By Law Murray | The Athletic, 2026-03-30 15:07:28
本周推荐专辑：Wet Leg，《Moisturizer》（2025年）
现在已是3月底。直到现在，我才在本赛季现场看完了全部30支NBA球队的比赛。常规赛即将结束，这意味着我们需要进行一些必要的“大扫除”。
其中一项需要处理的事务就是奖项。我今天不是来讨论评选资格的——上周我已经抱怨过了。关于奖项最有趣的一点是，它们让那些没能获奖、甚至没被考虑的人成了“遗珠”。但很多球员并不想要你的爱，他们只想战斗。
今年我会为正式奖项投票，但在这里，我们要为每支球队的一名球员颁发“实力榜先锋奖 (Power Rankings Frontier Award)”！这是你能获得的第三高荣誉，仅次于MVP和年度黑粉奖 (Player Hater of the Year)。我猜年度最佳第六人大概排在第六位。（为什么叫先锋奖？听着，我们喜欢分梯队。）说到这里……
补充说明：本实力榜不仅会对每支球队进行排名，我们还将保留梯队制度，球队会根据表现升入或降出相应梯队。每周共有五个梯队：
- 顶级争冠者 (Top Contenders) – 固定为五支球队，他们是联盟的佼佼者
- 处境良好 (In a Good Place) – 可能是一支球队，也可能是七支
- 泡泡区 (The Bubble) – 别和迪士尼世界的“泡泡区”搞混了。这里是中游球队
- 无需畏惧的梯队 (Not the Tier to Fear) – 表现不是联盟最差，但还有很多工作要做
- 垫底梯队 (Basement Floor) – 敬陪末座
对实力榜的预期：
- 这些是我主观的排名。我会考虑各种客观指标，但最终由我决定。
- 这些排名不仅是对过去一周的回顾——我们也会展望未来，所以它是两者的平衡。
- 排名是主观的，但并非心存偏见。实力榜中没有私人恩怨，我们力求建立一个包容的功绩制度。
- 这些排名具备的一个品质是：“残酷的侵略性”。
- 请享受比赛，也请享受排名！
在《The Athletic》第24周的NBA实力榜中，我们将为每支球队颁发“先锋奖”。胜负记录和其他统计数据截至周日的比赛。
第一梯队：顶级争冠者
1. 圣安东尼奥马刺 (56胜18负)
上期排名： 2
过去一周： 客胜热火，客胜灰熊，客胜雄鹿
进攻效率： 118.4 (第4)防守效率： 110.1 (第3)
先锋奖： 朱利安·尚帕尼 (Julian Champagnie)
中锋维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama)已经表达了他对MVP的渴望，想必他也是年度最佳防守球员和至高外星领袖的有力竞争者。但他并没有为“实力榜先锋奖”拉票。本赛季这个奖项将颁给尚帕尼，他从2022年的落选秀，到2023年被费城76人裁掉，再到自元旦以来成为圣安东尼奥马刺的首发常客。尚帕尼表现得既耐用又稳定，本赛季打满了马刺的每一场比赛，三分命中率达到38.3%。在此期间，马刺继续横扫联盟，自2月初以来在26场比赛中赢下了24场。
2. 俄克拉荷马城雷霆 (59胜16负)
上期排名： 1
过去一周： 客胜76人，客负凯尔特人，主胜公牛，主胜尼克斯
进攻效率： 117.3 (第7)防守效率： 106.3 (第1)
先锋奖： 谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)
你不可能赢下所有比赛！（尽管雷霆可能想赢下全部，因为输给波士顿凯尔特人为马刺留下了反超的机会。）俄克拉荷马城雷霆回到家后恢复得很好，大胜芝加哥公牛，并在对阵纽约尼克斯的比赛中赢得了一场硬仗。在那场比赛最后5分12秒，亚历山大个人得分以10-7压制了整个尼克斯队。他还为全明星队友切特·霍姆格伦 (Chet Holmgren) 送出了两次轻松得分的机会，确保分差保持在两位数。如果赛季是从10月开始的（我很确定确实如此），那么亚历山大就是联盟的MVP。
3. 底特律活塞 (54胜20负)
上期排名： 3
过去一周： 主胜湖人，主负老鹰，主胜鹈鹕，客胜森林狼
进攻效率： 117.0 (第9)防守效率： 108.7 (第2)
先锋奖： 凯德·坎宁安 (Cade Cunningham)
肺部伤势可能会让坎宁安失去入选最佳阵容的机会，虽然底特律活塞在他缺阵的情况下继续赢球，但他们需要他在季后赛前及时回归。坎宁安去年的个人表现可能更好，得分、篮板和命中率都更高。但他本赛季对胜利的影响力提升了。
4. 波士顿凯尔特人 (50胜24负)
上期排名： 5
过去一周： 主胜雷霆，主胜老鹰，客胜黄蜂
进攻效率： 119.4 (第2)防守效率： 111.5 (第4)
先锋奖： 德里克·怀特 (Derrick White)
这是凯尔特人证明实力的一周。他们终结了雷霆的连胜，击败了老鹰，然后通过大胜夏洛特黄蜂报了本赛季最惨痛失利之一的一箭之仇。最后两场胜利是在杰伦·布朗 (Jaylen Brown) 因跟腱伤势休战的情况下取得的。怀特也缺席了对阵黄蜂的比赛，且在对阵老鹰时表现挣扎，但他一直是凯尔特人攻防两端极其稳定和可靠的力量，在助攻、抢断、盖帽和三分球方面均领先全队。
5. 克利夫兰骑士 (46胜28负)
上期排名： 6
过去一周： 主胜魔术，主负热火，主胜热火
进攻效率： 118.2 (第6)防守效率： 113.9 (第15)
先锋奖： 多诺万·米切尔 (Donovan Mitchell)
这个选择很简单，因为米切尔本赛季一直是克利夫兰骑士阵中稳定的存在，本周他的出场次数也达到了65场。骑士在与热火的主场系列赛中平分秋色，同时也击败了魔术。随着贾勒特·阿伦 (Jarrett Allen) 的回归，对于即将开启西征的克利夫兰骑士来说，这是一个扎实的一周。
第二梯队：处境良好
6. 洛杉矶湖人 (48胜26负)
上期排名： 7
过去一周： 客负活塞，客胜步行者，主胜篮网
进攻效率： 117.2 (第8)防守效率： 115.7 (第20)
先锋奖： 卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Dončić)
湖人拥有一股强大的力量——东契奇，他以场均33.7分领跑全联盟。东契奇本赛季已经有15场比赛得分达到40+；这几乎是每领到一次技术犯规就对应一场40+。幸运的是，40+的比赛不会被取消，湖人本月也从未遭遇过连败。
7. 纽约尼克斯 (48胜27负)
上期排名： 4
过去一周： 主胜鹈鹕，客负黄蜂，客负雷霆
进攻效率： 118.5 (第3)防守效率： 112.2 (第6)
先锋奖： 米卡尔·布里奇斯 (Mikal Bridges)
说到“出勤率”，没有人比布里奇斯更有发言权了，他进入联盟八个赛季以来从未缺席过任何一场比赛。布里奇斯的得分在今年有所下降，但在其他方面都有所提高，他完美履行了高薪“胶水球员”的职责，在尼克斯使用多后卫阵容时发挥了重要作用。希望这些阵容能继续包含迈尔斯·麦克布莱德 (Miles McBride)，他在周日客场对阵雷霆的比赛中复出时间被缩短了。尼克斯本月开局取得了几场高质量的胜利，但本周却空手而归。
8. 丹佛掘金 (48胜28负)
上期排名： 8
