Weeks 14 & 15 Archive: NBA Power Ratings

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (36-9) – The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to sit atop the # 1 spot in the power rankings. Cleveland is coming off a 17 point win over the Los Angeles Clippers in which LeBron James poured in 25 points on 9-17 shooting. James leads the team with 27.7 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, and 7 assists per game. Mo Williams, James’ point guard is shooting 94.0% from the free throw line. Cleveland leads Detroit by 11 games in the Central Division. Cleveland will play Sunday at Detroit, in a Central Division/Eastern Conference battle. The Cavs will host Toronto, travel to New York (Knicks), host the Lakers, travel to Indiana and host Phoenix all before the mid-February All Star Game.

2. Los Angeles Lakers (37-9) – The Los Angeles Lakers picked up a win Saturday night 115-98, but may have lost big man Andrew Bynum for an extended period of time. Bynum injured his knee midway through the game. The Lakers stay at # 2 in the top 32. Kobe Bryant is leading the team with 26.7 points per game, followed by Pau Gasol’s 9.0 rebounds per game. The Lakers are in the middle of a six game road trip that started in Minnesota, and continued to Memphis, and will span through New York, Toronto, Boston and Cleveland, finally coming back home Tuesday February 10th with Oklahoma City and then back on the road to Utah on February 11th before the All Star Break.

3. Boston Celtics (39-9) – The Boston Celtics have started to find the groove that brought them a World Championship last year, and also back to the way they started the 2008-2009 season. Despite winning ten straight games, we have them pegged at # 3 overall. The Celtics are coming off an eight-point win at Detroit, before back-to-back home wins over Dallas and Sacramento. The Celtics are getting nearly 19 points per game from Paul Pierce, while the Big Ticket Kevin Garnett is pulling down 9 rebounds per game. Boston will host the Minnesota Timber wolves on Sunday, followed by a road game at Philadelphia, before coming back home to take on the Lakers on February 5th. The next night Boston will travel to New York to battle the Knicks, and then on Sunday February 8th the Celtics will host San Antonio, followed by back-to-back games at New Orleans and Dallas before the All Star Game.

4. Orlando Magic (35-10) – The Orlando Magic continue to remain # 4 overall. The Magic are coming off a 135-111 win over Indiana, followed by an 11 point win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dwight Howard is scoring 20.1 points per game, and 13.9 rebounds per game in a season many are considering a MVP type season. The Magic lead the Atlanta Hawks in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference by eight full games. Orlando will have a full slate before the All Star game, with six games in eleven days. On February 1st, Orlando will battle Toronto, followed by February 2nd with Toronto. A home game with the Clippers will be followed by a road game in Indiana. February 8th the Raptors will host New Jersey, and then February 11th the Magic and Nuggets will meet up in Orlando to kick off the All Star Break.

5. San Antonio Spurs (32-14) – The San Antonio Spurs move up one spot, and have finally made it into the top five after their slow start. The Spurs are 32-14 overall, and first place in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference. San Antonio leads New Orleans by three games, Houston by four games, and Dallas by five full games. The Spurs have won three straight games, and are 18-7 at home and 14-7 when playing on the road this season. Tim Duncan is scoring 20.4 points per game, and also 10.3 rebounds per game. The Spurs will start a five game road trip before the All Star break on Monday when they play at Golden State. The next night San Antonio will stop in Denver, before taking four days off before heading to Boston, New Jersey and Toronto. After the All Star Break the Spurs will play in three straight road games, not playing another home game until February 24th.

6. Denver Nuggets (31-16) – The Denver Nuggets slide down one position from # 5 to # 6, falling below San Antonio. The Nuggets lead the Northwest Division by 1.5 games, ahead of Portland, and 5.5 ahead of Utah. The Nuggets are coming off a 11 point win over Charlotte, following a loss to New Orleans. The Nuggets are getting 19 points per game from Chauncey Billups and 8.5 rebounds from Nene. The Nuggets will host San Antonio on Tuesday, as their last home game before the All Star Break. Denver will play their last five games on the road before the break with trips to Oklahoma City, Washington, New Jersey, Miami and Orlando.

7. New Orleans Hornets (28-16) – The New Orleans Hornets continue to sit at # 7 in the power rankings. The Hornets are 28-16, and three games behind the San Antonio Spurs. New Orleans has lost two straight games, with Golden State and at San Antonio. Chris Paul is scoring 21.7 points per game, and also dishing out 10.9 assists per game. The Hornets will play four straight home games, starting on Monday with Portland. Chicago, Toronto and Minnesota will all come to town before New Orleans travel to Memphis on February 9th, and then on February 11th the Celtics will make a trip to New Orleans.

