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NBA

NBA Power Rankings: Kobe and LeBron Will Settle It on the Court

Posted Jan 14, 2009 3:00PM By Brett Pollakoff (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Cavaliers, Celtics, Lakers, Magic, NBA Power Rankings

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NBA Power Rankings: Ours is much more of an emotional look than most. Recent events matter, and long-term projections are (mostly) ignored. After all, no one wants to simply read the Vegas odds for winning the title each week, right?

It's not very often that we get to see the two teams at the top of the chart settle things on the court, especially when one's in the East, and the other's in the West. This week is special in that regard, as we're just days away from Kobe Bryant and LeBron James going head-to-head to battle it out to see who is, without question, the greatest living player in the entire world.

As for the other 28 teams? We've got them covered too -- albeit with slightly less hyperbole.


  • 1. Lakers (31-6) | Prev.: 1
    Lamar Odom returned to the lineup, and the Lakers were able to get by the Rockets thanks to Kobe's late heroics (and 32 shot attempts). Schedule gets brutal this week, with the Spurs, Magic, and Cavs all ready to try to knock L.A. from this very spot. (BP)
  • 2. Cavaliers (30-6) | Prev.: 2
    Yeah, so, about that Z injury causing them to misstep. Our advise is to shoot some 18 foot jumpers and just get out the way. Don't stand on the tracks when the MVP is coming through. (Matt Moore)
  • 3. Magic (31-8) | Prev.: 5
    Led by 33 at the half over the Hawks, then went to San Antonio and handled the Spurs. A Friday night date with the Lakers this week in Los Angeles looks like it's going to be pretty hot, especially since they have the league's best road record at 15-5. (BP)
  • 4. Celtics (31-9) | Prev.: 8
    Not without their issues, but seem to have righted the ship temporarily against the Raptors -- twice. And if KG plays the type of defense that he did on Chris Bosh in the fourth quarter Monday night, well then, anything is possible. (BP)
  • 5. Spurs (24-12) | Prev.: 4
    No one wants to be accused of dismissing the dynastic trio, especially while S.A. has the second best record in the West. But it's easier than usual to forget about the Spurs with at least four better, more dynamic squads out there. (Tom Ziller)
  • 6. Pistons (22-14) | Prev.: 6
    Everybody wants to start. For a team that's always finished so well, they'd be remiss not to remember how they got to so many Eastern Conference Finals. Selfless play. Well, that and a weak East. But you can't control everything. (MM)
  • 7. Nuggets (26-13) | Prev.: 11
    Weathering the storm without Carmelo Anthony, but still need to prove they can hang with the big boys. (MM)
  • 8. Hornets (22-12) | Prev.: 3
    N.O. has lost darling status, and losses to the Knicks ... at home -- that's discouraging. Where did borderline All-Star Tyson Chandler go? (TZ)
  • 9. Suns (22-13) | Prev.: 10
    Have a habit of allowing teams to put huge runs together on them, but since they usually can do the same thing themselves, it's been okay. So far. Oh, and if teams continue to choose not to double Shaq, then he's going to continue to put up 25 and 10. (BP)
  • 10. Blazers (19-12) | Prev.: 8
    Distractions are for chumps. Brandon Roy back in the habit, and the rest of the team is gelling. LaMarcus Aldridge needs to get out of his mini-slump, though. Maybe stop reading the Wages of Wins. (MM)

