8 Jan 11 NBA Power Rankings: With Playoffs in Sight, Teams Jockey for Positioning

Sam Greenwood/Getty ImagesWith approximately 15 games left in the regular season, the NBA playoff teams are all but determined already.The top teams in the NBA are left to jockey for playoff positioning, trying to avoid dates with Kobe or LeBron until their respective conference finals. The teams in the NBA cellar will start tanking (or evaluating young talent, as they say), in hopes of earning themselves a few more lottery balls for the NBA Draft.That doesn mean there wasn some significant movement in the B/R featured columnists NBA power rankings this week.Now that the Knicks snapped Dallas 13-game win streak, the hottest teams in the NBA are the Oklahoma City Thunder, Milwaukee Bucks, and Charlotte Bobcats, and theyve been rising up our power rankings accordingly. (The Knicks also jumped five spots for their heroic efforts against the Mavs.)Meanwhile, after a thrashing at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, the Boston Celtics dropped three spots, to No. 10. The Bulls and Raptors were the other two teams to Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
plummet this week, as Chicago (No. 17 to No. 20) has been hit by a rash of injuries lately, and Toronto (No. 14 to No. 18) suddenly forgot how to play defense again.Agree or disagree with where your favorite team appears? Don be afraid to speak up and call us out!(Author's note: Teams' overall records appear next to their names, along with where they were ranked in last week's edition of the Power Rankings.)1. Cleveland Cavaliers (52-15, LW: 1) With LeBron James and Antawn Jamison back healthy and in the starting lineup again, the Cavs have picked themselves right back up after a loss to Milwaukee 10 days ago and ran off three straight wins against the Spurs, the lowly 76ers, and the Celtics on Sunday. (The Celtics are currently the East No. 4 seed...meaning a second-round playoff date with LeBron and Co.)The Cavs look to be cruising to the playoffs at this point, being the first in the NBA to 50 wins (last two first-to-50-win teams won the NBA title that same year) and the first to clinch a spot in the playoffs.2. Orlando Magic (47-21, LW: 2)The Magic were on an eight-game win streak these past two weeks (including a home win over the Lakers) before they hit a speed bump against Charlotte on Sunday.Dwight Howard is becoming ever more imposing down low as the playoffs near, which must comfort Magic coach Stan Van Gundy late at night. If D-Ho going for 25-15 every game, and Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson, and J.J. Redick can stretch the floor by knocking down some threes, the Magic will have a return trip to the Eastern Conference finals punched.3. L.A. Lakers (49-18, LW: 4)Dare we say...do the Lakers look suddenly mortal lately? After three straight losses last week (at Miami in OT, at Charlotte, at Orlando), the Lake-show rebounded with three closer-than-expected wins this week against Toronto, Phoenix, and Golden State.For a team that was in the 70-win conversation before the season, squeaking out a three-point win against 18-win Golden State isn living up to the prestigious standards set for them. The Lakers may be becoming contented with the regular season and turning their focus to the playoffs, but two teams in the West are breathing hot down their neck for the best record in the West.4. DallasMavericks (45-22, LW: 3)Raise your hand if you had Dallas as the clear short-term winner of the trade deadline.No?Didn think so.But ever since the arrival of Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood from the Wizards, the Mavs only rolled off a 13-game win streak before being cooled off by the Knicks (of all teams) this past weekend.Suddenly, the Mavs are only four games out of the West top spot for the playoffs, and theyre looking more and more like legitimate Finals contenders alongside the Lakers and the Nuggets.Butler can shoulder enough of the offensive load to take some pressure off Dirk, Jason Kidd still a phenomenal facilitator, and Haywood provides a defensive intensity that the Mavs have lacked for years.5. Denver Nuggets (45-22, LW: 5)Before a heart-wrenching last-second loss to Houston last night, the Nuggets were one of the hottest teams in the West. Denver entered Monday on a six-game winning streak, including wins over possible playoff squads of Oklahoma City, Memphis, and Portland.Carmelo Anthony has clearly evolved to the next level of elite talent, as his commitment to rebounding and the defensive end only continues to develop in these final 15 games of the season. A potential second-round matchup of Dallas-Denver would be ahighly entertaining duel of Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
