The Herd with Colin Cowherd Hoops Tonight - New NBA Power Rankings: Knicks BALLING, Nuggets FALLING, Celtics, Thunder & Lakers bounce back
Mar 3, 2026
A roundup of shifting NBA power dynamics and standout performances. Knicks' lockdown defense and improved ball movement get praise. Nuggets' struggles since Jokic's return are explored. Celtics, Thunder and Lakers show signs of bouncing back in different ways. Several teams face upcoming measuring games that could reshape the rankings.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Lakers Big Three Offensive Breakthrough
- The Lakers' recent three-game stretch shows their trio of Luka, LeBron, and Austin can reach elite offensive levels.
- The trio posted a 128 offensive rating and combined for 27 made threes at 48% by hunting small defenders in the post.
Nuggets Free Fall After Jokic Return
- The Denver Nuggets have slipped since Nikola Jokic's return, going 5-8 in their last 13 games due to execution lapses and injuries.
- Key losses to OKC and Minnesota exposed turnover issues from Jokic and Murray and the absence of athletes Peyton Watson and Aaron Gordon.
Jokic 3PT Stroke Determines Nuggets Ceiling
- Jokic's three-point slump risk is a postseason killer because pick-and-pop becomes their counter to athletic defenses.
- If Jokic drops from ~45% to ~30% from three, Denver loses crucial spacing and becomes just another top-tier team.