Friday Fresh NBA Power Rankings: Friday, April 3, 2015

                      NBA Power Rankings 

     Here are my NBA Power Rankings for Friday, April 3, 2015. Enjoy! 


#1. Golden State Warriors (62-13): They have won 11 straight games during a period in which they've already had home court advantage locked up for the entire playoffs. If that doesn't scare opposing teams, I don't know what will. 

#2. Cleveland Cavaliers (49-27): The Cavaliers are heating up at the right time, having won 8 of their last 10 games. 

#3. Atlanta Hawks (56-19): I don't want to sleep on the Hawks because they've had such a wonderful season, but their lack of a true superstar still leaves room for doubt. 

#4. Houston Rockets (52-24): James Harden is literally willing this team into the NBA championship picture. If Dwight Howard can get back to full strength, these guys just might win it all. 

#5. Memphis Grizzlies (51-24): They have a huge game at home against the Thunder tonight. Even more crucial for them is that they secure the #2 seed in the West. 

#6. Los Angeles Clippers (50-26): Jamal Crawford is aiming to be back on Tuesday. This is definitely good news for the Clippers. 

#7. San Antonio Spurs (49-26): The Spurs have won 8 of their last 10 games and have really turned on the jets as we head into the playoffs. We've all seen this movie before. 

#8. Portland Trail Blazers (48-26): They have won just 4 of their last 10 games and are starting to slide. The absence of Wesley Matthews is huge. 

#9. Dallas Mavericks (46-30): There is a very weird vibe surrounding this team that is largely due to Rajon Rondo's presence. Still, the talent is there to make a run. 

#10. Chicago Bulls (45-30): Once again, the Bulls are crossing their fingers that Derrick Rose can return to full strength.

#11. Toronto Raptors (45-30): The Raptors go into tonight's game against the Nets riding a three-game winning streak. Maybe these guys can get something going before the playoffs. 

#12. Oklahoma City Thunder (42-33): Without Kevin Durant, there is no hope for this team to make any sort of run in the playoffs. 

#13. New Orleans Pelicans (40-34): They are just 1.5 games back of the Thunder for the #8 seed in the West. With Ryan Anderson back, there is hope.  

#14. Washington Wizards (42-33): I've never seen a team fall more quickly from contender status to pretender. 

#15. Phoenix Suns (38-38): I don't want to call this a disappointing season for the Suns, but looking at where they were last season, it's hard to say that it isn't. 

#16. Milwaukee Bucks (37-38): I think we are seeing that this team really does need Jabari Parker healthy in order to be a serious threat. 

#17. Brooklyn Nets (34-40): I can't believe the Nets have the #7 seed in the Eastern Conference. I mean seriously, that's a joke. 

#18. Utah Jazz (34-41): The Jazz have made tremendous strides this season. Look for this team to perhaps capture the #8 seed in the West next season. 

#19. Boston Celtics (34-41): It helps to have Isaiah Thomas back. With him healthy, they have a real shot at making the playoffs. 

#20. Miami Heat (34-41): It's hard to figure how good this team would be with a healthy Chris Bosh, but it would stand to reason that they would be threatening the Bucks for the #6 seed in the East. 

#21. Charlotte Hornets (32-42): The Hornets are still alive, just 1.5 games back of the #8 seed, which is currently held by the Heat. 

#22. Indiana Pacers (32-43): I doubt Paul George comes back. Even if the Pacers make the playoffs, I don't see the point in bringing him back. 

#23. Detroit Pistons (29-46): It's kinda painful to think that with Brandon Jennings healthy, this team would probably be in the playoffs. 

#24. Denver Nuggets (28-47): The Nuggets have so many issues. I don't know where to begin. Kenneth Faried and Ty Lawson are the only real bright spots that they have. 

#25. Sacramento Kings (26-48): DeMarcus Cousins is seriously the only player to give Kings fans hope. The Kings would be idiotic to move him. 

#26. Orlando Magic (22-53): Aaron Gordon has been averaging 4.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. So far, he's looking like a bust. 

#27. Los Angeles Lakers (20-54): Steve Nash's retirement was a merciful decision on his end. Going forward, this team has no base or anything to give them hope for the future. 

#28. Philadelphia 76ers (18-58): The only thing that can excite this team is that Joel Embiid is on track to play in Summer League. 

#29. Minnesota Timberwolves (16-59): Andrew Wiggins is the real deal. The Timberwolves have a legitimate superstar on their hands. 

#30. New York Knicks (14-61): The lottery better be kind to them. 

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Friday Fresh NBA Power Rankings: March 13, 2015

                                                    NBA Power Rankings

     Here are my NBA Power Rankings for Friday March 13, 2015. Enjoy!


#1. Golden State Warriors (51-12): They're not going to get 70+ wins, but they'll come very close. So long as they lock up home court advantage, I see no reason to pick against them.

#2. Atlanta Hawks (50-14): Everybody thinks it is a foregone conclusion that the Cavaliers are coming out of the Eastern Conference and that the Hawks will at some point roll over and die. Well, so far the Hawks are showing no signs of doing that. They're the first team in the NBA to clinch a playoff spot and they've won 7 of their last 10 games.

#3. Cleveland Cavaliers (42-25): Kyrie Irving dropping 57 points on the Spurs is nothing short of incredible. It's no wonder LeBron James left Miami when you see what Kyrie Irving can do. Still, this team has to find ways to use Kevin Love at the end of games. I know his defense isn't great, but you gotta have your money players on the floor during crunch time.

#4. Portland Trail Blazers (42-20): They've won six of their last seven games with wins over the Thunder, Spurs, Clippers, Mavericks, and Rockets. Oddly enough, their one loss during this stretch was at Minnesota, but that loss appears to be an anomaly and nothing more.

#5. Memphis Grizzlies (45-20): The Grizzlies' four-game road trip to New Orleans, Chicago, Boston, and Washington wasn't very kind to them, only picking up a win in Chicago. Their next two games at home against the Bucks and Nuggets will be crucial.

#6. Houston Rockets (43-22): They've hung in their really well without Dwight Howard, but all the same, they need him back.

#7. San Antonio Spurs (40-24): After appearing like zombies in February, the Spurs have really picked it up in March. As a matter of fact, Thursday's loss to the Cavaliers was their first loss in the month of March since 2013.

#8. Los Angeles Clippers (42-23): Getting Blake Griffin back will be a huge boost to this team. He could be back as soon as Sunday.

#9. Dallas Mavericks (41-25): The addition of Amar'e Stoudemire isn't doing much to boost their place in the standings and Rajon Rondo is creating friction. I don't see this team making a deep playoff run.

#10. Chicago Bulls (40-26): Treading water without Derrick Rose is what they do best.

#11. New Orleans Pelicans (36-29): The Pelicans have won 8 of their last 10 games and are currently the #8 seed in the Western Conference. They might prove me wrong after I said they had a 12% of making the playoffs back in January.

#12. Oklahoma City Thunder (35-29) : Kevin Durant is out for approximately 10 more days, and possibly longer. They could very well miss the playoffs.

#13. Phoenix Suns (34-32): The Suns appear to be fading, having gone just 5-5 in their last 10 games. They have three very important home games coming up against the Hawks, Knicks, and Pelicans. They have to win all three games.

#14. Milwaukee Bucks (34-31): They have started to cool off, going 3-7 in their last 10 games. Still, the turnaround of this team has been very impressive. Jason Kidd definitely deserves some Coach of the Year votes.

#15. Toronto Raptors (38-26): After getting off to such a hot start, the Raptors have cooled off substantially, losing 9 of their last 10 games going into Friday's game against the Heat.

#16. Washington Wizards (37-28): This team has been in a funk, but perhaps two straight wins against the Hornets and Grizzlies will jump start their battery.

#17. Indiana Pacers (30-34): Their record looks weak, but don't be deceived. They've won 9 of their last 10 games.

#18. Miami Heat (29-35): This team has been up and down all year, but I expect them to ultimately continue to trend downwards.

#19. Charlotte Hornets (28-35): With Kemba Walker back, they should be able to sneak in the playoffs. The only concern is the Celtics are nipping at their heels and the Pacers are starting to lock up the #7 seed.

#20. Utah Jazz (28-36): If Rudy Gobert keeps playing like he has been, then it was definitely a good thing that the Jazz traded Enes Kanter.

#21. Boston Celtics (27-36): The Celtics are heating up, having won 7 of their last 10 games. Isaiah Thomas has been a terrific fit so far.

#22. Brooklyn Nets (25-38): Mikhail Prokhorov botched his attempt to sell the Nets and they have lost 5 straight games. This team is a mess.

#23. Denver Nuggets (24-41): Melvin Hunt may be man for the job to coach this team. They're doing better since Brian Shaw got fired.

