NBA Power Rankings: Suns hold on to top spot, Celtics climb to second

The Phoenix Suns continue to have a firm grip on the top spot in the NBC Sports NBA Power Rankings and it’s tough to see them giving it up this season. But if one red-hot team could take it from them it’s the Celtics, who are now second in these rankings and must be seen as legit title contenders.

 1. Suns (58-14, Last Week No. 1). Phoenix has gone 10-4 without Chris Paul (and Devin Booker missed some games in there as well) and is about to get the Point God back for a final push to lock up the best record in the NBA and home-court throughout the playoffs. The Suns’ magic number to lock up the best record is one — they are nine games better than the team with the second-best record (Grizzlies). It will be interesting to see how voters treat Suns during NBA awards: Chris Paul and Devin Booker both All-NBA? Mikal Bridges on the ballot for Defensive Player of the Year? Cameron Johnson for Most Improved?

 2. Celtics (45-28, LW 5). Let’s deal with the most important thing first: No, Grant Williams, your nickname cannot be “Batman.” Only Kobe got to pick his own nickname; that’s not how it works. The Celtics have come together since the All-Star break, going 11-2 with a +11.5 net rating, led by the best offense in the NBA over that stretch. Boston has rocketed up the standing so fast that the biggest concern could be getting the No. 2 seed and potentially facing Brooklyn in the first round of the playoffs — but the Celtics are as good a defensive matchup for the Nets as there is (as much as there is a matchup for Kevin Durant). Celtics title talk is not crazy, it’s legitimate.

 3. Grizzlies (49-23, LW 3). Ja Morant will get some bottom-of-the-ballot MVP votes, and he will make All-NBA first or second team, but he is the