February 2026

There were 1,487 posts published in February 2026 (this is page 63 of 149).

NBA Power Rankings: Where all 30 teams stand entering the second half of the season

Welcome back to the world’s most accurate power rankings, where today, as we do every two weeks, we sort all 30 NBA teams into an order so perfect that it will make you rethink your life.

But first: A sidebar.

As we exit the All-Star break, we have eclipsed the 50-game mark of the 2025-26 NBA season, and in some cases we are nearing 60 games, which means it is time to employ “the 40-20 rule.”

What is that, you say? It is a benchmark wholly manufactured by legendary coach Phil Jackson. Legit contenders, he argued, win a 40th game before losing a 20th. In the modern era, only four teams (all anomalies) — the 1994-95 Houston Rockets, 2003-04 Detroit Pistons, 2005-06 Miami Heat and 2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks — won a championship without meeting a 40-20 standard.

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Maybe I could come up with some other criteria that elicits a narrower field of exceptions, but I am not a 13-time NBA champion, so let us stick with what Jackson suggested — or should we?

By Jackson’s logic, none of the Denver Nuggets (35-20), Houston Rockets (33-20) or New York Knicks (35-20) meet the 40-20 rule, since all of them lost a 20th game before winning their 40th.

Under Jackson’s rule, only the Oklahoma City Thunder (42-14) and Detroit Pistons (40-13) have qualified as contenders. The San Antonio Spurs (38-16) will almost surely soon join them, and the Boston Celtics (35-19), with a five-game win streak, have an outside shot. And that’s the list.

And maybe Jackson is right. You be the judge. Meanwhile, those perfect power rankings …

(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

Is coach Doug Christie’s job safe? You tell us, GM Scott Perry: “I’m just expecting him to be my coach until I tell you anything different. I’m not even thinking along those lines right now. I want to see us get incrementally better each day, and I want to see him continue to improve as a coach. I expect him to continue to grow and improve and be the coach here for the Kings.” OK?

As he nurses hand and groin injuries, Anthony Davis, according to multiplereports, will not play for the Wizards at all this season. When asked about Davis’ unavailability for the remainder of the season, Washington coach Brian Keefe said, “I can’t confirm that.” But Trae Young, who is also nursing injuries to his leg, has yet to play for the Wizards, either, and their tank rolls along.

The Nets, who kept Michael Porter Jr. and waived Cam Thomas at the trade deadline, quietly picked up two interesting players, Josh Minott and Ochai Agbaji. “We know they’re very good players. That’s why they’re here,” coach Jordi Fernández said. “Show me what you can bring to the group, and if you can be part of this group, you can be a future Net.” Congratulations?!?!

The Jazz owe a top-eight protected pick to the Thunder, and they own the league’s sixth-worst record, which means they cannot afford to win many more games. Which meant Jazz coach Will Hardy benched both Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen in the fourth quarters of recent games. Asked how close he came to putting them in, Hardy said, “I wasn’t.” A March of tanks! The Jazz earned a $500,000 fine for tanking, while Jackson underwent season-ending surgery.

The Pacers haven’t entirely quit on the season, beating the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. “This was a really important game for us,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “With the season that we’ve had, this environment, the opponent, our guys just had a great collective spirit and collective will tonight.” That, and the addition of Ivica Zubac, bode well … for next season.

“You can get lost and discouraged when you’re losing these tough games,” said coach James Borrego, whose Pelicans are 5-4 in their last nine games. “That’s human nature. The beauty in this team is that even within a game, we rise up. There is resiliency in us.” It helps, of course, that they have no incentive to lose, as their front office already traded their first-round draft pick.

The Grizzlies traded Jaren Jackson Jr. for a package centered around draft picks, just as they had done with Desmond Bane over the summer, and Ja Morant is no longer part of the plan. As general manager Zach Kleiman said quite clearly in his post-deadline press conference, “This is about organizational direction now. This is not about Ja in particular.” So, who wants Ja Morant?