#24. Detroit Pistons (23-41): If Brandon Jennings wasn't out for the season, they would be the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference. It is really sad how they have fallen apart since he went down.

#25. Sacramento Kings (22-41): George Karl is a good hire at head coach, but they still have a lot of work to do.

#26. Orlando Magic (21-45): I think the most troubling part of this team's season is the lack of production they have gotten from Aaron Gordon, their number four overall pick.

#27. Los Angeles Lakers (17-47): I'm just going to say it now. Kobe Bryant needs to retire. This team will not move forward until he does.

#28. Minnesota Timberwolves (14-49): The return of Kevin Garnett is really cool and the fact that they have the best rookie in the NBA in Andrew Wiggins is also really comforting. Things are looking bright in Minnesota.

#29. Philadelphia 76ers (14-50): Joel Embiid is doing some cool dunks in pre-game warmups. There's something to make them optimistic.

#30. New York Knicks (13-51): This team is a walking accident waiting to happen every time they step on a basketball court.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Friday Fresh NBA Power Rankings: February 27, 2015

                                 NBA Power Rankings 

Here are my NBA Power Rankings for Friday, February 27, 2015. These are my first power rankings after the All-Star break.

#1. Golden State Warriors (44-11): It feels as though the Warriors are falling apart a bit after losing two out of their last three @Indiana and @Cleveland, but in truth, they've won 7 of their last 10 games and still are playing the best basketball in the league. It should be noted that Stephen Curry was out for the Indiana game.

#2. Atlanta Hawks (45-12): The Hawks have won only 6 of their last 10 games, so they definitely are cooling off. Still, I see no way they don't walk away with the #1 seed in the East. Part of the challenge for them will be to stay focused until playoff time.

#3. Memphis Grizzlies (41-15): Weird loss at Sacramento. Look for them to bounce back at home tonight against the Clippers.

#4. Houston Rockets (39-18): It is hard for me to see this team vaulting the Grizzlies or the Warriors to win the West, but if they can keep James Harden healthy and get Dwight Howard back healthy for the playoffs, they'll be in the conversation.

#5. Portland Trail Blazers (37-19): Arron Afflalo could be a great addition given that they need some scoring off the bench. It'll be interesting to see how he fits in.

#6. Cleveland Cavaliers (37-22): LeBron James dropped 42 points on the Warriors on Thursday for the Cavaliers' 18th win in their last 20 games. They are really cooking with gas now and looking like the favorites to win the East.

#7. Dallas Mavericks (39-21): Rajon Rondo, their big acquisition of the season, is looking like a headache because of his recent altercations with Rick Carlisle. The Mavericks definitely have to be concerned.

#8. Toronto Raptors (37-20): They've lost three straight games and it's not going to get any easier with the Warriors coming to town tonight.

#9. Los Angeles Clippers (37-21): They've now lost 7 of their last 11 games, and with a trip to Memphis tonight, expect it to be 8 losses in their last 12. The Clippers are in some trouble.

#10. Chicago Bulls (36-22): Derrick Rose going down is obviously really disturbing, but the good news is that he should be back in time for the playoffs (See my daily dunks page for more details).

#11. San Antonio Spurs (34-23): Given their history, I'm tempted to say that their recent swoon of losing 6 out of their last 10 games is just due to the dog-days of the NBA season, but I actually think there is something more to their struggles than just that. Their odds at repeating as NBA champions look really slim at the moment.

#12. Washington Wizards (33-25): They need Bradley Beal back. Period.

#13. Milwaukee Bucks (32-25): It'll be interesting to see how Michael Carter-Williams fits in. They certainly made a space for him by shipping Brandon Knight to Phoenix.

#14. Oklahoma City Thunder (32-26): It's looking like they'll make the playoffs, but if Kevin Durant is out a lot longer than expected, there could be trouble.

#15. Phoenix Suns (31-28): Their remaining schedule is difficult, but there is no reason for them to not believe they can still make the playoffs. Getting rid of Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas was actually a good thing since they got Brandon Knight in return.

#16. New Orleans Pelicans (30-27): Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson going down is not a good thing for this team. Not good at all.

#17. Miami Heat (25-31): Even if they make the playoffs, no Chris Bosh means that this team is going nowhere.

#18. Brooklyn Nets (23-32): This teams is seriously one of the saddest franchises in the league. So much hype with the whole "Return to Brooklyn" thing and this team has instead gotten progressively worse.

#19. Charlotte Hornets (23-32): This team needs Kemba Walker back. Until he returns they're going to continue to struggle.

#20. Detroit Pistons (23-34): It's amazing this team is back in the conversation for a playoff spot. Simply amazing.

#21. Indiana Pacers (23-34): If Paul George can return and be at full strength, these guys are going to be scary for where they'll be seeded in the playoffs.

#22. Boston Celtics (22-33): Getting Isaiah Thomas means this team is gunning for a playoff spot and not the lottery. Good for them.

#23. Utah Jazz (21-35): Getting rid of Enes Kanter will be a good thing if Rudy Gobert steps it up. There is definitely a lot of pressure on Gobert to become the player Utah hopes he will become.

#24. Sacramento Kings (20-35): If I was a Kings fan, talk of George Karl bringing in Ty Lawson and getting rid of DeMarcus Cousins would really worry me.

#25. Denver Nuggets (20-37): They've won just 1 game in their last 10 games. Ouch.

#26. Orlando Magic (19-40): Here's a fun question: Can you name the Magic's interim head coach? Yeah, I can't remember his name, either.

#27. Los Angeles Lakers (15-41): "When they going gets tough, the tough gets going"---Billy Ocean.

#28. Minnesota Timberwolves (13-43): The return of Kevin Garnett is injecting a lot of life into this team. I like it.

#29. Philadelphia 76ers (12-45): Either Sam Hinkie really knows what he's doing by trading Michael Carter-Williams or he's just throwing darts at a dart board. Maybe it's both.

#30.  New York Knicks (10-46): The Knicks are garbage and Phil Jackson is a MORON for calling out his players. It's not their fault they were so poorly assembled.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Friday's Fresh NBA Power Rankings: February 6, 2015.

                                     NBA Power Rankings

Here are my NBA Power Rankings for Friday, February 6, 2015. Enjoy!

#1. Atlanta Hawks (41-9): The Hawks' 19 game winning streak may have ended, but these guys are no joke. People say they can win the East, but I think we need to be saying they can win the NBA championship. They are that good.

#2. Golden State Warriors (39-8): They had a couple of losses against the Bulls and Jazz, but they've rebounded nicely. Tonight's game against the Hawks is huge.

#3. Memphis Grizzlies (37-12): They've won 8 games in a row, which nowadays isn't much of a winning streak, but in all reality, this streak has been very impressive. The addition of Jeff Green appears to be making a huge difference.

#4. Cleveland Cavaliers (31-20): They've won 12 straight games and have suddenly entered the championship discussion. In my mind, they were always in the discussion, but this streak is making people notice.

#5. Portland Trail Blazers (34-16): Damian Lillard's all-star snub is great news for the Trail Blazers because now he's going to be playing with even more of an edge. Look out!

#6. Los Angeles Clippers (33-17): They have lost three out of their last four games. Sunday's game at OKC is going to be big.

#7. Toronto Raptors (33-17): With the Cavaliers gaining up on them and the Bulls and Wizards hanging around, they suddenly are no longer a lock for a top four seed in the East. They'll need to finish strong.

#8. Houston Rockets (34-15): I've dropped the Rockets because of the injury to Dwight Howard. Not having him for another month is going to make things tough.

#9. Dallas Mavericks (34-18): They are just 5-5 in their last 10 games and Rajon Rondo is out until after the All-Star break. Things are starting to come unglued a bit.

#10. San Antonio Spurs (31-18): They don't appear to be making progress in the standings, but they've won 8 out of their last 10 games. This is usually the time of year the Spurs start to shift into another gear. Teams ahead of them better take notice.

#11. Washington Wizards (31-20): Bradley Beal has a toe injury and they've lost 7 out of their last 10 games. The Wizards better get their act together.

#12. Milwaukee Bucks (27-22): They have quietly won five straight games including a win over the Trail Blazers.

#13. Chicago Bulls (30-20): They are just 4-6 in their last 10 games with three straight losses. Strangely enough, they haven't won since their huge win at Golden State.

#14. Phoenix Suns (28-23): Tonight they get the Jazz at home. Games like tonight are games they have to win.

#15. New Orleans Pelicans (26-23): Huge game tonight against the Thunder.

#16. Oklahoma City Thunder (25-24): The Thunder should strongly consider finding a new coach.  Scott Brooks has to go.

