Larry’s NBA Power Ratings
Does winning help LeBron James rehabilitate his image? Do you like him now that his team has figured it out and is favored to win its second consecutive championship?
Does all that bragging (“Not one, not two, not three . . .” etc.) now seem ok?
Time to forgive “The Decision?”
Do you believe that TV commercial where he’s getting his hair cut like a normal guy and yukking it up with his BFFs?
Does winning change your opinion of LeBron James?
To the rankings:
1. HEAT (47-14) – Don’t think the Heat don’t know that they can tie the NBA record for consecutive wins (33) against Philly at home on April 6 and break it three days later at home against Milwaukee.
2. THUNDER (47-16) – OKC held Boston under 80 on Sunday. When they ramp it up defensively like that, the offense can take the night off and still win.
3. SPURS (48-15) – In one 11-day late-March/early April span, SA has games against Denver, the Clippers, Miami, Memphis and Oklahoma City. Orlando, too, but the Magic don’t really count.
4. NUGGETS (42-22) – Besides being impossible to beat at home, the Nuggets are second-best in the league ATS at 38-26.
5. GRIZZLIES – (42-19) – We should know a lot more about the Grizz after this week, when they head west for a pair of back-to-backs (Tuesday/Wednesday vs. Portland and the Clippers, and Friday/Saturday vs. Nuggets and Jazz).
6. CLIPPERS (45-20) – As his career nears an end and his minutes diminish, we’re starting to look back at Lamar Odom as a decent guy who just was never all that in to basketball and didn’t max out his skills.
7. PACERS (39-24) – Imagine an Indiana team with this bunch of grinders and Larry Bird in his prime as the centerpiece.
8. KNICKS (38-22) – Stoudemire done until the second round of the playoffs. Anthony done until his knee feels better. And a team that has never dealt well with adversity heads west for 5 games in 8 days.
9. NETS (37-26) – P.J. Carlesimo has done a great job keeping it together, but with 12 of the final 19 on the road, maintaining the 4 seed in the East looks like a daunting task.
10. CELTICS (34-28) – Five wins in the last six, and a chance to fatten up this week with two games against Charlotte sandwiched around a home game against Toronto.
11. BULLS (35-28) – Team says Derrick Rose is progressing well from ACL surgery. Media reports, though, say that his knee still hurts and now his hamstrings are tight.
12. WARRIORS (35-29) – Golden State games have start to go under as oddsmakers stay one step ahead of the betting public.
13. HAWKS (34-28) – What’s up with Josh Smith, who wants a max contract but olften plays as if his mind is on a beach in Antigua?
14. LAKERS (33-31) – OK, but can Kobe Bryant continue to play 40-plus minutes a game and still have anything left for the playoffs?
15. ROCKETS (34-30) – Rockets settling in for a long stretch (9 of 10 games) at home in which they can pressure Golden State for the 6th playoff spot and avoid OKC and SA in the first playoff round.
16. BUCKS (32-29)
17. TRAIL BLAZERS (29-33)
18. MAVERICKS (29-33)
19. JAZZ (32-31)
20. RAPTORS (25-39)
21. SUNS (22-41)
22. HORNETS/PELICANS (22-42)
23. KINGS/SONICS (22-43)
24. PISTONS (23-42)
25. 76ERS (23-39)
26. TIMBERWOLVES (21-39)
27. CAVALIERS (21-42)
28. WIZARDS (20-41)
29. MAGIC (18-46)
30. BOBCATS (13-50)
