Western Conference Power Rankings: Early-April Edition
1. Phoenix Suns (62-14) — prev. rank #1
Just like every single month this season (save for December), the Suns roasted March — a 13-2 record while rocking a top-5 offense and top-5 defense. The Suns have the #2 offense and the #2 defense for the season. The only teams to pull off a top-3 finish in both? The 2015 and 2017 Warriors.
Wednesday night’s victory over the Warriors at the Chase Center tied the Suns franchise record with 62 wins. The Suns record of 31-6 on the road is on pace to be the best road win percentage in NBA history.
In a league full of MVPs, Devin Booker gets a short end of the stick and maybe a top-5 finish. He’s a lock for 1st Team All-NBA in our book. (Luka, Book, Giannis, Jokic and Embiid.)
Chris Paul is back and looking just like Chris Paul. And CP3 is right: This team is full of hoopers.
Cam Payne’s return has also been seamless. He’s still averaging a career-high in points and assists. Now they just need Cam Johnson, who is day-to-day with a quad.
The Suns current 9-game winning streak is put to the test tonight against the Grizzlies 6-game winning streak, but neither have anything tangible to play for. The Suns final five games: @OKC, Lakers at home, @Clippers, @Utah and the Kings at home.
2. Memphis Grizzlies (54-23) — prev. rank #2
The Memphis Grizzlies, your Southwest Division Champions, have clinched the #2 seed in the Western Conference. Their 19-2 record without Ja Morant is absolute madness.
Over the last six games without Ja, Tyus Jones is averaging 7.3 assists per game. The immense value of having a really good backup point guard should not go under the radar.
De’Anthony Melton has also stepped up, playing some of his best ball and averaging 19.8 points per game over the same stretch. It’s also beneficial having Dillon Brooks back. He’s scoring 20 a night as well.
Not enough people are talking about the fact that Jaren Jackson Jr. has only missed two games this season.
It’s a Western Conference Battle of #1 and #2 tonight as the Grizz take on the Suns at the FedEx Forum. Then four Grizzlies games will remain: @Utah, @Denver and home vs. the Pelicans and Celtics.
3. Dallas Mavericks (48-29) — prev. rank #5
The Mavs have climbed all the way up to #3 in the standings, matching the same record as the Warriors and owning the tiebreaker thanks to a 3-1 series advantage. Since the Porzingis trade, the Mavs are 16-6.
Every year it seems like Luka gets better as the season progresses, saving his best for last. Since the All-Star Break, The Don is averaging 30-9-8 which actually isn’t too far from his season-long averages of 28-9-8.
Dorian Finney-Smith is fresh off scoring his career-high 28 points against the Cavs on Wednesday night, which included a power dunk on top of a former Maverick, Moses Brown. (Twas the same night that Luka had Brown all turned around. Poor Moses Brown.)
Here’s a stat: In the 21 games this season that Reggie Bullock scores 11 or more points, the Mavs are 19-2.
No April Fools’in: the Mavs face their old boy Porzingis tonight in D.C. Then it’s @Milwaukee and @Detroit before returning to Dallas for the last two vs. the Blazers and Spurs.
4. Golden State Warriors (48-29) — prev. rank #3
Without Steph, the Warriors continue to slide — a current 4-game losing streak and 1-7 record since Curry went down. The only teams with a worse record than the Warriors in March? The Rockets, Pacers, Lakers, Thunder and Blazers.
The half court shot heard round the world will be remembered first, but Jordan Poole’s 38 points against the Suns were legit. Poole is averaging 28 points per game since Marcus Smart fell into Steph’s leg.
Klay has had a couple of monster games — 38 points and eight 3s against the Bucks and 37 points and nine 3s against the Hawks — but there have been a lot more games where his shot selection has been suspect at best. He will try to do too much, and life for Klay is undoubtedly harder without Steph.
Andre Iguodala has returned to the lineup although on a severe minutes limit so far. A 38-year-old averaging 4.1 points per game and 24 percent from 3 might not seem like a big deal, but Iggy’s experience and chemistry with Klay and Dray doesn’t show up on paper.
The Warriors close out the regular season with the Jazz at home, @Sacramento, home for the Lakers and then @San Antonio and @New Orleans. Those last three teams are all desperate to win for the play-in.
5. Denver Nuggets (46-31) — prev. rank #6
The Nuggets defense over the last two weeks (26th) is concerning, but then again, the Nuggets being 15 games over .500 and a top-6 seed in the West without Jamal Murray and MPJ all season is ludicrous.
It’s the tightest MVP race in a long, long time, but it sure seems as though Jokic is running away with his second in a row. If he does pull it off, will there be voter fatigue next season, or will he be undeniable once again?
Bones Hyland was sensational in the month of March, averaging 14.7 points per game in 22 minutes off the bench with shooting 47.6 percent from 3 on 5.5 attempts. This rookie class is SO insane.
Unfortunately, Michael Porter Jr. has had a setback in his back surgery rehab. But there is still the possibility that Jamal Murray could return.
The Nuggets have the same record as the Jazz, but the Jazz own the tiebreaker, so Denver is currently 6th. Would the Nuggets rather play the Warriors or the Mavs in the 1st Round? (Probably the Warriors the way it’s looking right now.) The Nuggets conclude the season with 4 out of 5 games at home: T-Wolves, @Lakers, Spurs, Grizzlies and Lakers.
6. Utah Jazz (46-31) — prev. rank #4
The Jazz blowing a 25-point lead to the Clippers proves nothing has changed at this point. Utah does still have the #1 offense for the season, but they were 20th over the last two weeks until playing the Lakers last night (which moved them up to 12th). And the defense has been 23rd over that same stretch.
Even so, we love Donovan Mitchell’s attitude and demeanor about it all. The Jazz have been through a lot, and they just have to keep fighting. There is no other way.
It should be noted that since February, the Jazz are 12-1 at home.
It helps to have Bogdanovic back in the lineup, returning last night for the Lakers game. (Nothing says Get-right Game like playing the Lakers.) Juan Hernangomez played really well in Bogey’s absence, even getting the starting nod in his place.
The remaining Jazz games are @Golden State, home vs. the Grizzlies, Thunder, Suns and then @Portland. Right now the Jazz are in 5th place but have the same record as the Nuggets at 46-31. The 5-seed will likely face the Warriors and the 6-seed will probably play Dallas.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (43-34) — prev. rank #7
The T-Wolves have been playing really well at just the right time. The #6 offense in March and the #5 defense! They are 3 games behind the Jazz and Nuggets for #6, which means the Wolves will very likely host the Clippers in the first play-in game, and get two cracks at making the playoffs.
It took him a while to fully get there, but Karl-Anthony Towns is putting together the complete package. That 60-point virtuoso performance against the Spurs unlocked something (everything?) inside KAT.
On “wide-open” 3-pointers since the All-Star Break, Anthony Edwards is leading the league shooting a ridiculous 65 percent. Ant-Man also became the youngest player in NBA history to make 200 3s in a season.
The impact of Patrick Beverly’s enforcer persona to the culture of this team cannot be overstated.
Minnesota finishes up a current four-game road trip @Denver tonight and @Houston on Sunday night. Then the final three games of the season are back home: Wizards, Spurs and Bulls.
8. Los Angeles Clippers (33-31) — prev. rank #8
The Clippers did it AGAIN. Another huge 25-point comeback win against the Jazz on the night that Paul George returned. Although they then blew an 11-point lead with 4:40 to go against the Bulls…
But Paul George being back and looking like the same ole PG is great news for Clipper land. And PG coming back sure makes it seem like Kawhi could return as well.
The best 3-point shooter in the NBA this season? The lefty sniper, Luke Kennard, at a pristine 44.9 percent.
Ty Lue being called “Belichick” in NBA circles for his coaching prowess is such a fantastic thing.
The Clippers are locked into the 8-seed and will almost certainly play at Minnesota in the first play-in game. Should the Clippers lose, they will get another chance at the playoffs, playing the winner of the #9 and #10 game. The Clips play @Milwaukee tonight (no PG on the second night of a back-to-back) and then the final four games are back in LA at the Crypt: Pelicans, Suns, Kings and Thunder.
9. New Orleans Pelicans (33-43) — prev. rank #9
The Pelicans went 8-7 in March and finished the month with a top-10 offense and top-10 defense. After beginning the season 3-16, the Pelicans will most likely make the play-in game without Zion playing a single minute.
It’s not the biggest sample size, but CJ McCollum is averaging a career-high 25.9 points per game in a Pelicans uniform. And when Brandon Ingram missed 10 straight games in March, the Pelicans were able to go 4-6. The Pels record without BI before CJ’s arrival was 2-12.
From WHO HE!? to a four-year $6.5 million contract for Jose Alvarado, what a glow up for Grand Theft Alvarado!
Larry Nance Jr.’s effect since making his Pelicans’ debut has been felt in a very positive way.
The 9th place Pellies have a full 2-game lead on the Spurs and Lakers. An enormous game awaits tonight in LA against the Lakers. Then it’s the Clippers on Sunday night, @Sacramento, back home for the Blazers, @Memphis and back to NOLA for the Warriors.
10. Los Angeles Lakers (31-45) — prev. rank #10
It’s been a most embarrassing season. The Lakers are 14 games below .500. And yet, they do still have a chance to make the play-in and by definition, they still have a chance at the playoffs. The Lakers and Spurs currently have the same record, and they split the season series — but the Spurs hold the tiebreaker because they have the better conference record.