#17. Charlotte Hornets (22-27): They have moved into the #7 spot in the Eastern Conference and have won 7 of their last 10 games. Buzz City is coming alive.

#18. Miami Heat (21-28): Read my blog post on Hassan Whiteside from this past week. He's the only thing they have that should give them any hope for contending in the future.

#19. Brooklyn Nets (20-28): Deron Williams' return won't get them to the playoffs. 

#20. Detroit Pistons (19-31): Brandon Jennings goes down and they still got a pulse. Amazing.

#21. Boston Celtics (18-30): Marcus Smart has been a huge disappointment. Even without Rajon Rondo he still can't find his groove.

#22. Indiana Pacers (18-32): Paul George's return could make them a very dangerous #8 seed if they make the playoffs.

#23. Denver Nuggets (19-31): Woody Paige says the team has quit on Brian Shaw and Brian Shaw has quit on them. Ouch.

#24. Sacramento Kings (17-31): Glad that DeMarcus Cousins made the All-Star team. That's all they can really cheer about at the moment.

#25. Utah Jazz (17-32): Dante Exum looks really raw, but he also looks unfit to play shooting guard due to his poor shooting. Quin Snyder should not be starting him.

#26. Orlando Magic (15-37): They have fired Jacque Vaughn, which means they have waived the white flag.

#27. Los Angeles Lakers (13-36): Don't be shocked if Ed Davis leaves. I wouldn't want to stay on the Lakers if I were him.

#28. Philadelphia 76ers (11-39): They are 3-7 in their last 10 games. That is progress.

#29. New York Knicks (10-39): Amare' Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani could both be gone via contract buyouts. That would actually be smart of the Knicks to do.

#30. Minnesota Timberwolves (9-40): Let's see if Kevin Martin and Ricky Rubio can inject some life into this team.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Friday's Fresh NBA Power Rankings: January 30, 2015

                     NBA Power Rankings 

Here are my NBA Power Rankings for January 30, 2015. Enjoy! 

#1. Atlanta Hawks (38-8): 17 straight wins is enough of a reason to justify their #1 ranking. Huge game next week against the Warriors. 

#2. Golden State Warriors (36-7): The only flaw in this team is they sometimes take ill-advised jump shots late in games. That is why they lost to the Bulls this week. 

#3. Memphis Grizzlies (34-14): They are riding a very nice five game winning streak. What's been impressive is they've been doing it without Mike Conley. 

#4. Houston Rockets (32-14): Their upcoming schedule looks pretty chill: @Boston, @Detroit, vs. Chicago, and vs. Milwaukee. 

#5. Los Angeles Clippers (32-14): For some reason people like to talk more about what's wrong with the Clippers than what's right with them. I'll tell you what's right with the Clippers: Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and Doc Rivers. We can't be counting these guys out. 

#6. Portland Trail Blazers (32-14): They are 4-6 during their last ten games. They need to get their act together quickly or else their seed is going to plummet. 

#7. Toronto Raptors (31-15): Saturday's game against the Wizards will be huge. They've won four straight games, but those games have been against the 76ers, Pistons, Pacers, and Kings. 

#8. Washington Wizards (31-16): Only Nene is injured, and it's a day-to-day thing. If they can stay healthy down the stretch, they'll be a serious threat to the Hawks. 

#9. Dallas Mavericks (30-17): Monta Ellis should be an All-Star. #VoteEllis

#10. Cleveland Cavaliers (27-20): They're starting to find their groove, winning eight straight games.

#11. San Antonio Spurs (30-17): One has to wonder whether or not they have one more title run in them. It's looking dicey at the moment. 

#12. Chicago Bulls (30-18): Can you say mystery team? I can't decide if I'm sold on their title chances or not. 

#13. Phoenix Suns (27-20): At the moment, I think they'll make the playoffs. Read my article from Wednesday for more details. 

#14. Milwaukee Bucks (24-22): These guys are no fluke. The future is bright in Milwaukee. 

#15. New Orleans Pelicans (24-22): Thank heaven Anthony Davis didn't go down. That would have been a disaster. 

#16. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-23): Playoffs look unlikely, but you cannot count out Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook 

#17. Miami Heat (20-25): They probably still make the playoffs, but amazingly it's no slam dunk. 

#18. Charlotte Hornets (19-27): The loss of Kemba Walker is huge, but I think they'll still make the playoffs. 

#19. Denver Nuggets (19-28): And once again, the Nuggets are entering a swoon. I got faith that they'll climb back up close to the .500 mark as I predicted. 

#20. Brooklyn Nets (18-27): This team is falling apart. There is talk of Lionel Hollis getting fired and Deron Williams getting moved, etc. It's a disaster. 

#21. Boston Celtics (16-28): Let the tanking commence! 

#22. Sacramento Kings (16-28): Glad that DeMarcus Cousins will be on the all-star team, but he should  not have been a replacement. I.e. The coaches should have added him from the get go. 

#23. Detroit Pistons (17-30): The loss of Brandon Jennings is obviously a crippling loss to this team's playoff chances. 

#24. Indiana Pacers (17-31): It's amazing how quiet this team has become from a year ago. I really don't have much to say about them right now, which is amazing. 

#25. Utah Jazz (16-30): Don't be surprised if Enes Kanter gets traded at the deadline. Rudy Gobert is looking like a keeper. 

#26. Orlando Magic (15-34): Jacque Vaughn could be fired as head coach. Doing so would be the equivalent of punting away the season. 

#27. Los Angeles Lakers (13-34): Without Kobe Bryant, this is officially another lost season for the Lakers. Their management should feel embarrassed. 

#28. Philadelphia 76ers (9-37): There is genuinely not much talent on this team, but they are trying hard. I gotta give them that. 

#29. New York Knicks (9-38): Kevin Durant to the Knicks? I don't see him going to this hell hole. 

#30. Minnesota Timberwolves (8-37): The return of Kevin Martin should give them a nice boost up the rankings. Perhaps they crack the Top 25. 

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Friday's Fresh NBA Power Rankings: January 16, 2015

            NBA Power Rankings 

Here are my NBA Power Rankings for Friday,  January 16, 2015. Enjoy! 

#1. Golden State Warriors (31-5): I watched their game against my beloved Utah Jazz this week and they were hitting just about every three-point shot. It was unreal. Utah wasn't playing bad, either, but it was clear that the Warriors were playing at a whole other level. If they can play like that in the playoffs, nobody in the NBA will be able to stop them. Plus, they are very unselfish, leading the NBA in assists per game (27.0).

#2. Atlanta Hawks (31-8): The Hawks are the #2 team in assists per game (25.6)  behind the Warriors and they can score in a variety of ways. Paul Millsap and Al Horford can score inside, Jeff Teague can slash and attack the basket and score from beyond the arc, and Kyle Korver is one of the most lethal three-point shooters we have ever seen. All in all, this team appears to have the pieces to win the Eastern Conference and possibly the NBA championship. 

#3. Portland Trail Blazers (30-9): Damian Lillard is a budding superstar if I've ever seen one. Plus, the fact that they have a sound post presence in LaMarcus Aldridge arguably makes them more of a threat to come out of the Western Conference than the Warriors. 

#4. Memphis Grizzlies (27-11): The addition of Jeff Green has put the Grizzlies back in the discussion of teams who could win the NBA championship. 

#5. Houston Rockets (28-12): They face the Warriors twice in their next three games. That will be a huge test for this team. 

#6. Washington Wizards (27-12):  They had some good wins over the Spurs and Bulls, but getting thumped by the Hawks 120-89 has to make them worry. 

#7. Toronto Raptors (26-12): DeMar DeRozan is back. That's huge. 

#8. Dallas Mavericks (27-13): They've lost three out of their last four games. Not a reason to panic, but they will need a top four seed if they want to be a serious threat to win the West. 


#9. Los Angeles Clippers (26-13): The arrival of Austin Rivers understandably is making headlines, but it won't make much of an impact on how the team actually performs. 

#10. Chicago Bulls (26-14): The presence of Pau Gasol alone is making this team a serious contender. The man is playing the best basketball of his life. 

#11. San Antonio Spurs (24-16): Kawhi Leonard is back and they need him. December was the first month they had a losing record in since February of 1999. 

#12. Phoenix Suns (23-18): They are 2.5 games up on the #9 seeded New Orleans Pelicans and 3.5 games up on the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Suns still have a long ways to go, but so far, things are looking good. 

#13. Milwaukee Bucks (21-19): I am thoroughly impressed with the progress and improvements made to this team. These guys have a bright future. 

#14. Cleveland Cavaliers (20-20): So much turmoil surrounds this team. Will David Blatt stay as head coach? Is Kevin Love a good fit? What does LeBron James want? This team has a lot of issues and looks nothing like a championship caliber team. 