过去一周： 客胜太阳，主胜独行侠，主胜爵士，主胜勇士
进攻效率： 120.7 (第1)防守效率： 116.0 (第21)
先锋奖： 贾马尔·穆雷 (Jamal Murray)
掘金获得了几天的休息时间，而且他们之后没有背靠背比赛了。他们目前基本保持健康（除了阿隆·戈登 (Aaron Gordon) 正在处理小腿紧绷的问题），并且正处于六连胜中，这是他们三个月来最长的连胜。别在意他们赢的是哪些球队，因为他们上一场失利是在孟菲斯。赢下你能赢且该赢的比赛。我把这个奖项颁给首次入选全明星的穆雷，因为在他NBA生涯的第10个赛季，他在得分、篮板、助攻、三分球以及投篮和三分命中率上都创下了职业生涯新高，同时也是这十年中首次出场达到70场。这是一项必要的成就，尤其是考虑到丹佛掘金本赛季在尼古拉·约基奇 (Nikola Jokić)、戈登、克里斯蒂安·布劳恩 (Christian Braun)、卡梅隆·约翰逊 (Cameron Johnson) 和佩顿·沃森 (Peyton Watson) 缺阵了这么久的情况下。
9. 明尼苏达森林狼 (45胜29负)
上期排名： 10
过去一周： 主胜火箭，客负活塞
进攻效率： 115.5 (第12)防守效率： 112.2 (第8)
先锋奖： 朱利叶斯·兰德尔 (Julius Randle)
你可以对兰德尔的缺点说很多，现在他手感比明尼哈哈瀑布还要冷，正是吐槽的好时机。但必须指出的一点是，他总是准时出赛。自2025年2月底以来，他从未缺席过森林狼的比赛。兰德尔在明尼苏达森林狼对阵火箭的历史性加时逆转中包办了最后7分，而且他的助攻数也领先全队。森林狼需要安东尼·爱德华兹 (Anthony Edwards) 回归，但兰德尔是球队不至于崩盘的重要原因。
10. 休斯顿火箭 (45胜29负)
上期排名： 9
过去一周： 客负公牛，客负森林狼，客胜灰熊，客胜鹈鹕
进攻效率： 116.6 (第11)防守效率： 112.2 (第7)
先锋奖： 阿门·汤普森 (Amen Thompson)
火箭以客场击败灰熊和鹈鹕结束了旅程，但此前他们在芝加哥和明尼苏达遭遇了耻辱性的失利。休斯顿火箭的比赛非常刺激，因为你永远无法确定比赛是否真的结束了。直到上周火箭的表现之前，你可能从未见过一支球队在加时赛中浪费两位数的领先优势。我最心疼阿门·汤普森，他是一名影响力极大的球员，不应该被迫担任球队的主要得分手或组织者，而且可能永远成不了一名投手。
多伦多的斯科蒂·巴恩斯能以多种方式影响比赛。Nick Turchiaro / Imagn Images
11. 多伦多猛龙 (42胜32负)
上期排名： 13
过去一周： 客胜爵士，客负快船，主胜鹈鹕，主胜魔术
进攻效率： 114.5 (第16)防守效率： 112.1 (第5)
先锋奖： 斯科蒂·巴恩斯 (Scottie Barnes)
五年前，在一个平淡无奇的赛季里，“坦帕猛龙”曾以53分的分差击败金州勇士。那个夏天，猛龙搬回了多伦多并选中了巴恩斯。现在，巴恩斯带领猛龙以52分大胜魔术，确保了多伦多猛龙本赛季胜率超过五成。巴恩斯不是猛龙最强的得分手，但凭借他影响比赛的能力，他显然是球队的最佳球员。
12. 亚特兰大老鹰 (42胜33负)
上期排名： 11
过去一周： 主胜灰熊，客胜活塞，客负凯尔特人，主胜国王
进攻效率： 114.8 (第14)防守效率： 113.2 (第11)
先锋奖： 尼基尔·亚历山大-沃克 (Nickeil Alexander-Walker)
老鹰又度过了强势的一周，自全明星赛后他们还没有遭遇过连败。他们在底特律也取得了一场高质量的胜利。如果没有亚历山大-沃克，他们不会处于现在的位置。他表现得如此出色，以至于特雷·杨 (Trae Young) 被交易，扎卡里·里萨谢 (Zaccharie Risacher) 被下放到第二阵容。亚历山大-沃克是休赛期备受赞誉的自由球员签约，但他不知何故超出了预期，并将出现在许多“最快进步球员”的选票上。他本赛季的首发场次（截至第23周为65场）可能会超过他之前六个NBA赛季的总和（68场）。
第三梯队：泡泡区
13. 费城76人 (41胜33负)
上期排名： 17
过去一周： 主负雷霆，主胜公牛，客胜黄蜂
进攻效率： 114.5 (第15)防守效率： 114.8 (第17)
先锋奖： 泰瑞斯·马克西 (Tyrese Maxey)
首先，乔尔·恩比德 (Joel Embiid)（伤愈）和保罗·乔治 (Paul George)（禁赛复出）在对阵公牛的比赛中回归得多么精彩：全队狂砍157分！我在20世纪90年代的费城长大——157分对于艾弗森时代之前的76人来说，那是一周的总得分。但我们关注这里是因为最重要的回归发生在周六的夏洛特。我说的不是凯利·乌布雷 (Kelly Oubre Jr.)，尽管他在休息18天后在穆萨·迪亚巴特 (Moussa Diabate) 头上完成了一记精彩扣篮。我说的是马克西，这座城市的王子，他在缺阵三周后回归，并迅速找回状态，带领球队在“皇后城”完成了一场15分的逆转。对于76人来说这是一场巨大的胜利，他们现在有两周的时间在季后赛开始前尝试找回全员健康的节奏，同时也锁定了对阵黄蜂的常规赛系列赛胜局。相信过程！
14. 菲尼克斯太阳 (41胜33负)
上期排名： 12
过去一周： 主负掘金，主胜爵士
进攻效率： 114.3 (第18)防守效率： 112.9 (第10)
先锋奖： 柯林·吉莱斯皮 (Collin Gillespie)
在经历了前一周七天五赛的赛程后，太阳本可以利用一个三天的假期。结果他们得到了五天的休息，因为爵士来访了。周六吉莱斯皮的投篮手感放假了，他8投0中（全是三分）。但他依然是菲尼克斯太阳的惊喜发现，弥补了赛季初期失去杰伦·格林 (Jalen Green) 的损失，同时终于将德文·布克 (Devin Booker) 从控卫职责中解放了出来。想想看，他在这里打首发，而前太阳球员泰厄斯·琼斯 (Tyus Jones) 却在丹佛——那是吉莱斯皮最初效力的NBA球队。
15. 洛杉矶快船 (39胜36负)
上期排名： 18
过去一周： 主胜雄鹿，主胜猛龙，客胜步行者，客胜雄鹿
进攻效率： 116.6 (第10)防守效率： 115.1 (第19)
先锋奖： 克里斯·邓恩 (Kris Dunn)
快船本赛季首次胜率超过五成三场，并有望连续第15个赛季以超过五成的胜率结束。去年，邓恩尽管打了74场比赛，却因其中只有53场出场超过20分钟而失去了入选最佳防守阵容的资格。本赛季到目前为止，邓恩打满了快船全部75场比赛，其中73场出场时间超过20分钟，所以这次他有资格了。本赛季只有邓恩、凯森·华莱士 (Cason Wallace) 和戴森·丹尼尔斯 (Dyson Daniels) 至少贡献了100次抢断，且抢断数多于失误数。
16. 夏洛特黄蜂 (39胜36负)
上期排名： 14
过去一周： 主胜国王，主胜尼克斯，主负76人，主负凯尔特人
进攻效率： 118.2 (第5)防守效率： 113.8 (第14)
先锋奖： 康·克努佩尔 (Kon Knueppel)
