NBA: Monthly Power Rankings

1. Houston Rockets (65-17, 8-2, +0): The Rockets have had the best record in the NBA for much of the season, but now they have to go against the the Golden State Warriors, who have been the staple of the league for the last four years. Both teams have lethal back courts to say the least. In fact, all four players are likely Hall of Famers at this point in their respective careers. Houston will try to exploit Golden State's interior defense, while continuing to shoot well from three-point range. A key to the inside scoring will be the pick and roll with Clint Capela and James Harden. Capela has been extremely effective in the playoffs, averaging 14.4 points on 63.4 percent shooting from the field to go along with 12.2 boards per outing. Capela has been a force in the paint and if the Rockets want to advance to their first NBA Finals since 1994-95, he'll have to continue that pace. A lot of the load will also land on Harden's shoulders. He's the probably NBA MVP this year and he has a troubling past of disappearing in big games. He has to shake that precedent and lead his team to four victories to get rid of the critics. Harden, and his point guard Chris Paul, are combining to average 50.3 points and 13.8 assists per game during the postseason. They have to play well in order to dethrone the Dubs.

2. Golden State Warriors (58-24, 8-2, +0): The Warriors, as I previously mentioned, have been the best team over the last several seasons. The key to their game is depth, outside shooting, and passing the ball. They are so good at sharing the ball and getting the best option on the offensive side that most teams can't compete. Add on to the fact that the guys actually shooting the ball are perennial All-Stars, and it's nearly impossible to beat them in a seven-game series. The way to take down the Warriors is to make them take uncomfortable shots, which is easier said than done. Golden State will try to keep playing their own game because it's what has gotten them this far, and it's proved to be deadly. It all starts with Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. The two have three combined MVP awards and are able to knock down shots from everywhere on the court. Durant is one of the best ever at creating his own shot, and he'll most likely have Trevor Ariza and P.J. Tucker guarding him this series. He's putting up 28.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, both of which are better than his season averages. If he gets those numbers, the series will be won by Golden State. Curry, who is finally healthy, will be defended by either Paul or Harden, while the other checks Klay Thompson. This will be a fun one!

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (50-32, 8-3, +5): The Cavaliers really didn't look like a top tier team for most of the regular season, and for the third season in a row, people were questioning whether they would get back to the Finals. Well, here we are, and they're only four wins away from doing so for the fourth straight year. As many of us know, it's all about matchups when it gets to the postseason, and the Indiana Pacers were simply a bad matchup for King James and Co. The Cavaliers held on to win Game 7, 105-101, but it wasn't the cakewalk of an opening round series that the Warriors, Rockets, and Philadelphia 76ers experienced. That would come in the next series. The Toronto Raptors, as talented as their back court is and as deep as their bench is, still can't get rid of their demons. They can't get past the Cavaliers, and might never do so with Lebron James still in town. The Raptors are a really good ball club, but it's been proven over the last three playoff series', that no one on their team can defend, slow down, or even get in the way of James. He's too great. James, in his 15th season, is still playing at an ultra-high level, and has his eyes on an eighth consecutive trip to the Finals. The Cavs will get either the Boston Celtics or 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

4. Boston Celtics (55-27, 7-3, +0): The Celtics are just one win away from their second straight appearance in the conference finals. The team standing in their way is the division rival 76ers. Boston jumped out to a 3-0 series lead mainly due to balance, coaching, defense, and experience. There are so many weapons on the Celtics' side. Nobody is an all-time great (yet) or a sure-fire Hall of Famer, but anyone can hurt the opponent on any given night. And with the way Brad Stevens motivates his guys, there could be several Celtics players that step up. Terry Rozier has been running the show with Kyrie Irving sidelined for the rest of the year, and with Gordon Hayward out since the season opener, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have improved drastically. Tatum has been one of the best rookies this season, and in this series, he's simply been one of the best players on the court. Al Horford has been great - per usual - even if he rarely does anything that makes you jump out of your seat. He is a great player nonetheless. Other guys like Aron Baynes, Marcus Morris, and Marcus Smart impact the game with their aggression and toughness. We saw in Game 3 on the road that the Celtics can compete with just about anybody as long as they have Stevens on the sideline.

5. Philadelphia 76ers (52-30, 5-4, +6): The 76ers made quick work of the Miami Heat in the opening series, but it's been a different story in Round 2. Boston has been to consistent and Philly has made costly mistakes at the end of games, which cost them Game 2 and Game 3. This could easily be 2-2 (or even 3-1 in the Sixers' favor) if they took care of the ball late in games and made sure to get the ball to their best players in crunch time. But instead, they failed to take true advantage of those opportunities, which means they have to head back to Boston down 3-1 in the series, after trailing 3-0. You probably know by now that no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit, and it's going to be an uphill climb for the Sixers to do so. It starts tonight and if they are able to pull off the upset, the series will continue for a Game 6 back home in the City of Brotherly Love. Joel Embiid is averaging 20.6 points in the playoffs, which is 2.3 points less than he put up in the regular season. He needs to play more efficient if the Sixers want to keep playing. Ben Simmons has struggled mightily in this series, also, and it's mainly because of who's checking him. He is used to being bigger and taller than his opponent, as he gets guards on him, but Stevens has frustrated Simmons by having Horford and Morris guard him.

Playoff Teams:

6. Toronto Raptors (59-23, 4-6, -3)

7. New Orleans Pelicans (48-34, 5-4, -1)

8. Utah Jazz (48-34, 5-6, +2)

9. Portland Trail Blazers (49-33, 0-4, -4)

10. Oklahoma City Thunder (48-34, 2-4, +2)

11. Indiana Pacers (48-34, 3-4, -2)

12. Miami Heat (44-38, 1-4, +6)

13. San Antonio Spurs (47-35, 1-4, +0)

14. Minnesota Timberwolves (47-35, 1-4, -7)

15. Milwaukee Bucks (44-38, 3-4, +4)

16. Washington Wizards (43-39, 2-4, -2)

Lottery Teams:

17. Denver Nuggets (46-36, -1)

18. Los Angeles Clippers (42-40, -3)

19. Detroit Pistons (39-43, +2)

20. Los Angeles Lakers (35-47, -3)

21. Charlotte Hornets (36-46, -1)

22. New York Knicks (29-53, +1)

23. Brooklyn Nets (28-54, +2)

24. Chicago Bulls (27-55, -2)

25. Sacramento Kings (27-55, +1)

26. Orlando Magic (25-57, +2)

27. Dallas Mavericks (24-58, +0)

28. Atlanta Hawks (24-58, -4)

29. Memphis Grizzlies (22-60, +0)

30. Phoenix Suns (21-61, +0)

Photo Credit: NE Sports Network.