Despite COVID-19 chaos, Celtics surge in many league power rankings

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/despite-covid-19-chaos-celtics-201709622.html



Despite COVID-19 chaos, Celtics surge in many league power rankings


Justin Quinn
Mon, January 11, 2021, 12:17 PM PST





While it’s hard to be excited over the excellent run the Boston Celtics have had after winning their last four games given their and the NBA’s uncertain short-term future with regard to COVID-19, the team has gotten a fair amount of love in several NBA power rankings.

Even as the same positive tests and players being held out as a precautionary measure began to limit the rotations of the Celtics, they continued their upward trajectory in the standings with wins over the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat and Washington Wizards over the last eight days to ascend to a tie atop the East standings with the Philadelphia 76ers.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at how several power rankings are assessing the Celtics.


CBS Sports - No. 2


Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Here, the Celtics get their best overall ranking -- and for good reason. "It was a whirlwind week for the Celtics, who beat the Raptors and Heat before losing half their team to COVID-19 protocols, writes CBS Sports' Colin Ward-Henninger. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown managed to power the depleted roster to victory over the Wizards before Sunday's game against the Heat was postponed," he added, noting Boston is "one of the hottest teams in the NBA" after winning six of its last seven.


ESPN - No. 6


Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN's Tim Bontemps reflects a similar sentiment -- even if their rankings are somewhat less bullish on the team -- noting the "week started out great for Boston". Like many around the NBA ecosphere, however, the analyst felt obligated to couch the success in some firmer, more somber footing. "(All) of the good feelings from four straight wins -- and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown playing at an All-NBA level -- went away as the team faces half its roster being sidelined," he observed.


Rookie Wire - No. 4


David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Our sister site holds the Celtics in pretty high regard at fourth overall in the league, with editor Cody Taylor noting Boston managed a win on Friday despite being down to nine players. As with many, for the Rookie Wire chief, the looming issue of the pandemic was also an inextricable phenomena though. "The Celtics had just eight players available to play on Sunday versus the Heat prior to the postponement, so the upcoming week should get quite interesting," he noted -- indeed.


Hoops Habit - No. 4


David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Hoops Habit's Corey Rausch believes Boston is among the NBA's elite at this moment of the season, noting the team kept its ship in order regardless of "who has been in and out of the lineup." "Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have taken turns being the leading scorer but both have been dominant in their own right and have made it so that the Celtics can weather the storm while the rest of the team gets healthy," he wrote. The question on all our minds is just how long -- and severe -- that storm may end up being.


NBC Sports Boston - No. 6


Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Finally, we turn to the hometown station that has covered and broadcast all of those recent wins, NBC Boston Sports and Darren Hartwell. You'll get no cries of favoritism here as they assess the Celtics as harshly as anyone at sixth overall, but Hartwell isn't down on the hometown team by any measure either. "Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown officially deserve consideration among the best duos in the NBA," he opines. "Rookie Payton Pritchard (aka "Fast PP" aka "P-Rabbit" aka "8 Mile") has been a revelation."


Bob



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I think I had them going 10-10 through the first 20 games.  I like to take the conservative approach.  .500 is not bad to start given no Kemba Walker and no GH.  But do the math, Boston would need to go 3-7 over their next 10 games to drop to .500.  

Any team that has 2 allstar players is more than capable of winning their share of games.  The primary reason why Boston is sitting at 7-3 (should be 9-1)  is the outstanding play of Tatum and Brown.  53.2 PPG 13.2 rebounds and 8.4 assists while shooting 50.2% from the field including a blistering 43% from deep and 82.3% from the line.  The remarkable parity between our two young stars reflects the chemistry between them.

Dboss so many teams have tried getting elite wings to be in the draft, we are obviously so blessed to land and develop these 2.

An update, as of 4/15.  So it does not include the victory over the Lakers but should include our victories over Denver and Portland.  I don't know how much weight they'll put into a win over a LeBron and AD-less Laker squad, but winning never hurts your standings.  Regardless I don't know how they can't give us more credit after beating three WC playoff teams, in their houses, in a row.  Miami's ranked above us?  Really? They're ranking Denver #8, and that's after acknowledging Jamal Murray's gone for the season, and they saw us destroy them in Denver without him?


https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/nba-power-rankings-celtics-clippers-rise-playoff-races-heat?int


NBA Power Rankings: Celtics, Clippers rise as playoff races heat up


Time flies when you're having fun.

The NBA playoffs officially begin one month from Sunday (May 18) with the play-in tournament, which will feature the seventh through tenth seeds in each conference battling for the final two spots.

As you'll find, the league is still pretty wide open, with plenty of bad teams within striking distance of the play-in tourney and a handful of teams hovering around .500 while they jockey for seeding.

But a few clubs have distinguished themselves since the NBA trade deadline to make their case as contenders. Our latest batch of NBA Power Rankings breaks down the title hopefuls, the full-blown tankers and every team in between.



BY DARREN HARTWELL
-
APR 15, 2021




USA TODAY SPORTS


Images of a grinning Jayson Tatum have been hard to come by this season. But when you just hit the game-clinching 3-pointer on your 32nd point of the night to lift your team to its fourth consecutive victory, you might as well crack a smile.

Tatum's stellar play has helped the Celtics vault back into the Eastern Conference playoff conversation, as they're one game back of the No. 4 seed Atlanta Hawks with 17 games remaining.

We've seen this story before, though: The C's went on winning streaks of five and four games earlier this season only to enter into a funk immediately after.

So, will things be different this time around? The good news is that Boston is (nearly) healthy, with Evan Fournier the only sidelined Celtic. But West Coast matchups with the Lakers and Warriors will test their mettle and determine whether it's time to take the C's seriously in the East playoff race.

Let's dive into this week's rankings.


30. Minnesota Timberwolves (14-42)

Last two rankings: 30, 30

The biggest development in Minnesota happened off the court, where Alex Rodriguez teamed up with businessman Marc Lore to buy the team from owner Glen Taylor. The news sparked speculation that the Timberwolves eventually may relocate to Seattle, where A-Rod began his baseball career (unbeknownst to Anthony Edwards.)


29. Houston Rockets (14-41)

Last two rankings: 28, 29

KJ Martin -- the son of Kenyon Martin -- is flashing upside as a shot-blocking big man (26 blocks in his first 28 games), while Christian Wood is back to elite form after a lengthy injury absence. There’s hope for the future in Houston, even if the present is bleak.


28. Orlando Magic (18-37)

Last two rankings: 27, 27

The Magic have fully embraced the tank, losing six of their last seven and three of those six games by at least 20 points (including a 46-point loss to the Jazz). They have a very real chance of landing two top-10 picks in the 2021 NBA Draft.


27. Detroit Pistons (16-39)

Last two rankings: 29, 28

Saddiq Bey is officially in the “steal of the NBA Draft” conversation alongside Tyrese Haliburton and Immanuel Quickley. The No. 19 pick ranks sixth among all rookies in points per game (11.3) and is averaging 18.6 points over his last five games thanks to two 25-point outbursts.


26. Oklahoma City Thunder (20-35)

Last two rankings: 24, 23

Complete list of Thunder players to score 40 points in a game: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Paul George, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and … Lu Dort. OKC has yet to win in April, but this team is somehow still compelling.


25. Cleveland Cavaliers (20-34)

Last two rankings: 27, 25

It’s been a roller-coaster week for the Cavs, who routed the Spurs and Thunder only to lose by 20 to the lowly Raptors and drop a close one to the Pelicans. Both Collin Sexton and Darius Garland are battling injuries right now, which doesn’t help their cause.


24. Washington Wizards (21-33)

Last two rankings: 25, 26

Bradley Beal has missed six of Washington’s last 10 games, and the Wizards unsurprisingly lost five of the contests he missed. If they want to sniff the play-in tournament (do they want to sniff the play-in tournament?), then they need Beal on the court.


23. Toronto Raptors (22-34)

Last two rankings: 25, 20

The Raptors appear to be throwing in the towel on their lost season. Kyle Lowry has played in just one of the team’s last nine games and joined Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr. and DeAndre' Bembry on the sideline Wednesday against the Spurs.


22. Sacramento Kings (22-33)

Last two rankings: 21, 24

Just when it looks like the Kings are about to turn the corner, they lose eight straight games by an average of more than 10 points per contest. Sacramento now sits five games out of a spot in the play-in tournament with just 17 games remaining.



21. Chicago Bulls (22-32)

Last two rankings: 23, 21

The Bulls are just 3-8 since acquiring Nikola Vucevic and suffered an ugly loss to his decimated former team Wednesday night. Chicago plays the Cavs twice over the next four games and could use a pair of wins there to get back in the playoff picture.


20. New Orleans Pelicans (25-30)

Last two rankings: 22, 22

Zion Williamson – aka the best under-25 big man in the NBA – continues to be a one-man wrecking ball and is averaging 30 points per game in April. New Orleans has won three of five to snap out of a recent funk.


19. Golden State Warriors (27-28)

Last two rankings: 17, 13

James Wiseman is out for the season with a torn meniscus, making Stephen Curry literally the only reason to tune into Warriors games. But Curry alone is reason enough, considering he’s making history on a regular basis.


18. Indiana Pacers (26-28)

Last two rankings: 20, 19

The returns of Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon and a 34-point effort from Caris LeVert on Sunday have helped the Pacers win four of their last five and move within one game of the Hornets for the No. 8 seed.


17. San Antonio Spurs (26-27)

Last two rankings: 11, 10

The Spurs finally halted a 2-10 skid with back-to-back wins over the Mavs and Magic – only to lose to that woefully shorthanded Raptors team Wednesday night. They’ve slid all the way down to ninth in the West and have the NBA’s second-toughest remaining schedule, per Tankathon.