黄蜂击败尼克斯时，球队氛围达到了顶点。你能看到布兰登·米勒 (Brandon Miller) 完成扣篮后立刻找到了场边的DaBaby！然而，这种势头也就到此为止了，黄蜂在背靠背的第一场对阵76人时浪费了15分的领先优势，随后在第二场被缺兵少将的凯尔特人横扫。除此之外，克努佩尔完美契合了黄蜂，确立了自己作为NBA历史上最伟大的新秀投手之一的地位，整个赛季仅缺席了一场比赛。
17. 迈阿密热火 (39胜36负)
上期排名： 16
过去一周： 主负马刺，客胜骑士，客负骑士，客负步行者
进攻效率： 114.9 (第13)防守效率： 112.8 (第9)
先锋奖： 巴姆·阿德巴约 (Bam Adebayo)
肯定是阿德巴约，他一直是这支迈阿密热火的定海神针。热火本赛季开局就没有泰勒·希罗 (Tyler Herro)，而且整个月都缺少安东尼鲁·威金斯 (Andrew Wiggins) 或全明星球员诺曼·鲍威尔 (Norman Powell) 中的至少一人。阿德巴约不仅在一场比赛中砍下83分；他在攻防两端都做到了迈阿密热火所需要的一切，让队友的比赛变得更轻松。不幸的是，这项任务最近变得更加艰巨，热火防线再次崩溃，继续滑向他们每年春天的目的地——附加赛。热火在过去八场比赛中输掉了七场，最近一场输给了步行者，其中五场失利失分至少达到130分。
18. 奥兰多魔术 (39胜35负)
上期排名： 15
过去一周： 主负步行者，客负骑士，主胜国王，客负猛龙
进攻效率： 114.3 (第17)防守效率： 114.2 (第16)
先锋奖： 德斯蒙德·贝恩 (Desmond Bane)
秃鹫似乎正在奥兰多盘旋，如果说有谁对这种处境感到熟悉，那就是贝恩。去年，贝恩所在的孟菲斯灰熊在常规赛还剩九场时解雇了主教练泰勒·詹金斯 (Taylor Jenkins)，当时他们正冲向附加赛。魔术刚刚取得七连胜，但随后八场比赛输掉了七场，唯一的胜利还是在主场对阵国王时通过关键时刻才拿下的，随后便遭遇了队史首次50分惨败。不过，别把责任推给贝恩。这位休赛期通过交易加盟的球员打满了每一场比赛，并提供了预期的产出，而魔术的其他年轻核心成员则轮流缺席了两位数的比赛。
波特兰的图马尼·卡马拉整个赛季都是一名可靠的3D球员。Soobum Im / Imagn Images
19. 波特兰开拓者 (38胜38负)
上期排名： 19
过去一周： 主胜篮网，主胜雄鹿，主负独行侠，主胜奇才
进攻效率： 112.7 (第23)防守效率： 113.6 (第12)
先锋奖： 图马尼·卡马拉 (Toumani Camara)
这就是NBA的现实：很多人喜欢看赛程强度并据此进行大量“分析”。但你还是得去和这些球队打比赛。开拓者上周的赛程非常轻松。他们取得了3胜1负。从账面上看，这是一个不错的一周。但是，哦，开拓者会多么后悔主场输给独行侠。他们本周和下周都要对阵快船，可能需要两场全胜才有机会在附加赛排名中超越对方。这里的奖项授予卡马拉，这位来自戴顿大学的球员在职业生涯第三年表现得非常出色，每晚都是一名可靠的3D侧翼。卡马拉本赛季有17场比赛至少投中4个三分球，包括上周一对阵篮网时创下生涯新高的9记三分。
第四梯队：无需畏惧的梯队
20. 金州勇士 (36胜39负)
上期排名： 20
过去一周： 客胜独行侠，主胜篮网，主胜奇才，客负掘金
进攻效率： 113.8 (第19)防守效率： 113.7 (第13)
先锋奖： 布兰丁·波杰姆斯基 (Brandin Podziemski)
勇士度过了一个轻松的一周，当他们在丹佛上半场领先两位数时，看起来已经准备好用一场客场硬仗来宣告“毕业”了。唉，下半场他们还是被碾压了。金州勇士获得了两天的休息时间，并将迎来连续五个主场，在常规赛余下的时间里，勇士都不需要离开加州。但除非斯蒂芬·库里 (Stephen Curry) 能找回节奏回归，否则这支球队大概率是没戏了。不过，我要表彰波杰姆斯基的努力，作为进攻核心他显得有些力不从心，但他成功让自己成为一名始终待命、能提供多种帮助的球员，包括制造了全联盟仅次于杰伦·布伦森 (Jalen Brunson) 或马库斯·斯玛特 (Marcus Smart) 的进攻犯规数。
21. 孟菲斯灰熊 (25胜49负)
上期排名： 24
过去一周： 客负老鹰，主负马刺，主负火箭，主胜公牛
进攻效率： 113.0 (第22)防守效率： 117.1 (第22)
先锋奖： 塞德里克·考沃德 (Cedric Coward)
我整个赛季都是考沃德的粉丝，不为别的，就为他在左肩手术结束大学生涯后，能坚持打完这么多比赛。在周六对阵公牛的比赛中，考沃德终于拿到了自1月11日以来的首个20+。孟菲斯灰熊在去年的选秀大会上向上交易选权拿下考沃德是明智之举，在灰熊重建期间，他应该是侧翼的常驻力量。
22. 芝加哥公牛 (29胜45负)
上期排名： 22
过去一周： 主胜火箭，客负76人，客负雷霆，客负灰熊
进攻效率： 112.5 (第24)防守效率： 117.2 (第23)
先锋奖： 杰伦·史密斯 (Jalen Smith)
史密斯的赛季因右小腿拉伤而报销，他本赛季一直饱受这一伤病困扰。但这位前十顺位秀为公牛打出了一个扎实的赛季，比以往任何时候都更好地利用了他的三分球，同时在锋线和中锋位置上提供了强力的防守篮板。谢天谢地，公牛本赛季不会参加附加赛，而是可以专注于处理他们在孟菲斯那场荒唐逆转之类的破事。
23. 达拉斯独行侠 (24胜50负)
上期排名： 25
过去一周： 主负勇士，客负掘金，客胜开拓者
进攻效率： 110.1 (第26)防守效率： 114.9 (第18)
先锋奖： 德怀特·鲍威尔 (Dwight Powell)
鲍威尔今年夏天就35岁了，正处于合同的最后一年。他在2014年的一场拉简·隆多交易中作为新秀来到达拉斯。这个男人是与德克·诺维茨基 (Dirk Nowitzki) 时代独行侠的最后联系。我们都知道那个核心球员本该是东契奇，但是，哎，你懂的。由于德里克·莱夫利二世 (Dereck Lively II) 和丹尼尔·加福德 (Daniel Gafford) 的伤病，鲍威尔本赛季首发了10场比赛，而这支独行侠赢下了其中的7场。致敬！
24. 密尔沃基雄鹿 (29胜45负)
上期排名： 23
过去一周： 客负快船，客负开拓者，主负马刺，主负快船
进攻效率： 111.9 (第25)防守效率： 118.2 (第27)
先锋奖： 扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo)
四年前，我重新提出了“季后赛炼狱 (Playoff Purgatory)”的概念，该概念指出，NBA历史上任何连续五次进入季后赛但未能打入分区决赛的球队，在赢得总冠军之前都会经历无缘季后赛的痛苦。历史上曾出现过23次这种现象，而雄鹿（2021年夺冠，此后四年早早出局）正面临加入这一行列的威胁。但他们今年彻底无缘季后赛，扬尼斯只打了36场比赛。我感谢扬尼斯让我能在这个场合再次提到“季后赛炼狱”。雄鹿的这个赛季早点结束才好。
25. 新奥尔良鹈鹕 (25胜51负)
上期排名： 21
过去一周： 客负尼克斯，客负活塞，客负猛龙，主负火箭
进攻效率： 113.2 (第20)防守效率： 117.5 (第24)
先锋奖： 德章泰·穆雷 (Dejounte Murray)
