NBA Playoffs Power Rankings – 16 teams are left

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 17: Drake and Toronto Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri before the game against the Detroit Pistons on January 17, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 17: Drake and Toronto Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri before the game against the Detroit Pistons on January 17, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)

Here’s my mashup of NBA Power Rankings and Playoff forecast for Round One.

I mentioned I was planning to run a modified version of the Power Rankings – and here it is. I’ve listed the eight teams I believe will survive the first round of the NBA Playoffs, in the order of their strength. Then I’ve got another slide with the teams who will be gone, also from best to worst.

In other words, here’s my combination of Power Rankings and playoff forecast for the first round. I have a few upsets in mind. So many strong teams have been weakened by injuries to top players, which may lead to some surprising upsets.

More and more players are wearing armoured gear which provides padding for knees and elbows, a trend destined to continue. Will pro hoopsters be wearing leather helmets next, in the manner of football players a century ago? I won’t be surprised.

Let’s go.

Note: “Last week” refers to each team’s chunk of games since my last Power Rankings.

TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 26: Raptor the mascot of the Toronto Raptors holds a sign at center court imploring fans to make noise over the team logo decal on Welcome Toronto night against the Utah Jazz at Air Canada Centre on January 26, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 26: Raptor the mascot of the Toronto Raptors holds a sign at center court imploring fans to make noise over the team logo decal on Welcome Toronto night against the Utah Jazz at Air Canada Centre on January 26, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

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11

Oklahoma City thunder 48-34

Last week: 3-1
Last rank: 10


The Thunder couldn’t nudge past the Blazers to avoid Utah. Now they must defeat one of the NBA’s best defensive teams to advance. Rudy Gobert is one of the few humans on the planet capable of slowing down Russell Westbrook. That’s the key for Utah – control the pace, which they will. Carmelo’s defense will be exposed by gunslingers like Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles.

Out in: 6