#15. New Orleans Pelicans (19-19): They have to take advantage of these upcoming games: @Philadelphia, @New York, vs. L.A. Lakers, and @Minnesota. 

#16. Oklahoma City Thunder (18-20): I thought this team was going to be a lock for the playoffs, but right now, it doesn't appear that way. Phoenix is looking tough and the Spurs just got Kawhi Leonard back. They could be in some trouble. 

#17. Denver Nuggets (18-20): Jameer Nelson might be a good fit. We'll have to wait and see. 

#18. Miami Heat (17-22): Hassan Whiteside is playing really well. The Heat may have a franchise center in this young man. 

#19. Sacramento Kings (16-22): One can't help but wonder if this team would be in the playoff mix if Mike Malone were still the coach. 

#20. Detroit Pistons (14-25): The turnaround of this team has been remarkable to say the least. 

#21. Brooklyn Nets (16-23): For the life of me I can't understand why they would even consider trading Brook Lopez. I know he's had injury issues, but the guy is one of the best centers in the game when he's healthy. 

#22. Charlotte Hornets (15-25): Is it possible the Hornets are who we thought they were before they were what we thought they weren't? I.e. Maybe they'll actually be good. 

#23. Indiana Pacers (15-25): Paul George is dunking again. Great news. He still probably won't be back this season. 

#24. Orlando Magic (15-27): Aaron Gordon returns tonight. This team needs a lift. 

#25. Boston Celtics (13-24): To say this team is undergoing a makeover is an understatement. With Jeff Green gone, this whole team is undergoing a radical transformation. 

#26. Utah Jazz (13-26): They actually played pretty well against the Warriors. The problem was that the Warriors were playing at a whole different level. 

#27. Los Angeles Lakers (12-28): Kobe Bryant is ok with the idea of shutting down for the year come March. My question is, does he really think he has more time to win another ring? 

#28. Philadelphia 76ers (7-31): If they actually trade Michael Carter-Williams, they will no longer be able to deny that they are tanking. 

#29. Minnesota Timberwolves (6-31): Mo Williams' 52 points was a bright spot in what has been a very dark and gloomy season. 

#30. New York Knicks (5-36): This team is stinking it up like we've never seen before. This is impressive. 

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Friday's Fresh NBA Power Rankings: 1/9/15

Here are my NBA Power Rankings as of Friday, January 9, 2015. Enjoy!

#1. Golden State Warriors (28-5): They've won five straight games, which is fantastic, but it should be noted that all five games were at home. Prior to this homestand, they lost back-to-back games in Los Angeles against the Clippers and Lakers. Clinching home court advantage is a must for this team if they  want to go to the NBA Finals.

#2. Atlanta Hawks (27-8): If there's any doubt about this team's record being inflated due to playing in the East, that doubt should be erased after they won @Portland, @Los Angeles Clippers, and vs. Memphis during this past week.

#3. Portland Trail Blazers (28-8): They have weathered the storm quite well with Robin Lopez out. I'm impressed.

#4. Memphis Grizzlies (25-10): This team needs Zach Randolph back. They have some decent options to fill in like Kosta Koufos and Jon Leuer, but neither guy is a great long-term replacement.

#5. Dallas Mavericks (26-11): I think it's time we start calling the Mavericks contenders. They are that good.

#6. Los Angeles Clippers (26-12): For all the talk about how they are "underachieving" and "overrated", here they are hanging with the best teams in the NBA, ranked #6 in my power rankings. This is not a team that anybody should sleep on. They're more than just "exciting", they're a very good basketball team.

#7. Chicago Bulls (25-11): Bizarre loss against the Jazz. Going into that game, the Bulls had won three straight games.

#8. Houston Rockets (25-11): I'm not giving up on Josh Smith. I think there's a way they can make him an effective part of their team.

#9. Toronto Raptors (24-11): DeMar DeRozan comes back next week. That's huge given the fact that they have lost four straight games.

#10. Washington Wizards (24-11): On their Southwest road trip, they went 2-3, which actually isn't bad.

#11. Phoenix Suns (22-16): We all keep thinking this team will fall apart, or at least give up the #8 seed in the West, but I gotta hand it to them, they won't give it up without a fight. As for the three-guard rotation of Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and Isaiah Thomas, it seems to be working out ok.

#12. San Antonio Spurs (21-15): They need Kawhi Leonard back. Pretty simple. I don't see them getting back to the NBA Finals if they don't have at least a top four seed in the West and in order to finish that high, they'll need Leonard back fairly soon.

#13. Cleveland Cavaliers (19-17): They need LeBron James back, but thankfully the East is so weak that they are in virtually no danger of missing the playoffs. Also, the teams ahead of them in the East are also unproven, so Cavaliers fans shouldn't panic. As for trading Dion Waiters, I think getting J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert in return makes them slightly better, but I think they wanted to rid themselves of Waiters' attitude more than anything.

#14. Milwaukee Bucks (19-18): One would think the mysterious issues of Larry Sanders and Jabari Parker's season-ending injury would derail this team, but if anything this team has welded together even more tightly. Jason Kidd is doing a great job.

#15. New Orleans Pelicans (17-18): The fact that they are a sub .500 team with Anthony Davis on their roster just shows how deep the Western Conference is.

#16. Oklahoma City Thunder (17-19): I still think this team makes the playoffs, but according to John Hollinger's playoff odds, they have 26% odds of making the playoffs. This team needs to start playing with a sense of urgency and they didn't play with one when the Kings thumped them this week. As for  Dion Waiters, I think he could be a good fit, providing them with an extra scoring punch off the bench.

#17. Detroit Pistons (12-23): They've won seven straight games since cutting ties with Josh Smith. They've beaten the Mavericks and Spurs during this stretch. These guys are morphing into a playoff team right before our eyes. It's crazy.

#18. Brooklyn Nets (16-19): Deron Williams is now out indefinitely with a rib fracture. This team is falling apart.

#19. Denver Nuggets (16-20): I said I was wrong about them going .500 and then they win three straight games. Perhaps they'll get close to where I projected them to get.

#20. Sacramento Kings (15-20): This team plays uninspired basketball and then goes out and destroys the Thunder. Ok, then.

#21. Miami Heat (15-21): This team is falling apart. It's no wonder LeBron left.

#22. Indiana Pacers (14-23): They're hanging on the best they can, but ultimately they don't have what it takes to make the playoffs. Roy Hibbert might need to go, too.

#23. Charlotte Hornets (14-24): As disappointing as this team has been, they are only 2 games back of the #8 spot in the Eastern Conference. Perhaps there is hope for them.

#24. Utah Jazz (13-23): Trey Burke is looking like a player. I still have concerns about how all their parts fit together, but as of now, the Jazz should plan on locking him up long-term.

#25. Boston Celtics (12-21): Trading Jeff Green might not be a bad idea.

#26. Orlando Magic (13-25): I still want to see what this team can do at full strength with Aaron Gordon in the lineup. He was one of the rookies I was really high on entering the draft.

#27. Los Angeles Lakers (11-25): The Kobe Bryant/Swaggy P show is entertaining, but it doesn't produce a lot of wins. Especially when it's just Swaggy P out there.

#28. Minnesota Timberwolves (5-29): This team will really strike gold if they can land center Jahlil Okafor out of Duke in the draft. Andrew Wiggins is already looking like he's going to be a star.

#29. Philadelphia 76ers (5-29): We know they suck, but unlike the Knicks, they haven't mortgaged off horrible contracts.

#30. New York Knicks (5-34): It's really hard to find something positive to say about this team, but perhaps newly acquired guard Langston Galloway will give them something to feel optimistic about. Obviously, getting rid of J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert was a good move. They need to get rid of as much cap space as possible and trading them away was a start.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord

Friday's Fresh NBA Power Rankings: January 2, 2015

Here are my NBA Power Rankings to "tip-off" the new year! Enjoy!

#1. Portland Trail Blazers (26-7): They defeated the Raptors 102-97 in their last game in an overtime thriller. Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge look like the best one-two punch in the league.

#2. Golden State Warriors (25-5): David Lee is going to continue to come off the bench. This is definitely a smart move by Steve Kerr.

#3. Atlanta Hawks (23-8): Al Horford returns to the lineup tonight. That's huge for them as they embark on a three-game Western Conference road trip followed by the Memphis Grizzlies coming to town.

#4. Toronto Raptors (24-8): What's nice is that due to their fantastic play they don't have to rush DeMar DeRozan back.

#5. Memphis Grizzlies (23-8): The Grizzlies are finding out that it's impossible to stay on top of the Western Conference standings forever, but that doesn't mean they should lose faith in their ability to come out of the West at the end of the season.

