The 140: Final NBA Power Rankings - Grading Day

The regular season is but a distant memory. Time flies when you're ranking by power. Here's the final edition of The 140: Grading Day. 

1. Golden State Warriors (67-15)
Grade: Perfect

The perfect team. As dominant a season as you will ever see in your life. Remember it. 

2. San Antonio Spurs (55-27)
Grade: A+

What you learned in 2015: They're still the Spurs. An otherworldly post All-Star break surge.  

3. Houston Rockets (56-26)
Grade: A+

Gun to my head (why would you do that?), based on what the Rockets went through this season, James Harden is the MVP. 

4. Los Angeles Clippers (56-26)
Grade: A

To do what they did without a bench is incredibly impressive. It's make-or-break time now, though. Will be fascinating to watch. 

5. Atlanta Hawks (60-22)
(Grade: A)

An uninspiring second half, but still: Greatest Hawks team of all time. 

6. Cleveland Cavaliers (53-29)
Grade: A-

Sound all the way up:

7. Memphis Grizzlies (55-27)
Grade: B

"But dismissing Memphis' chances would be foolish. If Dallas can win the title in 2010-11, so too can Memphis in 2014-15." [SB Nation]

8. Portland Trail Blazers (51-31)
Grade: B

Too many injuries, and a brutal 15-14 post All-Star break. But what's done is done. It's ...

(Courtesy: @trailblazers)

9. Dallas Mavericks (50-32)
Grade: B-

Their 3.5 Net Rating was good for eighth in the league, so why does it feel like they have no shot against the Rockets? 

10. Chicago Bulls (50-32)
Grade: B

To do what they did without Rose and Butler - they're guaranteed a second-round appearance - must be appreciated. 

11. New Orleans Pelicans (45-37)
Grade: B+

Say "Anthony Davis" and "playoffs" out loud. And "blessed." 

12. Toronto Raptors (49-33)
Grade: B-

A franchise record for wins, but a 13-16 second half killed a miraculous first half. Among playoff teams, only the Nets play worse defense. 

13. Washington Wizards (46-36)
Grade: B-

A first-round loss to the Raptors means Randy Wittman is done. So, Wiz fans, who are you rooting for?

14. Oklahoma City Thunder (45-37)
Grade: B

Russ and the 45-37 Thunder miss the dance while the Nets play on. Life is garbage sometimes. 

15. Milwaukee Bucks (41-41)
Grade: B-

Only the Warriors played better defense. Celebrate by wearing a tie, please, Jason Kidd. 

16. Boston Celtics (40-42)
Grade: B+

Teams from Boston are not allowed to miss the playoffs. Must be nice. 

17. Utah Jazz (38-44)
Grade: B-

The Jazz went 19-10 after the All-Star break with a ridiculous 94.8 Defensive Rating. The best is yet to come. 

18. Indiana Pacers (38-44)
Grade: C+

The Pacers finished with the eighth-best defense and Paul George returned and dunked. That's good enough. 

19. Phoenix Suns (39-43)
Grade: C-

It's been five years since the Suns made the playoffs. Change is coming. 

20. Brooklyn Nets (38-44)
Grade: C-

Why?

21. Miami Heat (37-45)
Grade: C

Erik Spoelstra had never missed the playoffs before. He coached until the very end, and I love him for it.

22. Philadelphia 76ers (18-64)
Grade: C

Brett Brown took a team of non-NBA players and made them the league's 12th-best defensive unit. 

23. Detroit Pistons (32-50)
Grade: C-

Josh Smith is gone. That's all that matters. 

24. Denver Nuggets (30-52)
Grade: D-

The Nuggets won 57 games in 2012-13. Think about that. 

25. Charlotte Hornets (33-49)
Grade: F

26. Sacramento Kings (29-53)
Grade: F

Thank God for closed captioning errors:

27. Orlando Magic (25-57)
Grade: D-

The Magic could have kept the Nets out of the playoffs. I'll probably never forgive them. 

28. Los Angeles Lakers (21-61)
Grade: F

Worst Lakers team of all time. History. 

29. Minnesota Timberwolves (16-66)
Grade: D

Kevin Garnett willed the Timberwolves to 12 losses in a row and the league's worst record. That's why Minny brought him home. 

30. New York Knicks (17-65)
Grade: F

The Knicks winning two of their last three to ensure they didn't finish last was Peak Knicks, and beautiful.