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NBA Power Rankings

Written by Jimmy Boyd

nba power 1. Orlando Magic (33-8)
The Magic have won seven in a row at the time of this report to move them into a tie with the Lakers for the best record in basketball. The Magic have also won 16 of their last 18 games which has included two big wins over the Lakers during that stretch. What separates the Magic from the rest of the pack at this point is its ability to win on the road. The Magic have the best road record in the NBA at 17-5.

2. Boston Celtics (35-9)
Bean Town went through a rough stretch, losing seven of nine games, but the defending NBA champs are back and riding a six-game winning streak. While Boston arguably has the best trio in the league in Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, it is its defense that still has it among the top contenders for the NBA Finals. Boston is allowing just 91.3 points per game this season. The Celtics could leap frog the Magic if they are able to pull off the upset tonight on TNT.

3. Los Angeles Lakers (33-8)
The Lakers have lost to the Magic and Spurs recently, but they have also knocked off the Celtics on Christmas day and crushed LeBron James and the Cavs this past Monday. The Lakers are phenomenal at home with a 21-3 record. They are the clear favorites to earn home court advantage in the West and with as well as they play at home, that makes them the easy favorites to advance to the NBA Finals again. The Lakers are the league’s premier offensive team, averaging 109.0 points per game at home. You have to out score them to win in Tinsel Town.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (32-8)
LeBron James is doing it all this season and is my pick to win the league MVP award to this point, but we are seeing injuries expose Cleveland a little bit here lately with Big Z and Delonte West sidelined. There has been no better home team in the NBA this season. The Cavs are a perfect 20-0 at the Q. Cleveland is just 12-8 on the road though, with Denver being the only division leader with a worse road mark.

5. San Antonio Spurs (28-13)
After a slow 2-5 start, the Spurs have definitely been one of the NBA’s elite teams. The Spurs have won 13 of their last 16 games with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, and Tony Parker playing at a very high level. A youth movement has, perhaps, given San Antonio a better chance to win it all than they had a season ago with George Hill and Roger Mason emerging as surprise contributors.

6. New Orleans Hornets (26-13)
The Hornets haven’t quite been that team they were a season ago, yet. But knowing what they are capable of is why I am still high on them. It takes great point guard play to go deep in the postseason and that is what Chris Paul gives the Hornets. He is the top assist man in the league. With New Orleans playing quite a few home games in the next couple weeks, expect the wins to start piling up.

7. Denver Nuggets (28-15)
Melo is out and the Nuggets clearly aren’t the same team without him, but Chauncey Billups gives this team a toughness it did not have before, and he will help keep the Nuggets at the top of the Northwest until Melo returns.

8. Utah Jazz (25-18)
The Jazz have been great at home (17-4) and poor on the road (8-14) just as they were a season ago. The Jazz have won six of nine and get 10 of their next 14 games at home. The Blazers have half-game lead on Utah in the division, but the Jazz are still the better team because of their big game experience.

9. Houston Rockets (27-16)
The Rockets’ struggles with injury problems to their star players is starting to be a broken record. But still, Houston is a top ten team in the NBA right now and with a soft part of their schedule approaching, it will hopefully be able to gain some ground.

10. Portland Trail Blazers (25-17)
The Blazers have been strong in the first part of the season again but this team will have to avoid a second half collapse like it did a year ago. Portland is 15-5 at home but only 10-12 on the road. Its road mark points to the youth of this team as young teams have trouble getting the job done on the road. Portland missed out a chance to send a message to the rest of the league with a home loss against the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

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Written by Jimmy Boyd on January 22, 2009 · Filed Under NBA Betting Articles, News & Previews

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