Backdoor Cut: NBA Power Rankings

Time for my latest NBA Power Rankings

 

Music to listen to:  Beautiful Drug by Thievery Corporation

1- San Antonio Spurs:  They’ve clearly been the best team in the NBA from the start and felt a trade deadline deal wasn’t necessary.  However, the first chink in the Spurs’ armor has been exposed with Tony Parker’s injury.  He’s only going to be out four weeks at the most and the Spurs have a six game cushion for homecourt in the West playoffs, but it does show the vulnerability of San Antonio overall.

 

2- Dallas Mavericks:  I’m still bullish on the Mavs because when they have their full squad in form, they’ve been the best team in the NBA.  Similar now to the Spurs, Dallas had to deal with an injury to its top player earlier in the year with Dirk Nowitzki.  Now he’s back, the Mavs are starting to incorporate Roddy Beaubois and Peja Stojakovic.  However, Tyson Chandler twisting his ankle in last night’s contest against Philadelphia showed the Mavs’ vulnerability as well, because Dallas will not even make the Western Conference finals if he got hurt in the playoffs.

 

3- Los Angeles Lakers:  Despite all of the internal and external dramas that comes to the Lakers, they’re still 42-19.  When healthy, they will still be a tough out in the playoffs.  Very interested in their contest at San Antonio on Mar. 6.  If the Lakers can’t beat the Spurs, who will be without Parker, than the critics of Los Angeles will have more ammunition than ever about the attempted three-peat.

 

4- Boston Celtics:  The only disagreement that I had with the Celtics’ trading away Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City for Jeff Green was the reliance on the health of Shaquille O’Neal.  I get the argument that Perkins was an offensive liability, the Celtics didn’t play him at the end of games, the financial sense, getting a backup for Paul Pierce, etc.  However, replacing him with Krstic at the starting center, won’t win the Celts a championship.  Krstic makes a few more shots but is below average defensively.  I just don’t trust Shaq being able to hold up for an entire playoff run.

 

5- Chicago Bulls:  The Bulls are looking like a main contender to not only gaining the top record in the East by the end of the regular season, but maybe even a favorite to make the Finals.  Two concerns.  First, the shooting guard position is lacking, therefore the Bulls can go through periods of struggling offensively.  I can definitely see the Bulls dropping a series to an elite offensive team like Miami or New York.  Second, the heavy minutes the starters are playing, especially Luol Deng and Derrick Rose, has to be monitored.

 

6- Miami Heat:  Stat of the day courtesy of Britt Robson of SI.com.  The Heat are 3-7 in games decided by four points or fewer and 1-7 against elite teams, which includes Boston, Chicago, the Lakers and Dallas.  That doesn’t even count the Spurs.  That has to change if Miami has any championship aspirations.

 

7- Orlando Magic:  I see you Dwight Howard and you’re definitely on the short list of MVP candidates.

 

8- Portland Trail Blazers:  I just hope that they don’t rush back Brandon Roy just to make a push to make a playoff spot, which would most likely result in a first-round loss.  However, if Roy can stay healthy, Portland would be a scary team in the playoffs, because the front court of Gerald Wallace, LaMarcus Aldridge (who has arguably been the MVP of the past month in the NBA) and Marcus Camby will throw size at any team that would be hard to handle.

 

9- Oklahoma City Thunder:  Loved the moves by the Thunder at the trade deadline.  When Perkins gets back into form, the roles of all of the players will be in place and once again, they will be a tough out in the playoffs.

 

10- Memphis Grizzlies: Another Western Conference squad…

 

Other thoughts:

 

-I see some serious “Ewing Theory” in the Denver Nuggets.

 

-If the Knicks don’t find a way to play defense, its going to be a short exit in the playoffs.  However, the team is exciting and if Stoudemire and Anthony get hot in a first-round series, its not outside the realm of possibility that Chicago or Orlando would be in trouble.

 

-Watch Kevin Martin’s production in Houston in this final month and a half of the regular season.  With Aaron Brooks being gone from the offense, Martin may average the most points in the NBA from now until the end of the year.

 

-Good to see Shaun Livingston getting some solid playing time in Charlotte.  It’s still not too late for this guy.

 

-What does O.J. Mayo do now?  His current team tried to trade him away but missed the deadline.  He’s clearly not in the Grizzlies’ plans for the future.  If he can stay professional, the Grizzlies would benefit greatly.

 

-Sad state of affairs in Detroit.  The players could have approached their “mutiny” in a better way.  You have to do that behind closed doors.  Now, everyone, from the players, coaches and management looks bad.

 

-Watch out for the Sacramento-to-Anaheim stories to become even stronger this time next year when the lockout is finished and the financial terms of the league are clearer.

 

Those are my thoughts, what are yours?