30. Brooklyn Nets
Record: 9-47, 15th in East
Offensive rating: 101.3 (28th)
Defensive rating: 109.3 (28th)
One thing to know: The Nets will once again send their draft pick to the Boston Celtics this year, thanks to the infamous Kevin Garnett-Paul Pierce trade in 2013. They're reportedly trying to shop Brook Lopez for a draft pick this year, but may not get one.
29. Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 19-39, 14th in West
Offensive rating: 103.6 (24th)
Defensive rating: 110.4 (29th)
One thing to know: The Lakers recently hired Magic Johnson to a front-office role. It didn't take him long to say he wants to eventually call "the shots." Why does it feel like this may end poorly?
28. Phoenix Suns
Record: 18-39, 15th in West
Offensive rating: 104.0 (22nd)
Defensive rating: 109.0 (27th)
One thing to know: Though he's played in just seven games, Suns rookie Derrick Jones Jr. may be a star of the All-Star Weekend, as his impressive leaping ability has made him a dark horse to win the dunk contest.
27. Orlando Magic
Record: 21-37, 14th in East
Offensive rating: 100.5 (29th)
Defensive rating: 107.3 (22nd)
One thing to know: In June, the Magic traded Victor Oladipo and the No. 11 pick, Domantas Sabonis, to the Thunder for Sergie Ibaka. 56 games later, they traded Ibaka to the Raptors for Terrence Ross and a pick that will likely fall in the mid-20s this year. Not a great return.
26. Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 21-35, 13th in East
Offensive rating: 99.7 (30th)
Defensive rating: 105.6 (15th)
One thing to know: The 76ers continue to have health issues. Joel Embiid, who has missed 13 of the last 14 games with a knee injury, may actually have a torn meniscus. And No. 1 pick Ben Simmons, whose fractured foot was supposed to be healed, may not be healed.
25. New York Knicks
Record: 23-24, 12th in East
Offensive rating: 105.2 (15th)
Defensive rating: 108.7 (25th)
One thing to know: The Knicks are amazing. They've gone 9-24 after starting 14-10 and their team president Phil Jackson is publicly trying to push their star player Carmelo Anthony out the door, and it's still not the biggest controversy surrounding the team.
24. Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 23-33, 10th in West
Offensive rating: 106.5 (13th)
Defensive rating: 109.0 (26th)
One thing to know: The Blazers badly need help on defense. They recently traded Mason Plumlee for Jusuf Nurkic and a first-round pick, and some think they may be gearing up for a bigger trade.
23. New Orleans Pelicans
Record: 23-34, 11th in West
Offensive rating: 102.3 (27th)
Defensive rating: 104.7 (8th)
One thing to know: The Pelicans were rumored to be exploring a trade for 76ers big man Jahlil Okafor to provide some punch to their offense, but the deal appears to have fallen apart.
22. Sacramento Kings
Record: 24-33, 9th in West
Offensive rating: 104.8 (17th)
Defensive rating: 108.6 (24th)
One thing to know: DeMarcus Cousins is in dangerous territory with his technical fouls. He'll earn a suspension for each additional technical foul he accrues. Not good news for a team in the thick of the playoff race.
21. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 22-35, 12th in West
Offensive rating: 107.5 (11th)
Defensive rating: 108.3 (23rd)
One thing to know: The Wolves are 11-13 in 2017, with a slightly improved defense and a top-10 offense. Despite losing Zach LaVine to a torn ACL, they're only 3.5 games out of a playoff spot.
20. Charlotte Hornets
Record: 24-32, 11th in East
Offensive rating: 105.0 (16th)
Defensive rating: 104.6 (7th)
One thing to know: The Hornets are 7-19 since Christmas with a bottom-1o offense. As ESPN's Zach Lowe writes, they've bet the future on being a middling playoff team, and the supporting cast around Kemba Walker has "plateaued or declined."
19. Dallas Mavericks
Record: 22-34, 12th in West
Offensive rating: 104.2 (19th)
Defensive rating: 106.1 (17th)
One thing to know: The Mavericks are 11-7 since January 12, breathing life into a seemingly dead season. The lineup of Yogi Ferrell, Seth Curry, Wes Matthews, Harrison Barnes, and Dirk Nowitzki — their most-played lineup, with three undrafted players — has outscored opponents by 22 over that stretch.
18. Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 25-30, 9th in East
Offensive rating: 107.7 (10th)
Defensive rating: 106.8 (21st)
One thing to know: Giannis Antetokounmpo's load just got much heavier, with co-star Jabari Parker missing the rest of the season with a torn ACL for the second time.
17. Detroit Pistons
Record: 27-30, 8th in East
Offensive rating: 103.7 (24th)
Defensive rating: 105.0 (12th)
One thing to know: ESPN's Zach Lowe reports that Reggie Jackson could be on the trading block for the Pistons as he and the team have struggled since his return from a knee injury.
16. Chicago Bulls
Record: 28-29, 7th in East
Offensive rating: 104.4 (18th)
Defensive rating: 105.5 (13th)
One thing to know: The Bulls are just 1-5 when Jimmy Butler sits and 27-24 when he plays. As he goes, so go the Bulls.
