This is the generation of LeBron James and while his critics will pick at details of his game or resume in order to try and diminish his legacy, the bottom line is that he is still the game’s most complete player and dominant player. LeBron is the biggest reason why despite the Golden State Warriors continued dominance this season, it is the Cleveland Cavaliers that have unseated them atop the latest edition of the NBA power rankings.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
This Week: +250 title odds
The Cavaliers put together three straight wins this week to climb in to a tie with the Chicago Bulls for third in the Eastern Conference standings. The Bulls took an obvious hit with another devastating injury to Derrick Rose while both the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors haven’t looked very good of late with a combined 11-9 record over their last 10 games. Cleveland’s road through the Eastern Conference – at least on paper – appears to have gotten easier and it helps that they are finding their chemistry as a team.
2. Golden State Warriors
This Week: +350 title odds
The Warriors lead the NBA in scoring but beyond Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson’s offensive talents, it’s their defensive play that has stood out the most. Golden State has become a much more defensively efficient team and while Cleveland got the nod for this week’s power rankings, it’s clear that no team has a better resume for this season than the Warriors.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
This Week: +550 title odds
Undoubtedly, the fastest riser on this list is an Oklahoma City team that has climbed in to a playoff spot and appears set to continue their climb in big part due to the play of Russell Westbrook. The Thunder were a +1600 long shot to win it all just two weeks ago but their odds have dramatically increased thanks to their improved play and the circumstances surrounding some of the top teams from the Western Conference. Westbrook is the only player in the NBA to record at least 30 points and 10 assists in five different games and everybody knows what the reigning MVP Kevin Durant can do when he is healthy. The additions of Dion Waiters and Enes Kanter have proved valuable for a team that has improved its depth and the difference in the outlook for Oklahoma City can be summarized in the dramatic change in their odds to win it all in 2015.
4. Atlanta Hawks
This Week: +750 title odds
Everybody that was waiting for the Hawks to slide got their chance to jump on them this week when they were held below 100 points in four of five games. All-Star selections Kyle Korver and Jeff Teague have cooled off since the break and Atlanta isn’t nearly as dangerous of a team when they aren’t hitting their shots at a high level of efficiency. Some will write this past couple of weeks off as a rough stretch and nothing more but those that haven’t bought in to the Hawks all season will point to this slide as a sign of what to expect from Atlanta the rest of the way.
5. Memphis Grizzlies
This Week: +900 title odds
Memphis is 14-2 since Jeff Green arrived and there is plenty of reason to believe this team has what it takes to finally make a championship run. Any talk of the Grizzlies chances in the Western Conference must begin and end with Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol as that tandem has been the biggest reason for their success at both ends of the floor. Memphis owns the league’s top-ranked defense and the addition of Green has provided the scoring help they need from the wing. Now might be a good time for those that believe in the Grizzlies to buy in to their stock because it will only climb from here.
6. San Antonio Spurs
This Week: +1000 title odds
The Spurs have lost four in a row for the second time this season and while at first glance, that might not seem like a big deal, the fact that they had lost four in a row only twice in the previous 10 seasons combined adds some context to their struggles. Head coach Gregg Popovich is doing the best he can to manage the minutes of his veteran stars while trying to gain some ground in the Western Conference, but it has been a difficult stretch for the defending champions.
T-7. Toronto Raptors
This Week: +2000 title odds
The Raptors are on pace for the first 50-win season in franchise history and their 14.5-game lead over the Brooklyn Nets for top spot in the Atlantic at the All-Star break was the third largest at that point in NBA history. General Manager Masai Ujiri opted not to make a move at the NBA trade deadline and while there were some that were upset he didn’t bring in reinforcements, his plan for the franchise has worked out to this point so he deserves the benefit of the doubt.
T-7. Los Angeles Clippers
This Week: +2000 title odds
It’s hard to overlook a string of four straight wins in which the Clippers managed to score at least 110 points in each of them – especially considering that Blake Griffin has been sidelined. DeAndre Jordan has averaged over 18 points and 18 rebounds per game when Griffin has been out of the lineup and he has gained some valuable experience with more responsibility. Griffin will eventually return to the Clippers lineup but whether or not this team has what it takes to compete with the top teams from the Western Conference remains the biggest question left for this season.
T-7. Dallas Mavericks
This Week: +2000 title odds
The confrontation between head coach Rick Carlisle and Rajon Rondo that led to the latter’s suspension made headlines around the NBA and added to the seed of doubt that has surrounded this team since even before Rondo’s arrival. The biggest issue has been the fact that Dallas has struggled against some of the top teams from the Western Conference and their tough schedule the rest of the way will make it extremely difficult for them to climb any higher in the standings.
10. Houston Rockets
This Week: +2250 title odds
The Rockets still have a better record than both Dallas and Los Angeles, as well as a legitimate shot at clinching home court advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs, so it is somewhat surprising to see them listed below both of them in terms of their projected odds to win it all. Houston needs a healthy Dwight Howard to have a shot but D12 is out right now. However, he is expected to be back in time for the postseason and with James Harden playing at an MVP level this team has the potential to be a force.
T-11. Portland Trail Blazers +2500
T-11. Chicago Bulls +2500
13. Washington Wizards +6600
T-14. Miami Heat +20000
T-14. Detroit Pistons +20000
T-14. Milwaukee Bucks +20000
T-14. Indiana Pacers +20000
