2012 NBA Power Rankings and Ratings – Top 10 NBA Teams

2012 NBA Power Rankings and Ratings – Top 10 NBA Teams in this week’s NBA Power Rankings Index from the National Sports Advisors:

2012 NBA Power Rankings Index

1. Miami Heat (8-1): Even with Dwyane Wade being hobbled, the Heat has jumped out to the best record in the NBA. LeBron James is leading the league in scoring and is looking next to unstoppable since deciding the play in the post more often. With the addition of rookie guard Norris Cole and a healthy Udonis Haslem, Miami’s depth is much better than it was a year ago. Heck, the Heat even beat the Atlanta Hawks when both Wade and James were out with injuries. At this point, Miami looks like the team to beat in the Eastern Conference and a frontrunner for the title.



2. Oklahoma City Thunder (8-2): While questions about the chemistry between point guard Russell Westbrook and small forward Kevin Durant continue to exist, the Thunder just keep winning games. A solid interior defense has certainly helped the cause, and since trading for center Kendrick Perkins last season, Oklahoma City has gone 20-6. Guard James Harden has blossomed into one of the top sixth men in the NBA, and Daequan Cook’s perimeter firepower has helped prevent defenses from keying on Durant. The Thunder is a young, loaded team primed to make a run.
3. Chicago Bulls (7-2): The Bulls are picking up where they left up last season, and the same can be said about defending MVP Derrick Rose. What is even more impressive is that Chicago has gotten off to a fast start despite playing seven of its nine games on the road, posting a 5-2 record. A more assertive attitude on the offensive end from forward Luol Deng and some hot shooting from forward Kyle Korver has given the Bulls’ offense an extra dimension that it was lacking at times last year. Chicago should be a threat in the East once again.
4. Portland Trailblazers (6-2): At some point, the front office in Portland must have walked under some ladders and shattered a bunch of mirrors. Center Greg Oden is on the mend from yet another injury, and guard Brandon Roy was forced into early retirement with degenerative knees. Still, the Trailblazers are off to a fast start and look like a playoff team once again. Forward LaMarcus Aldridge is a budding star, and forward Gerald Wallace has been a perfect fit since joining the team last year. Guards Raymond Felton and Wesley Matthews form an underrated backcourt, and as long as no other injuries strike, Portland could make some noise in the Western Conference.
5. Indiana Pacers (6-2): Boston’s Ray Allen gave David West plenty of flack when he signed with Indiana, but the Pacers are looking like contenders early in the year. West’s added offense in the post and solid mid-range game has made life easier for center Roy Hibbert and guards Paul George and George Hill. Forward Danny Granger is still struggling to get his shot to fall, but if he finds a rhythm, the Pacers’ fast start could become a lasting trend.
6. San Antonio Spurs (6-3): The Spurs probably aren’t going to win the most games in the Western Conference this season, but they look a little bit better than the team that got trounced by the Memphis Grizzlies in the playoffs last year. That being said, San Antonio is dealing with injuries to guards Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Young players like Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard will have to step up in order to keep the Spurs afloat until the big guns come back.
7. Los Angeles Clippers (4-2): Adding point guard Chris Paul has helped the Clippers jump to the top of the Pacific Division. Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Caron Butler and Chauncey Billups team with Paul to make one of the best starting fives in the NBA, but the bench is a little thin. The bottom line is that the Clippers have the talent to make a playoff run, but a lot of new parts have been added, and only time will tell if the chemistry is right.
8. Denver Nuggets (6-3): With Ty Lawson running the offense, the Nuggets have become a scoring machine. Forward Danilo Gallinari is a pure scorer from all over the court, and with Nene, Chris Andersen and Timofey Mozgov in the frontcourt, Denver has plenty of size. Andre Miller and Al Harrington provide scoring of the bench, and while the Nuggets don’t have a superstar, they don’t have many weak points either.
9. Los Angeles Lakers (6-4): Despite all the offseason drama and trade rumors, the Lakers are essentially the same team they have been the last few seasons. The difference is that center Andrew Bynum is currently healthy, and he is dominating opponents in the paint. Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant is scoring in bunches and scoring efficiently despite a wrist injury. The Lakers are still an older team overall, but if they stay healthy, they could be a force to be reckoned with.
10. Orlando Magic (6-3): For now, center Dwight Howard is still in Orlando and the Magic is winning games. Howard is leading the NBA in rebounding, and there isn’t a better defensive presence in the middle. Forward Hedo Turkoglu is back to being a facilitator, which is paying huge dividends for the rest of the offense. Guard J.J. Redick has provided a nice burst off the bench as well, coming into his own as an all-around scorer. The uncertainty about Howard’s future is going to loom all season, but Orlando has the pieces in place to make the playoffs if the pieces stay in place.

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