The Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder finished the regular season with the top seeds in their respective conferences and also finished first and second in Net Rating. 

Final 23-24 NBA Regular Season Net Rating
1. Boston Celtics: 11.6
2. Oklahoma City Thunder: 7.4
3. Minnesota Timberwolves: 6.6
4. Denver Nuggets: 5.4
5. New York Knicks: 4.8
6. New Orleans Pelicans: 4.5
7. Los Angeles Clippers: 3.4
8. Philadelphia 76ers: 3.1
9. Phoenix Suns: 3.1
10. Indiana Pacers: 3.0
11. Golden State Warriors: 2.6
12. Milwaukee Bucks: 2.6
13. Cleveland Cavaliers: 2.5
14. Dallas Mavericks: 2.2
15. Orlando Magic: 2.1
16. Miami Heat: 1.8
17. Sacramento Kings: 1.7
18. Houston Rockets: 1.1
19. Los Angeles Lakers: 0.6
20. Chicago Bulls: -1.5
21. Atlanta Hawks: -2.2
22. Brooklyn Nets: -3.0
23. Utah Jazz: -4.9
24. San Antonio Spurs: -6.4
25. Toronto Raptors: -6.4
26. Memphis Grizzlies: -7.1
27. Washington Wizards: -9.0
28. Detroit Pistons: -9.1
29. Portland Trail Blazers: -9.2
30. Charlotte Hornets: -10.5

Whereas David Stern presided over the NBA with multiple dynasty periods, Adam Silver's tenure has been marked by a number of measures focused on increasing parity. This season, there are 13 teams with between 44 and 49 wins. 

“I'm thrilled with the level of competition, and I think what fans ultimately want is to see great competition across the league,” Silver said following the Board of Governors meeting in New York on Wednesday afternoon.

“As to dynasties, I'm not anti-dynasty, but you want dynasties to be created to the extent possible with a level playing field. So, if teams draft well, developed players well, trade well, but in essence operate roughly within the same number of chips, so to speak.”

There have been five different champions over the past five seasons. The Denver Nuggets are considered the favorites in the West, while the East favorites, the Boston Celtics, would represent the sixth different champion in six years if they finally get over the hump.

“I get it, we have a tax system that creates some advantages for some teams, but I think then you want to see that management skill, the collective activity of those players rewarded,” Silver said. “That, to me, is a different kind of dynasty because then ... and you then can appreciate what’s happening on the floor and you don’t necessarily want to set out to artificially break up a team that’s been built that way.”

In the NBA's new system, it may become entirely cost prohibitive for lesser revenue teams to keep their core together over the long-term.

“To me, you can never predict what’s going to happen with the competition,” Silver said. “But what we set out to do, both with our collective bargaining system and frankly our revenue sharing system was to give all 30 teams an opportunity to compete, and if well managed, to have an ability to make a profit as well … that’s then what allows them to reinvest in the organization, build new facilities and grow the franchise.”

The Milwaukee Bucks have had several stops and starts this season as they incorporate Damian Lillard into their core. One element of the integration that has been challenging has been the health of Khris Middleton. 

When the Bucks have Lillard, Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez on the floor together, they are outscoring opponents by 16 points per 100 possessions.

Middleton typically operates as a second side option, but they are also beginning to combine him with Lillard and Antetokounmpo in the same actions.

The Bucks are 13-8 in their past 21 games and are tied for 11th in offense and sixth in defense during that stretch.