The Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs have heated up over the last couple of weeks and have made an ascent up the NBA power rankings too. Could Thursday’s meeting between the two be a NBA finals preview? Not quite…according to the updated NBA power rankings.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA title odds: +200
The Cavs have won four of their last five, including a 33-point pasting of Dallas on the road in which LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving all scored at least 21 points. Cleveland’s stars took some time to gel but everyone seems to know their role and that is bad news for the rest of the East.
2. Golden State Warriors
Title odds: +400
The Warriors have won five in a row by an average of 11.4 points and appear to be past their midseason funk. Entering Thursday, they had built a 6.5-game lead over Memphis for the top spot in the West. Golden State is a ridiculous 28-2 at home and getting home court advantage throughout the playoffs would be a huge boost for them.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Title odds: +500
The Thunder fell out of eighth place in the West with a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. They need their real MVP to return and the word is that they’re expecting Kevin Durant to miss another week or two with his foot injury. Can Russell Westbrook continue his insane pace? Over the last four games, Westbrook has put up 36.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 10.3 assists.
Six of Oklahoma City’s next seven games are at home, so this is a big chance to solidify their spot in the postseason.
4. Atlanta Hawks
Title odds: +650
Atlanta has a 10-game lead atop the East over Cleveland but they have lost two of three since beating the Cavaliers on Friday. Even more discouraging is that the two losses were on the road to a pair of terrible teams in Philadelphia and Denver. The Hawks simply can’t afford to take their foot off the gas.
5. San Antonio Spurs
Title odds: +800
Don’t look now, but the Spurs are coming around thanks to a six-game winning streak in which they’ve averaged 112.2 points over that stretch. They’re still just sixth in the East but the Spurs could work themselves into a top-four spot – especially when you consider that the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets have injury issues.
Kawhi Leonard is finding his form, averaging 22.4 points over his last five games. He’s the key to their success.
6. Memphis Grizzlies
Title odds: +1000
The Grizzlies are holding it down in second in the West but they entered Thursday having lost two of three and were resting Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley in Washington. Their defense continues to stay strong as Memphis still leads the league in points allowed per game but they’ve fallen back to the crowded pack in the Western Conference. They better be careful not to give up the No. 2 seed.
4. Los Angeles Clippers
Title odds: +1500
The Clippers have won five of their last seven – including four games on the road – which is a good sign as they’re fifth in the West and home court advantage might be hard to come by. The problem is that they’re one of two teams in the top eight in the West (along with New Orleans) to allow 100 points or more per game. Even though they’ve taken their game to another level without Blake Griffin in the lineup, the defense remains a concern in terms of their Championship futures.
T-8. Houston Rockets
Title odds: +2000
The Rockets are chugging along with seven wins in their last ten games entering Thursday. Houston sits in fourth in the West, which would net them home court in the first round. Terrence Jones has been a revelation for the Rockets as he has averaged 16.0 points and 9.6 rebounds over his last five games. Even so, the Rockets need to see Dwight Howard get back in the lineup and start proving that this team can be as good as they were when they started 19-5.
T-8. Chicago Bulls
Title odds: +2000
The Bulls halted a three-game skid with an overtime win against Philadelphia and obviously, the injuries to Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler has thrown a major wrench into their plans. They’re still third in the East but the Bulls need Butler to hurry back from his elbow injury as Aaron Brooks isn’t a dependable second option to Pau Gasol.
Chicago is no longer the defensive juggernaut they once were, ranking 12th in the league in points allowed. They’re just 13-17 when their opponents score 100 points or more.
10. Portland Trailblazers
Title odds: +2500
The Trailblazers have won six of their last seven games and are third in the West, so they’re in a good spot. But concerns in regards to their futures remain as Wesley Matthews was lost for the season to an Achilles injury. He was a fantastic third option behind LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard. Now, Portland needs someone to step up. It would be great if Nicholas Batum emerged but he has been poor (and that is being generous) for most of the season.
Dallas Mavericks +3000
Toronto Raptors +5000
Washington Wizards +7500
Indiana Pacers +8000
Milwaukee Bucks +15000
