NBA energy rankings 2024-25: Cavaliers, Celtics, Thunder are high three groups everybody else is chasing

The previous couple of weeks have solidified that we’ve three clear title contenders, and each different crew close to the highest is simply attempting to show they’ve an opportunity in opposition to that trio.

TRUE TITLE CONTENDERS

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (55-10, Final Week No. 1). When the Cavaliers beat the Celtics, we noticed on the finish of the sport one thing Kenny Atkinson has been experimenting with: Lineups with De’Andre Hunter on the 4 and Evan Mobley at middle, whereas Jarrett Allen sits on the bench. Hunter can play the three subsequent to Mobley and Allen (and people lineups have a +16.5 web score however in simply 21 minutes), however greater than that, Hunter provides the chance for versatility relying on the matchup. Lineups with Max Strus on the three, Hunter on the 4 and Mobley on the 5 have a +17.5 web score, however in restricted minutes. That versatility is one purpose the Cavaliers have gained 15 in a row and why they’re a official title contender — they will match up with anybody.

2. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (53-12, LW 2). It nonetheless seems to be just a bit off and clunky to the bare eye, however the Thunder’s two-big lineup with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein have a +12.5 web score thus far (in non-garbage time, stats through Cleansing the Glass). It may be very effecive in opposition to sure lineups, for instance on Sunday vs. Denver, it was a 57.9 web score in 18 minutes. Small pattern measurement, however that is working. Coach Mark Daigneault has to play the duo collectively extra over the season’s remaining 5 weeks to allow them to construct chemistry, however it’s already working. Additionally, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander helped make his MVP case final weekend.

3. Boston Celtics (47-18, LW 3). Jayson Tatum tends to be an afterthought within the MVP race — we take how properly he performs as a right. In a sport Sunday in opposition to the Lakers, LeBron James and Luka Doncic appeared to attract all the eye main into the published, and Jayson Tatum was the most effective participant on the courtroom. He dropped 40 factors with eight rebounds, performed high-level protection and helped lead his crew to a win. Tatum is not going to win the MVP, however he must be greater than the afterthought he has been within the race.

SECOND TIER CONTENDERS

4. Golden State Warriors (37-28, LW 5). Golden State will get an infusion of athleticism on Thursday with the return of Jonathan Kuminga to the lineup. He is been out since Jan. 4 with a nasty sprained ankle. The problem for Steve Kerr: Kuminga and Jimmy Butler have performed greater than half of their minutes this season on the 4, and that is Draymond Inexperienced’s pure place if we wish to throw him within the combine. Kerr has a puzzle to determine. The Warriors are 2-0 on their present homestand however issues get harder this week with the Knicks, Nuggets and Bucks coming to city.

5. Denver Nuggets (42-23, LW 6). Nikola Jokic is enjoying “the most effective basketball of my life” and simply helped lead Denver to a break up of video games in Oklahoma Metropolis (serving to his MVP case alongside the way in which), however he is doing it whereas enjoying by means of a collection of smaller accidents (elbow, ankle). If Denver goes to make a deep playoff run, they want to ensure he — plus Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon — are as wholesome as doable for the postseason. There are robust checks this week in opposition to the Timberwolves, shorthanded Lakers, and Warriors.

6. Los Angeles Lakers (40-23, LW 4). Los Angeles shouldn’t be the identical crew with out the protection and glue to the offense that LeBron James brings — they misplaced to the tanking Nets with out him — and this week face a troublesome schedule whereas shorthanded with the Bucks, Nuggets and resurgent Suns on the docket. LeBron is probably going out a few weeks, and whereas he’ll push to get again the Lakers must ensure that groin pressure is absolutely healed as a result of in a deep West it can not linger into the postseason in the event that they wish to make a run.

PLAYOFFS OR BUST

7. New York Knicks (41-23, LW 7). In two video games with out Jalen Brunson, the Knicks offense struggled in opposition to a very good Clippers protection however put up 130 in opposition to a mediocre Kings protection (sixteenth within the NBA this season). Anticipate extra of that up-and-down efficiency within the coming weeks whereas the Knicks work by means of a road-heavy portion of the schedule (they’re 1-2 on this street journey thus far with 4-of-5 forward away from Manhattan). Like the 2 groups above them on this checklist, the Knicks want to attend out so long as it takes with Brunson’s ankle to ensure he’s proper with the playoffs, even when which means he is out for many of the remainder of the common season.

8. Memphis Grizzlies (41-34, LW 10). Memphis has gone 3-1 since Ja Morant rejoined the lineup — he and Desmond Bane have began to seek out an offensive rhythm collectively. Nevertheless (and persevering with the well being theme of this NBA Energy Rankings), the Grizzlies must get Jaren Jackson Jr. again wholesome from his sprained ankle to make a critical postseason run. Good check Friday evening in opposition to the Cavaliers.

