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Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Celtics made the wrong kind of NBA history in loss to the Knicks
The Celtics made the wrong kind of NBA history in loss to the Knicks The Boston Celtics are the most prolific 3-point shooting team we've ever seen. It's hard to argue against that if you look at the numbers. The Celtics have taken the most 3-pointers per game this season in NBA history (48.2). They've also made the most 3-pointers per game (17.8) while shooting nearly 37 percent from deep. No other team in the league's history has shot the ball this much, this well. So you can easily understand why it's not necessarily shocking that the Celtics took 60 3-pointers in Game 1 against the Knicks. What is shocking, however, is that they didn't opt to try something else, considering how things were going. LOSER BASKETBALL: The Celtics and Thunder played like losers, so they lost Boston took 60 3-pointers, which is an NBA record for 3-pointers taken in a playoff game. They also missed 45 of them, which is also a record, according to Yahoo! Sports. The Celtics missed an NBA playoff-record 45 threes 😬 — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 6, 2025 There have been 23 instances where a team attempted at least 50 3s in a playoff game The Boston Celtics attempted an NBA record SIXTY 3s And they just set the record for worst percentage (25%) out of those 23 instances, blowing a 20-point lead and losing Game 1 at home — Law Murray 🤔 (@LawMurrayTheNU) May 6, 2025 Certainly not the start to the series that the Celtics wanted to see. But the bright side is it (probably?) can't get any worse. You wouldn't expect the Celtics to take and miss this many 3-pointers again — especially with how prolific their shooters have been this season. We'll see how things go the rest of the way. This article originally appeared on For The Win: The Celtics made the wrong kind of NBA history in loss to the Knicks
New York Times
15-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
NBA Power Rankings: Celtics and Clippers surge, but Thunder still the team to beat
We have finally completed the 2024-25 regular season (1,230 games!) and almost have a complete postseason bracket. By this weekend, 16 teams will be participating in a Game 1. Before I end this season's edition of the Power Rankings, I want to hand out the final grades for the season. I did say fourth-quarter grades were coming, so don't be surprised. I will add that the fourth quarter of the NBA season tends to be the silliest. Not every team had the same priorities: Every NBA team's record in the last 20 games of the season What stands out… — Law Murray 💭🚫 (@LawMurrayTheNU) April 14, 2025 We will attempt to give a letter grade to each team, with a focus on the last five weeks of the regular season. But consideration will be given to what teams did overall this season. So, sure, a team might have backed into the playoffs. But being one of the 12 teams to avoid the Play-In Tournament and earn a seven-game series is what every team wants, especially if it retained a healthy roster. Here are the first-quarter grades, as well as the second-quarter grades. Advertisement A reminder: These Power Rankings won't just rank every team. We will retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers every week: • Top Contenders — Locked at five, these are the class of the league • In a Good Place — Could be one team, could be seven teams. • The Bubble — Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack. • Not the Tier to Fear — Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do. • Basement Floor — Bringing up the rear. Let's end the regular season with Week 25 of The Athletic's NBA Power Rankings. Records and statistics are final: Last ranking: 1 In the last week: W vs. LAL, W at PHO, W at UTA, W at NO Offensive rating: 119.2 (third) Defensive rating: 106.6 (first) First quarter: A- Second quarter: A Third quarter: A Fourth quarter: A The Thunder did it — they outscored their opponents by more points than any team in NBA history at 1,055. On average, Oklahoma City won by 13 points. Simply a powerful basketball team, and point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged only 1.9 turnovers with 7.3 assists over the last five weeks of the season. Last ranking: 3 In the last week: W at NY, L at ORL, W vs. CHA, W vs. CHA Offensive rating: 119.5 (second) Defensive rating: 110.1 (fourth) First quarter: A- Second quarter: B- Third quarter: B+ Fourth quarter: A I wanted to see if the Celtics could get to 60 wins in back-to-back seasons. They got there, winning 17 of their last 20 games, and I expect them to get out of the Eastern Conference. So there you go, Celtics fans in the comments every week. A shoutout to Luke Kornet, who averaged 3.4 offensive rebounds per game over the last quarter of the season and should play more this postseason than he did last year. Advertisement Last ranking: 2 In the last week: W vs. CHI, L at IND, W at NY, L vs. IND Offensive rating: 121.0 (first) Defensive rating: 111.8 (eighth) First quarter: A Second quarter: A Third quarter: A Fourth quarter: B+ No disrespect to the Cavaliers from me. They had an awesome season that should be sustainable given the talent and ages of their team leaders. I am very excited to see them play this postseason and to see if they can validate their performance by beating the Celtics. I believe they're good enough, but Boston's done it, while Cleveland is trying to win more postseason series this spring than it has in the previous six years combined. It does help that center Jarrett Allen has averaged 2.6 offensive rebounds per game to help Cleveland's offense a bit over the last month. Last ranking: 4 In the last week: L at OKC, W at DAL, W vs. HOU, L at POR Offensive rating: 115.0 (11th) Defensive rating: 113.8 (17th) First quarter: C+ Second quarter: C Third quarter: A Fourth quarter: C The Lakers going 18-3 going into and out of the trade deadline is what keeps them here. They were a decidedly average team outside of that stretch. The center position is a concern, as Jaxson Hayes averaged 2.7 personal fouls a game in the last five weeks, and Los Angeles slipped to 20th defensively while splitting its last 20 games. When it comes down to it, Luka Dončić is LeBron James' teammate in a side of the Western Conference bracket that will favor