We've finally reached the end of the regular season, and the top dog for the last rankings of the year should be of no surprise to anyone: the 42-40 6th seed Brooklyn Nets. While it would be unreasonable to expect the Nets to make it far in the playoffs, they have plenty of promise on their team. With D'Angelo Russell, Caris LeVert, and Jarrett Allen leading the charge, the Nets have themselves positioned as a perennial playoff team for the foreseeable future. Whether or not they can elevate into the upper tier of the Eastern Conference will depend on the ongoing development of those three young players.
If these rankings are any indication, the Warriors are in serious trouble for the playoffs. It's hard to be a serious contender when you're below the hapless Washington Wizards. Joking aside, this year's playoffs should provide the Warriors with a challenge they haven't faced in years past. It's possible they will have to face the Clippers, Rockets, and Nuggets/Thunder just to get to the Finals. They are still the odds-on favorite to win the title, but don't be surprised if a team pushes the Warriors to their limit.
Here are the current NBA Power Rankings, as determined by Ric Flair's legendary quote, "To be the man, you gotta beat the man":
