NBA Power Rankings: Miami Heat is fading; Boston Celtics rising

Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum (David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)
Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum (David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)
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Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum (Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports)

In this week’s installment of our NBA Power Rankings, the Miami Heat is beginning to fade and the Boston Celtics are rising. 

With just a few weeks remaining in the regular season, the NBA’s playoff picture is beginning to get clearer and clearer. And there’s one trend that can’t be overlooked any longer that is taking place in the Eastern Conference.

Out East, the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics are two franchises that are orbiting in opposite directions as the playoffs quickly approach.

The Heat is quickly fading in the East and has seen their breathing room atop the conference dissipate and the Celtics are a team that is quickly rising and is playing its best basketball of the season – a case can be made that they’re playing like the best team in the East.

As the final stretch of the season is squarely upon us, we explore this week’s edition of our NBA Power Rankings.