9. Detroit Pistons (37-29, LW 9). Shaq is probably not watching them — which speaks to a key concern with a few of the greatest analysts/ambassadors of the NBA — however the Pistons are the most effective story within the NBA and now have a top-10 protection on the season, a protection that’s No. 1 within the league over the previous 15 video games. J.B. Bickerstaff — he’s the coach in Detroit, Shaq — deserves lots of credit score for that and can get some Coach of the Yr votes for it. Detroit is tied with the Bucks and Pacers for the 4/5/6 seeds within the East, however the Pistons have the hardest remaining schedule of these groups.

10. Indiana Pacers (36-28, LW 8). Tyrese Haliburton missed three video games, the Pacers dropped all three. He comes again and hits the shot of the yr to beat the Bucks — that’s how a lot Haliburton and his well being matter to this crew. Talking for hoops followers all over the place, a Bucks vs. Pacers first-round collection — with everybody wholesome — could be must-watch tv.

11. Milwaukee Bucks (36-28, LW 12). Milwaukee is 5 video games behind the Knicks for the No. 3 seed with 18 to play, is that an excessive amount of floor to make up? Most likely, particularly in the event that they lose video games just like the one Tuesday to Indiana (the Bucks get a rematch at dwelling Saturday). The fact for Milwaukee is this can be a good crew led by an elite participant in Giannis Antetokounmpo, however they do not strike any concern within the hearts of the highest groups within the league. Perhaps they will change that Sunday once they host the Thunder and have an opportunity at a signature win.

12. Houston Rockets (40-25, LW 13). Fred Van Vleet is ready to return this week, perhaps as early as tonight (Wednesday). VanVleet has missed 16 of the Rockets’ earlier 17 video games resulting from a proper ankle pressure, and greater than his g 14.4 factors and 5.8 assists a sport, they’ve missed him as a ground normal. How VanVleet performs the remainder of this season and particularly within the playoffs might have a bearing n his future — Houston has a $44.9 million crew choice for him subsequent season and there will probably be lots of groups with their eye on that state of affairs.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves (37-29, LW 14). I’ve been among the many crowd saying how a lot better Minnesota’s offense seems to be with the attention check with Naz Reid enjoying and fewer Julius Randle. Nevertheless, within the final 10 video games Randle has performed the Timberwolves are 10-0 and he’s averaged 17.9 factors, 7 rebounds and 5.5 assists an evening. It’s time to confess he makes this crew higher, even when the match shouldn’t be seamless. Minnesota has gained 5 straight however faces a very good measuring stick sport Wednesday evening vs. Denver.

14. Los Angeles Clippers (35-30, LW 15). Stat of the day from the must-read for Clippers followers Justin Russo: Since Feb. 1, no crew within the NBA has allowed fewer wide-open three-point makes an attempt per sport than the LA Clippers (14.1). Opponents are taking pictures 42.5% on them. Since Feb. 1, no NBA crew has seen opponents shoot 45% or higher on threes greater than the Clippers (5 instances). So, dangerous taking pictures luck performs into the Clippers going 3-4 of their final seven. Los Angeles has a 1.5-game lead over the Kings for the No. 8 seed within the West and has a better schedule the remainder of the way in which.

15. Sacramento Kings (33-31, LW 11). One of many issues that bought Mike Brown fired was the Kings’ struggles in clutch conditions this season. It was one of many issues that modified when Doug Christie first took over, however how have issues been going? The Kings are 11-10 with a +5.1 web score in clutch video games (inside 5 factors within the remaining 5 minutes) because the teaching change. Make {that a} three-point sport within the remaining three minutes, and the Kings are 9-8. The Kings want some clutch wins now, having dropped 3-of-4 as they battle for play-in positioning. It is a robust stretch of video games this week, however the large one is in Phoenix on Friday evening (the second evening of a back-to-back), a sport in opposition to one other crew combating for a West play-in slot.

16. Atlanta Hawks (31-34, LW 19). Atlanta has a reasonably agency grip on the No. 7 seed within the East and desires to carry onto it — making up 5.5 video games on the Pistons for the No. 6 seed shouldn’t be taking place, however Atlanta is simply 1.5 video games above the No. 9 seed (and a a lot harder rout out of the play-in). The Hawks have gained 4-of-5 (profiting from the Pacers with out Haliburton) and must hold it going this week with winnable video games in opposition to the Hornets (2x), Nets and Clippers.

17. Miami Warmth (29-35, LW 16). Miami is 4-7 because the All-Star break (with a +1 web score) and has dropped to ninth within the East. Watch them play and the thought of a kind of basic Warmth postseason runs appears unattainable, which begins to shift the main focus towards subsequent season. Miami is anticipated to attempt to commerce for Kevin Durant subsequent summer season, however is he the No. 1 choice they want subsequent to Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, or is it time for the Warmth to assume long term (not how the franchise often operates)?

18. Orlando Magic (30-36, LW 17). Orlando is 10-21 this season within the video games Jalen Suggs has missed, and whereas there’s noise in that stat (Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner missed a few of these video games as properly), it reveals how a lot the offense struggles to create photographs when Suggs shouldn’t be within the rotation. And he will not be for the remainder of the season following knee surgical procedure. Orlando and Miami are tied for the 8/9 seeds within the East however that is a vital distinction, the Magic want wins to seize the No. 8 seed and a better path out of the play-in. The Magic are 1-1 on their present street journey and go to the Pelicans, Timberwolves and Cavaliers subsequent.