the Lakers getting back to the conference finals. I've seen this movie before. Last ranking: 5 In the last week: L at LAC, L at LAL, L vs. DEN Offensive rating: 114.9 (12th) Defensive rating: 110.3 (fifth) First quarter: A Second quarter: B Third quarter: C- Fourth quarter: A It's not going to get as much reaction because it took Ime Udoka two years to turn this franchise around, but it's nothing short of remarkable that the Rockets have home-court advantage through the semifinals after losing 60 games in 2022-23. The Rockets won 15 of their last 20 games, and they had a top-10 offense over the last five weeks. All-Star center Alperen Şengün led Houston's strength by averaging 3.9 offensive rebounds per game in that stretch. Now their challenge is to see how well they can compete with so many players about to make their postseason debuts against teams that have gone on deep playoff runs recently. Advertisement Last ranking: 7 In the last week: W vs. SA, W vs. HOU, W at SAC, W at GS Offensive rating: 114.3 (15th) Defensive rating: 109.4 (third) First quarter: B Second quarter: B Third quarter: C- Fourth quarter: A The Clippers ran all the way through the tape. Going back to Vinny Del Negro and Doc Rivers, the Clippers have usually done a great job finishing the regular season. But Tyronn Lue led the best finish in the history of the franchise, with the Clippers needing all 18 of the wins they got over the last 21 games to secure a playoff spot. They did it by having the best offense in basketball over the last five weeks to go with what was a top-five defense all season long. Kawhi Leonard is ready, averaging 26.5 points on 55.2 percent field goals over the last five weeks. Last ranking: 6 In the last week: W vs. WAS, W vs. CLE, L vs. ORL, W at CLE Offensive rating: 115.4 (ninth) Defensive rating: 113.3 (14th) First quarter: D Second quarter: B+ Third quarter: B Fourth quarter: A People are just not going to believe in the Pacers until they replicate what they did last year. But Indiana has been playing very well for a long time, and it won 15 of its last 20 games to get home-court advantage in the first round. Indiana had a top-10 defense in the last five weeks while making a much more concerted effort on the defensive glass. If the Pacers are going to maintain balance to go with their depth, then they can make noise again. Last ranking: 9 In the last week: L vs. BOS, L at DET, L vs. CLE, W at BRK Offensive rating: 117.3 (fifth) Defensive rating: 113.3 (13th) First quarter: B- Second quarter: B+ Third quarter: B- Fourth quarter: B- Yes, the Knicks finished with the fifth-best record in the NBA. I think these Power Rankings have expressed that I do not care. New York is not a 'best of the rest' team to me. Three teams established themselves as bona fide contenders, and New York lost all 10 games to them. A Tom Thibodeau team hasn't been to the conference finals since 2011, and Thibodeau's teams have lost as the higher seed six times, including all three of his postseasons with the Knicks. I think the Knicks had a good season, I'm just not moved in the slightest. They have this spring to present something meaningful and show that they are capable of playing their best basketball against the teams that matter most. I do like that OG Anunoby is healthy and finished the season averaging 1.9 steals over the last five weeks. Advertisement Last ranking: 10 In the last week: L at MIL, W at MEM, W vs. BRK, W vs. UTA Offensive rating: 115.7 (eighth) Defensive rating: 110.8 (sixth) First quarter: C- Second quarter: B Third quarter: C+ Fourth quarter: A Minnesota had a thoroughly wretched meltdown in Wisconsin to remind everyone how difficult it is to trust the Timberwolves. But even including that, the Timberwolves won 16 of their last 20 games to secure a playoff berth, and they have performed well on both ends of the floor. Minnesota is another team benefiting from a center actively pursuing extra chances, with Rudy Gobert averaging 4.3 offensive rebounds per game in the last five weeks. The Timberwolves are the only team outside of the Thunder, Celtics and Cavaliers that had a top-10 offense and defense for the season. Too bad they drew the Lakers to start the postseason. Last ranking: 11 In the last week: W vs. MIN, W vs. NO, W at DET, W vs. DET Offensive rating: 115.1 (10th) Defensive rating: 112.7 (12th) First quarter: C Second quarter: B+ Third quarter: B- Fourth quarter: B You remember what I said about the Clippers having a history of being hot going into the playoffs? Well, of course Doc Rivers had the Bucks on an eight-game winning streak to end the regular season. Again, I've seen it before! And that also means that I've seen a Rivers team be short-handed entering the playoffs. We'll see if Damian Lillard can suit up after being stricken with deep vein thrombosis in his calf. At least Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy, putting up back-to-back Eastern Conference Player of the Week performances while getting 11.3 free-throw attempts per game over the last five weeks. Last ranking: 13 In the last week: W at SAC, W vs. MEM, W at HOU Offensive rating: 118.9 (fourth) Defensive rating: 115.1 (21st) Advertisement First quarter: C Second quarter: B+ Third quarter: B Fourth quarter: C Last week's Power Rankings came out with me being as low on the Nuggets as I was all season, and then Denver made a shocking and relatively unprecedented coaching change. Interim coach David Adelman has been steady, leading the Nuggets to their first three-game winning streak since the nine-game streak Denver went on that included zero wins over teams that finished with a winning record. This is still a bottom-10 defense asking Nikola Jokić to give Herculean efforts. Jokić ended his MVP push by averaging 33.5 points and 8.8 free-throw attempts per game over the last five weeks. Last ranking: 12 In the last week: W vs. NY, L vs. MIL, L at MIL Offensive rating: 114.6 (14th) Defensive rating: 112.5 (10th) First quarter: C- Second quarter: B+ Third quarter: B+ Fourth quarter: C Detroit isn't exactly playing its best basketball going into the playoffs, but what a sentence that even is. The Pistons were able to go from 68 losses to the comfort zone that Vanessa Williams introduced right before the 1991-92 season, which was the last time the Pistons played the Knicks in the playoffs. The Pistons went 3-14 against the Cavaliers, Celtics, Pacers