NBA superstars (Dirk vs. Melo) and premier point guards (Kidd vs. Chauncey Billups).6. Atlanta Hawks (42-23, LW: 9)Besides a hard-to-explain hiccup against the Knicks early last week, the Hawks have been rolling toward the playoffs by feasting on a cupcake schedule as of late.The degree of difficulty in their schedule rises from here10 of the Hawks final 17 opponents are likely playoff-boundbut with Boston slumping, the Hawks will be gunning for the No. 3 seed in the East for the opportunity to avoid LeBron until the Eastern Conference finals. (Not like Dwight Howard much of an improvement.)7. Utah Jazz (43-24 , LW: 6)Slight cause for concern in Utah: After losing only seven games in January and February combined, the Jazz have already dropped three games in 15 days of March.While the Jazz notched a road win over the playoff-bound Suns last Thursday, losses to Milwaukee and Oklahoma City over this past weekend raise questions about whether or not Utah should be considered a legitimate contender for the West.8. Oklahoma City Thunder (41-24, LW: 10)The Thunder continued their surprising run toward the playoffs with four wins in the past eight days, having now guaranteed themselves of finishing no lower than .500 on the season.(Remember, this team won a total of 23 games last year, and they didn add too many key players this past offseason.)As long as Kevin Durant dropping 25-plus-point nights, Russell Westbrook scoring 20-plus and dishing six assists, and guys like Jeff Green, Thabo Sefolosha, and Serge Ibaka step up in complementary roles, the Thunder will be a nightmare of a first-round playoff opponent for any team in the West.9. Phoenix Suns (41-26, LW: 8)In a strange scheduling quirk, the Suns only had one game from last Sunday through this Saturday, and it was at home against the top-seeded Lakers. (They lost, 102-96.)Despite a convincing win over New Orleans on Sunday, the loss to the Lakers made it impossible to move the Suns up in the rankings any. If Amar Stoudemire continues his recently dominant play, that could very well change next week.10. Boston Celtics (42-24, LW: 7)What a difference a day can make for a team. On Sunday, the Cavaliers were having their way with the Celtics on ABC; on Monday, the Celtics returned the favor by hammering the Pistons at home.If the healthy Celtics show up in the playoffs, with Marquis Daniels contributing, Rasheed Wallace not jacking up 17 threes a game, and Big Baby Davis making headlines for his play instead of his name, Boston still not a team to sleep on.11. Milwaukee Bucks (36-29, LW: 13)The Bucks continue their surge up the East leadership, positioning themselves as the likely No. 5 seed in the East. The Celtics and Hawks will be battling until the last game in the season for the right to avoid the Bucks in the first round.Ever since acquiring John Salmons in a trade from Chicago and signing guard Jerry Stackhouse, the Bucks have looked like a brand new team (and theyre currently on a six-game win streak).12. San Antonio Spurs (39-26, LW: 12)It seems to be an annual tradition at this point: The Spurs start off slow, we NBA writers write the Spurs off as legitimate title contenders, then they come storming back come playoff time and run straight to the NBA Reebok Chicago Bears #54 Brian Urlacher Realtree camo Jersey
