NBA Power Rankings -- Week 15 (Amar Panchmatia flying solo)

Lotta peeps want the Cavs to trade them J Heezy. C'mon, son.

Honeymoons have forced this bachelor to do this week's power rankings. Results and records are through Tuesday, February 9th. I'll limit the homerism for the top-ranked team for what seems like the seventh or eighth week in a row. (Who's counting?)

1. (1) Cleveland Cavaliers (42-11)

• I feel sorry for anyone who thought that the Cavs were giving a maximum effort on Tuesday night against the Nets. The Cavs did just enough to dispatch the league's worst team for their 12th straight win while making movies in the process. As good as last year's 66-16 Cavs team looks, this year's crew seems like it would run circles around the 2008-09 squad.

2. (3) Denver Nuggets (35-17)

• Their record isn't as good as the Lakers, but they've spanked the Lakers twice -- including a convincing beatdown on Friday night at Staples Center without Carmelo Anthony. Sure, the Nugs came back a night later and fell flat at Utah, but their 36-point route of Dallas on Tuesday showed that they have the look of an elite team.

3. (2) Los Angeles Lakers (40-13)

• Kobe's been hurt, so dropping them from the top three would be too much of a stretch. Still seem like a team that will just flip a switch come spring, like they did last year. But Denver has come to play this year. If you're a Laker fan, you hope your team notices.

4. (5) Utah Jazz (32-18)

• The big movers of these power rankings -- this is now 11 spots over three weeks for the Jazz. They finally seem to be making all this talent work, although just giving away Eric Maynor to OKC earlier this season had to make you frown if you're a Jazz fan. If they stay healthy, you could be looking at a Utah/Denver collision one round into the playoffs.
  

5. (4) Orlando Magic (35-17)

• Vince Carter was partying like it was 1999 on Monday night when he went off for 48 against the Hornets. But Thursday night they're at Cleveland for a rematch of last spring's Eastern Conference Finals. In light of that series' result and the Cavs' beatdown of the Magic in Orlando in November, there probably hasn't been a bigger statement game for either team all year. We'll be watching.

6. (6) Atlanta Hawks (33-17)

• The Magic own them. The Cavs own them. Unless they can beat either one, if not both, of those teams at least once, don't put the Larry O'Brien trophy next to a Hawks logo any time soon regardless of how much talent they have. And beating one of those teams for once will be just a start.

7. (7) Dallas Mavericks (32-20)

• I remember a few weekends ago, I was chilling with my boy Depen in downtown PDX on a Friday night and told him "Dude, I think Dallas can beat the Lakers this year. They have more talent than they've ever had." DP goes "They don't have a big man. And don't say Ericka Dampier or Drew Gooden." Touche. Tuesday's R-rated assault at Denver was further proof that this team has quite a long ways to go.

8. (8) Boston Celtics (32-17)

• As Charles Barkley told C's fans, "Old people don't get healthier, they die." The window of opportunity for this one-and-done Celtics team is closing rapidly. Probably nothing is more convincing of this than the way the youthful Hawks have manhandled them all year no matter where they play. Now they want to trade Ray Allen for a younger guard. Good luck.

9. (17) Phoenix Suns (31-21)

• Snapped their 14-game or however long losing streak on TNT by beating Dallas a few weeks ago -- with Amar'e on the bench -- but ever since the Stoudemire trade rumors heated up, STAT has been a man on a mission. He's playing some of the best basketball of his career this past week (not just season, career) and the Suns are taking off with him.
  

10. (9) Oklahoma City Thunder (30-21)

• Drop a spot only because of the Suns' hot play recently. But back when the season started and I was still on the now-defunct MVN, I warned readers about OKC bursting onto the scene this year. After my boy Kevin Durant continued to torture Portland fans on Tuesday night, the Thunder can legitimately make a push for homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs after the All-Star break. Who saw that coming?

11. (10) Portland Trail Blazers (30-23)

• The fact that the Blazers are still in the playoff picture despite injuries to their franchise player (Brandon Roy) and season-ending injuries to both their centers (Oden and Przybilla) shows just how sick the amount of young talent on this Blazers team is. The returns of Rudy Fernandez and Nicolas Batum have really been encouraging for this squad, but they won't be anything more than one-and-done in the playoffs -- if they make it that far.

12. (13) Toronto Raptors (28-23)

• Playing some inspired ball right now and could be making a last-ditch effort to convince Chris Bosh that they're building something special in Toronto. No, Bosh won't be traded, but if the Raptors think that a fifth seed and first round exit is enough to keep the best power forward in the game, then I want some of what they're having.

13. (11) San Antonio Spurs (29-21)

• I was done looking at these guys as a legitimate contender months ago. Now they're seventh in the West, and I guarantee that they won't have the legs to keep up with the youthful Thunder and Blazers in the stretch run. Instead of being a resurrection of sorts for this proud franchise, this season has turned into what could be the start of the last chapter of Tim Duncan's career. Regardless of what I think of this year's Spurs, there's no disputing TD as one of the GOATS.

