NBA Power Rankings: Do you think they have it right?
1 (1)
Rockets 46-20 Since no one has guessed right yet in trying to project when this winning streak is going to end, perhaps we need to ask a new question. Such as: How on earth did these
Rockets lose six straight games back in November?
2 (2)
Celtics 52-13 Nice St. Patrick's Day treat for the league's only 50-win team . . . back-to-back games in San Antonio and Houston. Of course, if the Celts sweep both and thus halt Houston's historic streak, No. 2 will be too low.
3 (6)
Pistons 48-18 Disconcerting as it was to lose at home to Philly right after the
Sixers lost at home to Boston, Detroit answered about as loudly as you can in the regular season with the impressive home W's over the
Spurs and
Hornets.
4 (4)
Jazz 44-24 Ray Allen's injury departure diminishes Friday's breakthrough in Boston . . . but only a little. The
Jazz just gained some much-needed confidence on the road to go with the distinction of being the last team to beat Houston.
5 (3)
Lakers 45-21 It won't be easy -- and the
Lakers honestly have bigger concerns if Pau isn't back in a few games -- but Kobe can't do his MVP campaign any harm if he can keep LA in the top five with Bynum and Gasol out injured.
6 (7)
Hornets 44-21 Cause for concern? Paul and West are indeed banged up, but neither injury appears serious. Cause for optimism? The
Hornets have two wins over San Antonio by at least 24 points, which is saying something.
7 (8)
Suns 44-22 Bad news: 10 of its next 14 games are roadies. Good news: Phoenix just won big games with two different teams, the
Spurs (grinding) and the
Warriors (running). Just what the
Suns were hoping for with Shaq.
8 (9)
Mavericks 44-23 The
Mavs mowed through the cupcake portion of their schedule with five full-on routs. Now to see how much momentum and continuity they've gathered up with J-Kidd as the
Lakers,
Celtics and
Spurs come to town.
9 (5)
Spurs 44-22 More from our Didn't See This Coming files: San Antonio is a mere 9-11 this season against the rest of the West's top eight. Our friends at the Elias Sports Bureau say only Phoenix, at 7-14, has been worse.
10 (10)
Warriors 41-24 The
Warriors need a 9-8 finish for their first 50-win season since Webber was a rookie . . . and Baron needs to play in just five more games for his first 70-game season since playing all 82 in each of his first three years.
11 (14)
76ers 33-34 March Madness, indeed. The
Sixers are 7-1 this month and 15-4 since falling 12 games under .500 on Feb. 4. That adds up to some tasty revenge for not having a single representative in All-Star Weekend events.
12 (13)
Magic 44-24 The
Magic were the league's third-fastest team to clinch a playoff berth. Count that as a surprise that can only help Stan Van's Coach of the Year candidacy and Hedo's odds in the Most Improved Player race.
13 (11)
Nuggets 40-26 I'm afraid that those entertaining 168 points weren't enough to drastically change Denver's outlook. Not with a five-game trip looming for a 12-19 road team and not when Seattle is on the schedule only once more.
14 (18)
Wizards 33-32 Butler is back and so is Washington's .500 record. The problem is Philly's surge up the East ladder, which threatens to bump the Raps or the Wiz down to the dreaded No. 7 seed and a first-round series with Detroit.
15 (12)
Cavaliers 38-29 Big Z and Big Ben are ailing and the
Cavs are just 8-6 since swinging their big trade. Something else to concern LeBron: Houston seems intent on winning every game until T-Mac at least passes LBJ in the MVP race.
16 (15) Trail
Blazers 35-32 Oden is suddenly back on the practice floor and the
Blazers won't let their record dip below .500. I know March generally belongs to the collegians, but no one will mind if we keep calling these guys Cinderellas. Right?
17 (17)
Kings 30-36 The question was inevitably raised by our man Marty Mac in Sactown even though Theus is winning more than expected as an NBA coaching rook: Do
Kings fans now miss the coach who's on that 22-0 run in Houston?
18 (16)
Raptors 34-32 The Raps are wise to rest Bosh for safety's sake, but the wait for his return must feel like forever. Bosh hasn't played yet in March and Toronto is 0-6 on the road, with just two W's in nine games. Over Seattle and Miami.
19 (22)
Nets 28-38 Does it hurt more, Leasterners, coming from one of your own? The
Nets lose six straight to Western teams, beat Cleveland in their return and Richard Jefferson says, "It's good to be back in the Eastern Conference."
20 (19) Hawks 28-38 If the Hawks miss the playoffs after all that time in the top eight, they'll surely know why. Beating the
Knicks at MSG was only Atlanta's third win in 22 road games, including a 2-8 road record in the Mike Bibby Era.
21 (20)
Bulls 26-39 The latest farce in the East's "race" for No. 8: Chicago is still alive and still hasn't won three games in a row all season. The M-Stands-For-Misery trio of Memphis, Minnesota and Miami ar
blog.
