• 1. Lakers (11-3) | Prev.: 5
  It's not just that the Lakers have won four in a row, it's that they haven't been challenged in any of them. It seems obvious that a month into the season Phil Jackson has his team on that championship timeline, where everything is really just a slow build until the start of the postseason and beyond. -- Matt Steinmetz
• 2. Magic (11-3) | Prev.: 7
  The defense is a little shakey, the offense still has some rust, Vince Carter is somehow unaware that he's surrounded by the basketball equivalent of a fully functioning armory, and there have already been talks about SVG's attitude. And yet the Magic waltz in and blast Boston right in the mouth in their house. 11-3, best in the East, but Jameer Nelson's out again. Of course, that wasn't so bad last year... -- Matt Moore
• 3. Cavaliers (10-4) | Prev.: 3
  Winners in seven of their last eight, and the Cavs look poised to get two more -- without Shaquille O'Neal -- before three straight at home against some stiffer competition. Dallas, Phoenix and Chicago will be solid tests, but win or lose, what will be most important is to get everyone healthy and start to build some chemistry (and some momentum) for the long haul. -- BP
  
• 4. Suns (11-3) | Prev.: 2
  The starting five is going to do what it's going to do. But the Suns' long-term success this year will depend on their bench, and so far Leandro Barbosa and Jared Dudley have provided the numbers and the intangibles. Still, Phoenix is going to need a little more from Goran Dragic and Louis Amundson, and that's where the uncertainty is bound to come in. -- MS
• 5. Hawks (11-3) | Prev.: 1
  Man, how things change. Just last week they were 9-2, riding high. And now? They're 11-3. Oh. I guess they're still riding high. And now the Hawks get the awesome job of having to prove to everyone that they can win consistently through the All-Star break, at which point people will question their ability to win the playoffs! Yay! I'm not saying it'll work out like the Magic, but do you notice a pattern? The Magic made the playoffs in '07, lost in the first round. They made it out of the first round in '08, lost in the semis. Then they broke through in '09. Now the Hawks have made it to the playoffs in '08, made it out of the first round, lost in the semis in '09 and started on fire with wins over quality teams. Again, not saying they're the same, but the pattern is intriguing, no? -- MM
• 6. Nuggets (10-4) | Prev.: 4
  After an embarrassing loss to theClippers, the Nuggets quickly righted the ship with blowout wins over the Bulls and the Nets. J.R. Smith has been a big boost, and since his return from suspension, has shot almost 48 percent from the field in his last six games. Considering more than 75 percent of his attempts came from outside the paint, that's an impressive clip. -- BP
  
• 7. Blazers (11-5) | Prev.: 9
  Portland is 8-2 over its last 10, and Brandon Roy has only been the team's leading scorer three times during that stretch. LaMarcus Aldridge has been solid, and has shown he can produce when given the heavy minutes. Oh, and that Greg Oden guy? He had perhaps his best game ever in the team's blowout win over the Bulls.-- BP

• 8. Celtics (10-4) | Prev.: 8
  With a 2-3 record over the team's last five games, and the fact that they needed overtime to take out the abysmal Knicks, this ranking is probably a little high. But the Celtics do stand atop their division, despite the wretched three-point shooting of Rasheed Wallace and the fact that Kevin Garnett is still miles away from looking like his formerly dominant self. That's ... something. -- BP
• 9. Mavericks (10-4) | Prev.: 6
  The Mavericks' three-game homestand read: San Antonio, Sacramento, Golden State. The Spurs match was the only one in which Dallas played well. Go figure. The Mavs managed to edge the Kings on Friday before falling hard to a resurgent Warriors team Tuesday. Shawn Marion has missed about a week of action, and there's no Josh Howard in sight, so it's all Dirk, JET and ... err, Drew Gooden? Tim Thomas? can do to keep winning games they are supposed to win. -- Tom Ziller
• 10. Bucks (8-4) | Prev.: 13
  So, you might have heard that this Brandon Jennings guy is pretty good. After Andrew Bogut went down with a leg injury, Jennings carried the team to two and a half solid performances, before things eventually caught up with them in the second half at San Antonio. Still, the kid appears to be special, and there hasn't been this much excitement surrounding the Bucks in a long, long time. -- BP

• 11. Rockets (8-6) | Prev.: 11
  Houston has been championed for its grit and determination. But that's not the complete story: this team is smart. Chuck Hayes is a borderline defensive genius, and you know the book on Shane Battier. If Trevor Ariza's wingspan were one inch shorter, you could say he gambles too much. But the man is amazing in passing lanes -- more than two steals a game while rarely leaving his teammates in a bad position. If there's one question (other than whether they can contend with giant frontcourts like Gasol-Bynum and Aldridge-Oden in seven-game series), it's whether back-up Kyle Lowry is a better lead guard than Aaron Brooks. Jury's out, there. -- TZ
• 12. Thunder (8-7) | Prev.: 14
  Solid bounce-back win at Utah on Tuesday, after playing the Washington Generals to the Lakers' Globetrotters show on Sunday. Kevin Durant has been the leader on the court, and he's taking the lead off it as well: check out his latest music video with teammates Jeff Green and James Harden. -- BP
  
• 13. Raptors (7-8) | Prev.: 18
  Don't look now, but after a blistering game against the Pacers where the Raps put up 74 first-half points, they have surpassed the Suns for the league lead in offensive efficiency. It's a good thing, too, considering they're dead last in the same statistical measurement on defense. -- BP
  
• 14. Jazz (7-7) | Prev.: 20
  It looked like Utah was starting to figure things out, after winning three straight, one of which was in San Antonio where they hadn't gotten a win in (roughly) forever. But a disappointing home loss to the Thunder leaves the team back where it started, still searching for answers. -- BP
  
• 15. Spurs (6-6) | Prev.: 18
  Prediction: next season, the Spurs will start the season 0-14, everyone will write the eulogies ... and the Spurs will storm back to make the postseason. Slow starts have become a part of the Spurs' fabric, and yet still pundits wonder aloud whether it's time to start digging the grave. No! It's not! When Tim Duncan retires or switches teams, then you can dig the grave. Not a moment sooner. -- TZ
  
• 16. Heat (8-5) | Prev.: 16
  Dwyane Wade: What's that sound?
  Erik Spoelestra: That's the sound of our early start falling to pieces, with three consecutive losses before escaping at home from New Orleans by a hair. What's that other sound?
  Wade: Nothing! (*continues packing bag*) -- MM
  
• 17. Bulls (6-7) | Prev.: 12
  Things are going the wrong way for the Bulls: after opening their six-game roadie with a win in Sacramento, the team has lost by 15, 19, and 22 points in their last three games. Derrick Rose has been a bit more aggressive of late, but he has yet to come close to the performances we saw from him during last year's playoffs. -- BP
  
• 18. Pacers (5-7) | Prev.: 10
  After looking solid on a five-game winning streak, the Pacers came back to earth a little and are currently riding a four-game losing streak. Had a chance to beat the Cavaliers, and played well for three quarters. Unfortunately, the games are a bit longer than that, and LeBron James took over in the fourth to save the day. -- BP
  
• 19. Hornets (6-9) | Prev.: 23
  A resurgent week for the Hornets, insomuch as the CP3-less squad managed to beat the Suns and Hawks, two squads marked as elite in the early going. The only loss in the last four games for New Orleans came in a squeaker against Miami. Jeff Bower proved his mettle by playing Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton (his '09 draft picks) big minutes. If only Byron Scott knew it could have been that easy .. -- TZ
  
• 20. Clippers (6-9) | Prev.: 24
  Under the circumstances, the Clippers will take their 6-9 record. What circumstances, you ask? Well, L.A. has been playing all season without Blake Griffin, and Baron Davis isn't exactly off to a rip-roaring start (14.9 ppg., 38 percent from the floor). Credit Rasual Butler and Al Thornton for doing a real nice job in the absence of Eric Gordon. -- MS

• 21. Grizzlies (5-9) | Prev.: 27
  Someone woke up the bear, though I will go ahead and predict this Grizzly is going right back to sleep. Memphis picked up three wins in its last four games, losing only to Milwaukee in a game Straight Outta Vancouver hung on Lionel Hollins's head. Mike Conley has been so bad not even Greg Oden wants him anymore! -- TZ
• 22. Pistons (5-9) | Prev.: 19
  Detroit had no chance in Phoenix after taking the Jazz to overtime the night before, but they have some nice pieces in place. Jonas Jerebko is more than serviceable, Will Bynum is outplaying Rodney Stuckey, and DaJuan Summers has some serious range. Now, if they could only stop relying so heavily on Ben Gordon offensively -- and/or get Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince back on the court sometime soon -- maybe they'd have a fighting chance. -- BP
• 23. Warriors (5-8) | Prev.: 26
  It's official: The trade of Stephen Jackson was addition by subtraction. Since Jackson moved onto to Charlotte, the Warriors have gone 2-2, but that's not the half of it. Their two losses were hang-in-there jobs at Boston and Cleveland, and they've beaten the Blazers at home and now Dallas on the road. The harsh question now being asked in the wake of the win over the Mavericks on Tuesday is this: Are the Warriors better off without Don Nelson, too? Nelson, who has pneumonia, didn't accompany the team. -- MS
  
• 24. Kings (5-8) | Prev.: 17
  Everyone agrees Paul Westphal is doing a nice job in Sacramento, and the Kings have done a wonderful job of playing without Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia. Still, despite the grit the Kings have lost four in a row. There is good news right in front of them, however: two upcoming home games against New York and New Jersey, respectively. -- MS
  
• 25. 76ers (5-9) | Prev.: 21
  Despite the losses beginning to pile up, the team's been competitive lately, losing by no more than six points in their last four Ls. Lou Williams has stepped up his scoring to lead the team, which has become a necessity with Andre Iguodala's recent slump of 13-for-49 shooting over his last three games. -- BP
  
• 26. Bobcats (4-9) | Prev.: 22
  The Bobcats lost seven straight before pounding Indy on Saturday. They wanted offense, and Stephen Jackson is giving them offense. He's firing like a Howitzer armed by Stevie Wonder, but if you shoot enough bullets you're going to hit something. This team is wretched offensively and can't out-talent teams defensively. It may not get better before it gets worse. -- MM
  
• 27. Wizards (4-9) | Prev.: 26
  You gotta love a team that rewards its fanbase by beating Cleveland before losing to its next two opponents by a combined 41 points. A win last night over a wretched Philly team stems the bleeding a bit, but the locker room finger pointing is in full force and there's no sign of improvement for this club in the areas unaffected by the complexity of Flip Saunders' offense, namely effort and communication. -- MM
  
• 28. Knicks (3-11) | Prev.: 29
  Hey, how about that wacky Nate Robinson? You know, shooting at the other team's basket and all? Wasn't that crazy? Apologies, but there's just not much actual basketball worth discussing right now where these guys are concerned. -- BP
  
• 29. Timberwolves (1-13) | Prev.: 28
  Sure, they might be a shot away from being in the same situation as the Nets. And, they might be playing worse than New Jersey is at the moment. But no matter what happens, Kurt Rambis isn't going anywhere, and if Al Jefferson can become even close to what he was last year, the team could go on a mid-season run and get some wins under its belt. Or not ... it could really go either way. -- BP
  
• 30. Nets (0-13) | Prev.: 30
  Only reason to watch right now is to see if they tie the record for most losses to start the season at 0-17 (likely), and if Lawrence Frank makes it back alive from the team's West coast swing (unlikely) -- BP
  

NBA Power Rankings: Big Top Lakers originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• 1. Hawks (9-2) | Prev.: 5
  Early front-runner for Sixth Man Award: Jamal Crawford. And by the way, who was Joe Johnson calling out earlier in the season and why? -- Matt Steinmetz
• 2. Suns (10-2) | Prev.: 2
  Is there any other player in the league who can go 2-for-10 from the floor - which Nash did against Houston on Tuesday night - and still be the most influential player on the court? -- MS
• 3. Cavaliers (8-3) | Prev.: 12
  The Cavs are still miles away from where they were last year, but who cares? They've won five in a row and eight of their last nine, and haven't missed a beat with Shaquille O'Neal sitting the last two with injury. Expect this team to continue picking up steam: four of their next five opponents are currently under .500. -- Matt Watson
  
• 4. Nuggets (8-3) | Prev.: 8
  Carmelo Anthony dances with the Gods and charms their eyelids to slumber. Also, this Birdman blonde goatee thing he's growing is creeping me out. In conclusion, this team's really good. -- Matt Moore
• 5. Lakers (8-3) | Prev.: 1
  Nothing to see here, people. Move along. Lakers are doing just fine, thank you - 8-3 and Pau Gasol hasn't even played a game yet. -- MS
• 6. Mavericks (8-3) | Prev.: 6
  The Mavericks aren't considered elite at the moment, and we're struggling to figure out why. Victories over the Lakers and Rockets, and the fifth highest point differential in the league all have led to an 8-3 record. The opening night what the what loss to the surprisingly miserable Wizards doesn't look great, nor does the utter collapse against the Spurs without Duncan and Parker inspire confidence. But in the interim, Dirk Nowitzki's playing like the elite player he is, Jason Kidd is ripping out assists at a high rate, and Rodrigue Beaubois is a surprisingly talented rookie at both ends of the floor. Why are we always surprised at Dallas? -- MM
• 7. Magic (8-3) | Prev.: 9
  Just as Rashard Lewis returns from suspension, Jameer Nelson goes down with a knee injury. He's expected back in 4-6 weeks, but that could put is into the new year before we get to see Orlando begin to try to work on its chemistry issues. -- BP

• 8. Celtics (8-3) | Prev.: 3
  The blistering start with the return of Kevin Garnett and addition of Rasheed Wallace has begotten a hiccup of sorts, with losses to the Hawks and Pacers. The other Celtics loss came at the hands of the sizzling Suns, and yes, one of these teams is not like the other. Paul Pierce is banged up, and needless to say his health is vital for this team's offense. -- Tom Ziller
• 9. Blazers (8-4) | Prev.: 7
  Portland has improved with every game, and has become a defensive force. Greg Oden is finally living up to his potential, even if it's only on the defensive side of the ball. If Nate McMillan can figure out how to better work in Andre Miller, this team looks primed for a deep, deep run in the playoffs and ready to take their place as the Lakers' heir apparent. Denver might have something to say about that, however. -- MM
• 10. Pacers (5-3) | Prev.: 24
  There's two ways to look at Indiana's five-game winning streak. On the one hand, they've feasted on some cupcakes with a combined 14-37 record -- their home victory over the Celtics was their only opponent in that span with a winning record. That said, you play the games that are on the schedule, and the Pacers have answered the call with flair, winning by an average of nearly 12 points a game. Danny Granger remains one of the most underrated stars in the game, and Roy Hibbert is emerging into a double-double machine. -- MW

• 11. Rockets (6-5) | Prev.: 13
  The John McClane of the NBA. There's no raucous feel-good attitude to this team. They're not pleasantly surprised when their offense lets them outscore a team or two. They expect to win every single game and kill themselves in the pursuit of that goal. And keep this in mind, the Rockets have yet to lose to a sub-.500 team, and two of their losses (Portland and LA) were followed by wins over those same teams. "Yippee ki-yay, Southwest Division." -- MM
• 12. Bulls (6-4) | Prev.: 10
  The Bulls have an intriguing mix of veterans and youth -- and sure, to his credit, Vinny Del Negro hasn't been awful -- but there's just one glaring concern: they simply can't score, at least not on a consistent basis. It's a rare night the Bulls are outworked, but can they keep up their stamina while spending the next two weeks on the road on their cursed circus trip? A decade-long sample size suggests not: over the last 10 years, the Bulls have gone 9-56 on the annual early-season rite of passage. -- MW
  
• 13. Bucks (5-3) | Prev.: 15
  Remember all the questions surrounding Brandon Jennings on draft day? How he watched his name called from a hotel room because none of the teams in the lottery could guarantee he wouldn't be the last in the green room? He's needed fewer than 10 games to make a lot of seasoned execs turn red -- even before his 55-point outburst made him a household name. Forget Rookie of the Year -- at this point in the (still extremely) young season, Jennings has to be included in the MVP conversation. -- MW
  
• 14. Thunder (6-5) | Prev.: 14
  Don't look now, but the Thunder are still above .500 in the middle of November. Not exactly the biggest feat, but considering wins over the Spurs, Heat, and the Magic, the potential is there for this team to make a playoff run. But they've got to get better consistency from the Big 3 (Durant, Green, Westbrook), and quit losing silly games like Sunday's banana-peel blooper against the Clippers. -- MM
  
• 15. Heat (7-3) | Prev.: 4
  Dwyane Wade saved the day when the team was short-handed against the Nets, but Miami was at full strength when they lost the next time out to the Thunder. The fact that no one's showing up to their home games definitely isn't helping the Heat take care of business against teams they should beat, and that situation isn't likely to change anytime soon. -- BP
  
• 16. Raptors (5-6) | Prev.: 16
  Every game the Raptors lose seems like a waste of a superlative effort by Chris Bosh, the league's best big man early this season. Toronto has a dominant offense, capable of scoring on any team in the league. But the defense is as bad as ever: the team does everything poorly. Shooting defense? Awful. Opponent turnover rate? Awful. Defensive rebounding? Awful. Opponent free throw rate? Awful. Reggie Evans can help whenever he makes his season debut (he sprained a foot in preseason), but he won't be able to fix all these problems. That's problematic, if you figure the offense won't keep clicking like this forever. -- TZ
  
• 17. Kings (5-5) | Prev.: 20
  Sacramento may be middle of the pack when it comes to these power rankings, but the Kings are among the NBA's elite when it comes to teams that play hard. All in all, a nice start to the Paul Westphal era. -- MS
  
• 18. Spurs (4-4) | Prev.: 11
  Feast or famine. Win over the Mavericks or loss to the Thunder. Struggling to find an identity with the All-Stars or playing with fire without them. The Spurs are just weird right now. Every time they seem to be figuring things out (wins over Toronto and Mavericks in laughers), they turn around and do something like lose at home to the Thunder. But at least everyone's healthy...ish. For now. Eeeeee. -- MM
  
• 19. Pistons (5-6) | Prev.: 18
  Considering they've played the last nine games without two veteran starters, the new-look Pistons are actually hanging in there. You want to talk about depth? Four different players have taken turns as the high scorer in the last four games. Will Bynum, who opened the year as the fourth guard, has averaged nearly 22 points a game in the last four while emerging as the team's best playmaker. So what's the bad news? This roster still needs another scoring big man to be taken seriously. Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince need to hurry back -- so Joe Dumars can put them on the trading block. -- MW
  
• 20. Jazz (4-6) | Prev.: 17
  Fear for the Jazz. They're still dangerous and have time to get it together, but this team is a mess in terms of chemistry, effort, and focus. Sloan needs to do something to regain his team's attention. -- MM

