NBA Power Rankings: Post All-Star Break Edition

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers and Grant Williams, Boston Celtics. Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers and Grant Williams, Boston Celtics. Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images /
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Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers and Al Horford, Boston Celtics. Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images /

93. . 39-20. . Philadelphia 76ers. 5. team

The Philadelphia 76ers have a 2.5 game cushion over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East, but that’s the only metric that places them above Cleveland. Joel Embiid is having another elite season, and James Harden has been excellent settling into the No. 2 role. They also have struggled with top-tier competition and will face playoff doubts until they prove them wrong – if they do.

. 39-25. . Cleveland Cavaliers. 4. team. 156

The one “young” team to crack the top 5, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been an excellent team this season. They have the league’s second-best point differential, are second in most team metrics (SRS, EPM, etc) and are dancing around with the Grizzlies and Bucks for the best defense in the league. The Cavs stood pat at the deadline but added three-time champion Danny Green on the buyout market to sprinkle in a little veteran experience.

team. 89. . 43-17. . Milwaukee Bucks. 3

The Milwaukee Bucks have been the best team in basketball over the past six weeks. They have won 14 games in a row, their defense has been smothering and Jrue Holiday has earned his All-Star selection. Multiple minor injuries to Antetokounmpo are worrisome, but the Bucks have won even without him in the lineup, and adding Jae Crowder at the deadline was a sharp move for a team that benefits from his combination of shooting and size.

. Denver Nuggets. 2. team. 73. . 43-19

The best team in the Western Conference, playing with the MVP favorite, the Denver Nuggets finally look like they have put a team around Nikola Jokic capable of winning it all. The triple-double machine continues to carve up opponents, and Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. look healthy as his running mates. They have added Thomas Bryant and Reggie Jackson in the last few weeks to shore up the bench, perhaps their only remaining weakness.

18. . 44-17. . Boston Celtics. 1. team

The Boston Celtics have been the best team in the league for nearly the entire season, and despite Milwaukee’s 14-game winning streak have clung to the top spot in the East. They have the league’s second-best offense and a proven defense, and it makes sense that they couldn’t find an upgrade to their rotation on the trade market as they are already quite deep. Deadline acquisition Mike Muscala gives them a stretch-big to toss into certain lineups, but when the chips are down this team has a top-8 that can’t be touched.

Next. 3 reasons the Cavaliers can still catch the 76ers for third. dark

The final quarter of the season will be an exciting time as teams integrate new faces, push up the standings and try to solidify their spot before the playoffs begin.