NBA Power Rankings: A goal for each team in the season's 2nd half
NBA Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's basketball editors.
In this edition, we're establishing one goal for each team for the second half of the 2024-25 campaign.
Jump to:
ATL | BKN | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NOP | NYK | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX | POR | SAC | SAS | TOR | UTA | WAS
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (37-8)
Previous: 2
Improve 3-point shooting: Their offense is stellar overall, but the Thunder rank 14th in triples made and 15th in percentage from deep. Acquiring another threat from beyond the arc would be a big help come playoff time.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (37-9)
Previous: 1
Fix the leak: Cleveland's once elite defense has fallen off a cliff in January, during which only the 76ers and Wizards have worse defensive ratings. Without some correction, a deep playoff run becomes less feasible.
3. Houston Rockets (32-14)
Previous: 4
Can we get an Amen?: Amen Thompson was thrust into the starting five following Jabari Smith Jr.'s hand fracture, and the energetic defensive whiz has sparked the team with an improved offensive game. The Rockets are 13-3 when Thompson starts. Give him all the minutes he can handle.
4. Boston Celtics (32-15)
Previous: 3
Start Payton Pritchard: Jrue Holiday has been a hindrance to a Celtics squad that's barely above .500 over the last two months. The veteran guard is averaging just 10.9 points and 3.5 assists points since Dec. 1. Pritchard, meanwhile, seems ready for more responsibility.
5. New York Knicks (31-16)
Previous: 5
Develop a playable bench: The Knicks sit third in the East but dead last in bench scoring per game (21.3), and their second unit plays just 12 minutes a night. New York doesn't have a single bench player averaging double digits in points.
6. Memphis Grizzlies (31-16)
Previous: 6
Cut out the fouling: The Grizzlies are a borderline top-five defensive unit, but they allow the second-most free-throw attempts. They're fortunate that opponents are shooting just 75.4% in those opportunities - third lowest in the league.
7. Denver Nuggets (28-18)
Previous: 7
Let Russ cook: Russell Westbrook has been a positive addition to the Nuggets' starting lineup, averaging 14.7 points, 6.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. The 36-year-old has been rejuvenated playing under Mike Malone and alongside Nikola Jokic.
8. Milwaukee Bucks (26-19)
Previous: 8
Support Giannis' DPOY push: Giannis Antetokounmpo only has one Defensive Player of the Year award in his illustrious career. Despite the Bucks employing numerous below-average defenders - and Brook Lopez's regression - they've maintained a top-eight defensive rating.
9. Los Angeles Lakers (26-19)
Previous: 17
Get AD his center: Whether or not you agree with Anthony Davis' predilection for playing the four, he's earned the right to request another big on the roster. The Lakers can satisfy that ask without breaking the bank.
10. Los Angeles Clippers (26-20)
Previous: 11
Offense to match defense: The Clippers own the second-best defensive rating in the NBA (107.4) but the 20th-best offensive mark (110.8). Kawhi Leonard's recent return should enhance their elite defense and add scoring punch.
11. Indiana Pacers (25-20)
Previous: 12
Replicate last season's magic: After hovering around .500 in December 2023, the Pacers broke out, going 33-21 the rest of the way and riding that momentum to the East finals. Indiana has the seventh-easiest schedule remaining, making a repeat performance easier.
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (25-21)
Previous: 16
Develop Dillingham: The rookie is averaging 8.5 points and 2.2 assists in 14.7 minutes since entering Chris Finch's rotation. With Mike Conley not in the T-Wolves' long-term plans, getting Rob Dillingham up to speed is paramount.
13. Phoenix Suns (24-21)
Previous: 20
Reconstruct the roster: Bradley Beal is averaging his fewest points since 2014-15 (16.9), and Jusuf Nurkic has fallen out of the rotation. Their combined cap hit of just over $68 million could be moved for multiple new options.
14. Dallas Mavericks (25-22)
Previous: 9
Get healthy: The Mavs' struggles can be attributed to the injuries they've endured halfway through the season. Regular starters Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Derek Lively II have all missed significant time, with Doncic and Lively still sidelined.
15. Detroit Pistons (23-23)
Previous: 15
Limit Cade's turnovers: Cade Cunningham is having a career season that merits All-Star recognition. However, there's no glossing over the recent back-to-back 10-turnover performances that have vaulted him into the second spot in the league for giveaways per game at 4.6.
