Chasing the champs
1. WARRIORS (41-16) PRESEASON RANKING: 1
The Warriors expected to use the stretch after the All-Star Game to get DeMarcus Cousins up to speed and fully indoctrinated. Now what? With that already checked off, they seem to have staved off regular-season boredom nicely. They have gone 16-2 since the Rockets' win Jan. 3 at Oracle and Kevin Durant has said they can still improve.
2. BUCKS (43-14) PRESEASON RANKING: 12
While much is made about the nice collection of shooters around Giannis Antetokounmpo — with Nikola Mirotic eventually to join the mix — the Bucks have had the NBA’s top-rated defense all season. They use their ridiculous length well and pressure the ball and then have great balance around Antetokounmpo, with Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe Malcolm Brogdon and Brook Lopez. And don't look now, but Antetokounmpo has been making 3-pointers lately.
3. THUNDER (37-20) PRESEASON RANKING: 7
Despite the loss to the Pelicans on the way to the All-Star break, the Thunder seem like the best threat to the Warriors’ Western dominance. Russell Westbrook became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer last week while extending his triple-double streak to an NBA-record 11 games. Paul George is getting a ton of MVP buzz. The Thunder have won 11 of 13 games and trail only the Bucks in net rating.
4. NUGGETS (39-18) PRESEASON RANKING: 8
The Nuggets happily added Isaiah Thomas to the mix, unconcerned with how they will make it work with all those guards. It should offer a reminder of how remarkable it has been that they have been so good despite injuries along the way to Jamal Murray and Gary Harris. The play of Monte Morris and Malik Beasley has been remarkable and coach Michael Malone deserves loads of credit. But Nikola Jokic holds everything together regardless of who is in the lineup or on the court as the NBA's best point-center.
5. RAPTORS (43-16) PRESEASON RANKING: 4
The noise from the north could have been the ovations that greeted Marc Gasol and Jeremy Lin to Toronto. Both fit immediate needs, with Gasol's strength and style perfect for the Raptors and Lin, in the midst of a solid season in a limited role, joining the Raps in time to make up for the injury to Fred VanVleet. Kawhi Leonard missed the final game before the break — so Pascal Siakam put in 44 against the Wizards — making the time off as well-timed as the trade deadline additions.
6. 76ERS (37-21) PRESEASON RANKING: 6
The Sixers seem ready to rise toward the top with the new starting five, with Tobias Harris a perfect fit, looking as good on the floor as it did when he was acquired at the trade deadline. Even in a loss to the Celtics, the starting lineup of Ben Simmons,
J.J. Redick, Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler and Harris looked good, without the struggles to mesh that came at first with the trade for Butler.
7. CELTICS (37-21) PRESEASON RANKING: 3
It has become fashionable to downplay the Celtics, and they have brought that on themselves, gagging the 28-point lead against the Clippers and losing to the Lakers, and with Kyrie Irving battling a troubling knee. No one could argue Marcus Morris' claim that they were playing like “a bunch of individuals.” But they are still a top 10 team offensively and defensively, Jayson Tatum is coming on again, Gordon Hayward’s shot has been solid of late and the win against the Sixers was impressive.
8. TRAIL BLAZERS (34-23) PRESEASON RANKING: 15
The emotional win against the Warriors capped a nice push to the break, holding off the Rockets for fourth in the West. The addition of Rodney Hood provides depth, though it is difficult to see how Enes Kanter will defend the pick-androll in the West, even if he won't have to go against Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. The Blazers come out of the break with a seven-game road trip and then return home to face the Thunder, so the next few weeks will go a long way toward determining postseason positioning.
9. ROCKETS (33-24) PRESEASON RANKING: 2
The Rockets stumbled into the break with their collapse against the Thunder and another defensive debacle against the Timberwolves. They still believe they can make a late-season push, especially with Clint Capela expected to play as soon as Thursday, and James Harden showing no signs of slowing down. The Rockets have to add a few players to the roster, though with Markieff Morris heading to OKC, it will be difficult to add any to the rotation.
10. JAZZ (32-25) PRESEASON RANKING: 5
The Jazz alternated wins with blowout losses to the Blazers and Rockets heading into the break, never quite getting traction to make a move. Some of that could be because Donovan Mitchell is less efficient than last season but every bit as vital to their offense. Still, the defense remains outstanding and the Jazz don't seem to ever lose to a lottery team. They come out of the break with four of five games against playoff contenders — the Thunder, Clippers, Nuggets and Bucks, with the other game against the Mavericks in the second half of a back-to-back.
11. PACERS (38-20) PRESEASON RANKING: 9
It was easy to write off the Pacers after Victor Oladipo's injury and a four-game losing streak. But the Pacers have won six of seven games, still play outstanding defense and still have some reliable scorers in Bojan Bogdanovic with Domantis Sabonis off the bench. Darren Collison, Cory Joseph and Tyreke Evans have stepped up since Oladipo's injury. And the Pacers come out of the break with six games against teams that are not in playoff position.
12. KINGS (30-27) PRESEASON RANKING: 24
More surprising development? The Kings could beat out the Los Angeles LeBrons for a playoff spot or the Kings did a nice job at the trade deadline? While the backcourt of De'Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield drives the Kings (and both could be strong Most Improved Player choices if not for Pascal Siakam), the addition of Harrison Barnes should fit very nicely. The Kings could be a playoff team for the first time since Rick Adelman was their coach.
13. SPURS (33-26) PRESEASON RANKING: 13
The Spurs struggled to start the annual rodeo road trip — which really should be considered two trips because it is always cleaved by the All-Star break —before eking out a win in Memphis. The Spurs’ defense really does need the return of Derrick White, which is saying something about how shaky the defense has been. But DeMar DeRozan gets to go back to Toronto next week, so things could get very interesting down the stretch.
