NBA Power Rankings
2012 NBA Power Rankings: Week 16
Newsday.com's Bobby Bonett makes sense of the NBA with his weekly power rankings, every Monday at noon.
Rank
Change
Team
Record
Comments
1.
-
Spurs
47-16
When Manu Ginobili broke his hand in a 106-96 loss to the Wolves on Jan. 2, it looked like the Spurs would struggle to make the playoffs. Fast forward 3 1/2 months, and San Antonio is head and shoulders above the rest of the league a week away from the postseason.
2.
1
Heat
46-18
Assuming Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade are 100 percent by Miami's playoff opener, the Heat are still the favorites to win the Eastern Conference.
3.
1
Bulls
48-16
A convincing win over Dallas last Saturday was a positive sign in Derrick Rose's return to the Bulls' lineup. Will the reigning MVP be 100 percent come playoffs?
4.
5
Clippers
40-24
Remember when it looked like Vinny Del Negro was on the hot seat? Since March 24, the Clippers are 13-3, arguably the hottest team outside of San Antonio in the league.
5.
-
Lakers
41-24
How many games will Metta World Peace be suspended? How will Andrew Bynum respond to being benched for the final 22 minutes of the Thunder game? Thursday's game in Sacramento is big for the Lakers: A win, and they'll be able to avoid the Spurs until the West finals.
6.
2
Thunder
46-18
The Thunder are now 1-6 in April against teams currently in the top eight of their conference. Oklahoma City's offense is frighteningly predictable late in games, with every play seemingly calling for either Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook to take a jumper with less than five seconds on the shot clock.
7.
1
Celtics
37-27
Doc Rivers wisely afforded his veterans some rest against the Hawks last Friday. With fresh legs, Boston will be a very tough out.
8.
-
Grizzlies
39-25
A 12-3 stretch and a (very) outside chance at the No. 3 seed is nice, but winning by just five against the Bobcats and just four against the Blazers is alarming.
9.
1
Nuggets
36-28
When on, Denver can hang with anyone. Back-to-back double-digit wins over Phoenix and Orlando suggest the Nuggets may be clicking at the right time.
10.
3
Pacers
41-23
There isn't a team set up nicer than Indiana heading into the playoffs. Assuming Orlando beats Charlotte, the Pacers get the hapless Magic in the first round.
11.
-
Knicks
34-30
The Knicks may be kicking themselves for that loss to Cleveland for a while. A win would have given New York a real shot at avoiding Miami in the first round. Now, barring a miracle, it'll be Knicks-Heatles in the two-seven match-up.
12.
1
Hawks
38-26
Since March 7, the Hawks have just four wins (and eight losses) over teams projected to make the playoffs. Two of those -- the Dwight Howard-less Magic, and the 12th-man Celtics lineup -- come with asterisks. Does Atlanta have any hope of a first round playoff win?
13.
5
Jazz
34-30
The Jazz were expected to be in the mix for a top-five pick entering the year. Now, with back-to-back wins to end the season, Utah could grab the No. 7 seed in the West.
14.
2
Mavericks
36-29
Reason No. 74 why Dallas won't repeat: an eight-point first quarter in a loss to the Bulls.
15.
1
Suns
33-31
Despite just three wins in their last seven games, the Suns still control their own destiny, with back-to-back wins over Utah and San Antonio resulting in an improbable playoff berth.
16.
1
76ers
33-30
Philadelphia will finish the season with a winning record in just one month: January.
18.
2
Rockets
33-32
Goran Dragic will be a hot commodity in free agency, but the Rockets will endure an early offseason after dropping seven of eight, eliminating them from playoff contention.
19.
-
Bucks
30-33
The Bucks are alive, but on life support. Would we really have wanted to watch a team that gave up 121 points to the Wizards in the playoffs, anyway?
20.
4
Hornets
20-44
No tanking for New Orleans: the Hornets are 7-4 in their last 11, including wins over Denver, Utah, Memphis and Houston.
21.
1
Trail Blazers
28-36
The disassembled post-deadline Blazers actually managed a better record the last 21 games -- 8-13 -- than the full roster did in the 21 games prior to the trade deadline -- 7-14.
22.
7
Wizards
17-46
The Wizards picked up road wins over both the Bulls and Heat last week. Digest that for a second.
23.
-
Pistons
24-40
Wins in their final two games would leave the Pistons with a 22-20 record in their final 42 games.
24.
4
Cavaliers
21-42
Kyrie Irving posted wildly similar numbers to Stephen Curry in the two players' rookie seasons. Irving is just 19; Curry was 21. Good news for Cavs fans.
25.
3
Nets
22-42
Not the way Mikhail Prokhorov envisioned heading to Brooklyn. Maybe Dwight Howard is still in the cards, though?
26.
5
Raptors
22-42
Toronto is still light years away from even thinking about the playoffs. How much different will this team look come 2012-13?
27.
1
Warriors
23-41
The Warriors found another lights out shooter: rookie Klay Thompson. After a slow start to the season, Thompson wrapped up with a huge April: 18.9 points per game on 45.9 percent shooting, including 39.5 percent from three.
28.
3
Timberwolves
26-39
If in early March, you had asked the Timberwolves what the team's biggest late-April story line would be, I doubt anybody would have offered "Kevin Love's mustache."
29.
2
Kings
21-43
Andrew Bynum said he won't play in the Olympics. The team saddled with injuries, could Jerry Colangelo give DeMarcus Cousins consideration?
30.
-
Bobcats
7-56
Charlotte needs one win in its last three games to avoid the worst winning percentage in NBA history. We're not optimistic.
