• Tweet

• Tweet

Some interesting movement, both north and south took place this past week and will be relected accordingly in this week’s and year’s first edition of Slam Dunk Central’s Power Rankings. Below are the rankings for the past week of NBA action:

( ) – Last week’s ranking.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (4). You just knew this would happen with the treading of the waters that the Celtics and Lakers have done. Defense has been the straw that has stirred the Cavs’ drink and has elevated them to the top this week. You’re welcome, Shaq.
2. Orlando Magic (3). They did well last week; however, it’s rather difficult to keep your team healthy and happy at the same time. And that could come to haunt them down the road, if not corrected.
3. Los Angeles Lakers (2). Don’t blame Kobe for the Lakers’ drop. You can blame the Christmas holidays, actually. Ron Artest, whether the team admits it or not, was missed. Not to mention that Pau Gasol is hurting – again.
4. Boston Celtics (1). Injuries, injuries. Even with their depth at most positions, the Celtics simply aren’t the same team. Fortunately, the Atlantic division is weak.
5. Portland Trail Blazers (6). I have now idea how the Blazers do it. They have no center; but then again, neither does the Celtics – and they’re successful. They may want to look for a center on the free agent list. I don’t see them winning like this for too much longer (They’ve won six of their last 7 to date).
6. Dallas Mavericks (5).  Their road no-show in LaLaland combined with getting beat by Houston didn’t do the Mavs any favors. Hey Cuban, Dirk can’t do it alone.
7. Houston Rockets (11). They’re one of the few teams that can make chicken salad out of chicken manure. And now with their winning ways as of late, you can add coach Rick Adelman as a candidate for Coach of the Year.
8. Atlanta Hawks (7). This hasn’t been a typical Hawks week as they got pasted by Cleveland twice and the Knicks (the freakin’ Knicks!). Not a good week under any circumstances (unless you’re the Nets).
9. San Antonio Spurs (9). Consistency has been the key for the Spurs. They’re healthy and scoring well, which should make things interesting in the division.
10. Phoenix Suns (10). Good news is they beat the Lakers and Celtics. Bad news is they lost to the Grizzlies – at home. Nothing really wrong with their offense, except that they’re “vertically-challenged.” Also – tell Channing Frye that he needs to play inside sometimes.
11. Oklahoma City Thunder (14). About this time, they were a laughing-stock. Look who’s laughing now. Durant’s gone nuts and the team’s front office has committed some grand larceny (they stole Nenad Krstic, Eric Maynor and Thabo  Sefolosha). They’re a team not to be messed with.
12. Denver Nuggets (8). It has to suck for the Nuggets knowing they’re without Melo and Chauncey Billups, which has hurt them this past week. And with the drop from the top of the Northwest division, Denver drops, as well.
13. Memphis Grizzlies (16). The Southwest division has gotten markedly better and the Grizz is playing .500 ball. All things being equal, I don’t have a good feeling about them this week.
14. Toronto Raptors (15). Gotta give the Raptors their props by beating the Spurs. What is impressive during their current 5-0 win streak is that they’re without Hedo and Calderon – no mean feat there.
15. Utah Jazz (13). Riddle me this: How do you lose at Energy Solutions Center 3 times in one season by double-digits? Furthermore, how do you lose to Denver (minus Melo and Billups)?
16. Charlotte Bobcats (21). The Bobcats are quietly sneaking up on people, which is a sign of an improving team. And just when I thought that Stephen Jackson was going to make blood shoot out of Larry Brown’s eyes.
17. New Orleans Hornets (19). They’re slowly getting better, believe it or not, with the play of CP-3 and an improving David West. This month should dictate whether they make the playoffs or not. They need some help at the 3. Peja isn’t the answer.
18. Miami Heat (12). The Heat have a problem. That being that they don’t have many home games this month and have to face the unpleasant prospect of 11 road games this month. Is it time for Pat Riley to out some players (except Wade)?
19. Sacramento Kings (17). Rookie mistakes made it possible for the Kings to lose to the Lakers. But at the same time, they beat the Nuggets. They’re a team to watch once the young’uns get their act together.
20. Los Angeles Clippers (20). They’re treading water these days, but I suspect they’re fold like a cheap tent eventually. Chris Kaman is arguably the main reason the Clips are relevant. Too bad that won’t be reflected on the All-Star ballot.
21. New York Knicks (22). Finally, the Knicks use Nate Robinson and have also sported a 10-5 record recently. But none of that will matter because as sure as Barack Obama uses a teleprompter, the Knicks will visit a place they know all too well – the lottery hall.
22. Chicago Bulls (23). Are cooler heads prevailing in the Bulls’ front office? Even after allowing Sacramento to beat them after squandering a 35-point lead, Vinny Del Negro is still their coach. And they’re actually thriving after that debacle. Go figure.
23. Milwaukee Bucks (18). The Bucks, save for Michael Redd and Brandon Jennings, are a bunch of players who seem to be wearing the Life Alert necklaces. In other words, “They’ve fallen, and they can’t get up!” It’s enough to make Scott Skiles pull his hair out – what little bit that he has.
24. Philadelphia 76ers (27). Interesting contrasts this week. They beat three teams who were short-handed. And perhaps the irony isn’t lost knowing that AI came back on an arthritic knee.
25. Detroit Pistons (24). This is the version of the team I’ve known. Nine straight losses and counting. What’s even worse is that they haven’t had a second-half lead in their last six games.
26. Golden State Warriors (28). Most impressive were consecutive wins over Phoenix and Boston. What helps them right now is the return of Andres Biedrins and Ronny Turiaf. Ellis can’t do it alone. And yes, size does matter.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves (26). A loss to Utah (one of the few teams the T-Wolves have a number on) and Indiana didn’t help things. This week should be promising as they play Indiana and Chicago.
28. Indiana Pacers (29). They obviously miss Danny Granger as they have lost nine of their last 10 without him – five of’em double-digit whoopings.
29. Washington Wizards (25). Whodathunkit? Arenas gets suspended and Caron Butler says the following in his blog: Every time I was dealt [previously], I had better years with my new team than I had with my old one.” Sure sounds like he wants outta D.C. to me.
30. New Jersey Nets (30). Like the proverbial crime scene, “Nothing to see here. Keep on walking.” The Nets next fall victim to the Hornets and the Spurs.