NBA Power Rankings: Who's Hot, Who's Not Heading into the Postseason

The very last days of the NBA regular season are upon us, as are a final batch of freshly baked power rankings before the postseason gets underway. 

The Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder remain in the hunt for a one-seed, while the Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz are holding onto a playoff berth for dear life.

And then there's lottery-bound teams, some of which are tanking their way toward the top of the draft order.

Things are certainly heating up heading down the stretch, or cooling down, depending on which team you're looking at. 

30. Charlotte Bobcats

Record: 7-56

Last 10: 0-10

Hot or Not: Not

The Bobcats are bad. Historically bad, in fact.

Charlotte has lost 20 in a row, and must win at least one of its final three games to avoid finishing the year with the worst winning percentage in NBA history.

While that reality is more than unflattering, at least it gives the Bobcats something to play for the rest of the week.

29. Sacramento Kings

Record: 21-43

Last 10: 2-8

Hot or Not: Not

What can we say about the Kings?

Aside from the all-too-obvious issues upstairs, Sacramento is a wealth of turmoil on the court as well.

The Kings are fresh off a seven-game losing streak, and are set to close out the season against the Lakers and Thunder.

Lucky them.

28. Washington Wizards

Record: 17-46

Last 10: 5-5

Hot or Not: Hot

That's right, the Wizards are hot—scorching by their standards, actually.

With their win over Miami, Washington set a season-high winning streak at three straight victories.

Nothing like closing the season out on one of the lowest highs there is.

27. Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: 21-42

Last 10: 3-7

Hot or Not: Not

I won't come right out and say the Cavaliers are tanking, but it is implied.

The Knicks had to basically force-feed a victory down their throats on Friday night, suggesting the Cavaliers knew there was more at stake than playing spoiler.

Fittingly enough, Cleveland openly welcomed a loss from the incredibly consistent Spurs on Sunday night.

26. New Jersey Nets

Record: 22-42

Last 10: 3-7

Hot or Not: Not

It hasn't been going well for the Nets. 

Not only has Deron Williams been riddled with injuries, but there are just two games left before he has his choice of teams to play for.

Combine that with the "MVP" chants the bitter New Jersey crowd gave courtesy of LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony last week, and the Nets have themselves a full-fledged nightmare.

At least Jay-Z is still a minority owner. 

25. Toronto Raptors

Record: 22-42

Last 10: 3-7

Hot or Not: Not

Just when you think the Raptors have turned a corner, they start playing like the Raptors again.

After consecutive victories over the Hawks and Celtics, Toronto appeared to have embraced the role of spoiler. However, the team showed up as its usual, listless self against the Heat and Hawks and came up short versus the Pistons.

The Raptors have been a tease all season, but now appear to have embraced their role as one of the NBA's basement teams.

24. Golden State Warriors

Record: 23-41

Last 10: 2-8

Hot or Not: Not 

Remember when Stephen Curry actually played basketball? Yeah, neither do the Warriors.

Since trading Monta Ellis, Golden State is just 6-20. Not much else can be expected of a team with two of its best players, Curry and Andrew Bogut, watching from the sidelines.

Better days are just around the corner, though—or at least that's been the Warriors' party line for nearly a decade.

23. Minnesota Timberwolves

Record: 26-39

Last 10: 1-9

Hot or Not: Not

Midway through the season, the Timberwolves were toiling with the prospect of a playoff berth. After losing Ricky Rubio for the season and watching Kevin Love battle injuries, though, it simply wasn't in the cards.

That said, Minnesota's dismal second half has not been enough to eclipse the optimism surrounding what this team can do next season.

And considering how often the Timberwolves have been losing, that's a victory in itself.

22. Detroit Pistons

Record: 24-40

Last 10: 3-7

Hot or Not: Not

Though the 39-point romping of the tanking Cavaliers was impressive, the same fire the Pistons played with in February and March is nowhere to be found.

Detroit is coming off a hard-fought win against the Toronto, one it sorely needed as it finishes the season playing two playoff teams in Philadelphia and Indiana.

The Pistons have had their share of enlightening performances this season, but as they close out the season, it's clear there is still a lot of work to be done.

21. Portland Trail Blazers

Record: 28-36

Last 10: 3-7

Hot or Not: Not

Not much has changed in Portland since Nate McMillan was canned, as this incredibly talented team continues to underachieve.

The Blazers have lost five in a row and simply cannot wait for the season end.

Before the Portland faithful can put this disconcerting year behind them, two very hungry and talented teams await them in the Spurs and Jazz. 

20. New Orleans Hornets

Record: 20-44

Last 10: 6-4

Hot or Not: Scorching

Loss to the Clippers aside, is there any lottery-bound team exerting more effort than the Hornets?

New Orleans has been on fire over the past month, rattling off victories against the NBA's basement teams and remaining competitive when pitted against the league's best.

The Jarrett Jack craze is steadily sweeping the basketball nation and, along with a new owner, the Hornets have found a new lease on the future.

19. Milwaukee Bucks

Record: 30-33

Last 10: 5-5

Hot or Not: Lukewarm 

The Bucks haven't exactly risen to the occasion, as they remain a long shot to make the postseason.

However, the fact Milwaukee even put itself in a position to rise to the occasion speaks volumes as to how talented this team has the potential to be.

A victory over the Nets kept the Bucks' playoff hopes alive, but it's going to take a miracle for them to clinch a postseason berth. 

18. Houston Rockets

Record: 33-32

Last 10: 3-7

Hot or Not: Not

The Rockets lost six straight before defeating the Warriors, but were eliminated from playoff contention against the Heat.

Houston seemed poised to skate into the playoffs at one point, but has tapered off quite a bit, despite the surprisingly impressive play of Goran Dragic and Marcus Camby.

After thriving in the face of adversity for most of the season, the Rockets finally folded to reality.

17. Orlando Magic

Record: 36-28

Last 10: 4-6

Hot or Not: Not, a thousand times over

After losing Dwight Howard for the remainder of the year, it's no surprise the Magic are anything but hot.

Orlando is 2-8 without Howard and stands little to no chance of making any postseason noise without its anchor in the middle.

Should the Magic fall to a Bobcats team looking to avoid making history, they will officially have hit rock bottom.

16. Phoenix Suns

Record: 33-31

Last 10: 5-5

Hot or Not: Hot

The Suns' playoff aspirations took a turn for the worse after falling at home to the Nuggets, but credit their resilience outside of that game.

With one of the toughest schedules to close out the season, Phoenix has managed to play .500 ball and, at the very least, keep itself a part of the postseason conversation.

Playoff berth or no playoff berth, the Suns remain an exciting team to watch with Steve Nash at the helm.

15. Philadelphia 76ers

Record: 33-30

Last 10: 4-6

Hot or Not: Heating up

After a strong start, the Sixers have played well below .500 ball, but credit them for winning when it counts most.

With the Bucks breathing down their necks, Philadelphia has rattled off two straight victories, one of which came against the third-seeded Pacers.

The battle for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot is far from over, but after winning under circumstances the Bucks couldn't, you have to like the Sixers' chances to clinch. 

14. Utah Jazz

Record: 34-30

Last 10: 6-4

Hot or Not: Hot

After two tough losses to the Hornets and Mavericks, the Jazz have picked it up.

Utah has won its last three and has a one-game hold on the Western Conference's final playoff spot.

Hardly anyone expected the Jazz to have anything to play for this season, yet they find themselves one victory away from clinching an improbable postseason berth. 

13. Denver Nuggets

Record: 36-28

Last 10: 7-3

Hot or Not: Hot

After a brief stint outside of the playoff bubble, the Nuggets have hit their stride down the stretch.

Not only has Denver clinched a postseason appearance, but it currently has a half-game lead on Dallas for the Western Conference's sixth seed.

Regardless of where the Nuggets finish, their unselfish dynamic makes them a threat to make a serious postseason push.

12. Atlanta Hawks

Record: 38-26

Last 10: 7-3 

Hot or Not: Lukewarm

The Hawks have managed to win games as of late, but their victories have come against ill-fated opponents.

It took a full 48 minutes for Atlanta to put away Boston's docket of fill-ins, despite there being so much at stake, and that's disconcerting. 

The Hawks have struggled against the NBA's better teams all season, and after their loss to the Knicks, there is some serious doubt as to whether Joe Johnson and company can make any noise in the postseason.

11. New York Knicks

Record: 34-30

Last 10: 7-3

Hot or Not: Hot-ish 

While the Knicks have been able to put together a string of victories, complacency is still a major issue.

New York's win over Atlanta helped strengthen its resume, but an inexcusable loss to a tanking Cavaliers team still lingers.

With the postseason around the corner, the Knicks are riding high on a 16-6 record under Mike Woodson. Until they exhibit urgency on a consistent basis, though, their potential will continue to be questioned.   