14. NETS (30-29) PRESEASON RANKING: 25
The Nets have struggled a bit, losing six of nine heading into the break. But they remain a team on the rise, with Caris LeVert back from his injury, DeAngelo Russell is an All-Star and Joe Harris won't be overlooked after being in the 3-point contest spotlight. The All-Star break might be just what the Nets needed to get back on track from their team-wide shooting slump.
15. CLIPPERS (32-27) PRESEASON RANKING: 17
The case could be made that they would be better served to be in the lottery and to keep their first-round pick, better arming themselves for free agent shopping or a trade for Anthony Davis. But the Clippers have spent the season winning more than expected while retooling. The trade of Tobias Harris, bringing in sharp-shooter Landry Shamet, could be the latest example. The additions of JaMychal Green, Garrett Temple, Wilson Chandler and Ivica Zubac were nice, unheralded moves that could keep the Clippers, for better or worse, winning.
16. TIMBERWOLVES (27-30) PRESEASON RANKING: 14
The Wolves seemed to be fading before stunning the Clippers and Rockets, but they still are still a powerful offensive team when healthy. They finally got Jeff Teague and Derrick Rose on the floor together. The move of Dario Saric into the starting lineup has opened things up nicely. If Robert Covington comes back, the Wolves could have a pretty complete rotation. Oh, and Andrew Wiggins is still around somewhere.
17. PELICANS (26-33) PRESEASON RANKING: 10
As much as Anthony Davis’ trade request and the NBA’s insistence that New Orleans keep trotting him out there have made a mess of the season, the other Pelicans have played with something to prove, as the Rockets and Thunder have seen up close. Jahlil Okafor might have resurrected his career. Julius Randle can always put the ball in the basket. Jrue Holiday remains an All-Star level player on both ends.
18. LAKERS (28-29) PRESEASON RANKING: 11
The Lakers have the worst record at the All-Star break of any team ever with LeBron James. They got a feel-good win in Boston on Rajon Rondo’s loose-ball buzzer beater but crawled into the break with losses in eight of 11 games and many hurt feelings after the botched trade talks with the Pelicans. The break could help the young Lakers to get over it, but for now, the LeBrons are looking up at the Kings.
19. HORNETS (27-30) PRESEASON RANKING: 20
The fighting Kembas seemed to have grown weary of the road as they got out of town to make room for the assorted All-Star shows. But though they will return barely clinging to a playoff spot, they are 19-9 at Spectrum Center, where they play eight of their next nine games. Kemba Walker has scored at least 30 in five of his last six games.
20. PISTONS (26-30) PRESEASON RANKING: 21
The Eastern Conference has more teams fighting for that last playoff spot than there are declared 2020 presidential candidates. The Pistons won four of five games heading to the break to join the crowded field without even making a trip to Iowa. Andre Drummond is taking off, making a strong case as the most deserving non-All-Star in the East.
21. MAGIC (27-32) PRESEASON RANKING: 29
The Magic have made a stealth run at a playoff spot, winning five straight. Jonathan Isaac has been coming on, Nikola Vucevic is an AllStar and Markelle Fultz is a nice buy-low move at the trade deadline that drew more attention to the team that gave up on him after making him the first pick of the draft than the team that got him.
22. HEAT (26-30) PRESEASON RANKING: 19
Dwyane Wade’s last dance will provide a good distraction, but the Heat are in the thick of the race for the final playoff spot. Josh Richardson's 37 points against the Warriors might have been a nice torch-passing moment had the Heat finished off the win.
23. MAVERICKS (26-31) PRESEASON RANKING: 23
The Mavs are the happiest struggling team in the league and with good reason: the joyful success of Luka Doncic, the addition of Kristaps Porzingis for next season and the loads of cap space to fill on a team on the rise.
24. WASHINGTON (24-34) PRESEASON RANKING: 16
Though people will blame the Rockets' defensive issues on the departure of Trevor Ariza three years after he has retired, the Wizards, like the Suns before them, have found that he was not the stopper to merit that reputation, with the stats starting to make the rounds.
25. GRIZZLIES (23-36) PRESEASON RANKING: 18
As if he has not done enough, Mike Conley will be asked to turn out the lights when he leaves. The Grizzlies were ready to clean house and did free Marc Gasol, but Conley remained to — let’s see, the line is help Jaren Jackson Jr. grow. OK. Couldn't the triumphant return of Chandler Parsons do that? Meanwhile, Avery Bradley scored 33 points the other night, screwing up the hopes of teams looking for him to join the buyout market.
26. HAWKS (19-39) PRESEASON RANKING: 30
The Hawks have quietly showed signs that they are building something, as long as no one checked out the final game before the break, which judging from the crowd in State Farm Arena, few did.
27. BULLS (14-44) PRESEASON RANKING: 27
The most fitting finish for this awful season would be for the Bulls to finish with the fourth-worst record and one spot from an equal lottery chance at Zion Williamson.
28. SUNS (11-48) PRESEASON RANKING: 26
The Suns have lost 15 straight, but the trade for Tyler Johnson finally gave them a kind of, sort of point guard next to Devin Booker.
29. CAVALIERS (12-46) PRESEASON RANKING: 22
If the Cavs can do anything in their LeBron-less years, it’s win lotteries. When they do, they have taken Kyrie Irving, used the pick (Andrew Wiggins) to get Kevin Love and taken Anthony Bennett.
30. KNICKS (11-47) PRESEASON RANKING: 28
The Knicks are not trying to win, preferring to check out Dennis Smith Jr. while waiting for the lottery and free agency when this time, unlike all the other times, everything will turn around.