championship.Losing Tony Parker for six weeks to a hand injury certainly hurts the Spurs chances of winning it all, but George Hill has filled in capably for Parker. Theyve won eight of their past 10 games, with the only two losses coming at Houston and at Cleveland. (Wins included Oklahoma City, Phoenix, and Memphis.)13. Portland Trail Blazers (41-28, LW: 11)With Brandon Roy seemingly fully recovered from his hamstring strain, the Blazers have righted their season ship after falling apart in early February. Winning seven of your past eight games typically does that to a team.Since a loss at Denver last Sunday, the Blazers feasted on a cupcake special this week of Golden State, Toronto, and Sacramento twice. Not too surprisingly, the Blazers are now on a four-game winning streak.14. Memphis Grizzlies (35-32, LW: 16)While the playoffs are likely out of reach for the upstart Grizzlies, that hasn stopped them from playing hard every night. The Celtics found that out the hard way this past Wednesday, as the Grizzlies whooped them by 20 points.Throw in wins over New York and New Jersey, and it clear that the Grizz aren just content with an All-Star berth for Zach Randolph. Theyre looking to end the season with a plus-.500 record.15. Charlotte Bobcats (34-31, LW: 19)Charlotte enters these power rankings as one of the hottest teams in the NBA, currently on a six-game winning streak. (Their record is good for the No. 8 seed in the East currently.)With the slumping Bulls now three full games behind the 'Cats, Michael Jordan team appears primed for its first playoff berth in franchise history. Seeing as two of their past six wins came against the Lakers and the Magic, the Bobcats may be primed to make some noise in the playoffs once they get there.16. Houston Rockets (34-31, LW: 18)For those of you who doubted Rockets GM Daryl Morey when he traded Tracy McGrady expiring contract for Kings guard Kevin Martin and the New York Knicksntire future...what do you have to say now?Martin has been sensational paired with Aaron Brooks in the backcourt lately, and the Rockets are on a three-game winning streak (including a 125-123 nailbiter over the Nuggets last night).17. Miami Heat (35-32, LW: 15)Miami capitalized on its cupcake feast of a March schedule, and after stealing two wins against the Hawks and Lakers last week, the Heat have won six of their past seven games.Dwyane Wade been his usual phenomenal self as the playoffs approach, but the Heat have to be concerned with a bruised left thigh that kept Michael Beasley out of Miami past two games.18. Toronto Raptors (32-33, LW: 14)The allergic-to-defense Raptors have returned! After a surge of winning in late January/early February, the Raps have given up 100-plus points in each of their past five games...and, not surprisingly, theyre on Reebok Chicago Bears #6 Jay Cutler Realtree camo Jersey
a five-game losing streak to show for it.For a team that once looked to be a lock for the East No. 5 seed, the Raps look like theyve got first-round knockout written all over them. And Chris Bosh, their free agent-to-be superstar, has gone back to sounding like he got one foot out the door.19. New Orleans Hornets (33-35, LW: 20)Before a win on Monday against the Clippers, the Hornets had only won one of their past seven games, as theyve been struggling to put five healthy bodies on the court each night.With Chris Paul expected back in a week or so, the Hornets biggest challenge will be figuring out how to balance Paul return with the sensational play of backup point guard Darren Collison.20. Chicago Bulls (31-34, LW: 17)The Bulls are on red-alert, after Derrick Rose smacked into the Wall of Dwight last week against Orlando and sprained his hand (again!).Joakim Noah still battling plantar fasciitis, Luol Deng missed the past two games with a calf injury, and, much like the Hornets, the Bulls playoff dreams seem to be slipping away due to inopportune injuries. (At least Taj Gibson can benefit and become a fantasy basketball playoffs sleeper.)21. L.A. Clippers (25-43, LW: 21)March hasn been too kind to the Clippers, a team that was once in the thick the Western Conference playoff race this year.After a 108-104 win over Utah on March 1, Clipper Nation hasn been able to celebrate a win since. The Clippers, currently trapped in an eight-game losing streak, faced seven straight playoff teams and got blown out in six of those seven games.22. New York Knicks (24-43, LW: 27)The Knicks made the largest power rankings leap of any team, after being the unlikely foe that snapped Dallas 13-game win streak on Saturday.After scoring a win over Atlanta in the early part of last week and chopping down the barely breathing 76ers last night, the Knicks appear to be one team that refuses to tank the rest of the season. (Perhaps because theyve mortgaged their next three first-round lottery picks?)23. Sacramento Kings (23-44, LW: 25)Sacramento doing what it's supposed to do at this time of year: getting killed by playoff teams (losses to Oklahoma City and Portland twice in the past week) and beating up on the crappy ones (Minnesota, Toronto).Meanwhile, Tyreke Evans is averaging 20.