2023-24 Vendetta NBA Power Rankings: April Postseason Edition
The 2023-24 NBA Postseason is officially here! Throughout the 82-game season, we did monthly power rankings for all 30 teams. For the month of April, however, we decided to change it up–including only the 16 postseason teams (finalized on Friday night) and where they stand over the next several weeks!
Without further ado, let’s jump right into it!
(Note: Any tiebreaker goes to the team with the best record.)
16. Miami Heat
Average: 15.7
(Matt Hanifan 16, Alex Chick III 16, Trey Daubert 15)
The Heat fought their way into the play-in for the second consecutive year, though they will be without star forward Jimmy Butler for the next 3-4 weeks with a sprained MCL. They will also be without Terry Rozier (neck) for the time being–another one of its best shot creators. Oh, and they are going up against the Celtics, who likely have a nasty taste in their mouth after last May. Jaime Jaquez and Nikola Jovic have stepped up mightily in Butler’s absence, and Erik Spoelstra is a mastermind, but winning two games will be a tall task for Miami, let alone four.
15. Cleveland Cavaliers
Average: 14.3
(Matt 15, Chickster 12, Trey 16)
Donovan Mitchell missed 16 of his team’s last 26 games with a knee injury and struggled upon his return, but ended the regular season on a high note–scoring 29 and 33 points over his last two games against the Grizzlies and Pacers, respectively. The Cavaliers are the only playoff team who have had a bottom-11 offense and defense post-All-Star break. The others? The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers and Detroit Pistons. Not good company to be in … at all.
14. New Orleans Pelicans
Average: 14.3
(Matt 14, Chickster 15, Trey 14)
The New Orleans Pelicans will be without Zion Williamson for the next 1-2 weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in their inaugural play-in game against Los Angeles. Brandon Ingram looked like a much-improved version of himself without a minutes restriction Friday against Sacramento, however, scoring 24 points with six rebounds and six assists on 10-of-20 shooting. The Pelicans will have the size and physicality to combat Oklahoma City, but will they have enough firepower sans Williamson?!? That remains to be seen.
13. Orlando Magic
Average: 13
(Matt 13, Chickster 14, Trey 12)
The Magic leaped to the No. 5 seed in the East a year after finishing 14 games below .500 in 2023-24. Their youth and offensive limitations–they finished a bottom-8 offense with the seventh-worst 3-point shooting team–may hurt. But Orlando has not only one, but two very good young two-way wings in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, plus a top-3 defense to help muck things up.
12. Los Angeles Lakers
Average: 12
(Matt 12, Chickster 13, Trey 11)
The Lakers finally leaned into the bodies that brought them to the West Finals last year and closed the season winning 11 of their final 14 regular season games. They will get the defending champion Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in the West Finals, in the first round. Let’s just say I don’t loathe Darvin Ham’s task of trying to slow down Nikola Jokic, in addition to Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon.
11. Indiana Pacers
Average: 11.3
(Matt 10, Chickster 11, Trey 13)
The high-flying Indiana Pacers will square off with the Milwaukee Bucks to begin the postseason. Indiana’s offense, led by Tyrese Haliburton, is one of the most electric in the sport; its defense, on the other hand … well, it’s not. The Pacers capped off the regular season with the second-best offense paired with the seventh-worst defense–the latter being far more concerning than the former at this time of year. Who knows whether or not Giannis Antetokounmpo will be able to suit up, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Indiana’s run-and-gun style out-paces the older and slower Bucks without their best player.
10. Philadelphia 76ers
Average: 9.3
(Matt 8, Chickster 10, Trey 10)
You can make a case that the 76ers were a top-3 team in the East when Joel Embiid was healthy. In the 40 games he played, the team went 32-8 and were 9.6 points per 100 possessions better (91st percentile) with Embiid on the floor than when he wasn’t, per Cleaning The Glass. The biggest problem is that he isn’t 100 percent healthy. After completing the 14-point comeback at home against Miami with a hobbled Jimmy Butler, the task doesn’t get any easier against the No. 2 New York Knicks–who have myriad bodies it can throw at the 7-footer. Nick Nurse is arguably a better coach than Tom Thibodeau, but whether he can scheme up enough for Embiid and Maxey, while neutralizing Jalen Brunson, could determine the outcome of this series.