LeBron’s status for tonight’s enormous matchup against the Pelicans is uncertain, but with six games left and knowing that he has to play at least three more to be eligible for the scoring title, it seems likely we’ll see him sooner rather than later.
AD is set to play tonight against the Pelicans. There is deep irony in the Pelicans not only having a 2-game lead on the Lakers, but also in that they could push the Lakers further out from the final play-in spot.
Last night against the Jazz, the Lakers used their 37th different starting lineup this season. That’s almost a new starting lineup every other game.
It’s the Pelicans tonight in LA and then the Nuggets in the Sunday matinee on ABC. Then a two-game roadie to Phoenix and Golden State. A cupcake against the Thunder at the Crypt is followed by the last game of the season @Denver. Buckle up, folks.
11. San Antonio Spurs (31-45) — prev. rank #11
The margins of this game can be very slim, and Keldon Johnson’s missed layup against the Grizzlies could end up being the difference between finishing 11th or 10th. However, the Spurs are currently in 10th, holding the tiebreaker over the Lakers. (We put the Lakers above them in the power rankings cause we do not bet against LeBron James.)
Dejounte Murray 30-point games:
This season = 8.
March 2022 = 3.
The first four years of his career = 0.
Jakob Poeltl might get power dunked on a lot, but he is 5th in the league in total blocks.
The Spurs are number one in the league in assists per game, holding a slight advantage on the Hornets at 27.9 to 27.8.
The Spurs are gifted with two games at home vs. the blatantly tanking Portland Trail Blazers. Then things get more difficult: @Denver, @Minnesota, @Golden State and home against the Mavs. Gulp.
12. Sacramento Kings (28-49) — prev. rank #13
The Kings have officially done it: An NBA record 16 consecutive seasons without making the playoffs. Actually… it’s not officially official yet. But really, it is.
But how about that Davion Mitchell power dunk on the Rockets!? That thang was NOICE.
Trey Lyles has been playing some decent ball!
Our pick for the next coach of the Sacramento Kings is Kenny Atkinson. Although we can’t imagine that he (or anyone) would want to go there.
The Kings play in Houston again tonight (they won by 3 on Wednesday night) and then it’s back to the Sac for the Warriors and Pelicans before the season concludes on the road: @Clippers and @Phoenix.
13. Houston Rockets (20-57) — prev. rank #15
The Rockets are currently tied with the Magic for the worst record in the league and have a 2.5-game lead on the 4th place Thunder. But the Rockets have been feisty!
Jalen Green’s second half surge is very reminiscent of Anthony Edwards last season. Speaking of Ant-Man, Green passed Edwards in March for most made 3s in a month by a rookie.
Sengun has seriously been one of the most fun players in the league. His behind the back passes are such a treat.
KJ Martin and Josh Christopher have been playing their best ball of the season since the All-Star Break. Tanking is encouraged here, but so is player development!
The Rockets play the Kings again tonight, then it’s the T-Wolves, @Brooklyn, @Toronto and the last game of the season is back in H-Town vs. the Hawks. It seems likely the Rockets should end up in the bottom-3 at worst.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder (22-54) — prev. rank #14
The Thunder have the 4th-worst record in the league and are 1.5 games behind the Pistons, who actually keep winning games. But after beating the Blazers in Portland in OT, there is no way that Sam Presti is sleeping well at night.
The Thunder have shut everybody down: SGA, Giddey, Dort, Favors, Moose, Kenny Hustle and Ty Jerome.
They have even had to sit Tre Mann, cause Tre Mann can ball!
At least we get more Poku minutes. Sometimes he’s great, but a lot more times he is still a skinny turnover machine.
The Thunder have six games left, including two they will really, really want to lose: vs. the Pistons tonight and vs. the Blazers on Tuesday night. The Thunder-Blazers tanking rematch should be one for the ages.
15. Portland Trail Blazers (27-49) — prev. rank #12
The Blazers are putting on a true tanking masterclass. The pinnacle being a loss at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder in OT. You know Sam Presti was jealous AF.
Tune in to Blazers games and you’ll get to know some likely unfamiliar faces: Brandon Williams, Keon Johnson, Keljin Blevins and C.J. Elleby’s hair. Didi Louzada as well, fresh off his Blazers debut. (Yeah, it’s a WHO HE!? clinic.)
Reggie “The Fridge” Perry is here now, too!
Since the All-Star Break, the Blazers are 2-15. In March, they had the 29th offense and 30th defense. Tanking. Masterclass.
The Blazers have 6 games left and the first 5 are all on the road: @San Antonio twice, @OKC (Revenge Tankoff!) @New Orleans, @Dallas. The final game of the season is against the Jazz at Moda. The Blazers are 2.5 games behind the Pacers for the 5th worst record in the league — but nobody is tanking harder.
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The playoffs are very near, so these are the last power ranks.
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