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NBA Power Rankings
InsideHoops.comOur NBA power rankings are based mostly on how good teams really are, with recent performances taken into partial consideration. Updated regularly during the regular season, InsideHoops.com's NBA power rankings focus on the big, season-long picture.
The NBA season has been on hold since March 11, but here's where teams stood.
2020 NBA POWER RANKINGS
Updated April 24, 2020
11:07 p.m. ET
1) Bucks: Best defense in the league. Giannis Antetokounmpo was playing like an NBA MVP again.
2) Lakers: Fourth best offense and third best defense in the league. LeBron James and Anthony Davis were both having MVP-contending seasons.
3) Clippers: Third best offense and fifth best defense in the league. Kawhi Leonard is as good as ever.
4) Raptors: Second best defense in the league. No one expected the Raptors to stay at this level this season.
5) Celtics: Fifth best offense and fourth best defense in the league.
6) Jazz: Will Rudy Gobert be with Utah by next season?
7) Heat: Jimmy Butler's fire is fun to watch.
8) Mavericks: Best offense in the league, efficiency-wise. Luka Doncic was rackign up triple-doubles and playing at an NBA MVP level.
9) Nuggets: Always slept on, Denver was one of the best second-tier teams in the league.
10) Thunder: Chris Paul wasn't done just yet.
11) Rockets: Second best offense in the league. Houston's super-smallball experiment was unique to watch in this league.
12) Sixers: As usual, Joel Embiid is great for the Sixers -- provided he's on the court.
13) Pacers: Great season from Domantas Sabonis. Victor Oladipo was still finding his form after a long-awaited return from injury.
14) Grizzlies: Ja Morant was having a Rookie of the Year type season.
15) Pelicans: Super-fun young core of talent, centered around Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, plus Lonzo Ball.
16) Blazers: Fourth worst defense in the league.
17) Nets: With Kevin Durant out and Kyrie Irving getting injured, the Nets were all about next season.
18) Magic: Center Nikola Vucevic deserves a positive mention. This is that.
19) Suns: Started the season strong, then steadily declined. Devin Booker gets buckets. Deandre Ayton has serious promise.
20) Kings: Nice scoring from the backcourt. Roster moves need to be made for this team to get over the hump.
21) Spurs: DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge don't have enough help. Probably best to trade them and rebuild from scratch.
22) Bulls: Second worst offense in the league.
23) Wizards: Worst defense in the league.
24) Knicks: There is some young talent here, but the roster needs a nearly complete overhaul.
25) Hornets: Third worst offense in the league.
26) Timberwolves: Huge stats from Karl-Anthony Towns, but it wasn't translating into wins. No matter what you think of KAT's effectiveness, the primary issue is the rest of the roster.
27) Pistons: A lost season. Blake Griffin was injured. Andre Drummond traded. The highlight was the play of 31-year-old former NBA MVP Derrick Rose.
28) Hawks: Third worst defense in the league.
29) Cavaliers: Second worst defense in the league.
30) Warriors: They barely played at an NBA level this season.