30 Words for 30 Teams: Raptors claw to No. 2 in NBA Power Rankings
Welcome to theScore's biweekly NBA Power Rankings, where you'll find roughly 30 words on all 30 teams every other Tuesday throughout the season.
1. Houston Rockets
The Rockets have won 22 of 23, own a top-eight defense to go with the most efficient offense of all time, and have built a 3.5-game lead over the banged-up Warriors. Why not Houston? - Joseph Casciaro
2. Toronto Raptors
Sunday's loss to OKC was Toronto's first defeat by more than six points since December, a big reason why they own the best point differential by an Eastern Conference team in nine years. - Casciaro
3. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors' injury report resembles the call sheet for extras on "The Walking Dead"; everyone is in some state of disrepair, and yet the Zombie Dubs continue their march toward a likely postseason showdown with Houston.
- Andrew Potter
4. Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers are far and away the hottest team in the league. Their 13-game win streak faces its toughest test Tuesday, though, with the Rockets in town. - Jonathan Soveta
5. Utah Jazz
Utah's 22-4 since Rudy Gobert returned to the lineup, with wins over the Raptors, Warriors, Spurs (twice), Pelicans (twice), Blazers, Timberwolves, and Pacers during that stretch. - Casciaro
6. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder have won all six games Corey Brewer has started. They're two games back from the third seed but just 2.5 up on the eighth seed. Such is life for the Western Conference's middle class. - Potter
7. Boston Celtics
Don't be fooled by the Celtics' mini slump. With the second seed locked up, they can trade some losses for extra rest for Kyrie Irving and Jaylen Brown.
- Soveta
8. Philadelphia 76ers
Ben Simmons is hitting another gear at the perfect time. He now has at least a double-double in six of his last eight, including three triple-doubles. - Soveta
9. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs were already frustratingly inconsistent this season, but now they'll have to manage without head coach Ty Lue down the final stretch. At least Kevin Love's back. - Soveta
10. San Antonio Spurs
Since falling out of the playoff picture last Monday, San Antonio's won four straight to catapult back to fifth, with LaMarcus Aldridge averaging 30 points and nine rebounds during that streak. - Casciaro
11. New Orleans Pelicans
As impressive as it is to see him try, Anthony Davis can't will the Pelicans to a top seed. After reaching as high as fourth, New Orleans sits precariously in seventh. - Soveta
12. Washington Wizards
With John Wall nearing a return, it's worth remembering that Washington outscores opponents by a whopping 17.7 points per 100 possessions when using their Wall-Beal-Oubre-Porter-Gortat lineup. - Casciaro
13. Indiana Pacers
No matter what happens in the playoffs, the Pacers have ensured at least a .500 record the season after trading four-time All-Star Paul George. Victor Oladipo and Myles Turner make an exciting one-two punch. - Potter
14. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Butler-less Wolves have slipped to eighth, but they're two games clear of ninth, and nine of their final 11 games either come at home or against a losing team. The Drought should end in a few weeks. - Casciaro
15. Los Angeles Clippers
Thanks to three straight losses this week and a surging Jazz team, the Clippers' playoff hopes could fade to black in the coming days. - Soveta
16. Miami Heat
The Heat are nothing if not steady, but they're still the team the East's top seeds want to face in the playoffs. Dwyane Wade's return is fun, but Miami lacks a go-to threat capable of taking over a series. - Potter
17. Los Angeles Lakers
After a dalliance with winning prompted some dark-horse playoff potential, the Lakers are on the cusp of elimination. Julius Randle has averaged 21.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists since Feb. 14. - Potter
18. Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic's defense has come under fire, but the team is undoubtedly better with him on the floor, with his lineups outscoring opponents by 10.1 points per 100 possessions over the past seven games. - Potter
19. Milwaukee Bucks
Is there a more disappointing playoff team than the Bucks? Milwaukee's in eighth with a negative point differential, despite career years from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, the acquisition of Eric Bledsoe, and the return of Jabari Parker. - Casciaro
20. Charlotte Hornets
The only thing Charlotte has left to play in another lost season is spoiler, as five of their final seven games come against the Cavs, Sixers, Wizards, and Pacers (twice). - Casciaro
21. Detroit Pistons
The Blake Griffin experiment hasn't developed how the Pistons hoped. With only 12 games left, Detroit sits six games out of the playoff race. - Soveta
22. New York Knicks
Even with Kristaps Porzingis shelved since February, the Knicks have come too late to the tanking race. Despite a 1-15 cratering in their last 16 games, they only boast the ninth-best odds of winning the draft lottery. - Potter
23. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls just can't win, even when they're trying not to. They had to be warned to play their veterans, making their tanking race that much harder.
- Soveta
24. Brooklyn Nets
A once bleak future in Brooklyn now holds some promise thanks to D'Angelo Russell's recent stretch. He's helping fans forget that whole "not having their own pick" thing. - Soveta
25. Dallas Mavericks
Issues on and off the court have marred the Mavericks' season, though at least a near-40-year-old Dirk Nowitzki can turn back the clock every now and then.
- Soveta
26. Sacramento Kings
Buddy Hield is quietly giving Kings fans some optimism. In his last four games (three of them off the bench), he averaged 22.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and five assists. - Soveta
27. Orlando Magic
Unless they finish 8-4 or better, the Magic will have a worse record than the previous season for the second straight year. D.J. Augustin leads the team in win shares with 3.4. This is fine. - Potter
28. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are racing to the bottom, but don't sleep on second-year forward Taurean Prince, who has scored 38 points twice in the past two weeks. - Potter
29. Memphis Grizzlies
Marc Gasol averaged 17.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists during the Grizzlies' 19-game losing streak. In related news, Arizona freshman DeAndre Ayton declared for the 2018 NBA Draft. - Potter
30. Phoenix Suns
In a perfect encapsulation of their season, the Suns now own the worst offensive rating (101.2) and defensive rating (110.8) in the league, edging out the Kings on both fronts. - Soveta
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)