Larry’s NBA Power Ratings
While the Heat players spend their days on the Miami beaches and then crush their opponents at night, a few hundred miles to the north a different Florida scenario is playing itself out.
The Magic are still adjusting to life without Dwight Howard, and they’re not doing too good a job of it in the city they call the House of the Mouse. While the Heat have enjoyed the fruits of a 22-game winning streak, the Magic have won only four games since Jan. 16.
Over that time Orlando has suffered 25 defeats, for a winning (maybe losing would be a better word) percentage of .138.
That’s life in the mansion/ghetto world of the NBA, where free agents pretty much get to play wherever they want to play, and with whom. Players who grew up getting to pick their high school, AAU and college teams figure that the NBA shouldn’t be any different.
Miami is in, Orlando is out.
C’est la vie in the NBA.
To the rankings:
1. HEAT (51-14) – Unlike the bitter old players from the Miami Dolphins, who protect their undefeated 1972 season like Fort Knox gold, the 1972 Lakers seem happy that the Heat are making a run at their NBA-record 33-game winning streak.
2. SPURS (51-16) – Other than injured Tony Parker, no key players average even 30 minutes a game. Remember that when SA shortens its rotation for the playoffs.
3. THUNDER (50-17) – For five straight seasons the Thunder have been above .500 against the spread.
4. NUGGETS (45-22) – Denver has a nice little streak (11 in a row) of its own going, but trouble awaits Monday in Chicago and Tuesday in Oklahoma City.
5. CLIPPERS (46-21) – Not sure why, but NY’s Kenyon Martin says that the Clippers’ fast-paced offense will fail in the playoffs, and that he hopes the Clips lose all the rest of their games.
6. GRIZZLIES (44-21) – Doubtful the Grizz will get that far, but wouldn’t a Finals matchup against the Heat be intriguing, what with Memphis’ inside advantage (Randolph, Gasol) and perimeter defense (Prince, Allen)?
7. PACERS (40-26) – No shame in losing to the Heat, or even the Lakers. But even on the rear end of a back-to-back, letting down in Philly should raise a few red flags.
8. KNICKS (38-26) –With four losses in a row and questions about Melo’s availability going forward, the Knicks really need a boost. They get it when Orlando comes to town on Wednesday.
9. WARRIORS (38-30) – The return of C Andrew Bogut has received little note around the league, but the 7-footer has hit double-figures in rebounds in 4 of the last 6 games, and went for 12 and 12 in GS’s 30-point win at Houston.
10. HAWKS (37-29) – Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in with three straight wins.
11. NETS (38-28) – Stomach-grinding times for wives and girlfriends as the Nets hit the road for 8 games and won’t return to Brooklyn until April 4.
12. BOSTON (36-29) – Two goals for the Celtics as they play out the string in the regular season – stay healthy and somehow avoid the Heat in the first round of the playoffs. Nothing else matters. [ad-6571516]
13. BULLS (36-29) – Outscoring Golden State 38-17 in the third quarter at the end of a long string of road games defies logic. However they did it, it helped restore order after a rough stretch.
14. LAKERS (36-32) – LA has been a decent road team since the All-Star break, so the schedule over the next two weeks (5 road, 1 home) shouldn’t make or break their playoff run.
15. ROCKETS (36-31) – Maybe Jeremy Lin has a point about the Rockets not playing hard all the time. Losing by 30 on your home court should be a wakeup call for these guys.
16. JAZZ (34-32)
17. BUCKS (33-32)
18. TRAIL BLAZERS (31-34)
19. MAVERICKS (31-35)
20. 76ERS (25-40)
21. RAPTORS (26-41)
22. WIZARDS (23-42)
23. TIMBERWOLVES (23-41)
24. KINGS/SONICS (23-44)
25. PISTONS (23-45)
26. CAVALIERS (22-44)
27. HORNETS/PELICANS (22-45)
28. SUNS (22-45)
29. BOBCATS (14-52)
30. MAGIC (18-49)