16. Sacramento Kings (24-22)
Previous: 13
Find a 3-and-D wing: The Kings are bottom 10 in threes per game (12.5) while allowing the third-most nightly (14.5). Domantas Sabonis can't be their best outside shooter; they need to either put more trust in Keon Ellis or find an external solution.
17. Orlando Magic (24-24)
Previous: 10
Shoot better from deep: The offensively feeble Magic are a distant last in 3-point percentage (30.7%) despite being 16th in attempts. The last team to finish with a lower percentage was the 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats (29.5%).
18. Miami Heat (23-22)
Previous: 14
Deal with Jimmy: Moving Jimmy Butler, who's just been handed a third suspension, will be a challenge. His preferred landing spot, Phoenix, is reportedly struggling to convince Beal to waive his no-trade clause.
19. Golden State Warriors (23-23)
Previous: 21
Limit Schroder, grab Vucevic: Dennis Schroder's averaging 11 points on 10.9 shots, contributing to the squad's shooting struggles. Adding Nikola Vucevic from the Bulls and redistributing the offensive load could solve a lot of the Warriors' problems.
20. San Antonio Spurs (20-23)
Previous: 19
Acquire some scoring: The Spurs are reeling amid a 2-7 stretch, and it's become painfully apparent that a bona fide second option is needed. De'Aaron Fox, who reportedly prefers a trade to San Antonio, would be an ideal remedy.
21. Atlanta Hawks (22-25)
Previous: 18
Cut down turnovers: Atlanta's offense is being undermined by its inability to hang onto the ball, averaging 16.4 giveaways per game. These mistakes have resulted in the third-most points off turnovers in the league (20.6).
22. Philadelphia 76ers (18-27)
Previous: 23
Shut down Embiid: It's time to officially rule out former MVP Joel Embiid for the rest of the campaign, as he's played just 13 of 45 games. Let him get healthy for next season - this one is a lost cause.
23. Chicago Bulls (20-27)
Previous: 22
Bench Williams: Patrick Williams has regressed dramatically since inking a five-year, $90-million deal this summer. Things haven't improved in the new year: The 23-year-old is averaging 7.3 points on 32.3/28.9/66.7 shooting splits since Jan. 1.
24. Toronto Raptors (14-32)
Previous: 29
Get back to losing: The Raptors have won six of their last seven, which isn't ideal for a team with tanking aspirations. They need to bottom out and shift their focus from the present to the future, including the 2025 draft.
25. Portland Trail Blazers (18-29)
Previous: 24
Unleash the Scoot: The 2023 third overall pick has yet to live up to the hype, but he has shown flashes this season. Over a six-game stretch earlier in January, Scoot Henderson averaged 20.7 points on 52.1% shooting.
26. Charlotte Hornets (12-31)
Previous: 27
Keep LaMelo healthy: The 22-year-old hasn't finished a full season since his All-Star campaign in 2021-22. Some of the Hornets' misfortune comes from Ball's inability to stay in the lineup.
27. Brooklyn Nets (14-33)
Previous: 25
Assess the kids: An unapologetic tank continues, and with players like Noah Clowney, Keon Johnson, and Tosan Evbuomwan leading the team amid a 2-13 January, it's time to determine who's worthy of participating in the rebuild and who isn't.
28. New Orleans Pelicans (12-35)
Previous: 28
Fewer Murray pick-and-rolls: Dejounte Murray is the pick-and-roll ball-handler for 43.3% of his offensive possessions, the fourth highest in the league. His 0.77 points per pick-and-roll possession puts him below the likes of Kelly Oubre Jr. and OG Anunoby.
29. Utah Jazz (10-35)
Previous: 26
Capitalize on desperate contenders: Assuming Lauri Markkanen is off limits, Utah has multiple productive vets on manageable salaries. John Collins, Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, and Svi Mykhailiuk could help title hopefuls while returning precious draft capital to the Jazz.
30. Washington Wizards (6-39)
Previous: 30
Win a road game: The Wizards won a road game in their first attempt of the season in Atlanta. They're 0-21 since and could potentially match the 1990-91 Kings' record of 40 road losses. A truly historic tank job.