Sorry, I have been M.I.A. for a bit with these power rankings. I've been busy getting ready for the celebration of my birth and all.
Anyway, let's just jump right in, because we've all got a lot of things to do this time of year.
#1) BOSTON CELTICS - No debating here. They're on a great run - winners of 13 in a row - and beating some quality opponents. Even with Rondo out, and all the bigs battling injuries, this team continues to roll. I also like that they seem to have a little chip on their shoulder this season. The Celtics are also hitting a pretty easy stretch with only Orlando, New Orleans and San Antonio looming with winning records in their next 10.
#2) SAN ANTONIO SPURS - Much like Boston, this aging squad of stars is also rolling along pretty well, winning their last 9 games. At 24-3 they have the most wins in the league. Also like Boston, this team has assembled some great depth and infused some young talent to go with their veteran leaders. There really are quite a few similarities between the two teams. It is a LONG NBA season, but right now the Spurs look prepared to make a run at the West.
#3) DALLAS MAVERICKS - If someone would have told me back in October that this would be the top 3 in my power poll at the end of December, I would have told them they were drunk. San Antonio and Dallas in the top 3? No LA? No Miami? What? But here we are. Tyson Chandler has given Dallas that interior presence they've lacked on the defensive end. Dirk is playing great as usual, Kidd can still distribute, even if other aspects of his game have deteriorated. One could even make a strong case for them to be ahead of San Antonio. (Home loss to MIL keeps them at #3) The Mavs recently swept their way through Florida, beating Miami and Orlando, and look to continue the winning ways next week against OKC and San Antonio.
#4) MIAMI HEAT - Finally! Miami cracks the top 5! This is what we've all been waiting for. In hindsight, the problems they had to start the season could probably have been predicted as they try to feel things out in South Beach. But I was a little surprised it took almost two full months to do so. 9-1 in their last 10 with the only loss coming to Dallas. LeBron and company seemed to have been woken up starting with that game at Cleveland and then the game at Madison Square Garden. LeBron seems to be enjoying the villain cap.
#5) CHICAGO BULLS - Ever since their loss to Boston earlier this month the Bulls have gone on a nice little run. Many of their wins have been against inferior teams, though they have sprinkled in a few quality Ws, beating the Lakers and Thunder on their home floor. They've also taken the hit of losing Noah for a couple months in stride, and haven't really missed a beat. Taj Gibson continues to give them solid efforts and Boozer is healthy again, so they haven't missed too much. If they continue to pound lesser foes and steal some key wins here and there, they'll be in great shape.
#6) LOS ANGELES LAKERS - I was surprised to see LA was 8-2 in their last 10, because it seems like every time I turn around they are losing to a weak-ass team. I suppose when it happens once or twice it seems like it is all the time because it is such a surprise. They began December by losing to Houston. They have also lost to Chicago on the road, and last night against Milwaukee and Earl Boykins! The rest of the month has been filled with wins against some of the league's worst teams. They still count the same in the win column, but I think most would agree this team has hit a rough stretch in the last 6 weeks, especially compared to the way they came out of the gates. This team might be better served to take the 2009-10 Celtics approach to the regular season and just make sure they show up in June. Gasol is playing a ton of minutes and Kobe doesn't have the energy he had the first few weeks.
#7) OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER - After a bit of a rough start to the year that saw Russell Westbrook emerge as a star in the league that coincided with Durant struggling to find his spot for the first time with a teammate that might rival him for team stud, the Thunder are rolling in Oklahoma City. (That is probably the longest sentence in the history of Dueling Couches) 7-3 in their last 10, I'm continually puzzled at why this team hasn't made a run at a good big man. They have arguably two top 15 players in the league (maybe better) and should be a title contender. But I don't see them that way, because they lack any interior strength on both ends.
#8) UTAH JAZZ - Every time we're ready to crown someone else the top PG in the league, Deron Williams drops a 25-15-8 line on us. This guy is unreal, and has been carrying this team so far this season. He really has the whole package at PG, and for my money he is tops in the league. That being said, I'm not sure he can maintain the load like this over the course of a season. That is a lot to ask of a PG - to be a Rondo-like distributor, yet score like Rose. Some nights you just can't do both. For now, though the Jazz are living large and look like a top 5 squad in the West.
#9) DENVER NUGGETS - Hot on the trail of the Jazz are the Denver Nuggets, despite being marred in trade rumors involving their start player, Carmelo Anthony. Melo continues to hold the best hand in this deal, but to his credit seems to be playing hard and certainly playing well while we all await the inevitable. Still though, I don't think anyone is taking this team that seriously, as we don't expect the roster to look the same after the trade deadline. Kind-of a lame duck NBA squad.
#10) ORLANDO MAGIC - Almost forgot about this team. Maybe that's part of their Magic act, but this is not the script they wrote for this season. Howard continues to be a beast, and they've brought back Hedo to resurrect that great season he had a few years ago, as well as adding J-Rich. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Van Gundy is definitely on the hot-seat.
For the sake of brevity, I'll just list the rest. You can yell at me in the comments.
#11) Houston Rockets - I know. I know. WTF?! Balling of late, and the other candidates for this spot are not that enticing.
#12) New Orleans Hornets - Sinking ship. Need to turn things around in a hurry.
#13) New York Knicks - Everyone got too excited to finally see some good basketball at the Garden again. Truth probably somewhere between the 13-2 run and the 3 game skid.
#14) Atlanta Hawks - If I'm a Hawks fan I want to puke in my cereal this morning. Was Josh Smith actually in uniform against Boston?
#15) Phoenix Suns - Bizarre trade. What is the direction? Nash keeps them relevant, but for how long?
#16) Portland Trail Blazers - New nickname, via the Portland paper - Frail Blazers.
#17) Indiana Pacers - Nothing against the Pacers, but they are who we thought they were.
#18) Memphis Grizzlies - Free Rudy Gay!
#19) Golden State Warriors - Losing Lee hurt. Losing Curry hurts more. Still fun though.
#20) Milwaukee Bucks - Huge win against the Lakers, but Jennings out with foot injury spells doom.
#21) Philadelphia 76ers - Not trading Iguodala looks regrettable.
#22) Toronto Raptors - Can you say overachievers? I'm shocked they have 10 wins with that roster.
#23) Detroit Pistons - Whatever happened to Deeeeetroit Pistons basketball? Looking like they'll be lost in the shuffle of bad-mediocre teams for a while.
#24) Los Angeles Clippers - Even the owner is heckling them now. Blake Griffin is the real deal though. Could end up with all of the year's top 10 dunks.
#25) Charlotte Bobcats - Most exciting thing about this team? No...I'm asking.
#26) New Jersey Nets - Hey, they've won two in a row. Streaking! Can they pull off the Melo deal?
#27) Minnesota Timberwolves - Free Kevin Love! Beasley still looks like a steal, though we're all waiting for the relapse.
#28) Washington Wizards - Got rid of gun totin' Gil. Things are looking up!
#29) Cleveland Cavaliers - Dan Gilbert's promise of a title before Lebron seems futile.
#30) Sacramento Kings - Who would have figured? Samuel Dalembert is not the answer.
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