#6. Houston Rockets (22-9): It is still too early to see whether or not Josh Smith was a good pickup, but so far I like the move.

#7. Washington Wizards (22-9): Getting thumped at Dallas wasn't good and trips to Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and New Orleans won't be any easier.

#8. Chicago Bulls (23-10): They are still a bit up and down, but overall they look like a legitimate title threat.

#9. Dallas Mavericks (23-10): They have won three straight games against the Lakers, Thunder, and Wizards. They are heating up.

#10. Los Angeles Clippers (22-11): Getting thumped at home against the Raptors was alarming. I'll just say that.

#11. San Antonio Spurs (20-14): I still think they are a threat to win the title, but at some point they gotta start climbing up the standings.

#12. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-14): The fact that they are in the Eastern Conference is huge since it's far from clear they would make the playoffs if they were in the West.

#13. Oklahoma City Thunder (16-17): Kevin Durant is the #2 player in the NBA. I don't care what anybody else says.

#14. Phoenix Suns (18-16): They keep hanging around. I gotta give them credit.

#15. Milwaukee Bucks (17-16): They are showing that even without Jabari Parker, they are still a competitive team. The future is looking bright in Milwaukee.

#16. New Orleans Pelicans (16-16): It'll be interesting to see how Eric Gordon fits when he returns.

#17. Brooklyn Nets (15-16): I think everybody was shocked when they slaughtered the Bulls. Especially since Brook Lopez erupted for 29 points.

#18. Miami Heat (14-19): They are seeded #8 in the Eastern Conference right now. Yeah, no way they get back to the NBA Finals.

#19. Sacramento Kings (14-19): I would just like to point out that they were winning under Mike Malone. He's the coach they fired.

#20. Denver Nuggets (13-20): Ok, I'll admit it. The Nuggets stink. They aren't as good as I thought they were.

#21. Boston Celtics (11-18): If they really wanna blow things up, they'll trade Jeff Green.

#22. Orlando Magic (13-22): Injuries have really hurt this team. If they were healthy, they might be seeded #8 in the East.

#23. Indiana Pacers (12-21): Roy Hibbert is averaging 11.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. That is not gonna cut it.

#24. Utah Jazz (11-21): I'm gonna say it now. The Jazz should feel good about drafting Gordon Hayward over Paul George and this has nothing to do with George's injury.

#25. Los Angeles Lakers (10-22): If Kobe Bryant takes a pay cut next season, they could still build a competitive team around him.

#26. Charlotte Hornets (10-23): This whole season has been a disaster. The overtime loss to the Bucks was another reminder of that and what's worse is that Al Jefferson is out for a month.

#27. Detroit Pistons (8-23): I suppose they are playing better without Josh Smith, but they still have a ways to go.

#28. Minnesota Timberwolves (5-26): So far, they look like they won the Kevin Love trade and secondly, they got the best rookie in Andrew Wiggins.

#29. New York Knicks (5-29): They have won just one more game than the 76ers. They are that bad.

#30. Philadelphia 76ers (4-26): They have lost three straight games after winning two straight games. That is progress.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Friday's Fresh NBA Power Rankings: December 26, 2014

Here are my Power Rankings for December 26, 2014. Enjoy!

1. Portland Trail Blazers (23-7): I'm loving the Trail Blazers right now. They have won six of their last seven games with two wins over the Spurs and one win over the Thunder. They have a very nice seven-game home stand starting tonight against the 76ers. They should continue to rack up the wins.

2. Atlanta Hawks (21-7): Wins against the Bulls, Cavaliers, Rockets, Mavericks, and Clippers all in a row is very impressive.

3. Golden State Warriors (23-5): They are starting to come back down to earth a bit. It'll be interesting to see how Steve Kerr handles the small adversity.

4. Memphis Grizzlies (21-7): They are currently on a three game losing skid. Hopefully the skid can end tonight against the Rockets. It's going to be tough without Zach Randolph.

5. Houston Rockets (20-7): In addition to Corey Brewer, they've also added Josh Smith who was waived by the Pistons this week. The Rockets are going for it.

6. Toronto Raptors (22-7): They're staying afloat while DeMar DeRozan remains out. Very impressive.

7. Chicago Bulls (20-9): Derrick Rose continues to get better and he appears to have all the pieces around him to win a championship. Right now, the Bulls are my pick to win the East.

8. Washington Wizards (20-8):  Paul Pierce has so far been a nice fit. He's averaging  12.7 points and 1.3 threes per game. He's doing exactly what they hoped he would do.

9. Dallas Mavericks (20-10):  J.J. Barea can still play and with Rajon Rondo, Raymond Felton, and Devin Harris also playing the point guard position, look for the Mavericks to make another move. Odds are good Barea is gone.

10. Los Angeles Clippers (20-10): People are sleeping on the Clippers right now due to the success of the teams ahead of them in the West. But the reality is that if you take the Spurs and Thunder out of the equation for the sake of argument, the Clippers are just as much of a contender as any other team in the West.

11. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-11): People are acting like these guys aren't contenders which I find to be insane. A team with LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love can absolutely contend in the Eastern Conference even with Anderson Varejao out for the year.

12. San Antonio Spurs (18-12): They keep plugging away without Kawhi Leonard, but his hand injury is a big concern.

13. Phoenix Suns (16-14): Until they trade Goran Dragic, Isaiah Thomas, or Eric Bledsoe, this team will stay right where they are at.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder (14-16): So long as they have either Russell Westbrook or Kevin Durant healthy, they play just fine. Not up to a championship level, but they are fine as in they can make the playoffs. One does have to wonder whether or not it's smart for them to keep Durant and Westbrook together when both guys essentially do the same thing.

15. New Orleans Pelicans (14-14): Nobody is talking about the Pelicans and yet they are only one game out of the #8 spot in the West.

16. Milwaukee Bucks (14-15): Jason Kidd is keeping the ship afloat without Jabari Parker. I have to say I'm impressed.

17. Miami Heat (14-16): Luckily for them, the East is garbage because otherwise the absence of Chris Bosh would really be a concern.

18. Brooklyn Nets (13-15): The emergence of Mason Plumlee has been fun to watch. Especially for those of us who have him on our fantasy team.

19. Sacramento Kings (12-16): The ship appears to be sinking in Sacramento which is sad given the optimism they had at the beginning of the season.

20. Denver Nuggets (12-17): Danilo Gallinari is out for three weeks due to a knee injury. The injury bug keeps affecting this team.

21. Boston Celtics (10-17): Looking at this roster, it's not clear what move needs to be made next to get this team back into championship contention. Danny Ainge has his work cut out for him.

22. Orlando Magic (11-20): Losing by 8 points to the 76ers at home is pretty bad.

23. Charlotte Hornets (10-19): They need to get this Lance Stephenson situation resolved quickly. Either trade him, waive him, or come out and support him. They've done none of those three things which is why they continue to flounder.

24. Indiana Pacers (10-19): It's hard for them to tank when the whole conference is so bad. They could make the playoffs.

25. Los Angeles Lakers (9-20): 55% of people polled on ESPN's Sports Nation said the Lakers are better off without Kobe Bryant. That means 55% of the people who voted on that poll are stupid.

26. Utah Jazz (9-20): A key problem for this team is they have a log jam at point guard with Dante Exum and Trey Burke and they also have a log jam at center with Enes Kanter and Rudy Gobert. They need to make a move.

27. Minnesota Timberwolves (5-22): Ricky Rubio should be back soon.

28. Detroit Pistons (5-23): Waiving Josh Smith was equally shocking as it was stupid.

29. New York Knicks (5-26): Phil Jackson isn't happy and he promises change. We'll see.

30. Philadelphia 76ers (4-23): If they actually get Andrei Kirilenko to play for them, he might be able to bring them something.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Friday Fresh NBA Power Rankings: December 19, 2014

Here are my NBA power rankings for December 19, 2014. Enjoy!

#1. Golden State Warriors (22-3): The loss in Memphis was expected, at least by me. They're still playing the best basketball of any team in the NBA right now, but I wouldn't say they are heads and shoulders above everybody else. Hence, they're going to lose a game every now and then. Especially in the vicious Western Conference.

#2. Memphis Grizzlies (21-4): They are nipping at the heels of the Warriors and after beating them and the Spurs in back-to-back nights, I would say they sent a strong message that there will be no easy wins against them in the "Grind House" or in any building. Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Mike Conley look like a championship caliber big three and they also seem to have a championship caliber supporting cast.

#3. Houston Rockets (19-6): James Harden is averaging 26.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. The man is absolutely worthy of being in the MVP conversation. As for the rest of the team, the addition of Corey Brewer could make a difference. It'll be interesting to see how he fits in.

