing streak and a 10-game losing streak.

Losing Brandon Miller for the season with wrist surgery already put a serious damper on things, and now LaMelo has been out again with another ankle injury.

At least it’s a good year to suck! And Mark Williams was ballin out there for a few games.

15. Washington Wizards (6-41) - prev. #13

January: (1-16) No. 29 offense / No. 30 defense

There is dirty brown water trash and then there is the 2024-25 Washington Wizards.

A current 16-game losing streak with no end in sight. The one win they managed to pull off in January was an 18-point win over the Bulls, a game that Poole hit six 3’s and Sarr had an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double to go along with 5 assists.

Next week the Wiz play in Charlotte and in Brooklyn back-to-back games. Plan your schedules accordingly!

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