Layup Line: NBA Power Rankings

 

Music to listen to:   Orestes by A Perfect Circle

Here’s my NBA Power Rankings

1) San Antonio Spurs:  The Spurs were the first team to reach 40 wins this season and found way to win games despite intentionally resting Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili during numerous stretches this season.  Parker has been playing at an MVP level and younger contributors such as Kawhi Leonard and Tiago Splitter have stepped up their play as well to give the Spurs the best record in the NBA.

2)  Miami Heat:  LeBron ames has been the best player in the NBA this season but important factors such as Dwayne Wade’s health and Chris Bosh’s efficiency are just as critical for the Heat’s chances to repeat.  Both guys are getting better at those aspects throughout the season and if Ray Allen can find his shooting stroke and the overall team defense can stay at a high level, no one is going to beat Miami in a playoff series.

3)  Oklahoma City Thunder:  Luckily for them, the Heat play in the Eastern conference.

4)  Los Angeles Clippers:  Loved the road win at New York on Sunday and Chris Paul continues to show his MVP-level play as well.  They still have the best bench in the NBA and a crunch-time backcourt trio of Paul, Jamal Crawford and Eric Bledsoe is interesting to consider.

5)  Denver Nuggets:  If the Nuggets find a way to get home-court in the playoffs, they’re going to make a fun run in the postseason.

6)  Memphis Grizzlies:  I didn’t like the Rudy Gay trade when it happened and Grizzlies have become a .500-level team since the deal.

7) Indiana Pacers:  Won three straight games on successive nights last week and seem to have found a way to succeed without Granger in the lineup.

8)  New York Knicks:  If they’re making the three-pointers and Carmelo Anthony plays at a high level, they may be one of the biggest threats in the NBA.  However, if the Knicks play like they have been the last two weeks, winning a playoff series may be a challenge.

9)  Golden State Warriors: Their recent 0-4 road trip, including giving up a record-amount of three-pointers at Houston.  This highlights the defensive issues that the Warriors still deal with, despite the offensive firepower of Steph Curry, David Lee, Klay Thompson and the rebounding of Andrew Bogut.

10)  Boston Celtics:  Still playing at a high level without Rajon Rondo.  It also helps that Paul Pierce is playing his best basketball  three years.

Other thoughts:

-Interesting seeing Hedo Turkoglu get suspended 20 games by the NBA for testing positive for a steroid.  While Major League Baseball, NFL and various Olympic sports have dealt with PEDs, the NBA hasn’t dealt with them in a public manner.  Using PEDs would be beneficial for any athlete, especially in basketball, so Turkoglu’s appeal of the suspension and the league’s response to it will be watched closely.

-Tired of hearing about the Lakers and the drama.  You have to be a playoff team for my acknowledgement in relation to that level of drama.

-Be careful Derrick Rose.

-If the Spurs get Josh Smith from Atlanta, we’re going to see a Miami/San Antonio NBA Finals.