• 21. 76ers (4-6) | Prev.: 23
  The surprising problem for the 76ers, who have typically started slowly during the Andre Iguodala era, has been its defense, which doesn't reflect well on coach Eddie Jordan. Opponents are shooting an absurd 41 percent from three against Philly -- that figure was closer to league average (36.7 percent) last season. The team is still generating turnovers, but the perimeter players have apparently forgotten to stick a hand in the shooters' faces. Bummer, since the Sixers (despite adding designated sniper Jason Kapono) can't make it up with threes of their own. -- TZ
• 22. Bobcats (3-7) | Prev.: 19
  Stephen Jackson, Boris Diaw and Gerald Wallace: Versatility or uniformity? Can't get that old Dylan lyric out of my head ... "... something is happening here but you don't know what it is ..." -- MS
• 23. Hornets (4-8) | Prev.: 21
  From good, to bad, to worse, to oh noes, to "well, at least they beat the Clippers." The Hornets are in bad shape, with no real mercy in sight, and ownership is considering shipping newly acquired Emeka Okafor out of town, if you believe the reports. Scott's already gone, and Chris Paul's on the shelf. Long is not the word for what their season looks like. Agonizing. That's more like it. -- MM
  
• 24. Clippers (4-8) | Prev.: 22
  Sure, everyone is waiting for Blake Griffin. But in the meantime, the Clippers really miss Eric Gordon. What's more, the Clippers are off to a terrible start at home (2-5). -- MS
  
• 25. Wizards (2-7) | Prev.: 25
  Gilbert Arenas is back to being Agent Zero, and even has a Lil Penny-style video on his website to prove it. He's also said he'll begin doing the Twitter thing once he gets to a million followers, but Wizards fans would probably rather have some wins at this point than quirky quotes from their favorite player. Actually, scratch that: they're Wizards fans, so I've probably got that backwards. -- BP
  
• 26. Warriors (3-7) | Prev.: 26
  Stephen Jackson's gone, Monta Ellis might be next and in the meantime Golden State is looking at this in the short-term: at Boston, vs. Portland, at Dallas, at San Antonio, vs. L.A. Lakers. -- MS
  
• 27. Grizzlies (2-8) | Prev.: 29
  They replaced Allen Iverson who refused to come off the bench for them and then abandoned them, with Jamal Tinsley. I'm not even going to comment on that one. Just let that one stew in its own juices for a while. -- MM
  
• 28. Timberwolves (1-10) | Prev.: 27
  Good news. Kevin Love is healing and the Wolves will likely have a return date on Friday after an X-Ray. Bad news. David Kahn seems to be already feeling the pressure for his point-guard splurges and the Rubio disaster. This franchise for all its excitement when Kahn was hired, somehow looks worse than it did under McHale. Yikes. -- MM
  
• 29. Knicks (1-9) | Prev.: 28
  The Knicks truly couldn't be doing more to end the LeBron, Wade and Bosh speculation by Christmas. The team is awful and miserable after an awful and miserly summer. Sacrificing in the present for future success is obviously a world-worn strategy, but it's still little excuse for assembling so little talent and showing so little spirit. And the poor fans can't even root on John Wall! Sad. -- TZ
  
• 30. Nets (0-11) | Prev.: 30
  Another 0-fer week for our heroic New Jersey Nets. This Saturday should provide a decent opportunity for Win No. 1: the Knicks are coming to town! And seriously, what a depressing affair that will be. Courtney Lee and Devin Harris may be back for that one; expect a full-on basketball war from the home team. -- TZ
  

NBA Power Rankings: Soaring Hawks originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• 1. Lakers (6-1) | Prev.: 5
  Pau Gasol has yet to play a game this season, and Andrew Bynum has missed the last two. But when Kobe Bryant goes for 40 or more three times in the team's first seven games, well, the wins just seem to come anyway.
• 2. Suns (7-1) | Prev.: 7
  You could make a case for the Suns rising all the way to the top this week, especially considering the strength of their recent competition -- which they mostly steamrolled. But one or two doesn't make a whole lot of difference in November, and Phoenix will get their chance at the top-ranked Lakers soon enough: They head to L.A. for a TNT showdown Thursday.
• 3. Celtics (7-1) | Prev.: 2
  After opening the season with eight games in 11 days, the Celtics looked weary in their last two. But they came out of it with just a single loss, and they still lead the league in point differential with an impressive + 14.1 -- the second best team in that department is only at +7.8.
  
• 4. Heat (5-1) | Prev.: 8
  Contract years are a beautiful thing. Quentin Richardson is in one, and he's set a career mark for most consecutive games with at least nine rebounds -- Q has done it in five straight (and counting).
• 5. Hawks (5-2) | Prev.: 11
  Jamal Crawford is thriving in his sixth man role, and has led or shared the team lead in scoring three times. The Hawks finally put it all together in a dismantling of the Nuggets at home, but whether or not they can take that same show on the road Friday in Boston will say a lot about exactly where this team is at this early point in the season.
• 6. Mavericks (5-2) | Prev.: 4
  Dallas has actually looked like one of the top teams this season, but the fact that they gave away a game at the free throw line cannot go unpunished. But the next night Josh Howard returned, and so did the Mavs' solid play: They crushed the Raptors by 28 points.
• 7. Blazers (4-3) | Prev.: 13
  Nate McMillan pushed the right button in placing Andre Miller alongside Brandon Roy and Steve Blake in the starting lineup, and the team is 2-0 since he made that adjustment.
• 8. Nuggets (5-2) | Prev.: 3
  After the strong start, Denver has dropped two straight since Kenyon Martin went down with an injury. But Anthony Carter might have said it best after the Nuggets' first loss of the season: "When one person goes down, that's why everybody else gets paid to play. Kenyon ain't the whole team."
• 9. Magic (5-2) | Prev.: 1
  Orlando has done well to start 5-2, playing without the suspended Rashard Lewis since the beginning, and missing Vince Carter for four of the last five with an ankle injury. Ryan Anderson had been filling in nicely, but losing him to an injury was too much to overcome, as Orlando lost by 28 without him in Oklahoma City.
• 10. Bulls (4-2) | Prev.: 16
  Winners of three straight after the slow start, including a close one in Cleveland against LeBron and the Cavs. Joakim Noah has been so solid this season that he's making a local columnist eat his words -- literally, and with salsa no less.

• 11. Spurs (3-3) | Prev.: 6
  Tony Parker is expected to miss about a week with an ankle sprain, but Manu Ginobili made sure the team wouldn't drop two straight. He went nuts against Toronto with 36 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and four blocked shots in 32 minutes off the bench. Batman, indeed.
  
• 12. Cavaliers (4-3) | Prev.: 10
  The media circus surrounding the Cavs feasted last Friday at Madison Square Garden, when the "LeBron James to the Knicks" talk reached a fever pitch. They've had a few days to recover, just in time for Shaquille O'Neal versus Dwight Howard (and Stan Van Gundy) on ESPN this Wednesday.
  
• 13. Rockets (4-2) | Prev.: 9
  The Rockets have played better than anyone expected, and have done it by playing smart, hard-nosed basketball. Unfortunately for them, Tracy McGrady is getting ready to come back and ruin everything, although the exact timing of his return is something that (surprise!) he and the team don't see eye to eye on.
  
• 14. Thunder (3-3) | Prev.: 14
  Took apart a depleted Orlando Magic squad, and showed that if you don't make defense a priority against them, this Thunder team is capable of lighting you up -- they shot over 57 percent from the field, and over 53 percent from three-point land in that one. Oh, and also, there's this.
  
• 15. Bucks (3-2) | Prev.: 22
  Winners of two straight in convincing fashion over the T'Wolves and the Knicks, and it could have been three in a row had they been able to protect an 18-point lead against the Bulls. But Brandon Jennings continues to impress, Andrew Bugut has done the heavy lifting, and everyone else is contributing just enough to keep the team afloat while Michael Redd is out.
  
• 16. Raptors (3-4) | Prev.: 21
  It's been a pretty simple formula for the Raps this season: hold the other team under 100 points, and win (three times). Allow the other team to get into triple digits, and lose (four times). In other news, Chris Bosh continues his dominant season, with averages of 29 points and 11.6 rebounds through the team's first seven games.
  
• 17. Jazz (3-4) | Prev.: 17
  Something's off with this year's Jazz team, but it's hard to tell exactly what it is yet. Consistency is something all teams struggle with, especially early on. But home losses aren't the way Utah normally does business, and they already have two to teams that, on paper, they should seemingly beat: the Rockets and the Kings.
  
• 18. Pistons (3-4) | Prev.: 23
  Sure, I could drone on about the ups and downs of the team's season with Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince sidelined with injuries. But instead, do yourself a favor and read Matt Watson's excellent piece on the forced rebuilding situation in Detroit.
  
• 19. Bobcats (3-3) | Prev.: 18
  Charlotte is an interesting team. They hammered the Hawks and hung with the Bulls this week, while Gerald Wallace (much to the delight of our own Matt Steinmetz) finally got himself a few assists -- three, to be exact, after going 94 field goal attempts without one through the team's first four games.
  
• 20. Kings (3-4) | Prev.: 26
  No Kevin Martin? No problem for the Kings, what with the quick coming of age of rookie Tyreke Evans. Evans has led the team to two wins in Martin's absence, and is quickly making the term "combo guard" look very much like something that GMs should start to consider as a positive.

• 21. Hornets (3-5) | Prev.: 20
  NOLA was very fortunate to beat the Mavs, looked wretched against the Raptors and Lakers, then rose up and delivered a 28-point road beatdown to the Clippers. David West's scoring and rebounding averages are down significantly from last year, and unless he can get back to having some occasionally monster performances, the team's going to continue to struggle.
• 22. Clippers (3-5) | Prev.: 25
  Chris Kaman won the Western Conference player of the week award, which, considering he was competing against some 40-point performances from Kobe Bryant, was somewhat impressive. The Clips went 3-0 on the week, and Kaman averaged 24.3 points on .574 shooting from the field, 9.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. Sure, it all came to an abrupt end on Monday against the Hornets, but it was a good run while it lasted.
• 23. Sixers (3-4) | Prev.: 15
  Philly seems to be still staggering after the Celtics beat them by 31 in the fourth game of the season. Since, they were lucky to beat a seriously undermanned Nets team, and followed that up with losses to the Pistons and the Suns.
  
• 24. Pacers (2-3) | Prev.: 29
  After starting 0-3 against some quality competition, the Pacers have two wins over the Knicks and the Wizards -- the latter of which caused Washington to sacrifice a snack tray in frustration afterwards.
  
• 25. Wizards (2-5) | Prev.: 12
  Things aren't going well in Washington, but the rumors of friction between Gilbert Arenas and Flip Saunders seem to be a bit ridiculous. Meanwhile, the team should be fine once Antawn Jamison returns, and three of the last four losses were to upper echelon teams, so it's not time to push the panic button just yet.
  
• 26. Warriors (2-4) | Prev.: 28
  If these rankings were based on organizational health, the Warriors would be dead last. But as they showed in putting up 146 points on the T'Wolves on Monday, there's some talent on this roster that needs to be dealt with. Unfortunately, as long as Nellie is running the ship and Steven Jackson is in town, winning is going to be the exception, not the norm.
  
• 27. Timberwolves (1-7) | Prev.: 27
  Jonny Flynn has been solid, but as long as Al Jefferson continues to struggle offensively, the T'Wolves are going to continue to have problems keeping pace.
  
• 28. Knicks (1-7) | Prev.: 19
  What never gets mentioned in all the "LeBron to New York" talk is the fact that Mike D'Antoni's system appears to be just an awful, awful fit for the talents of King James.
  
• 29. Grizzlies (1-7) | Prev.: 24
  The team needs to get out of the shadow of Allen Iverson -- whether it's due to trading him, waiving him, or his choosing to retire -- before they'll have any chance of moving in a positive direction.
  
• 30. Nets (0-7) | Prev.: 30
  Thanks to a rash of injuries and ailments -- including swine flu taking out Chris Douglas-Roberts -- the team was actually forced to practice against furniture due to a lack of available bodies.
  

NBA Power Rankings: Rising Suns originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• 1. Magic (3-0)
  Sure, they've only beaten Philly, New Jersey and Toronto. But they've done so by an an average margin of double digits, and they've done it without the suspended Rashard Lewis. Might be the deepest team in the league; time will tell how they match up against the big boys.
  
• 2. Celtics (4-0)
  Opened the season with a solid road victory in Cleveland, before absolutely pummeling inferior competition for the next three games. If the whole team plays with that Rondo-sized chip on its shoulder for the entire season, who knows what Boston is capable of.
  
• 3. Nuggets (3-0)
  Impressive wins against Utah and Portland already, and Carmelo Anthony could be to this season what Dwyane Wade was to last season: someone with something to prove, and maybe a dark horse candidate for MVP.
  
• 4. Mavericks (2-1)
  Can't blame them for losing to Gilbert Arenas' supremely motivated squad in the opener, especially after they regrouped nicely by throttling the Lakers on the road in their second game. This team has one of the best pick-and-roll offenses in the league when it's firing on all cylinders, which will be extremely tough for most other teams to stop.
  
• 5. Lakers (2-1)
  With Pau Gasol missing the first three games of the season, L.A. has looked far from spectacular. Their lack of depth has been exposed, and Ron Artest has yet to fit in. Still, an 18-0 run in the third quarter on Sunday put away the Hawks, and the Lakers did it with defense, offensive rebounding, and getting out on the break for easy baskets. They're the defending champs for a reason.
  
• 6. Spurs (2-1)
  The one game that Tim Duncan has looked like his old self this season -- when he put up 28 and 16 against the Bulls -- San Antonio lost. In the two wins, Tony Parker was the catalyst, leading the team in scoring and getting everyone else involved. Of course, if Ginobili continues to play the role of Batman, the sky's the limit.
  
• 7. Suns (3-0)
  Undefeated against the Clippers, the Warriors, and the T'Wolves, the Suns aren't exactly world-beaters. But after squeaking out a close one in L.A. to open the season, Phoenix has had no trouble imposing their will on their opponents, on the way to a couple of comfortable victories. A tough five-game road trip awaits, but this is a confident group that will likely surprise a team or two on that East coast swing.
  
• 8. Heat (3-0)
  Undefeated is undefeated, and despite some fairly weak competition (Bulls excepted), that's where the Heat stand. Still, they've done it convincingly, with the second best point differential in the league at 14.3.
  
• 9. Rockets (3-1)
  Yeah, I'm surprised they're this high, too. But you can't deny three straight wins, including Monday's in Utah where they held Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap to a combined nine points on 1-of-8 shooting, while getting eight players in double figures offensively.
  
• 10. Cavaliers (2-2)
  Can't really justify having LeBron and company any lower than this, but have they really earned it? It's going to be a while before the Cavs are clicking, and with the team trying to get familiar with Shaq and work Delonte West back into the offense, the gap in the standings could be pretty big by the time things get figured out.

• 11. Hawks (2-1)
  Played two and a half solid games really, before completely falling to pieces in the third quarter against the Lakers. This is a long, athletic team that has no trouble on either end of the floor, so consistency and mental toughness will be the qualities that they search for as the season goes on.
  
• 12. Wizards (2-1)
  Gilbert Arenas appears to be all the way back, and has led his team to a couple of nice wins to start the season, even as the club is missing Antawn Jamison. Tough back-to-back at Cleveland and then hosting Miami will tell us a lot about where this team is at right now.
  
• 13. Trail Blazers (2-2)
  Brandon Roy can be All-World, but he's struggled shooting the ball since the Denver game. Andre Miller is -- at least so far -- a very underwhelming addition. The injuries to Nicolas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge aren't going to help the team get straight early, but we have a long way to go, and Portland is still loaded and can be right there when it counts at the end of the season.
  
• 14. Thunder (2-1)
  As Kevin Durant goes, so goes the Thunder? KD had 25 and 11, then 25 and 12 in his team's first two games -- both victories. He struggled a bit against the Blazers with 16 and 5 (on a miserable 3-21 shooting), and OKC managed just 74 points in their first loss of the season.
  
• 15. Sixers (2-1)
  In just 23 minutes per game off the bench, second-year player Marreese Speights is averaging 16.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and a blocked shot per game, while hitting 18 of his 24 field goal attempts. Elton who?
  
• 16. Bulls (1-2)
  Opened the season with a nice home win over the Spurs, before having to go to Boston the next night to get thrashed by the Celtics. Chicago then took Miami down to the wire, so the schedule-makers more than anyone are to blame for the Bulls' middle-of-the-pack ranking here.
  
• 17. Jazz (1-2)
  Rough one against the Rockets on Monday, as Utah turned a three-point halftime lead into a 17-point home loss.
  
• 18. Bobcats (2-2)
  Charlotte gets a little credit for standing at 2-2, but they did manage just 79 points against the awful Nets on Monday ... which was, in fact, good enough for a win, thanks to New Jersey's dreadful seven-point third quarter.
  
• 19. Knicks (1-3)
  It took New York three overtimes to lose two of its games, before putting together a solid fourth quarter on Monday to get the team's first win of the season. Now if only they can get some consistency going so that D'Antoni doesn't have to change his starting lineup and rotations every night, they'll be in business.
  
• 20. Hornets (1-3)
  New Orleans has no depth once you get past the starting unit, and the team looks to be far worse off than it was a season ago. So let me be among the first to say it: the Hornets are not making the playoffs.
  

• 21. Raptors (1-2)
  Dropped two straight after beating the Cavs in their opener, but don't blame Chris Bosh: he's averaging 31 points and 14.7 rebounds through the first three games. *cough* contact year *cough*
  
• 22. Bucks (1-1)
  Brandon Jennings is the story here, as he's done better than expected early, and led the team in scoring the first two games. Which is important, considering the fact that Michael Redd is going to be on the shelf for a couple of weeks with a knee injury.
  
• 23. Pistons (1-2)
  Rip Hamilton has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, which has paved the way for Ben Gordon to both start and lead the team in scoring. Ws are what matter most though, and without Hamilton in the lineup, Detroit is 0-2.
  
• 24. Grizzlies (1-3)
  Zach Randolph has two 30-point games in the team's first four, and O.J. Mayo put up a career-high 40 on Sunday. Allen Iverson made his debut on Monday, and big surprise: he was unhappy coming off the bench.
  
• 25. Clippers (1-4)
  If Baron Davis ever finds his shot again, L.A. might become dangerous. Davis is shooting just 33% from the field through the team's first five games, having made just 18 of his 54 attempts.
  
• 26. Kings (1-3)
  Kevin Martin's 48 led Sacramento to their first win of the season on Monday, an overtime joint over the Grizzlies. Between Martin and the potential of Tyreke Evans, the Kings might be worthy of more than an occasional flip over to their games on a random night of League pass action.
  
• 27. Timberwolves (1-3)
  Kurt Rambis actually has his team running some basic triangle offense sets in this young season. Funny how things seemed to turn out a whole lot better with Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, and Pau Gasol involved.
  
