NBA Power Rankings – NBA Power Ratings UPDATED 3/7/2011 – Lakers Back on Top:
1. Los Angeles Lakers (45-19): That ugly loss to the Cavaliers seems like a distant memory at this point. The two-time defending champs are 7-0 since the All-Star break plus recent victories against the Celtics(just before the break) and the Spurs. As long as Andrew Bynum is healthy, the Lakers are going to be tough to dethrone.
2. Boston Celtics (46-15): I’m not sure trading Kendrick Perkins was the right move, but it’s tough to argue with the team’s performance lately. The Celtics have won five straight games and eight of their last 10. We could be heading to a repeat of last year’s finals.
3. San Antonio Spurs (51-12): The early return of Tony Parker should solidify the Spurs’ grip on the top seed in the playoffs. That being said, their 99-83 loss to the Lakers reveals some potential long-term issues. I’ll take Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol over Tim Duncan and DeJuan Blair.
4. Chicago Bulls (43-18): I’m not buying Derrick Rose as the MVP, but I’m buying the Bulls as the second-best team in the Eastern Conference. They have won eight of their last 10 games, and Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah are just starting to get comfortable playing together. The Celtics needs to watch out.
5. Dallas Mavericks (45-17): They are going to end up with a top-three seed in the Western Conference, but this team’s shortcomings in the playoffs are well documented. The Mavericks will pile up 50-plus wins before the end of the year, but they have second-round exit written all over them.
6. Orlando Magic (40-23): Dwight Howard is an absolute beast and shooting better than 60 percent from the field this season, but the Magic backcourt has been up and down all year. The comeback against the Heat was keyed by their guards, and Gilbert Arenas and company will ultimately determine how far this team can go in the playoffs.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (38-22): They are just 6-4 in their last 10 games, and they continue to have some issues on the road as young teams often do. However, the move to get Kendrick Perkins was all about the playoffs, and the Thunder will be a tough out.
8. Miami Heat (43-20): I’m not sure any team has ever had a worse stretch. They have lost four straight games, including three straight at home when holding double-digit leads. For all the star power on the team, Heat players are just 1-for-16 on game winning or tying shot attempts at the end of games. Having their coach admit that players were crying in the locker room after their loss to the Bulls was just more salt in the wound.
9. Portland Trail Blazers (35-27): With Brandon Roy’s health a constant concern, the Blazers have managed to win seven of their last 10 games. The move to get Gerald Wallace strengthens an already stout defensive lineup, and LaMarcus Aldridge has shown he can carry the offensive load.
10. Memphis Grizzlies (34-29): Zach Randolph’s game-winning bucket against the Mavericks gave the Grizzlies a statement victory. They play in an absolutely stacked conference, but they are 7-3 in their last 10 games. They are currently projected to play the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs, and I would be very worried if I were a San Antonio fan.
11. Philadelphia 76ers (32-30): Who knew Andre Iguodala could become Oscar Robertson? Apparently Sixers coach Doug Collins did. Iguodala has back-to-back triple doubles, and an 8-2 stretch has secured Philadelphia’s spot in the playoffs.
12. Denver Nuggets (37-27): The Nuggets were supposed to collapse after the Carmelo Anthony trade, but they are 5-2 without their former top scorer. They don’t have a go-to guy on offense anymore, but more time for Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen has made things tough for opposing offenses.
13. New Orleans Hornets (37-28): Hornets fans can breathe easy following the scary moment for Chris Paul. Paul will be fine, but the team’s 4-6 record in the last 10 games and continuing struggles on the road remain a cause for concern.
14. Atlanta Hawks (37-26): You never know what you are going to get with the Hawks. They beat Chicago but look disinterested in a loss to the Knicks. Joe Johnson is still the only guy on the team that can create his own offense, and I’m not sure he can get the job done come playoff time.
15. New York Knicks (32-29): Adding Carmelo and Chauncey Billups makes them a more talented team, but is isn’t necessarily making them a better team. The new pieces to the puzzle completely change the Knicks’ offensive philosophy, and their loss to the Cavaliers exposed the glaring issues on defense.
16. Phoenix Suns (32-29): They are within 1.5 games of a spot in the playoffs, but their upcoming schedule includes more games the Suns will likely lose than games they will likely win. Channing Frye and Robin Lopez are not an acceptable frontcourt for a playoff team in the Western Conference.
17. Houston Rockets (32-32): Their record says it all. The Rockets are a solid but not spectacular team. A 7-3 stretch has them back at .500, but that record just isn’t enough in the Western Conference.
18. Utah Jazz (33-30): It’s tough to blame the Jazz for their recent 10-game stretch when they have managed just two wins. Losing their coach and best player isn’t exactly an easy thing to overcome. Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are both good players, but the Jazz no longer have an identity.
19. Charlotte Bobcats (26-36): You have to love the Eastern Conference. The Bobcats are 10 games under .500 but just one game out of the final spot in the playoffs.
20. Golden State Warriors (27-35): Their lineup is fantasy basketball owners dream, but unfortunately for Warrior fans, that hasn’t translated to a lot of success in real life. There 8-22 road record doesn’t help their cause either.
21. Indiana Pacers (27-35): The fact that the Pacers are still clinging to a playoff spot is incredible. They have just three wins in their last 10 games, and the offense is hard to watch right now. Has there been a bigger disappointment than Darren Collison this season.
22. Los Angeles Clippers (23-40): Everybody loves Blake Griffin, but another injury to Eric Gordon’s wrist is going to continue to derail the Clippers on offense. The future is bright for this team is promising, but the 5-25 road record reveals the problems with young players.
23. New Jersey Nets (19-43): Adding Deron Williams give the Nets a chance at bringing in some top-notch free agents, but unfortunately for New Jersey fans, that can’t happen until after this season. Until then, it will be fun watching Williams post ridiculous assist totals.
24. Milwaukee Bucks (23-38): They played Boston very tough, but the Bucks are still missing a go-to weapon on offense late in games. Had Andrew Bogut and Brandon Jennings hadn’t been banged up all year, they might have been able to sneak into the playoffs.
25. Detroit Pistons (23-41): As bad as the whole mutiny fiasco was, the lack of direction for the team is even more concerning. Outside of Greg Monroe, is there any player on this team worth building a team around?
26. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-49): Kevin Love is well on his way to shattering the record for consecutive double-doubles. Has there ever been a better player on a worse team?
27. Sacramento Kings (15-45): Whether it is rumors about the team moving, Tyreke Evans nagging foot problem, or Demarcus Cousins assaulting teammates, distractions continue to plague this team. An overall lack of talent doesn’t help either.
28. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-50): The Cavs have won four of their last 10 games, which qualifies as a hot streak by their standards. At least Cleveland fans can have a good laugh about the recent woes of King James and the Heat.
29. Toronto Raptors (17-46): I don’t think sending the Raptors to London was a good way to grow the brand. Has David Stern seen them play?
30. Washington Wizards (16-46): The Wizards have won just one game since the All-Star break, and they continue to boast the league’s worst road record. They are a dismal 1-29 away from home in 2011.
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