CC Power Rankings: February 18

With All-Star Weekend gone (and football season completely behind us), it is now a good time to release our updated power rankings.

This edition of our rankings series takes a look at the top 15 teams in the league as we hit the second half of the season.

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1. Golden State Warriors (48-4)

Last 10: 10-0

If there was any doubt which team is the best in the NBA, Golden State has erased those thoughts over the past couple of weeks. Steve Kerr’s team has won 11 of its last 12, with victories against Cleveland, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City in that stretch. The backcourt tandem of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson leads the team with 29.9 and 21.2 points per game, respectively, and power forward Draymond Green leads the team on the glass with an average of 9.6 rebounds. The NBA’s all-time regular season wins record is definitely reachable by the 2015-2016 Warriors. What they do in their next six games, all of which come on the road and include five playoff teams at the moment, will go a long way in determining if they can break that record.

2. San Antonio Spurs (45-8)

Last 10: 8-2

A 30-point loss to Golden State — in the only matchup between the two teams thus far this season — leaves San Antonio stuck in this No. 2 spot. The Spurs are lethal, exciting to watch, and one of the best teams in recent history; yet, there is still plenty of distance between them and the top spot in our rankings. Head coach Gregg Popovich (coming off a win in last weekend’s All-Star Game) and has done a terrific job of integrating newcomer LaMarcus Aldridge into an already dangerous lineup. Like the team ahead of them in the West, the Spurs will play their next six games on the road, part of their annual “Rodeo Road Trip.” Some must-see battles emerge in that stretch, including the first game back from the break against the Clippers and a February 27 meeting with a dysfunctional yet dangerous Houston team.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (38-14)

Last 10: 8-2

Just as the gap between No. 1 and No. 2 is a wide one, the gap between No. 2 and No. 3 is fairly big as well. One could make just as good an argument to put Oklahoma City here, but Cleveland has a win over the Thunder, so it gets the third spot for now. Thankfully, the two teams will meet on Sunday at Chesapeake Energy Arena, so we do not have to wait long to see which is better at the moment.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-14)

Last 10: 8-2

The Thunder have won seven of their last eight, with the only loss coming in a tight game at Golden State. The fantastic duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook is averaging 27.7 and 24.1 points per game, respectively, and Sege Ibaka and Enes Kanter have been more than competent in the post. The Thunder will resume after the break with a pair of home games, including the aforementioned must-see matchup against the Cavaliers. The biggest question around this team right now: Just how high is their ceiling in a year when Golden State and San Antonio are the clear front-runners in the West?

5. Toronto Raptors (35-17)

Last 10: 8-2

The Raptors had won 14 of their last 15 before a five-point loss at Minnesota heading into the break. While that was a tough loss, this is still one of the hottest teams in the Association. With “take-over-at-any-time” players in DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, Toronto has the ability to win against any team on any given night.

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6. Los Angeles Clippers (35-18)

Last 10: 7-3

7. Boston Celtics (32-23)

Last 10: 8-2

8. Atlanta Hawks (31-24)

Last 10: 5-5

9. Utah Jazz (26-26)

Last 10: 8-2

10. Indiana Pacers (28-25)

Last 10: 5-5

11. Memphis Grizzlies (31-22)

Last 10: 7-3

12. Portland Trail Blazers (27-27)

Last 10: 8-2

13. Miami Heat (29-24)

Last 10: 6-4

14. Dallas Mavericks (29-26)

Last 10: 4-6

15. Charlotte Hornets (27-26)

Last 10: 7-3

Just Missed The Cut: Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets