This week’s rankings are indicative of the the reality of the league: The Eastern Conference is VERY top-heavy, and the Western Conference is chalked FULL of talented teams throughout. Teams like the Indiana Pacers (losers of 6/8) and the Philadelphia 76ers (3-5 over their last 8) are permitting veteran teams like the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks to creep back to within striking distance of their playoff positions. More significantly, if the losing continues, both the Pacers and Sixers will be in danger of sliding into those final 2 playoff positions, and set themselves up for eventual 1st round pairings with the Bulls and Heat. Out West, only 4 1/2 games separate the Los Angeles Lakers (3-seed) and the Houston Rockets (current 8-seed).
1.) Chicago Bulls (37-10, LW#1) Derrick Rose continues to go in and out of the lineup, but the Bulls just keep winning. The most impressive thing about the Bulls’ record is the fact that their 18-6 road record is actually better than most teams have done on their own home floor. I’ve been harping on their necessity to add an additional weapon for any real shot at a Championship, but the Bulls may have enough to shock folks if they could just be relatively healthy come playoff time.
2.) Miami Heat (33-10, LW#3) It’s tough to move up in the rankings, after starting the week with a tough (road) loss to the Magic before turning around and dropping an embarrassing road loss to a Bulls team without Derrick Rose, but that’s just what the Heat did. They battled it out on the road against Philly, with LeBron playing a pivotal role down the stretch and avenged the loss to the Magic with a dominant team performance at home on Sunday.
3.) Oklahoma City Thunder (34-11, LW#2) The Thunder have gone nearly two weeks without stringing together consecutive wins. Not saying it is time for OKC to panic, but I don’t think it is a coincidence that Marc Stein of ESPN is reporting OKC’s level of interest in signing newly available free agent guard Derek Fisher. Showdown game on Sunday, as OKC plays host to the Miami Heat.
4.) San Antonio Spurs (29-14, LW#4) Even though Dallas slowed their ‘roll’ on Saturday (2nd night of a road back-to-back), the Spurs looked very impressive in Friday night’s (near) wire-to-wire victory at OKC. Tony Parker continues to play like an MVP, and I’m officially re-naming Tim Duncan from “The Big Fundamentals” to, simply “Father Time”. Looks like it will be a dog-fight with several teams for the 2-seed out West, but the Spurs may have their eyes on tracking down the Thunder for the top seed. Rumor has it, they may have interest in signing Derek Fisher as well.
5.) Los Angeles Lakers (28-17, LW#6) That home loss to the Jazz should serve as a swift reminder to the Lakers that all is not ‘magically’ well, just by making a vast improvement at the point guard position, Ramon Sessions. Rough shooting night for Bryant (3-20 fg), but Bynum (seemingly, improving by the day) continues to emerge. Lakers fans expressed their sadness/gratitude for the loss of Derek Fisher (traded to Houston for back-up forward Jordan Hill and cap flexibility).
6.) Orlando Magic (29-17, LW#5) Impressive in a win over the Heat, not so much during a loss @San Antonio. Dwight Howard and Co. bounced back in a home blowout of the Nets (salt in the wound), only to get run off the court down the stretch in Sunday night’s rematch in Miami. If the Magic aren’t careful, this week’s schedule Bulls/Phoenix/Cleveland won’t be as forgiving towards up-and-down performances.
7.) Los Angeles Clippers (26-18, LW#8) The Clippers are 11-11 since losing Chauncey Billups, but were able to string consecutive wins together after acquiring LA-area native Nick Young (SG) from Washington on Thursday. While they may have solved a problem at SG with the addition of Young, Sunday’s home victory over the Pistons highlighted Blake Griffin’s inability to be depended upon down the stretch of close games. A career 61% FT shooter (55% this season), Head Coach Vinny Del Negro has recently resorted to pulling him from the lineup. You’d have to think that would be an ‘issue’ at some point.
8.) Memphis Grizzlies (25-18, LW#7) Two tough OT losses at the hands of the Lakers and Raptors, followed by a difficult come-from-behind victory over the Washington Wizards are no way to welcome Forwards Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph back from injury. That said, their returns are definitely welcomed to the additions for an already-hopeful Grizzlies fan-base with eyes on a deep playoff run.
9.) Denver Nuggets (25-20, LW#10) Just 3-3 over their last 6, the Nuggets unloaded their franchise center, Nene for oft-joked over F/C JaVale McGee. It seems to have been a cap-clearing deal, as they agreed to terms on a 5-year deal with returning (China) SF Wilson Chandler. After Wednesday (vs Det), the Nuggets play 7 of 8 games on the road. Coach Karl’s ability to work Chandler into his rotation and acclimate his game into the system will be the key to Denver’s playoff push. Denver is currently the 7-seed, which would match them with OKC in the 1st round.
10.) Dallas Mavericks (26-20, N/A) The defending Champs have been hovering just inside/outside the standings for the past month. While the victories over the Wizards and Bobcats are expected, the win vs. San Antonio was enough to ‘raise the eyebrows’ over. This week’s schedule is brutal: @Denver, vs LAL, @San Antonio, @Houston (2nd night of a back-to-back). If they can manage anything better than 2-2 over that stretch, then you can expect them to climb in the rankings.
Jabari A. Davis
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