“It’s been different than what I expected,” Cooper Flagg said of a rookie season that will no longer include Anthony Davis as a teammate, and may not feature Kyrie Irving, either. “Doing the best I can. It was tough at first. Obviously, that much losing. … It still is. I’m a competitor, but, for me, it’s about learning from the losses as much as I can and trying to take positives away.”

Once Giannis Antetokounmpo stayed put at the deadline, both he and the Bucks acted as if the organization had not actively engaged in trade discussions involving the two-time MVP. Weird. By posting the “I’m not leaving” meme from “The Wolf of Wall Street,” does Antetokounmpo really mean he is staying in Milwaukee? Or are the Bucks, more likely, tabling negotiations until June?

After trading 25-year-old Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu for, mostly, a slew of second-round picks, “We’re not going to be a finished product,” warned Bulls coach Billy Donovan. “It’s not going to work like that. And we’ll see if we can ever get there.” What an uplifting message. No wonder “we’ve got to sit down as an organization, quite honestly … and just find the direction.”

Out went Trae Young, Kristaps Porziņģis, Luke Kennard and Vít Krejčí. In came Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, CJ McCollum, Cory Kispert and Gabe Vincent. What are the Hawks selling to their fans? “Everything’s future forward,” said GM Onsi Saleh. Future draft picks, including one from the Pelicans, and cap flexibility, which has gotten Atlanta how far thus far?

What was it like to lose Ivica Zubac? “A lot of people in the organization the other day was crying,” said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. “It was a tough day for us, an emotional day.” And what was it like to lose James Harden? “You know, players come in and out all the time now. It’s the NBA,” said Kawhi Leonard. “We know why these guys left, and I wish him the best of luck.”

The Heat, for all their bluster about being the league’s hardest-working team, lost to the tanking Jazz, and that cannot happen. As Bam Adebayo said, “We got to figure out how to consistently win games. It doesn’t matter if it’s a back-to-back, four games in five nights, whatever it is. We’ve got to find a way to win against teams that are, I guess you can say, trying to lose.”

It is not coincidence that Deni Avdija’s return from injury coincided with a return to normalcy for the Blazers, who play fast and free when they are at their best. And they were at their best in a recent blowout of the 76ers. As coach Tiago Splitter said, “That was the type of basketball that we envisioned from the beginning of the season, to be honest.” The play-in tournament awaits.

Tanking? “It’s not good for the fans, for the league itself,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. What about in Golden State, where they have lost Jimmy Butler to an ACL tear and Stephen Curry through the All-Star break? “I can tell you that we are in a position where we’re desperately trying to win, not only each game, but put ourselves in position to be healthy for the playoffs.”

“I would contribute that to them being lesser teams,” Paolo Banchero said of Orlando’s short-lived win streak. “Not that good, you know? I think Utah took their starters out, Brooklyn not being very good. Milwaukee, they’re all right. So, I think we’ve just got to lock in and continue to just be who we are defensively and hopefully it translates to when we see some better teams.”

The Hornets had their nine-game win streak snapped, but not before they got in a few punches against the Pistons. Charlotte coach Charles Lee, who was also (eventually) ejected from the game, liked what he saw from his charges. “I just loved everything that they brought tonight from a competitive spirit,” he asserted. “[…] We got better, and this was a really good game for us.”

All is right with Joel Embiid’s knee, for the most part … for the time being. “He’s like the fun-loving uncle now,” a Sixers insider told The Philadelphia Inquirer. “We do think it’s sustainable,” Philadelphia executive Daryl Morey added of a recovery from chronic injury that has seen Embiid average a 30-8-5 on 53/39/87 shooting splits over his last 20 appearances.

“It is probably harder for the high-end teams, or in this case, the high-salary teams, to keep adding,” said Raptors GM Bobby Webster. “That’s probably what we’re seeing. It’s just hard for them to keep adding salary. Maybe that’s the natural order of the new CBA, which is the dispersal of talent, parity, which I think in many ways is great for the overall health of basketball.”

