Normally this is a column to give shine to those teams who are less fortunate and aren't capable of making the playoffs. However, with the playoffs right around the corner, I think it's time we show a little love to the teams who triumphed and look to be in the playoffs, which will commence in about two weeks.
"But Dan, don't 16 of the league's 30 teams make the playoffs anyway? Is it really that difficult to get there?"Yes random person , 53% of all NBA teams make the playoffs each season, which makes it even more puzzling that teams like the Timberwolves and Kings continually fall out of the top 53% each season. We no longer need to include the Bobcats in that category anymore since they now have a top 5 defense and will likely be squaring off against the Pacers in the first round this year, but there are plenty of other teams who still struggle to not be one of the worst 14 teams out of 30 every year.
But, just like the Bobcats, there were quite a few teams who figured it out this season and are back in the playoffs after a long playoff-less drought. The Toronto Raptors are not only on pace to clinch their division, but will be in the playoffs for the first time since the 2007-2008 season. Kyle Lowry, Demar DeRozan, and Jonas Valanciunas led a much improved Raptors squad to the position they're in now, and should be important components for the next few years, pending Lowry's free agency deal. The Washington Wizards, whom also have not seen postseason basketball action since the 2007-2008 season, have also broke through as a much improved squad this season. After drafting John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Otto Porter in recent years, it was a playoffs or bust season for the Wizards, who then traded their first round pick this season for center Marcin Gortat. Gortat has helped to shore up a weak frontcourt, and the much improved play of John Wall helped get this team back to the playoffs.
Although the Phoenix Suns were a great team in the mid 2000s, it has been a couple of seasons since they played some playoff basketball. Phoneix, led by Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, made it all the way to the Western Conference finals during the 2009-2010 season, only to fall to the eventual champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. They are still on the outside looking in, but Phoenix has a shot at ending their four season playoff-less drought.
Every now and then, a team will enter a dark period and miss the playoffs for a few seasons. Drafting the right players, hiring the right staff, and signing the right free agents can alleviate the situation and get a losing squad back to the playoffs much quicker than expected. The 76ers have a lot of holes to address on their roster this upcoming offseason. While it has only been two seasons since Philadelphia was last in the postseason, we don't want the 76ers to end up like Toronto, Washington, or Charlotte and miss the playoffs for over half a decade. They will have three lottery picks join their squad next season (Noel and the two first rounders), so they will be much improved right away. Hinkie will need to surround them with some tough rebounders in the post and some solid outside shooters in order to secure a playoff spot next season (yeah, I said playoffs next season! Why not us?) Maybe not a division title or home court advantage in the first round, but the 76ers can leap to at least the 7 spot if they make the right moves this offseason.
Without further ado, here are the Week 24 reverse power rankings:
The Contenders:
30) San Antonio Spurs (60-17)
29) Oklahoma City Thunder (55-21)
28) Los Angeles Clippers (55-23)
27) Miami Heat (53-23)
26) Indiana Pacers (53-25)
25) Houston Rockets (51-25)
Fighting For The Playoffs:
24) Portland Trailblazers (50-28)
23) Golden State Warriors (48-29)
22) Dallas Mavericks (47-31)
21) Phoenix Suns (46-31)
20) Memphis Grizzlies (45-32)
Securely In The Eastern Playoffs:
19) Toronto Raptors (45-32)
18) Chicago Bulls (45-32)
17) Brooklyn Nets (42-34)
16) Washington Wizards (40-37)
15) Charlotte Bobcats (39-38)
Have Some Work To Do This Offseason:
14) Minnesota Timberwolves (39-38)
13) Atlanta Hawks (34-42)
12) Denver Nuggets (33-44)
11) New Orleans Pelicans (32-45)
Have A Lot Of Work To Do This Offseason:
10) New York Knicks (33-45)
9) Cleveland Cavaliers (31-47)
8) Detroit Pistons (28-49)
Tankapalooza:
7) Sacramento Kings (27-50)
6) Los Angeles Lakers (25-52)
5) Utah Jazz (24-53)
4) Boston Celtics (23-54)
3) Orlando Magic (22-55)
2) Philadelphia 76ers (17-60)
1) Milwaukee Bucks (14-63)
By: Dan Goggin
But, just like the Bobcats, there were quite a few teams who figured it out this season and are back in the playoffs after a long playoff-less drought. The Toronto Raptors are not only on pace to clinch their division, but will be in the playoffs for the first time since the 2007-2008 season. Kyle Lowry, Demar DeRozan, and Jonas Valanciunas led a much improved Raptors squad to the position they're in now, and should be important components for the next few years, pending Lowry's free agency deal. The Washington Wizards, whom also have not seen postseason basketball action since the 2007-2008 season, have also broke through as a much improved squad this season. After drafting John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Otto Porter in recent years, it was a playoffs or bust season for the Wizards, who then traded their first round pick this season for center Marcin Gortat. Gortat has helped to shore up a weak frontcourt, and the much improved play of John Wall helped get this team back to the playoffs.
Although the Phoenix Suns were a great team in the mid 2000s, it has been a couple of seasons since they played some playoff basketball. Phoneix, led by Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, made it all the way to the Western Conference finals during the 2009-2010 season, only to fall to the eventual champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. They are still on the outside looking in, but Phoenix has a shot at ending their four season playoff-less drought.
Every now and then, a team will enter a dark period and miss the playoffs for a few seasons. Drafting the right players, hiring the right staff, and signing the right free agents can alleviate the situation and get a losing squad back to the playoffs much quicker than expected. The 76ers have a lot of holes to address on their roster this upcoming offseason. While it has only been two seasons since Philadelphia was last in the postseason, we don't want the 76ers to end up like Toronto, Washington, or Charlotte and miss the playoffs for over half a decade. They will have three lottery picks join their squad next season (Noel and the two first rounders), so they will be much improved right away. Hinkie will need to surround them with some tough rebounders in the post and some solid outside shooters in order to secure a playoff spot next season (yeah, I said playoffs next season! Why not us?) Maybe not a division title or home court advantage in the first round, but the 76ers can leap to at least the 7 spot if they make the right moves this offseason.
Without further ado, here are the Week 24 reverse power rankings:
The Contenders:
30) San Antonio Spurs (60-17)
29) Oklahoma City Thunder (55-21)
28) Los Angeles Clippers (55-23)
27) Miami Heat (53-23)
26) Indiana Pacers (53-25)
25) Houston Rockets (51-25)
Fighting For The Playoffs:
24) Portland Trailblazers (50-28)
23) Golden State Warriors (48-29)
22) Dallas Mavericks (47-31)
21) Phoenix Suns (46-31)
20) Memphis Grizzlies (45-32)
Securely In The Eastern Playoffs:
19) Toronto Raptors (45-32)
18) Chicago Bulls (45-32)
17) Brooklyn Nets (42-34)
16) Washington Wizards (40-37)
15) Charlotte Bobcats (39-38)
Have Some Work To Do This Offseason:
14) Minnesota Timberwolves (39-38)
13) Atlanta Hawks (34-42)
12) Denver Nuggets (33-44)
11) New Orleans Pelicans (32-45)
Have A Lot Of Work To Do This Offseason:
10) New York Knicks (33-45)
9) Cleveland Cavaliers (31-47)
8) Detroit Pistons (28-49)
Tankapalooza:
7) Sacramento Kings (27-50)
6) Los Angeles Lakers (25-52)
5) Utah Jazz (24-53)
4) Boston Celtics (23-54)
3) Orlando Magic (22-55)
2) Philadelphia 76ers (17-60)
1) Milwaukee Bucks (14-63)
By: Dan Goggin
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