• 28. Warriors (0-2)
  Stephen Jackson and Don Nelson have completely checked out, and couldn't care less what happens to this team this season. Not cool for guys like Anthony Morrow, Anthony Randolph, and Stephen Curry, who are all talented young players with a potentially bright future in the league.
  
• 29. Pacers (0-2)
  Rookie Tyler Hansbrough has been practicing, and could make his debut this Friday against the Wizards. That is all.
  
• 30. Nets (0-4)
  Unbelievably bad, managing just seven points in the third quarter on Monday in Charlotte. Other lowlights included going over 11 minutes without a field goal, and getting outscored by the Bobcats 24-0 during a stretch that spanned the third and fourth quarters. Finally, the team lost Yi Jianlian to a knee injury in this one as well. I'd make a joke about how dismal things are for the Nets right now, but honestly, it's not even funny.
  

NBA Power Rankings: Orlando on Top originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• 1. Lakers (65-17) | First Round: (1) vs. (8) Jazz
  Yes, I'm aware that the Lakers didn't finish the season with the league's best record, and, should they get to the Finals, they'll open on the road if they should meet the Cavs. But that's a lot of ifs, and L.A. did sweep Cleveland and Boston during the regular season. Now, Orlando? That's another story.
  
• 2. Cavaliers (66-16) | First Round: (1) vs. (8) Pistons
  Cleveland could easily be at the one spot, but I think the East is tougher right now than the West in terms of the road to the Finals. Don't believe me? The Pistons won't be pushovers, Dwyane Wade in the second round could be a seven game series, and then there's Orlando or Boston to deal with. Good thing these guys have home court advantage throughout -- looks like they might need it.
  
• 3. Magic (59-23) | First Round: (3) vs. (6) Sixers
  Dwight Howard in the middle, 3-point shooters all around -- it's worked pretty well so far. The critics say in the playoffs you can't rely on jump shots to get you through, but guess what? If they aren't falling, it doesn't suck to be able to go to the most dominant big man in the playoffs inside. With the KG question mark, Orlando appears to have the inside track to get to the conference finals.
  
• 4. Celtics (62-20) | First Round: (2) vs. (7) Bulls
  The news that Kevin Garnett could be out for the rest of the year is devastating to the Celtics' title chances, but not so much in the earlier rounds of the playoffs. The defending champs aren't likely to be upset in round one by an inexperienced Bulls team run at the point by a rookie, and something tells me that the longer they manage to stay around, the more likely it is that Mr. Garnett will make a guest appearance at a later time. I'm not ready to count these guys out just yet.
  
• 5. Nuggets (54-28) | First Round: (2) vs. (7) Hornets
  Just an amazing year for the Nuggets, who certainly got the best of the Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson deal. Even though they've struggled to get out of the first round recently, they have a favorable matchup playing a New Orleans team that is really a shell of the club that took the Spurs to seven in the second round last year. Nene's resurgence, Billups' leadership, and Carmelo Anthony's ... something should have Denver advancing at least to round two.
  
• 6. Blazers (54-28) | First Round: (4) vs. (5) Rockets
  An argument can be made that the Blazers are the second best team in the West right now, and they're certainly one of the hottest. Coming into the playoffs by winning nine of their last 10, Portland appears to be peaking at the right time. Only problem? They drew the worst possible first round matchup in the Rockets, a team that seems to have had their number all season. Still, home court is big, and if the Blazers can take advantage and advance, no one will want to see them in the second round -- including the Lakers.
  
• 7. Rockets (54-28) | First Round: (5) vs. (4) Blazers
  If the Blazers getting the Rockets was a bad matchup for them, then it must be a good one for Houston. And it is -- the Rockets make Brandon Roy work for everything he gets (8-for-20 and 10-for-23 shooting the last two meetings), and they seem to be able to do their thing offensively. The toughest thing for Houston will be to steal one on the road, but if they can, this one will be over in six.
  
• 8. Heat (43-39) | First Round: (5) vs. (4) Hawks
  Anyone feel confident about taking on Dwyane Wade 2.0 in the playoffs? Anyone? Didn't think so. Wade has been playing out of his mind this season, and really is side-by-side numbers-wise with LeBron James. Wade's not going to win the MVP, but he can continue his crusade by keeping his team alive in the playoffs long enough to battle Lebron in the second round. For the sake of basketball and all that is holy, we should pray that this happens.
  
• 9. Mavericks (50-32) | First Round: (6) vs. (3) Spurs
  It's been a rocky season for the Mavericks, but they seem to be getting it together at the right time. This is a veteran team stocked with guys like Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, and Jason Terry who know how to win in the postseason. Facing a Spurs team without Manu Ginobili and with a hobbled Tim Duncan, it wouldn't be that big of a surprise to see Dallas pull the upset.
  
• 10. Spurs (54-28) | First Round: (3) vs. (6) Mavericks
  Much like the Celtics without Garnett, the Spurs are still going to be a tough out in the playoffs, even without Manu Ginobili. Nothing phases this team when the game's close in crunch time, and guys like Michael Finley and Roger Mason have come through in the clutch time and time again. San Antonio will need Tony Parker to carry a lot of the scoring, which shouldn't be a problem against the ancient Jason Kidd. The only outcome that would surprise people in this series would be a quick four- or five-game exit by the Spurs -- no one is expecting that.

• 11. Hawks (47-35) | First Round: (4) vs. (5) Heat
  The Hawks have been up and down all season, but managed to snag the last home court advantage spot (the four) in the East. They've beaten the Heat three of the four meetings this season, although Dwyane Wade sat out one of those. Atlanta has the speed to defend Miami and the athleticism to do damage offensively, but whether or not they can contain a playoff-hungry Wade will determine how long they stay around.
  
• 12. Hornets (49-33) | First Round: (7) vs. (2) Nuggets
  Chris Paul versus Chauncey Billups in the first round is as tasty as it gets at the point guard spot, but once you get past Paul and David West, the questions begin to mount for the Hornets. Unless Peja Stojakovic and Rasual Butler can break out of their recent slumps, and unless Tyson Chandler (who looked good against the Spurs in the season finale) can return fully to the alley-oop machine he's been in the past, this could end up being a quick first-round exit -- and a huge step backwards -- for the Hornets.
  
• 13. Bulls (41-41) | First Round: (7) vs. (2) Celtics
  The Bulls have a lot to be happy about, but their performance in the last game of the regular season isn't one of them. They had a chance to avoid the Celtics, but didn't show up and lost to the freaking Raptors. They get a Celtics team without Kevin Garnett, sure. But they didn't know that to be the case at the time (or did they?), and with or without KG, it's tough to envision a young team like this taking down the defending champs.
  
• 14. Sixers (41-41) | First Round: (6) vs. (3) Magic
  Remember some guy named Elton Brand? Yeah, neither do Sixers fans. Behind Andre Iguodala and the largely improved play of Thaddeus Young, Philly finds itself back in the postseason anyway. The Sixers hung tough with the Magic in three meetings this season, but lost 'em all -- and it's going to be a tall order to beat Orlando more than once in the first round as well.
  
• 15. Pistons (39-43) | First Round: (8) vs. (1) Cavaliers
  Seeing the Pistons in the playoffs with a sub-.500 record just feels wrong, but that's where Detroit finds itself after the Allen Iverson experiment failed miserably. The Pistons are a veteran squad and are all too familiar with LeBron's playoff heroics, but they're still a veteran squad that could make things difficult for the Cavs, even if it's only for five games.
  
• 16. Jazz (48-34) | First Round: (8) vs. (1) Lakers
  Utah comes into its first round matchup with the Lakers (uncharacteristically) with its tail between its legs. The team sat two of its starters during a blowout loss in L.A. this week, and afterwards Jerry Sloan said "it looks pretty bleak" when asked about his club's chances once the playoffs begin. Still, Utah at home in the postseason is one of the toughest places to play in the entire league, and I don't think anyone would be surprised if the Jazz took one (or even two) games from the Lakers before taking its summer vacation.
  

NBA Power Rankings: Playoff Edition originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• 1. Lakers (62-16) | Prev.: 2
  When Sasha Vujacic is throwing down monster dunks in traffic, you know things are going well in Los Angeles. And with Andrew Bynum scheduled to come back for the final two (possibly three) games of the regular season, it appears more good times are ahead in the playoffs.
  
• 2. Magic (57-20) | Prev.: 4
  You know, losing to Houston in a game where they really never felt like they had any say in the game is inexcusable. That's the kind of thing that proves this team just isn't ready for the postseason. If they want to hang with the big boys...what? They beat Cleveland by how much? What? They're what against LA, Boston, and Cleveland? ... Yeah, well....I gotta go. (Matt Moore)
  
• 3. Nuggets (52-26) | Prev.: 9
  Quick -- which team is the two seed in the Western Conference right now? Why yes, it is the Nuggets. A seven-game winning streak has Denver a game and a half in front of San Antonio in the standings.
  
• 4. Celtics (58-19) | Prev.: 3
  Boston is only going as far in the post-season as Kevin Garnett will take them. Don't let Doc Rivers try to tell you any different.
  
• 5. Cavaliers (62-15) | Prev.: 1
  LeBron Is Really Really Really Really Really Really Good. So good, in fact, that he almost never commits a personal foul. Hmmm.
  
• 6. Rockets (50-28) | Prev.: 10
  With the Spurs having to go into the playoffs without one of their big three, the Rockets might take their place as the team most likely to give the Lakers their toughest challenge out West. But that's only if Ron Artest keeps his mouth shut.
  
• 7. Blazers (49-28) | Prev.: 11
  Nate McMillan was genuinely excited when he found out his team officially clinched a playoff spot, and why not? It's the first time in the coach's four seasons they've made it, and the first in six overall for the franchise.Problem is, with a likely first round matchup against Houston, it could be a very short trip.
  
• 8. Spurs (50-27) | Prev.: 6
  Yes, the announcement that Manu Ginobili won't be back for the playoffs was disappointing. But would anyone really be surprised if the Spurs ended up in the Conference Finals anyway? We've seen Tony Parker take over, and really, a healthy Tim Duncan (which is admittedly a question mark) is as scary as almost anyone in the post-season.
  
• 9. Hornets (48-29) | Prev.: 5
  Rasual Butler has been doing some incredible things lately, and David West has been doing the same on basically one leg. Still, there's something missing from this team that was here last season, and unless they manage to find it, the team will have trouble getting out of the first round.
  
• 10. Mavericks (46-31) | Prev.: 13
  Steve Nash said after the Suns' loss in Dallas on Sunday that the Mavs "put them out of their misery." That might be true, but facing the Lakers in the first round of the players is likely to make the Mavericks equally miserable, once they're done in four or five games. (P.S. - I don't care what the rumors say: Shaq's not going to Dallas.)

• 11. Jazz (47-30) | Prev.: 8
  The Jazz broke through on the road with a nice win over a Hornets team that they seem to own, but they've still got three away in Dallas, San Antonio, and L.A. before the post-season. That could shorten their travel plans, because after ending the season against the Lakers, Utah might have to stick around for a few days to before taking them on as the eight seed in the first round of the playoffs.
  
• 12. Heat (41-37) | Prev.: 14
  Dwyane Wade would beat the crap out of James Bond and throw him out of an airplane. And I'm talking the good Daniel Craig James Bond. Not just the wussy Timothy Dalton Bond. (MM)
  
• 13. Bulls (38-40) | Prev.: 16
  Even without Luol Deng, the Bulls might give somebody some trouble in the first round. The team has won nine of its last 12, and seems to be gelling at just the right time.
  
• 14. Hawks (44-34) | Prev.: 7
  Josh Smith has become some sort of weird conceptual art piece wherein he does things that don't make any sense, yet result in a positive outcome. It's not quite serendipity, but it's not quite chaos theory. Additionally, I hope you're all as excited as I am about the inevitable Diawara vs. Mo Evans matchup that we have coming. (MM)
  
• 15. Sixers (40-37) | Prev.: 15
  Good thing Philly has clinched a playoff spot. Because with a trip to Chicago and games against Boston and Cleveland (twice!) to end the season, they could easily drop four of five heading into the post-season.
  
• 16. Suns (42-35) | Prev.: 12
  There are far more questions than answers with this team in terms of what they'll look like next season, but one thing is certain: with the "Shaq to Dallas" rumors already underway, they're guaranteed to be as much of a circus in the off season as they were all year long.
  
• 17. Pistons (37-40) | Prev.: 17
  Barring something crazy, Detroit will indeed make the playoffs -- which is something that many weren't so sure of a few weeks ago. The Iverson experiment was a bust, and a brief first round playoff matchup with LeBron and the Cavs is all that's standing between them and an off season full of tough decisions.
  
• 18. Bobcats (35-43) | Prev.: 18
  Three straight losses, all of them tight, to Boston, Miami, and Detroit. Make no mistake though. Teams look absolutely worn out after playing the Cats. Gerald Wallace has guarded Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade, Michael Beasley, Tayshaun Prince, Rip Hamilton, and Andre Iguodala at different times in the last week and has done a good job on all of them. This team makes any significant improvement to its roster this summer and maybe the momentum carries over next year. In unrelated news, I just bought a Bobcats shirt from the NBA Store. (MM)
  
• 19. Pacers (33-44) | Prev.: 20
  As if this season wasn't tough enough, looks like next year they're already planning to go at it without Mike Dunleavy Jr., until at least January. The good news? No team members have been involved in any incidents with the police for two years now. (Seriously.)
  
• 20. Nets (32-45) | Prev.: 21
  Mathematically, the Nets are still alive for a playoff spot. But they're also five games out with five to play. Meanwhile, you MUST check out the team's video touting Brook Lopez for rookie of the year -- if the speed metal and the strobe lights don't give you a seizure before it ends.
  

• 21. Raptors (30-47) | Prev.: 23
  After putting together a nice little six-game winning streak, the Raps must have realized it was a little late in the season for that, because then they dropped two straight at home to the Knicks and the Hawks.
  
• 22. Bucks (32-46) | Prev.: 19
  @CV31 is no different from the rest of us, in that he has a special place in his heart for the Miami Heat dancers.
  
• 23. Knicks (30-48) | Prev.: 22
  Gotta love the New York press. After Zach Randolph got popped for DUI the other night, the claim comes out that even though Z-Bo technically didn't get into trouble while he was there, they were in a rush to trade him because they knew it was coming. Way to pile on, guys.
  
• 24. Warriors (28-49) | Prev.: 24
  Don Nelson must be trying to get kicked out of the league. He sat healthy players to get his kids some minutes, asked Jamal Crawford to give up $18 million, has turned Anthony Randolph into the offensive focal point, kept ailing Stephen Jackson active one extra day just because Mark Cuban's team was the next opponenet and took off two games under the guise of preparing his top assistant (Keith Smart) for life as a head coach, even though Nellie just signed a contract extension last summer. Put the Spurs in a snow globe, shake it vigorously, smash it with a mallet and bury it in a sandbox. That's the Warriors right now. (Tom Ziller)
  
• 25. Thunder (21-56) | Prev.: 25
  Malik Rose "doesn't think" the Thunder are packing it in -- and I "don't think" he has a clue.
  
• 26. Grizzlies (22-55) | Prev.: 26
  Here's a fun game to play with your friends. Split a bottle of vodka with three buddies. Now each of you throw a dart at a map of the United States and Canada. That's as good a guess as to where Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo, and the Memphis Grizzlies are going to be in three years. (MM)
  
• 27. Timberwolves (20-51) | Prev.: 27
  With the season having long since ended in Minnesota, it's time for a little draft talk. (BP)
  
• 28. Wizards (18-60) | Prev.: 28
  Hey, Gil! Good to see you! Wow! What a performance! This is awesome! This Wizards team can really do some damage! Let's get ready for the... oh, that's right. It's APRIL. If you're Blake Griffin, are you excited to potentially be drafted by a team with this much talent, or afraid to be drafted by a team with this bad of luck? (MM)
  
• 29. Clippers (18-60) | Prev.: 29
  Zach Randolph's DUI isn't an indictment against him, it's just another in a long list of reasons why Mike Dunleavy should be removed as both coach and GM.
  
• 30. Kings (16-61) | Prev.: 30
  It's official -- the Kings have become must-watch television. As Lil' Wayne reported last Tuesday night Spencer Hawes is playing "unheard of," Kevin Martin is making a last-gasp effort to sneak into the scoring title's bronze medal and not a single soul in Royal Purple has a conscience right now. And this weekend features the Suns and the Warriors on Sacramento's docket -- all the kindling an arsonist needs. Bad but thrilling basketball. (TZ)
  
  

NBA Power Rankings: Exciting Times originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• 1. Cavaliers (57-13) | Prev.: 1
  The Cavs shouldn't be considered just title contenders anymore. They should be considered the favorites. Nine straight wins heading into tonight's game against New Jersey, on pace to win 65-plus games and only one loss at home this season. What more do they have to do? (Matt Steinmetz)
  
• 2. Lakers (56-14) | Prev.: 2
  Despite Smush Parker's contention otherwise, Kobe Bryant seems to be high on the list as someone NBA players would like to have as their teammate. (BP)
  
• 3. Celtics (54-18) | Prev.: 6
  Really just biding their time and making sure everyone's as close to 100 percent as possible once the post-season begins. Kevin Garnett is back, but the team is monitoring his minutes closely. (BP)
  
• 4. Magic (52-18) | Prev.: 3
  At a precipice. They can either fall back to the pack, to "almost good enough" like their last game with Cleveland, or they can go on a tear and roll into the playoffs with enough momentum to push for the ECF. They're going to need a ton of momentum to get past their second round opponent, so they need to start tonight. Against who will probably be that second round opponent. Boston. (Matt Moore)
  
• 5. Hornets (44-25) | Prev.: 14
  Why not put these guys at five? After the top four teams, it's pretty much a cluster, um, anybody's guess. 12-3 in their last 15 makes them somewhat worth as well. (BP)
  
• 6. Spurs (46-24) | Prev.: 4
  Scraping by against the Warriors. Beaten by Houston. Ginobili is the bright light at the end of the week's tunnel, but at some point you have to rest Timmy. A normally very reliable Spurs team is completely up in the air over the last three weeks of the season. They could be flawless, they could be disappointing. It's a coin flip. And they cannot afford ANY more injuries. (MM)
  
• 7. Hawks (42-29) | Prev.: 7
  Shhh! No one pay attention to the Hawks who have won 8 of 10, suddenly are paying defense again, and how Joe Johnson has remembered how to put the little round thing in the circle thing with the net! Go about your business! Nothing to see here! This team will end up being the most picked against four seed in history. (MM)
  
• 8. Jazz (44-26) | Prev.: 10
  Focused. Talented. Surging. These three words make up the Utah Jazz at home. Not. So. Much. These three words make up the Utah Jazz on the road. Any questions? (MM)
  
• 9. Nuggets (45-26) | Prev.: 8
  Before dropping a close one to the Suns, these guys were playing well enough to win five straight games. Will the referees listen to George Karl's complaints about how his team is officiated? Time will tell. (BP)
  