  • 11. Jazz (23-15) | Prev.: 15
    They gave up 63 points in a half to a mediocre Indiana team (even with Danny Granger), let them come back from 20 down, and still came out with the victory. At some point someone might want to notice that this defense might have some championship-restraining issues. The Lakers look like lockdown enforcers next to these guys. Paul Millsap solves a lot, though. (MM)
  • 12. Heat (20-17) | Prev.: 14
    I just like these guys more than the teams below them right now. Real scientific, huh? Watching Kobe chase D. Wade around all night was a treat, and if Chris Quinn were slightly more clutch, Miami could have stolen that one. (BP)
  • 13. Hawks (22-15) | Prev.: 7
    If they can stop opening their games with double digit deficits, they might actually snap out of their little losing streak. Even without Al Horford, they're still dangerous, as they showed by coming from 19 down in Phoenix to make it a close game down the stretch. (BP)
  • 14. Rockets (24-16) | Prev.: 13 How does Houston fix its offense? It might take a major trade; Tracy McGrady isn't helping on that end, Shane Battier is a bit redundant once Ron Artest is healthy, and Carl Landry belongs on a team that will feature him a bit. (TZ)
  • 15. Mavericks (22-16) | Prev.: 9
    Reserve judgment until Donnie Nelson makes his moves. Any team with Dirk Nowitzki will hang around; if he gets the right help, the Mavericks should be dangerous. Otherwise, it'll be a summer of soul-searching. (TZ)
  • 16. Bucks (19-21) | Prev.: 16
    Best words for this team are "on the verge." On the verge of the playoffs, on the verge of consistency, on the verge of sending one of the whitest players in the NBA (Joe Alexander) to a town best known for it's soul music roots. Thanks for everything, Milwaukee. (MM)
  • 17. Nets (19-19) | Prev.: 17
    Brook Lopez for 31 and 13 against the Thuder? On a night when Devin Harris and Vince Carter combined to go 15-of-39, I'd say that was a plus. (BP)
  • 18. Sixers (17-20) | Prev.: 23
    Andre Iguodala is starting to live up to that fat contract, and Philly's on a four-game winning streak with Elton Brand's return right around the corner. (BP)
  • 19. Raptors (16-23) | Prev.: 21
    Two straight losses to the Celtics (thanks, schedule makers!) but looked good while doing it, if that makes sense. (BP)
  • 20. Bulls (16-22) | Prev.: 18
    It's stunning that this team isn't more involved in trade talks. They have movable, young assets and a superstar to build around. What are they waiting for, the mood to be right? (MM)

  • 21. Bobcats (15-24) | Prev.: 20
    Winners of four of their last six, and took down Detroit and Boston in the process. Not bad, young cats. (BP)
  • 22. Knicks (14-22) | Prev.: 19
    Nice win over the Hornets, which was a good way to end an otherwise dismal four-game roadie where they dropped the first one in Oklahoma Freaking City. (BP)
  • 23. Pacers (13-25) | Prev.: 22
    Greatest variance between good players and bad. They need to learn when to let certain players shoot (like when you're up by 30), and when to hold them back and get the ball in the hands of better players (all other times). (MM)
  • 24. Timberwolves (11-26) | Prev.: 30
    Rolling? How? What? When? Who? McHale's still coaching? What in God's name is going on up there? (MM)
  • 25. Grizzlies (11-27) | Prev.: 24
    Darius Miles is about the only thing to cheer these days. Whatever eventual Mike Conley trade goes down might bring more attention, but not for the right reasons. (TZ)
  • 26. Warriors (11-28) | Prev.: 28
    Does anyone believe Monta Ellis will actually make a difference at this point? (BP)
  • 27. Wizards (7-30) | Prev.: 27
    Gilbert Arenas has more All-Star votes than Derrick Rose, Jose Calderon, and Joe Johnson. So there's that. (BP)
  • 28. Kings (9-30) | Prev.: 25
    It was raining in Sacramento last night -- three-pointers, that is. Uptempo is fine, but not when you allow (a damn good) Magic team to set the NBA record for most three-pointers made in a game (23) in your building. (BP)
  • 29. Thunder (6-33) | Prev.: 29
    Nurse: Doctor! There's a pulse. Doctor: Good. Push 20 ccs of deadline trading. Live, damn you! Live! (MM)
  • 30. Clippers (8-29) | Prev.: 26
    Are the Clippers really the worst team in the league? If and when they can get healthy, definitely not. But riding a current 11-game losing streak, right now, they're abysmal. Competitive, but abysmal. (BP)

Tags: kobevlebron, nbapowerrankings

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