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In this week’s edition of Slam Dunk Central’s NBA Power Rankings, the Northwest Division is still nip-and-tuck, the Kings escape the basement and the Southeast continues to be scorching hot.

This and much more in this week’s version of Slam Dunk Central’s NBA Power Rankings:

(Listed below are the teams, their win-loss record as of January 9 and last week’s ranking)

1. San Antonio Spurs (31-6) (1) This was probably their toughest week for the Spurs, having gone 2-2. This week thay have the M and D schedule (Minnesota and Milwaukee followed by Dallas and Denver), with the M’s being the road games and the D’s in San Antonio.
2. Miami Heat (30-9) (2) The Heat, with their winning streak now at 9, are undeniably the hottest team in the NBA, having become the Ron Popeil team where you just “set it and forget it”. Despite their streak, one thing is for certain: they still need a true center.
3. Los Angeles Lakers (27-11) (8) They’re baaack. You knew they wouldn’t be down for very long, having won four straight. If this past week is any indication, I’d say that they’re in midseason form right about now. Other than Matt Barnes being out till probably late February-early March, this team should pretty much be on cruise-control.
4. Boston Celtics (28-8) (3) Nothing with this team has really changed, except that they hope to get Kevin Garnett back by Wednesday. And of course, the center position is tenuous, at best.
5. Chicago Bulls (24-12) (6) While they went 2-2, the R & B Connection (Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer) hasn’t lost a beat. But like all things NBA, they will need some help from their bench – especially from Taj Gibson and Kyle Korver. And they, like Miami, needa true center as Kurt Thomas isn’t the amswer.
6. Orlando Magic (25-12) (7) They and Miami are the hottest teams right now. And is it any wonder? The Magic won all of their games this week by double-digits, with Superman (Dwight Howard) leading the surge. Hedo Turkoglu is enjoying a resurgence in Orlando, allowing Magic fans to say, “Rashard who?”
7. Atlanta Hawks (25-14) (10) They, like their Southeast counterparts Miami and Orlando, had a perfect week. As long as they learn to distribute the ball, they’ll continue to win whereas if they play like the “old” Atlanta Hawks, things will get difficult for them. Probably the most athletic team in the Association.
8. Dallas Mavericks (26-10) (4) Them’s the breaks when you are missing Dirk Nowitzki and even worse, Caron Butler (out for the season). Meanwhile, they’ll have to rely on Shawn Marion and DeShawn Stevenson. Mark Cuban has to be at least a bit concerned.
9. Oklahoma City Thunder (25-13) (9) They split with Memphis while barely defeating Dallas (minus Dirk Nowitzki and Caron Butler) this week. Their schedule gets decidedly tougher as they face Houston and Orlando. Just two games, but don’t underestimate the Rockets.
10. Utah Jazz (25-13) (5) This week, Utah was like the “girl with the curl.” What that means is when they’re good (wins vs. Detroit and Houston), they’re good. When they’re bad (losses in double-digits to Atlanta and Memphis), they’re just awful. The Jekyll and Hyde renditions will have to stop if they want to remain at or near the top of the Northwest Division.
11. New Orleans Hornets (22-16) (11) While all things Hornets run through Chris Paul and David West, they seem to be missing that third scoring option. By default (and probably necessity), that would probably be Trevor Ariza. Well, he’s warming up as of late; hopefully that’s a recurring theme as opposed to a rarity.
12. New York Knicks (21-15) (13) They beat San Antonio and Phoenix while getting pounded by the Lakers this past week, which begs the question: Is this a recurring theme or an anomaly? They face Portland, Utah and Sacramento this week, so that should be a good indicator.
13. Portland Trail Blazers (20-18) (14) The Blazers can thank the sudden resurgence of LaMarcus Aldridge for the team’s upswing. While that is good, you cannot help but wonder how much they miss Brandon Roy’s absence from the starting lineup. But hey, better Aldridge being the man than say … Andre Miller? Wesley Matthews has been a pleasant surprise during this stretch, as well.
14. Denver Nuggets (20-16) (12) One has to wonder if the Carmelo Anthony rumors had something to do with the Nuggets’ poor showing this week. I will say this: Should the trade go down (and I suspect that it will), look for Denver to basically write off this season, which is unfortunate since they are still in playoff contention. And I do not blame Chauncey Billups for not wanting to go to New Jersey.
15. Houston Rockets (16-21) (15) One tick upward doesn’t mean much in Houston these days. They lack a true center and are undermanned, yet they find ways to win. Then there’s this rumor that they are trying to land Carmelo Anthony. Look, if they want to do some dealing, get a center, not some overpriced forward who is likely headed to New Jersey.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (17-20) (16) Is it the beginning of the end for the Grizzlies? Tough to say, but that maddening inconsistency they’re known for seems to be settling in once again. That may get you places in the Eastern Conference, but they’re in the West where inconsistency gets you nowhere. They lost to Charlotte Monday and now have to take on Detroit and Dallas, so redemption should be a priority here.
