<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Get all of Jeremy Woo's columns as soon as they\u2019re published. Download the new Sports Illustrated app (iOS&amp;nbsp;or&amp;nbsp;Android) and personalize your experience by following your favorite teams and SI writers.&lt;/em&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;So, uh, here we are. How does it feel? Weird, right? There are three days left in what\u2019s been an altogether-stimulating 82-game season. There are records still to break, legends still to depart, some seeding to sort out, and before long, four rounds of playoff basketball. With all that still to come, rather than mince words and jump to conclusions up here, we\u2019ll run through\u2014in layman\u2019s terms\u2014what we learned about all 30 teams this season.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To quote Sam Hinkie, quoting Tesla\u2019s Elon Musk: Musk describes his everyday stance as, \u201CYou should take the approach that you\u2019re wrong. Your goal is to be less wrong.\u201D &amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;After months of trying to be increasingly less wrong, here are SI.com\u2019s final regular season Power Rankings. Thanks for reading.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;\u2022 MORE NBA: Warriors tie 72-win Bulls | Golden Season: Pursuing of history&lt;/strong&gt;\r\n\r\n\r\nNBA POWER RANKINGS: WEEK 24\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t1\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t1Golden State Warriors\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;1\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;72\u20139 (3\u20131)\r\n\r\n\tWhat have we learned about the Warriors? Check back on Wednesday. Why? Oh, no reason at all.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t2\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t2San Antonio Spurs\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;2\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;65\u201315 (1\u20133)\r\n\r\n\tThis might be Gregg Popovich\u2019s best Spurs team ever, and this might be one of the best defensive teams ever, period, but in this strange world, this is clearly the second-best regular-season team in the league. Here\u2019s hoping for seven games with Golden State.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t3\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t3Cleveland Cavaliers\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;3\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;56\u201324 (1\u20132)\r\n\r\n\tThe Cavs are who we thought they were: the best team in the East with a lot of personality quirks and hitches that may or may not sideline their title hopes. That, or still having no proper personnel answer for the Warriors. TBD.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t4\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t4Oklahoma City Thunder\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;4\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;54\u201326 (1\u20132)\r\n\r\n\tHonestly, we were never going to learn anything about the Thunder until the playoffs. They\u2019ve got more to prove than anybody, and the eventual outcome might mean more for the future, too. Get your popcorn ready.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t5\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t5Los Angeles Clippers\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;6\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;52\u201328 (4\u20130)\r\n\r\n\tL.A. probably isn\u2019t better without Blake Griffin, but the Clippers showed their mettle in staying the course and are likely to get another crack at the Warriors. But, a 2\u20138 mark against the West\u2019s top three teams doesn\u2019t bode well.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t6\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t6Toronto Raptors\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;5\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;54\u201326 (3\u20131)\r\n\r\n\tThis team is for real, at least for now, and looks ready to add the franchise\u2019s first playoff series win since 2001. Whether a deep run is in store or not, the case for DeMar DeRozan to stick around has been made in full.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t7\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t7Atlanta Hawks\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;7\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;48\u201332 (3\u20130)\r\n\r\n\tThere\u2019s stability here. After mulling breaking up the band at the deadline, Atlanta turned into the East\u2019s best post-break team. The Hawks went 17\u20138 with a +7.3 net rating and a league best 96.2 defensive rating and look bound for the third seed. That said, the conference finals are a taller task this time around.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t8\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t8Boston Celtics\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;9\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;47\u201333 (2\u20131)\r\n\r\n\tNot only is this franchise in great position for the next decade, it turns out Boston is also a dangerous playoff team, and suddenly a quite-viable destination for free agents (cough, Durant, cough). There are few fan bases that should feel better about themselves right now.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t9\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t9Miami Heat\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;11\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;47\u201333 (3\u20131)\r\n\r\n\tIt doesn\u2019t appear Chris Bosh will be back this season. That said, the Heat continue to extend their post-LeBron success and look dangerous entering the playoffs. And that\u2019s exactly where they hoped they\u2019d be, right?\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t10\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t10Charlotte Hornets\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;8\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;46\u201334 (2\u20132)\r\n\r\n\tA year after the hype, the Hornets are very much back, fully transformed into a well-coached, three-point happy unit. There are a lot of expiring contracts to deal with, but not before what could be a playoff run worth paying some attention. Kemba\u2019s done it before, after all.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t11\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t11Portland Trail Blazers\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;10\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;43\u201338 (2\u20131)\r\n\r\n\tWe actually learned a hell of a lot about the Blazers, who in fact are still a stable team led by a dominant player in Damian Lillard, and not a depleted also-ran. The playoffs are icing on the cake.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t12\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t12Detroit Pistons\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;12\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;43\u201337 (2\u20131)\r\n\r\n\tNo surprise, Stan Van built a functional machine greater than the sum of its parts\u2014it just came together a little faster than you might have thought. Relevance feels good!\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t13\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t13Indiana Pacers\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;14\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;43\u201337 (2\u20131)\r\n\r\n\tHealthy Paul George returned a bankable star, and now the clock is ticking to build him the proper vehicle. Myles Turner was a steal, but there are still needs to address all over. The Pacers couldn\u2019t close out games for the life of them. But was this season a net win? No doubt.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t14\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t14Dallas Mavericks\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;15\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;41\u201339 (2\u20131)\r\n\r\n\tDirk: still Dirk. Carlisle: still Carlisle. Mavericks? Still kicking, sort of.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t15\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t15Memphis Grizzlies\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;16\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;42\u201338 (1\u20132)\r\n\r\n\tIt turns out the Grizzlies\u2019 front office can grit and grind too, with a record number of players taking the court on the way to a highly improbable playoff berth. If Mike Conley returns to lead this rogues\u2019 gallery and Marc Gasol comes back effective, why can\u2019t Memphis stay relevant?