LAS VEGAS -- The Golden State Warriors have completed the best regular season in NBA history with a record of 73-9. They're the No. 1 team by any measure, including in ESPN Chalk's NBA Vegas rankings, and the favorite to repeat as champions. We have the Warriors power rated as 2.5 points clear of the field, and see their main competition in defending their title coming from the West.
The NBA Vegas rankings are compiled from the power ratings of yours truly, Dave Tuley, and Erin Rynning with input from other handicappers. The rankings compare the relative strength of teams and can be used in relation to point spreads if the teams were to meet on a neutral court. They can also be used as a basis of your own power ratings if you think our consensus is too high or too low on certain teams. We invite readers to offer their differences of opinion in the comments section.
Here are the power ratings for the 16 playoff teams:
NBA Vegas rankings
1. Golden State Warriors (power rating: 32)
The Warriors were also good to bettors this season at 45-35-2 ATS (56.3 percent), which is more impressive when considering they were often laying double digits. They would have had an even higher power rating, except they were just 6-8 ATS down the stretch, including covering their last two games.
2. San Antonio Spurs (29.5)
The Spurs also set a record with a 40-1 home mark and have to be given partial credit for pushing the Warriors to 73 wins by staying close enough in the race for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. The two teams are likely on a collision course to meet in the Western Conference finals.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (28.5)
The Thunder were a subpar 37-44-1 ATS, but they're still our third-most powerful team thanks to the 1-2 punch of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. The billing used to be reversed, but Westbrook has elevated his game with 18 triple-doubles this season.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (27)
The preseason betting favorites (despite losing to the Warriors in last year's NBA Finals) have underachieved overall at 37-42-3 ATS, but they'd still be favored over any other team in the Eastern Conference and have the easier path back to the Finals. How far they go will likely come down to how much help LeBron James gets from his supporting cast.
5. Los Angeles Clippers (26.5)
The Clippers went 30-15 while Blake Griffin was sidelined with various injuries and his suspension for a fight with a member of the training staff, leading some to say they were better without him. However, the Clippers won their first six games since his April 3 return before losing the season finale while resting starters for the playoffs.
6. Atlanta Hawks (25.5)
The Hawks were the surprise No. 1 seed in the East last season and are flying under the radar a little more in 2015-16, but they're No. 2 in defensive efficiency (behind only the Spurs) and have two of the league's unsung stars in Jeff Teague and Paul Millsap.
7. Toronto Raptors (25)
The Raptors are the No. 2 seed in the East and we're wondering if we have them under-ranked a little. They've exceeded expectations with 56 wins and are a strong 45-37 ATS (54.9 percent). The stat I love most is they are 28-11 against teams with winning records and won the season series against all of the other East playoff teams.
8. Miami Heat (24.5)
The Heat are an enigma: They beat the Cavaliers last month, but have also lost to the Lakers. They're a respectable 43-38-1 ATS thanks to being in the top 12 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, and a lot of that has to do with the emergence of center Hassan Whiteside. He hit 60.56 percent of his shots, grabbed 11.8 rebounds per game and blocked 3.68 shots per game.
9. Charlotte Hornets (24)
The Hornets had the same SU record of 48-34 as the Heat and will face No. 4 Miami; and they're just a game behind at 42-29-1 ATS. We also have them right behind the Heat here, as Kemba Walker matches up well with Dwyane Wade in the backcourt, but Whiteside is the difference-maker in the paint.
10. Boston Celtics (22.5)
The Celtics are a potential dark horse in the playoffs. They've shown huge potential by beating the Warriors in Oakland as 11.5-point underdogs, but they have to overcome inconsistency such as recent losses that kept them from getting a better seed and falling behind the Heat by 26 points before rallying to win the regular-season finale.
11. Houston Rockets (22)
The Rockets have certainly underachieved at 37-45 ATS and barely made the playoffs at 41-41 (and have to face No. 1 seed Golden State). However, James Harden can shoot the lights out and Dwight Howard and the rest of the frontline should win the rebound battle (if the Warriors miss enough shots).
12 (tie). Dallas Mavericks (21.5)
The Mavericks were 45-36-1 ATS (55.6 percent and second-best in the league to the Warriors) but have a tough first-round draw in Oklahoma City, against whom they were 0-4 SU (2-2 ATS) in regular-season meetings. Deron Williams can't keep up with Westbrook and Durant averaged 25.7 points in his three games against the Mavs.
12 (tie). Portland Trail Blazers (21.5)
The Blazers deserve a ton of credit for making the playoffs behind Damian Lillard (25.1 PPG) despite losing LaMarcus Aldridge and several other key contributors to free agency. But Portland looks like a first-round casualty.
14. Indiana Pacers (21)
The Pacers are again led by Paul George, who isn't quite the beast he was before fracturing his leg in a Team USA scrimmage two years ago, but he's averaging 23.1 points per game and is the heart of this team. His supporting cast is adequate but not on par with the top contenders.
15. Detroit Pistons (20)
The good news is the Pistons closed the regular season with a 112-110 upset of their first-round opponent, Cleveland. The bad news is it was against the Cavaliers' reserves (though Detroit also sat its starters, so it really was a meaningless game). The Pistons also beat the Cavs on Feb. 22 and won the season series 2-1, so don't assume a Cleveland sweep. Andre Drummond (16.2 PPG, 14.8 RPG) is the X factor.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (19.5)
The Grizzlies are the No. 7 seed in the West but we have them as our lowest-rated remaining team, mostly due to injuries depleting their lineup. Zach Randolph is back, but they draw the Spurs in the first round so it'll likely be a short postseason for Memphis.