and Bucks this season. But they went 3-1 against the Knicks, and coach J.B. Bickerstaff probably has a chip on his shoulder after how the 2023 postseason went against New York. The only way the Pistons will survive this matchup is if they clean up the fouls. The Pistons were a top-10 defense this season, but going into Madison Square Garden while having the third-worst free-throw attempt rate allowed over the last five weeks isn't going to cut it. Last ranking: 8 In the last week: W at PHO, L vs. SA, W at POR, L vs. LAC Offensive rating: 114.2 (16th) Defensive rating: 111.0 (seventh) First quarter: B+ Second quarter: D Third quarter: B+ Fourth quarter: B Advertisement For the third time in five seasons, the Warriors are in the Play-In Tournament. It's a jarring result after the Warriors debuted Jimmy Butler and won 21 of 26 games. But Stephen Curry got locked up by the Rockets, Harrison Barnes called game, and James Harden packed them up, all at Chase Center. Butler averaged 2.0 steals per game for what was a top-five defense over the last five weeks. But the Warriors have some things to figure out, and now they'll have to do it from the bottom of the West bracket. Last ranking: 14 In the last week: W at CHA, L vs. MIN, L at DEN, W vs. DAL Offensive rating: 117.2 (sixth) Defensive rating: 112.6 (11th) First quarter: B+ Second quarter: B Third quarter: B- Fourth quarter: C The Grizzlies split their last 20 games while somehow not being the only winning team to fire its coach in the final quarter of the campaign. Even when they won, they lost, as rookie Jaylen Wells was seriously injured in Charlotte and will spend the postseason recovering from a broken wrist and a concussion. One thing going for Memphis has been the continued progression of backup point guard Scotty Pippen Jr., who averaged 5.3 assists and only 1.8 turnovers over the last five weeks. Last ranking: 17 In the last week: W vs. ATL, W vs. BOS, W at IND, L at ATL Offensive rating: 108.9 (27th) Defensive rating: 109.1 (second) First quarter: B+ Second quarter: C- Third quarter: D Fourth quarter: B The Magic are going to make things interesting if they can get the Celtics in the quarterfinals. Orlando is 6-4 against Boston over the last three seasons, and the Magic are bringing the second-best defense in the league to the Play-In Tournament. It would be interesting to see if backup power forward Jonathan Isaac could play more, as he averaged 1.1 blocks per game over the season's final month. As bad as Orlando's offense was this season, the defense gives it a chance to assimilate to a playoff atmosphere, and the Magic did win 12 of their last 20 games. Last ranking: 15 In the last week: L at CLE, W vs. MIA, W vs. WAS, W at PHI Offensive rating: 113.2 (20th) Defensive rating: 114.8 (19th) First quarter: D Second quarter: C Third quarter: D Fourth quarter: A- Of all the teams that finished with losing records, the Bulls looked the best by far, winning 15 of their last 20. The offense has been good, but the most surprising aspect of Chicago's success over the last five weeks has been a defense that ranked ninth over the last five weeks. Point guard Josh Giddey averaged 10.5 rebounds per game in that span, including 8.4 defensive rebounds. The Bulls have a great chance to steal the No. 8 seed. Advertisement Last ranking: 18 In the last week: L at ORL, W at BRK, W at PHI, W vs. ORL Offensive rating: 113.7 (17th) Defensive rating: 114.8 (18th) First quarter: C Second quarter: B Third quarter: D+ Fourth quarter: B- The Hawks won 12 of their last 20 games, and they had a top-five offense over the last five weeks. Shooting guard Dyson Daniels averaged 14.7 points on 53.4 percent shooting from the field in that span, highlighting how easily Atlanta can get buckets. But I'm not sure the Hawks are headed for good matchups in the Play-In Tournament despite playing relatively decent basketball lately. Last ranking: 19 In the last week: L vs. DEN, L vs. LAC, W vs. PHO Offensive rating: 115.9 (seventh) Defensive rating: 115.3 (22nd) First quarter: D Second quarter: B Third quarter: C+ Fourth quarter: D It was disappointing to see the Kings falter so badly down the stretch. The offense got stagnant, the defense remains as bad as it has been all season, Malik Monk's injury throws them to another loss at the worst possible time, and now they are the ninth seed for the second year in a row. This is a big week for Domantas Sabonis, who averaged only 0.3 blocks over the last five weeks. Last ranking: 16 In the last week: L at CHI, W at NO, L vs. WAS Offensive rating: 112.4 (21st) Defensive rating: 112.0 (ninth) First quarter: C- Second quarter: C Third quarter: D Fourth quarter: D This wound up being the worst Heat season in a decade. Miami just isn't good enough offensively. Tyler Herro has averaged 17.0 field goal attempts over the last five weeks but only 4.2 free throws in that span. Last ranking: 20 In the last week: L vs. LAL, W vs. TOR, L at MEM Offensive rating: 113.7 (18th) Defensive rating: 115.0 (20th) Advertisement First quarter: B- Second quarter: C- Third quarter: 🤦🏾♂️ Fourth quarter: D Dallas had the 22nd-ranked offense and the 22nd-ranked defense in the NBA over the last five weeks. That's not the balance this team was supposed to have been displaying after making the roster moves it made. The presence of the Mavericks bigs doesn't stop teams from simply hammering them inside. The Play-In Tournament presents a new chapter to the Anthony Davis vs. Domantas Sabonis rivalry. Last ranking: 22 In the last week: L at UTA, L vs. GS, W vs. LAL Offensive rating: 111.0 (22nd) Defensive rating: 113.7 (16th) First quarter: D+ Second quarter: D- Third quarter: A- Fourth quarter: C- Portland is keeping its brain trust of general manager Joe Cronin and coach Chauncey Billups together, and the Blazers can thank a stretch starting in January in which they went 15-6. The Blazers didn't exactly finish the season strong, losing 12 of the last 20 games while struggling mightily with turnovers. Figuring out how to optimize the guard play (and with whom) should be a major part of where Portland goes next. Last ranking: 21 In the last week: L vs. GS, L vs. OKC, W vs. SA, L at SAC Offensive rating: 114.7 (13th) Defensive rating: 117.7 (27th) First quarter: C+ Second quarter: C- Third quarter: D Fourth quarter: D- What a catastrophe, but this is what we have come to expect from