17. Milwaukee Bucks (14-21) (17) This week, despite the Bucks having a poor week, they get a pass as they had to play – and lose to – the Miami Heat twice. My suggestion to this team is to put Chris Douglas-Roberts into the starting lineup ASAP. It isn’t like they’re getting offensive help from the usual suspects, save for maybe John Salmons.
18. Phoenix Suns (15-20) (19) An interesting week for the Suns as they barely lose to the Lakers, get squashed by New York (expected?) and beat Cleveland by eight. Is inconsistency rearing its ugly head? The age issue becoming a factor? Or is it the trade backfiring? Alvin Gentry needs to do something and fast, otherwise Phoenix could be out of the playoff picture as early as late January.
19. Charlotte Bobcats (13-21) (23) Perhaps Larry Brown resigning is the cure that is ailing these Bobcats. The results speak for themselves as they have won three straight (as of Monday). Their offense has actually arose from the ashes and new coach Paul Silas had to have no small part for this team’s resurgence. Nevertheless, they need to keep on doing what they’ve been doing recently.
20. Golden State Warriors (15-22) (21) They lost and beat the good and bad teams this past week (beat New Orleans and Cleveland while losing to Orlando and the Clippers). Not unlike Memphis, the inconsistency seems to be there. But the schedule for the short-term favors Golden State and they’re relatively healthy – for this team, anyways. Things could soon get interesting in Oakland.
21. Philadelphia 76ers (15-22) (20) Like Golden State, they also beat and lost to both good and bad teams (beat Washington and Chicago but lost to New Orleans and Detroit). At least the trio of Jrue Holiday, Jodie Meeks and Elton Brand are holding up their end of the bargain while Andre Iguodala convalesces.
22. Indiana Pacers (14-20) (18) Is it me or do the Pacers seem to be losing their way? It seems like Roy Hibbert has lost his offensive touch lately and the team has lost its focus. And yet they are #7 in the Eastern Conference (as of Tuesday) playoff chase. Hibbert getting his shooting touch back along with other teams in the conference losing may help Indiana.
23. Los Angeles Clippers (12-24) (26) A funny thing about these Clippers. All of a sudden, Baron Davis knows his role; as a result, the team has actually gotten better. We already knew that Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin were good. It is a shame that Los Angeles decided to improve at the wrong part of the season.
24. Detroit Pistons (12-24) (22) As if the Pistons have enough problems, swingman Richard Hamilton is getting less court time and is part of the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes. One less distraction that Detroit needs right now.
25. Toronto Raptors (13-24) (24) The two scoring options for the Raptors, Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan, can possibly thrive – if there was a third scoring option. And it would help if they had a true center, as well. Since trades do not seem to be an option, they can only hope for a highposition come lottery time.
26. Sacramento Kings (8-26) (29) DeMarcus Cousins is improving, which means that Sammy Dalembert’s minutes are shrinking – not that he had many to begin with. And with Tyreke Evans’ ankle bugging him, Beno Udrih should take over the 1, yet Jermaine Taylor has been starting there. The Kings, if they’re smart, should draft a 1 with their next high lottery pick.
27. Washington Wizards (9-26) (27) They’re still the lone remaining team in the Association that is winless on the road, and I have no idea how Flip Saunders can turn that around. And it doesn’t help that Josh Howard’s injured again and isn’t expected to return for another 7-10 days or so. Nothing good to see in the 202.
28. New Jersey Nets (10-27) (28) Like Denver, the Nets may have some focus issues with the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes in progress. I know players say they aren’t worried about what’s going on there, but I think they are despite what they say.
29. Minnesota Timberwolves (9-29) (25) I find it comical that T-Wolves president David Kahn is preaching patience with this team. Sounds like a mirror image of team owner Glen Taylor. Would you trust a guy who drafts three point guards in one draft to run this franchise? And did I mention he once was a sportswriter?
30. Cleveland Cavaliers (8-29) (30) As bad as things are in Cleveland, they got even worse as Anderson Varejao is out for the season with a torn tendon in his right foot. At this rate, the Cleveland Clinic should get rich off the Cavaliers roster alone. Can’t find anything positive to report on this team.