8. Portland Trailblazers (29-17) – The Portland Trailblazers have won four straight games and moved to 29-17 overall. Despite the winning streak; Portland remains # 8 in the power rankings. The Trailblazers are scoring 98.7 points per game, and allowing 94.7 per game. Brandon Roy leads the team in scoring with 22.6 points per game, followed by his 1.2 steals per game. The Trailblazers are in second place in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference, trailing Denver by 1.5 games. The Trailblazers will play in three straight road games, starting on Monday at New Orleans. Portland will make trips to Dallas and Oklahoma City, before hosting the Knicks on February 8th. A home game with Oklahoma City, followed by a road game at Golden State will conclude the first half of the Trailblazers season. *

9. Houston Rockets (29-19) – At 29-19 the Houston Rockets sit sixth overall in the Western Conference, and in third place in the Southwest Division. The Rockets are coming off a 17 win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night, snapping a brief two game losing streak. Yao Ming is scoring 19.6 points per game and also 9.5 rebounds. The Rockets will host the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, followed by a game at Memphis the next night. Houston then hosts Minnesota, travels to Milwaukee, and hosts Sacramento all before the All Star Break.

10. Dallas Mavericks (27-19) – The Dallas Mavericks are coming in with a current two game-winning streak. Dallas picked up a home win over Golden State, followed by a big road win at Miami. The Mavericks are in fourth place in the Southwest Division, trailing first place San Antonio by five games. The Mavericks are scoring 100.5 points per game, and also allowing 99.2 per game. Dirk Nowitzki is scoring 25 points per game for Dallas, and also picking up 8.3 rebounds per game. On Monday Dallas will travel to Orlando, followed by a home game with Portland, road game at Utah, then three straight home games with Chicago, Sacramento and Boston.

11. Phoenix Suns (25-20) – The Phoenix Suns remain # 10 in the power rankings, despite two straight losses; both at home. The Suns took a ten-point loss at the hands of the Spurs, followed by an eleven-point defeat to Chicago. The Suns are 11.5 games behind the Lakers in the Pacific Division. The Suns Amare Stoudemire is scoring 21.1 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game. The Suns are scoring 104 points per game, and allowing 103.4. The Suns will host Sacramento on Monday February 2nd, followed by a road game at Golden State, and then a home game with Golden State. On February 8th the Suns will start a three game road trip, with stops at Detroit, Philadelphia and Cleveland.

12. Atlanta Hawks (27-20) – The Atlanta Hawks continue to stick around towards the top, or at least the top of the middle pack in the Eastern Conference. Trailing Cleveland, Boston and Orlando, the Atlanta Hawks currently sit at # 4 in the Conference. Atlanta’s 27-20 record places them nine games behind Orlando in the division. Atlanta is 5-5 in their last ten games, including a Saturday night loss at Milwaukee. Joe Johnson leads the Hawks in scoring with 21.5 per game. Atlanta will continue their brief three game road trip on Wednesday at Minnesota, followed by a trip to Charlotte. The Hawks will then come home and host the Clippers and Wizards, followed by a February 11th game at Detroit.

13. Miami Heat (25-21) – At 25-21, the Miami Heat look to hang on to a playoff spot ahead of Philadelphia and Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference. The Heat are coming off a 111-96 loss to Dallas. The loss for Miami was their second straight. The Heat actually move up one spot from # 14 last week to # 13 this week. The Heat are led by Dwyane Wade with his 28.5 points per game. The Heat will host the Clippers on February 2nd, travel to the Pistons on February 4th; 76ers on February 7th, then host Charlotte and Denver, and travel to Chicago on February 12th.

14. Detroit Pistons (25-20) – The Detroit Pistons are 25-20, and have been noted as struggling. Detroit fell down one spot from # 13 to # 14 with their current play. The Pistons are 11 games behind Cleveland, and only four games ahead of Milwaukee for second place in the Central Division. The Pistons are scoring, and allowing 93.2 points per game, Detroit is coming off an eight-point loss to Boston, which came two nights after a win over Minnesota. The Pistons will host Cleveland and Miami this week, and then head to Milwaukee, before hosting Phoenix, travel to Chicago, and then host Atlanta on February 11th.