鹈鹕曾经拥有的那点火花已经熄灭，现在他们正处于两个月来最长的连败中。这包括在多伦多的一场惨败，穆雷在底特律惨败后的背靠背第二场没有出赛。穆雷依然获得了这个奖项，因为他从跟腱断裂中归来，并在这次五连败之前给了鹈鹕一种真正的血性。
第五梯队：垫底梯队
26. 印第安纳步行者 (17胜58负)
上期排名： 30
过去一周： 客胜魔术，主负湖人，主负快船，主胜热火
进攻效率： 110.0 (第28)防守效率： 118.2 (第26)
先锋奖： 帕斯卡尔·西亚卡姆 (Pascal Siakam)
步行者是NBA输球最多的球队。但他们拥有全明星球员西亚卡姆，这部分是对他去年疯狂季后赛表现的认可，部分是对他在印第安纳这个过渡赛季中辛勤付出的肯定。这是步行者自全明星赛后表现最好的一周，他们找到了与南加州球队竞争的方法，同时击败了两支佛罗里达球队。西亚卡姆在两场胜利中都表现出色，每场至少砍下30分。
27. 布鲁克林篮网 (18胜57负)
上期排名： 28
过去一周： 客负开拓者，客负勇士，客负湖人，主胜国王
进攻效率： 108.7 (第30)防守效率： 117.8 (第25)
先锋奖： 戴龙·夏普 (Day’Ron Sharpe)
尽管篮网已经尽力了，但他们还是以一场胜利结束了本周，击败了国王。在那场比赛中，他们完全没有让扎伊尔·威廉姆斯 (Ziaire Williams) 上场，首发球员尼古拉斯·克拉克斯顿 (Nicolas Claxton)、诺亚·克洛尼 (Noah Clowney) 或特伦斯·曼 (Terance Mann) 也没有在第四节出战。篮网阵中没有多少值得获奖的人选，但夏普是最佳选择，因为本赛季当这位稳定的替补中锋在场时，篮网的防守表现要好得多。
28. 华盛顿奇才 (17胜57负)
上期排名： 29
过去一周： 客胜爵士，客负勇士，客负开拓者
进攻效率： 109.5 (第29)防守效率： 120.7 (第29)
先锋奖： 特雷·约翰逊 (Tre Johnson)
考虑到阵容中有特雷·杨和安东尼·戴维斯 (Anthony Davis)，奇才希望这是他们重建的最后一个赛季。但今年为了培养新人，目前的年轻核心被频繁推上场。我要表彰其中最年轻的球员约翰逊，他本月才满20岁。他被选中是为了完成去年奇才年轻人做不到的事——投篮。在很大程度上，约翰逊的表现是可以接受的，尽管作为一名十几岁就开始新秀赛季的球员，他的三分命中率仍有36.4%。
29. 萨克拉门托国王 (19胜57负)
上期排名： 27
过去一周： 客负黄蜂，客负魔术，客负老鹰，客负篮网
进攻效率： 110.1 (第27)防守效率： 120.3 (第28)
先锋奖： 基利安·海斯 (Killian Hayes)
海斯基于他在底特律的经历，被带到萨克拉门托担任认证的“摆烂司令官”。但他来到这里后，在17场比赛中赢了7场，包括三次首发中的两次。国王确保在对阵篮网时没有像上周日那样让海斯首发，从而确保了一个全败的周。
30. 犹他爵士 (21胜54负)
上期排名： 26
过去一周： 主负猛龙，主负奇才，客负掘金，客负太阳
进攻效率： 113.0 (第21)防守效率： 120.8 (第30)
先锋奖： 布莱克·欣森 (Blake Hinson)
爵士自全明星赛后只赢了三场比赛。这三场胜利都是在双向合同球员欣森在阵时取得的，其中最亮眼的是20天前绝杀勇士。欣森此后就没有连续上场过。是因为他对于摆烂来说太出色了吗？我觉得他确实太出色了。欣森在他参加的11场NBA比赛中有10场投中了多个三分球，他在对阵奇才的11分钟内砍下了21分。在那场比赛中，欣森不在场的时间里，爵士输了38分。让我重复一遍：爵士在主场对阵奇才的大部分时间里输了38分。
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：NBA Power Rankings: Spurs are No. 1; Cavaliers move into contenders tier
NBA Power Rankings: Spurs are No. 1; Cavaliers move into contenders tier
Album of the Week: “Moisturizer,” Wet Leg (2025)
We’re at the end of March. It took until now, but I have seen all 30 NBA teams live at least once this season. And soon, we will be ending the regular season, so that means we need to do some necessary housekeeping.
One of the affairs that needs to be in order is awards. I’m not here to discuss the eligibility of things — that rant was last week. The funniest thing about awards is that they make snubs out of those who don’t win, or weren’t even considered. But a lot of players don’t want your love; they just wanna fight.
I’ll vote for the real awards this year, but here, we are recognizing one player per team with the Power Rankings Frontier Award! It’s the third-most prestigious award you can get, behind the MVP and the Player Hater of the Year. I’m guessing Sixth Man of the Year is like the sixth-most prestigious. (Why Frontier Awards? Look, we love tiers.) On that note…
Fine print: These Power Rankings won’t just rank every team. We’ll retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers each week:
- Top Contenders – Locked at five, these are the class of the league
- In a Good Place – Could be one team, could be seven teams
- The Bubble – Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack
- Not the Tier to Fear – Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do
