NBA Power Rankings: 1 goal for each team in the 2nd half
The NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore’s basketball editors.
Every team wants to win the title, but that’s only a realistic pursuit for the league’s upper crust. With that in mind, we’re identifying one reasonable goal for each team to pursue in the second half of the season.
1. Boston Celtics
Previous: 1
Find Tillman’s best role. Once healthy, the Michigan State product offers the Celtics plenty of versatility. Xavier Tillman can play the 4 or 5, facilitate out of the high post, and defend multiple positions.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
Previous: 2
Play Naz more. Naz Reid is one of the league’s most productive bench players, and his leap on both ends has been underrated. The Timberwolves’ best four- and five-man lineups this season are with him on the floor.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Previous: 4
Integrate a healthy Hayward. OKC should benefit from newcomer Gordon Hayward’s ability to create for himself when he returns from injury. The three-level scorer also has a 21.6% assist rate this season.
4. Los Angeles Clippers
Previous: 6
Change nothing. The Clippers are 27-7 since December, with every loss coming against teams above .500 with a combined 66.1 winning percentage. L.A. needs to step up in the playoffs, but this is the group for the job.
5. Denver Nuggets
Previous: 3
Make 1,000 free throws at every practice. While they’re at the line far less often than nearly every other team, the reigning champs own the third-worst rate in the league from the charity stripe at 75.4%.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers
Previous: 9
Capture the No. 2 seed. Nobody wants to play the Celtics in the opening round of the playoffs. Securing the East’s second-best record would give the Cavs a more favorable path to the conference finals.
7. New York Knicks
Previous: 7
Rest and regroup over the break. Without Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, the Knicks have dropped four straight, including a controversial loss to the Rockets. Forget the protest and take the All-Star hiatus to shake it all off.
8. Milwaukee Bucks
Previous: 5
Keep improving defensively. Despite posting a sub.-500 record under Doc Rivers, the team has been better at limiting buckets, ranking 10th in defensive efficiency since the former Coach of the Year took charge Jan. 29.
9. Phoenix Suns
Previous: 11
More Big Three reps. Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker have only played 22 games together. Their 12.7 net rating is the third-best mark among the Suns’ three-man lineups with at least 200 minutes.
10. New Orleans Pelicans
Previous: 14
Assess the core. For the first time, Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram have played significant minutes together, to largely successful results. Still, the Pels must figure out whether the grouping has a championship ceiling.
11. Dallas Mavericks
Previous: 13
Stay healthy. Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, Dereck Lively II, Maxi Kleber, and Dante Exum have each missed at least 10 games this season. With most now back in the fold, Dallas is pushing for a top-six seed.
12. Sacramento Kings
Previous: 10
Rediscover the offense. Last year’s upstart Kings led the NBA in offensive rating but sit 14th this season. De’Aaron Fox has cooled down from a hot shooting start, and the bench is filled with streaky scorers.
13. Philadelphia 76ers
Previous: 8
Get Embiid back this season. 76ers president Daryl Morey is “hopeful” Joel Embiid will return from a meniscus injury in time for the playoffs, an obvious prerequisite for the team’s fading postseason hopes.
14. Indiana Pacers
Previous: 12
Tighten up on D. The Pacers are remarkably 20-9 when opponents score 126 points or fewer, thanks largely to a historically great offense. Any hopes of a playoff run will depend on improving the league’s 25th-best defensive rating.
15. Miami Heat
Previous: 17
Get the offense going. Miami’s struggled to score over the past two seasons, especially in half-court settings. Terry Rozier’s shot-creating skills were supposed to help, but he’s now reportedly out week-to-week with a sprained knee.
16. Orlando Magic
Previous: 15
Ramp up Jonathan Isaac. The forward has arguably been the Magic’s best defender but has had to play under a minutes restriction all season because of his injury history. When he’s on-court, Orlando’s 100.7 defensive rating is by far their best among their main rotation.
17. Los Angeles Lakers
Previous: 18
Maintain tunnel vision. The Lakers are running a 39-year-old LeBron James and injury-prone Anthony Davis into the ground with a shorthanded roster, but the title window is too tiny to have any reservations. It’s now or never.
18. Golden State Warriors
Previous: 21
Get Klay’s mojo back. The Warriors guard is shooting 30.3% from deep and 39% overall in his last 10 appearances. If Golden State hopes to make any sort of playoff run, it’ll need Klay Thompson to rediscover his form.
19. Utah Jazz
Previous: 16
Maximize Hendricks’ usage. Kelly Olynyk’s trade to the Raptors has cleared the path for 2023 lottery pick Taylor Hendricks, whose increased role should help him become a difference-maker during the 2024-25 season.
20. Chicago Bulls
Previous: 20
Force a regime change. Arguably the league’s most directionless franchise, pending UFA DeMar DeRozan and the Bulls should trigger a mutiny against VP of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and his staff of do-nothings.
21. Houston Rockets
Previous: 19
Decide if Green is the answer at the wing. Jalen Green has struggled with consistency as a sophomore. He’s averaging 15.8 points in seven games this February on dire 39/15.8/68 shooting splits.
22. Atlanta Hawks
Previous: 22
Critically judge Trae. Trae Young-led Hawks teams have never finished higher than 21st in defensive rating, plunging to second-last this year. Atlanta should seriously consider whether it can build a winner around him.
23. Brooklyn Nets
Previous: 23
Pick a direction. Wednesday’s beatdown by the Celtics offered a striking reminder of how far off the Nets are. With a trove of future first-rounders, the front office might consider going all-out for a new franchise cornerstone.
24. Memphis Grizzlies
Previous: 24
Encase JJJ in bubble wrap. Jaren Jackson Jr. is the only member of the starting five not to miss significant time due to injury, which should encourage the Grizzlies to protect him amid a lost season.
25. Toronto Raptors
Previous: 25
Figure out the big picture. From Olynyk to Jordan Nwora, Toronto acquired a handful of new players at the trade deadline and should use the second half to evaluate its fresh faces.
26. San Antonio Spurs
Previous: 27
Let Wemby cook. San Antonio’s revered 7-foot-4 rookie is hitting 38.4% from distance over his last 15 games compared to 29.2% before then. The more his game expands, the more captivating Victor Wembanyama becomes.
27. Charlotte Hornets
Previous: 29
It’s Miller Time. The midseason trade of Rozier and another injury to LaMelo Ball opened up more shots for last year’s No. 2 pick. It’s time to see if Brandon Miller can be a lead offensive option.
28. Portland Trail Blazers
Previous: 26
Hand Scoot the keys. Scoot Henderson’s having a relatively disappointing rookie season, but there’s no reason the evidently rebuilding Blazers should be limiting him to 23.4 minutes per game off the bench over his last 12 games.
29. Detroit Pistons
Previous: 30
Finish above the Wizards. Kyle Kuzma’s infamous “Don’t be that team” tweet should be all the motivation Detroit needs in the second half. Vaulting Washington would arguably be the Pistons’ biggest win in a season with so few.
30. Washington Wizards
Previous: 28
Give Keefe a chance. Sure, the Wizards have lost eight straight during a top-heavy slate under Brian Keefe, but only two of those were by double digits. They’re actually more competitive under the interim coach.
