Week 9 looked no different than Week 8 at the very brim in our NBA Power Rankings, thanks to some stellar play from the Warriors. And Week 10 seems to have arranged itself in similar fashion.
1. Golden State Warriors – Even with three games lost in the last ten, the Warriors have ample cushion between them and the pack.
2. Chicago Bulls – Poor shooting cost the Bulls a win streak but they’re the only team beside the Hawks to go 9-1 in their last 10 games.
3. Atlanta Hawks – The only thing keeping this gem of a team down at three is that they’re beneficiaries of the fourth-easiest schedule this season.
4. Portland Trailblazers – It’s a strange day when Western powerhouses, like Portland, get their face rearranged by Eastern teams like the Hawks.
5. Dallas Mavericks – The Rondo parade continues.
6. Memphis Grizzlies – Marc Gasol is this year’s MVP so far and a big, rim-shaking, defense-anchoring reason why the Grizz are still contenders.
7. Toronto Raptors – The Raptors are on a skid made worse by their inability to snag big games.
8. Los Angeles Clippers – The Clips can play.
9. Houston Rockets – The Josh Smith experiment has yet to take off like the Rondo ride.
10. Phoenix Suns – They have some climbing to do but the Suns have now won eight of the last 10.
11. Washington Wizards – Contenders don’t lose three-straight games. Pretty good teams do.
12. San Antonio Spurs – There’s a new heartbreak hotel in SA. The Spurs cannot catch any breaks this season.
13. New Orleans Pelicans – Anthony Davis, thank you very much.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder – The Pelicans are proving a little harder to surmount than first expected. Luckily, the Thunder’s starting five are killing it right now.
15. Cleveland Cavaliers – Panic mode in Cleveland.
16. Milwaukee Bucks – This is whereabouts Milwaukee will stay all year.
17. Brooklyn Nets – They recently gave up a ‘L’ but they’re downgraded starting five is playing an upgraded game.
18. Utah Jazz – Very, very quietly, the Jazz are stringing together some beats, finally.
19. Miami Heat – Miami is in tatters.
20. Indiana Pacers – Indy has seen better times.
21. Detroit Pistons – After a five-game win streak, the Detroit boys are within striking distance of the playoffs.
22. Charlotte Hornets – Kemba!
23. Sacramento Kings – Boogie is none too pleased.
24. Denver Nuggets – They whooped the Grizzlies, which speaks to the level of talent on the squad. But they’re usually just whooping on themselves.
25. Boston Celtics – Two great organizations might soon have to get great at tanking.
26. Los Angeles Lakers – Some Kobe heroics stole them one against Indiana.
27. Orlando Magic – The Magic do defense OK, but everything else rather paltry.
28. Philadelphia 76ers – No longer the NBA’s worst team, they’re still far from being the best. Far, indeed.
29. Minnesota Timberwolves – The Wolves are neck-and-neck with the Knicks for longest active win streak. A battle no one really wins.
30. New York Knicks –Against all odds, the Knicks just keep one-upping themselves, extending their streak to 11 consecutive losses.
