Western Conference Power Rankings: Early-March 2023 Edition
1. Denver Nuggets (45-19) — prev. rank #1
Since Jan. 1, no team in the NBA has won more games than the Denver Nuggets. (The Bucks have also won 22 games.) The Nuggets went 9-3 in February and have the best home record in the NBA at 29-4.
They have not lost at home since Jan. 22.
Back-to-back MVPs and now he is averaging a triple-double on the best team in the West. Just when we thought the Joker could not get any more incandescent, he pulls this on us.
Jokic called Aaron Gordon the soul of the team which has led to Gordon officially being dubbed “Mr. Nugget.” Gordon is shooting a by far career-high 64.6 percent on 2s this season. Most of them set up by Jokic.
The Nuggets are still the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA behind KCP (45%) and MPJ (41%) above 40 percent and Jokic, Murray, Bruce Brown, and Aaron Gordon all around 38 percent.
Denver has the No. 2 offense for the season and the No. 12 defense. Acquiring Thomas Bryant at the deadline does provide an additional backup big. (DeAndre Jordan has not played in almost a month.)
2. Sacramento Kings (37-25) — prev. rank #2
The Kings have currently won five games in a row, including the scintillating 176-175 2OT win over the Clippers in the 2nd-highest scoring NBA game ever, and another 1-point win over the Clips on Friday night.
De’Aaron Fox has wrapped up the Mr. Clutch award for this season. Even though he missed those two jumpers last night, Fox has still scored 28 more points than No. 2 on the total clutch points list.
Sabonis has led the Kings in rebounds for 18 straight games and in 53 of 62 games. For as great and beloved as Haliburton is, tip of the cap to Monte McNair for adding exactly what Fox and this roster needed.
Harrison Barnes is forever the unsung hero, playing all 62 games so far this season as the Kings’ iron man vet.
With the NBA’s best offense — an astounding 121.2 offensive rating in February and 118.2 for the season — the Kings are now just one game back of the reeling Grizzlies for the 2-seed in the West. LIGHT THE BEAM.
3. Phoenix Suns (35-29) — prev. rank #8
The Suns went for it, trading for one of the best players this game has ever seen to extend their Championship window and push all of their chips in.
Guess what? Kevin Durant looks like same ole KD once again after returning from injury. This is already probably the greatest mid-range shooting team of all time.
KD’s arrival to the desert obviously makes life easier for all of the Suns, but Chris Paul especially has a new favorite weapon.
The depth here is questionable and there will be a lot of pressure on the bench unit. Picking up T-Ross at the deadline was an underrated move. And we still have our cabin on Saben Lee island!
The big game is tomorrow, a Sunday matinee between the Suns and Mavs in Dallas.
4. Golden State Warriors (34-30) — prev. rank #7
The defending champs are getting hot at just the right time. A current 5-game winning streak right as Steph is set to return is just what the doctor ordered.
Klay Thompson’s flame thrower can still get going at a moment’s notice. Klay is playing back-to-backs now, too!
Jordan Poole has definitely had a shaky season, but he is another one who can turn it up at any point in the game. Irrational confidence is a sharp double-edged sword.
Anthony Lamb and Ty Jerome deserve another big shoutout for holding it down as two of the Warriors’ most reliable bench players.
Steph missed almost all of February and the Dubs pulled off a top-10 offense. That’s actually better than their No. 13 mark for the season… Let’s see if they can keep that momentum rolling.
5. Memphis Grizzlies (38-24) — prev. rank #3
The NBA’s most fun team a season ago has quickly transformed into the villains with a target on their back.
The Rise and Fall of Ja Morant. A silver lining here is maybe all of this coming to light now will save him from further darkness.
No Steven Adams since late January has been tough and now Brandon Clarke is out for the season with a torn Achilles. When it rains, it pours.
Now is the time for Xavier Tillman and Santi Aldama to step into bigger roles with no BC. And perhaps Taylor Jenkins gives Jake LaRavia an opportunity? LaRavia has played more than 10 minutes just three times since Dec. 1.
The Grizz went 5-5 in February and have won just one road game in their last 10. (And the one road win was at Houston.)
6. Dallas Mavericks (33-31) — prev. rank #5
The Mavs needed another ball handler and shot creator, yes — but since when has trading for Kyrie worked out for anybody?
Luka is a phenomenal player and it seems like the Mavs continually make life more difficult for him.
Mavs fans must be beyond tired of hearing this, but letting Brunson go (and getting absolutely nothing back) is a haunting blunder.
The bright spot here is Josh Green, playing some great ball and having some fantastic games. (Very concerning that Jason Kidd randomly chooses to play him limited minutes…)
The Mavs can get a top-6 spot in the West (they are currently No. 6 with a half-game lead on the Wolves), but will their leaky defense be able to stop anybody in the playoffs?
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (33-32) — prev. rank #6
The up-and-down T-Wolves are currently up after two wins in LA over the Clippers and Lakers.
It is awesome that Anthony Edwards has played every game this season, saying that he takes pride in that. For a guy also averaging career-best numbers across the board, Ant-Man’s season is going under the radar.
That’s because the T-Wolves have a Gobert-sized stain on them. Gobert has actually played well recently, a benefit of having Mike Conley around, but it’s difficult to look at him without thinking of that abominable trade.
