2016-17 NBA Power Rankings: Boston Celtics Find Their Groove In Week 12

In Week 12 of NBA Power Rankings, the Boston Celtics have their sights set on the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

After weeks of NBA Power Rankings, one theme has consistently come to the forefront: All it takes is one week for a team to rise through the ranks or plummet back down into the cellar of the conference standings.

For the most consistent teams at the top of the East and West, it takes tons of hard work to climb even one spot up the standings. In the middle, a win here or a loss there can make all the difference from week to week. Near the bottom of the playoff picture, it’s the same story.

Fortunately for those teams trying to sneak into the postseason — and unfortunately for those of us trying to make sense of a jumbled playoff picture — a sub-500 record has been enough to remain in playoff contention in BOTH conferences.

Our attention belongs in the East in Week 12, however, with the Boston Celtics finally healthy and surging toward the No. 2 seed. A win this week over the Toronto Raptors would give them the tiebreaker for second place in the conference, and with Paul Millsap available, they’re a blockbuster trade away from really making things interesting.

A Millsap deal might not happen, but the Celtics are starting to show what they can do now that everyone’s healthy. The question is, where does the rest of the league fall into place?

Here’s a look at our Week 12 2016-17 NBA Power Rankings.