Power Rankings

Teams under these Power Rankings are being judged when at full capacity (healthy), and judged on where they stand within the league when at full capacity rather than through their current form. So teams that are losing because of injuries will not suffer, and teams who are top squads but lose 7 of 9 will not be downgraded because of it.

Eastern Conference

#1 Boston Celtics

The C’s started the season off with 27 wins and 2 losses. However, since that date they’ve fallen to 22 wins and 14 losses which is good for eleventh best in the league since Christmas Day.

Which is the true picture of the Celtics’ talent? Neither one, but the first is a lot closer to the mark. The C’s are still the class of the East and their recent win over the Cavs without KG was very impressive.

#2 Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs have proven just about everything they can prove during the regular season.

Still, the Celtics continued dominance and some lingering questions about the Cavs, leaves it damn near impossible for me to fathom placing them above Boston prior to the playoffs.

They’re going to have to prove their mantle in the postseason, and they are oh so close to being the best team in the league, so I wouldn’t be taking any bets against them.

#3 Orlando Magic

The Magic suffered a huge loss in the third quarter of the NBA season and that was an injury to their second best player on the season, Mr. Jameer Nelson.

Without Nelson in the lineup, the Magic are no longer legitimate contenders and may even be vulnerable in the first round depending on the matchup.

#4 Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are the fourth most talented team in the Eastern Conference.

They’re not good enough to win the East, and don’t appear to be good enough to beat the Cavs or Celtics in a playoff series, but they most definitely are good enough to knock off anyone else … including the Magic.

I expect to see the Pistons make the second round of the playoffs this season.

#5 Milwaukee Bucks

Injuries have torn apart Milwaukee’s season … but for a while there, they were amongst the league leaders in both rebounding and defense and that is very interesting.

Add that to their offensive talent with Redd, RJ and Bogut. Then mix in some interesting youngsters in Villanueva, Sessions and Mbah a Moute. Throw in a couple of veterans like Ridnour, Bogans and Elson. Interesting mix.

I can’t help but wonder, what could this team have done if they had of stayed healthy all season? And how large a threat would they have been in the playoffs? Because, frankly, they’re a team I’d want to avoid.

#6 Washington Wizards

Injures have decimated this franchise and they’re currently the worst team in the East as a result. The playoffs is an unattainable dream.

But talent wise …. they’re impressive.

#7 Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks season is hanging in the balance right now — If Marvin Williams is out for the rest of the year, then their playoff chances deteriorate hugely.

If Marvin can go, then they’re back in the running for home court in the first round and have a decent shot at winning one playoff series before being sent home for the summer.

#8 Miami Heat

The Jermaine O’Neal trade hasn’t paid any immediate dividends and that doesn’t appear likely to change any time soon.

The Heat are a good team and have one the five best players in the league, and my #2 choice for MVP right now, in Dwayne Wade and that alone gives them a chance against any team in the East not named Boston or Cleveland.

#9 Philadelphia 76ers

If Philadelphia showed any faith in the Miller-Iggy-Young-Brand-Dalembert lineup this season, they would still rank in my top four teams in the East.

That is despite the struggles they’ve had integrating their pieces, the injuries to Brand, the .500 record, and coaching changes, and numerous other issues … despite all that, they’d still be in my top four.

However, their management has shown no faith in their plan and instead threw the team down the toilet early in the season … settling for comfortable mediocrity over struggles for high quality.

Phily is down this far in the East because of their management and coaching, and not their roster which is still an impressive unit.

#10 Chicago Bulls

There is a great deal of talent out there in the Chicago.

Three nice guards with Gordon, Hinrich and Rose. Then a couple of good wings in Salmons and Deng. A few young bigs in Tyrus and Noah, coupled with a wily old vet in Brad Miller.

That, my friends, is a very nice eight man rotation. Especially for a team that is only hoping to steal the final playoff spot in a weak Eastern Conference.

The Bulls are the most talented team gunning for that final seed.

#11 Indiana Pacers

The most disappointing team in the NBA this season?  Nah, but they’re in my top three.

The Pacers have underperformed hugely

#12 Toronto Raptors

Okay, so these guys are the most disappointing team in the NBA right? Yep

This team had the talent to match their season best 47 win mark this season, but a bunch of awful showings — mainly from coaching — and some other individuals injuries/inconsistencies/poor form has torn apart this team’s cohesiveness and confidence.

They’ve been a train wreck for the previous two months and it’s likely to get worse before the season ends.

#13 Charlotte Bobcats

Tough team but not a good team.