- Basement Floor – Bringing up the rear
What to expect from Power Rankings:
- These are my subjective rankings. I will consider a variety of objective measures, but it’s my final call.
- These rankings are not just a review of the past week — we are projecting forward as well, so it is a balance of the two.
- These are subjective, but not biased. There are no agendas in the Power Rankings, and we strive for an inclusive meritocracy
- The one quality that these rankings possess: “Ruthless aggression.”
- Enjoy the games, and enjoy the rankings, please!
For Week 24 of The Athletic NBA Power Rankings, we will have Frontier Awards for each team. Win-loss records and other statistical data are through Sunday’s action.
Tier 1: Top Contenders
1. San Antonio Spurs (56-18)
Last ranking: 2
In the last week: W at MIA, W at MEM, W at MIL
Offensive rating: 118.4 (fourth place)Defensive rating: 110.1 (third place)
Frontier Award: Julian Champagnie
Center Victor Wembanyama already made his case for MVP, and presumably Defensive Player of the Year and supreme alien leader. But he did not advocate for the Power Rankings Frontier Award. That is going to Champagnie this season, who went from undrafted in 2022 and waived by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023 to a fixture in San Antonio’s starting lineup since the turn of the new year. Champagnie has been durable and consistent, playing in every Spurs game this season and hitting 38.3 percent of his 3s. Along the way, the Spurs have continued to steamroll the league, winning 24 of 26 games since the beginning of February.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (59-16)
Last ranking: 1
In the last week: W at PHI, L at BOS, W vs CHI, W vs NY
Offensive rating: 117.3 (seventh place)Defensive rating: 106.3 (first place)
Frontier Award: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
You can’t win them all! (Although the Thunder might want to win them all, because the loss at Boston keeps the door open for the Spurs.) Oklahoma City did well to come home and recover nicely, blowing out the Chicago Bulls while earning a tough win against New York that saw Gilgeous-Alexander outscore the entire Knicks team 10-7 by himself in the last 5:12 of the game. He served a pair of easy buckets for fellow All-Star Chet Holmgren to keep the final margin in double digits as well. If the season began in October, and I’m quite sure it did, then Gilgeous-Alexander is the league’s MVP.
3. Detroit Pistons (54-20)
Last ranking: 3
In the last week: W vs LAL, L vs ATL, W vs NO, W at MIN
Offensive rating: 117.0 (ninth place)Defensive rating: 108.7 (second place)
Frontier Award: Cade Cunningham
The lung injury to Cunningham could cost him a chance at a deserved All-NBA spot, and while the Pistons are continuing to win games in his absence, they need him back in time for the postseason. Cunningham was probably a better individual player last year when his points and rebounds and percentages were better. But his impact on winning has been better this season.