the Suns. Like the Kings and Mavericks, Phoenix lost 13 of the last 20 games. But the Suns never put up a decent, believable stretch of basketball once Kevin Durant missed games for the first time earlier this season. Only the Utah Jazz were worse defensively in the last quarter of the season. They also aren't good at interviewing coaches, apparently. Advertisement Last ranking: 23 In the last week: L at LAC, W at GS, L at PHO, W vs. TOR Offensive rating: 113.5 (19th) Defensive rating: 116.3 (25th) First quarter: B+ Second quarter: D Third quarter: D- Fourth quarter: C- San Antonio had three players make it to 82 games: Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes and Julian Champagnie. Rookie Stephon Castle came up a game short of joining them. Between the season-ending conditions of Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox and the stroke that kept Gregg Popovich from coaching after November, this was a bit of a lost year for them. The Spurs have a good base of talent, and they understand the importance of surrounding young talent with veterans who can provide a great example of professionalism. Last ranking: 24 In the last week: W vs. CHA, L at DAL, L at SA Offensive rating: 109.6 (26th) Defensive rating: 113.6 (15th) First quarter: D+ Second quarter: D Third quarter: C Fourth quarter: C The only team that closed the season better defensively than the Raptors was Orlando. Toronto has to find a way to make its roster fit on the other end of the court. Brandon Ingram never debuted, so it will be a fresh new look next season. Last ranking: 25 In the last week: W vs. NO, L vs. ATL, L at MIN, L vs. NY Offensive rating: 108.1 (28th) Defensive rating: 115.4 (23rd) First quarter: C Second quarter: D- Third quarter: D+ Fourth quarter: D- The Nets were as bad offensively in the last five weeks as they were all season. As a result, they weren't able to play spoiler at any point. The only team Brooklyn beat since the All-Star break that finished with a winning record was the Los Angeles Lakers last month. Last ranking: 27 In the last week: W at WAS, L vs. ATL, L vs. CHI Offensive rating: 111.0 (23rd) Defensive rating: 117.3 (26th) Advertisement First quarter: D- Second quarter: C Third quarter: D- Fourth quarter: F Daryl Morey and Nick Nurse will be back to figure out how to move forward after a season in which they likely felt like Philadelphia would win 58 games, not lose 58. The Sixers embarked on a full-on tank to close their season, losing 17 of 20 games while rolling out a primary lineup consisting of second-round rookie center Adem Bona and four players who weren't even on the team to begin the season (Quentin Grimes, Jared Butler, Lonnie Walker IV, Marcus Bagley). Last ranking: 26 In the last week: L at IND, L vs. PHI, L at CHI, W at MIA Offensive rating: 105.8 (30th) Defensive rating: 118.0 (28th) First quarter: F Second quarter: F Third quarter: D Fourth quarter: D- What a great moment for Bub Carrington to end his rookie season, and Washington's season in general, on a fun high note. Washington was the anti-Thunder, getting annihilated by 1,020 points. The only other team in league history to have a worse point differential than this season's Wizards was the 1993 Mavericks, a team that went 11-71 while getting outscored by 1,246 points. The fact that the Wizards didn't lose 70 games is a credit to them. A special moment for the rook 🥹 — Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) April 13, 2025 Last ranking: 28 In the last week: L at BRK, L at MIL, L vs. MIA, L vs. OKC Offensive rating: 109.7 (25th) Defensive rating: 119.1 (29th) First quarter: F Second quarter: D Third quarter: D+ Fourth quarter: F The Sixers Southwest. New Orleans never played with anywhere close to a full deck this season, a shame considering the talent amassed and that it won nearly 50 games a year ago. Unlike the Sixers, the Pelicans have decided to start over in the front office, firing David Griffin and leaving it up to his replacement to determine coach Willie Green's fate. Getting beaten by 49 points at home by this year's Miami team is a rough way to go out. Advertisement Last ranking: 29 In the last week: L vs. MEM, L at TOR, L at BOS, L at BOS Offensive rating: 106.7 (29th) Defensive rating: 115.7 (24th) First quarter: D Second quarter: D- Third quarter: F Fourth quarter: D That's a wrap on nine consecutive seasons failing to qualify for the postseason, the longest active streak in the NBA. Going beyond that, the Hornets haven't won a playoff series since leaving the city in 2002. And what did the Hornets accomplish along the way? They're still Bobcatting around, turning the ball over at will while barely defending. For them to say that this year's Hornets had the most losses since the 2004-05 expansion team is a damning statement. Last ranking: 30 In the last week: W vs. POR, L vs. OKC, L at MIN Offensive rating: 110.2 (24th) Defensive rating: 119.4 (30th) First quarter: F Second quarter: D Third quarter: F Fourth quarter: F The aggressive full-season tank is mercifully over. The Jazz had enough talent to win twice as many games as they did this season. They were the anti-Thunder in a different way than Washington was; while the Thunder set a record for turnover differential this season, the Jazz did as well, but in the other direction. Utah had 444 more turnovers than their opponents; the Thunder forced 435 more turnovers than they had. The Jazz rebuild will continue until that in particular is addressed. Sign up to get The Bounce, the essential NBA newsletter from Zach Harper and The Athletic staff, delivered free to your inbox. (Top photo of Jayson Tatum: Winslow Townson / Getty Images)
New York Times
11-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
NBA Power Rankings: Nuggets rise, Knicks fall as we assign third-quarter grades
