NBA POWER RANKINGS - WEEK 12

What's up players? We are back with this week's NBA Power Rankings, so check them out if you get a chance. Doing this week's rankings will be myself (Docksquad), and Amar Panchmatia (formerly of Cavalier Attitude).

Tip-Off:

1. (1) Cleveland Cavaliers (32-11)

• What's this, four or five weeks in a row for the Cavs in our top spot? To be honest, the last few weeks has been due to default and the fact that their Christmas Day bashing of the Lakers was so convincing. But guess who's in town for a visit on Thursday night? (AP)
  

2. (2) Los Angeles Lakers (31-9)

• With Pau back, all is well for the Lakers. Let's face it, the Lakers are a much better team when Pau is in the lineup, than without him. The Lakers have had the benefit of playing a ton of their games at home so far this season, so their real test will now begin. With Pau back, will the Lakers be able to take care of business on the road? I think so. (VC)

3. (5) Dallas Mavericks (27-14)

• Coming into the season, the Cavs, Lakers, Celtics, Magic, and Spurs were viewed as the "Big Five" of championship contention. Replace the Spurs with these Mavs, who are as real of a championship contender as they have ever been. No matter how injury depleted the Celtics were on Monday night, going into Boston and whooping the C's tails was impressive. (AP)

4. (3) Boston Celtics (27-11)

• The Celtics are reeling with injuries right now. Like I said last week, will the Celts be able to stay in the elite class all season long? Rondo has been carrying the squad, but he looked burned out vs the Bulls. DRose abused him play after play, and you could tell Rondo and the entire Celtics squad looked tired. But even after all of that, the Celts are still a top five squad, and they get back Sheed and KG soon. (VC)

5. (8) Denver Nuggets (26-14)

• On pace for their second consecutive Northwest Division title. New-look backcourt of Billups and Lawson was too quick for the Jazz to handle on Sunday night, and the plethora of looks that George Karl can throw out there at teams will make the Nugs a nightmare to face in the postseason. (AP)

6. (9) Atlanta Hawks (26-13)

• The once slumping Hawks are finally playing good basketball again. It helps that they keep playing the Celtics, who they seem to own lately. The Hawks are atop of their division, and they are scoring points again. A big reason for the resurgence is their sixth man, Jamal Crawford. This ex-Bull has been lighting it up, including hitting a nasty game winner last week. Is he a lock for sixth man of the year? (VC)

7. (10) Portland Trail Blazers (25-17)

• How do you go from just spanking Orlando on national TV without Brandon Roy one night and losing to Washington three days later? Regardless, the fact that Nate McMillan has this team ranked so highly despite half the team missing significant time due to injuries should have him in the discussion for Coach of the Year. (AP)

8. (4) Orlando Magic (26-14)

• The Magic are struggling right now. And they can not beat the good teams in the League for the life of them. Like I have been saying since they swapped Hedo for VC, kiss your team good bye Magic fans. As expected, VC is struggling. While Hedo used to get the ball to Dwight and while he ran the pick and roll to perfection, VC isn't doing anything. He is busy jacking up fadeaway jumpers and threes. Sad foo. Note to SVG and VC, det Dwight the ball, and move out of the way. Then maybe you will win. (VC)

9. (6) San Antonio Spurs (25-15)

• I'm officially done with pretending that the Spurs are some sort of championship contender. They still may bring it on some nights, like they did against the Lakers and Hornets this past week, but watching the young Grizzlies and Bobcats get up and down on this crew showed how old and unathletic the Spurs have become. I'll be surprised if they make it to the Western Conference Finals. (AP)

10. (7) Phoneix Suns (24-17)

• We knew this road trip would be rough for the Suns, but I didn't think it would be this rough. I thought Nash would at least ball on cats and win one game, but I was wrong. Even with Nash having another stellar year, this squad isn't looking like a championship contender. Should they trade Amare now to at least get some value for him? They are now 1-11 away from the Us Airways Center. (VC)

11. (13) Oklahoma City Thunder (23-18)

• Kevin Durant is turning out to be one of the league's most underrated superstars. That's a shame, because he's every bit as valuable to his squad as LeBron, Wade, and Melo are to theirs. And this Thunder team is a year away from being a legitimate championship contender. (AP)

12. (16) Memphis Grizzlies (21-18)

• The Grizz are moving higher and higher in our rankings every week. They are playing great basketball, and Z-Bo is leading the way for them. I don't see how Z-Bo doesn't make the All Star Game. I got a chance to see him play this year, and he looks like a new man. The once black hole is actually passing out of double teams! I've always been a fan, so I am glad he is doing well. I also want to take a second to give credit to their coach. It isn't easy controlling all the characters on this squad, and he is doing a great job. COY? (VC)

13. (12) Houston Rockets (23-18)

• Continuing to plow through what was supposed to be a throw-away season. They can still work some magic with T-Mac's $23 million expiring contract, and knowing Daryl Morey's body of work, don't be surprised if he does. (AP)

14. (19) Charlotte Bobcats (19-19)