“That’s a championship team right there,” Lakers superstar LeBron James said of the Thunder. “We’re not. We can’t sustain energy and effort for 48 minutes, and they can. That’s why they won the championship.” Wait, did he just admit that his Lakers are not contenders? “Sorry if I sound irritated, but I’m 41. My [patience for] irritation is being very, very low as the days go on.”

“I don’t think we ever had what expectations are supposed to look like,” said coach Jordan Ott, whose Suns continue to overachieve, even despite the absences of Jalen Green and Devin Booker. “We just wanted to bring guys in here that played and went about their business the right way. And they continue to get better, and I think that’s the part where we’re at right now.”

“We’re in good shape. Everybody needs to chill out,” Fred VanVleet said of Houston’s up-and-down season. “I’ve been on Twitter a lot more this year than ever before since I’m not playing. I just think everybody needs to chill out and take the growth and the development of this team. We’re in good shape going into the break and the real basketball starts after the All-Star break.”

Could it be, following a comeback road win over the Nuggets, the Cavs (10-1 in their last 11 games) are peaking in time, just as they have swapped Darius Garland for James Harden? “It’s a testament to who we have on the team and what we have going,” said Donovan Mitchell. “We’re just hooping on vibes right now.” James Harden and vibes. Go with God, Cleveland.

What are the Wolves getting in Ayo Dosunmu? He tells us, “When you’re a player like me who gives it your all each and every night, the only way you can pay back the fans is by going out there and giving your all on a night-in and night-out basis. You can’t control making shots, but you can control effort. You can control playing hard, and that’s just what I’m hanging my hat on.”

Jayson Tatum returned to practice last week, joining the Maine Celtics for some real work on Tuesday, when he told reporters, “It was the next step. Doesn’t mean that I’m coming back or I’m not. It’s just following the plan.” The plan, as best as we can tell? Check every milestone until he feels 100%, which, barring any setbacks, should make him available sooner than later.

It is one thing to be the newest spark plug to Madison Square Garden for the Knicks. It is another to be from the streets of New York. “Playing for the Knicks is a huge thing, but I’m literally a kid from the same streets the fans are, and to be part of everything here, it’s a blessing,” said Jose Alvarado. “It’s something I had to get used to and get out of the way.”

Cameron Johnson, who returned from injury, only as other players left the rotation, always has a way of putting things into perspective: “You don’t want to peak too early and hit the downslope of it. So if these injuries happen now, it’s better than them happening in April. And who knows what the future holds, but hopefully we get to the other side of this and ride that positive wave.”

When will opponents learn: Detroit is not to be trampled with. “People have tried to be extra aggressive with us, talk to us and whatever the case may be,” said All-Star center Jalen Duren, post-brawl. “As a group, we’ve done an OK job handling that energy and intensity, but at the end of the day, emotions got high, everybody’s being competitive, we’re all men, so things happen.”

Everything Victor Wembanyama says sounds menacing when you read it in the voice of the villain in a French noir film. Following a 40-point masterpiece in 26 minutes of work against the Lakers, Wemby said, “These kinds of games, you have to have the greed. You have to want more every time.” Greed! More! Exactly what you want from your 22-year-old rising superstar.

“We have a team that we have a lot of confidence in,” coach Mark Daigneault said of his Thunder, the real winners of the trade deadline, who added Jared McCain. “With good reason, these guys have a lot of time and equity together with a lot of success. When you add somebody, you never take that for granted. The idea is to hope he can strengthen our team.”

Chicago Cubs begin spring training hungry for more: ‘The group collectively is just trying to raise the level’

MESA, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs want more.

Having finally made a long awaited return to the postseason and even earning a series victory in the wild-card round against the Padres last October, a lofty standard has been reestablished for one of baseball’s most prominent franchises. On Monday, ahead of their first full-squad workout, the Cubs spoke of their hunger for an even deeper postseason run and how the core that has grown together over the past half-decade is eager for the opportunity ahead — with some new reinforcements along for the ride. 