Wake up! All 30 NBA teams have fewer than 20 games left this season! We bring you back to the blackboard with grades for the NBA season's third quarter! All right, enough with the exclamations. You see, these are the grades none of you were expecting. You knew first-quarter grades were coming. Of course there were going to be second-quarter grades, although some of you thought they were first-half grades (they were NOT). Spoiler alert: There will be fourth-quarter grades at the end of the season! But we are here first with third-quarter marks, assessing all of these teams that got too comfortable while having all of your favorite excuses (Injury! Trades! All-Star break! Exclamation marks!). After last night's NBA action — every NBA team has *no more* than 20 games remaining for the regular season. Here is every team's record from the third quarter of the season Trends are from the second quarter of the season📈📉 What stands out… [image or embed] — Law Murray 📘 (@ March 10, 2025 at 11:59 AM Once again, a letter grade assigned will go to each team (yes, even the Dallas Mavericks) considering the context of how that team performed over the last six to seven weeks. Over the most recent 25 percent of the season, an item that conveys what each team struggled with or excelled at will be featured. We have made it through 78 percent of the season, so some of you should take a good long look before you get ready to miss basketball soon. Advertisement A reminder: These Power Rankings won't just rank every team. We will retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers every week: • Top Contenders – Locked at five, these are the class of the league. • In a Good Place – Could be one team, could be seven teams. • The Bubble – Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack. • Not the Tier to Fear – Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do. • Basement Floor – Bringing up the rear. Let's dive into Week 20 of The Athletic's NBA Power Rankings. Win/loss records and statistics are through Monday's games. Last ranking: 1 In the last week: W at CHI, W vs. MIA, W at CHA, W at MIL Offensive rating: 122.0 (first) Defensive rating: 110.9 (seventh) First quarter: A Second quarter: A Third quarter: A The Cavaliers are blasting into the final quarter of the season on a 14-game winning streak, which is very impressive. But you can't forget that this team started 15-0 and fit another 12-win streak in there. Cleveland's offense has been scary all season, in part thanks to Darius Garland's 3-point shooting (38.4 percent since late January). But the Cavaliers have also had the third-best defense in the last several weeks as well. GO DEEPER Well-balanced Cavaliers barely need MVP candidate Donovan Mitchell in 14th straight win Last ranking: 2 In the last week: W at MEM, W vs. POR, W vs. DEN, L vs. DEN Offensive rating: 118.5 (fourth) Defensive rating: 106.1 (first) First quarter: A- Second quarter: A Third quarter: A The Thunder 'only' have one double-digit win streak this season, and even their 15-game run that started in December was interrupted by an NBA Cup loss. Like Cleveland, the Thunder maintained a strong defense. And also like Cleveland, Oklahoma City showed that it's just as good on the other side of the ball. This is now a top-five offense, partly because MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander creates buckets for himself and his teammates without turning the ball over (only 2.2 turnovers per game since late January). Advertisement Last ranking: 4 In the last week: W vs. POR, W vs. PHI, W vs. LAL, W vs. UTA Offensive rating: 119.1 (third) Defensive rating: 110.1 (fifth) First quarter: A- Second quarter: B- Third quarter: B+ As good as Derrick White was last season for the Celtics, he has arguably been even better and more necessary this year. White makes more 3s than ever, inching closer to 40 percent, and his ability to make plays without turning the ball over has been crucial with Jrue Holiday missing several games. Winning the turnover battle went a long way toward the Celtics controlling their rematch with the Los Angeles Lakers over the weekend. Last ranking: 6 In the last week: W vs. SAC, W vs. PHO, L at OKC, W at OKC Offensive rating: 119.5 (second) Defensive rating: 114.6 (20th) First quarter: C Second quarter: B+ Third quarter: B The Nuggets beat some teams with winning records this week, Nikola Jokić basically triple-doubled twice in the same game against the Phoenix Suns, and they managed to split the season series with division rival Oklahoma City. It was a good week for Denver, and it was a good third quarter. Was it great? I can't go that far. This defense is not acceptable, Aaron Gordon continues to struggle with durability, and the depth is uninspiring. But one thing to be encouraged by is how much better Jamal Murray has been. Seven of his 10 30-point games this season have come since Jan. 29. Last ranking: 3 In the last week: W vs. NO, W vs. NY, L at BOS, L at BRK Offensive rating: 114.4 (12th) Defensive rating: 112.7 (13th) First quarter: C+ Second quarter: C Third quarter: A Everyone will remember this portion of the season as the time the Lakers acquired (Read: stole) Luka Dončić. But JJ Redick oversaw the league's best defense since late January with Jaxson Hayes as a starting center, a notable trend toward the Lakers being a legitimate problem in the spring. Perhaps the Lakers will hope to peak again in the playoffs, because injuries are piling up and LeBron James (groin) might not be back until April. Advertisement Last ranking: 8 In the last week: L vs. OKC, W at DAL, W at NO, W vs. PHO Offensive rating: 117.7 (sixth) Defensive rating: 112.0 (11th) First quarter: B+ Second quarter: B Third quarter: B- The pretender bracket has not been as glaring to begin March, and it really comes down to these teams starting to lose critical pieces. At least this is the time to have week-to-week issues for the squads that built some Play-In Tournament cushion. Memphis' defense was already headed in the wrong direction before All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr.'s ankle injury that likely knocks him out of Defensive Player of the Year eligibility. The Grizzlies haven't been at their best offensively either, but it has still been a top-10 unit since late January, while rookie center Zach Edey has averaged 4.2 offensive rebounds per game in that span. Last ranking: 7 In the last week: L at IND, W at NO, W vs. NO, W vs. ORL Offensive rating: 113.7 (16th) Defensive rating: 109.5 (fourth) First quarter: A Second quarter: B Third quarter: C- Houston got off to a great start this season, but it has dropped a level every other month. That's not too surprising. It's hard to maintain a strong defense all season, especially when you are as young as Houston and get to the point when injuries are a growing factor. The Rockets were relatively healthy in the first half of the season, but now Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith Jr., invisible rookie Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson have all had or are now facing multi-week absences. Jalen Green is still here, but he's also still woefully inconsistent, making only 41.2 percent of his field goals since late January. Last ranking: 12 In the last week: W at NY, W at BRK, W vs. DET, W vs. POR Offensive rating: 113.7 (15th) Defensive rating: 111.5 (eighth) Advertisement First quarter: B+ Second quarter: D Third quarter: B+ The Warriors won some championships in the past, and they enjoy telling you just how much they feel like they can contend when they are playing well. We heard that talk when they started 12-3, and we're back at this point now that they have won 12 of 14 (with a slightly more serious roster). The bottom line for the Warriors is that they are defending at a top-five level again, with Draymond Green blowing up plays at an elite level; Green is averaging 1.9 steals per game since late January. GO DEEPER The burden, gift and curse of being Draymond Green Last ranking: 5 In the last week: L vs. GS, L at LAL, L at LAC, W at SAC Offensive rating: 118.1 (fifth) Defensive rating: 113.8 (14th) First quarter: B- Second quarter: B+ Third quarter: B- The Knicks didn't exactly impress in the third quarter of the season, but they won games thanks to All-Star Jalen Brunson's ability to drag his weary constituents to wins. But the Knicks botched a 13-point lead at the Lakers, and Brunson's ankle was an overtime casualty that puts the rest of his March in jeopardy (I am sensing a theme). The player who may emerge with even more importance is small forward Josh Hart, who has compiled 5.6 assists and only 2.4 turnovers per game since late January. Hart isn't a shoot-first player, but he does everything else, and he could probably handle more of the playmaking while New York's other scorers step up in Brunson's stead. GO DEEPER The Knicks have the blueprint to win without Jalen Brunson Last ranking: 9 In the last week: W at ATL, W vs. DAL, L vs. ORL, L vs. CLE Offensive rating: 113.8 (13th) Defensive rating: 111.8 (ninth) First quarter: C Second quarter: B+ Third quarter: B- Folks were much more excited about the Bucks when they started 2-8 this season. They have since stabilized, but they remain a relatively quiet team despite their star power. No one actually thinks they can threaten anyone this spring. They're merely a fine basketball team. It helps that Kyle Kuzma has been useful since coming over from Washington, averaging 7.4 rebounds and only 1.9 personal fouls while slotting in as starting small forward. GO DEEPER Bucks seeking answers on offense after sputtering in losses to Magic, Cavaliers Last ranking: 10 In the last week: W vs. HOU, L at ATL, L at ATL, L at CHI Offensive rating: 114.9 (eighth) Defensive rating: 114.2 (17th) First quarter: D Second quarter: B+ Third quarter: B Pascal Siakam may be the Indiana All-Star, but point guard Tyrese Haliburton continues to be the barometer of success for the Pacers. And on that note, Indiana's first three-game losing streak in three months coincided with the first stretch of consecutive missed games of the season for Haliburton. This remains an average defense but a good offense that Haliburton has mastered; since late January, Haliburton has compiled 9.3 assists per game against only 1.5 turnovers. GO DEEPER Pacers have struggled recently but won't sneak up on anyone this year Last ranking: 11 In the last week: L at LAC, L at GS, W at POR Offensive rating: 113.7 (14th) Defensive rating: 112.0 (10th) First quarter: C- Second quarter: B+ Third quarter: B+ The Pistons finally lost back-to-back games for the first time in a month, but this is a team that followed up great improvement in the second quarter of the season by showing that the performance is sustainable in the third quarter. The offense is good, while the defense is great. Perhaps the biggest catalyst for the Pistons resistance is sophomore forward Ausar Thompson, who has averaged 2.2 steals per game since late January. Advertisement Last ranking: 14 In the last week: W vs. PHI, W at CHA, W at MIA, W vs. SA Offensive rating: 114.5 (10th) Defensive rating: 110.9 (sixth) First quarter: C- Second quarter: B Third quarter: C+ The Timberwolves are a funny team. They have a habit of mixing their most consistent performances with their most crushing defeats. This team is on a five-game winning streak (any of those losses would have been troubling, so at least they handled their business) but still leads the league this season with 23 clutch-time losses. Credit to point guard Mike Conley, who has complemented Anthony Edwards by averaging 4.9 assists and only 0.9 turnovers per game since late January. GO DEEPER With Rudy Gobert back, the Timberwolves look ready to go on a run Last ranking: 15 In the last week: L at PHO, W vs. DET, W vs. NY, W vs. SAC Offensive rating: 111.8 (20th) Defensive rating: 109.5 (third) First quarter: B Second quarter: B Third quarter: C- LA capped off a rotten post-All-Star break launch of six losses in seven games by blowing a 23-point lead to the flailing Suns. No good team blows leads worse than LA does this season. The Clippers have allowed the third-highest 3-point percentage since late January, trailing only Sacramento and Denver. The offense is not as bad as it was, but it's still not strong enough to consistently make up for opponents heating up on them. The Clippers had a fun three-game winning streak at home that featured a 50-point James Harden output and a Kawhi Leonard game-winning buzzer beater, two events that hadn't happened since the 2010s. Last ranking: 13 In the last week: L at DEN, W vs. SA, L at LAC, L vs. NY Offensive rating: 115.8 (seventh) Defensive rating: 114.1 (16th) First quarter: D Second quarter: B Third quarter: C+ Sacramento was on some real momentum in LA, and then Leonard had to beat the buzzer against them. The Kings went from being one of the league's worst clutch-time teams under Mike Brown to one of the league's best in tight games under interim coach Doug Christie. But the Kings need center Domantas Sabonis back, if only to help with the possession battle. Sabonis has averaged 4.0 offensive rebounds per game since late January. Advertisement Last ranking: 16 In the last week: L at MIL, L vs. MEM, L vs. PHO, W at SA Offensive rating: 114.4 (11th) Defensive rating: 114.3 (18th) First quarter: B- Second