NBA Power Rankings – Top four stay the same, Jazz surge up list
Online betting players won’t see much of a change at the top of this week’s NBA Power Rankings, except for a Western Conference that is making a run, and figuring out that they may be alright if their star leaves in the offseason.
1. (1) Cleveland (39-11): The Cavs have won nine in a row, and LeBron James is figuring out that he may be even more dangerous as a passer: the “King” is averaging 10.8 assists in his last five games. The guy is simply insane.
2. (2) Denver (33-15): The Nuggets are winning despite an injury to Carmelo Anthony, and Chauncey Billups has played well enough in his absence to earn a spot on the All-Star team to replace an injured Chris Paul.
3. (3) Los Angeles Lakers (37-12): Kobe Bryant is now the highest-scoring Laker in franchise history, but he surprised everyone by passing off the final shot to Ron Artest in Memphis on Monday. The NBA betting odds of that happening against aren’t good.
4. (4) Atlanta (30-17): The Hawks have dropped their last three games on the road, and they just can’t seem to get their act together away from Philips Arena, where they are 19-5.
5. (15) Utah (29-18): The Jazz have won six in a row, and they’ve scored 100 points or more in eight of their last nine games. Paul Millsap has been a beast since Carlos Boozer (who should leave this summer) was injured.
6. (10) Orlando (33-16): The Magic have now won four in a row after a shaky January, and they’ve recommitted to defense: during this streak, all four opponents have been held to 94 points or less.
7. (4) Dallas (30-18): The Mavericks are going the other way during their current three-game skid, as three straight opponents have dropped 104 points on Dallas, who look like they’re just trying to survive until the All-Star break.
8. (7) Memphis (26-22): The Grizzlies are another team limping into the break with three losses in their last four games, but it must have felt good to beat the Lakers on Monday night.
9. (6) Boston (30-16): Ray Allen trade rumors, Kevin Garnett still isn’t healthy, and now Paul Pierce is out. But don’t discount the Celtics’ odds in your sportsbook yet, there’s still a lot of basketball to be played.
10. (8) Portland (29-21): My biggest question in the NBA is: why isn’t LaMarcus Aldridge putting up Zach Randolph numbers? He’s still young and doing well, but I thought he would dominate coming out of Texas.
11. (9) San Antonio (27-19): The Rodeo Road Trip starts tonight in Sacramento, and we’ll really see what the Spurs are made of now.
12. (16) Oklahoma City (27-21): A Thunder team that has struggled to score has dropped 100 points or more in their last three games, with Kevin Durant leading the way.
13. (14) Toronto (26-23): The Raptors have home games against New Jersey, Sacramento and Philadelphia before the break, and they’ve won five in a row at the ACC.
14. (13) Chicago (23-23): You try handicapping the Bulls: Chicago just went 5-0 on a Western road swing, and then they lost to the Clippers at home, where they’re generally good.
15. (11) Charlotte (24-23): If the Bobcats don’t get better on the road, the possibility of their first-ever playoff appearance is still up in the air.
16. (19) Phoenix (29-21)
17. (12) New Orleans (26-22)
18. (18) Houston (26-22)
19. (17) Miami (24-24)
20. (23) Los Angeles Clippers (21-27)
21. (22) Milwaukee (21-26)
22. (27) Detroit (16-31)
23. (28) Washington (16-31)
24. (24) Philadelphia (16-31)
25. (29) Minnesota (11-38)
26. (20) New York (18-29)
27. (21) Indiana (17-32)
28. (25) Sacramento (16-31)
29. (26) Golden State (13-34)
30. (30) New Jersey (4-43)
The slide starts for the Hornets, who could be in deep, deep trouble with Chris Paul’s knee injury, and it looks like multiple injuries have finally put the Warriors to bed. In other sports betting news, the Nets are still awful.
