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Cappers Picks NBA Power Rankings – March 26th, 2013

Larry’s NBA Power Ratings

Sixteen teams will begin the playoffs, but only five have anywhere close to a legitimate chance to win the championship.

It’s just the way it is in the NBA. David Stern realized long ago that it’s in the league’s economic interest for superstars to be on the stage when The Finals come around, so the league is geared to that objective. Rules allow players to form superteams, referees rarely have the courage to foul out stars, and legit competition is sacrificed for The Show.

Sucks to be Sacramento, Memphis, Atlanta or Orlando. But the NBA is pure capitalism, and the very rich know that it’s a zero-sum business, and they are very rich only because of the very poor.

To the rankings:

1. HEAT (55-14) – Everything is on the road this week. Orlando, Chicago and New Orleans, then Sunday in San Antonio in a unicorn game (a regular-season game that people actually care about).
2. Spurs (53-17) – Reports out of Argentina indicate that 35-year-old Manu Ginobili is close to signing a three-year contract.
3. THUNDER (52-19) – Considering the minutes they play and speed they play at, it’s amazing that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have not missed a game this season.
4. NUGGETS (49-22) – If you walk along the ledge of a cliff long enough, eventually you’ll fall off it. Nuggets have won 15 in a row, but have had to survive scares (Bulls, 76ers, Kings) to do it.
5. GRIZZLIES (47-22) – Memphis lives and dies with its defense, and the loss of Marc Gasol (out indefinitely with an abdominal tear) changes the dynamic.
6. CLIPPERS (48-22) – Chris Paul’s flop against the Kings was the worst of the season. The NBA has warned Paul to knock it off.
7. KNICKS (42-26) – Just get the feeling that the Knicks are the team most likely to bring a shank to a game.
8. PACERS (43-27) – Injuries are taking a heavy toll as West, Granger, George and Hill are all banged up.
9. NETS (41-29) – Brooklyn still has a chance to overtake New York in the Atlantic, but will have to do it out West while the Knicks have three of four at home this week.
10. WARRIORS (40-31) – Andris Biedrins started a few years ago and now gets only token minutes. Shows how far this team has come.
11. ROCKETS (39-31) – Looks like it’s the end of the line in Houston for troubled rookie Royce White, who has abandoned his D-League team and reportedly is seeking medical attention in Houston.
12. BULLS (38-31) – Could there be more opposite personalities at PG than the quiet-to-a-fault Derrick Rose and the player now holding Rose’s spot, mile-a-minute Nate Robinson? [ad-6571516]
13. HAWKS (39-31) – They can talk to Josh Smith all they want – he’s still going to hoist 3s whenever the mood suits him. And his mood produced two ill-advised long bombs in a bad loss at home to Portland last Friday night.
14. CELTICS (36-33) – The Celts have seen enough of Jeff Green to want to build around him, but right now he and Paul Pierce both need the ball the be effective.
15. LAKERS (36-34) – If the Lakers miss the playoffs, wouldn’t you love to be a fly on the wall when management conducts its exit interview with Kobe?

16. MAVERICKS (34-26)
17. BUCKS (34-35)
18. JAZZ (34-36)
19. TRAIL BLAZERS (33-37)
20. 76ERS (27-42)
21. WIZARDS (25-44)
22. RAPTORS (26-44)
23. KINGS/SONICS (25-46)
24. HORNETS/PELICANS (24-46)
25. TIMBERWOLVES (24-44)
26. SUNS (23-48)
27. PISTONS (24-47)
28. CAVALIERS (22-47)
29. MAGIC (18-52)
30. BOBCATS (16-54)

By Lawrence Paul

Lawrence Paul is back in the saddle as a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. He's got an AMAZING knack for predicting when a team will have a letdown! Stick with our resident gambling experts sports betting tips all season long!