• 10. Rockets (47-26) | Prev.: 5
  Tuesday's loss to Utah notwithstanding, Houston has to be considered in the same dangerous class with San Antonio, Denver, Portland and New Orleans. I mean, it's been said ... but it's true: everyone between the Lakers and Suns are basically interchangeable. It's all about match-ups; fortunately for the Rockets, a versatile roster with numerous good defenders should help out against everyone (but Utah, apparently). (Tom Ziller)
  

• 11. Blazers (44-27) | Prev.: 9
  It would be weird if the Blazers played the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, since neither team strikes me as second round material. For a detailed look at where the Blazers (and everyone else in the West playoff picture) might end up, head on over to Blazer's Edge. (BP)
  
• 12. Suns (39-31) | Prev.: 15
  Even if the Suns don't make the playoffs, they're giving their fans some hope for the future with this late season run. The win over Denver had a playoff atmosphere; I'm guessing Wednesday night's game against the Jazz will feel the same way. (BP)
  
• 13. Mavericks (42-28) | Prev.: 13
  The Mavericks are still in control of their own destiny, and would really have to collapse to not make the playoffs at this point. Still, it's probably best if they wrap things up before that home game against the Suns on April 5. (BP)
  
• 14. Heat (38-32) | Prev.: 11
  Dwyane Wade not on the floor? Broom magnet in the first round. Dwyane Wade on the floor? There's not a team in the playoffs that want to see them. The rookies on this team are about to get introduced to the reality of playoff basketball. How they handle it will determine the Heat's ceiling. (MM)
  
• 15. Sixers (36-33) | Prev.: 12
  Philly finishes a 3-2 West Coast road trip with an exclamation point victory in Portland on Monday. The bad news is that the Sixers are a little too far away from thinking home-court. The good news is they're safely in front of the ninth-place Bobcats. (MS)
  
• 16. Bulls (34-38) | Prev.: 16
  Interesting read over at TrueHoop about the implications a possible Bulls-Cavaliers first round playoff matchup might have in the White House. (BP)
  
• 17. Pistons (34-36) | Prev.: 19
  With Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton and Allen Iverson sidelined, the Pistons are once again in freefall. Don't take a playoff appearance for granted. (Matt Watson)
  
• 18. Bobcats (31-39) | Prev.: 17
  Rolling...Rolling... Rolling ... Almost ... there ... BAM! Lose to completely inferior teams to fall two games back of the 8th spot. The Bobcats only went 6-4 through their easy part of the schedule, and now face an uphill battle against a surging Bulls squad for the 8 seed. Unless they play flawlessly for the next three weeks and get some luck on their side as well, the second half surge for this team will only result in a mid-round pick. (MM)
  
• 19. Bucks (31-40) | Prev.: 18
  A recent update from @CV31, who's sticking to his diet: "Aight, I was going to go for a Filet-O-Fish, but I punked out. I'm sticking to my diet plan. Going grocery shopping instead at Wholes Food." (BP)
  
• 20. Pacers (29-42) | Prev.: 21
  Just crushed the Bobcats in their last outing, which is kind of a big deal when you look at the race for that eighth playoff spot in the East. (BP)
  

• 21. Nets (30-40) | Prev.: 22
  Vince Carter's doing a lot, but sorry: No Devin Harris, no playoffs. (BP)
  
• 22. Knicks (28-42) | Prev.: 20
  That the Knicks were recently still in the playoff race should be a reminder that while Cleveland, Orlando and Boston are fantastic, the West still runs deeper -- Phoenix (No. 9 in the West) would be No. 5 in the East. But let this not discourage the 'Bockers, who -- yes Martha -- have improved this season. (TZ)
  
• 23. Raptors (25-45) | Prev.: 23
  Happy 25th birthday, Chris Bosh! (What, is there something else going on that I should know about?) (BP)
  
• 24. Warriors (25-46) | Prev.: 25
  There were signs of life in the Warriors' one-point road loss to the Spurs on Tuesday. But it still turned out to be Golden State's 22nd consecutive defeat in San Antonio, and the Warriors have never won in AT&T Center. (MS)
  
• 25. Thunder (24-43) | Prev.: 24
  Phil Jackson tweaked the crowd in Oklahoma City on Tuesday night, saying they get too excited early in the game and really don't know their NBA hoops. After seeing a group from Thunder-land in Phoenix screaming their guts out after every play (COME ON, THABO!! WAY TO GO, JEFF!!!), I'd say he's right on point. (BP)
  
• 26. Grizzlies (17-53) | Prev.: 26
  Here's a fun game to play with your friends. Split a bottle of vodka with three buddies. Now each of you throw a dart at a map of the United States and Canada. That's as good a guess as to where Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo, and the Memphis Grizzlies are going to be in three years. (MM)
  
• 27. Timberwolves (20-51) | Prev.: 27
  With the season having long since ended in Minnesota, it's time for a little draft talk. (BP)
  
• 28. Wizards (16-56) | Prev.: 28
  What's more irrelevant, Arenas coming back for a handful of games in limited minutes, or the Wizards' season in general? The fact that Pollin isn't itching to blow this thing up is beyond me. Always next year Cubs... I mean, Wizards fans. (MM)
  
• 29. Clippers (17-54) | Prev.: 29
  Rumors of Jerry West taking over the general manager duties from Mike Dunleavy came and went in L.A.. The Clippers seemed unaffected by it all, losers of three in a row and 11 of their past 13. (MS)
  
• 30. Kings (15-55) | Prev.: 30
  Sacramento has played two fewer games than Washington, and remains a full game ahead in the race for the bottom. Narrowly avoiding an embarrassing 0-30 season against the East provided the Kings with a not-at-all embarrassing 1-29 season against the East. Can they complete the task and finish Worst in the League? Stay tuned! Kings basketball! OH! BOY! (TZ)
  
  

Everything Falling Into Place for Cavs originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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?

• 1. Cavaliers (54-13) | Prev.: 1
  Seriously, what are you supposed to do if you're the Orlando Magic? Up one late, playing LeBron for the drive seems like the right move. But since LeBron is LeBron, he steps back and drains a long three to essentially give the Cavs the win. Cleveland is now 30-1 at home -- impressive.
  
• 2. Lakers (53-14) | Prev.: 2
  Phil Jackson criticizes his team for not having a "killer instinct" after Sunday's win over Dallas, then they go ahead and prove him right by letting the Sixers come from 14 down in the fourth to beat them in their very next game. When do the playoffs start, again?
  
• 3. Magic (49-18) | Prev.: 5
  Orlando has proven that they can contend with anyone (except the Pistons) even without Jameer Nelson. They have to be pleased with the contributions they're getting from guys like Courtney Lee and Rafer Alston, but Dwight Howard is going to need to shoot the ball in the fourth quarter most of the time if the team wants to win games.
  
• 4. Spurs (45-22) | Prev.: 3
  With the Lakers virtually assured of the one seed for the playoffs, San Antonio can afford to rest Tim Duncan now and then to get ready for the post-season. And with Tony Parker doing his thing, they'll win a lot of those games without Duncan anyway.
  
• 5. Rockets (44-25) | Prev.: 7
  The details of the Carl Landry shooting are pretty scary, and almost seem like someone was intentionally after him. Regardless, Houston will have to get by without him for a couple of weeks, which, in the tight race for seeding in the West, could have its consequences.
  
• 6. Celtics (50-18) | Prev.: 6
  This is the lowest we can (with any conscience at all) rank Boston right now, despite the fact that they're injury-ravaged and have only won four times in their last 10 games. They should have plenty of time to get healthy for the playoffs, but the injuries are probably going to cost them home court advantage to the Cavaliers.
  
• 7. Hawks (40-28) | Prev.: 12
  Winners of six in a row, holding steady in their lead over Miami for the fourth seed in the East. Which is important, because they'll need all the help they can get against Dwyane Wade in the playoffs.
  
• 8. Nuggets (43-25) | Prev.: 14
  Denver seems to have stopped the bleeding at the moment, winning three in a row against the league's bottom feeders. Their win streak is likely to get to five, before we'll get a better idea of whether they've righted the ship or not when they head out on the road to face the Suns, Hornets, and Mavericks.
  
• 9. Blazers (42-25) | Prev.: 8
  SLAM's Lang Whitaker, describing Brandon Roy's game while Portland was losing to Atlanta: "Does Brandon Roy get as many calls as Jordan used to get? Or more? it's unbelievable. He flops so much I keep thinking he's Italian."
  
• 10. Jazz (42-26) | Prev.: 4
  Let the "Utah Jazz are a fraud" columns begin! (Hey, they are just 13-20 on the road, it's not like it isn't justified.)
  

• 11. Heat (36-30) | Prev.: 11
  Dwyane Wade's MVP season is really fun to watch. But as long as LeBron keeps doing what he's doing, James is a lock to take home the hardware.
  
• 12. Sixers (34-31) | Prev.: 19
  Peaking at the right time? Perhaps. Showed a lot of heart coming back from 14 down in the fourth to beat the Lakers, and if they can extend their current four-game winning streak, home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs isn't out of the question.
  
• 13. Mavericks (41-27) | Prev.: 10
  Dallas is looking to improve their eight seed status, but their schedule down the stretch would indicate that maybe they should be happy to just hold onto that playoff spot.
  
• 14. Hornets (41-25) | Prev.: 9
  Chris Paul is the only one playing consistently lately, and as tight as the West is, it's not a stretch to see the Hornets fall to that eight spot, where they'd get to play the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. Have fun with that.
  
• 15. Suns (36-31) | Prev.: 15
  We'll let the always optimistic Ben York of Fanster take it from here: "Down, yes, but not quite out...yet. If they can beat Philly and Washington at home this week, and somehow find a way to win at least 3 of the 4 games against Denver, Utah, and Portland next week...they could find themselves in a good position for a playoff push come April."
  
• 16. Bulls (31-37) | Prev.: 17
  God bless the Bulls fans, who must be watching the single most gobsmacking NBA season in recent memory. Simply atrocious coaching from Vinny Del Negro, matched only by indecently inconsistent play up and down the roster. I guess it could only be worse if Chris Duhon were still running the point. (Tom Ziller)
  
• 17. Bobcats (29-38) | Prev.: 16
  Winners in seven of their last 10, playoffs are still a possibility. Until you look at their remaining schedule, where back-to-backs against the Lakers and Celtics, along with games against the Heat and Magic await.
  
• 18. Bucks (31-38) | Prev.: 20
  As long as @CV31 keeps Twittering, that's what we'll continue to talk about in this space. Seems like he might be looking for a loophole to get around not sending out updates at halftime. Let's hope so!
  
• 19. Pistons (33-33) | Prev.: 13
  If Will Bynum (pictured below) played for the Celtics or Lakers, he'd be a household name by now. (Matt Watson)
  
• 20. Knicks (28-38) | Prev.: 21
  As Shoals notes, the Knicks have been pretty much free of drama this season, ignoring Stephon Marbury's freedom quest, Eddy Curry's familial tragedy and (now) Danilo Gallinari's back injury. Ta' hell with wins -- Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni have created a winning culture. Maybe it's corny, cliche and Albomy. But it really matters. Cheers to that. (TZ)
  

• 21. Pacers (28-40) | Prev.: 22
  When people are calling to see Josh McRoberts get some run, you know the season's over.
  
• 22. Nets (28-39) | Prev.: 18
  Devin Harris has not one, but two injuries to his shoulder. Looks like his stellar season might come to a bit of a premature end, and the Nets' playoff chances are gone right along with him.
  
• 23. Raptors (24-44) | Prev.: 23
  Fortunes change so remarkably fast in the NBA. Two years ago, LeBron was the Class of 2003 star most likely to flee. Then it was Dwyane Wade, watching his Miami empire crumble. Then Carmelo Anthony, ripping down his own Denver empire with DUIs and coaching feuds. Now? Chris Bosh is leaving the field in his dust. The Raptors need a major infusion of talent (coaching and playing) this summer. (TZ)
  
• 24. Thunder (19-48) | Prev.: 24
  Winners in six of their last 10, including one over the Spurs earlier this week. There's hope here, people.
  
• 25. Warriors (24-43) | Prev.: 25
  Two years ago when the Warriors stood on the surface of the Moon and screamed holy war, every team that rejected Don Nelson looked like a loser. So much for that conventional wisdom. Geniuses are difficult partners, and Nellie is more mad than most. Thank God the team gave him a lucrative contract extension and basically handed the GM job to his confidant! (TZ)
  
• 26. Grizzlies (17-49) | Prev.: 26
  Scored just 32 second half points, but were still able to gut out a win in Detroit over the Pistons. What does that mean? Just fewer ping pong balls, unfortunately.
  
• 27. Timberwolves (20-47) | Prev.: 27
  Just don't have the bodies right now to do much of anything. Managed only 86 points in a loss to the Tim Duncan-less Spurs.
  
• 28. Wizards (16-52) | Prev.: 28
  Did their part in keeping the Kings winless against Eastern Conference teams, which is about all you can ask at this point.
  
• 29. Clippers (13-43) | Prev.: 30
  Baron Davis made his long awaited return to the Bay, but despite his 29 points, the Clippers couldn't beat the Warriors who were playing without a suspended Stephen Jackson.
  
• 30. Kings (12-46) | Prev.: 29
  Just three games left to lose against Eastern Conference teams before Sacramento becomes the only team ever to go 0-30 against an entire conference. You can do it, guys!
  
  

NBA Power Rankings: LeBron by Himself originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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?

• 1. Cavaliers (50-13) | Prev.: 2
  The least injured and most consistent of the top teams right now, despite Friday night's loss to the Celtics. And like Leon Powe is going for 20 and 11 in 26 minutes ever again, much less once Ben Wallace returns for the playoffs. (BP)
  
• 2. Lakers (50-13) | Prev.: 1
  Despite mostly winning lately, L.A. simply hasn't looked that good, and were exposed easily and quickly by a Blazers' team that has had their number in Portland since 2005. Lamar Odom has disappeared statistically over L.A.'s last five games, and he'll be physically absent when the team heads into Houston on Wednesday while serving a one-game suspension for his involvement in Rudy Fernandez's boo-boo. (BP)
  
• 3. Spurs (43-20) | Prev.: 3
  I don't know what grievance the state of Arizona subjected Gregg Popovich to in this or another life, but it must have been a big one. (Matt Moore)
  
• 4. Jazz (41-23) | Prev.: 4
  Winning streak has reached 12, but with the next three at Atlanta, Miami, and Orlando, it's going to end soon. Um, right? (BP)
  
• 5. Magic (46-17) | Prev.: 6
  "Oh, Boo Hoo!" They only beat the Celtics by single digits on the road when the Celtics were missing two starters! Oh, woe! They're so terrible. Please. This is the only team that's faced down all three of the title contenders above them. They're fine. As long as they don't play Detroit in the first round. Geez, talk about a mental block. (MM)
  
• 6. Celtics (49-15) | Prev.: 5
  If Boston had pulled out a win Sunday against the Magic (it got close), the league might have imploded on the spot. Maybe it's Boston Hate, maybe it's annoyance at gritty, [redacted] play of guys like Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins. Maybe it's the cocksure, never-wrong and completely objective fans. But it's safe to say most of the neutral world will root for the Cavs or Magic in this spring's Eastern tournament. (Tom Ziller)
  
• 7. Rockets (42-23) | Prev.: 7
  Starting to put it together. Which is sad. Why? Because they're going to knock off every other team that's a contender except Utah, eventually setting themselves up in a 4-5 matchup with them. Which they'll lose. It's accidental masochism. (MM)
  
• 8. Blazers (40-23) | Prev.: 11
  If the Blazers played all their games at home, they'd be the World Champions! But they don't -- so they won't. And really? A stretcher for a bruise, and repeatedly saying the Lakers are trying to "bully" you? Get over your small market complex, people. The foul was pedestrian, and you can't be considered "bullies" when you're getting blown out by 28 points. (BP)
  
• 9. Hornets (39-23) | Prev.: 8
  Fans want Rasual Butler to get the credit he deserves. This is a bad sign, kids. Still, starting to get hot at the right time. We'll see if they've got another gear for the playoffs. (MM)
  
• 10. Mavericks (39-25) | Prev.: 15
  Congratulations! You get to be the team LA sweeps! Victory is yours! (MM)
  

• 11. Heat (34-29) | Prev.: 13
  Dwyane Wade. You don't really need to hear anything more. (MM)
  
• 12. Hawks (36-28) | Prev.: 14
  The water is coming over the sides on the good ship "Making It To The Second Round." (MM)
  
• 13. Pistons (32-30) | Prev.: 9
  Still rolling with Rip Hamilton in the starting lineup, and still owning the Orlando Magic. Detroit is praying for two things: Iverson continuing to be unavailable, and getting locked into the three seed for the playoffs. (BP)
  
• 14. Nuggets (40-25) | Prev.: 10
  Reeling, free falling, crashing and burning. All would apply to the Nuggets dropping eight of their last 11, at a time in the season where they should be getting focused for the playoffs. But they do have a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way, so don't be surprised if they end up in the three or four spot when the playoffs start, instead of in seventh where they sit now. (BP)
  
• 15. Suns (34-30) | Prev.: 12
  There's a cliff-like drop-off in the rankings when you get to 15, as every team below is under .500 and has no hope of doing damage in the playoffs. After falling to Dallas on Tuesday, the Suns stand right at the edge of that cliff. Only question now is, will they jump or be pushed? (BP)
  
• 16. Bobcats (28-36) | Prev.: 20
  The most fundamental of the teams in the Eastern Conference 8th seed race. Tough schedule's going to make it rough, but they might be able to pull it off. (MM)
  
• 17. Bulls (29-35) | Prev.: 27
  How this Bulls team is in the playoffs with VDN at the helm floors me. (MM)
  
• 18. Nets (28-35) | Prev.: 18
  Between Vince Carter and a mess of picks as assets, New Jersey seems to be in a good position to make a play for an elite small forward to match with Devin Harris' speed. The economy and Cleveland's excellence might have ruined the timing on any prospective LeBron chase, but other beasts are out there. The Nets might be the most well-placed of all mediocre teams. (TZ)
  
• 19. Sixers (30-31) | Prev.: 16
  The 76ers remain inconsistent. So much for being held back by Brand, I guess. Samuel Dalembert is consistently inconsistent (does that count for something?) and the swingers can't get hot. But perhaps the weak run of late adds some levity to the Brand proceedings this summer: if the team isn't actually better without him, no sense in selling him for pennies. (TZ)
  
• 20. Bucks (30-37) | Prev.: 17
  Charlie Villanueva has leaped into second place behind Shaq in the contest for best NBA player Twitter feed. A sample from @CV31 from last night: "Twitter me this: How is little Nate killing like that? He gave us buckets, he finished wit 32pts, dayuuum. Nuffrespect. Inside pts hurt us." (BP)
  

• 21. Knicks (26-37) | Prev.: 22
  That 0-3 week against Kobe, LeBron and the Celtics doubled as the new Knicks' peak, but the latest toughs won't be remembered fondly. New York had a shot to slip into a real chase for the eighth seed, but it seems like the current headed out to sea is just too strong. (TZ)
  
• 22. Pacers (28-38) | Prev.: 19
  No Danny Granger, no Junior Dunleavy, and still, competitive and winners in three of their last five. Welcome to everyone's "dark horse" prediction to make the playoffs next season. (BP)
  
• 23. Raptors (23-41) | Prev.: 21
  I'm still in shock that the Raptors are this bad, and I bet the Raptors find themselves in the same state. (Province?) It's more difficult for a big man to dominate on a bad team (ask Shareef and Elton), but that Dwyane Wade can take his bucket of slop to the No. 4 or No. 5 seed while Chris Bosh's heap winds down to lottery status certainly dampens the Bosh mystique. The talking heads and locals will blow it completely out of proportion -- trust me, it's not CB4's fault -- but some slice of it is unavoidable. (TZ)
  
• 24. Thunder (18-46) | Prev.: 23
  Apparently, Kevin Durant sucks and his teammates hate him. How else do you explain the team going 5-1 with their best player on the bench? (BP)
  
• 25. Warriors (21-42) | Prev.: 24
  Nellie reportedly gave Jamal Crawford an ultimatum: opt out of your contract, or we'll trade you. Hmm, collect guaranteed money and play for a team that has a chance to win and actually wants you and will let you play or ... sorry, what was the other choice again? (BP)
  
• 26. Grizzlies (16-46) | Prev.: 26
  Gunnin' for that #4 spot, which will inevitably result in juuust missing out on the real player they want. (MM)
  
• 27. Timberwolves (18-45) | Prev.: 25
  Losers of 10 in a row, and everyone and their mother is injured. That about sums it up. (BP)
  
• 28. Wizards (15-49) | Prev.: 28
  [Season Redacted] (MM)
  
• 29. Kings (13-43) | Prev.: 29
  The season may be over in terms of the team's ultimate fate, but it's not over when it comes to rookie hazing. (BP)
  
• 30. Clippers (12-46) | Prev.: 30
  Really, Zach Randolph? Just ... wow. (BP)
  
  
  

NBA Power Rankings: Cavs on Top originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• 1. Lakers (49-12) | Prev.: 1
  The Lakers' bench has been mostly missing in action lately, and signs are showing that the team is starting to miss Andrew Bynum's presence in the starting lineup. And I know Pau Gasol can't continue to play 45 minutes a night, but DJ Mbenga isn't the answer, especially against the more solid teams on the schedule.
  