#4. Portland Trail Blazers (20-6): The loss of Robin Lopez is potentially huge. The depth of this team will be tested over the coming weeks that he is out.

#5. Toronto Raptors (20-6): Even though they are playing Eastern Conference teams, going on a 4 game winning streak with DeMar DeRozan out speaks highly of this team.

#6. Washington Wizards (18-6): They are on a five game winning streak with games upcoming @Miami, vs. Phoenix, vs. Chicago, and @New York on Christmas. I bet they win all of those games. They are playing that good.

#7. Atlanta Hawks (18-7): Back in July, I wrote the Hawks would be a contender. I'm glad to see my prediction getting backed up by their fantastic play. The Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, and Al Horford  quartet is for real. Note:  If you want to read that blog post from July, click here.

#8. Dallas Mavericks (19-8): The addition of Rajon Rondo could be huge enough to vault them into championship contending status. We'll have to wait and see.

#9. San Antonio Spurs (17-9): Injuries to Kawhi Leonard have to concern this team. They need him healthy to repeat as NBA champs.

#10. Cleveland Cavaliers (14-10): They have slowed down a bit, losing three out of their last four games. They need to pick it back up and I'm confident that they will.

#11. Los Angeles Clippers (18-7): What makes these guys scary is that Blake Griffin is starting to develop his range as a shooter. He is even knocking down threes on occasion. Look out.

#12. Chicago Bulls (16-9): Glad to see that Derrick Rose's body is holding up. As for Taj Gibson, he is having ankle issues. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Injuries is the only thing holding this team back.

#13. New Orleans Pelicans (13-12): So long as Anthony Davis plays like a monster, they will remain a threat. And by threat I mean they could win a first round series given the right match up.

#14. Oklahoma City Thunder (12-14): We can stop asking if these guys will make the playoffs. They will. The only thing that has to worry them is that they really have to make up for lost time and do better than the 6-8 range in the West. Any injury they get, even if it's Durant or Westbrook missing just one game, is a huge deal.

#15. Milwaukee Bucks (14-13): They could still make the playoffs, but the soul of this team has been sucked out of them thanks to the loss of Jabari Parker for the season. Best wishes to him on a speedy recovery.

#16. Miami Heat (12-14): The loss of Josh McRoberts is huge. Wade and Bosh don't have much support now that he is gone. Even with him, I think it was becoming apparent that this team isn't going anywhere.

#17. Phoenix Suns (13-14):  I have a feeling these guys are going to be on the outside looking in come playoff time. With the Mavericks making a move for Rondo and the Thunder getting healthy, it just looks like these guys are gonna get squeezed out.

#18. Brooklyn Nets (10-14): So long as this team doesn't have a permanent centerpiece for the future (and yes, Brook Lopez is reportedly on the trade block or at least potentially), they will flounder.

#19. Denver Nuggets (10-15): This team is once again skidding, but I expect them to wake up and push back towards that .500 mark. Maybe they can get some wins against the Hornets, Nets, and Timberwolves. It could happen.

#20. Sacramento Kings (11-15): They are a laughing stock right now with all that has happened over the last week. Their coach Mike Malone got fired to everybody's surprise and their owner Vivek Ranadive is telling Tyrone Corbin to use "Cherry Pickers" on defense. The sad thing is that the front office is making this team look bad when in reality, the on court improvement has been enormous.

#21. Boston Celtics (9-14): I said they needed to trade Rajon Rondo and they did. They dealt him and Dwight Powell to the Mavericks for Brandan Wright, Jae Crowder, and Jameer Nelson. My only concern is that I think they could have perhaps gotten more for him, but all the same, the starting point guard job now belongs to Marcus Smart, which for them is a good thing.

#22. Utah Jazz (7-19): Everybody is worried about their point guard situation, but I honestly think both Trey Burke and Dante Exum have the potential to be fantastic point guards. It's just not likely they keep them both for the long haul.

#23. Los Angeles Lakers (8-17): The Lakers are starting to look like an ok team thanks to Kobe Bryant and Nick Young. With them on the floor they are not a free win, but there are enough good teams out West to keep them bogged down right around the level they are at.

#24. Orlando Magic (10-18): It would be great if they could get Aaron Gordon back soon, but that doesn't look likely.

#25. Indiana Pacers (8-18): They are lottery bound, which is actually ok. But whatever they do, they should not bring back Lance Stephenson.

#26. Charlotte Hornets (6-19): It is officially a lost season in Charlotte. I'm saying it now. The only good part about this season for them is that "Buzz City" is back. Beyond that, this season has been a disaster.

#27. Minnesota Timberwolves (5-19): They may be bad, but they gotta feel good knowing they got the best rookie in the 2014 draft class and possibly the best two. Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins both look legit.

#28. Detroit Pistons (5-21): Greg Monroe isn't coming back. They need to trade him and I think they will.

#29. New York Knicks (5-23): Maybe they should trade Carmelo Anthony and just blow the whole thing up. Why not?

#30. Philadelphia 76ers (2-22): They are back at the bottom where they belong. Here is what I can tell you about the 76ers beyond the fact that they stink: They actually have a bright future with all the young talent and assets they are acquiring. E.g. Dario Saric playing for Anadolu Efes Istanbul in Turkey is looking good and has won a Euroleague player of the month award.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord   

Friday Fresh NBA Power Rankings: December 12, 2014

     Here are my NBA Power Rankings for Friday December 12, 2014. Enjoy!

#1. Golden State Warriors (19-2): The Warriors have now won 14 straight games and it hasn't been due to a herculean effort by Stephen Curry. Everybody is chipping in and contributing, making this team even more scary. That being said, Stephen Curry is putting up a strong case for league MVP at this point of the season (23.0 points, 7.7 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game).

#2. Memphis Grizzlies (17-4): The game against the Warriors on Tuesday could decide who is ranked #1 next week. It should be fun to see if Tony Allen and Courtney Lee can slow down Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson on the perimeter. I can't wait!

#3. Houston Rockets (17-5):  James Harden is playing some fantastic basketball right now. He had 44 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals against the Kings on Thursday, and the previous three games, he scored 34 points, 15 points, and 38 points. If you want to know how the Rockets are still winning without Dwight Howard it's because of James Harden and his sensational play.

#4. Los Angeles Clippers (16-5): Nobody is talking about the Clippers' nine game winning streak that they have going into tonight's game in D.C..  These guys are playing really well right now.

#5. Portland Trail Blazers (17-5): Even with the Thunder getting on a roll, these guys still are in prime position to win the Northwest division. Their focus now needs to be on getting the #1 seed in the West, which will be no easy task.

#6. Atlanta Hawks (15-6): The Paul Millsap/Al Horford combo is starting to look good. They've won eight straight games and are gunning for nine straight wins tonight against the Magic.

#7. San Antonio Spurs (16-6): I know it doesn't feel like these guys are moving up the ranks, but in reality, they are doing all that they need to be doing in order to get back to the NBA Finals. All these guys care about is May and June, but unfortunately for them, caring only about that still requires them to be winning games at a solid clip.

#8. Toronto Raptors (16-6): They need DeMar DeRozan back. That simple.

#9. Cleveland Cavaliers (13-8): These guys are starting to wake up, having won eight out of their last nine games. With nobody in the East really taking control, I'd say the Cavaliers are the front runners to win the East at this point.

#10. Washington Wizards (15-6): The maturation of Bradley Beal and John Wall is fun to watch. They aren't as good of a backcourt duo as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but they are in that same zip code.

#11. Dallas Mavericks (17-7): Saturday's game against the Warriors at home is huge. If they beat the Warriors, that will really send a strong message to the rest of the NBA.

#12. Chicago Bulls (13-8): What really helps this team is that their conference is weak. If they get healthy, they have all the makings of a team that could run the table. They just need to stay afloat and get healthy by April.

#13. Oklahoma City Thunder (9-13): They are only a couple of games out of the #8 seed in the West. I'm confident they'll make the playoffs.

#14. Phoenix Suns (12-11): If Alex Len can actually become a productive center, he could vault these guys into championship contending status in the coming years.

#15. Milwaukee Bucks (11-2):  They will be tested on their upcoming Western Conference road trip: @Phoenix, @Portland, @Sacramento, and @Los Angeles Clippers. The trip starts on December 15.

#16. Sacramento Kings (11-12): Just like the Raptors, they need their star back. So long as DeMarcus Cousins is out, the Kings will struggle.

#17. New Orleans Pelicans (10-11): Eric Gordon has really let this team down.

#18. Denver Nuggets (10-12): I have faith in this team's ability to stay the course as a .500 team. I'm not worried.