A year ago, Cubs camp opened just days after Alex Bregman chose the Boston Red Sox to conclude his first foray into free agency, a decision that was felt in Mesa, with Chicago having pursued Bregman to no avail. The Cubs made their own splash earlier that winter with the acquisition of Kyle Tucker, but Tucker arrived with just one year remaining on his contract, making his presence feel tenuous even then. A largely successful season for both player and team ensued, but the partnership did end up being temporary, as Tucker joined the Dodgers this winter.

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But in Bregman’s second trip to the open market, after he opted out of his Red Sox deal, the Cubs got their man. A heavily deferred, five-year, $175 million deal brought Bregman into the fold as a pillar for the franchise — a sharp contrast to Tucker’s arrival the year prior. Bregman joins a roster loaded with veterans who have already experienced a lot together and are looking to take the next step. And after fielding questions about missing out on Bregman on the first day of workouts last February, Cubs personnel on Monday got to talk about his value as a teammate. 

“I think he fits our team really well,” said outfielder Ian Happ, the longest-tenured Cub. “But I think the group as a whole, we know each other. We know what each other is working on and, you know, what the offseason goals were for everybody. So it’s really fun when you get to put a group back together … that part of it is so exciting because you know what everybody’s capable of, and the group collectively is just trying to raise the level.”

Now a decade removed from the drought-breaking triumph in 2016, the Cubs’ core — bolstered this winter by Bregman and hard-throwing right-hander Edward Cabrera in the rotation — is not shying away from expectations to deliver another special season. 

“I think the expectations as a whole for the team are a deep playoff run. But that starts with your process every day,” Happ said. “And you can talk about winning the World Series all you want, but the way you get there is by being really diligent to your process every day and focusing on little things one day at a time. Sounds cliche, but it’s very true.”

Process and patience are crucial principles, especially with months and months of baseball ahead. But Chicago’s experience of finally returning to the October stage has only amplified the team’s level of urgency and ambition in 2026. Left-hander Matthew Boyd is entering his second season with the Cubs, a refreshing bit of continuity after he bounced among three teams the previous three seasons. Boyd made his first All-Star team at age 34 last year, a remarkable, late-career breakout that instilled some much-needed dependability in Chicago’s rotation. But for all the important innings Boyd threw in the regular season, taking the mound in October left a visceral impression on him that has carried into his preparation this spring. 

“The playoffs are just — they’re addictive, right? Like, you play it, and you go, ‘Man, I want more of that,’” Boyd said. “And I’ve gotten to experience it three out of the last four years now, and it’s something that you don’t want to not do. So I think that collectively, we all have that. Collectively, we knew that, like, man, we were more than capable to win that first series and go on and play. And that we weren’t afraid of anybody that was ahead of us.

“But we didn’t get there. So I think that the hunger, the feeling of what we got, where we got — that was awesome, but we want more. And then you add the guys that we added in this clubhouse. It’s exciting to know that we’re all going to be collectively working toward that goal.”

To be sure, last year’s NLDS defeat against the rival Brewers provides more than enough motivation. But the Cubs’ roster — and the contract status of several key players — adds another layer that could contribute to the level of urgency. Boyd, who has a $15 million mutual option for 2027, is one of several key Cubs who can become free agents after this season, along with Happ, starting pitchers Jameson Taillon and Shota Imanaga, outfielder Seiya Suzuki and second baseman Nico Hoerner. Depending on how the season unfolds, that could be a challenging dynamic to manage. But Hoerner — having been the subject of ample trade speculation this winter — spoke of the collective contractual circumstances as more of an opportunity than an obstacle.

“The cool part is that we all do share a pretty amazing opportunity for this season,” he said. “I think that’s going to be something here a lot of guys talk about. There’s plenty of guys who are in their last year here, and that’s also an opportunity, though — because we’ve been fortunate to play as a group for a while, and I think that just it creates excitement. You don’t get to share a locker room with guys, a consistent core, a lot in the big leagues. And so to have that opportunity, to have gotten better and to now be in a place where we can really seize that opportunity is super exciting.”

On Monday, manager Craig Counsell also spoke about the delicate balance between players arriving at such a critical junction in their careers and tackling the team task at hand. 