4. Boston Celtics (50-24)
Last ranking: 5
In the last week: W vs OKC, W vs ATL, W at CHA
Offensive rating: 119.4 (second place)Defensive rating: 111.5 (fourth place)
Frontier Award: Derrick White
A statement week for the Celtics. They ended the Thunder’s win streak, got a win against the Hawks and then avenged one of their worst defeats of the season by spanking Charlotte. The last of those two wins came with Jaylen Brown out to recover from an Achilles injury. White also missed the Charlotte game while struggling in the Hawks game, but he has been a remarkably consistent and stable force for the Celtics on both ends of the floor, leading the team in assists, steals, blocks and 3s.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (46-28)
Last ranking: 6
In the last week: W vs ORL, L vs MIA, W vs MIA
Offensive rating: 118.2 (sixth place)Defensive rating: 113.9 (15th place)
Frontier Award: Donovan Mitchell
This one is easy, as Mitchell has been a consistent presence for the Cavaliers this season, and he reached 65 games this week as well. The Cavaliers split their home miniseries with the Heat, while also beating the Magic. The return of Jarrett Allen makes this a solid week overall for a Cleveland team that heads west for a few games.
Tier 2: In a Good Place
6. Los Angeles Lakers (48-26)
Last ranking: 7
In the last week: L at DET, W at IND, W vs BRK
Offensive rating: 117.2 (eighth place)Defensive rating: 115.7 (20th place)
Frontier Award: Luka Dončić
The Lakers have a powerful force in Dončić, the league’s leading scorer at 33.7 points per game. Dončić has 15 40-point games this season; that’s almost one 40-point game per technical foul. Fortunately, 40-point games don’t get rescinded, and neither does the fact that the Lakers haven’t lost consecutive games this month.
7. New York Knicks (48-27)
Last ranking: 4
In the last week: W vs NO, L at CHA, L at OKC
Offensive rating: 118.5 (third place)Defensive rating: 112.2 (sixth place)
Frontier Award: Mikal Bridges
When it comes to being present, no one quite defines that like Bridges, a player who is eight seasons deep into the league and has yet to miss a single game. Bridges’ scoring dropped this year, but everything else improved while he fills his role as a well-compensated glue guy who plays a major role in allowing the Knicks to play some of the guard-heavy lineups they have. Hopefully, those lineups will continue to include Miles McBride, whose return to play was cut short in Sunday’s visit to Oklahoma City. The Knicks began this month with quality wins, but they came up empty this week.
8. Denver Nuggets (48-28)
Last ranking: 8
In the last week: W at PHO, W vs DAL, W vs UTA, W vs GS
Offensive rating: 120.7 (first place)Defensive rating: 116.0 (21st place)
Frontier Award: Jamal Murray
The Nuggets get a couple of days off, and they have no more back-to-backs. They’re also mostly healthy (except Aaron Gordon, who is now dealing with calf tightness) and on a six-game win streak, their longest in three months. Never mind the teams they played to get those wins, because their last loss was at Memphis. Win the games you can and should. I’m giving the award to first-time All-Star Murray here, because in his 10th NBA season, he was able to hit career bests in points, rebounds, assists, 3s and field goal and 3-point percentages while appearing in 70 games for the first time this decade. It was a necessary achievement, especially for a Denver team missing Nikola Jokić, Gordon, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson and Peyton Watson for as long as it did this season.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (45-29)
Last ranking: 10
In the last week: W vs HOU, L vs DET
Offensive rating: 115.5 (12th place)Defensive rating: 112.2 (eighth place)
Frontier Award: Julius Randle
You can say a lot about Randle’s shortcomings, and now would be a good time while he’s colder than Minnehaha Falls. But the one thing that must be noted is that he shows up to play. He hasn’t missed a Timberwolves game since the end of February 2025. Randle was responsible for the last seven points of Minnesota’s historic overtime comeback against the Rockets, and he’s leading Minnesota in assists as well. The Timberwolves need Anthony Edwards back, but Randle is a big reason why the floor doesn’t bottom out.
10. Houston Rockets (45-29)
Last ranking: 9
In the last week: L at CHI, L at MIN, W at MEM, W at NO
Offensive rating: 116.6 (11th place)Defensive rating: 112.2 (seventh place)
Frontier Award: Amen Thompson
The Rockets ended their road trip with wins at Memphis and New Orleans, but not before humiliating defeats at Chicago and Minnesota. Houston games are very exciting, because you can never be sure that a game is truly over. You’ve never seen a team blow a double-digit overtime lead until the Rockets did it last week. I feel the worst for Thompson, a wildly impactful player who shouldn’t have to be a team’s primary scorer or playmaker and might never be a shooter.
Toronto’s Scottie Barnes can affect the game in many ways. Nick Turchiaro / Imagn Images
11. Toronto Raptors (42-32)
Last ranking: 13
In the last week: W at UTA, L at LAC, W vs NO, W vs ORL
Offensive rating: 114.5 (16th place)Defensive rating: 112.1 (fifth place)
Frontier Award: Scottie Barnes
Five years ago, in an otherwise forgettable season, the Tampa Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors by 53 points. That summer, the Raptors relocated back to Toronto and drafted Barnes. Now, Barnes was there leading his own 52-point Raptors win, this time against the Magic, to clinch a winning season for Toronto. Barnes isn’t the best scorer for the Raptors, but he’s clearly their best player with how he is able to impact the game.
12. Atlanta Hawks (42-33)
Last ranking: 11
In the last week: W vs MEM, W at DET, L at BOS, W vs SAC
Offensive rating: 114.8 (14th place)Defensive rating: 113.2 (11th place)
Frontier Award: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Another strong week for the Hawks, a team that hasn’t lost back-to-back games since the All-Star break. They found a quality win in Detroit as well. And they would not be in this position without Alexander-Walker, a player so good that Trae Young was traded and Zaccharie Risacher was moved to the second unit. Alexander-Walker was a celebrated free-agent transaction in the offseason, but he has somehow exceeded expectations and will be on many Most Improved Player ballots. He might wind up starting more games this season (65 through Week 23) than his previous six NBA seasons combined (68).
