In Week 25 of 2017-18 NBA Power Rankings, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors are starting to look like their dominant selves again.
For most of the 2017-18 NBA regular season, the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors have looked like the dominant teams of their respective conferences. After three straight years of the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers meeting in the Finals, no one seemed to mind too much.
Unfortunately for those looking for a shakeup in the playoffs, it’s starting to feel like the Dubs and Cavs are getting back to their dominant ways.
With LeBron James‘ new supporting cast in good health, the King’s absurd 15th season has helped Cleveland rattle off nine wins in its last 10 games. Stephen Curry remains sidelined, but Golden State is still plenty formidable now that Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are back on the floor.
The Rockets are no slouches, winning 11 of their last 12 games. The Raptors have all but locked up the 1-seed, ensuring they’ll capitalize on home-court advantage — big for a team that’s 32-7 at home this season. The Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz are two of the hottest teams in the league, while the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics (even without Kyrie Irving) shouldn’t be overlooked either.
But even in what’s shaping up to be one of the juiciest, most balanced and most competitive playoff fields we’ve seen in quite some time, the Warriors and Cavaliers turning back to proper form could spell bad — and familiar — news for the rest of the league.
To sort it all out, here are the latest NBA Power Rankings.