NBA Power Rankings Based on Championship Odds (How Will the West Shake Out?)

The NBA season is inching closer and closer to the trade deadline, but the Western Conference has just about every single team alive at this point in the season.

The No. 12 seed and No. 5 seed are separated by just two games, and you can go even further with the No. 13 seed and No. 3 seed being separated by just six games.

Essentially, everyone is alive outside of the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, which could make a for a fun trade deadline as teams try to make a play-in tournament push.

The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers have both jumped into the top-five in the West, and it could be time to re-consider them as NBA Finals contenders.

Let's dive into our latest Power Rankings:

Boston still has the best record in the NBA, but it would love to get Marcus smart (ankle) back in the lineup sooner rather than later.

The Nuggets have been dominant at home (22-4), and they've opened up a two-game lead in the West, one of the few teams that are safe.

Milwaukee has won four straight since Khris Middleton returned, and they are 8-3 with him this season. If he can stay healthy, Milwaukee has a chance to win the East.

Philly has been dominant since James Harden got back from a foot injury, making the top of the East a fun race between the Sixers, Celtics and Bucks.

Memphis has a really solid young core, but it may benefit from making a deal for a proven rotation player at the deadline.

The Nets are staying afloat without Kevin Durant thanks to some impressive play by Kyrie Irving.

Cleveland is elite at home (21-5), but it's in danger of slipping to the No. 6 seed with the Miami Heat playing better lately.

Don't look now, but the Clips are one of the best offenses in the NBA as of late and have won five of their last six games.

Steph Curry is playing at an MVP-level for Golden State, and the Warriors have a real chance to end up in a top-3 spot in the West.

Sacramento is still the No. 3 seed in the West, but the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors are making a push for that spot...

Miami is healthy and playing better, but losses like Sunday's to the Charlotte Hornets show that this team may need another piece.

Will the Mavericks get Luka Doncic some help at the deadline? This supporting cast is one of the worst of a playoff-caliber team in the NBA.

The Pelicans have lost eight straight games and need Zion Williamson back in the lineup with them falling to the No. 8 seed.

The Suns are back in the No. 7 spot in the West, and they could make a run once Devin Booker returns to the lineup.

Tom Thibodeau's crew keeps flipping from an elite defense to an elite offense in stretches, but it needs more bench help to truly push for a top-six spot in the East.

Until Karl-Anthony Towns returns, the Wolves have a limited ceiling in a close Western Conference.

Lauri Markkanen and the Jazz have to be one of the best surprises of the 2022-23 season, but can they hang on in the West?

The Hawks have fallen under .500 again this season, and they may need to move John Collins at the deadline just to shake things up.

The Thunder are still in the playoff mix at this point in the season, something very few would have expected prior to this season.

Washington's rollercoaster of a season continues, winning six straight to jump into the No. 9 spot in the East.

Chicago may have the best trade chips available at the deadline, but whether or not they move them remains to be seen.

The Blazers could end up being sellers at the deadline with Jusuf Nurkic and Josh Hart rumored to be available.

The Lakers got Anthony Davis back, but they still are outside of the play-in picture in the Western Conference.

It may be time for the Raptors to sell, especially since they have some upcoming free agents (Gary Trent Jr. and Fred VanVleet) on the roster.

Tyrese Haliburton's injury has brought the Pacers back to earth, as they're not out of the play-in picture in the East.

The Magic have really turned things as of late, and they could sneak into a play-in spot...

The Hornets could be sellers at the deadline with players like Kelly Oubre Jr. and Gordon Hayward potentially available.

The Spurs have had the worst net rating in the NBA for quite some time, but they still don't have the league's worst record.

It's time for the Pistons to start consider a trade of some of their veterans, as they are way out of the playoff race in the East.

For a team with a ton of young, offensive minded players, the Rockets have a terrible offense, ranking dead last in the NBA in offensive rating.

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.