15. Denver Nuggets
Record: 25-31, 8th in West
Offensive rating: 108.8 (8th)
Defensive rating: 110.9 (30th)
One thing to know: The Nuggets can't defend to save their lives, but they're 16-15 with the league's second-best offense since making Nikola Jokic their starting center in mid-December. Jokic has been a revelation, averaging 22 points on 57% shooting, 42% from three, with 11 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game in 2017.
14. Miami Heat
Record: 25-32, 10th in East
Offensive rating: 103.3 (25th)
Defensive rating: 104.3 (6th)
One thing to know: The best team in the NBA since January 15? Not the Warriors. The Heat! The Heat have climbed from the lottery doldrums and into the playoff race with a 14-2 record and a top-10 offense and top-3 defense.
13. Indiana Pacers
Record: 29-28, 6th in East
Offensive rating: 105.5 (14th)
Defensive rating: 106.5 (19th)
One thing to know: The Pacers followed a seven-game winning streak with a six-game losing streak to go into All-Star Break. They remain maddeningly inconsistent.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 32-25, 7th in West
Offensive rating: 104.0 (21st)
Defensive rating: 105.0 (11th)
One thing to know: Russell Westbrook is still averaging a triple-double. But when Westbrook sits, the Thunder's offense falls off a cliff, scoring just 97 points per 100 possessions. The Thunder have also missed Enes Kanter, out with a self-inflicted broken arm — they're 4-6 since he got injured.
11. Atlanta Hawks
Record: 32-24
Offensive rating: 102.9 (26th)
Defensive rating: 103.3 (5th)
One thing to know: After dangling him in trades, the Hawks have seemingly pulled Paul Millsap off the block for good. Head coach Mike Budenholzer recently said, "He's not going anywhere."
10. Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 34-24, 6th in West
Offensive rating: 104.2 (2oth)
Defensive rating: 102.8 (4th)
One thing to know: The Grizzlies are doing what the Grizzlies do: grinding out games and hanging around. Their offense would get a needed boost if Chandler Parsons ever returns to looking like the player they gave $94 million this past offseason.
9. Toronto Raptors
Record: 33-24, 5th in East
Offensive rating: 110.9 (4th)
Defensive rating: 106.0 (16th)
One thing to know: The Raptors have been in a slump recently, but the trade for Serge Ibaka could be just the move to make them true contenders in the East.
8. Utah Jazz
Record: 35-22, 5th in East
Offensive rating: 107.2 (12th)
Defensive rating: 101.6 (3rd)
One thing to know: The story remains the same for the Jazz — they're 20-6 with both George Hill and Gordon Hayward in the lineup and 8-1 with their preferred starting lineup of Hill, Rodney Hood, Hayward, Derrick Favors, and Rudy Gobert.
7. Los Angeles Clippers
Record: 35-21, 4th in West
Offensive rating: 109.2 (7th)
Defensive rating: 105.0 (9th)
One thing to know: The Clippers are surviving without Chris Paul, thanks in part to the play of Blake Griffin, who's averaging nearly 24 points, nine rebounds, and six assists per game since January 18.
6. Boston Celtics
Record: 37-20, 2nd in East
Offensive rating: 109.6 (6th)
Defensive rating: 106.2 (18th)
One thing to know: Will this be the year Danny Ainge finally cashes in his chips to trade for a star? It's worth wondering if Isaiah Thomas can continue to carry such a tremendous load on offense on a team with with a below-average defense and below-average rebounding.
5. Houston Rockets
Record: 40-18, 3rd in West
Offensive rating: 111.5 (2nd)
Defensive rating: 105.5 (14th)
One thing to know: According to ESPN, James Harden is creating 55 points per game (points scored plus points created by assists), most in the NBA and second most all time.
4. Washington Wizards
Record: 34-21, 3rd in East
Offensive rating: 108.2 (9th)
Defensive rating: 105.0 (10th)
One thing to know: This is not merely a hot streak for the Wizards. They have the second best record in the league since December 17, and they've given the Cavaliers the toughest test of the season — a wild 140-135 overtime loss that many people dubbed the best game of the regular season.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 39-16, 1st in East
Offensive rating: 111.0 (3rd)
Defensive rating: 106.5 (20th)
One thing to know: There are real concerns about the Cavs, with J.R. Smith still recovering from a thumb injury, Kevin Love out six weeks with a knee injury, and LeBron James' workload growing worryingly high. But if the team is healthy come April, first seed or not, they should be fine.
2. San Antonio Spurs
Record: 43-13, 2nd in West
Offensive rating: 110.0 (5th)
Defensive rating: 101.0 (1st)
One thing to know: No Tim Duncan? Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker a year older? A hand injury for Pau Gasol? Six new players to work into the rotation? No problem. The Spurs are on pace to win 62 games this year. Voter fatigue is real, but Gregg Popovich might really be coach of the year.
1. Golden State Warriors
Record: 47-9, 1st in West
Offensive rating: 114.2 (1st)
Defensive rating: 101.6 (2nd)
One thing to know: The Warriors won't beat last season's 73-9 regular season, but they're once again far and away the league's best team. Even scarier? The Kevin Durant-Stephen Curry dynamic is only just starting to get worked out.