• Here is another team that is racing up the power rankings! Do you know who the best team in 2010 is so far? Yes sir, it's the Bobcats! 8-1 so far to start the year. What's amazing is that they are beating quality teams, not just bottom feeders. GWEEZY should be an All Star, and he is my sleeper pick to win the Dunk Contest! (VC)
  

15. (14) Utah Jazz (23-18)

• Extremely lucky to beat the Cavs last week with Gaines' miracle shot. But with a surprisingly weaker home court strength compared to past years, this Jazz team just looks and feels like another one-and-done squad. If they even get to the playoffs, that is. (AP)

16. (11) New Orleans Hornets (21-18)

• The Hornets are hot, winning 8 out of their last 11 games. Everyone is finally healthy for them, and their front court is finally playing the way Hornets fans envisioned them to play. CP3 is still the engine that makes this team run, so let's see how far he can take them. One thing is for sure, this team is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde when you look at their home record compared to their road record. (VC)

17. (18) Toronto Raptors (21-21)

• Here's a crew that is starting to play some really inspired ball lately. Have beaten Dallas, Orlando, and San Antonio in the span of the last two weeks. Sunday's 22-point beat down of the Mavs, however, as the most impressive. (AP)

18. (15) Miami Heat (20-19)

• As good as DWade is, this squad looks destined to be a .500 team all year long. They play some cupcake games in the new week, so let's see if they can get back in the W column. In the end, they just don't have any consistent players around Wade to make a run this year. I hope Bosh doesn't go there, and I pray every night he comes to my Bulls. Yes I am that weird. (VC)

19. (17) Los Angeles Clippers (18-22)

• The ill-fated Clips just found out that Blake Griffin will be out for the season. That's too bad, as this crew was finally starting to gel and make one last push at the eighth and final playoff seed. (AP)

20. (22) Chicago Bulls (18-20)

• The Bulls have been hot, but look for them to cool off this week. They hit the road, and we all know how the Bulls play on the road. But forget about that, I don't know if you guys got a chance to see it, but DRose was absolutely filthy vs the Wizards last week. He poured in 37 pts, and his first game winner! DRose, Noah, and Deng have been playing solid basketball all year long, and I just pray that the Bulls can add a Superstar around them next year. I would definitely try to deal Salmons and Hinrich if possible, so maybe we could even get two! If we get two superstars and a new coach next year, I will run around downtown in my wife beater! (VC)

21. (20) New York Knicks (17-24)

• One of the more difficult teams to gauge. But you can definitely say this much: The Knicks are showing growth and direction as a franchise, something they never showed under Isiah Thomas and Scott Layden. Good news if you're a Knicks fan. (AP)

22. (21) Milwaukee Bucks (16-22)

• The good thing for the Bucks is that their road trip is finally coming to an end. They are definitely a better team at home, something you would expect from a young squad. In other news, the Bucks also signed Jerry Stackhouse. He was sick in NBA Live back in the day, but can he still ball on cats? GWS! (VC)

23. (29) Detroit Pistons (14-26)

• Followed up a 13-game losing streak -- one that saw them fall behind everyone but the Nets on these rankings -- with a three-game winning streak. And then went on to lose to one of those three teams they beat. At least Joe Dumars is being exposed for the sub-par GM that he really is. (AP)

24. (27) Indiana Pacers (14-26)

• This squad is finally healthy, and they are finally playing the way I thought they would play. Of course it helps to have potential All Star Danny Granger back in the game, dropping buckets. But Roy Hibbert, Murphy, and Dunleavy are all balling as well. Let's see if they can make a run. No one is out of it in the East. (VC)

25. (23) Sacramento Kings (15-25)

• They have gone from being a feel-good story that could sneak into the playoffs to just being a bad squad that will show some decent improvement this season. If Geoff Petrie can move Kevin Martin for draft picks and younger role players, then that might actually help this young team's growth. (AP)

26. (25) Golden State Warriors (11-27)

• Monte Ellis. Stephon Curry. Buckets. Rowdy. Raw ballers. That is all. On to the next one...(VC)

27. (26) Philadelphia 76ers (13-27)

• Teams usually spend a boat load on a free agent when they are convinced that he's the guy who will push them into championship contention. However, in Year Two of Elton Brand's five-year, $82 million contract, the Sixers are stuck in neutral and don't show signs of being good any time soon. (AP)

28. (24) Washington Wizards (13-26)

• The Whiz are fading fast. Agent 0 looks like his days in Washington are over as well. The two bright spots for the Whiz are still Butler and Jamison. Let's see if they will get traded. (VC)

29. (28) Minnesota Timberwolves (9-33)

• Hope these guys enjoyed their brief stay at No. 28, because it's back to life at No. 29 for Minnesota. After drafting all those point guards last season, what will the Wolves do if they have a chance to draft John Wall? Hey, it's possible. (AP)

30. (30) New Jersey Nets (3-36)

• The Nets again did not win a game last week. They will continue on with the John Wall, Lebron James campaign. (VC)

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