Feb

9

Slam Dunk Central NBA Power Rankings

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA Power Ranking 

Cavaliers maintain top spot

This week found that as of right now, the Cleveland Cavaliers are unquestionably the team to beat, despite their loss of Mo Williams. The Cavs are what a championship team is all about. Fortunately for them, they don’t have to face the Los Angeles Lakers until possibly the NBA Finals.

Utah made a leap this week and are on a hot streak, while the Miami Heat went 0-for-the week. Without further adieu, here’s this week’s edition of Slam Dunk Central’s NBA Power Rankings:

  1. Cleveland Cavaliers (1). They’ve won 11 straight and are without on a roll. It looks like Shaq is heating up as he has shot 65% in the last 10 games. That development doesn’t bode well for Cleveland’s opponents this week.
  2. Los Angeles Lakers (2). While they were 2-2, they were somewhat offensively challenged. They won without Kobe, so that hs to count for something. They face the Utah Jazz Wednesday before going into the All-Star break.
  3. Denver Nuggets (4). They swept the Lakers, which may prove to be huge at the end of the regular season. This week, they host a Texas pair: Dallas and San Antonio. They need Melo and Chauncey back like yesterday.
  4. Utah Jazz (5). Winners of 8 straight, the Jazz are getting some welcome offense from AK-47 – and it couldn’t have come at a better time. They face the Clippers and Lakers this week.
  5. Oklahoma City Thunder (9). They’re a team not to be messed with, folks. Not only is Kevin Durant scoring like crazy, but Russell Westbrook is stepping it up, contributing to their current 5-game win streak. They can increase it to six as they face Portland Tuesday.
  6. Orlando Magic (3). Yeah, Vinsanity ruled last week, but don’t let the 2-1 week fool you. Offense was hard to come by for the Magic, hence the drop. This week finds Orlando visiting Chicago and Cleveland before the break.
  7. Atlanta Hawks (6). Josh Smith stirred the Hawks’ drink this week as he nearly notched a triple-double, and they played some top-shelf defense vs. the Bulls, allowing only 81. Scoring only 98 points for the week isn’t going to cut muster, however.
  8. Boston Celtics (7). Is there a sense of urgency? After scoring only 11 in the third quarter against Orlando, one must wonder. If they can just get everyone healthy and in uniform – which seems like a tall order these days. Just one game for them this week: the slumping New Orleans Hornets.
  9. Toronto Raptors (12). Save for a 130-115 thrashing by the Pacers, the Raptors have won seven of their past 8. They’re the benefactor of the Eastern Conference being weak. Make it 8 of nine as they get Philadelphia Wednesday.
  10. Portland Trail Blazers (11). They get a pass from me because with the injuries they’ve incurred, they still find ways to win. Yet, they need a center and also need Roy to return ASAP.
  11. San Antonio Spurs (13). Parker’s back, but there is also an APB out for Richard Jefferson. It doesn’t get any better for the Spurs when they face Denver Thursday.
  12. Phoenix Suns (14). Impressive was their four road wins during their current 5-game win streak, and Amare Stoudemire is giving the Suns reasons not to trade him. They get Portland at home on Wednesday. Oh, did I mention that Steve Nash is having a heck of a half-season?
  13. Houston Rockets (18). Interesting week for the unpredictable Rockets. they spank the Warriors and Grizzlies, but lose to the Sixers. they play Miami Wednesday. Their fortunes should rise after the All-Star break.
  14. Memphis Grizzlies (10). They’ve fallen, and they’ve haven’t gotten up – yet. They allowed the T-Wolves to light them up for 109; but to be fair, they did beat the Lakers at home. The rest of the month should give the Grizzlies hope.
  15. Dallas Mavericks (8). They’ve lost 4 of their past five, which is no help to them in the West. And they lost to the T-Wolves, for Pete’s sake. They get to face Denver Tuesday – not a good way to enter the break.
  16. New Orleans Hornets (17). Although you’ll never hear it from them, they miss Chris Paul. They can only hope that CP-3 can return sooner than expected. Maybe they can grab a ray of sunshine as they host the Celtics Wednesday.
  17. Milwaukee Bucks (20). Their defense has been their saving grace as they won 3 of four this week. They catch a break as they face Detroit and New Jersey this week. Lucky Bucks.
  18. Charlotte Bobcats (15). February hasn’t been too kind to the Bobcats, losers of three straight. Once again, the offense was MIA; they should be able to recover as they get Washington and Minnesota this week.
  19. Chicago Bulls (16). Save for the Bucks, a bad week for the Central Division, including the Bulls. they lost 3 of four and Tyrus Thomas was suspended for a game. Is there a Vinny-watch on the horizon?
  20. Miami Heat (19). The Heat should be lucky they’re percentage points ahead of the Bucks for the #8 seed in the East. It doesn’t look good for them as they face Houston and Atlanta.
  21. Philadelphia 76ers (24). It isn’t every day you see Philadelphia and winning streak in the same sentence, yet that’s what they’ve done. their defense has manned up and they’ve inserted Jrue Holiday into the starting lineup. This week finds the Sixers taking on the T-Wolves and Raptors.
  22. Washington Wizards (22). They went 2-2 this week (a postponed game vs. the Hawks at home is as good as a win). Other than Caron Butler, the Wizards’ offense has been non-existent. Only one game this week: the Bobcats.
  23. Indiana Pacers (25). Curious week for Indiana as they rack up 130 vs. Toronto, but only 81 vs. Milwaukee. Jeff Foster is lost for the year, so Roy Hibbert will get more floor time. The remainder of February for Indiana is downright brutal.
  24. Los Angeles Clippers (23). New coach Kim Hughes has his work cut out for him, now that Mike Dunleavy has been booted to the front office. Hughes’ baptism-by-fire continues as they play Utah and Golden State this week.
  25. Minnesota Timberwolves (27). Stop the presses, everyone – the T-Wolves have won four straight! They shot 53% for the week, which is newsworthy. Can they get out of the West basement? Hard to say as they get Philadelphia and Charlotte this week. But it looks good.
  26. New York Knicks (21). Good news: Nate Robinson’s doing well. Bad news: the Knicks’ defense is regressing. Tyreke Evans and the Kings visit MSG Tuesday.
  27. Detroit Pistons (28). Two wins vs. New Jersey ( a recurring theme with the Nets) kinda helped the Pistons. But they face Milwaukee and Sacramento this week, so that bit of prosperity should come to an end.
  28. Sacramento Kings (26). As soon as K-Mart gets his shooting touch back, the Kings should win some games. Francisco Garcia is expected back soon, so they should improve after the All-Star break – if not sooner. After all, they get New York and Detroit this week.
  29. Golden State Warriors (29). The Western Conference’s equivalent of the New Jersey Nets, Golden State catches a break this week as they get the Clippers at home.
  30. New Jersey Nets (30). Looking at the month of February, there’s only one game they can steal: Miami Heat on the 17th. Other than that, more of the same.

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