NBA Power Rankings: Suns, Heat remain on top as other elite teams stumble

The Phoenix Suns have pulled away as the best team in the NBA, and that has them on top of these latest NBA Power Rankings. Miami tops the East and is second, but many of the teams that dominated the top of this list earlier this season are stumbling and tumbling.

 1. Suns (37-9, Last Week No. 1). Winners of seven in a row and the best team in basketball right now, in large part because of their depth and versatility. GM James Jones realized he needed more depth at the five when Dario Saric tore his ACL last playoffs, so he got JaVale McGee, who played fantastically for them. Then they added Bismack Biyombo on a 10-day and realized they needed to keep him because he’s playing so well — now there is quality depth behind Deandre Ayton at the five. Those kinds of smart moves are why Jones deserved that contract extension.

 2. Heat (30-17, LW 3). Notice the top two teams in this NBA Power Rankings have a lot in common: Depth, versatility, and a basketball cultural identity that extends from the GM/president down through the kids who mop the sweat off the floor between plays. The Heat are on top of the East thanks to big minutes and plays from Gabe Vincent, Caleb Martin and Max Strus. The Heat’s three stars — Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Kyle Lowry — have played just 14 games together, leaving a lot of room for growing chemistry and improvement (and the Heat are already +4.4 per 100 possessions when those three share the court). Count the Heat among the contenders; they have earned that spot.

 3. Warriors (35-13, LW 4). Draymond Green remains out and the Warriors are 5-4 in the nine games he’s missed with his back/calf issue, Klay Thompson is still finding his shot (although he looked better against Dallas Tuesday, going 3-of-5 from 3), and Stephen Curry remains in his shooting slump, hitting 29.1% from 3 and 36.5% overall in January. The role players who have played such a big role for the Warriors — Jordan Poole, Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr. — have helped Golden State keep its head above water. And, when he needed to, Curry was able to still step up and get the Warriors a win.

STEPH FOR THE WIN!!!!