• 2. Cavaliers (47-12) | Prev.: 3
  Delonte West is working his way back into the rotation, and Mo Williams is playing like the All-Star he so desperately campaigned to be. Ben Wallace's interior defense will be missed while heals from a broken leg, but he is expected back before the start of the playoffs.
  
• 3. Spurs (40-19) | Prev.: 4
  The Tony Parker show while Tim Duncan rested a sore leg was impressive -- for a couple of games. Timmy's back for the stretch run, and the bench is getting plenty of minutes the last few weeks of the season, which includes the freshly acquired Drew Gooden.
  
• 4. Jazz (37-23) | Prev.: 5
  The Jazz are 11-1 in their last 12, and haven't lost since before the All-Star break. Big game against the Rockets on Wednesday, considering they're 0-2 against them this season, and Houston is pretty hot themselves, winners in eight of their last nine games.
  
• 5. Celtics (47-14) | Prev.: 2
  The curse of Starbury might have begun before he even arrived in Boston. The Celtics dropped one to the Clippers, then struggled to beat a depleted Pacers' team, before getting rolled at home by a rejuvenated Pistons team that was playing without Allen Iverson. Note to Celtics fans: Stephon Marbury and Mikki Moore are nowhere close in talent to last season's late pickups, Sam Cassell and P.J. Brown.
  
• 6. Magic (44-16) | Prev.: 6
  Dwight Howard and Shaquille O'Neal went at each other pretty good on Tuesday in Orlando, with most of the verbal punches being thrown by Shaq. Howard refused to get into a war of words with O'Neal, which is probably wise considering it's an impossible battle to win. Meanwhile, Howard let his team's play do the talking, as they pulled away in the fourth to beat the Suns.
  
• 7. Rockets (39-22) | Prev.: 7
  Big game Wednesday night against Utah. If Houston wins, I still won't be convinced that it is a contender, however: remember the 22 in a row last season? Call me crazy, but until this current group gets out of the first round of the playoffs, I'm not buying it.
  
• 8. Hornets (37-22) | Prev.: 10
  The ownership group of the Hornets is nothing short of genius. After a season where New Orleans played mostly uninspired ball and hadn't looked as good as they were a season ago, they leaked information that they were trading Tyson Chandler for "financial reasons." Then, the trade was "rescinded," and since Chandler has returned, the team has won five straight. Crafty, man. Crafty.
  
• 9. Pistons (30-29) | Prev.: 20
  Is this ranking a little high for a team that's just a game over .500? Perhaps. But you can't tell me that Detroit doesn't look completely revitalized since Rip Hamilton returned to the starting lineup, and the way they took down the Celtics on Sunday shows that these guys might yet right the ship in time for the playoffs.
  
• 10. Nuggets (39-22) | Prev.: 8
  The latest Carmelo Anthony drama is completely unnecessary. Look, at this point, you know what you're getting from 'Melo: solid numbers, a lot of emotion, not a lot of leadership. Trade 'Melo or get rid of George Karl, but don't suspend him, because it's not going to do your team any good.
  

• 11. Blazers (37-22) | Prev.: 9
  Will Blazers fans finally admit that drafting Greg Oden over Kevin Durant was a mistake? Amidst rumors that Oden isn't all that interested in hurrying back to the court, and with Durant looking like a guaranteed All-Star for like the next 10 years, I think it's time.
  
• 12. Suns (34-26) | Prev.: 11
  Big win against the Lakers last Sunday, although one could argue that if Matt Barnes is going to go for 27 and 10 every night, this team might be unbeatable. This six-game stretch isn't going to determine whether or not the Suns make the playoffs, but it sure would be good for their psyche to beat some playoff quality opponents, especially on the road.
  
• 13. Heat (31-28) | Prev.: 13
  Dwyane Wade is the MVP! (*slams mic down on the stage, feedback echoes throughout the arena.)
  
• 14. Hawks (34-26) | Prev.: 12
  I don't know what to make of this team anymore. Are they coasting until the playoffs? Are they not as good as their record would indicate? You figure it out, I'm over it.
  
• 15. Mavericks (36-24) | Prev.: 14
  Mark Cuban blasts his team for a lack of effort in a loss to a Thunder team playing without Uncle Jeff and Durantula. Um, has Cuban not been paying attention until now? Dallas has six or seven humiliating blowout losses on the season.
  
• 16. Sixers (29-30) | Prev.: 16
  2-6 in their last eight, this is no time to start sliding as there are too many other equally average teams at the bottom of the East just waiting to sneak into the playoffs.
  
• 17. Bucks (29-34) | Prev.: 15
  Milwaukee Bucks: playoff team. If they do end up with the eight seed, I'm not sure if there's a term other than sweep that we can come up with to explain the obliteration these guys will suffer at the hands of either the Cavs or the Celtics in the first round.
  
• 18. Nets (27-33) | Prev.: 18
  Shouldn't this team be a lot better than six games under .500? In the East? With Devin Harris? And Vince Carter? And Brook Lopez? And Trenton Hassell? And Ryan Anderson? Oh. I just answered my own question(s).
  
• 19. Pacers (27-36) | Prev.: 22
  If you want to know why the Indiana Pacers are the nakedest team in all of the NBA, you're just going to have to listen to the FanHouse Podcast.
  
• 20. Bobcats (26-35) | Prev.: 23
  Hey, look at that. Four straight wins, and only one game back in the loss column from a playoff spot. Of course, there are really five teams in the same situation out East, but none of them have Gerald Wallace.

• 21. Raptors (23-39) | Prev.: 21
  Complaining about Shaq getting preferential treatment from the officials will get you nowhere, which unfortunately is where this team is headed this season.
  
• 22. Knicks (24-35) | Prev.: 19
  Like Charlotte, just one game back in the loss column from a playoff spot. Unlike Charlotte, surging in the wrong direction, losing 10 of their last 13 games.
  
• 23. Thunder (15-45) | Prev.: 26
  Just a likable young team. Oh, and they put the media through a real live practice, which makes the organization pretty likable as well.
  
• 24. Warriors (21-39) | Prev.: 24
  Don Nelson is officially tanking the rest of the season, under the guise of "hey, we're not going anywhere, I want to play my young guys." It's not surprising that this wouldn't sit well with someone like Jamal Crawford -- who actually wants to play -- and it's even less surprising that Nellie would basically flip a double tall man to the league office as he exploits the fact that there's really nothing they can do about it.
  
• 25. Timberwolves (18-42) | Prev.: 25
  It was fun while it lasted: the T'Wolves have lost seven in a row. Now we just need to make sure Al Jefferson and Kevin McHale both return for a full season in 2009-10, and we could have some exciting developments in Minnesota.
  
• 26. Grizzlies (15-44) | Prev.: 27
  Losers of eight straight, and it appears that O.J. Mayo has finally hit the dreaded rookie wall. Ugh.
  
• 27. Bulls (27-34) | Prev.: 17
  Not gonna lie, Chicago is not this bad. But they deserved this for allowing our newly elected President to be ridiculed after he went to see his hometown Bulls get rolled by the Washington F. Wizards.
  
• 28. Wizards (14-46) | Prev.: 29
  If only they could get Barack Obama to show up to every game, they might be title contenders.
  
• 29. Kings (13-43) | Prev.: 30
  Tom Ziller: After Tuesday's putrid home defeat to the Pacers without Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy, the Kings fell to 0-24 against the Eastern Conference. Yes, 24 games and no wins. Six more attempts to clear their name this season. Of course, none of this really matters considering the Kings find themselves in position to sweep the ...
  
• 30. Clippers (12-46) | Prev.: 28
  The Clippers are 0-3 against the Kings this season. The teams hook up April 10 in what will be a must-watch affair. Can we dub it the Baron Davis-Beno Udrih Suck-off? (TZ) Editor's note: I did not appreciate the visual that was created by that last sentence earlier this morning.
  
  
  

NBA Power Rankings: ¡Los Lakers Son Numero Uno! originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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?

• 1. Lakers (47-10) | Prev.: 1
  They've admittedly been letting teams hang around for too long lately, but hey, wins are wins. Pau Gasol's recent minute totals are troubling (averaging 42 per game over his last 10), but if Phil Jackson isn't worried about it, then neither am I.
  
• 2. Celtics (46-12) | Prev.: 3
  Boston has two more wins and one more loss than the Cavs, so I'm fine with ranking them here, despite Cleveland's current one seed in the East. Besides, the Celtics are 5-0 without Kevin Garnett this season, including the last two which featured Rajon Rondo's birthday party in Phoenix, followed by a thrashing of the Nene-less Nuggets in Denver.
  
• 3. Cavaliers (44-11) | Prev.: 4
  Delonte West returned from injury to score 20 points in his first game back, making the already scary Cavaliers that much scarier. West was inactive the following game because of soreness in the previously injured wrist, but with almost two months to get it ready for the playoffs, he should be fine.
  
• 4. Spurs (38-17) | Prev.: 2
  So Tim Duncan sits out with a sore knee, and Manu Ginobili is out with an ankle injury. But Tony Parker scores 37 points, and the Spurs kill the mavericks by 17 points anyway. Not bad, right? The Cavs come to town on Friday, which will be a better test of just how ready the Spurs are to contend for the title this season.
  
• 5. Jazz (34-23) | Prev.: 15
  We've been a little Jazz heavy this week, but with good reason. Utah is 8-1 in their last nine games, including wins over the Lakers, Celtics, and Hornets. With Carlos Boozer getting to work his way back into shape for the playoffs, there are plenty of reasons to fear the Jazz.
  
• 6. Magic (41-15) | Prev.: 5
  Orlando traded for Rafer Alston to help them out at the point guard spot, and so far, he's been just average. Orlando is 2-1 since adding him, and Alston is averaging over 10 points and six assists in those three games. Honestly, the jury's still out.
  
• 7. Rockets (36-21) | Prev.: 11
  Winners of five straight, looking like a much better team with Ron Artest in the starting lineup, and Tracy McGrady out of it.
  
• 8. Nuggets (37-20) | Prev.: 6
  Nene has been such a big part of what the Nuggets have done this season, that without him, Denver lost by 38 to the Celtics -- who didn't even have Kevin Garnett.
  
• 9. Blazers (35-21) | Prev.: 7
  Greg Oden is injured (still? again? what's the appropriate adverb?). And, not that the team has had the chance to rely on him too heavily or anything, but based on how the seedings in the West are likely to shake out, this team isn't making it out of the first round of the playoffs.
  
• 10. Hornets (33-22) | Prev.: 10
  The Tyson Chandler trade attempt was made for financial reasons, which obviously didn't sit well with Chris Paul. The trade was rescinded, Chandler returned, and all is well. Which is too bad, because I enjoyed watching Chris Paul play angry for a couple of games.

• 11. Suns (32-24) | Prev.: 12
  Look, Amare Stoudemire or no, the way this incarnation of the Suns plays defense, they're just not going to beat teams like the Celtics. But they are 4-1 now since Gentry took over, and if they continue to beat the teams they're supposed to beat, they should have no trouble sneaking into the playoffs.
  
• 12. Hawks (32-24) | Prev.: 9
  Josh Smith will not be suspended for this hit on Matt Harpring near the end of Atlanta's loss in Utah the other night. Because, you know, it was against Matt Harpring.
  
• 13. Heat (30-26) | Prev.: 13
  Dwyane Wade followed his career high 50-point effort against the Magic with a career high 16 assist performance against the Pistons. Scary team guy to have to face in the playoffs.
  
• 14. Mavericks (33-23) | Prev.: 8
  Dallas has too many ugly and embarrassing losses this season to be taken seriously, and it wouldn't surprise me if they're the team that Phoenix ends up passing for a playoff spot.
  
• 15. Bucks (28-31) | Prev.: 19
  Currently leading what will be the most interesting subplot for the remainder of the regular season: the battle for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
  
• 16. Sixers (27-28) | Prev.: 17
  Win four in a row, lose four in a row. That's pretty much the definition of a .500 team, isn't it?
  
• 17. Bulls (26-31) | Prev.: 18
  Lots of changes in Chicago after the trade deadline, and the way Tim Thomas and John Salmons contributed in a blowout win over the Magic, they appear to have been for the better.
  
• 18. Nets (25-32) | Prev.: 20
  It took an absolute miracle from Devin Harris for the Nets to avoid their sixth straight loss, so maybe you can't blame Brook Lopez for being a little loopy afterwards.
  
• 19. Knicks (24-32) | Prev.: 22
  Nice to see Nate Robinson carry the momentum from his dunk contest win into playing well in actual basketball games. Where there's, you know, defense and stuff.
  
• 20. Pistons (27-28) | Prev.: 14
  Seven straight losses, and under .500 for the first time since "Nineteen-Ninety-Teal." Michael Curry may have been put in an impossible situation, but it's clear at this point that he's not the one to fix it -- to everyone except Joe Dumars.

• 21. Raptors (23-36) | Prev.: 23
  Do not anger Chris Bosh: the T'Wolves led by as many as 16 in the second quarter on Tuesday, but after Brian Cardinal (seriously?) started talking after he fouled Bosh, CB finished with 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting -- and the Raptors completed a 24-point turnaround in winning the game by eight.
  
• 22. Pacers (24-35) | Prev.: 16
  With Mike Dunleavy about ready to shut it down for the year, the best 22-31 team we've seen in some time might be done as well. Now if only his father would do the same thing.
  
• 23. Bobcats (22-35) | Prev.: 21
  In the least surprising news of the season, Boris Diaw and Raja Bell went bonkers in their return to Phoenix. Wasn't enough to prevent the Suns from winning their fourth in five tries under their new head coach, but hey, it probably feels good to know that they were right all along.
  
• 24. Warriors (20-37) | Prev.: 24
  Leave it to the Warriors to provide the cure for what was ailing the Clippers. Guys, how about you play defense for one freaking possession of a game. Just to see how it feels? No? Oh well, I tried.
  
• 25. Timberwolves (18-38) | Prev.: 25
  You just don't give the Coach of the Year trophy to the man heading up an 18-38 team. But even now without Al Jefferson, the T'Wolves have somehow remained engaged and competitive -- Kevin McHale has done a helluva job this season.
  
• 26. Thunder (13-44) | Prev.: 26
  Kevin Durant is a bona fide scorer in this league, and will be for many years to come. But if you watch closely, he doesn't dominate in stretches or take games over the way Kobe or LeBron can. Yet -- it's only year two.
  
• 27. Grizzlies (15-41) | Prev.: 27
  Is the fun over this season? When your starting five manages just 54 points combined against the (admittedly awesome) Cavs, the team might have started to pack it in.
  
• 28. Clippers (14-43) | Prev.: 28
  Baron Davis's slump may have been attributed to his uncertainty around the trade deadline? I'll buy that for a dollar. Once Marcus Camby and Zach Randolph came back -- and the team had a fighting chance -- he was able to come one rebound shy of a triple double in a win over the Warriors.
  
• 29. Wizards (13-43) | Prev.: 29
  Hey Wizards fans, look! Gilbert Arenas is healthy again! Which means you'll have an entire offseason to get your hopes up that this team is somehow built to get out of the first round of the playoffs.
  
• 30. Kings (12-46) | Prev.: 30
  Yeah ... I got nothing.
  
  
  

NBA Power Rankings: Believe Your Eyes originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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?