Tier 3: The Bubble
13. Philadelphia 76ers (41-33)
Last ranking: 17
In the last week: L vs OKC, W vs CHI, W at CHA
Offensive rating: 114.5 (15th place)Defensive rating: 114.8 (17th place)
Frontier Award: Tyrese Maxey
First of all, what glorious returns from Joel Embiid (from injury) and Paul George (suspension) against the Bulls: 157 points! I grew up in Philadelphia in the 1990s — 157 points was a good week for the pre-Iverson 76ers. But we are here because the most important return of all happened Saturday in Charlotte. I’m not talking about Kelly Oubre Jr., although he planted a daffodil on Moussa Diabate after he had 18 days off. I’m talking about Maxey, the Prince of the City, who came back after three weeks out and picked up right where he left off in leading a 15-point comeback in the Queen City. Massive win for the 76ers, who now get two weeks to possibly get in some kind of full-health rhythm before the playoffs begin while clinching the regular-season series against the Hornets in the process. Trust it!
14. Phoenix Suns (41-33)
Last ranking: 12
In the last week: L vs DEN, W vs UTA
Offensive rating: 114.3 (18th place)Defensive rating: 112.9 (10th place)
Frontier Award: Collin Gillespie
After the five-in-seven schedule they had the previous week, the Suns could have used a three-day break. They were instead rewarded with a five-day break, as the Jazz came to visit. Gillespie’s jump shot took the night off Saturday, as he missed all eight shots (all 3s). He’s still been a revelation in Phoenix, making up for the early-season loss of Jalen Green while finally freeing Devin Booker from point guard duties. Think about the fact that he’s here starting, while former Sun Tyus Jones is in Denver, Gillespie’s original NBA team.
15. LA Clippers (39-36)
Last ranking: 18
In the last week: W vs MIL, W vs TOR, W at IND, W at MIL
Offensive rating: 116.6 (10th place)Defensive rating: 115.1 (19th place)
Frontier Award: Kris Dunn
For the first time all season, the Clippers are three games over .500 and are on track to finish a 15th straight season with a winning record. Last year, Dunn missed out on being eligible for All-Defensive teams despite playing in 74 games because he played 20 minutes in only 53 of them. Dunn has played in all 75 Clippers games so far and has played at least 20 in 73 of them, so he’s eligible this time around. Only Dunn, Cason Wallace and Dyson Daniels have at least 100 steals and more steals than turnovers this season.
16. Charlotte Hornets (39-36)
Last ranking: 14
In the last week: W vs SAC, W vs NY, L vs PHI, L vs BOS
Offensive rating: 118.2 (fifth place)Defensive rating: 113.8 (14th place)
Frontier Award: Kon Knueppel
Vibes hit a zenith in the Charlotte win against the Knicks. You had Brandon Miller dunking and finding DaBaby immediately! The statement ended there, though, as the Hornets blew a 15-point lead on the front end of the back-to-back against the 76ers and then got blown out on the back end by the shorthanded Celtics. Aside from that, Knueppel has fit the Hornets perfectly, establishing himself as arguably the greatest rookie shooter in NBA history while missing only one game all season.
17. Miami Heat (39-36)
Last ranking: 16
In the last week: L vs SA, W at CLE, L at CLE, L at IND
Offensive rating: 114.9 (13th place)Defensive rating: 112.8 (ninth place)
Frontier Award: Bam Adebayo
It’s gotta be Adebayo, who has remained a rock for a Miami team that had to start the season without Tyler Herro and has been missing at least one of Andrew Wiggins or All-Star Norman Powell all month. Adebayo didn’t just drop 83 points in a game; he does what Miami needs on both ends of the floor to make the game easier for his teammates. Unfortunately, that task has been much harder lately, as the Heat continued their descent into their annual spring Play-In Tournament destination by collapsing defensively yet again. The Heat have lost seven of eight games, the latest at Indiana, while allowing at least 130 points in five of those losses.
18. Orlando Magic (39-35)
Last ranking: 15
In the last week: L vs IND, L at CLE, W vs SAC, L at TOR
Offensive rating: 114.3 (17th place)Defensive rating: 114.2 (16th place)
Frontier Award: Desmond Bane
The vultures appear to be circling in Orlando, and if there’s one player who is familiar with that, it’s Bane. Last year, Bane was on a Memphis Grizzlies team that fired head coach Taylor Jenkins with nine games left in the season as they hurtled toward the Play-In. The Magic had just won seven games in a row, but they have undone that by losing seven of eight, with the lone win requiring clutch time against the visiting Kings before the first 50-point loss in franchise history. Don’t put this on Bane, though. The offseason trade acquisition has played in every game and delivered the advertised production while the rest of Orlando’s young core took turns missing double-digit games.
Portland’s Toumani Camara has been a reliable 3-and-D player all season. Soobum Im / Imagn Images
19. Portland Trail Blazers (38-38)
Last ranking: 19
In the last week: W vs BRK, W vs MIL, L vs DAL, W vs WAS
Offensive rating: 112.7 (23rd place)Defensive rating: 113.6 (12th place)
Frontier Award: Toumani Camara
Here’s the reality of the NBA: A lot of people love looking at strength of schedule and doing a lot of “analysis” based on that. But you have to still play these teams. The Trail Blazers had as cupcake a schedule as you could ask for last week. They went 3-1. On paper, that’s a good week. But, oh, how the Trail Blazers will regret their home loss to the Mavericks. They have the Clippers this week and next week, and they likely need to win both for any chance to pass them in the Play-In standings. The award here goes to Camara, a player who has shown up every night as a reliable 3-and-D wing in his third season out of Dayton. Camara has 17 games this season with at least four 3s, including a career-best nine makes against the Nets last Monday.
Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear
20. Golden State Warriors (36-39)
Last ranking: 20
In the last week: W at DAL, W vs BRK, W vs WAS, L at DEN
Offensive rating: 113.8 (19th place)Defensive rating: 113.7 (13th place)
Frontier Award: Brandin Podziemski
The Warriors had themselves a nice cupcake week, and then they looked like they were ready to graduate with a quality road win in Denver when they led by double digits in the first half. Alas, they wound up getting steamrolled after halftime. Golden State gets two days off and a five-game homestand, and the Warriors don’t need to leave the state for the rest of the regular season. But unless Stephen Curry can come back in rhythm, this team is probably cooked. I will acknowledge the efforts of Podziemski, though, a player who is far too stretched as any kind of primary offensive hub but has done well to make himself a consistently available player who can do a variety of helpful things, including take more charges than anyone in the league not named Jalen Brunson or Marcus Smart.
