NBA Power Rankings: Bulls looking for boost down stretch
As the stretch run approaches, a look at where all 30 NBA teams stand.
Record: 15-42 (Last Five: 1-4)
O Rating: 107.0 (27th)
The quest for a top draft pick continues for a Rockets squad that is 4-19 since the All-Star break.
Record: 20-37 (Last Five: 0-5)
O Rating: 103.6 (30th)
Enough with all that sneaky, over-performing nonsense. The tank is out in full force in Oklahoma City, who enter a Monday matchup with the Wizards on a 10-game losing streak. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still two weeks away from re-evaluating a foot injury. The team is 1-12 since he went down.
Record: 15-43 (Last Five: 2-3)
O Rating: 107.5 (26th)
The Wolves are 8-18 since hiring Chris Finch, which is actually a rather significant improvement, especially considering Karl-Anthony Towns' continued development (averaging 25.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists in that span) and Anthony Edwards' tantalizing flashes. They're feisty, as the Bulls learned in a 121-117 loss on April 11.
Still, it behooves the Wolves to keep their record among the league's worst -- they owe their 2021 first-rounder to Golden State if it falls outside the top three.
Record: 17-40 (Last Five: 1-4)
O Rating: 108.3 (25th)
It's development time for the Pistons, who have expanded opportunity for Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart throughout the season, and just got Killian Hayes back from an extended absence.
Record: 18-39 (Last Five: 1-4)
O Rating: 105.3 (28th)
With a 3-10 record since trading Nikola Vučević, the Magic are hurdling towards a high lottery pick while seeing encouraging returns from a handful of prospects, including Chuma Okeke, Wendell Carter Jr. and Cole Anthony. In fact, if the season ended today, they'd be in line for two top-10 selections, along with the top-four protected first acquired from the Bulls.
Record: 20-36 (Last Five: 1-4)
O Rating: 104.9 (29th)
Their status as one of the youngest teams in the NBA -- with four current starters age 22 or younger -- is evident by the record and offensive rating. But steps forward by Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, and the acquisition of Jarrett Allen, intrigues for the future.
Record: 23-34 (Last Five: 1-4)
O Rating: 113.1 (12th)
The Kings snapped a nine-game losing streak with a win over the Mavericks Sunday and have fallen five games back of the last play-in spot in the West. Just three times this season have they held an opponent under 100 points.
Record: 23-33 (Last Five: 1-4)
O Rating: 110.9 (17th)
The Bulls exited the trade deadline with Vučević, and an abundance of optimism, but have unraveled since. They're 4-9 and own the 25th-rated defense in the association since March 25, and are two games into an extended absence for the COVID-19 protocol-enlisted Zach LaVine.
Still, they remain in the play-in race -- one game back in the loss column of 10th-place Toronto, and tied with the Wizards (against whom they own the tiebreaker) for 11th.
Record: 23-33 (Last Five: 4-1)
O Rating: 106.2 (26th)
The Wizards have won four straight and six of their last seven, and look a threat to supplant the Bulls and Raptors for the last play-in spot. The Bradley Beal-Russell Westbrook (averaging 22.9 points, 13.9 rebounds and 12.6 assists while shooting 50.4 percent in that span) partnership is coming to fruition.
Record: 24-34 (Last Five: 3-2)
O Rating: 111.1 (19th)
The Raptors continue to be one of the most injury- and protocol-stricken teams in the league, but enter Monday riding a three-game winning streak and have backed into play-in position. After a 31-point double-double against the Thunder that included six 3-pointers, Chis Boucher is averaging 15.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 10 games as a starter.