• 1. Lakers (43-10) | Prev.: 1
  The team is officially in "countdown" mode, as in, counting down to the playoffs. They've proven all they need to in the regular season by sweeping the East's top two teams, and having the league's best record. Kobe only had 10 in a win over the Hawks, where his team led by as many as 25. As long as they stay healthy and Lamar Odom continues his rebounding tear, Bynum or not, these guys are well-equipped to head back to the Finals. (BP)
  
• 2. Spurs (35-17) | Prev.: 2
  I'm telling you right now, this Vince Carter talk is just Buford screwing with the masses. It's a wicked game he plays with the little people. This team is going to drop a few baffling ones, win a few impressive ones, and set themselves up for the Western Conference Finals. It's the same. Old Song. Just a different name... (Matt Moore)
  
• 3. Celtics (44-11) | Prev.: 3
  While still one of the top three teams in the league, they're definitely not as good as last year's championship squad. No James Posey, no P.J. Brown, and now, no Sam Cassell. Might they make a move to pick up some inexpensive veteran help to come off their bench for the playoff run? Time will tell. (BP)
  
• 4. Cavaliers (40-11) | Prev.: 4
  You can pencil this Cavaliers team into the second round of the playoffs without so much as blinking an eye. If the standings remain the same, the Magic will likely still be a very tough out, even without Jameer Nelson. Especially if Dwight Howard continues to focus more on playing basketball like Shaq circa 2000, and less on phone booths and forklifts. (BP)
  
• 5. Magic (39-13) | Prev.: 5
  It's really depressing how one injury took them from being a legitimate title contender with the ability to radically shake up a monumentally predictable playoff picture to the exact same thing they were last year. A good team that will definitely win in the first round, and most likely won't make it out of the second. Stupid shoulders. (MM)
  
• 6. Nuggets (36-17) | Prev.: 6
  The Nuggets might only go as far as J.R. Smith and Chris Andersen can take them. If that doesn't frighten you, nothing will. (Tom Ziller)
  
• 7. Blazers (32-20) | Prev.: 6
  Is it about this season for the Blazers? Portland can't compete with the Lakers, so everything should be building for the (near) future. First round home-court would be a good start. (TZ)
  
• 8. Mavericks (31-21) | Prev.: 8
  The only team with the rare combination of desperation and reckless abandon to consider trading for Shaquille O'Neal. I don't care how cool the Jabbawockeez thing was. (MM)
  
• 9. Hawks (31-22) | Prev.: 9
  No one knows what to make of them. They don't seem good, but they're much better than they were last year and they've beaten some good teams. They seem to have a good core, but there's something missing. Honestly, getting a read on them is very hard. Johnson's not playing well, and he's a huge part of their playoff chances. And all of this uncertainty is before you get to their ownership situation. (MM)
  
• 10. Hornets (31-20) | Prev.: 10
  With this team getting healthier and still in sixth place, they're in prime position to push for the top of the conference and reclaim their rightful place as heirs to the Wester... oh, what's that? The economy is tanking which provides Shinn a perfect excuse to dump salary and continue his notoriously frugal ways? Oh. Then we'll just have a bagel, a first round playoff exit, an angry betrayed superstar point guard and the check, then. Thanks. (MM)

• 11. Rockets (33-21) | Prev.: 11
  Great news! It looks like the Rockets will be flaming out of the first round against an entirely different team this year! Hooray! Contemplating replacing McGrady's firepower with Vince Carter is like taking the dead sloth out of your exhibit and replacing him with a chameleon. Sure, the animal's alive but it still looks like nothing's there. (MM)
  
• 12. Suns (29-23) | Prev.: 12
  Terry Porter out, Alvin Gentry in, Amare Soudemire now "80-20" (by his best guess) staying. Schedule is favorable for a coaching change with three games against two of the four worst teams in the league, but we'll find out Sunday just how much things have changed when the Celtics come to town. (BP)
  
• 13. Heat (28-24) | Prev.: 13
  Say hello to the team you don't want to meet in the playoffs. (MM)
  
• 14. Pistons (27-25) | Prev.: 14
  You heard it here first: the Piston's aren't making the playoffs this year. (Matt Watson)
  
• 15. Jazz (31-23) | Prev.: 15
  The Jazz might end up as a legit challenger to the Lakers, or the most depressing playoff team ever. And all of that depends on the fate of Carlos Boozer. (TZ)
  
• 16. Pacers (22-33) | Prev.: 16
  Playoffs? Mathematically, sure. Realistically? Not so much. (BP)
  
• 17. Sixers (27-25) | Prev.: 17
  Sixers' fans were worried that the All-Star break came at a bad time, considering the team was on a five-game winning streak and had won 14 of its last 18. They were right to be concerned, as the first game back was a blowout loss to the Pacers. (P.S. The team has played much better without Elton Brand all season than they ever did with him.) (BP)
  
• 18. Bulls (23-30) | Prev.: 18
  Now that Amare Stoudemire appears to be staying put, the latest rumors have the Bulls trying to pry Chris Bosh from Toronto. Good to see them working so hard; we'll see if John Paxson stays around long enough to see how it turns out. (BP)
  
• 19. Bucks (27-29) | Prev.: 19
  No Michael Redd. BUT: Ramon Sessions, Richard Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva, and three straight wins over the Rockets, Pacers, and Pistons. Could they possibly hold on to that playoff spot for 26 more games? (BP)
  
• 20. Nets (24-30) | Prev.: 20
  Just one game out of the playoff race in the loss column, and we're thinking about dealing Vince Carter? To the Spurs, maybe? Tim Duncan would be as surprised as anyone. Thanks, economy! (BP)

• 21. Bobcats (21-32) | Prev.: 21
  A bad team that does good things. (MM)
  
• 22. Knicks (22-31) | Prev.: 22
  I love All-Star weekend as much as the next person (maybe more). Can we stop associating players forever with a costume they dressed up in for one freaking night though? Unless "Krypto-Nate" single-handedly carries the Knicks to the playoffs, I'm over it. (BP)
  
• 23. Raptors (21-34) | Prev.: 23
  I know the Bulls have turned their sights to Chris Bosh now that Amare appears to be staying put. But there's no way the Raptors trade him after just acquiring Shawn Marion. Um, right? (BP)
  
• 24. Warriors (19-35) | Prev.: 24
  I'm not saying that players goofing off in practice is why the team is where they are, but it certainly isn't helping. (BP)
  
• 25. Timberwolves (17-35) | Prev.: 25
  Should the Timberwolves even exist with Al Jefferson on the shelf? This isn't to call Minnesota an automatic bye for teams, but the identity has been wholly removed. No offense to Randy Foye or Kevin Love, but this roster now has the same character as any random D-League team. (TZ)
  
• 26. Thunder (13-41) | Prev.: 26
  Having Kevin Durant has saved the Thunder from being completely ignored and bludgeoning by a mostly hostile NBA public this season. K.D. is truly priceless. (TZ)
  
• 27. Grizzlies (15-38) | Prev.: 27
  Probably not going to hit 25 wins, which is bad, but they've put up a fight and hung in almost all their games. For snobbish fans that means nothing, but when you're trying to build your way back up from nothing, it means a lot. (MM)
  
• 28. Clippers (13-41) | Prev.: 28
  Zach Randolph showed Tuesday night in Phoenix why, despite being capable of 25 and 10 almost every night, he's not someone you want on your team. The injury excuse wears a little thin when you see an unprovoked assault from one of your big acquisitions and then lose by 40. (BP)
  
• 29. Wizards (12-42) | Prev.: 29
  The refusal to detonate this team is maddening. What further proof do we need that the Gods simply do not want this nucleus to play together? Lightning to strike Caron Butler's straw? The earth to swallow Antawn Jamison? I'm not sure if I admire Pollin and Grunfeld for their persistence or pity them for thir stubbornness. Something must change. (MM)
  
• 30. Kings (11-43) | Prev.: 30
  Sam Cassell, from cheerleader semi-assistant coach for the Celtics, to sitting at the end of the bench in Sacramento. Life can be cruel sometimes. (BP)
  
  
  

Power Rankings: Second-Half Preview originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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?

• 1. Lakers (42-9) | Prev.: 2
  The hottest team in the league right now with seven straight wins, including two on the road in Boston and Cleveland. One more to go Wednesday night in Utah before the All-Star break will attempt to slow these guys down. (BP)
  
• 2. Spurs (35-15) | Prev.: 5
  If you would have told me before the season that Matt Bonner and Roger Mason would be the reasons the Spurs beat the Celtics in Boston, I would have called you crazy. Not a terrible loss for Boston considering it was basically their third game in three and a half days, but a good win for the Spurs nonetheless. (BP)
  
• 3. Celtics (42-11) | Prev.: 1
  They've locked up the best record in the East for the first half, but is their trademark D slipping? Their last five opponents have averaged 103 points. (Matt Watson)
  
• 4. Cavaliers (39-11) | Prev.: 3
  Hey, nice job elevating your game to the level of champions, LeBron. That one home loss looks a lot more damaging when it's from the best team in the league putting the brooms to you. (Matt Moore)
  
• 5. Magic (38-12) | Prev.: 4
  Well, hey, Tyronn Lue and Anthony Johnson are almost as good as Jameer Nelson. At checkers, maybe. Goodbye, semifinal round homecourt ...(MM)
  
• 6. Nuggets (35-17) | Prev.: 7
  Carmelo's back, and the team has won five of its last six. Good test for them Wednesday night in Orlando before J.R. Smith heads to Phoenix to infuse some serious talent into this year's Dunk Contest. (BP)
  
• 7. Blazers (31-19) | Prev.: 6
  Brandon Roy's game-winning layup against the Knicks was fantastic, but it might have been more of a gift from Mike D'Antoni than anything else: New York had a foul to give, but D'Antoni wasn't aware and didn't let his team know about it before Roy's clutch shot. (BP)
  
• 8. Mavericks (31-20) | Prev.: 9
  Playing a bit better recently, and promise to do their best to avoid trailing by 27 at the half when they host the Celtics on Thursday. (BP)
  
• 9. Hawks (30-21) | Prev.: 12
  Joe Johnson's grumpy. Mo Evans doesn't think the team tries hard enough. Malcontentment abounds. And the Hawks are eight games above .500! A team definitely searching for the next gear. (MM)
  
• 10. Hornets (30-19) | Prev.: 10
  David West blows (pictured below). How else do you explain this? (BP)

• 11. Rockets (31-21) | Prev.: 8
  Injuries and lack of jumping ability aside, this Rockets team is supposed to be built on defense. It sure didn't look like it in a loss to the Bucks, when they let three different players each go for 25-plus. (BP)
  
• 12. Suns (28-22) | Prev.: 11
  Sadly, the Amare Stoudemire era appears to be coming to an end in Phoenix. With Sarver personally involved now, it should be clear that Stoudemire is largely being scapegoated for the team's up and down season, and that the move to trade him is really all about the money for the team's owner. (BP)
  
• 13. Heat (27-24) | Prev.: 13
  Miami has the worst road record of any team in the East playoff seedings not named Milwaukee. Must be the adverse weather conditions. (MM)
  
• 14. Pistons (27-23) | Prev.: 14 I'd say they should supplant the auto industry in Detroit with nuclear power, but with the way the Pistons are going, Rodney Stuckey would be growing a third eye in six months. (MM)
  
• 15. Jazz (29-23) | Prev.: 15
  Looked good winning three straight before the disappointing loss to Golden State. It's actually pretty amazing that they're still in the playoff chase, considering the fact that they've been shuffling injured players in and out of the lineup basically all season long. (BP)
  
• 16. Pacers (21-32) | Prev.: 22
  Granger talks about shutting it down, then drops 30. Gotta take the overwhelmingly bad with the moderately good, I guess. (MM)
  
• 17. Sixers (26-24) | Prev.: 17
  Wasn't Elton Brand's injury supposed to sink this team? Don't look now but the Sixers are two games over .500 for the first time all season -- and their only losses in the last seven games are a one-point heartbreaker to Boston and a two-point loss to the Nets. (MW)
  
• 18. Bulls (23-29) | Prev.: 16
  (MAGIC 8 BALL SAYS: CHECK BACK AFTER TRADE DEADLINE) (MM)
  
• 19. Bucks (25-29) | Prev.: 20
  Ramon Sessions is neato super spiffy. And stuff. (MM)
  
• 20. Nets (24-29) | Prev.: 19
  Their inconsistency might cost them a playoff spot -- unless the Mavericks can bail them out with another lopsided traded. Mark Cuban's ranking system says Jarvis Hayes is one of the top 20 players in the league -- maybe the Nets can swing a deal for Josh Howard? (MW)

• 21. Bobcats (20-31) | Prev.: 21
  Three and a half back of the eighth spot, and keeping their head above water while Wallace heals. Plus, now they have a space cadet. Whatever that's good for. (MM)
  
• 22. Knicks (21-30) | Prev.: 18
  A five-game losing streak isn't doing much for their playoff chances, but fantasy owners across the land have built shrines in honor of Mike D'Antoni. (MW)
  
• 23. Raptors (20-34) | Prev.: 23
  We know things are bad in Toronto, but all this chatter about Chris Bosh being available is just crazy. How is trading your best player going to improve the future? (MW)
  
• 24. Warriors (18-35) | Prev.: 25
  When a Don Nelson team gets to play a Mike D'Antoni team, Nellie looks like a genius. The rest of the time? Not so much. (BP)
  
• 25. Timberwolves (17-34) | Prev.: 24
  Just. Sad. (BP)
  
• 26. Thunder (13-39) | Prev.: 26
  Kevin Durant has been great this season, sure. But does he have any go-to trick shots? We'll find out on All-Star Saturday, as KD will be one of the chosen three to play a little H-O-R-S-E. (BP)
  
• 27. Grizzlies (15-36) | Prev.: 27
  It doesn't matter that the win over the Hornets came with David West and Chris Paul sidelined: O.J. Mayo's line of 22 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists was still pretty dang impressive. (BP)
  
• 28. Clippers (12-40) | Prev.: 28
  Averaged over 123 points per game in their two wins over Memphis and Atlanta; managed just 73 points in their last game against the Bobcats -- a loss. It would seem to me that the way to beat the Clippers is to keep them from scoring too many points. Don't worry, NBA head coaches: you can thank me later. (BP)
  
• 29. Wizards (11-41) | Prev.: 29
  Caron Butler gave them the highlight of their season this week. As it is currently February, that's kind of sad in and of itself. (MM)
  
• 30. Kings (11-42) | Prev.: 30
  Still the worst, and it's still not close. (BP)
  
  
  

NBA Power Rankings: Lakers Kick it Up a Notch, Reclaim Top Spot originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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?

• 30. Kings (11-39) | Prev.: 28
  "Why the Kings Are Just the Worst"
  By Thomas Ziller
  
  Did you see that score Monday?! The reeling Suns, a team that had 13 meetings over the weekend, a collection of players and a coach that spent a half-dozen shooting stars on wishes for basketball armageddon -- they destroyed the Kings to the tune of a 48-point beatdown. The margin was 50 for a while. It probably wasn't that close. Amare Stoudemire played 27 minutes. During that time, the Suns outscored the Kings by 49 points. 49 points in 27 minutes! The worst thing about all of this nonsense is that it came across the necks of the Kings we actually like and hope to watch post-deadline. Brad Miller sat out, Mikki Moore barely played, Beno Udrih got yanked early. The Suns did this to our future core, which is like going back to the day after the 2007 draft and forcing Kevin Durant and Jeff Green to stand under the rim and get dunked on time after time after time. They can't do anything about it, so just wait. But then that's Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson on the floor right now. So we'll go on just waiting ... waiting ... waiting ...
  
  I hate the NBA,
  Th. Ziller
  
• 1. Celtics (41-9) | Prev.: 1
  Thanks to Ray Allen Tuesday in Philly, they've done it: Boston has a 12-game winning streak, and they'll put it on the line Thursday at home against the Lakers. Both teams have built-in excuses if things don't go their way -- the Lakers are without Bynum, and KG has been out with the flu. But since this isn't Game 6 of the Finals, it should be competitive nonetheless. (BP)
  
• 2. Lakers (38-9) | Prev.: 4
  Ah, memories. The last time the Lakers played in Boston, they lost by 39 points and watched the Celtics win the title. The last time the teams played each other, the Lakers beat the Celtics on Christmas Day. Something's gotta give on Thursday, and if I had to make a prediction, it's this: Kobe isn't going for 61 in Boston. (BP)
  
• 3. Cavaliers (38-9) | Prev.: 2
  Mo Williams may get his All-Star wish now that Jameer Nelson is out for the season, but does he deserve it? Just because the Cavs have one of the league's best records doesn't make it so. (BP)
  
• 4. Magic (36-11) | Prev.: 3
  Anybody check to make sure Mo Williams wasn't fussing with Jameer Nelson's shoulder ointment lately? Anybody? (Matt Moore)
  
• 5. Spurs (33-15) | Prev.: 6
  They don't feel like a title contender, but then, how many times have we said that in February only to find them with champagne in hand come June? Ginobili is (almost) back to full health, and they haven't ruled out a trade. (MM)
  
• 6. Blazers (30-17) | Prev.: 9
  Winners of five straight, including a huge comeback win in New Orleans once Chris Paul left with an injury. It's those types of victories that will pay huge dividends for this young team come playoff time. (BP)
  
• 7. Nuggets (32-16) | Prev.: 5
  I'm thinking that Nene's improvement (along with the addition of Chauncey) could make the difference this season, and the Nuggets may finally make it out of the first round of the playoffs. Oh, and the entire team should go by first names only. (BP)
  
• 8. Rockets (30-19) | Prev.: 8
  Tracy McGrady proclaims "I'm back." Subsequently sprains ankle in practice. Hilarity ensues. (MM)
  
• 9. Mavericks (28-19) | Prev.: 16
  Can't trade the pieces they want to trade, and won't trade the pieces they need to trade. Apparently an extra two and a half weeks worth of work seems like enough this season. (MM)
  
• 10. Hornets (28-17) | Prev.: 7
  This is like some sort of deranged science experiment. "Let's take the shallowest team in the league and then remove their All-Star, MVP-candidate, do-it-all point guard with a groin injury! Now let's watch!" (MM)

• 11. Suns (26-20) | Prev.: 10
  Shaq said he wanted his team to "man-up" and they did: by thrashing the Kings by almost 50 points the next game. The next two -- a delayed home and home with Golden State -- will likely be a better gauge of whether or not the team has truly righted itself. (BP)
  
• 12. Hawks (27-20) | Prev.: 14
  Horford gets back, Joe Johnson starting to wake up, and still seven games over .500. That bad stretch could have gone much, much worse (jinx). (MM)
  
• 13. Heat (26-21) | Prev.: 13
  Kobe may be the Black Mamba, but right now the Heat is the team hidden in the weeds, slithering up to some team's playoff ankle. (MM)
  
• 14. Pistons (25-21) | Prev.: 18 Consecutive games against the Celtics and Cavaliers mean consecutive losses for most teams, so there's no shame in that. Dropping a home contest Wednesday to a plucky Heat team however, might be cause for concern. (BP)
  
• 15. Jazz (27-22) | Prev.: 15
  Beat the Bobcats without Deron Williams and (still) Carlos Boozer. That's not as likely of a scenario for the Jazz if they're without those guys Thursday against the Mavericks. (BP)
  
• 16. Bulls (21-28) | Prev.: 24
  After they were called out for being terrible by Jerry Reinsdorf, went on a nice little three-game winning streak, and almost singlehandedly destroyed the Suns. Came back down to earth a bit with a loss in Houston, but with Luol Deng starting to pick it up, improvement should continue. (BP)
  
• 17. Sixers (23-24) | Prev.: 12
  With it looking like Elton Brand might shut it down for the season, it's going to be a struggle to stay in the playoff hunt. Then again, they've been doing it without him all season. (BP)
  
• 18. Knicks (21-26) | Prev.: 20
  Nice enough to let Kobe go bonkers on Monday night, and nice guys might finish last this season -- in the Eastern Conference playoff race. With the Bucks likely out of it with Redd's injury, New York has to like its chances. (BP)
  