9. Milwaukee Bucks
Average: 9.3
(Matt 11, Chickster 8, Trey 9)
It all depends on Giannis Antetokounmpo. How good is this Bucks team without him? We’ve seen Damian Lillard-led teams. They don’t ever go that far consistently. Khris Middleton has seemingly fallen off a cliff this year compared to recent seasons in terms of production. Brook Lopez is still decent and Malik Beasley with Bobby Portis will keep them alive. But, if the Bucks come out flat and Giannis misses more time than expected, expect a first-round exit. Can a Lillard-led Bucks team beat the Pacers? I’m not so sure. To be fair, I think if the Pacers are only up 2-1 and Giannis comes back, the Bucks win this series. If it’s 3-0 Pacers? The Bucks are donezo even with Giannis. The sooner Giannis is back the better for the Bucks, but this team could be in trouble. — Chickster
8. Phoenix Suns
Average: 7.3
(Matt 9, Chickster 7, Trey 6)
The Suns have been shaky. I didn’t agree with pushing all the chips in to get Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant. It seemed very short-sighted. It didn’t help that Bradley Beal wasn’t healthy. However, the Suns are in and have a favorable matchup with the Timberwolves. It’s a stars league and the Suns have nothing short of that, however, it’s the rest of the roster I’m worried about. Jusuf Nurkic whose biggest opp is staying healthy, old-ass Eric Gordon and Royce O’Neale are your next 3 best players. That’s really concerning. This isn’t a contending team and the worst part is what do you do after this? Trading for Durant essentially started a championship window timer that is ticking fast. The Suns might lose to the Wolves (I picked the Suns to win) and they have nothing to show for their roster. Even if they win this matchup, can they beat the Nuggets? Probably not. So what do they do from here? — Chickster
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
Average: 6.7
(Matt 6, Chickster 6, Trey 8)
I’m not as high on this team as most are. While I was worried about Anthony Edwards being good because he simply didn’t seem like he liked basketball, that’s been put to rest. The dude is a hooper. It’s easy to like Edwards and Karl Anthony-Towns, but a lot else from a contending standpoint. Rudy Gobert is a one-trick pony, it’s why his teams always lose in the playoffs early. I do like Naz Reid, Kyle Anderson, and Jaden McDaniels. Mike Conley is older than dirt and Gobert gets picked apart by adjustments in the playoffs. This is a good example of a regular-season team that is like 80 percent likely to fail in the playoffs. I think the Suns can beat them in a 7 game series and they definitely won’t beat the Nuggets. Maybe it’s a bad draw for the Wolves, or maybe they’re not as good as everyone thinks. — Chickster
6. Los Angeles Clippers
Average: 6.3
(Matt 7, Chickster 5, Trey 7)
I have the Clippers higher than most, but I am also operating that Kawhi Leonard will play the entire playoffs–especially the Mavericks series. The top 9 rotation for the Clippers with Kawhi is solid. Kawhi, Paul George and begrudgingly James Harden (I hate him) as your stars are great. Ivica Zubac, Russell Westbrook, Norman Powell, Daniel Theis and P.J. Tucker as your rotational pieces are stout. While I hate how Harden plays basketball, if Kawhi is playing, Harden as the 3rd guy could be dangerous and be too much for most teams. While I think the winner of the Clippers//Mavs series could go to the Western Conference Finals, I don’t think either beat the Nuggets. — Chickster
5. Dallas Mavericks
Average: 5.7
(Matt 5, Chickster 9, Trey 3)
The Mavericks finished with 50-plus wins for the third time since winning the title in 2010-11, capping off the regular season by winning 16 of their final 20 regular season games. The biggest swing factor has been their defense. Dallas has been a top-7 defense since the All-Star break and the NBA’s No. 1 defense over the last calendar month. I’m not sure how that holds up against Leonard, who’s banged up, George and Harden, but Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington have been invaluable along its back line (especially in Dereck Lively’s absence).
4. New York Knicks
Average: 4
(Matt 3, Chickster 4, Trey 5)
The Knicks have turned it on this past season with Jalen Brunson at the helm, taking the 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. While this team is fun to watch, I don’t think they have the firepower to really make noise in the playoffs, meaning I could see a 2nd round exit if Antetokounmpo and the Bucks win their matchup. I could be wrong, but I don’t see where Jalen Brunson is your best player and you’re going to the NBA Finals. They do have really nice starters like OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo and Isaiah Hartenstein. But, it’s a stars league, you need two stars to be title contenders and the Knicks don’t have enough of that. They’ll be solid and a tough out, but there’s no way this team is going to the Finals barring injuries. — Chickster
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Average: 3.7
(Matt 4, Chickster 3, Trey 4)
The Western Conference top seed doesn’t place in the top 2 in the power rankings, but this doesn’t mean the team is no slouch. My main reason for not being top 2 is that even though they’re very good, they’re just young. Experience matters in the playoffs, teams that have been there before have a better time adjusting and facing that adversity. Either way, this is valuable playoff experience for a young Thunder team that will be better as time goes on. Still, this team will be scary and will suck to go against. I can’t see them in the NBA Finals but they should be competitive. — Chickster
2. Boston Celtics
Average: 1.7
(Matt 2, Chickster 2, Trey 1)
Despite the Boston Celtics being the top seed in the Eastern Conference and having the best record in the NBA, they come in ranked at 2 for the Power rankings. This team has the firepower to win an NBA title with players like Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis. Their backups/role players? It’s also nasty, with Derrick White, Al Horford, Payton Pritchard and Xavier Tillman. This team can beat the defending champions the Denver Nuggets. I would almost tattoo the Celtics in the NBA Finals against the Nuggets barring injuries. They might or might not win the title but dammit they will be there and push the Nuggets to the brink. — Chickster
1. Denver Nuggets
Average: 1.3
(Matt 1, Chickster 1, Trey 2)
It’s hard to not put the Nuggets at the top of the power rankings. No, they’re not the top seed in the West and are 3rd in the conference standings. However, they’re the defending champions and Nikola Jokic is the best player in the NBA. They are the team to beat in the West and in the NBA. It also helps that they are fully healthy. Their core of Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. works well together. With role players like Reggie Jackson, Peyton Watson and Christian Braun, they’re well on their way to contend for another title. — Chickster
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