NBA Power Rankings: January 10
Each week during the heart of the NBA season, and once or twice during the NBA Preseason, we’ll gather the troops around the roundtable and hash out the NBA Power rankings.
We check out the stats, looks at the records, and, most importantly, we take a close, close look at the heart of each team. We encourage you to come back each week and see how the nba Power Rankings have changed.
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There’s a new Sherriff in town. It was only a matter of time. Remember when Pat Riley was “about to take over” as Miami head coach? Me neither.
(Last week’s rankings in brackets)
1. (2) Miami Heat (30-9): If they don’t lose another game this season, maybe they can make a run at breaking the Bulls’ 72-10 record. The way they’re playing right now, that’s actually possible.
2. (4) Orlando Magic (25-12): The Magic have a nine-game winning streak of their own and are playing with a solid chip on their shoulder, beating some very good teams (including the Spurs and Knicks) along the way.
3. (1) San Antonio Spurs (31-6): It’ll be interesting to see if San Antonio’s veteran team, like Boston’s, can stay healthy in the second half. Will Gregg Popovich start the annual tradition of resting his starters?
4. (7) Los Angeles Lakers (27-11): What was that about the Lakers struggling? Struggling their way to four straight wins?
5. (3) Boston Celtics (28-8): A seven-game cushion should be enough to hold off the Knicks until Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins return. Right?
6. (5) Chicago Bulls (24-12): Is it just me or are the Bulls emerging as that team no one wants to face in the first round? They’re 16-3 at home, 13-7 in their conference and 6-0 in their own division.
7. (9) Oklahoma City Thunder (25-13): The Thunder top the second tier of NBA contenders with the Durant/Westbrook/Green trio leading the charge. Is it time for this young team to think about becoming buyers at the trade deadline?
8. (10) Atlanta Hawks (25-14): One of the league’s hottest teams right now, with four straight wins and eight of 10. But don’t you just expect another choke in the playoffs? The Hawks still need to make a move.
9. (8) Utah Jazz (25-13): Ole faithful keeps chugging along but one concern is a mediocre record against the teams they may face in the playoffs (13-11 conference, 3-4 division)
10. (11) New York Knicks (21-15): Have we overhyped them slightly? Scoring like crazy but this is still a horrible defensive team under Mike D’Antoni. They’ll have to endure the odd skid as a result.
11. (12) New Orleans Hornets (22-16): Any chance this deep group sneaks up on the West down the stretch? Maybe, but I’m not so sure Chris Paul and the Hornets have decided that they’re contenders. What is this team’s identity?
12. (6) Dallas Mavericks (26-10): No Caron Butler and, of course, no Dirk. So it’s no wonder the Mavs are the big fallers this week in the power rankings.
13. (15) Portland Trail Blazers (20-18): The gap between the top dozen teams and the rest is significant. I don’t think the Blazers stand a chance against the teams above them without Brandon Roy. 
14. (13) Denver Nuggets (20-16): Where will the Nuggets rank next week? Maybe 25th? This team is about to be gutted in a Carmelo Anthony trade.
15. (19) Golden State Warriors (15-22): At least Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry have made this season fun. Golden State may top the “teams people wish could make the playoffs as a No. 8 seed so we could cheer for them against the Lakers” power rankings.
16. (23) Los Angeles Clippers (12-14): Too dramatic to boost the Clippers this high? Why not? They’ve won seven of 10 and that’s more than any team below can say. Maybe they’re fuelled by hatred for Donald Sterling.
17. (18) Memphis Grizzlies (17-20): If the win over the Lakers last week was the highlight, the airplane brawl was the lowlight. A season’s worth of news in one week.
18. (17) Philadelphia 76ers (15-22): With Michael Vick and the Eagles eliminated, does Elton Brand become Philly’s new favorite son? On second thought, go Flyers.
19. (25) Charlotte Bobcats (13-21): Can M.J. just come out of retirement, suit up for the Bobcats, call it Space Jam 2 and get it over with?
20. (27) New Jersey Nets (10-27): This is a pre-emptive strike in the power rankings. I’m anticipating a big rise for the Nets a week from now when Carmelo Anthony, Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups (probably) grace their starting five.
21. (16) Milwaukee Bucks (14-21)
22. (22) Detroit Pistons (12-24)
23. (20) Phoenix Suns (15-20)
24. (21) Indiana Pacers (14-20)
25. (24) Toronto Raptors (13-24)
26. (14) Houston Rockets (16-21)
27. (28) Sacramento Kings (8-26)
28. (29) Washington Wizards (9-26)
29. (26) Minnesota Timberwolves (9-29)
30. (30) Cleveland Cavaliers (8-29)
