While the top three has remained the same, Portland has jumped into the top spot in TheChiefly.com’s NBA Power Rankings. Brooklyn on the other hand has managed to collapse into a cushy spot at the bottom of the pack. Lucky for the Nets, they have a lot of company from the rest of the east in the bottom 10.
NOTE: Previous ranking is in italics.
Top Of The Pack
1) Portland Trailblazers (23-5, Last week: 2)
The Blazers jumped the Pacers for number one for two reasons: 1) They are playing really, REALLY, great basketball and 2) They don’t pull Dallas Cowboys-esque chokes to end games. Basketball is a dangerous sport.
2) Indiana Pacers (23-5, Last week: 1)
The Pacers got put here for two reasons: 1) Despite their horrific meltdown against the Heat, the Pacers are still the team to beat in the east and 2) They are still playing really, REALLY great basketball. (1)
3) Oklahoma City Thunder (23-5, Last week: 3)
Everybody in the west better look out! The Thunder are a Jeremy Lamb breakout season away from returning to title contending form.
4) Miami Heat (22-6, Last week: 5)
Let me take this time to outline the cruelty that the basketball gods have bestowed on Miami. They will be the ONLY team this year to be away from home for both Thanksgiving (Cleveland) AND Christmas (L.A.).
No matter how much hate you have for the Heat, you have to feel for the players who won’t be able to be home for Christmas.
5) San Antonio Spurs (22-7, Last week: 4)
The Spurs record for their last six home games? 3-3. With one of those losses coming at the hands of their Christmas Day opponent: The Houston Rockets.
6) L.A. Clippers (20-10, Last week: 6)
WHY MUST YOU TEASE US DOC RIVERS?? One week your team looks like they won’t make it out the first round. The next week they look like title contenders.
Please choose one Doc!
7) Phoenix Suns (17-10, Last week: 9)
They might not stay here for long, but for now, they are the “slipper” seems to fit.
8) Dallas Mavericks (16-12, Last week: 11)
Don’t hate, Houston! The Eillis/Nowitzki experiment is the best thing going in the NBA right now. I truly believe that they can move up even more. Which leads us too…
9) Houston Rockets (19-11, Last week: 7)
James Harden is down with an ankle sprain, which is going to hurt.
10) Golden State Warriors (17-13, Last week: 10)
Is it me, or has this team regressed somewhat? There’s just something about them that just doesn’t sit right with me. Maybe they are missing Jarrett Jack? Or the fact that Andre Iguodala can’t stay healthy? I can’t put my finger on it.
The Hey Don’t Forget About Us, Club
11) Atlanta Hawks (15-13, Last week: 13)
Can someone in the east stop choking and beat the Heat at home? Is that too much to ask?
12) Denver Nuggets (14-13, Last week: 8)
Reason number 567 the Eastern Conference is terrible: The Nuggets are the 12th best team and if the playoffs started today THEY WOULD NOT BE IN IT!
13) Los Angeles Lakers (13-16, Last week: 19)
If it wasn’t for Phoenix, this would be my “glass-slipper” team. Who knew that Nick Young would actually blossom into a good player?
14) Minnesota Timberwolves (13-15, Last week: 12)
Earth to Ricky Rubio: Stop holding your team back!
15) Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets (14-15, Last week: 14)
Why did they have to do that “Hornets unveiling”? Ever since that night, the Bobcats have been looking like the “Bobcats”.
16) New Orleans P… (12-14, Last week: 15)
No, it’s not a typo. I refuse to type that horrible name. The N.O.P have been looking better. If only they can get Anthony Davis back…
17) Memphis Grizzlies (12-14, Last week: 16)
Reason number 234 the Eastern Conference is terrible: Memphis is a much better team than: Washington, Detroit, and Boston. The difference? Those three east teams are “playoff” teams.
(Shaking my head.)
18) Detroit Pistons (14-16, Last week: 17)
STILL waiting for the Josh Smith-Brandon Jennings-Greg Monroe experiment to blow up in their faces. Don’t worry, it’s coming.
19) Toronto Raptors (11-15, Last week: 28)
They are here ONLY because they occupy the four seed in the East.
20) Washington Wizards (12-13, Last week: 18)
See: Toronto Raptors.
The Bottom 10/The Eastern Conference
21) Cleveland Cavaliers (10-17, Last week: 21)
Bold prediction time: Cleveland WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS.
22) New York Knicks (9-19, Last week: 24)
See: Cleveland Cavaliers.
23) Chicago Bulls (11-16, Last week: 20)
Their win over the Cavaliers on December 21st was DESPERATELY needed.
24) Philadelphia 76ers (8-20, Last week: 25)
Is it me, or is Even Turner (19.3ppg) making a strong case for 1) Most Improved Player Award and 2) Player who really needs to be traded so he can contribute to a winning team.
25) Orlando Magic (8-20, Last week: 23)
Orlando perplexes me. They have the talent to compete in a weak Eastern Conference, but they just can’t seem to get traction, especially at home. Maybe when they get their act together they can jump into gear.
26) Sacramento Kings (8-19, Last week: 26)
When your coach outright says you are a bad basketball team, chances are, you probably are. Furthermore, I am officially jumping off the Rudy Gay bandwagon.
27) Utah Jazz (8-23, Last week: 29)
Reason number 745 the Eastern Conference is terrible: The last place Jazz are a better team than a playoff contender in the east.
28) Boston Celtics (12-17, Last week: 27)
The ONLY reason they occupy this spot is because they are a playoff contender right now thanks to the weak Atlantic Division.
29) Milwaukee Bucks (6-22, Last week: 29)
At least they play with heart. Unlike our next team…
30) Brooklyn Nets (9-19, Last week: 22)
Worst Coach of the Year Jason Kidd came out after yet another embarrassing loss to proclaim that his team was on the verge of accepting losing.
On the verge?
They are already there.
Kareem Gantt
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