10. Dallas Mavericks

Record: 36-29

Last 10: 5-5

Hot or Not: Not

The roller coaster ride that is the Mavericks continues.

After toiling with the prospect of making a play for home-court advantage, Dallas settled back into its less-than-impressive saddle as the West's seventh-place team.

The Mavericks are losers of three straight on the road and have proved inept away from home all year.

They finish the season up in Atlanta later this week, a game they sorely need to win to not only ensure a playoff berth, but to ensure they are in the right frame of mind moving forward.

9. Boston Celtics

Record: 37-27

Last 10: 7-3

Hot or Not: Lukewarm

The Celtics have been one of the hottest teams since the All-Star break, but thanks to a cast of fragile bodies, they find themselves cooling off.

After a pair of questionable defensive displays against the Knicks and Dwight Howard-less Magic, Boston's second unit played admirably Friday night against the Hawks when Doc Rivers opted to rest the Big Four.

They're no longer scorching, but they're still the Celtics, and they cannot be counted out.

8. Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 39-25

Last 10: 8-2

Hot or Not: Hot

The Grizzlies are at it again.

Memphis has won four in a row and is threatening to make a play for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

With two extremely winnable games left on their docket, the Grizzlies have both the Clippers and Lakers looking over their shoulders and remain a team no one wants to see in the opening round.

And who could blame them?

7. Indiana Pacers

Record: 41-23

Last 10: 8-2

Hot or Not: Scalding

Most recent loss to the Sixers aside, the Pacers have been absolutely phenomenal.

Indiana is fresh off a seven-game winning streak, has gone 11-2 in the month of April and positioned itself amid the top of the Eastern Conference. 

While Dwight Howard's absence from the Magic has helped the Pacers' surge, there is no denying this team is as blistering as can be heading into the postseason.  

6. Los Angeles Clippers

Record: 40-24

Last 10: 8-2

Hot or Not: Hot

After five straight victories, the Clippers fell to the Suns but picked themselves right back up with a victory over the Hornets.

Though the Grizzlies are hot on their trail, the Clippers seem poised for a strong finish and even stronger postseason.

Just ask the Thunder.

5. Los Angeles Lakers

Record: 41-24

Last 10: 6-4

Hot or Not: Hot

Kobe Bryant is back and so are the Lakers.

After a disheartening loss at the hands of the Spurs, the Lakers' ability to hang with the West's top two teams came under fire once again.

However, their come-from-behind victory against the Thunder has put all that talk to rest.

At least for now.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

Record: 46-18

Last 10: 6-4

Hot or Not: Not

The city of Los Angeles was not kind to the Thunder over the past week, and as a result, Oklahoma City no longer has a stranglehold on the top seed out West. 

Although the concussion suffered by James Harden didn't help the Thunder's cause Sunday, blowing an 11-point lead with four minutes to play is inexcusable—and not indicative of a team ready to clean up in the playoffs.

3. Chicago Bulls

Record: 48-16

Last 10: 6-4

Hot or Not: Lukewarm

The Bulls have the best record in the NBA, but the Derrick Rose plot continues to thicken, as does the uncertainty surrounding the team.

Chicago took care of business against Dallas, which is encouraging, but the Bulls are just 6-5 in April and have struggled to close out games against inferior opponents.

That said, never sleep on a Rose-led squad, injuries and all, as this recent stretch could just be the result of an inconsistent rotation.

2. Miami Heat

Record: 46-18

Last 10: 7-3

Hot or Not: Hot

The Heat lost to the Wizards, but were without LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade for most of the game.

Miami rebounded quickly with a win over Houston on Sunday and still has an outside chance of overthrowing Chicago for the Eastern Conference's top seed.

Even if the Heat fall just short of the No. 1 seed again, they are as dangerous a team as there is come playoff time.

A shorthanded loss to the Wizards cannot change that, nor can it eclipse their recent victory over the Bulls.

1. San Antonio Spurs

Record: 47-16

Last 10: 8-2

Hot or Not: Blazing

The Spurs are 18-2 in their last 20—including seven straight—and are making a play for the NBA's best record.

Despite an aging roster, San Antonio has managed to remain far more consistent and dominant than its younger counterparts in Miami, Oklahoma City and Chicago.

After avoiding another late-season collapse, the Spurs also appear poised to avoid another postseason meltdown.

It doesn't hurt that they have officially avoided a first-round matchup against the Grizzlies.

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