PLAY IN HOPEFULS

19. Phoenix Suns (30-35, LW 21). With the banged up and struggling Mavericks opening the door to the play-in, the Suns have performed lately with an urgency seemingly missing a lot of the season. That mentioned, Phoenix remains to be 3-3 in its final six. The issue is identical one Phoenix has had all season: Their protection is twenty fifth within the league over these six video games (twenty seventh for the complete season). As nice as Kevin Durant and Devin Booker could be, no crew is successful a lot with that protection. The Suns are 2.5 video games out of the play-in with 17 to play, they usually have a few close to must-win video games on the schedule this week: the Kings, then Sunday on the banged-up Lakers, and eventually the Raptors on Monday.

20. Dallas Mavericks (33-33, LW 18). Ought to Dallas push Anthony Davis (adductor pressure) and Dereck Full of life II (proper ankle stress fracture) to get again on the courtroom for a postseason push, or simply write the season off (I’m within the write it off camp). Regardless of barely rolling out the league minimal 8 gamers for video games this week, the Mavericks snapped their five-game shedding streak because of the struggling Spurs (these groups face off once more Wednesday). The Spurs even have a really winnable sport Sunday in opposition to what’s left of the 76ers.

21. Chicago Bulls (27-38, LW 22). In 9 video games because the All-Star break, Josh Giddey had discovered a rhythm and averaged 23.1 factors a sport taking pictures 52.5% from 3 whereas grabbing 10.9 rebounds and doling out 8.4 assists an evening. Which is why it was harsh to see him limping off the courtroom with a sprained ankle and coach Billy Donovan saying he will probably be “out for a little bit bit.” Giddey is a restricted free agent this summer season, is he within the long-term plans for the Bulls and, if that’s the case, what are they keen to pay to maintain him? He’ll be one of many extra attention-grabbing tales of the offseason.

CAPTURE THE (COOPER) FLAGG

22. Portland Path Blazers (28-38, LW 20). Losers of 4 straight (in opposition to high quality groups) and now 5.5 video games out of the ultimate play-in spot, we will write off the Path Blazers as a postseason crew. Nonetheless, there are positives. Rookie middle Donovan Clingan has proven promise, if he can enhance his conditioning and restrict foul hassle his position will develop. Additionally, defensive wing Matisse Thybulle is ready to return to the rotation.

23. Toronto Raptors (22-43, LW 23). There are causes for concern in Toronto: The offense hasn’t appeared nice even when Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes are on the courtroom collectively. Additionally, Barnes has solely been taking pictures 24.1% from 3 because the All-Star break. Nonetheless, this can be a crew tanking proper now and waiting for when Brandon Ingram joins the rotation subsequent season, so do not learn an excessive amount of into the struggles now.

24. Philadelphia 76ers (22-42, LW 25). Philadelphia’s decide on this yr’s draft is top-six protected, however the 76ers would have the seventh-worst file within the league proper now, heading into the lottery. Do not anticipate to see Paul George or Tyrese Maxey once more this season as Philly tries to fall behind Toronto and Brooklyn within the standings. That makes Wednesday’s tank-off sport in opposition to Toronto attention-grabbing. Beginning Sunday, the Sixers head out on a six-game street journey.

25. New Orleans Pelicans (18-48, LW 24). Tune into Pelicans video games proper now since you wish to see how good Trey Murphy could be (and focus on how a lot they need to characteristic him subsequent season) and a Zion Williamson triple-double.

26. San Antonio Spurs (26-37, LW 26). The one query left for the Spurs this season: Will De’Aaron Fox have surgical procedure on his injured left pinky finger? He mentioned he plans to have it evaluated whereas in Los Angeles subsequent week when the Spurs play the Lakers, and if he has surgical procedure, he will probably be shut down for the season (which suggests extra Stephon Fortress with the ball in his arms, not a foul factor for the rookie).

27. Brooklyn Nets (22-43, LW 27). The Nets are getting wholesome, which suggests even when D’Angelo Russell has an off evening like he did Monday, his teammates can step up and get him some revenge with clutch performs to beat the Lakers.

28. Charlotte Hornets (16-48, LW 30). The Hornets have gained two in a row, placing their means to carry on to one of many three worst information within the league (and have a 14% probability on the No. 1 decide) in a little bit of jeopardy. New Orleans is only one sport forward of Charlotte because the No. 4 seed and will fall behind a sizzling Hornets crew. Which makes you marvel if the Hornets will sit LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges quickly.

29. Washington Wizards (13-51, LW 29). Washington had gone on a little bit run, successful 4-of-6, till dropping their two most up-to-date video games. And now Bilal Coulibaly might miss time with a proper hip contusion after a nasty fall. Six of the Wizards’ subsequent eight video games are on the street.

30. Utah Jazz (15-50, LW 28). The Jazz are doing precisely what administration hopes: Exhibiting some progress and growth on the courtroom, however they’ve misplaced six in a row and 10-of-12, retaining them one of many groups with the three worst information heading into the NBA Draft lottery.