21. Memphis Grizzlies (25-49)
Last ranking: 24
In the last week: L at ATL, L vs SA, L vs HOU, W vs CHI
Offensive rating: 113.0 (22nd place)Defensive rating: 117.1 (22nd place)
Frontier Award: Cedric Coward
I’ve been a fan of Coward all season, if nothing else, for being able to put a reasonable amount of games together following his final collegiate season ending because of left shoulder surgery. On Saturday against the Bulls, Coward finally had his first 20-point game since Jan. 11. Memphis did well to trade up to the lottery to get Coward in last year’s draft, and he should be a fixture on the wing while the Grizzlies rebuild.
22. Chicago Bulls (29-45)
Last ranking: 22
In the last week: W vs HOU, L at PHI, L at OKC, L at MEM
Offensive rating: 112.5 (24th place)Defensive rating: 117.2 (23rd place)
Frontier Award: Jalen Smith
Smith’s season is over due to a right calf strain that he struggled with this season. But the top-10 pick had a solid season for the Bulls, weaponizing his 3-point shot more than ever while adding strong defensive rebounding at forward and center. The Bulls will mercifully not be in this season’s Play-In and will instead focus on shenanigans such as their silly finish in Memphis.
23. Dallas Mavericks (24-50)
Last ranking: 25
In the last week: L vs GS, L at DEN, W at POR
Offensive rating: 110.1 (26th place)Defensive rating: 114.9 (18th place)
Frontier Award: Dwight Powell
Powell turns 35 years old this summer, is in the final year of his contract and got to Dallas in the middle of a rookie season that saw him thrown into a Rajon Rondo trade back in 2014. This man is the last link to the Dirk Nowitzki Mavericks. We all know that player should be Luka Dončić, but, well, you know. Injuries to Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford left Powell starting 10 games this season, and this Mavericks team won seven of those 10 games. Salute!
24. Milwaukee Bucks (29-45)
Last ranking: 23
In the last week: L at LAC, L at POR, L vs SA, L vs LAC
Offensive rating: 111.9 (25th place)Defensive rating: 118.2 (27th place)
Frontier Award: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Four years ago, I reintroduced my concept of “Playoff Purgatory,” which noted how any team in NBA history that had any stretch of five consecutive playoff appearances that did not result in a conference finals visit would miss the playoffs before they were to win a championship. There have been 23 instances of this phenomenon, and the Bucks (championship in 2021, early exits in four years since) were threatening to join it. But they missed the playoffs altogether this year, with Giannis only making it through 36 games. I appreciate Giannis for allowing me to bring up Playoff Purgatory in this spot. This Bucks season can’t end soon enough.
25. New Orleans Pelicans (25-51)
Last ranking: 21
In the last week: L at NY, L at DET, L at TOR, L vs HOU
Offensive rating: 113.2 (20th place)Defensive rating: 117.5 (24th place)
Frontier Award: Dejounte Murray
That little spark the Pelicans had is gone, and now they’re on their longest losing streak in two months. That included a meek loss in Toronto, with Murray not participating on the second night of a back-to-back following a blowout loss at Detroit. Murray still gets the award for coming back from an Achilles tear and giving the Pelicans a sense of legitimate bite before this current five-game losing streak.
Tier 5: Basement Floor
26. Indiana Pacers (17-58)
Last ranking: 30
In the last week: W at ORL, L vs LAL, L vs LAC, W vs MIA
Offensive rating: 110.0 (28th place)Defensive rating: 118.2 (26th place)
Frontier Award: Pascal Siakam
The Pacers have the most losses in the NBA. But they have an All-Star in Pascal Siakam, which was part appreciation for his possessed playoff run from last year and part acknowledgment for toiling through this gap season for Indiana. This was by far the best week for the Pacers since the All-Star break, as they found ways to compete with the Southern California teams while beating the Florida teams. Siakam was right there in the midst of both wins, dropping at least 30 points in each.
27. Brooklyn Nets (18-57)
Last ranking: 28
In the last week: L at POR, L at GS, L at LAL, W vs SAC
Offensive rating: 108.7 (30th place)Defensive rating: 117.8 (25th place)
Frontier Award: Day’Ron Sharpe
Despite their best efforts, Brooklyn finished the week with a win, beating the Kings despite not playing Ziaire Williams at all and not having starters Nicolas Claxton, Noah Clowney or Terance Mann play in the fourth quarter. There aren’t many worthy candidates for the Nets, but Sharpe is the choice for how much better the Nets were defensively when the steady backup center was on the floor this season.
28. Washington Wizards (17-57)
Last ranking: 29
In the last week: W at UTA, L at GS, L at POR
Offensive rating: 109.5 (29th place)Defensive rating: 120.7 (29th place)
Frontier Award: Tre Johnson
The Wizards hope this is the last of their rebuilding seasons, given the presence of Trae Young and Anthony Davis on the roster. But this year was littered with the current young corps being thrown out there in the name of development. I’ll acknowledge the youngest of those players here in Johnson, who just turned 20 this month. He was drafted to do what none of the young Wizards could do last season, and that’s shoot. For the most part, Johnson has been acceptable, making 36.4 percent of his 3s despite beginning his rookie season as a teenager.
29. Sacramento Kings (19-57)
Last ranking: 27
In the last week: L at CHA, L at ORL, L at ATL, L at BRK
Offensive rating: 110.1 (27th place)Defensive rating: 120.3 (28th place)
Frontier Award: Killian Hayes
Hayes was brought to Sacramento as a certified tank commander based on his time in Detroit. But he has come in and won seven of his 17 games, including two of his three starts. The Kings were sure not to start Hayes against the Nets again like they did the previous Sunday, securing a winless week.
30. Utah Jazz (21-54)
Last ranking: 26
In the last week: L vs TOR, L vs WAS, L at DEN, L at PHO
Offensive rating: 113.0 (21st place)Defensive rating: 120.8 (30th place)
Frontier Award: Blake Hinson
The Jazz have won three games since the All-Star break. All of them came with two-way contract Hinson on the roster, highlighted by a game-winner against the Warriors 20 days ago. Hinson hasn’t played in consecutive games since. Is it because he’s too good for the tank? I think he’s too good for the tank. Hinson has hit multiple 3s in 10 of his 11 NBA games, and he dropped 21 points on the Wizards in 11 minutes, a game that saw the Jazz get outscored by 38 points in the minutes Hinson was off the floor. Let me repeat: The Jazz were outscored by 38 points for the majority of a game at home against the Wizards.
By Law Murray, via The Athletic