NBA Power Rankings - March 16th 2008

NBA Power Rankings

March 16, 2008



01 – Boston Celtics 51-12 (Last Week 02)

No one is noticing that the Celtics are on a ten-game winning streak because of the exploits being performed in Houston.

02 – Houston Rockets 44-20 (Last Week 04)

The Rockets are making everyone who picked them as a title favorite feel really good about themselves with the winning streak hitting 20 games.

03 – Los Angeles Lakers 45-19 (Last Week 03)

The question for the Lakers is whether they want to risk putting Andrew Bynum back in the lineup – for chemistry as well as health reasons.

04 – New Orleans Hornets 43-20 (Last Week 08)

It’s pretty simple for the Hornets: When David West is in the lineup, they’re an elite team.

05 – Phoenix Suns 42-22 (Last Week 11)

I may have spoken too soon about the Shaq trade, because the Diesel and the Suns sure looked good in their win over San Antonio.

06 – San Antonio Spurs 44-20 (Last Week 01)

Just when it looked like the Spurs were back on track, they lose three straight to Phoenix, Denver, and New Orleans.

07 – Detroit Pistons 46-18 (Last Week 05)

Either the Pistons are taking it easy or they’re scared to death of a potential second-round matchup with LeBron and the Cavaliers.

08 – Dallas Mavericks 42-23 (Last Week 09)

Despite the acquisition of Kidd, the Mavericks have first-round playoff exit written all over them in this year’s Western Conference.

09 – Utah Jazz 43-23 (Last Week 06)

Based on this week’s assessment, the Jazz are the seventh-best team in the West right now. Talk about ridiculous.

10 – Golden State Warriors 40-23 (Last Week 13)

It’s also incredible that the Warriors are twice as good as last season while finding themselves in the exact same position in the standings.

11 – Orlando Magic 42-24 (Last Week 07)

The surging Magic dropped in the rankings only because of the even stronger play of those around them.

12 – Denver Nuggets 38-26 (Last Week 10)

Knocked off San Antonio, although the Nuggets have to be worried about the fracture to Iverson’s finger.

13 – Cleveland Cavaliers 37-28 (Last Week 12)

The Cavs are 22-11 since the beginning of 2008, which is only a game behind Boston for teams in the Eastern Conference.

14 – Portland Trail Blazers 34-31 (Last Week 15)

A late-season renaissance by the Blazers might prohibit them from getting the lottery pick that could make the difference down the road.

15 – Toronto Raptors 34-30 (Last Week 14)

In dire need of Chris Bosh, the Raps are struggling without their All-Star. The upside? Falling in the standings helps Toronto avoid Cleveland in the first round.

16 – Philadelphia 76ers 31-34 (Last Week 16)

The surprise of the season, the Sixers continue to demonstrate to the misfits in the East that all it takes is some effort and teamwork to win a few games.

17 – Washington Wizards 31-32 (Last Week 17)

Caron Butler is expected to return this week to a Wizards team that was just starting to figure out how to win without the small forward.

18 – Sacramento Kings 28-35 (Last Week 18)

The Kings looked great in their upset of the Lakers, but just awful in losses to the Clippers and lowly Minnesota.

19 – Chicago Bulls 26-38 (Last Week 20)

In the latest installment of Bulls***, Chris Duhon and Aaron Gray are chirping at the coaching staff while Joakim Noah is proclaiming that the Bulls are actually better than Detroit.

20 – New Jersey Nets 27-38 (Last Week 24)

Picked up a big win over Cleveland after Richard Jefferson told the media where to go in his own articulate way earlier in the week.

21 – Indiana Pacers 25-39 (Last Week 22)

To paraphrase the famous words of comedian Dave Chappelle, this is what happens when keeping it real goes terribly, terribly wrong.

22 – Atlanta Hawks 26-38 (Last Week 23)

Can’t seem to find the right mix now that Bibby is running the point, although Al Horford is certainly not the problem.

23 – Charlotte Bobcats 24-40 (Last Week 19)

The Bobcats are playing amazingly well without Gerald Wallace, having gone 5-1 over their last six games.

24 – Los Angeles Clippers 21-42 (Last Week 25)

Kobe said it best last week: “The Clippers would right in the mix if Elton Brand was still playing.” Right in the mix in the East, maybe.

25 – Milwaukee Bucks 23-42 (Last Week 21)

It’s too bad that Yi is out indefinitely, because the Bucks were actually starting to play well for a change.

26 – New York Knicks 19-46 (Last Week 28)

Word has it that Stephon Marbury could be on his way to Detroit. What does Joe Dumars owe Isiah Thomas, anyway?

27 – Minnesota Timberwolves 14-49 (Last Week 30)

Picked up two road wins including a nice victory over Sacramento at raucous Arco Arena.

28 – Memphis Grizzlies 15-49 (Last Week 26)

Have dropped ten straight contests. At least with Gasol around they had a fighting chance of winning.

29 – Seattle SuperSonics 16-49 (Last Week 27)

They were bad with Kurt Thomas and Wally Szczerbiak flanking Durant, so now the Sonics are just plain bad alongside Durant.

30 – Miami Heat 11-52 (Last Week 29)

D-Wade is finally taking a rest for remainder of the season. Will the Heat get to 15 wins?