• 19. Nets (22-27) | Prev.: 21
  Always good to find out God hates you in the middle of a Milwaukee winter. Fun. (MM)
  
• 20. Bucks (24-28) | Prev.: 19
  Surprised Toronto and Atlanta with victories after losing Michael Redd, but everyone will likely be ready for the Charlie Villanueva show from now on, much like the Nets were on Tuesday. (BP)

• 21. Bobcats (19-29) | Prev.: 17
  Is it safe to say that the Lakers win was their biggest in franchise history? Not just a fluke but a fundamentally sound team rising to the occasion to beat a juggernaut on an off night? Hope they enjoyed it, without Crash they're back to Disaster. (MM)
  
• 22. Pacers (19-30) | Prev.: 22
  Best thing they've got going for them right now (besides Danny Granger's All-Star selection) is Mike Dunleavy's 'stache. (BP)
  
• 23. Raptors (19-31) | Prev.: 23
  CHRIS BOSH WILL NOT BE A RAP-TOR IN 2010! (Dead horse, beaten.) (BP)
  
• 24. Timberwolves (17-30) | Prev.: 11
  After losing three straight to the Pistons, Lakers, and Celtics, put up a 38-point fourth quarter in Indiana to come back and get the win. That was encouraging. (BP)
  
• 25. Warriors (15-34) | Prev.: 25
  Golden State of Mind, summing up their thoughts on Monta Ellis' late game injury against the Spurs: "NOOOOOOOO!!!! It's a cramp. It's a cramp. It's a cramp. Please tell me it's a cramp. Please tell me it's a cramp. SOMEONE GET HIM A G-D DAMN BANANA!!!" (BP)
  
• 26. Thunder (17-37) | Prev.: 26
  If the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge were the NBA All-Star game, the Thunder would be feeling pretty good about themselves having three players in. But since it isn't, they'll have to be satisfied that the whole "building for the future" thing seems to be working out. (BP)
  
• 27. Grizzlies (12-35) | Prev.: 30
  Hollins finally gets a win and breaks the losing streak. Darko's coming back, and maybe, just maybe, the team is realizing that OJ needs the ball more than Gay. Things are looking up again in Memphis. Until the next 12 game losing streak. (MM)
  
• 28. Clippers (10-38) | Prev.: 29
  Baron Davis, Marcus Camby, and Zach Randolph are all (mercifully) back on the court for the Clippers. Unfortunately, Randolph is the only one that looks like he's actually ready to be there. (BP)
  
• 29. Wizards (10-38) | Prev.: 27
  What's the title of the theme to M*A*S*H* again? (MM)
  

NBA Power Rankings: Kings Crowned originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• 1. Celtics (37-9) | Prev.: 3
  Winners of eight straight, and there's a good possibility that streak could reach 12 by the time the Lakers come to town on February 5th. And we all remember what happened the last time the Celtics had a long winning streak going when they played the Lakers. (BP)
  
• 2. Cavaliers (35-8) | Prev.: 4
  Mo Williams? Really? The injuries were supposed to slow them down! Nothing can stop them! Nothing! Run for your lives (unless you're the Lakers)! (Matt Moore)
  
• 3. Magic (34-10) | Prev.: 1
  Fell from the top spot after losing a little too easily to the Celtics (and then to the Heat), but looked to be back on track Tuesday night against the Pacers. Just like last week though, there's a rather large game on the horizon Thursday, this time against Mo Williams and the Cavs. (BP)
  
• 4. Lakers (35-9) | Prev.: 2
  Can't beat the Bobcats no matter who's on the roster, but seem to be doing just fine against everyone else. If Bynum ends up getting suspended for the flagrant on Gerald Wallace, L.A. will struggle against Al Jefferson's T'Wolves -- promise. (BP)
  
• 5. Nuggets (30-15) | Prev.: 7
  I'll say it. I'm sorry George Karl. We doubted you. And you have avenged yourself with the fury of a thousand Balkmans. Fair play. (MM)
  
• 6. Spurs (30-14) | Prev.: 5
  Manu Ginobili has lost a step. He's still four steps ahead of the rest of the league. But still. (MM)
  
• 7. Hornets (27-14) | Prev.: 8
  That ceiling keeps getting further and further from sight. (MM)
  
• 8. Rockets (28-18) | Prev.: 6
  The Rockets training staff and the Hornets training staff should get together and go bowling. And bring band-aids and guaze, because God knows they can't PREVENT any injuries. (MM)
  
• 9. Blazers (27-17) | Prev.: 10
  So that Oden kid's turning things around, they've won seven of their last ten, and Rudy's in the Dunk Contest. All in all, things are going pretty well for the Blazers, Miles or no Miles. (MM)
  
• 10. Suns (25-18) | Prev.: 14
  After a rough start to the six-game road trip where they were crushed by the Celtics and Bobcats, rebounded nicely to beat the Hawks and did what they were supposed to in Washington. Disaster averted -- for now. (BP)

• 11. Timberwolves (16-27) | Prev.: 17
  Quick! Name the only teams to go 8-2 in their last ten. Boston? Right. Cleveland? Check. Philly? Little strange, but to be expected. Minnesota? What in blue blazes? You better hope this is the real Kevin McHale, 'Sota fans. Because he's earning his way into being kept around. (MM)
  
• 12. Sixers (21-22) | Prev.: 16
  Also winners in eight of their last 10, and Elton Brand is finally back on the court working his way into the rotation. (BP)
  
• 13. Heat (24-19) | Prev.: 13
  If they actually gave the MVP award to someone that wasn't on one of the top three or four teams in the league, Dwyane Wade would be a lock for it this season. (BP)
  
• 14. Hawks (26-18) | Prev.: 9 Went over thirteen minutes without a field goal in their last loss, and despite a solid overall record, things aren't going so well here lately. Come on back any time now, Al Horford. (BP)
  
• 15. Jazz (25-21) | Prev.: 11
  It's not that they don't have shooters. They have tons of shooters. It's not that they don't have rebounders. They have a few great rebounders. It's not that they don't have excuses. They've been injured a ton. But it is that outside of Deron Williams, they don't have playmakers. When they need plays, not just buckets, they struggle. (MM)
  
• 16. Mavericks (25-19) | Prev.: 15
  "We are pleased to announce the acquisition of Jason Kidd" is the new "Misson: Accomplished!" (MM)
  
• 17. Bobcats (19-26) | Prev.: 21
  So, who got the better of that trade now? These guys laid the wood to the Suns, and continued their ownage of the Lakers thanks to an almost triple double from Boris Diaw. (BP)
  
• 18. Pistons (24-19) | Prev.: 12
  You know that countdown clock sound from '24'? That should pretty much be played as an overdub for the entire Pistons season. (MM)
  
• 19. Bucks (22-26) | Prev.: 18
  Always good to find out God hates you in the middle of a Milwaukee winter. Fun. (MM)
  
• 20. Knicks (19-25) | Prev.: 22
  Winners in four of their last five, including solid ones over the Suns and the Rockets. Anyone else think those hugs between Nash and D'Antoni go on a little too long? 2010 is right around the corner, you know. (BP)

• 21. Nets (20-25) | Prev.: 19
  Something is terribly wrong here. How Devin Harris and Vince Carter can combine to shoot 6-29 against the Oklahoma City Thunder is somewhat mind-boggling. (BP)
  
• 22. Pacers (17-28) | Prev.: 23
  Flip a coin. There, you've just discovered the best way for predicting if the Pacers will show up. Buy yourself a Sno-Cone with that quarter. (MM)
  
• 23. Raptors (18-28) | Prev.: 24
  After dropping seven straight, winning two in a row is an accomplishment. Even if the two games were against the Bulls and the Kings. (BP)
  
• 24. Bulls (18-27) | Prev.: 20
  Vinny Del Negro- Least Valuable Coach. (MM)
  
• 25. Warriors (14-31) | Prev.: 25
  Monta Ellis is back, but I bet everyone wishes Rick Barry would have kept his pie hole shut until after the Cavs came to town. (BP)
  
• 26. Thunder (10-35) | Prev.: 29
  This team is going to keep improving right until the trade deadline when they scrap everything for long-term pieces. Then they'll plunge again. But they are fun to watch all of a sudden. (MM)
  
• 27. Wizards (9-35) | Prev.: 27
  Is Caron Butler an All-Star? He has virtually the same numbers as he did when he was selected to the squad last season, but nobody's mentioning him as a candidate. (BP)
  
• 28. Kings (10-36) | Prev.: 28
  Anyone see Kevin Martin's 35-7-7 against the Cavs? Anyone? ... *crickets* ... *sigh.* (BP)
  
• 29. Clippers (10-34) | Prev.: 30
  Baron Davis is "probable" tonight against the Bulls. You know what else is probable? That the Clippers will start to win a few games once he gets back into game shape. Maybe. (BP)
  
• 30. Grizzlies (11-33) | Prev.: 26
  It must be nice to have a professional basketball team to use as your own personal pawn shop. (MM)
  

NBA Power Rankings: Celtics Are Back originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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?

• 1. Magic (33-8) | Prev.: 3
  Who knew that the cheap extension signed by Jameer Nelson would be Orlando's biggest moment during the Summer of Shard? Among all the league's point guards but Chris Paul, Nelson might offer the best production per dollar. But Rashard Lewis is valuable too, and the work Stan Van Gundy has done to get the most out of the Magic's talent is remarkable. (Tom Ziller)
  
• 2. Lakers (32-8) | Prev.: 1
  Edged by the Spurs, beaten by the Magic, destroy LeBron without two starters at home. You can't call it a good week, you can't call it a bad week, but you can say these guys can beat anyone in the league. And that they are mortal. (Matt Moore)
  
• 3. Celtics (34-9) | Prev.: 4
  It must be nice to weather a slump, then respond with five consecutive wins and find yourself 13 games in front of your division. Easy like Sunday Morning. (MM)
  
• 4. Cavaliers (31-8) | Prev.: 2
  Dealing with injuries to Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Delonte West, the offense just doesn't look the same right now -- and it certainly didn't the other night in L.A. Unless LeBron goes nuts, Cleveland could easily drop three of its next five: road tilts at Portland, Utah, and Orlando. (BP)
  
• 5. Spurs (28-13) | Prev.: 5
  As I said in Lines (and out loud to my television as they were beating the Lakers), when Manu Ginobili is dropping more points than he's playing minutes, no one's going to beat these guys. (BP)
  
• 6. Rockets (26-16) | Prev.: 14
  Without Tracy McGrady and Ron Artest, only loss in their last four was a close one to the Lakers. Will the trend continue tonight against the Jazz? Who knows, but I'm telling you, once these guys get healthy ... (BP)
  
• 7. Nuggets (28-15) | Prev.: 7
  Still hanging around without Carmelo Anthony, thanks mostly to Billups and Nene. Close win over Phoenix, and understandable losses to the Magic and Rockets. (BP)
  
• 8. Hornets (25-13) | Prev.: 8
  After the team's loss to the Cavs, Byron Scott said he wasn't going to lose sleep over his team not giving maximum effort every night. His guys responded to the Magic Johnson school of coaching (just play harder!) by getting two straight wins over Detroit and Indiana. (BP)
  
• 9. Hawks (25-16) | Prev.: 13
  Mike Bibby is still good for an explosion now and then, but the Hawks really need Al Horford back to get the squad back in a flow for the stretch run. Historically, Rick Sund has been active enough at the deadline (Ray Allen-to-Seattle in '02-03 stands out). Atlanta could use some offensive depth at all positions. (TZ)
  
• 10. Blazers (25-16) | Prev.: 10
  Win, lose, win, lose, win. At least Oden's career high 24 and 15 in the team's last outing was encouraging; let's see if he can repeat the feat against a Z-less Cavs team this evening. (BP)

• 11. Jazz (25-17) | Prev.: 11
  Trade Carlos Boozer? If Paul Millsap keeps doing his thing, every GM in the league is going to know that Utah wants to deal him, and Boozer's value -- even though he's a bona fide All-Star -- will plummet. (BP)
  
• 12. Pistons (23-17) | Prev.: 6
  After dropping five straight before Allen Iverson's 27 points helped them get a win in Memphis, Michael Curry finally makes the decision to stop with the small ball and bring Rip Hamilton off the bench. I wasn't sure if Curry was in over his head before the season started, but I am now. (BP)
  
• 13. Heat (22-18) | Prev.: 12
  Shawn Marion has been in the middle of trade rumors eight months out of the year ever since 2005-06. But his recent comments make him seem more perturbed than usual; Pat Riley needs to find his deal and get on with it so Dwyane Wade knows what the team is playing for. (TZ)
  
• 14. Suns (23-16) | Prev.: 9 For every solid win over a lower-seed playoff team, there's a collapse against a lottery team and a demolishing by a top-seed. Amare Stoudemire has become a Black Dwarf, and there are a lot of questions about which direction this team is headed. Good thing they have D'Antoni to pin all their problems on. (MM)
  
• 15. Mavericks (24-17) | Prev.: 15
  Dirk's averaging almost 32 per game over the team's last four, but only two of those were victories. This team likely won't have the same makeup by the time the trade deadline has come and gone, with Josh Howard being Dallas' most attractive, tradeable asset. (BP)
  
• 16. Sixers (20-21) | Prev.: 18
  Nice of them to spot the rest of the East a two month head start. Iguodala playing up to speed, defense improving, now the question is if Brand can get integrated. (MM)
  
• 17. Timberwolves (13-27) | Prev.: 24
  How about a hand for Kevin McHale, everybody? A month ago this team had lost 13 straight and was a complete disaster. Now, they're playing with confidence and have won eight of their last 11. McHale will be in the Coach of the Year discussion if this continues, which is really just insane. (BP)
  
• 18. Bucks (20-24) | Prev.: 16
  Joe Alexander loses out to Rudy Fernandez in the dunk contest vote, and the Bucks lose to the Blazers by 17. Coincidence? I think not. (BP)
  
• 19. Nets (19-22) | Prev.: 17
  Devin Harris is finding the honeymoon to be over, as he and Carter got benched. Carter at least has responded quietly and gone back to work. Harris needs to get back to being the Tiger he's been if the Nets are going to stem the bleeding. (MM)
  
• 20. Bulls (18-25) | Prev.: 20
  Have dropped three in a row since beating the Cavs. Oh, and if Derrick Rose is really, without question, the Rookie of the Year, he might want to put up more than 13 points and four assists in 32 minutes against Mike Bibby. I'm just saying. (BP)

• 21. Bobcats (16-25) | Prev.: 21
  I would really feel a whole lot better about the Bobcats if Larry Brown and Michael Jordan weren't stepping on Rod Higgins. While that's all just perception (that Higgins is get yanked around by the big personalities around him) the Carroll-for-Diop swap coupled with Gerald Wallace's now eternal presence on HoopsHype shines a bright, bright light on L.B. (TZ)
  
• 22. Knicks (16-24) | Prev.: 22
  They went from a high-expectations team that annually bottomed out into massive failure with little hope for the future into a cap-light squad that's overachieving and while is nowhere near the playoffs, at least has made things interesting. There's nothing but blue skies ahead over MSG. (MM)
  
• 23. Pacers (15-27) | Prev.: 23
  Danny Granger had averaged almost 32 points per game over his last nine, before he managed just 17 against the Spurs. Not surprisingly, the Pacers lost by 17. Sometimes, math is easy. (BP)
  
• 24. Raptors (16-27) | Prev.: 19
  Ye Gods. Colangelo all of a sudden has people questioning if he's really that good, they're pinning their hopes on Miami being dumb enough to take Jermaine O'Neal, and they have random people trying to take game winners. Well, that run of relevance was nice while it lasted, Canada. (MM)
  
• 25. Warriors (13-29) | Prev.: 26
  Monta Ellis is coming back. They have a lot of young talent. They have some decent scorers. Now if only they could get a coach who doesn't hate all of them. (MM)
  
• 26. Grizzlies (11-29) | Prev.: 25
  Two wins in their last 16 games -- what else would you like me to say? (BP)
  
• 27. Wizards (8-32) | Prev.: 27
  Unless the Wizards end up with Blake Griffin or Gilbert Arenas comes back soon and lights the world ablaze, Washington might be at the bottom of a lot of preseason 2009-10 power rankings. That's unfair, because Brendan Haywood means a lot, too. But what a fall Washington has suffered. (TZ)
  
• 28. Kings (10-32) | Prev.: 28
  Thankful that they have the Clippers to break their fall. (MM)
  
• 29. Thunder (8-34) | Prev.: 29
  Winners in three of their last five, including solid ones over the Jazz and Pistons. Could this be the start of something big? (BP)
  
• 30. Clippers (9-31) | Prev.: 30
  Hope is lost. (MM)
  

NBA Power Rankings: Uh-Oh, It's Magic originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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?

• 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)
  

NBA Power Rankings: Kobe and LeBron Will Settle It on the Court originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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?

