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NBA Power Rankings (March. 2nd)

NBA power rankings plus ratings for each week of the 2011 NBA season by Cappers Picks nba basketball betting experts…

Bet NBA Basketball – NBA Power Rankings: March 2

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. Stick with us when you’re ready to Bet NBA Basketball.

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These should be our most reliable power rankings so far this season. All the questions are answered, the big names have changed teams and the trade deadline has passed.

Now, we can assess which teams are actually going somewhere as the playoffs approach.

(Previous rankings in brackets)

1. (4) Dallas Mavericks (44-16): All the hype for the Eastern powerhouses and the Lakers in the West – but it’s the Mavs who are playing the best ball in the New Year. Dallas has won seven straight and is 17-1 over its last 18 games. Protest their easy schedule all you want. But any team that goes 17-1 is going to the top of my friggin’ power rankings. Deal with it.

2. (5) Los Angeles Lakers (43-19): While the beasts from the East pound on each other, the Lakers are another team quietly going about their business in the West. No deadline deals necessary. Just Kobe. The Lakers will contend again.

3. (2) Chicago Bulls (41-17): I’ve said it before but the Bulls remain one of my favorite sleeper teams. They have outstanding big men, a possible MVP in Derrick Rose and are considerably younger than their rivals in Boston.

4. (3) Boston Celtics (43-15): if they can reach the playoffs healthy enough, they’ll be dangerous, as they still seem to have Miami’s number. Time to lean on Jeff Green’s fresh legs down the stretch, Doc.

5. (7) Miami Heat (43-17): For the most part, the Heat have settled in as the powerhouse we knew they’d be. But I see one alarming trend: losses to the Celtics, Bulls and Knicks over their last seven games. What if Miami isn’t a “big-game” team?

6. (1) San Antonio Spurs (49-11): The Spurs may keep sliding down the ranks over the next month. Tony Parker is out with a calf strain and they aren’t the same without him. Look how easily Memphis walked through them last night.

7. (6) Orlando Magic (39-22): Just when we were ready to relegate the Magic to tier-two contender status, Dwight Howard breathes fire in a locker-room tirade and motivates the troops. Give Orlando three straight wins.

8. (9) Oklahoma City Thunder (36-22): I suppose we should’ve expected a regression. The Thunder traded their third-leading scorer for an injured Kendrick Perkins, leaving a big gap in the lineup. Suddenly, they don’t have the Northwest locked up after all.

9. (17) New York Knicks (30-28): Yeah yeah, the win over Miami was a statement. But before we cream ourselves, let’s realize that the Knicks (a) are 2-2 since the Melo trade and (b) lost to Cleveland with Melo in the lineup. He still needs time to gel with Amar’e Stoudemire.

10. (13) Phoenix Suns (31-27): Can’t see I saw their surge up the standings coming. They’ve won eight of 10. Does Steve Nash become part of the MVP discussion if Phoenix makes the playoffs?

11. (12) Memphis Grizzlies (34-28): The Grizz stand in the way of Houston getting that eighth seed and, with the Zach Randolph/Rudy Gay tandem, have to be the favorite. Gay should return from injury soon.

12. (16) Portland Trail Blazers (33-27): Had won seven of eight before their recent two-game skid. As long as Brandon Roy’s knees hold up, the Blazers have a good shot to reach the big dance.

13. (24) Houston Rockets (31-31): Step one: dismantle team. Step two: win five straight games. Huh?

14. (8) New Orleans Hornets (35-27): Why am I the only one ragging on Chris Paul? Check his stats. This is worst effort since his rookie year…at least.

15. (11) Atlanta Hawks (36-24): Two straight 22-point efforts from Joe Johnson snapped a streak of seven straight in which he scored 14 or less. The big-money man has to be better.

16. (10) Denver Nuggets (35-26): Danilo Gallinari’s broken toe hurts but I’m still not ready to write Denver’s playoff hopes off just yet. The Nuggets have depth.

17. (14) Philadelphia 76ers (30-30): .500 in the East practically makes them a contender for home court.

18. (22) Indiana Pacers (27-32): I like Indiana’s chances to outpace the other Eastern Conference also-rans now that Roy Hibbert is showing flashes.

19. (23) Milwaukee Bucks (23-36): Between injuries and inconsistency, it just isn’t Milwaukee’s year. Yet the Bucks are still just four games out of a playoff spot.

20. (19) Charlotte Bobcats (26-33): Shipping out Gerald Wallace was arguably a curious move considering how easy it is to make the playoffs in the East. But I say kudos to MJ: better off aiming high for the future by netting two first-rounders.

21. (18) Utah Jazz (32-29)
22. (20) Golden State Warriors (26-33)
23. (29) Toronto Raptors (17-44)
24. (25) Sacramento Kings (15-43)
25. (15) Los Angeles Clippers (21-40)
26. (27) Detroit Pistons (22-40)
27. (26) Minnesota Timberwolves (14-47)
28. (30) Cleveland Cavaliers (11-48)
29. (21) New Jersey Nets (17-43)
30. (28) Washington Wizards (15-44)

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By Shea Matthews

Shea Matthews the Senior Writer at CP. Lives and breathes sports. He made the transition from athlete to sports journalist at a young age, writing in TV & national papers. Shea applies his knowledge to sports betting + handicapping daily, and shares winning picks with the world.