PLAYOFF POWER RANKINGS: The Celtics are Surging At Just The Right Time

Among the subplots of the playoffs thus far, has been Boston's surprisingly dominant showing thus far against Brooklyn which is now on the verge of being swept out of the playoffs.

There isn’t a single coach in the NBA - or any sport for that matter - that doesn’t worry about the impact of injuries on their respective team’s chances at postseason success.

We’re about at the halfway point of the first round of the NBA playoffs, and the impact of injuries is undeniable.

The defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks will be without All-Star Khris Middleton for the rest of their first-round series against Chicago after Middleton suffered an MCL sprain in his left knee in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series.

MVP candidate Joel Embiid is playing with a torn ligament in his right thumb and will need surgery at the end of the season.

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker suffered a right hamstring injury, and he too is spending time now on the bench in street clothes.

And the long-awaited debut of Ben Simmons is going to have to wait until next season most likely with him re-aggravating a sore back injury and thus being ruled out of tonight’s Game 4 matchup against the Celtics who, with a win, will be the first team this season to move on to the second round of play.

Then there's the Boston Celtics who are at the opposite end of the injury spectrum with the sooner-than-expected return of Robert Williams III to the lineup in Boston's Game 3 win at Brooklyn, less than a month after suffering a torn meniscus injury to his left knee.

Even with all the various injuries, this has been an exciting time for the NBA, evident by the Nielsen numbers that have shown a noticeable spike in viewership.

That excitement is fueled in part by the unexpected surge of some teams, as the surprising struggles experienced by others who were near the top of the standings heading into the postseason.

Here’s a look at our playoff Power Rankings:

1. BOSTON CELTICS (Leads Brooklyn 3-0)

Of all the unexpected first-round series, few have caught the masses more off guard than Boston’s dominance over Brooklyn. The Celtics’ defense has been as good as advertised, exposing all of Brooklyn’s shortcomings along the way.

2. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (Leads Denver 3-1)

The Warriors had the Nuggets on the brink of elimination in Game 4, but couldn’t seal the deal. It doesn’t matter. This series is over and Golden State will get some much-needed rest before embarking upon the next stage of their journey towards an NBA championship.

3. MIAMI HEAT (Leads Atlanta 3-1)

Jimmy Butler has been on a different level in this series, averaging 30.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists against the Hawks.

4. MILWAUKEE BUCKS (Leads Chicago 3-1)

The absence of Khris Middleton is a pretty big deal, but the Bucks and their “next man up” mindset have handled the crisis the way you would expect a defending champion to do, which is to simply keep winning.

5. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (Leads Toronto 3-1)

The Sixers blew a golden opportunity to close out the series in Game 4 which would have provided some much-needed downtime for Joel Embiid to nurse his thumb injury.

6. PHOENIX SUNS (Series against New Orleans tied, 2-2)

Pelicans wing Brandon Ingram - not Chris Paul or Devin Booker who is hurt - has been the best player in this series which has been a lot tougher than the Suns expected.

7. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (Series against Minnesota tied, 2-2)

The physicality of playoff basketball without being called for fouls (the Grizzlies were called for 33 personal fouls in their Game 4 loss to the Timberwolves) has been challenging for Memphis and a big reason why this series is very much up in the air now.