The Bobcats are making a late surge for a playoff spot. More strength to them, because this is as good as it’s going to get for quite some time folks!

#14 New Jersey Nets

They’ve overachieved throughout the year and should be delighted with their success.

#15 New York Knicks

The Knicks finish at the bottom of the East and we may be saying this for some time if Donnie Walsh doesn’t get his head together before this summer.

Western Conference

#1 Los Angeles Lakers

Nobody in the West is threatening a healthy and in form Lakers squad.

There is some hope for the rest of the conference though, and that is that Andrew Bynum remains in recovery, and there is much uncertainty about what level of performance he can offer once he returns. This injury may have opened the door for quite a few teams.

#2 San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs continue to show their immense talent.

All eyes should be Drew Gooden for the next couple of weeks. He’s the Spurs X-Factor.

#3 Houston Rockets

Throughout the year I’ve said the only team capable of beating a healthy and in form Lakers squad, is the Houston Rockets, if (big if) Houston itself could stay healthy and be in good form come playoff time.

Well that ship has sailed — Tracy McGrady is out for the season and the Rockets postseason hopes drowned right there.

The Rockets will remain a quality playoff squad and a team nobody will want to face in the postseason, but they lack the quality required to win four straight series against top notch opponents.

Their dominance in the paint, and their defensive quality, will allow them to hang with anyone though.

#4 Portland Trailblazers

At the halfway mark in the season, I said in my power rankings, that I would no longer give Portland partial credit for unfulfilled potential for this season.

Well, I’m going to stay true to my word — Portland are not a contender

• Oden hasn’t been able to lift his play to a high enough level, particularly on the defensive end of the floor
• Aldridge’s lack of development has been disappointing
• Batum isn’t ready to be a key player on a Championship side, and needs more time
• Webster’s season ending injury takes Portland’s fourth best player out of commission — a key glue guy for the squad
• Nobody on the perimeter stepped up defensively

The Blazers still have enough quality to knock off several teams, because their size in the paint (particularly their rebounding) combined with Brandon Roy and their explosive reserves (Outlaw, Rudy, Bayless), make them a tough matchup for several teams out in the West.

#5 New Orleans Hornets

Peja Stojakovic’s and Tyson Chandler’s slow starts have become season long ruts …. although Tyson is at least showing some improvement since returning a few games ago.

The Hornets are the biggest winner from an absent Bynum in the playoffs, and they should be hoping he fails to return, because they have no playoff hopes otherwise.

#6 Utah Jazz

The Jazz still match up too poorly with too many of the teams ahead of them in the West to be considered a legitimate contender.

Beautiful team to watch though … just a few moves away, but those moves aren’t coming.

#7 Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are a good squad who will overachieve in the regular season and suddenly look a lot more vulnerable in the postseason.

George Karl deserves a lot of criticism for not trusting JR Smith. His decision to limit his playing time has slowed his development, and stopped the Nuggets from becoming an elite squad.

#8 Dallas Mavericks

Dallas are the lucky team to benefit from the Amare Stoudemire injury.

They’ll face LA in the first round and get spanked accordingly.

The Mavs have underachieved throughout most of this season, but I hold little hope for them sorting out their problems before the year ends.

#9 Phoenix Suns

The minute Amare went down, the Suns kissed their playoff chances goodbye.

Are these the final games for the high flying Suns? Nash’s swansong? Shaq’s last dance? Will they be torn apart this summer? It looks likely.

#10 Golden State Warriors

It’s hard to care about this team. Their management’s incompetence has destroyed any hopes of the team being relevant in the next five years.

#11 Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are second on my most disappointing list. Baron Davis has been dreadful by his standards, Dunleavy has been atrocious, Thornton has been awful, and injuries have been horrific.

Oh, and there’s a good chance this only gets worse for the Clippers next season.

#12 Minnesota Timberwolves

The Al Jefferson injury ended their season. Start planning for the draft.

#13 Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder played good basketball while Durant and Green where injured.

Thabo Sefolosha has been a stud since landing in Oklahoma.

#14 Sacramento Kings

I don’t know what to say about this team. They’re a mess and their financial problems have resulted in short sighted decisions which will hurt them in the long run.

#15 Memphis Grizzlies

Lionel Hollins has done well with the team, not so much with the wins but with development. It would be nice to see him get some time with this young squad.

The Grizzlies badly need more grit on the interior for next season.

Power Rankings Archive

• Preseason
• First Edition — made at the quarter mark of the NBA season
• Second Edition — made at the halfway point of the NBA season