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists; if he finishes the season with 20/5/5, hell join Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, and LeBron as the only rookies in NBA history to achieve such lofty stats.24. Detroit Pistons (23-44, LW: 24)The state of Deeeee-troit basketball must have Pistons fans wincing, as their team has gone 2-9 over its past 11 games.The Pistons didn even look competitive against the Celtics last night, a day after Cleveland dispatched of Boston. To make matters worse, Tayshaun Prince got kneed in the back by teammate Jason Maxiell, and he couldn even limp off the court without assistance.25. Philadelphia 76ers (23-44, LW: 22)Sixers management wants to tank the season and evaluate the young talent (read: get more lottery balls in the draft); Sixers coach Eddie Jordan says his job isn to evaluate players; it to win games.Is it any surprise that Jordan all but a certainty to be fired at the end of this season, after driving the Sixers into the ground in 67 games flat? Luckily for the Sixers, they don need to try and tank...theyre terrible enough to lose games on their own volition.26. Washington Wizards (21-44, LW: 23)What once looked like a promising new start after the trade deadline has quickly devolved into an eight-game losing streak, as the Wiz haven won since beating New Jersey on Feb. 25.But let be honest: the Wiz news of the week was about Gilbert Arenas: the death of Agent Zero (hell be Agent Six next year?), and Arenas tell-all interview with Esquire, where he reveals that he had a 400-500-piece gun collection (!!).27. Golden State Warriors (18-48, LW: 26)The Warriors may not win many games, but they still play one of the most entertaining brands of basketball in all of the NBA (assuming youre not a basketball traditionalist that loves defense).The Dubs have two big focuses for the rest of the season: Stephen Curry late-season Rookie of the Year surge, and whether or not they can win the six more games that would make coach Don Nelson (1,327 career wins) pass Lenny Wilkens (1,332 wins) on the NBA all-time wins list.28. Indiana Pacers (21-45, LW: 28)With only two games in the past week (W over Philly, L to Celtics), the Pacers continue chugging along one step behind the rest of the crappy teams with win totals in the low 20s.The Pacers, Wizards, Sixers, Knicks, Pistons, and Kings all have win-loss records within a few games of each other; expect a mad tanking dash to the finish as these teams jockey for a better draft pick.29. Minnesota Timberwolves (14-53, LW: 29)Since a four-game winning streak at the end of January/beginning of February, the Timberwolves have managed to lose 15 of their past 16 games. (The lone win came against Miami.)Their schedule gets no easiertheir next Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
seven opponents are all slated for the playoffs as of today. Barring a massive upset, theyre guaranteed to have the second worst record in the NBA, guaranteeing themselves (at worst) a top-five draft pick.30. New Jersey Nets(7-59, LW: 30)Three more wins. Three more wins. That all the Nets are thinking about in these final 16 games, as they try to escape tying the historically bad 9-73 Sixers from 1972-73.Dates with Memphis, Oklahoma City, Houston, and Dallas didn help their cause any. Neither will a game against Atlanta tonight. But the Nets have a real shot against the Sixers at home tomorrow.The Bleacher Report NBA Power Rankings are done by averaging individual feature columnist's tallies. Weekly contributors are: Alex McVeigh (Dallas), Rich Kurtzman (Denver), Denton Ramsey (Houston Rockets), Jose Salviati (LA Clippers), Keith Schlosser (NY Knicks), Curtis Finchum (Oklahoma City), Bryan Toporek (Philadelphia 76ers), Shaun Ahmad (Washington Wizards) and DeMarco Williams (NBA Lead).