The Times’ NBA rankings
Broderick Turner ranks the 30 teams. Last week’s ranking in parentheses, statistics are through Friday’s games:
1. ATLANTA: Are the Hawks the best team in the NBA? Record-wise at 42-9, yes. Win over Warriors Friday was impressive. (1)
2. MEMPHIS: Put this in the Go Figure department! Grizs lose at Minnesota, get out-rebounded, 43-20. Still, 8-2 over last 10. (2)
3. GOLDEN STATE: Loss to Hawks gave Warriors second-best record (39-9) percentage-wise (81.3%). (3)
4. CLEVELAND: Twelve-game winning streak snapped, missed chance to tie franchise record for consecutive wins. (4)
5. HOUSTON: Improved to 5-1 with Dwight Howard out with knee injury. Now 30-7 when making 10 or more threes. (5)
6. SAN ANTONIO: Gregg Popovich one win shy of 1,000 as coach. Wonder whether he was crusty in the other 999 wins? (6)
7. TORONTO: All about the offense. Raptors ranked fourth in scoring (106.2) and fourth in offensive efficiency (109.4). (7)
8. PORTLAND: Road woes. After winning 12 of first 17 games on the road, Blazers lost six straight away from home. (11)
9. DALLAS: Not so good against the best in the West. Mavericks are 2-11 against top seven teams in Western Conference. (12)
10. CHICAGO: Where’s the defense? Bulls giving 107.6 points per game during a three-game losing streak. (10)
11. CLIPPERS: Are they unraveling? Six techs in two games. Two blowout losses. Chris Paul fined $25K for criticism of ref. (9)
12. WASHINGTON: Can’t make shots. Shot 43% in five-game losing streak, down from about 48% in first 46 games. (8)
13. MILWAUKEE: Giannis Antetokounmpo topped career-high 25 points vs. Lakers with career-best 27 vs. Rockets. (15)
14. CHARLOTTE: Surging into the playoffs. Allowed 89.1 points on 39.9% shooting in last 15 games, going 12-3. (16)
15. PHOENIX: Marcus Morris scored career-high 34 points off bench, impressing twin teammate brother Markieff. (13)
16. NEW ORLEANS: Anthony Davis’ 41 vs. Thunder, including game-winning three, keeps Pelicans in playoff talks. (17)
17. BROOKLYN: Coming alive. Won three consecutive games in February after winning just three last month. (19)
18. OKLAHOMA CITY: Kevin Durant returned from toe injury, Russell Westbrook career-high 48 in loss. Still floundering. (17)
19. DETROIT: Pounding the boards. Andre Drummond (13.0) ranked 2nd in rebounds, Greg Monroe (10.5) tied for 8th. (20)
20. BOSTON: Rebounding has meant wins. During three-game win streak, the Celtics had a plus-5.4 rebounding margin. (23)
21. MIAMI: Numbers don’t lie. Next to last in NBA in scoring (92.4) and assists (19.9), last in rebounding (37.9). (18)
22. INDIANA: Had all five starters score in double figures in win over Cavaliers. Pacers 2-3 when that happens. (21)
23. ORLANDO: Fired Jacque Vaughn, snapped 10-game losing streak, 14-game streak of giving up 100 or more points. (24)
24. DENVER: Thy name is slump. Nuggets have lost five straight, 12 of 13. Not looking good for Coach Brian Shaw. (22)
26. UTAH: Still having a hard time scoring. Jazz average 95.8 points per game, sixth-worst in NBA. (25)
25. SACRAMENTO: DeMarcus Cousins, the grown-up? Said teammates need to change “attitude†after Kings lost 10 of 11. (26)
27. LAKERS: Growing pains for young team. Blow six-point lead late at Milwaukee, blow 14-point lead at Orlando. (27)
28. MINNESOTA: Finally, good news. Ricky Rubio back after missing 42 games with left ankle injury. Upset Memphis. (30)
29. PHILADELPHIA: Has lost eight straight games on the road. Then again, 76ers have won only five road games. (29)
30. NEW YORK: Can’t score and can’t rebound. Bad team. Ranked 28th in scoring (92.7), 29th in rebounding (39.9). (28)
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