“Every player’s got a situation. And frankly, if you’re at the point where you’re in a free-agent year, you’re doing pretty good — things have gone pretty well,” he said. 

“But I think it’s this team, it’s now. It’s about being present. And what you have the opportunity to accomplish with your friends, with your teammates, with guys that you’ve gone through some different times with — that’s a real opportunity.”

Matt Shaw, displaced from his native third base by Bregman’s arrival, will be taking on more of a superutility role in his sophomore season, including spending some time in the outfield. That marks his first exposure to the outfield in pro ball, as he had exclusively played second, third and shortstop since joining the Cubs organization as a first-round pick in 2023. But Shaw did play some outfield as a freshman at the University of Maryland and during summer ball in college. He’s also in a good position to relearn some of the intricacies of outfield play from stellar defenders such as Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong.

“He’s got some pretty good outfielders to defer to,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I mean, it’s a nice situation for him. It may not be the exact situation he thought he’d be in, but considering the circumstances, I think he’s got a good group to lean on, and we’re definitely gonna be there for him because it’s not easy having to shift.” 

With Happ and Crow-Armstrong entrenched in left and center, respectively, right field is the natural spot for Shaw to see the most time. While Seiya Suzuki is expected to take on the bulk of right-field reps in the wake of Tucker’s departure, he’ll need some DH days, which could open at-bats for Shaw in the outfield when he isn’t playing the infield.

Suzuki is preparing not just for increased outfield responsibility in Chicago but also for Samurai Japan as he gears up for the World Baseball Classic. Suzuki wanted to participate in the 2023 edition but was unable due to an oblique injury, making the upcoming tournament all the more exciting for the 31-year-old slugger. Shohei Ohtani’s presence as the DH ensures that Suzuki will be in the outfield for Team Japan; exactly which outfield spot remains something of an open question because of the other options on the roster. 

But we got a hint about where Suzuki might be deployed when his teammate and Team USA outfielder Crow-Armstrong was asked for his thoughts on the tournament and the prospect of playing against Team Japan.

“I’m excited to watch Seiya play center field,” Crow-Armstrong said. “That’ll be really fun. I think it’s a good opportunity for him to show people that he’s a really good defender. And I don’t think he gets enough credit for his abilities out there. So that’ll be fun.”

When asked about his defense and the prospect of playing center in the WBC, Suzuki said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry, “I feel like I’ve been moving well. It’s something I worked on in the offseason. And I think getting those reps in, I think that’s going to be beneficial for me in the season, too. And if Pete wants an off-day or something, that’s my chance to play center field.”

It remains to be seen whether Suzuki will start in center for Japan — he has started one game there in the majors and only a handful during his NPB career — but it’s not entirely implausible. Japan has one natural center fielder in Ukyo Shuto, but he’s mostly on the roster for his speed, and his bat lags far behind the other available outfielders. So if Japan wants to put out its best lineup, manager Hirokazu Ibata might indeed be best suited putting Suzuki in center flanked by some combination of Masataka Yoshida, Kensuke Kondoh and Shota Morishita. 

But no matter where he’s playing, Suzuki is excited about the possibility of facing off against his teammate in the tourney.

“I want to see Pete throw his helmet,” Suzuki said with a smirk. “And then if he hits the ball to center field, I want to make sure I catch it and dance on it.”

— It’s no secret Crow-Armstrong is seeking more consistency at the plate after last season’s severely uneven campaign, which featured a terrific first half followed by a brutal run of poor production down the stretch. But the soon-to-be 24-year-old sees room for improvement beyond the batter’s box, too, even if those elements of his game are already renowned as elite. 

“The throwing decisions,” Crow-Armstrong said when asked how he can upgrade as a defender, even while he already rates as one of the game’s best. “I think that’s been kind of the kicker my whole career so far. Just gave up some extra bases last year. Dropping the ego and not feeling like I’m gonna throw somebody out from 300 feet — because I’m not Jackie Bradley. I think there will be times when I can let one loose, and the situation will have to call for that. But there’s little moments from last year that I can kind of pick out … decision-making wise. I think it probably wasn’t my strongest suit.”

