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NBA Power Rankings: Three Horse Race

1. Los Angeles Lakers (43-10)
While Andrew Bynum has been out the Lakers haven’t missed a beat. Since the All-Star Break ended, LA has won each of its first two games against the Hawks and the Warriors to improve to 9-1 over its last 10. Kobe Bryant has been on fire and that even carried over to the All-Star game where he took home co-MVP honors.

2. Boston Celtics (44-11)
The Boston Celtics get back on the floor for the first time since the All-Star break in Utah tonight. This veteran team should benefit from the rest and we expect the Celtics to really kick things in high gear in the season’s second half. Their mission will be to finish with the NBA’s best record again to shore up home court throughout the playoffs.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (41-11)
If Kobe Bryant was not the pre-All-Star Break MVP, then it has to go to LeBron James. James and company returned to action Wednesday night and came up with an easy 93-76 win over Toronto. If Cleveland can overtake Boston for the best record in the East, the Cavs might be stamping their tickets to the Finals with as good as they have been at home.

4. San Antonio Spurs (35-17)
An overtime loss at New York in San Antonio’s first game off the break doesn’t throw any red flags up for me. This team is traditionally strong in the second half of the season and I don’t expect that to change.

5. Denver Nuggets (37-17)
While I don’t think the Nuggets have a team capable of making a championship run at this point, I will give them props for their steady climb up the rankings. Denver has won 3 in a row and 7 of 8 and the combo of Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony is looking way more potent than the one of he and Allen Iverson ever did.

6. Orlando Magic (39-14)
The Magic have not been quite the same without point guard Jameer Nelson, but this is still a team to be reckoned with because of how solid they are on the defensive end. I don’t read much into last night’s 85-117 loss to New Orleans as the Hornets just had a very hot shooting night and Orlando couldn’t throw it in the ocean.

7. New Orleans Hornets (32-20)
Maybe this is a little presumptuous to put the Hornets in this spot, but Chris Paul is playing unstoppable basketball right now and looks ready to carry this team. Paul had 36 points and 10 dimes last night against the Magic and I expect to see a lot more of these games down the stretch.

8. Dallas Mavericks (32-21)
The Mavericks are a veteran team that was in a tight playoff race last season and has been to the Finals just a few seasons back. Dirk Nowitzky is one of the biggest matchup headaches in the NBA and I expect the former MVP to lead his troops right back into the postseason.

9. Portland Trailblazers (33-20)
The Blazers have won 8 of their last 11 with last night’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies. If this young team can find a way to win on the road, it can challenge the Nuggets for the top spot in the Northwest. Portland will likely come up a little short this season but watch out next year.

10. Houston Rockets (33-21)
There’s a lot of things that could point to the Rockets being higher up on this list, but losing Tracy McGrady for the rest of the season is a big blow. No other player is as clutch down the stretch of games and the Rockets are going to miss him dearly in the playoffs. It looks like another one and done most likely.

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