NBA Top 10: March 14
This season has more parity than ever in the NBA, making it hard to project what teams are at the top.
Here are the top 10 teams in the league right now as we head into the final month of the regular season.
1. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have the best record in the NBA, despite its top three players, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday missing some games throughout the season.
They are dominant defensively, and their offense is good enough with Antetokounmpo to win another NBA Finals this season.
2. Sacramento Kings
It’s been a long time since Sacramento has even been to the playoffs, but now the team finds itself in a position to potentially come out of the wide-open Western Conference.
Their starting five has the most minutes played together, building a chemistry all season long that will be important for a playoff run.
The team is young, but their explosive offense makes this team a legitimate threat.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid has been on an absolute tear as of late, pushing this Sixers team ahead right before the playoffs.
The top-tier talent of Embiid and Harden can carry this team to that elite level, and with an improved bench, this may be the best chance yet for the 76ers to get past the second round.
4. Boston Celtics
The Celtics have been a juggernaut for most of the season, but they are starting to look vulnerable.
They are 5-5 in their last 10 games and seem to be figuring out the tail end of their rotation before the playoffs.
5. Denver Nuggets
Denver is another team currently in a rough patch, riding a four-game losing streak.
Nikola Jokić is still playing like his elite self, but the team’s defense has been worse than usual.
The offense is as good as any, but the defense has been a concern all season, and right now teams are exploiting that weakness.
6. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have been wildly inconsistent throughout the season, but the key pieces they acquired at the trade deadline have stabilized the roster and given the team a fresh new look.
The key for this team will be having James and Anthony Davis healthy, because if so, they have just as good a chance as any in the Western Conference to make the finals.
7. New York Knicks
Head coach Tom Thibodeau narrowed down the rotation in December, and the result has done wonders for the team.
Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson lead the way for New York, but the players and culture around them have created a tough matchup for any team in the playoffs.
8. Golden State Warriors
The reigning champions at home are one of the best teams in the league, but their 7-26 record on the road is a major red flag.
The team is still missing Andrew Wiggins who is dealing with a personal matter, but if he can return for the playoffs, the Warriors may just win the NBA finals for the second straight year.
9. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are tied for the second seed in the Western Conference, but their team has fallen apart over the last month.
With Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke suffering from injuries and Ja Morant getting suspended, Memphis has lost its momentum right before the playoffs.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs have one of the most balanced teams, with Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt and Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley in the frontcourt.
They have multiple options to lead the team on any given night and a solid defense.
This team can be pretty hot or cold at times, and their bench has dipped from the beginning of the season, but this young team is poised to make a deep run.
Christopher Reynolds is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at clr5971@psu.edu.