• 1. Lakers (27-6) | Prev.: 1
  What, just because they lost to a solid Hornets team you expected a drop from the top spot? Not with Cleveland losing to the Wizards and the Celtics in a free fall. But if Lamar Odom's knee injury keeps him out for any length of time, the Lakers' upcoming schedule will drop them soon enough. (BP)
  
• 2. Cavaliers (27-6) | Prev.: 2
  Don't look now, but the Cavs have overtaken the Celtics for best record in the East. Can they keep it up with Big Z on the shelf for the net four weeks? (Matt Watson)
  
• 3. Hornets (21-10) | Prev.: 13
  The timing of them finding their ceiling is a pretty delicate matter. If they hit in February, it's too early, if they hit in April, it might be too late due to homecourt advantage. One thing I can tell you is that David West has rediscovered how to play basketball. The storm clouds are gathering. (Matt Moore)
  
• 4. Spurs (23-11) | Prev.: 4
  I keep waiting for them to run out of ridiculous strokes of good fortune. Then you see things like the ball bouncing directly to Tony Parker in the Philadelphia game with a second left and you realize Pop's got a few more rabbit feet in his pockets. (MM)
  
• 5. Magic (27--8) | Prev.: 7
  Dwight Howard had his biggest game of the year in Toronto, putting up 39 points and grabbing eight rebounds ... and his team lost to the Raptors in spite of it. (BP)
  
• 6. Pistons (21-11) | Prev.: 4
  How far has Rodney Stuckey come this year? If he opened the season in the starting lineup, he'd be an All-Star this year. Believe it. (MW)
  
• 7. Hawks (22-11) | Prev.: 4
  Only loss in their last eight was on that 35-foot three-pointer from Vince Carter, at the buzzer, in overtime, on the road. I think they can deal with that. (BP)
  
• 8. Celtics (29-7) | Prev.: 3
  This is that scene in the movie where the invincible villain discovers he's mortal and is bleeding from the mouth. (MM)
  
• 9. Mavericks (21-13) | Prev.: 10
  Apparently, Memphis on a Saturday night is extremely detrimental to a visiting NBA team. How else do you explain a 20-point loss to the Grizzlies? (BP)
  
• 10. Suns (19-12) | Prev.: 8
  Played just a single game in the past week, and it was at home against the undermanned (understatement) Clippers. I'd say idle hands and all that, but the J-Rich thing actually went down before Christmas. (BP)

• 11. Nuggets (24-12) | Prev.: 12
  Missing Carmelo Anthony for three weeks will not only hurt -- it's going to make Linas Kleiza a lot more expensive this summer. (TZ)
  
• 12. Blazers (20-14) | Prev.: 9
  Smoke this, smoke that -- just know there's no way we get through a full season without some tinkering from Kevin Pritchard. Last trade deadline saw only minor activity, but all these underused assets pray for salvation by trade, and no GM is more active. (TZ)
  
• 13. Rockets (21-15) | Prev.: 11
  There once was a man named McGrady. Who's immune system was certainly shady. He couldn't get well, and the playoffs were hell, so the media all piled on him and Ron Artest started pointing fingers and the fans turned on him and life just kind of sucked. What? Even a limerick about McGrady can't end right. (MM)
  
• 14. Heat (18-15) | Prev.: 14
  Begin a seven-game roadie tonight in Denver (on ESPN, no less). Could return with a record under .500, or with a swagger that carries them the rest of the season. You know, either way. (BP)
  
• 15. Jazz (20-15) | Prev.: 15
  Paul Millsap's a hero, but without Carlos Boozer the Jazz can't approach the domination we've seen the last two seasons. Even then, it's hard to imagine Utah challenging a Lakers team that whomped them last year and has gotten better. (TZ)
  
• 16. Bucks (17-19) | Prev.: 16
  Maybe the Bucks are better than their record suggests, but until they win a game against the Cavaliers or Pistons, it's tough to take them seriously. (MW)
  
• 17. Nets (17-18) | Prev.: 17
  Must... stay above water... until... Devin Harris' hamstring...heals... (MM)
  
• 18. Bulls (15-20) | Prev.: 18
  Banning pre-game peanut butter sandwiches may seem like an odd way to spark this team, but it's better than Scott Skiles' old trick: benching Ben Gordon. (MW)
  
• 19. Knicks (13-20) | Prev.: 19
  You know, if the universe ends in early June, 2010, there's going to be a lot of pissed off Knicks fans in heaven (or otherwise). (MM)
  
• 20. Bobcats (13-22) | Prev.: 24
  Is beating the Celtics even a big deal anymore? When MJ shows up for the game and you're nine games under .500, um, yeah, it is. (BP)

• 21. Raptors (14-21) | Prev.: 22
  This team needs its own in-depth novel detailing how it went from a possible Eastern Conference contender with an MVP candidate to a desperate mess in less than a month. (MM)
  
• 22. Pacers (12-22) | Prev.: 21
  Danny Granger is the only thing keeping Conseco Fieldhouse from imploding in a vacuum of suck. (MW)
  
• 23. Sixers (14-20) | Prev.: 20
  Hey, Philly. I can tell you why can't you now. (MM)
  
• 24. Grizzlies (11-24) | Prev.: 23
  Realize this. They're hanging with good teams. They're being competitive. They're improving. They have multiple stars. They're exciting to watch. Their coach is figuring out how to coach. And it will be hard for them to go wrong in the draft plus they'll have a top pick. Losin' ain't so bad in a city with that much blues, especially with brighter times ahead. (MM)
  
• 25. Kings (8-28) | Prev.: 25
  The Kings were pretty much unwatchable for a month. But with Kevin Martin threatening to drop 50 any given night, Sacramento has gotten back to its expected "terrible but fun" form. (TZ)
  
• 26. Clippers (8-26) | Prev.: 26
  Losers of eight straight, but anyone chanting "fire Dunleavy" has no idea what's going on. This team has a D-League roster and has taken teams like Detroit and Dallas down to the wire. Eric Gordon has put up career highs of 31 and 32 in his last two games. If and when Clippers fans, if and when. (BP)
  
• 27. Wizards (7-26) | Prev.: 28
  Love the fact that no matter how bad this team has been, they stepped up and beat the Cavaliers -- for rivalry's sake -- while mocking the whole "crab dribble" thing. Just fantastic. (BP)
  
• 28. Warriors (10-26) | Prev.: 27
  They've won their last two home games against Toronto and Boston. Problem? They've lost eight of their last nine on the road. (BP)
  
• 29. Thunder (5-30) | Prev.: 29
  It's sad that while Boston leaves its Trail to 70, OKC can't shake its pace. Ah well. Nenad Krstic will be starting before the week ends. (TZ)
  
• 30. Timberwolves (9-25) | Prev.: 30
  Just close your eyes and dream of the future, when Nikola Perovic will be destroying the St. Paul club scene. (TZ)
  

NBA Power Rankings: Hornets on the Rise, Celtics in a Free Fall originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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?

• 1. Lakers (25-5) | Prev.: 4
  After beating the Celtics on Christmas Day, then staying focused and crushing the Warriors a few days later, all is well in Laker-land. But for how long? Next three are against Utah, Portland, and New Orleans. (BP)
  
• 2. Cavaliers (26-5) | Prev.: 2
  Let Washington hang around as a present on Christmas Day, then had to sprint to outlast the Heat on Sunday, before falling to them last night. Yet right now you have to say they've moved neck and neck with Boston for Eastern title contendership. (Matt Moore)
  
• 3. Celtics (28-5) | Prev.: 1
  I hate to say I told you so, but ... ah, screw it. As soon as the Celtics left Boston for a trip out West, they lost three out of four, including one last night against a Blazers team playing without Brandon Roy. (BP)
  
• 4. Spurs (20-10) | Prev.: 7
  Had won five in a row before dropping a close one to the Bucks last night. But Tim Duncan missed a lay-in at the buzzer that would have tied it, and Milwaukee's been hot lately, so I'll give the Spurs a pass ... this week. (BP)
  
• 4. Hawks (20-10) | Prev.: 10
  As the Hawks continue to impress, we wonder when Josh Smith will regain his 2007-08 brilliance. Of course, whether that full erraticism is a good thing for Atlanta ... (Tom Ziller)
  
• 4. Pistons (18-11) | Prev.: 15
  Winners of seven of their last nine since going with the three guard lineup. But Rip Hamilton's absence the last two games -- both wins -- might have Michael Curry thinking about changing it up again. (BP)
  
• 7. Magic (24-7) | Prev.: 3
  The continued bowing to Detroit is worrisome considering the Pistons could very well slip to sixth in the East this spring. But one loss to an experienced, explosive team can't erase a killer 11-1 run with wins over some of the league's best. The Magic should scare everyone. (TZ)
  
• 8. Suns (18-12) | Prev.: 8
  Shaq has been playing at an All-Star level lately (that's right, I said it), carrying the team to victories without Steve Nash (back spasms) and Amare Stoudemire (temper). He put up 28 and 12, and then 24 and 13 on the very next night. (BP)
  
• 9. Blazers (20-12) | Prev.: 12
  The schedule is brutal, the team is young, and the beat reporter is out and out blasting the fact that the franchise No. 1 superstar center is starting. These guys are like the weather in Missouri. Wait 15 minutes and you'll have a whole different read on them. (MM)
  
• 10. Mavericks (19-12) | Prev.: 11
  In four of their last six games, someone other than Dirk Nowitzki led the team in scoring. Five of those games were victories. (BP)

• 11. Rockets (20-12) | Prev.: 6
  I guess it's possible that Tracy McGrady taking some games off will help him to stay healthy for the duration of the season, but I won't be the blue guy holding my breath. (BP)
  
• 12. Nuggets (20-12) | Prev.: 9
  Go ahead and throw AI on the Ewing Theory watch list. With 'Melo somehow more fierce on offense and a cohesive effort coming consistently, the Nuggets have risen from the dead and are coming to eat your brains. (MM)
  
• 13. Hornets (19-9) | Prev.: 5
  I know they're 19-9 right now, but consider this a preemptive strike. Next four games are all on the road against Portland, Denver, the Lakers, and Utah. Have fun with that. (BP)
  
• 14. Heat (17-13) | Prev.: 14
  The Heat can get into the postseason without a league-average or better center (sorry Joel), but it won't be pretty and Dwyane Wade might break himself in the process. (TZ)
  
• 15. Jazz (19-14) | Prev.: 13
  Notice how I'm not going to make a comment about them underachieving. There's a reason for that. Don't get suckered by the injury excuse. Remember this identity when they rattle off a win streak in late March, suckering you into believing they're a contender. (MM)
  
• 16. Bucks (15-17) | Prev.: 18
  One Charlie Villanueva trade for composite pieces away from locking up the 8th seed. While the gap between them and the rest of the playoff teams is vast, so is the gap between them and the dregs. (MM)
  
• 17. Nets (15-16) | Prev.: 16
  All the talk about Rajon Rondo making the All-Star team is complete nonsense. Why? Because Devin Harris and Vince Carter both are far more deserving, and neither is going to be voted in as a starter. (BP)
  
• 18. Bulls (14-17) | Prev.: 17
  The Vinny Del Negro experiment is kind of like Richie Rich only instead of being brilliant, Richie just tinkered with useless lineups and relied on players that in no way help the future of the franchise. Other than that, just like it. (MM)
  
• 19. Knicks (12-18) | Prev.: 20
  Is Mike D'Antoni's style so unique and conducive to outlandish offensive numbers that we should be dropping asterisks on Steve Nash's MVPs? I think it's a reach, and that the Sports Guy needs to put away the egg nog until next Christmas. (BP)
  
• 20. Sixers (12-18) | Prev.: 19
  They're on a four-game losing streak, but look at the bright side: after they make it five against the Clippers, Elton Brand can spend New Year's Eve partying in L.A. with Baron Davis. (BP)

• 21. Pacers (10-21) | Prev.: 21
  The basketball personification of "Going Down, Guns Blazing." They're 3-6 in games decided by three points or less and get Mike Dunleavy back soon. (MM)
  
• 22. Raptors (12-19) | Prev.: 22
  Winners of one in a row (hey, times are tough), hometown fans should really think long and hard before booing Chris Bosh and his teammates. 2010 is just around the corner. (BP)
  
• 23. Grizzlies (10-22) | Prev.: 23
  Two road overtime losses, then had an eight point lead after three before collapsing in the fourth against the Suns. Competitive, yet terrible. (BP)
  
• 24. Bobcats (8-16) | Prev.: 24
  The woeful future of the Bobcats has been addressed this week, but in the present Boris Diaw has actually meshed with Larry Brown surprisingly well. Score one for "Opposites Attract." (TZ)
  
• 25. Kings (8-24) | Prev.: 26
  At long last, the only real reason to watch the Kings -- Kevin Martin -- has returned. Expect 45-point losses to turn into 35-point losses, and expect a 50-point breakout or two. (TZ)
  
• 26. Clippers (8-22) | Prev.: 25
  Maybe all that talk about Baron Davis wanting to return to the Warriors was for a good reason. Because it appears he left his shot in the Bay Area: 3-17 last night against the Kings, and he's been dreadful from the field for about a month now. (BP)
  
• 27. Warriors (4-18) | Prev.: 27
  All that Stephen Jackson-Don Nelson noise went away pretty quickly after Cap'n Jack caught fire in the fourth quarter to help his team knock off the Celtics. (BP)
  
• 28. Wizards (6-24) | Prev.: 28
  The Wizards went streaking, and might end up closer to 30 wins than you would have guessed a week ago. (Ah, when 30 wins is a noble goal ...) (TZ)
  
• 29. Thunder (3-29) | Prev.: 29
  DoIheartwodraftpicksforanoverpricedagedpowerforward twodraftpickstwodratpicksnowthree, threedraftpicksforJoeSmith, threedraftpicksandanundersizedcomboforward threepicksandacomboforwardgoingonce, goingtwice, SOLD! (MM)
  
• 30. Timberwolves (6-25) | Prev.: 30
  Thank God McHale took over. This team might have become competitive at one point and ruined their draft spot. (MM)
  

NBA Power Rankings: Spurs, Hawks, and Pistons Make Their Move originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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?

• 1. Celtics (26-2) | Prev.: 1
  Not to go all Gregg Popovich here, but the Celtics have won like, 57 games in a row. Alright, so it's only 19. And nothing would be sweeter for their fans than getting to 20 on the Lakers' home floor. (BP)
  
• 2. Cavaliers (24-4) | Prev.: 2
  LeBron is so good that he's gotten to the point where he's apologizing to his opponents' parents for humiliating them on the basketball court. (BP)
  
• 3. Magic (22-6) | Prev.: 4
  Winners of six straight, including quality ones over the Jazz, Spurs, and Lakers during that streak. It's still early, but they're looking like contenders at the moment. (BP)
  
• 4. Lakers (23-5) | Prev.: 3
  For a team with 23 wins, the Lakers sure have their doubters. But after a nice win on the road in New Orleans, it seems like they might be ready to give the Celtics a game on Christmas Day. (BP)
  
• 5. Hornets (16-8) | Prev.: 5
  Only loss in their last five? A humbling blowout at the hands of the Lakers. As Ric Flair would say: WOOOO! (BP)
  
• 6. Rockets (19-10) | Prev.: 7
  Losing to the Cavaliers on the road isn't a crime. But T-Mac's four point performance in the game certainly was. (BP)
  
• 7. Spurs (18-10) | Prev.: 6
  All things considered, I think Manu-Tim-Parker are a much better "Three Amigos" comparison than KG-Allen-Truth. Parker is obviously Martin Short, and Duncan is Chevy Chase. But maybe that's just because I like imagining Manu trying to get out of the chain wall. (Matt Moore)
  
• 8. Suns (16-11) | Prev.: 9
  A quirk in the schedule sees them play only three games in a 15-day span, which should be enough time to pick someone for that final roster spot. Oh, and one of those three games happens to be against the Spurs on Christmas Day. (BP)
  
• 9. Nuggets (18-10) | Prev.: 8
  A tough stretch of losses and Carmelo Anthony's injury dampen the resurgence. But you have a feeling finishing better than Detroit -- and beating out Dallas for the eighth playoff spot -- might count as victories. (Tom Ziller)
  
• 10. Hawks (18-10) | Prev.: 13
  Joe Johnson en fuego, Mike Bibby going Gonzo, Marvin Williams is fo' sho', and Josh Smith is still kind of in limbo. Engines are go-go. (MM)

• 11. Mavericks (16-11) | Prev.: 11
  No, no, they're chanting "Thank you, Boo-urns!" And if that doesn't make sense, well, then, you have an idea of how the Kidd-Harris deal looks to the rest of the world, Cubes. (MM)
  
• 12. Blazers (17-11) | Prev.: 10
  The question that follows the Blazers now: will the offense fall back to Earth? You suspect the defense could improve, but it seems unlikely Portland will finish as a top five offensive team. (TZ)
  
• 13. Jazz (17-13) | Prev.: 12
  How far away is Carlos Boozer? He doesn't even have his next exam until this weekend. With surgery as a possibility, the Jazz need Paul Millsap to keep it up. (TZ)
  
• 14. Heat (15-12) | Prev.: 18
  Last week, I wondered if Dwyane Wade was fatigued. This week, I'm wondering if he can be stopped. (BP)
  
• 15. Pistons (15-11) | Prev.: 14
  Allen Iverson leaves with an injury last night, and Rodney Stuckey drops 40. I'm not saying, I'm just saying. (BP)
  
• 16. Nets (14-14) | Prev.: 15
  Devin Harris, FTW. No, seriously. He saved a horrible-looking final possession by hitting the game winner at the buzzer in Indiana. (BP)
  
• 17. Bulls (13-15) | Prev.: 17
  These guys have alternated wins and losses over their last eight games. At least they're consistent here: 17th for the third straight week. (BP)
  
• 18. Bucks (14-16) | Prev.: 19
  They're 5-1 in their last six games, and led by as many as 44 the other night against an exhausted Clippers team. Technically, only one game out of the eighth spot in the East. (Hey, it could happen.) (BP)
  
• 19. Sixers (12-16) | Prev.: 20
  You can go ahead and mark this week on your calendars as the week the "Philadelphia is the New Boston Sports Town" stuff keeled over, died, and rotted to dust in about 36 hours. (MM)
  
• 20. Knicks (11-16) | Prev.: 16
  Losers of four straight, and have surrendered 111 points or more in three of the four losses. But no, defense isn't the issue. (BP)

• 21. Pacers (10-18) | Prev.: 24
  Took the Clippers to double overtime with their three best players in the hospital, and got Devin Harris-ed at the buzzer or they woulda-coulda-shoulda beat the Nets. A fiesty bunch, these Pacers. (BP)
  
• 22. Raptors (11-17) | Prev.: 21
  Winners of one in a row (hey, times are tough), home town fans should really think long and hard before booing Chris Bosh and his teammates. 2010 is just around the corner. (BP)
  
• 23. Grizzlies (9-18) | Prev.: 23
  One step forward, one epic space-opera FAIL step back. Brutalized by the Diaw-led Bobcats, this team carries a giant "I" on their chest for "Inconsistent." (MM)
  
• 24. Bobcats (8-16) | Prev.: 22
  The Boris Diaw part of the trade looks awesome. The Raja Bell part of the team looks like it was Michael Jordan's idea. We should just rename every bad idea in the NBA an "MJ Idea." (MM)
  
• 25. Clippers (8-20) | Prev.: 22
  Baron Davis can't shoot anymore, and Zach Randolph left the team's loss to the Raptors with a knee injury. Cursed? You betcha! (wink) (BP)
  
• 26. Kings (7-22) | Prev.: 26
  Beno Udrih sets goodwill on fire. Brad Miller sets trade value on fire. John Salmons ... well, he just sets the league on fire. (TZ)
  
• 27. Warriors (4-18) | Prev.: 28
  Jamal Crawford scored 50 points. In a game. A real NBA basketball game. And it wasn't his career high. Golden State is pretty much the indie rock scene of the NBA. Guys you've only heard mentioned show up and rock the building to debris. Of course, they lose, very very badly, but still. Much rockage. (MM)
  
• 28. Wizards (4-22) | Prev.: 28
  The "DeShawn Stevenson coming off the bench" experiment?: How about 1-4 from the field, three points, in 26 minutes. In a loss to the Bobcats, the team's seventh straight. FAIL. (BP)
  
• 29. Thunder (3-26) | Prev.: 29
  Coach Brooks likes to text message his players. Allow me. "HAI! PLS TRY NOT 2 SUCK 2NIGHT. IT IZ COLD IN TEH WINTR IN OK & MAI FAMLY N33DS F00D. KTHXBAI." (MM)
  
• 30. Timberwolves (4-22) | Prev.: 30
  Is there a single team the Wolves would be favored to beat? Even the Thunder have some immediate hope. Nothing but bad basketball in Minneapolis. (TZ)
  

NBA Power Rankings: Where 'I'll Be Home for Christmas' Happens originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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