quarter: C- Third quarter: 🤦🏾♂️ What do you want me to say about this lugubrious franchise? Anthony Davis went full Aaron Rodgers in his debut, and then Kyrie Irving tore his ACL to put serious doubt into the duo returning for a second game together until 2026. Two-way contract Kessler Edwards is starting games at center. This is a bottom-10 offense and a bottom-five defense given the dilapidated state of this roster. Coach Jason Kidd has kept Dallas from completely collapsing as it seeks to stay over .500 and within the Play-In Tournament. But given how things have gone since the Dončić trade, the next preventable disaster is probably around the corner. Last ranking: 18 In the last week: L vs. MIL, W vs. IND, W vs. IND, W vs. PHI Offensive rating: 112.2 (18th) Defensive rating: 114.5 (19th) First quarter: C Second quarter: B Third quarter: D+ The Hawks took advantage of the absence of Tyrese Haliburton and the remains of the Philadelphia 76ers to rip off three straight badly needed wins. Before that, Atlanta had lost 15 of 21 games while looking equally unimpressive on both ends of the floor. Atlanta has started to move on from center Clint Capela, installing Onyeka Okongwu instead. The Hawks have had a bottom-five paint defense almost all season. Last ranking: 23 In the last week: L vs. CLE, W at ORL, W at MIA, W vs. IND Offensive rating: 112.0 (19th) Defensive rating: 115.7 (25th) First quarter: D Second quarter: C Third quarter: D The commitment to the 10th seed remains strong in Illinois. Just as Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Toronto clinch losing seasons, the Bulls find their first three-game winning streak since Christmas. This is still a bad team laden with uninspiring defenders who don't force turnovers. But they're still here, I guess, and they're beating the teams they may face in the Play-In. Advertisement Last ranking: 22 In the last week: W vs. LAC, L at DEN, W at DAL, L at MEM Offensive rating: 114.8 (ninth) Defensive rating: 116.8 (27th) First quarter: C+ Second quarter: C- Third quarter: D This week was certainly an eventful one for the Suns. But ultimately, the third quarter of the season conveyed just how much of a waste of talent this group has been. They reached a valley defensively, as only the New Orleans Pelicans have been worse on that end of the floor since late January. The 'I'll do it' Devin Booker hasn't shown up nearly enough this season, as only three of Booker's 16 multi-steal games have come since the beginning of February. If this was truly just a make-or-miss league, then the Suns wouldn't be in this position. Last ranking: 19 In the last week: L vs. TOR, L vs. CHI, W at MIL, L at HOU Offensive rating: 107.6 (28th) Defensive rating: 109.4 (second) First quarter: B+ Second quarter: C- Third quarter: D The Magic were never able to overcome their offensive struggles that were pockmarked by horrible shooting. And now, the defense isn't special enough to keep them relevant anymore. As great a scorer as power forward Paolo Banchero is, he and Franz Wagner have real issues as 3-point shooters that threaten to limit what the Magic can do in the short and long term. GO DEEPER What's wrong with the Orlando Magic right now? Almost everything Last ranking: 17 In the last week: L at CLE, L vs. MIN, L vs. CHI, L vs. CHA Offensive rating: 111.5 (21st) Defensive rating: 112.1 (12th) First quarter: C- Second quarter: C Third quarter: D The way the Mavericks handled Dončić is always going to be a topic of conversation. But at least for this season, the Heat have been ducking smoke from letting the Jimmy Butler situation get as bad as it did instead of trading him before camp. As bad as the recurring suspensions were, Miami has gone from its usual also-ran identity in the Eastern Conference during the regular season to a flat-out bad team. Congrats, you traded Jimmy Butler. What is even left here? The only good thing about watching the Heat offense is that they don't get offensive rebounds, so you don't have to keep watching them try to score. They are 4-11 since Butler departed, and they're about to match last season's loss total. Advertisement Last ranking: 21 In the last week: W vs. BRK, L at SAC, L at MIN, L vs. DAL Offensive rating: 113.1 (17th) Defensive rating: 115.7 (24th) First quarter: B+ Second quarter: D Third quarter: D- Let's face it, the Spurs were bad even with Victor Wembanyama. Once he was ruled out for the season, it was a wrap. Wembanyama was one of those big defenders who actually made a difference for his team on that end of the floor. Without him, San Antonio isn't even trying to consistently get stops. They have comfortably been a bottom-five defense in the third quarter of the season, and the few times an opponent actually misses a shot against them, they struggle even more to secure a rebound. Last ranking: 20 In the last week: L at BOS, L at OKC, L vs. DET, L at GS Offensive rating: 110.9 (24th) Defensive rating: 114.7 (21st) First quarter: D+ Second quarter: D- Third quarter: A- Seeing the Trail Blazers put together winning streaks of six and four (twice) games was quite moving. They improved the offense to about league average while benefiting from teams shooting poorly from 3 to raise the defense to top-10 levels for an extended stretch of the season. Deni Avdija has been a solid addition to the franchise as a 24-year-old who has excellent size for his skill set. Unfortunately, their run appears just about over after hitting a stretch of schedule filled with teams that wasted little time with them. Last ranking: 25 In the last week: W at ORL, W vs. UTA, L vs. WAS, W vs. WAS Offensive rating: 110.1 (26th) Defensive rating: 115.0 (22nd) First quarter: D+ Second quarter: D Third quarter: C Scottie Barnes has only made 23.4 percent of his 3s since late January, a troubling number from a young star whom the Raptors are trying to build around offensively. But Toronto has shown it can be quite good defensively despite the tank formulating north of the border. Advertisement Last ranking: 24 In the last week: L at SA, L vs. GS, L at CHA, W vs. LAL Offensive rating: 108.7 (27th) Defensive rating: 115.2 (23rd) First quarter: C Second quarter: D- Third quarter: D+ D'Angelo Russell got his #RevengeGame against the Lakers on Monday night, helping to snap the second seven-game losing streak of the season in Brooklyn. But this offense was in a rough place in the