14. (18) Houston Rockets (27-24)

• We wondered just how long the Rox could keep it up and stay in the playoff hunt with what is essentially Yao Ming's supporting cast and nothing more. They did extremely well for a while, but now they're finally on the outside looking in with respect to the West's top eight.

15. (16) New Orleans Hornets (27-25)

• The CP3 injury is just a damn shame, but at least David West has shown that he doesn't need Paul playing with him to be a somewhat respectable scorer. Imagine that just two years ago this team was on its way to winning the vaunted Southwest Division and taking the then-defending champion Spurs to seven games (in a series they should have won, mind you). Sad.

16. (15) Chicago Bulls (25-25)

• I was paid off to keep the Bulls this high. Just kidding. Chi-town is still a playoff team in the East, and they're in the middle of a myriad of trade rumors. If you're a Bulls fan, you better be hoping your squad can get something done to separate them from these Charlottes, Torontos, and Miamis.

17. (12) Memphis Grizzlies (26-25)

• Their pact with the devil has come to an end. After playing as well as anybody in the league for a good little stretch there, the Grizz faded fast with four straight losses. But if I'm a Memphis fan right now, I'm just focusing on my ownership's commitment to re-sign Rudy Gay this summer as well as keep money earmarked for O.J. Mayo next summer. It would be a damn shame to break up this core, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's what happened.

18. (14) Charlotte Bobcats (25-25)

• Memphis' twin. Seriously, are there a pair of teams out there any more similar? Both are in small southern markets, both have goofy nicknames, and both are oozing with young talent while looking to make a splash in the playoffs this year. But while the Grizz have questions surrounding the future of their core players, the Bobcats have questions about their ownership altogether. Is MJ gonna be the don down in the Queen City?

19. (20) Milwaukee Bucks (23-27)

• Once the media darlings for the NBA season not too long ago. Things seemed to be headed downwards ever since that ill-fated Sunday when they decided to play "Start Spreading the News" as a New York-based jab during the Cavs' starting lineups back in November or December. Karma, motherf*****s. Karma. I told you I would remember this.

20. (23) Philadelphia 76ers (20-31)

• The most exciting stuff coming out of Philly these days (besides "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia") is the future of Andre Iguodala. The Sixers also want to move Dalembert and Brand if they move Iguodala, and they could find a taker before the February 18th deadline. Phoenix wants Iggy, and Amar'e Stoudemire could be headed to the City of Brotherly Love in a potential swap. Forgive him for not being excited.

21. (19) Miami Heat (25-27)

• I just don't get it. You have one of the top five players in the game on your side, and you spend the prime of his career by convincing him that you might make a major move this summer to give him some help soon? Wade's almost 28-years old and he should be competing for championships, not free agency. Instead, Pat Riley's team has D-Wade on the business end of J.J. Hickson dunks. "Welcome to your Kodak moment, Dwyane! CLICK! CLICK!"

22. (21) Los Angeles Clippers (21-30)

• Was anybody that surprised when reports came out last week saying the Clips had contacted Isiah Thomas to replace Mike Dunleavy as team president, general manager, and head coach? How much would you pay to see that happen, actually?

23. (22) New York Knicks (19-32)

• My boy Brian Windhorst put it best over the weekend after The King dropped 47 on these bums: LeBron's scoring averages would drop if he ever played for the Knicks. He wouldn't get to play against them anymore.
  

24. (25) Washington Wizards (17-33)

• Let's ignore the fact (for now, at least) that sources close to Docksquad Sports are telling us some pretty interesting things about this team. But all I'll say is that the time is now to blow this thing up (pun intended) and start afresh. Wes Unseld isn't walking through that door. Neither is Tim Legler. I think.

25. (24) Indiana Pacers (18-34)

• Wanted the Cavs to give up J.J. Hickson, two first-round draft picks, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas' puppet for...Troy Murphy. Troy effing Murphy. That's it. Indiana's on my hate list now. Screw you, Larry Bird. I'm glad the Colts lost.

26. (29) Detroit Pistons (18-32)

• And now, Exhibit A in our tour of "Why Free Agency Should Never Be Used to Build an NBA Team," we have the Detroit Pistons. That eyebrow-less freak on your left is Charlie Villanueva. That turnstile you just went through? Oh, it's just to give you the experience of what it's like to be guarded by Ben Gordon. Sorry.

27. (27) Minnesota Timberwolves (13-39)

• Had a nice little streak going there. News that the team president admitted that trading Al Jefferson would be a mistake "of epic proportions" had to be the closest that Timberwolves fans have been treated to a championship since KG left.

28. (26) Sacramento Kings (17-34)

• Geoff Petrie is as hard-nosed a negotiator as you'll find in the NBA. But if he can get expirings and draft picks for Kevin "don't fade me, bro!" Martin, then he has to do it. Last thing you want around Ty Evans is a one-dimensional chucker.

29. (28) Golden State Warriors (13-37)

• I don't know what to say about these guys. Plus I'm too tired too care. Try ranking 28 teams before getting to this joke of a squad, and you'll understand.

30. (30) New Jersey Nets (4-47)

• Don't worry, Nets fans. You'll be a .500 squad next year when LeBron comes. (Smirks)