15. Utah Jazz (26-22) – The Utah Jazz are 3-7 in their last ten games, and are currently sitting on the outside looking in at a playoff spot. The Jazz fell four spots from # 11 to # 15. The Jazz are 8-16 on the road this season, and 18-6 at home. The Jazz are in third place in the Northwest Division, trailing Denver and Portland. The Jazz are led in scoring by Paul Millsap, with his 15.4 points per game. The Jazz will play two straight home games with Charlotte on February 2nd, and February 5th with Dallas. The Jazz will then travel to Sacramento and Golden State. On February 11th the Jazz will take on the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.

16. Philadelphia 76ers (23-23) – Remaining at .500 on the season, the Philadelphia 76ers also remain # 16. Philadelphia at 23-23, have won seven of their last ten games. The 76ers are now in second place in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, and seventh overall in the conference. Philadelphia is coming off a two point loss to New Jersey, in which snapped their modest two game winning streak. Philadelphia is scoring 96.4 points per game, and allowing 95.8 per game. Philadelphia will play five straight home games before the All Star Break, with Boston, Indiana, Miami, Phoenix and Miami coming to town.

17. New York Knicks (21-25) – The Knicks move up three positions; winning four of their last five games. The Knicks have passed up New Jersey for third place in the Atlantic Division. David Lee’s 15.9 points per game and 11.7 rebounds per game leads the team. The Knicks will see a tough stretch in which the Lakers, Cavaliers and Celtics will all three come to the Garden, before the Knicks take to the road and go to Portland, Golden State, and Los Angeles (Clippers) all before the break.

18. Milwaukee Bucks (24-27) – Despite being under .500 on the season, the Milwaukee Bucks currently are in eighth place, good enough for the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee also remains # 18 in the power rankings. The Bucks snapped a two game losing streak with two straight wins over Toronto and Atlanta. Milwaukee is in third place in the Central Division, trailing Cleveland by 15 games, and Detroit by 4. The Bucks will play February 3rd at New Jersey, and then play three straight home games with Detroit, Houston and Indiana to complete the first half of the season.

19. Chicago Bulls (21-27) – The Bulls have won three straight games, and look to sneak up in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are tenth overall in the conference, just 1.5 behind 8th place Milwaukee. The Bulls are 3-1 on their current seven game road trip, with wins over the Clippers, Kings and Suns. Chicago will continue their trip on February 3rd at Houston. Trips to New Orleans and Dallas will conclude the road trip. Chicago will come back home on February 10th to take on the Pistons, followed by a home game with the Heat.

20. New Jersey Nets (21-27) – The Nets fall three positions from # 17 to # 20, going 2-8 in their last ten games. The Nets snapped their three game losing streak on Saturday night with a 85-83 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Nets are led in scoring by Devin Harris, with his 21.5 points per game, and also 6.4 assists per game. The Nets are in fourth place in the Atlantic Division, trailing Boston by 18 games. The Nets will host Milwaukee on February 3rd, and travel to Washington on February 4th. New Jersey will then host Denver, travel to Orlando and host San Antonio to finish the first half of the 2008-2009 season.

21. Charlotte Bobcats (19-28) – The Charlotte Bobcats are keeping their playoff hopes alive, just three games behind the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte is 19-28 overall, and in fourth place in the Southeast Division. The Bobcats have lost two straight games; at Portland and at Denver. Charlotte is getting 16.4 points per game from Gerald Wallace, 10.6 rebounds from Emeka Okafor and 6.5 assists from Raymond Felton. The Bobcats will complete their five game road trip on Monday at Utah. On February 6th the Bobcats will host Atlanta, followed by February 8th, 9th and 11th games at Miami, with Los Angeles (Clippers), and with Washington.

22. Indiana Pacers (19-29) – The Indiana Pacers sit in fifth place in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The Pacers are two games behind the Bulls for fourth place and 18.5 behind the Cleveland Cavaliers. Danny Granger will make his first All Star game as he leads the team with 25.5 points per game. The Pacers are allowing a NBA best 107.0 points per game, while scoring 104.7. Point guard T.J. Ford leads the team, shooting 89.3% from the free throw line. Indiana will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, then travel to Philadelphia and host Orlando. February 8th the Pacers and Wizards will get together, followed by a home game with Cleveland and road game at Milwaukee.

23. Toronto Raptors (19-29) – The Toronto Raptors continue to stay at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with their 19-29 record. The Raptors are coming off a 96-85 defeat at the hands of Milwaukee, snapping their three game winning streak. Chris Bosh leads the Raptors in scoring and rebounds with 23.1 and 9.7 per game. The Raptors will host the Orlando Magic on Sunday, then go through a tough stretch at Cleveland, with Los Angeles (Lakers), at New Orleans, at Memphis, at Minnesota and with San Antonio to finish the first half of the season.