When will KAT return? The last report was that he was hoping for the last 10-15 games of the season which is right around the corner. TBD on how it all looks with Towns back in the mix.
For the season, the T-Wolves have a top-10 defense and bottom-10 offense with a slight (0.2) positive net rating.
8. Los Angeles Clippers (33-33) — prev. rank #4
The Clippers have lost five games in a row and look like they are spiraling out of control.
Five months into the season and you still can’t count on Kawhi to be playing. He has played a lot more recently, but the Clippers have lost 9 out of the last 10 games that Kawhi has missed.
Terance Mann taking a back seat to Westbrook is a joke. Ty Lue is better than that.
It’s crazy to look up and see the Clippers running out lineups with Westbrook, Plumlee, and Eric Gordon, all of whom just got to LA.
With Kawhi and PG, you can’t count out the Clippers in a 7-game series. But you can’t feel comfortable about their chances either.
9. Los Angeles Lakers (30-34) — prev. rank #11
Just when the Lakers were looking like a brand new team, a GOOD team, LeBron goes out for a couple of weeks with a foot injury.
The time is now for AD to step up and be the bubble version that we saw at the beginning of this season.
Vanderbilt, Beasley, and even D-Lo are the exact type of players this roster needed. Defense, shooting and shot creation. Boom.
Big props to Dennis Schroder who has contributed mightily in his second Lakers stint.
The Lakers do have one of the five easiest remaining schedules according to tankathon.
10. Portland Trail Blazers (29-34) — prev. rank #10
In spite of Dame’s heroics, the Blazers have lost 8 of the last 11 games. And yet, they are still right in the mix to sneak into the play-in. Per usual, the offense has been great while the defense has been atrocious.
Dame has been nothing short of sensational. His 71 points were a marvel. Since Jan. 1, Dame D.O.L.L.A. has ten 40-point games.
Simons has been dealing with an ankle injury, missing four of the last five games. The Blazers are obviously going to need him if they want to make a run at it.
Call us crazy, but we can never give up on Cam Reddish after seeing the dude drill six 3s in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Blazers have a tough remaining schedule with the Celtics and Kings twice, as well as the Sixers, Grizz, Warriors, and red-hot Knicks. But the Blazers also have Dame.
11. New Orleans Pelicans (31-33) — prev. rank #13
The Pellies have lost 5 of the last 6 games and haven’t won back-to-back games in almost a month.
Zion, where art thou? With Big Z, the Pels were one of the best teams in the league.
Brandon Ingram has been holding it down with some big games. But the Pelicans are toast when he’s inefficient.
There are other injuries here, too. Alvarado is out for weeks and Nance and Valanciunas have missed time recently leaving the Pels’ frontcourt depth very depleted.
There is still time yet for the Pelicans who made a run late last year. And they do have one of the easiest remaining schedules.
12. Utah Jazz (31-33) — prev. rank #9
The Jazz are still hanging around the top 10 of the standings, however, the Jazz did just lose to the Spurs and Thunder and we can’t help but wonder if a tank job is imminent.
Most Improved Player has to be Lauri Markkanen, right? He is the prohibitive Vegas favorite.
Would you rather have Rudy Gobert or Walker Kessler? The fact that it is a legitimate question is hilarious.
Will Hardy has dabbled in starting Ochai Agbaji and we are all for seeing what you have there.
According to tankathon, the Jazz have the 5th-hardest remaining strength of schedule. (Yeah, we can hear a tank for sure.)
13. Oklahoma City Thunder (29-34) — prev. rank #12
The Thunder are a good and really fun, young team. But the tank vibes are feeling heavy after a recent 5-game losing streak.
SGA has been out in the protocols, but do you really believe that? Sam Presti is shameless.
Jalen Williams is looking like another home run of a draft pick. Sam Presti is a genius!
Speaking of, picking up Isaiah Joe (44 percent from 3) off the scrap heap was absolute highway robbery.
Can you imagine if the Thunder landed Wemby…
14. San Antonio Spurs (16-47) — prev. rank #15
The Spurs started the season 5-2. Since then? They are 11-45.
But they snapped a 16-game losing streak and have won two in a row!
Not a coincidence that the Spurs started winning right when Devin Vassell returned from injury.
But just as Vassell is finally back, Keldon Johnson is now out with a foot injury. Gotta love the tank.
Newest Spur Devonte’ Graham has not been shy about letting it rip, averaging 8.3 3-pointers per game in the Silver and Black.
Saturday night. Spurs vs. Rockets. SADDLE UP, BABY!
15. Houston Rockets (13-49) — prev. rank #14
The Rockets ride an 11-game losing streak into San Antonio on Saturday night. And then we get to do it again on Sunday night in Houston!
When Jalen Green plays and scores less than 24 points, the Rockets have a record of 1-34 this season. When Green plays and scores 24+, the Rox are 10-11. An insane bellwether stat.
KJ Martin has really picked up his scoring since mid-January and Eric Gordon’s departure.
Boban never plays more than a few minutes, but in those few minutes, he can really put on a show. If the Rockets are going to be this bad, give us more Boban!
The Rockets are in the driver’s seat to have the worst record in the league for the third straight season.
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