Devin Booker and Phoenix will face Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee on Thursday for the first time since The Finals.
The trade deadline is three days away, the All-Star break follows a week after that, and the season is about two-thirds complete (65% through Sunday). So this may be a week where we’re not too focused on the results of the games.
But this is the week that brings us our first Finals rematch, with the Milwaukee Bucks visiting the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. And despite the off-court distractions, it’s a good time for it. The Suns saw their 11-game winning streak come to an end last week, but they continue to take care of business, and they got their two injured starters back on Tuesday.
The Bucks, meanwhile, are maybe starting to put their foot on the gas, winning their last three games by an average of 22 points. Last year’s Finals gave three thrilling games, with Giannis Antetokounmpo capping the series off with a 50-piece in Game 6. So maybe we’ll get something special when the two teams meet again on Thursday night (10 p.m. ET, TNT).
Plus-Minus Players of the Week
- Right Way: Jayson Tatum (BOS) was a plus-85 in four games last week.
- Wrong Way: Jalen Green (HOU) was a minus-67 in four games last week.
Teams of the Week
- Make It Last Forever: Toronto (4-0) — Bet on yourself.
- Something Just Ain’t Right: Brooklyn (0-4) — Blake Griffin made some 3s, though.
East vs. West
- The West is 157-148 (.515) against the East in interconference games after going 14-8 last week.
Schedule strength through Week 16
- Toughest: 1. Portland, 2. Indiana, 3. Orlando
- Easiest: 1. Milwaukee, 2. Chicago, 3. L.A. Lakers
- Schedule strength is based on cumulative opponent record, and adjusted for home vs. away and days of rest before a game.
Movement in the Rankings
- High jumps of the week: Boston (+5), Toronto (+4), Oklahoma City (+3)
- Free falls of the week: Brooklyn (-4), Denver (-4), Portland (-4)
Week 17 Team to Watch
- Phoenix — There are currently nine teams that have won more than 60% of their games. And while the Suns have a three-game edge in the loss column on all the rest, they’ve played the fewest games (they’re 6-4) within that group. In fact, they’ve played only five of the other eight teams, having faced the Warriors three times and the Cavs, Grizzlies and Jazz twice each. But the Suns will play the other three in the next four days. They’ll complete their four-game road trip with a back-to-back in Chicago (Monday, 8 p.m. ET, NBA TV) and Philadelphia (Tuesday). Then they’ll return home to face the Bucks on Thursday (10 p.m. ET, TNT), rounding out their week with a visit from the team with the league’s worst record (Orlando) on Saturday.
Previous Power Rankings
- Last week: Suns hold top spot as East standings tighten
- This time last year: Lakers return to No. 1; Jazz continue to rise — The Sixers were 13-0 when they had their starting lineup together, and the Kings had won seven of their last eight games. The Mavs and Warriors both made 20 3-pointers in both of their games of a two-game series. Fred VanVleet scored a franchise-record 54 points in Orlando, while Nikola Jokic dropped 50 in Sacramento. The Knicks traded for Derrick Rose, D’Angelo Russell hit a game-winner in Oklahoma City, and Devin Booker drained a game-winning 3 in Dallas.
- The archive: NBA.com Power Rankings
Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)
OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)
The league has averaged 98.5 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes and 109.9 points scored per 100 possessions this season.
NBA.com’s Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man’s opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, send him an e-mail or contact him via Twitter.