\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t16\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t16Utah Jazz\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;13\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;40\u201340 (1\u20132)\r\n\r\n\tOne of the league\u2019s best young groups began to play like it, and the Jazz have found a style that appears to suit them. Point guard remains the big off-season question. Remember Dante Exum? Brush up.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t17\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t17Houston Rockets\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;17\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;39\u201342 (1\u20132)\r\n\r\n\tThe Rockets got complacent and never once looked the part of a contender, fooling many, myself included. The biggest question is whether new leadership can make a difference, and exactly how far the team will go to effect some change.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t18\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t18Chicago Bulls\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;18\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;40\u201340 (1\u20132)\r\n\r\n\tIt\u2019s time for a shake-up. If missing the playoffs triggers that then it won\u2019t be a wholly lost season for the Bulls, who have lost their identity and are set to lose some talent barring unexpected free-agent savvy. The Thibs hangover was real.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t19\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t19Minnesota Timberwolves\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;23\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;28\u201352 (3\u20130)\r\n\r\n\tIf this seems a little high for a 28-win team, that\u2019s because it is. The last two weeks have birthed an appropriately healthy Karl-Anthony Towns bandwagon, and KAT is the best thing that ever happened to Andrew Wiggins, and the Wolves don\u2019t seem to think Zach LaVine is a shooting guard anymore, and that\u2019s a pretty nice, neat outcome after some laborious patches of season. Think big, because why not?\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t20\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t20Washington Wizards\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;19\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;39\u201341 (2\u20131)\r\n\r\n\tAfter a quiet off-season that backfired and a playoff miss, the whole sign-KD thing feels far-fetched now, and this might be it for Randy Wittman. John Wall is still awesome, but the Wizards are still kind of in limbo. This could go so many different directions from here.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t21\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t21Orlando Magic\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;20\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;34\u201346 (1\u20132)\r\n\r\n\tSo this wasn\u2019t the year it all came together, but for a couple months, Orlando was exciting. You\u2019d think there is more, not less of that to come.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t22\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t22Milwaukee Bucks\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;21\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;33\u201347 (1\u20132)\r\n\r\n\tFull time point guard Giannis is coming. Run.\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t23\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t23Denver Nuggets\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;22\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;33\u201348 (1\u20132)\r\n\r\n\tThe most effective rookie on this team wasn\u2019t even Emmanuel Mudiay: for whatever it\u2019s worth, Nikola Jokic entered Sunday in the league\u2019s Top 10 in Real Plus-Minus. The actual Top 10, not the rookie one. Point being, it\u2019s not a bad time to get excited about the Nuggets \u2026\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t24\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t24New York Knicks\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;24\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;32\u201349 (1\u20132)\r\n\r\n\tThe Carmelo era has reached a breaking point, the Porzingis saga is just beginning, and Phil Jackson still hasn\u2019t figured out social media (or exactly where this team is going). On go the Knicks.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t25\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t25Sacramento Kings\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;25\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;32\u201348 (1\u20132)\r\n\r\n\tWell, DeMarcus Cousins averaged 26 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, and a block, and is one of just seven players to ever do that. He also had 17 technical fouls (but only one ejection!) Boogie ascended as the most talented center in the NBA, but is also still a massive enigma. We are no closer to solving that mystery.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t26\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t26Phoenix Suns\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;27\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;22\u201358 (2\u20131)\r\n\r\n\tDevin Booker is a real piece, and that\u2019s big. If Eric Bledsoe comes back strong, that\u2019s two. Sure, Phoenix hit the skids in one sense, but it\u2019s not a wholly unattractive destination for a coach. The crash-and-burn could have been worse, all things considered.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t27\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t27New Orleans Pelicans\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;26\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;30\u201350 (1\u20133)\r\n\r\n\tWith certainty, we can now say this is not an optimal core to place around Anthony Davis, who should in theory make that job extremely easy. All the injuries aside, an awkward-fitting backcourt and unskilled frontcourt need shuffling. I\u2019m willing to give Alvin Gentry a mulligan, but a one-year turnaround is wishful thinking.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t28\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t28Los Angeles Lakers\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;28\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;16\u201364 (0\u20134)\r\n\r\n\tThe Lakers\u2019 next phase is far from stable, and frankly, what worse scenario could you have imagined? The tank certainly succeeded, but with Byron Scott\u2019s general mishandling of things and D\u2019Angelo Russell learning lessons the extremely-hard way, this franchise comes away no more secure than it was a year ago. Lottery balls in a bad draft may not change that.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t29\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t29Brooklyn Nets\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;29\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;21\u201359 (0\u20133)\r\n\r\n\tIt was never a secret that it would be a long couple of years. Getting the new front office settled helps, and cost-effective pickups like Sean Kilpatrick suggest some savvy. Once we know who the next coach is and what\u2019s to become of Brooklyn\u2019s handful of veterans, the arc of the rebuild will take better shape.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t30\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t30Philadelphia 76ers\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t&amp;nbsp;\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\tlast week:&amp;nbsp;30\r\n\r\n\trecord:&amp;nbsp;10\u201370 (1\u20132)\r\n\r\n\tIf Sam Hinkie were still around, it\u2019d be easy to make some sort of statement about the progress of the process (which would still be very much up for debate). This is kind of morbid, but until we get a look at all of the Sixers\u2019 chips, it\u2019s hard to say anything about their long-term prospects with assurance. Props to the Colangelos, though, for winning the game of thrones.\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.si.com/nba/2016/04/11/nba-power-rankings-warriors-spurs-cavaliers-stephen-curry-lebron-james-kobe-bryant>