February brought us, for the most part, awful basketball. Thankfully, it's over, and we're seven weeks away from playoff basketball. Gird your loins.
1. Atlanta Hawks (47-12)
(Last Week: 3; Playoffs: 100%)
After a perfect week, no team's won more games than the Hawks.
2. Golden State Warriors (46-12)
(Last Week: 1; Playoffs: 100%)
Steph Curry can dummy guys from his knees. It's remarkable, really.
3. Memphis Grizzlies (42-16)
(Last Week: 2; Playoffs: 100%)
The Grizzlies had a negative net rating (-0.8) in February and won seven of 11 games.
4. Houston Rockets (41-18)
(Last Week: 5; Playoffs: 100%)
That's some good social media-ing:
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (37-24)
(Last Week: 4; Playoffs: 100%)
The Cavaliers' odds to win the title are 4.43 percent. Congratulations, Cleveland.
6. Los Angeles Clippers (40-21)
(Last Week: 8; Playoffs: 100%)
Required reading: "DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul Are Saving the Clippers' Season."
7. Dallas Mavericks (40-22)
(Last Week: 6; Playoffs: 99.89%)
Rajon Rondo is shooting 31.1 percent form the free-throw line.
8. Portland Trail Blazers
(39-19)
(Last Week: 10; Playoffs: 100%)
They're back. And I couldn't be happier about it.
9. Oklahoma City Thunder
(33-27)
(Last Week: 11; Playoffs: 75.84%)
Russell Westbrook's on Michael Jordan's level.
10. Chicago Bulls (37-23)
(Last Week: 9; Playoffs: 100%)
They took Jimmy, too. There remains no justice in this world.
11. Toronto Raptors (38-22)
(Last Week: 7; Playoffs: 100%)
You can't lose to the Knicks and not drop. There are rules.
12. San Antonio Spurs (36-23)
(Last Week: 12; Playoffs: 98.32%)
The Spurs have had one losing streak of five games in The Tim Duncan Era. Crazy.
13. Milwaukee Bucks (32-27)
(Last Week: 13; Playoffs: 100%)
When does my surprise at the Bucks' success end? Not yet, apparently.
14. Washington Wizards (34-26)
(Last Week: 14; Playoffs: 100%)
Three wins in 12 games in February, along with the league's fifth-worst net rating during the month. I'm worried.
15. Indiana Pacers (25-34)
(Last Week: 19; Playoffs: 56%)
Playoffs!!!1
16. New Orleans Pelicans
(32-28)
(Last Week: 15; Playoffs: 22.3%)
Perhaps there's more to the Pelicans than Anthony Davis ...
17. Miami Heat (26-33)
(Last Wek: 16; Playoffs: 46.2%)
The new Big Three: Hassan Whiteside, Henry Walker, and Michael Beasley.
18. Phoenix Suns (31-30)
(Last Week: 17; Playoffs: 3.7%)
Only two-and-a-half games out, so why does it feel so bleak?
19. Brooklyn Nets (25-33)
(Last Week: 18; Playoffs: 39.9%)
One-possession game, 30 seconds to go, you put the ball in Jarrett Jack's hands. Obviously.
20. Boston Celtics (23-34)
(Last Week: 22; Playoffs: 21.2%)
They almost beat the Warriors, and that's enough for a two-spot jump.
21. Charlotte Hornets (24-33)
(Last Week: 21; Playoffs: 25.7%)
Eighth-best defense in the league. That's got to count for something, dammit.
22. Utah Jazz (23-35)
(Last Week: 24; Playoffs: 0%)
The Jazz and Bucks were tied for the league's best defensive rating (97) in February. The Jazz!
23. Detroit Pistons (23-36)
(Last Week: 20; Playoffs: 11.1%)
Still alive, and who would have thought that three months ago?
24. Orlando Magic (19-42)
(Last Week: 26; Playoffs: 0%)
The Magic move up two spots because the 76ers, Kings, T-wolves, Lakers, Nuggets - especially the Nuggets - and Knicks are pathetic.
25. Philadelphia 76ers (13-47)
(Last Week: 25; Playoffs: 0%)
The Sixers went 1-5 in The JaVale McGee Era. Always remember.
26. Sacramento Kings (20-37)
(Last Week: 23; Playoffs: 0%)
It's way too early, but I'm beginning to think nobody can fix the Kings, not even George Karl.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves
(13-46)
(Last Week: 28; Playoffs: 0%)
Yes:
28. Los Angeles Lakers (16-42)
(Last Week: 29; Playoffs: 0%)
It's incredibly sad that Swaggy P going at an ESPN reporter for making fun of Iggy Azalea is how the Lakers make news these days.
29. Denver Nuggets (20-39)
(Last Week: 27; Playoffs: 0%)
"1-2-3 ... six weeks!" So amazing, and so damn sad. It's hard to believe Brian Shaw wasn't fired earlier.
30. New York Knicks (12-46)
(Last Week: 30; Playoffs: LOL)
Forget about this season's Knicks. Remember Anthony Mason, "Mase," who left far too soon.
- Playoff odds courtesy: Sports Club Stats.