NBA Power Rankings

Each week, CBCSports.ca breaks down the balance of power in the NBA

by Andrew Phillips

Last updated April 6, 2009

	1. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS [unchanged] Record: 62-15 (.805) Last Week : 2-2 Two losses this week slowed the Cavaliers to a mere jog. They're still the best, most consistent team in the league, with the hands down MVP - LeBron James.
	2. LOS ANGELES LAKERS [unchanged] Record: 61-16 (.792) Last Week : 3-1 Good news? D.J. Mbenga is being replaced by Andrew Bynum as the first big man off the bench. Bad news? Nothing really, unless you're D.J. Mbenga.
	3. ORLANDO MAGIC [unchanged] Record: 57-19 (.750) Last Week : 3-1 Dwight Howard for Defensive Player of the Year? Can you really argue against that? Orlando could easily win out the remaining games of the season. That's bad news for Boston.
	4. BOSTON CELTICS [unchanged] Record: 58-19 (.753) Last Week : 2-0 Don't let their record fool you, these last few games are of vital importance to the Celtics. They've already lost homecourt advantage against the Cavs, they can't afford to lose it to the Magic.
	5. DENVER NUGGETS [up from 8] Record: 52-26 (.667) Last Week: 4-0 Seven straight wins and Denver has solidified its hold over the Northwest. Role players like Kleiza, Andersen, and Balkman are the reason for the Nuggets' success.
	6. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS [up from 9] Record: 47-28 (.627) Last Week: 2-1 Chandler and Posey will make a world of difference to this streaky Hornets team. What's odd? You don't see the same team twice - New Orleans wins and loses in a variety of different ways.
	7. SAN ANTONIO SPURS [down from 6] Record: 49-27 (.645) Last Week : 1-2 Something is up in San Antonio. A loss to the Thunder and blown out by the Cavs - could this be the end of the Duncan/Parker/Ginobli era? Oh wait, they still have the division lead.
	8. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS [up from 10] Record: 48-28 (.632) Last Week: 2-1 Aldridge must read these power rankings as he's picked up his play as of late. Is Batum the next Pippen? Some people in Portland believe that's the case.
	9. HOUSTON ROCKETS [down from 5] Record: 49-28 (.636) Last Week : 1-2 Is it possible for a team this good to be a darkhorse? I don't think anyone is expecting Houston to make an impact in the playoffs.
	10. UTAH JAZZ [down from 7] Record: 47-30 (.610) Last Week: 2-3 The Jazz are only 15-23 on the road - they have to find a way to win away from Utah. Losses to Portland and Denver really hurt their homecourt chances.
	11. DALLAS MAVERICKS [up from 12] Record: 46-31 (.597) Last Week: 3-1 A huge win against Phoenix all but guarantees a playoff berth for Dallas. Jason Kidd passed Magic Johnson for third on the all-time assist leaderboard - truly a hall of famer.
	12. ATLANTA HAWKS [down from 11] Record: 43-34 (.558) Last Week: 0-3 Two wins in their last eight games? The Hawks have faced the Celtics, Lakers, Magic, and Spurs. It only proved that Atlanta isn't in the elite of the league.
	13. MIAMI HEAT [unchanged] Record: 41-36 (.534) Last Week: 2-2 With nobody to help Dwyane Wade, the Miami Heat are simply playoff fodder. Then again, I wouldn't bet against Dwyane Wade.
	14. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS [up from 15] Record: 40-36 (.526) Last Week : 3-1 The 76ers are starting to echo the team from last year - getting hot just before the playoffs. Iguodala, Miller, and Dalembert are starting to gel into a dangerous first-round matchup.
	15. PHOENIX SUNS [down from 14] Record: 42-35 (.545) Last Week: 1-2 Too bad. If they had beat Dallas, they would have had a good shot at making the playoffs. No Nash, and no Shaq, truly a passing of the torch.
	16. CHICAGO BULLS [up from 17] Record: 37-40 (.481) Last Week: 1-1 Chicago's fate is up to them. Win a game and the Bulls playoff hopes are cemented. Some Michael-person made the Hall of Fame, supposed to be a big deal.
	17. DETROIT PISTONS [down from 16] Record: 37-40 (.481) Last Week: 1-3 Five games left and the Pistons are holding on for dear life. Detroit is struggling to put up 100 points per game.
	18. NEW JERSEY NETS [up from 19] Record: 32-45 (.416) Last Week: 2-2 Lawrence Frank's job is up in the air? I can think about 20 teams that would be interested in his services.
	19. INDIANA PACERS [up from 20] Record: 33-44 (.429) Last Week: 2-2 Now, granted the chances of the Pacers making the playoffs are slim to none, but still, do you really want your coach giving up? Not a good tone to set for this failing franchise.
	20. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS [down from 18] Record: 34-43 (.442) Last Week: 1-3 With four of their last five games on the road, the Bobcats can pretty much say goodbye to their playoff chances. Losing all three games this week didn't help much either.
	21. TORONTO RAPTORS [up from 22] Record: 30-46 (.395) Last Week: 2-1 The six-game winning streak ended with a loss to the Knicks. With everyone healthy, the Toronto Raptors have all of sudden become a decent rebounding team.
	22. MILWAUKEE BUCKS [down from 21] Record: 32-46 (.410) Last Week: 1-3 Another mediocre to bad week for the Milwuakee Bucks. When will they assure Ramon Sessions the starting point guard spot of the future?
	23. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS [unchanged] Record: 27-49 (.355) Last Week: 2-1 A promising week for Golden State's 'Anthony' prospects. Randolph dropped 20 points and 15 rebounds and Morrow had 24 points against New Orleans.
	24. NEW YORK KNICKS [up from 25] Record: 30-47 (.390) Last Week: 1-3 The Knicks saved themselves from a sweep of a week with a sharp-shooting win over the Raptors. Seriously, why does Jared Jeffries play? There has to be someone else who deserves that time.
	25. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES [up from 26] Record: 22-54 (.289) Last Week : 4-0 Buh? Memphis swept their week? Rudy Gay dropped 20-plus in all four games and who is this Hamed Haddadi character? A rarely used 7'2", 254-pound centre.
	26. WASHINGTON WIZARDS [up from 28] Record: 18-60 (.231) Last Week : 1-2 Brendan Haywood made his return and Washington pulled out a huge win against Cleveland. Imagine adding Blake Griffin to this team? Scary.
	27. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER [down from 24] Record: 21-55 (.276) Last Week: 1-2 A young, young team. They edge out the Spurs on the road in a gutsy performance, then promptly get destroyed by the Trail Blazers. Lots of hope for next season.
	28. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES [down from 27] Record: 22-55 (.286) Last Week: 1-2 A new general manager in the summer could really help the Timberwolves turn their fortunes around. Add Rodney Carney to the 'putting up decent numbers in meaningless games' list.
	29. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS [unchanged] Record: 18-59 (.234) Last Week: 0-3 The Clippers continue to gain lottery balls with a winless week. Amidst all the turmoil, Eric Gordon is actually having a very decent rookie year.
	30. SACRAMENTO KINGS [unchanged] Record: 16-60 (.211) Last Week: 0-4 The Kings have been letting up 120 points in their last seven games. At least the battle between Kevin Martin and Monta Ellis was entertaining.