24. Minnesota Timber wolves (16-29) – The Timber wolves had one of the best January’s in all of the National Basketball Association. Minnesota, at 16-29, is 14 games behind Denver in the Northwest Division. Minnesota has gotten huge production from big man Al Jefferson, who is scoring 22.9 points per game, and 10.6 rebounds per game. Jefferson was left off the Western Conference All Star team. In the final six games for Minnesota in the first half of the season, four of them will be on the road. On Sunday, Minnesota will travel to Boston. February 3rd Minnesota will travel to Indiana, followed by a home game with Atlanta. Minnesota will take a trip to Houston and New Orleans, and then host Toronto on February 10th.

25. Golden State Warriors (15-33) – At 15-33 the Warriors fight with the Minnesota Timber wolves for the “best of the worst” in the Western Conference. After the distinct top nine, the Timber wolves and Warriors lead the rest of the pack of Memphis, Oklahoma City, Sacramento and Los Angeles. The Warriors are coming off a 17-point loss to Houston on Saturday night. That loss was one night after an upset win over the New Orleans Hornets. Golden State trails the Lakers by 23 games in the Pacific Division. The Warriors will play two straight home games; with San Antonio and Phoenix, before traveling to Phoenix, then coming back home until the All Star Break, to see Utah, New York (Knicks) and Portland.

26. Memphis Grizzles (11-35) – The Memphis Grizzles remain at the # 26 position. Memphis is 11-35 overall, but have dropped 11 straight games. The Grizzles are in danger of following to the bottom of the power rankings, just ½ game ahead of Oklahoma City and barely ahead of Sacramento, Washington and Los Angeles. The Grizzles have not won since January 4th, 2009 over Dallas. In the 11 losses for the Grizzles, only two of the losses came by less than 10 points. The Grizzles will travel to Washington on Monday to look to snap their losing streak. After their trip to Washington, Memphis will host Houston, Los Angeles (Clippers), Toronto, and New Orleans before a February 11th game at Philadelphia.

27. Oklahoma City Thunder (11-36) – The Thunder have finally moved out of the National Basketball Association basement! Oklahoma City at 11-36 is barely ahead of Sacramento, Washington and Los Angeles. The Thunder are getting quality play from Kevin Durant, at 24.9 points per game, and 6.7 rebounds per game. The Thunder had won two straight games over New Jersey and Memphis, before their January 30th loss to Utah. The Thunder will take on the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, followed by home games with Denver, Portland and Sacramento, before taking back to the road at the Lakers and Portland.

28. Sacramento Kings (10-38) – The Sacramento Kings have lost eight straight games and have accomplished the worst record in the National Basketball Association. The Kings barely escape Washington and Los Angeles for the final spot in the power rankings. The Kings are 3-22 on the road, and are just coming off a tough winless road stretch. The Kings came home and got blasted by Chicago on Friday night. The Kings host Oklahoma City on Sunday February 1st, and then will travel to Phoenix on February 2nd. February 6th will be the Kings last home game before the All Star Break, as they will take on Utah. Sacramento will take to the road for three straight games at Oklahoma City, Dallas and Houston.

29. Washington Wizards (10-37) – The Washington Wizards barely escaped the bottom of the 30-team power rankings. Washington did it with their 106-94 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. The Wizards are 10-37 overall, which ranks the same as Los Angeles, and actually ½ game better than Sacramento. Washington trails Charlotte for fourth place in the Southeast Division by nine games, and are a full 26 games behind divisional leader Orlando. The Wizards will host Memphis on February 2nd, followed by home games with the Nets, Nuggets and Pacers. February 10th and 11th Washington will make trips to Atlanta and Charlotte to finish the first half of the season.

30. Los Angeles Clippers (10-37) – The Clippers have fallen from # 28 to the final # 30 position after their 106-94 loss to the Washington Wizards. The Clippers are tied with Washington in the standings, and ½ game ahead of Sacramento. The Clippers leading scoring is Al Thornton with 17.2 points per game, while Marcus Camby is grabbing 13.4 rebounds per game. Los Angeles has lost five straight games to end the month of January. February will feature more straight road games starting in Miami, and moving onto Orlando, Memphis, Atlanta and Charlotte before a home game with The New York Knicks on Wednesday February 11th.