2012 NBA Power Rankings and Power Ratings – Top 10 Teams Thru Feb 13th

2012 NBA Power Rankings and Power Ratings – Top 10 NBA Teams:

1.      Miami Heat (21-7): LeBron James is playing like the two-time MVP that he is, and the Heat’s bolstered bench is starting to gel. Mario Chalmers is evolving as a point guard, and Mike Miller is just one of several long-range threats that surround James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Miami has some lapses in focus at times and loses games it shouldn’t, but as a victory over Chicago shows, James and company show up when it matters most.

2.      Oklahoma City (21-6): The Thunder has the best record in the NBA but is only a game ahead of Miami and Chicago in the loss column. The dynamic duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook provides just about all the offense Oklahoma City needs, and Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins provide a physical presence in the paint on the defensive end. Having James Harden mature and score nearly 17 points per game off the bench is the added dimension the Thunder was missing last season.

3.      Chicago Bulls (23-7): Chicago is clinging to a one-game lead for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, but the Bulls can only hang on so long if back issues for defending MVP Derrick Rose persist. Chicago has already weathered an injury to forward Luol Deng this season and a tough schedule that has featured 20 road games. Still, Chicago plays some of the best defense in the NBA, and getting all of the bad luck out of the way early might not be such a bad thing.

4.      San Antonio Spurs (19-9): Remarkably, the Spurs have the second-best record in the Western Conference despite being one of the oldest teams in the league and despite missing Manu Ginobili. A big reason for that is the fact that San Antonio has been next to unstoppable at home, compiling a 13-1 record. Tony Parker has embraced his role as the team’s go-to scorer, and Tim Duncan continues to be a consistent source of 15 points and 10 rebounds a game. Meanwhile, Tiago Splitter, Danny Green and Kwahi Leonard have all stepped up off the bench, adding a big of energy to the veteran lineup.

5.      Dallas Mavericks (17-11):  Dirk Nowitzki’s time off to get in shape has worked. Dallas has won three straight games, and Nowitzki has scored 20 or more points in five straight games. Point guard Jason Kidd is finally healthy as well, and Jason Terry continues to hit clutch shots on a nightly basis. If the Mavericks can ever get some production from Lamar Odom, they could be more of a threat to repeat as champs than a lot of people give them credit for.

6.      Los Angeles Clippers (17-8): Acquiring point guard Chris Paul has instantly transformed the Clippers from an afterthought to one of the more exciting teams in the NBA. Big men Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan can finish around the rim as well as any duo in the league, and Paul gives them a clutch leader that can take control in close games. However, losing Chauncey Billups for the year with an Achilles injury was a huge blow to a team that was already lacking in depth. The Clippers could tire down the stretch.

7.      Philadelphia 76ers (19-9): The hot start for the 76ers can no longer be considered a fluke. Philadelphia keeps winning, and the young team is growing up fast. Jrue Holiday looks like the next great point guard, and with nine players averaging at least 9.0 points per game, the 76ers are one of the deepest teams in the NBA. With plenty of athleticism up and down the roster and a ton of bench scoring, Philadelphia is on pace to win the Atlantic Division.

8.      Boston Celtics (15-12): After a slow start, the Celtics have finally found a rhythm. Boston has gone 7-3 in its last 10 games, and it is no coincidence that the hot streak started when forward Paul Pierce returned from injury. There has been a lot of talk about breaking up the roster and trading the veterans, but with an ever-improving bench, point guard Rajon Rondo and the original Big Three just may have one more title run in them.

9.      Atlanta Hawks (18-10): Atlanta’s blowout loss to the Heat continues a recent slide for the Hawks. They are just 5-5 in their last 10 games, and finding consistent offense remains a problem. The loss of center Al Horford has forced the Hawks to become a jump shooting team, and although Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Jeff Teague have played well, nothing has come easy for Atlanta this year. The Hawks’ solid defense will only take them so far.

10.  Los Angeles Lakers (16-12): The fact that the Lakers are working out Gilbert Arenas is proof that Los Angeles is getting desperate for some added firepower. Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum for one of the best frontcourts in the NBA, but Kobe Bryant remains the only perimeter scorer for the Lakers. An 11-2 record at home is keeping Los Angeles in the playoff hunt, but the Lakers need an injection of speed and athleticism in the backcourt sooner rather than later.

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