last several weeks. Only the Charlotte Hornets were worse offensively, and then Brooklyn couldn't even close a game out against them. Last ranking: 26 In the last week: L at MIN, L at BOS, W vs. UTA, L at ATL Offensive rating: 111.3 (22nd) Defensive rating: 116.3 (26th) First quarter: D- Second quarter: C Third quarter: D- An abysmal season makes it clear that building around Joel Embiid's availability is foolhardy. Not only was Embiid not available for even 20 games this season, but Philadelphia did not get an adequate backup plan. Andre Drummond only started 22 games this season, and while Guerschon Yabusele had a strong season individually, rim protection is not a strength of his. Last ranking: 30 In the last week: L vs. MIN, L vs. CLE, W vs. BRK, W at MIA Offensive rating: 106.8 (29th) Defensive rating: 114.1 (15th) First quarter: D Second quarter: D- Third quarter: F The Hornets finally started looking like a competitive team this week, so they crawl out of the cellar. But that was after Charlotte lost 20 of 24 games, displaying the NBA's worst offense. LaMelo Ball has made only 36.1 percent from the field since late January. Ball's outrageous shot selection is only matched by a poor finishing rate when he actually does get to the rim. Last ranking: 29 In the last week: W vs. UTA, W at TOR, L at TOR Offensive rating: 105.8 (30th) Defensive rating: 117.6 (28th) Advertisement First quarter: F Second quarter: F Third quarter: D On one hand, Washington did well enough to get out of any worst-team-ever conversations. The bad news is, the Wizards' lead on the best lottery odds shrank after they beat the Utah Jazz. Jordan Poole returned after missing time with an arm injury, but he is still best suited as a backup who doesn't have to be a team's primary playmaker. Washington's improvement is thanks to its defense being somewhat more acceptable than a still-awful offense. Last ranking: 27 In the last week: L at LAL, L vs. HOU, L at HOU, L vs. MEM Offensive rating: 110.3 (25th) Defensive rating: 118.5 (30th) First quarter: F Second quarter: D Third quarter: D+ This week wasn't exactly set up for the Pelicans to win games, but they still failed to win any of them. Their four-game losing streak comes after they won four of five games. The most troubling aspect of the season for the Pelicans' defense was how much they were cooked by 3-point shooting. Only the Jazz allow more 3s for the entire season, while New Orleans has allowed the most 3s since late January. Last ranking: 28 In the last week: L at WAS, L at TOR, L at PHI, L at BOS Offensive rating: 111.2 (23rd) Defensive rating: 118.3 (29th) First quarter: F Second quarter: D Third quarter: F If the Jazz actually win a lottery for once, then perhaps they can get an F+. But I don't reward tanking, since that's not a coaching or player goal. It's wild that any team could catch the Wizards for losses given how bad Washington was for most of this season, but the Jazz have lost 25 of 31 games. Per Stathead, the worst team of all time in turnover differential was the 1982 Bulls, a team that had 385 more turnovers than their opponent. With 17 games left to play, this season's Jazz have 365 more turnovers than their opponent, and that does not include shot-clock violations. (Top photo of Josh Hart: Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images)
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers take a huge leap forward in The Athletic's NBA power rankings
When this season began, the Los Angeles Lakers were picked by many people to be, at best, a play-in tournament team. But they ended January in fifth place in the Western Conference and were looking like a legitimate playoff team. Then came the trade heard around the world on Feb. 1 that landed them young generational superstar Luka Doncic. Now, the Lakers are on a seven-game winning streak, and overall, they have won 19 of their last 23 games, a stretch that dates back to mid-January. It has resulted in a growing number of people considering the Lakers as legitimate threats to reach at least the Western Conference Finals. The Athletic's latest NBA power rankings reflect this vast improvement in the team's fortunes. Its last power rankings had the team at No. 6, but L.A. has now risen to No. 3 ahead of the defending world champion Boston Celtics and behind only the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Via The Athletic: "They're the best team in basketball since Jan. 20 and have been led by a defense that refuses to allow points in the paint," Law Murray wrote. "They're not going to catch the Thunder in the regular season, but the Lakers should be considered the biggest threat to Oklahoma City while adopting to their new role as the hunted team for home-court advantage in the Western Conference semifinals." Although they don't have a legitimate starting-caliber center after giving up superstar big man Anthony Davis to land Doncic, the Lakers have been winning games in bunches with defense. They were first in defensive rating for the month of February, and they recently had a streak of seven straight contests in which they held teams to 102 points or fewer. Once they start to approach their potential on the offensive end of the court, they could truly start to look scary. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers take a huge leap forward in The Athletic's NBA power rankings
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Raptors vs. Thunder: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest
The Toronto Raptors play against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center The Toronto Raptors are spending $10,585,212 per win while the Oklahoma City Thunder are spending $4,112,087 per win Game Time: 8:00 PM EST on Friday February 7, 2025 Broadcast Info Live Stream: fuboTV (Watch for free) NBA League Pass: The most live games plus NBA TV. Free trial National TV: N/A Home TV: FanDuel Sports Network - Oklahoma Away TV: N/A Home Radio: WWLS/WKY Away Radio: N/A When the game is underway, you can follow it here! Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU Clippers 3-game losing streaks this season: POR/PHO/OKC (20 combined points) OKC/HOU/HOU (35 combined points) MIN/HOU/@ DEN (61 combined points) @ TOR/LAL/IND (39 combined points) - 2:00 AM This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Raptors vs. Thunder: Start time, where to watch, what's the latest