#19. Miami Heat (10-12): Remember when people were like "Don't sleep on the Heat"? I may have been one of those people, haha. But it looks like they aren't going to be much of a threat. They obviously are not the same team without LeBron James.

#20. Brooklyn Nets (8-12): If they really are open to trading Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, and Brook Lopez, they might as well waive the white flag.

#21. Orlando Magic (9-15): Amazingly, they are staying in the playoff hunt as I predicted that they would.

#22. Boston Celtics (7-13): Marcus Smart's 23 points against the Wizards was a definite bright flash that this team needed in terms of giving them some hope.

#23. Indiana Pacers (7-15): They've lost six straight games and likely will have seven straight losses after tonight's game against the Raptors.

#24. Utah Jazz (6-16): They beat the Spurs at home. That says something good about this team.

#25. Charlotte Hornets (6-15): Several teams are interested in Lance Stephenson. These guys probably should listen to some offers.

#26. Los Angeles Lakers (6-16): Ronnie Price and Ed Davis starting over Carlos Boozer and Jeremy Lin is all you need to know about the current state of the Lakers.

#27. Minnesota Timberwolves (5-16): Andrew Wiggins is the real deal. These guys have a future with him on their team.

#28. New York Knicks (4-20): These guys are awful.

#29. Philadelphia 76ers (2-19): They went up a spot in my rankings!!!! Congrats to them!!!

#30. Detroit Pistons (3-19): They have fallen below the 76ers in my Power Rankings. It is that bad right now in the Motor City.


---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord  

Friday Fresh NBA Power Rankings: December 5, 2014

                                          (Credit: Matthew Addie. Click here for full image and source)

Here are my NBA Power Rankings for December 5, 2014. Enjoy!

#1. Golden State Warriors (16-2): The Warriors have won 11 straight games and are seeded #1 in the Western Conference.  The most impressive part about this run is that they are doing this without David Lee.

#2. Memphis Grizzlies (15-3): The Rockets got even with them earlier this week, handing them just their third loss of the season. I do not doubt that the Grizzlies will bounce back from this, but they have some tough opponents coming to town like the Spurs, Mavericks, and Heat.

#3. Houston Rockets (14-4): Defeating the Grizzlies without Dwight Howard is beyond impressive. That is a really encouraging win for this Rockets team.

#4.  Portland Trail Blazers (15-4): The Portland Trail Blazers are playing some really good basketball right now. They just need to hope the other good teams in the Western Conference like the Rockets, Warriors, and Grizzlies cool off.

#5. Toronto Raptors (15-4): The loss of DeMar DeRozan for the foreseeable future is a blow to this team, but it's a blow they can withstand due to the Eastern Conference being garbage.

#6. Dallas Mavericks (15-5): They have two legit closers in Monta Ellis and Dirk Nowitzki. That makes them really scary.

#7. San Antonio Spurs (13-5): I rarely say that there are "big games" in December, especially for teams like the Spurs. But I actually think tonight's trip to Memphis is a huge game for the Spurs. They need to remind people that they are still the defending champs.

#8. Los Angeles Clippers (13-5): They are currently riding on a six game winning streak. With games against the Pelicans and Suns at home coming up, that streak should extend to eight before they head out on an Eastern Conference road trip.

#9. Atlanta Hawks (11-6): Remember how we wondered how good these guys would be with a healthy Paul Millsap and a healthy Al Horford? I think we are starting to have that questioned answered. These guys look pretty good.

#10. Washington Wizards (12-5): Bradley Beal may be back, but now Nene is hurt and Paul Pierce has been dealing with a toe injury. Injuries are the only thing holding this team back from perhaps being the best team in the Eastern Conference.

#11. Chicago Bulls (12-7): Speaking of injuries, this team too needs to get healthy. Derrick Rose is back, but now it's Taj Gibson who is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. This team needs to get all its key players healthy so that we can know how good they actually are.

#12. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-7): During his last three games, Kyrie Irving has scored 24 points, 28 points and 37 points. If he keeps playing like this, these guys will be as scary as we thought they would be. Evidence of this is that they are currently on a five game winning streak.

#13. Phoenix Suns (11-8): They have a three game road trip starting tonight: @Dallas, @Houston, and @Los Angeles Clippers. These three games will tell us a lot about how good these guys actually are.

#14. Denver Nuggets (9-9): If they can consistently figure out how to win on the road, they could be a playoff team. Denver is always a tough place to play even when the Nuggets aren't terribly good and this year, the Nuggets are pretty good.

#15. Milwaukee Bucks (10-10): With the way these guys are playing under Jason Kidd, maybe the Nets made a mistake in letting him go.

#16. Miami Heat (9-9): People were buying the Heat as a sleeper team to win the East at the beginning of the year, but now it looks like that was wishful thinking. They are still a competitive team, but not a team we should take seriously as a contender.

#17. New Orleans Pelicans (8-9): Getting blown out by the Warriors on Thursday is just a reminder that even with Anthony Davis playing like a beast, this team still needs to get a lot better and provide him with more quality players.

#18. Sacramento Kings (9-9): Hopefully they can get DeMarcus Cousins back soon. I heard it was only a two game absence, so odds are good that they'll have him back by Monday.

#19. Oklahoma City Thunder (5-13): Why the sudden jump in the power rankings? Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are back! These guys should be able to make the playoffs and start climbing up the power rankings. #19 is where they are gonna have to start.

#20. Brooklyn Nets (8-9):  Paul Pierce did well to get out of Brooklyn. These guys seem destined for another mediocre season.

#21. Indiana Pacers (7-12): They've been trying to tread water without Paul George and they are starting to look tired. I don't see them making the playoffs and perhaps another high draft pick would do this team some good. Yes, I just mentioned the draft in December!

#22. Orlando Magic (7-14):  The loss to the Warriors at the hands of Stephen Curry was heartbreaking given they actually played a championship contending team really well on the road.

#23. Boston Celtics (5-11): There isn't a lot for Celtics fans to be happy about. Rondo is still around and the team has lost 8 of their last 10 games.

#24. Utah Jazz (5-14): I honestly like what I've seen from this team. Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Trey Burke, Alec Burks, Enes Kanter, and Dante Exum look fine. They are just in a brutal conference.

#25. Los Angeles Lakers (5-14): For all this talk about Kobe Bryant playing so well for his age, his team still sucks.

#26. Charlotte Hornets (4-15): I wrote a blog piece about their struggles earlier this week, so feel free to check it out. The short version is as follows: Lance Stephenson, Kemba Walker, and Gerald Henderson are struggling.

#27. Minnesota Timberwolves (4-13): Losing to the 76ers is depressing.

#28. New York Knicks (4-16): Amare' Stoudemire is finally playing like he's worth one-third of his contract!

#29. Detroit Pistons (3-16): I actually think they'll lose to the 76ers on Saturday. That's how bad it's gotten.

#30. Philadelphia 76ers (1-17): They won a game!!! Next goal for them to is get out of the #30 spot in my power rankings. A win over Detroit on Saturday might do the trick!

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Friday Fresh NBA Power Rankings: November 28

                                         (Credit: Sean Davis. Click here for full image and source)

Here are my NBA power rankings for November 28, 2014. Enjoy!

#1. Memphis Grizzlies (13-2): Their two losses to the Bucks and Raptors are by a combined 5 points. Also, they have won three straight games despite getting hit with a stomach virus. Nothing appears capable of slowing the Grizzlies down.

#2. Toronto Raptors (13-2): They've won six straight games and in the process have defeated some good teams like the Grizzlies, Cavaliers, and Suns. A key to their early success has been the emergence of Lou Williams as a legitimate third option to take the pressure of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. He dropped 22 points on the Hawks and a career high 36 points on the Cavaliers.

#3. Golden State Warriors (12-2): The scariest part about this Warriors team is that Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry haven't reached their ceiling yet.

#4. Portland Trail Blazers (12-3):  The Trail Blazers will be gunning for 10 straight wins against the Grizzlies tonight in Portland. This will really tell us where the Trail Blazers are at. I'm not taking credit away from their nine straight wins, but the only really quality win they've had in this winning streak is their win over the Bulls on the 21st.

#5. Houston Rockets (12-3):  With Dwight Howard out with a right knee issue, James Harden has taken it upon himself to carry this team. So far he's doing a pretty good job (25.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists).

#6. San Antonio Spurs (10-4): It didn't take long for the Spurs to wake up. They've won five straight games, and with games against the Kings, Celtics, and 76ers coming up, this winning streak should keep on going.

#7. Dallas Mavericks (11-5):  Interesting road trip coming up for the Mavericks: @Toronto, @Philadelphia, @Chicago, and @Milwaukee. The only "easy" opponent on this road trip is the 76ers and the Mavericks play them on the second half of a back-to-back on Saturday.