16. Charlotte Hornets (27-27)

Last two rankings: 12, 14

The Hornets are 2-4 since losing Gordon Hayward to injury and could be in trouble without Hayward and LaMelo Ball. But that’s not why you’re here. You’re here for Miles Bridges’ detonation on Clint Capela on Sunday.


15. Memphis Grizzlies (27-26)

Last two rankings: 19, 18

Jonas Valanciunas has been an absolute monster since the All-Star break, averaging nearly 20 points and 15 rebounds per game. If Ja Morant continues to do his thing and Jaren Jackson Jr. is effective in his (eventual) return, the Grizzlies could be a tough out.


14. New York Knicks (29-27)

Last two rankings: 14, 17

The Knicks have won four straight while holding three of those opponents to 106 points or fewer, while RJ Barrett has supplied some impressive late-game heroics on offense. They have the NBA’s sixth-toughest schedule down the stretch, though, so now is no time to let up.


13. Boston Celtics (29-26)

Last two rankings: 18, 15

Have the Celtics finally figured things out? We don’t want to overreact to close wins over the Knicks and Timberwolves, but the C’s have had a different vibe about them amid a four-game win streak. It all starts with Jayson Tatum, who’s averaging 34.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game since Kendrick Perkins called him out on Twitter.


12. Miami Heat (28-27)

Last two rankings: 13, 11

The Heat snapped out of a lengthy funk to rip off wins in six of their last 10 games, as Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo have stepped up their play recently to put Miami back in the race for an opening-round home playoff series. Every game counts, though, as just two games separate the No. 7 seed Heat from the No. 4 Hawks.


11. Atlanta Hawks (30-25)

Last two rankings: 15, 16

The Hawks are hot again! The Hawks have won seven of eight since newcomer Lou Williams made his team debut. They’ve beaten some subpar teams, though, and have to play the Bucks twice over the next 10 days.


10. Dallas Mavericks (30-24)

Last two rankings: 10, 12

We had a blurb planned about Kristaps Porzingis needing to stay healthy. Then Luka Doncic went and did this Wednesday night. Is he human?


9. Portland Trail Blazers (31-23)

Last two rankings: 9, 9

Damian Lillard is only averaging 21.3 points per game this month, a sign that his heavy workload finally could be taking its toll. But with Dallas just one game of Portland in the No. 7 seed, the Blazers can't afford to take their foot off the gas if they want to avoid the play-in tournament.


8. Denver Nuggets (35-20)

Last two rankings: 7, 8

Jamal Murray’s season-ending injury is devastating on so many levels. The Nuggets were an absolute joy to watch with Murray, Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon on the court, but they’ll need to dig deep to stay afloat without their dynamic guard.


7. Los Angeles Lakers (34-21)

Last two rankings: 8, 5

The Lakers are 6-7 without LeBron James and Anthony Davis, which actually isn’t bad if you think about it. They may slide further in the West standings, but if James and Davis are healthy for the postseason, they’ll be a threat regardless of seed. (Side note: If they slip to No. 6, we could see a Lakers-Clippers first-round matchup. Yes please.)


6. Milwaukee Bucks (34-20)

Last two rankings: 6, 5

Three straight puzzling losses to the Warriors, Mavs and Hornets have the Bucks looking up at the Nets and 76ers in the East. But that’s far less concerning than the health of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has missed Milwaukee’s last six games due to a knee injury.


5. Philadelphia 76ers (38-17)

Last two rankings: 4, 3

Philly squeaked by the Kevin Durant- and James Harden-less Nets on Wednesday thanks to 39 points from Joel Embiid, who’s a firm second in the NBA MVP race behind Jokic. The Sixers continue to thrive at home (21-5), so you'd best believe they'll be pushing for the No. 1 seed.


4. Brooklyn Nets (37-18)

Last two rankings: 2, 1

Kevin Durant is averaging 23.3 points on 64.9% shooting through three games since his return from a hamstring injury. The Nets are ridiculously talented, so it’s just a matter of getting everyone on the court at the same time.


3. Los Angeles Clippers (39-18)

Last two rankings: 5, 7

The NBA’s three best teams currently reside out West. That’s thanks in part to the Clippers, who have won 13 of their last 15 behind phenomenal play from Western Conference Player of the Week Paul George. A marquee matchup with the Sixers awaits on Friday.


2. Phoenix Suns (39-15)

Last two rankings: 3, 3

The Suns have won 10 of 11 to guarantee themselves a winning record on the season with 18 games still to play: To put that in context: If they lost every one of their remaining games, they’d still finish with their best record since 2013-14.


1. Utah Jazz (41-14)

Last two rankings: 1, 2

After going 3-3 in their last six games, the Jazz are just 1.5 games up on the Suns for the top seed in the West. The good news: Utah has the second-easiest schedule down the stretch, per Tankathon.


Bob


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We have recently beaten 4 of the top 12 teams ranked ahead of us. Bob Ryan is one of the last sportswiters whose opinion I respect.