Crow-Armstrong was also one of the most impactful baserunners in MLB last season, but he identified at least one area for growth on the basepaths as well.

“I feel like I could probably steal third base more,” said Crow-Armstrong, who stole second base 31 times in 2025, tied for ninth in MLB, but stole third on only four occasions, which ranked 24th. “It’s kind of like the throws, picking your times … forcing things is never really going to work in your favor. … But it’s playing the game, picking your spots, just being a little more patient. I think I can probably apply that to a lot of my game right now.”

Jules Kounde gives one-word response to controversial winner in Barcelona’s defeat to Girona

(Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

Jules Kounde had a one-word response when asked about the controversial end to Barcelona’s clash with Girona on Monday night.

The Frenchman was fouled in the build-up to Girona’s late winner but the referee failed to award a free-kick and the goal was given.

Kounde was quizzed on the incident as he left the stadium afterwards and managed just the one word to waiting reporters. “Claro” was Kounde’s verdict – which needs little translation.

Television replays have shown clearly that Claudio Echeverri stood on Kounde’s foot, leaving the Frenchman on the turf before Fran Beltran netted.

Girona boss Michel was asked about the incident and shared his thoughts on the play.

“I think it’s a counter-attack. It can be called. If the referee doesn’t call it, VAR is right not to intervene. That’s my feeling,” he said.

“I think these kinds of tackles are straying from the essence of football. If the referee sees a tackle, fine, but for VAR to intervene would be a mistake.”

Miami Dolphins Discussion: Initial Roster Purge Edition

BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 18: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) throws up a peace sign of two fingers after making a catch before running the rest of the way into the end zone for a touchdown during the Miami Dolphins versus Baltimore Ravens NFL game at M&T Bank Stadium on September 18, 2022 in Baltimore, MD (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Our Miami Dolphins were expected to undergo some level of roster purge before free agency, both because the team was above the salary cap for 2026 and because of a new regime. The purge kicked off this morning with the release of Bradly Chub and was further highlighted with the release of star wideout Tyreek Hill and at least two others (at the time I wrote this post). Even if the cap was in good shape, which it has not been for years now, we all knew that the new regime would want to turn the roster over to some degree to shape it in their own vision, as every new regime does.

I think, as fans, we can assume or already know that further moves will be made, be it cuts or trades, to include, at some point, former starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. As for trades, the team can begin trading any players they wish, starting on March 11th, the official start of the 2026 NFL league year. That same date will apply to teams, allowing them to designate up to two players as post-June 1st cuts, thereby delaying some of those players’ dead cap hits by pushing them into the 2027 league year. Among the names widely mentioned as possible players Miami may trade, include Tua (assuming anyone is willing to trade for him), wideout Jaylen Waddle, and running back Devon Achane.

As it applies to Tua, for those who are curious, his cap hit in 2026, if left on the roster for the league year, would be $56,267,647. Cutting Tua before June 1st would accelerate the cap hit to $99,200,000, or an additional $42,932,353 in cap charges. Trading him pre-June 1st would cause a cap hit of $45,200,000, giving the team a cap savings of $11,067,647. A post-June 1st cut or designation would cost the team an accelerated amount of $67,400,000, or an additional $11,132,353 in cap charges. A post-June 1st trade would cost the team $13,400,000 against the cap, with a savings of $42,867,647 against the cap, assuming the new team would not require Miami to take on more of, most of, or all of Tua’s salary, which actually seems more than likely with either trade scenario.

With all of that in mind, this eveings Phinsider Question Of The Day is:

With all of the cuts that we have already seen today, who else should the team cut before free agency begins, or try to trade after the beginning of the league year? Additionally, were there any of the cuts that you disagree with, and why?

For further reference, you can look up all players currently under contract with the Miami Dolphins here at OverTheCap.com. They have a feature that lets you view each option for each player, showing cap savings and any dead cap added. They may or may not have updated the roster with this morning’s cap moves by the time this is posted.

Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-