#8. Chicago Bulls (10-6): Derrick Rose came back for Friday afternoon's tilt with the Celtics and helped lead the team to the victory, scoring 21 points in 28 minutes of action. Great news for the Bulls.

#9. Los Angeles Clippers (9-5): They have gone 2-0 so far on their four game road trip, defeating the Hornets and Pistons. However, the Rockets and Jazz should both be much more challenging.

#10. Washington Wizards (9-5): The return of Bradley Beal should give this team a huge lift.

#11. Phoenix Suns (10-6): They have to trade Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe, or Isaiah Thomas. This three point guard experiment is just weird and it has to end for the sake of this team's sanity.

#12. Sacramento Kings (9-6): I gotta give these guys credit. They are hanging tough and DeMarcus Cousins is delivering the goods: 23.5 points and 12.6 rebounds per game.

#13. Milwaukee Bucks (9-7): The Bucks continue to be an early season surprise. That loss for the Grizzlies suddenly doesn't look so bad with the way these guys are playing.

#14. Denver Nuggets (7-8): These guys had a five game winning streak snapped in Phoenix, which is not an easy place to win. The Nuggets appear to be hitting their stride and should finish right around the 41 win mark that I projected them to finish at.

#15. Atlanta Hawks (7-6): They remain a little bit up and down. Upcoming home games against the Hornets and Celtics ought to steady them.

#16. New Orleans Pelicans (7-6): The loss of Eric Gordon isn't as bad as some might think. He was only giving them 9.5 points per game and all he has ever done well is score.

#17. Miami Heat (8-7): They are doing better than the Cavaliers, which is kind of humorous. But all jokes aside, this team isn't going to be a serious factor so long as Dwyane Wade remains in and out of the lineup.

#18. Cleveland Cavaliers (7-7): Are they a work in progress? Yes. Is it time to panic? No.

#19. Brooklyn Nets (6-8): Everybody thought they would be the team to first fall to the 76ers, but they ended up pulling it out. Had they lost to the 76ers, things would really be coming unglued.

#20. Indiana Pacers (6-9): David West's return should give them a lift.

#21. Orlando Magic (6-11): The early injury to Aaron Gordon does have to concern them. They better hope they didn't draft a guy who always gets hurt because he is really key to their long-term future and success.

#22. Utah Jazz (6-11): They are much improved, no doubt, but the Western Conference is as vicious as ever and as a result, they will still struggle to win games even with all their improvement.

#23. Boston Celtics (4-9): With Marcus Smart returning, it'll be interesting to see if the Rajon Rondo trade rumors heat up should Smart play well.

#24. Charlotte Hornets (4-12): Even with Gary Neal's injury problems, this team should be better than 4-12.

#25. Oklahoma City Thunder (4-12): These guys desperately need Durant and Westbrook back. Fortunately, Westbrook is playing tonight against the Knicks.

#26. New York Knicks (4-12): And now Carmelo Anthony has back problems. Things have gone from bad to really really bad.

#27. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-10): Andrew Wiggins is looking like a great pick up, but they are still a long ways off from being competitive.

#28. Los Angeles Lakers (3-12):  After getting that boost from Nick Young's return, they have since lost three straight games.

#29. Detroit Pistons (3-12): A showdown with the Lakers on December 2 at home could vault them to #28 in my power rankings.

#30. Philadelphia 76ers (0-15): They don't have a game that they can be expected to win until December 15 against the Celtics. Looks like my beard will continue to grow.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Friday Fresh NBA Power Rankings: November 21

Here are my NBA Power Rankings as of Friday, November 21. Enjoy!!

1. Memphis Grizzlies (10-2): Despite getting hit with a stomach virus, the Grizzlies still played the Raptors tough on the road. Hopefully these guys can get healthy soon, but in the meantime, expect them to still fight, grind, and play hard.

2. Golden State Warriors (8-2): The Warriors so far have been taking advantage of this easy portion of their schedule, defeating the Nets, Hornets, and Lakers. Up next are the Jazz at home and the Thunder on the road.

3. Toronto Raptors (9-2): I'm still worried about their absence of a legitimate third option, but if Terrance Ross keeps playing like he did against the Grizzlies, the Raptors may have their guy.

4.  Dallas Mavericks (9-3): Monta Ellis is looking like a really good fit on this team, dropping 34 points on the Wizards in Wednesday's win. So long as Dirk can keep it up, this team is going to remain a legit title threat.

5. Washington Wizards (7-3): With Bradley Beal back, they should start to do some serious damage.

6. Portland Trail Blazers (8-3): They are on a very nice five game winning streak, and have good odds to keep winning for a while. They face a banged up Bulls team tonight, and then they go on a road trip @Boston, @Philadelphia, and @Charlotte before coming home to face the Grizzlies on the 28th.

7. Los Angeles Clippers (7-4): Chris Paul is still getting it done with 18.0 points and 9.9 assists per game. This team is staying relatively quiet, but all the same they are playing good basketball.

8. Houston Rockets (9-3): They've lost two straight, getting waxed by the Grizzlies and upset by the Lakers. Their next game is Saturday against the Mavericks at home. They have to win that game.

9. Chicago Bulls (8-4): Pau Gasol and Derrick Rose are both injured. At some point you just have to wonder how many injuries can this team withstand?

10. San Antonio Spurs (7-4): No shock, the Spurs are hanging around and looking prime to make another late-season surge.

11. Milwaukee Bucks (7-5): The early success of the Milwaukee Bucks is definitely the feel good story of the league so far. Can they keep it up? I don't see why not.

12. New Orleans Pelicans (6-4): I didn't have them as a playoff team before the season started, but so far they are proving me wrong. In addition to the dominant force that is Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson has been key to this team's success: 16.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game on 41.1% shooting from three-point range.

13. Sacramento Kings (7-5): I really like the Rudy Gay contract extension for 3 years and $40M. It gives them some stability for the foreseeable future but they aren't totally "committed" in case things don't work out. So far, things are working out just fine.

14. Phoenix Suns (7-5): The three point guard system is causing friction on the team. Goran Dragic recently told AZCentral.com why he thinks they are struggling: "Because there's only one ball and we're all point guards." Odds are good one of their point guards is gone before the trade deadline. Possibly Goran Dragic since there are reports that he will test the waters of free agency next summer.

15. Cleveland Cavaliers (5-5): It's still early in the season and they have plenty of time to get it together, but with that being said, they don't want to slip too far in the standings and have to win a couple of series' in the playoffs without home court advantage.

16. Miami Heat (6-6): Dwyane Wade is in and out of the lineup and Chris Bosh is cooling off. Bosh did have 28 points against the Clippers, but before that, he registered 15 points, 10 points, 20 points, and 9 points. In essence, as Bosh cools, so do the Heat.

17. Atlanta Hawks (5-5): I still think this team needs more time to gel with Paul Millsap and Al Horford both healthy together. DeMarre Carroll is returning tonight, so that helps as well.

18. Utah Jazz (5-7): I doubt they make the playoffs, but so far they are fighting hard and making things tough for all of their opponents. I like how Quin Snyder is making these guys play hard.

19. Indiana Pacers (5-7): This team is totally dependent on the play of Roy Hibbert. If he plays well, they play well. If he is cold, they're cold. So long as he continues to ebb and flow, they will follow suite.

20. Orlando Magic (5-8): They are starting to wake up and make me look good after I sang their praises at the start of the season.

21. Boston Celtics (4-6): Danny Ainge keeps denying any interest in trading Rajon Rondo and yet the rumors keep on coming. This is fun.

22. Brooklyn Nets (4-7): They have lost five games in a row. They better get it done tonight in OKC.

23. Denver Nuggets (4-7): They have won two straight games over the Cavaliers and Thunder. I doubt they get it done for a third straight time against the Pelicans, but if they do, they could be building something.

24. Charlotte Hornets (4-8): So far, this team has been a major disappointment. Good thing Gary Neal is back.

25. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-7): With Kevin Martin out indefinitely with a wrist injury, these guys are really gonna struggle.

26. Los Angeles Lakers (3-9): Nick Young has injected some life into this team. Not enough to make them a playoff team, but enough to make them a team you cannot ignore on any given night.

27. Detroit Pistons (3-9): These guys really do stink and Stan Van Gundy needs to not worry about what opponents say about his team.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder (3-10): I'm starting to think this team is actually going to miss the playoffs, which would really make the Western Conference wide open.

29. New York Knicks (3-10): I cannot think of one positive thing to say about this team.

30. Philadelphia 76ers (0-11): I am not shaving until they get a win, but perhaps they get it done against the Suns tonight or the Knicks on Saturday.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord