NBA Power Rankings: Cavaliers Climb to Top with Lakers, Nuggets

With the All-Star break now in the rearview mirror, it’s time once again to unveil Bleacher Report’s weekly NBA Power Rankings.

Cleveland’s rocking while riding LeBron James (for at least the remainder of this season), the Lakers continue to roll without Kobe Bryant, and Carmelo Anthony’s Nuggets round out this week’s top three.

Plus, what would a real top three be like without LeBron, Kobe, and Carmelo?? And with 10 games on tap for tonight, it’s absolutely crunch time as the second half of the season tips off in the NBA. Without further ado, here’s the remainder of the list...

1. Cleveland (Last Week: 1)
Right about now, Cleveland rocks! As LeBron James leads the Cavaliers in 2010, the team is running off with an NBA-leading 43 wins (with only 11 losses). Cleveland’s offseason acquisition of Shaq looks to be finally clicking on all cylinders, and the Cavs have won 13 straight.

2. LA Lakers (Last Week: 2)
With or without an ailing Kobe Bryant, the Lakers continue to rock and roll. Winners of three straight and going 8-2 in their last 10 games, the Western Conference leaders are looking nearly unbeatable.

3. Denver (Last Week: 3)
Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets are beginning to look like true contenders in 2010. Over the last 10 games, Denver is 6-4 (although the Nuggets have a disappointing 12-13 road record this season).

4. Orlando (Last Week: 4)
J.J. Redick, Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, and company are bringing the magic back to Orlando. The Magic, 7-3 over the last 10 games, are currently in second place in the East and hold an impressive 20-5 home court record this season.

5. Utah (Last Week: 5)
Carlos Boozer and the Utah Jazz have been hot lately, going 9-1 in their last 10 games after finally dropping a contest prior to the All-Star break. Utah is 22-7 at home this season, but they have a losing record on the road (10-12).

6. Atlanta (Last Week: 6)
One-time Eastern leaders, the Hawks still have 33 wins this season and are 21-6 at home. Atlanta is also 6-4 in their last 10 games.

7. Dallas (Last Week: 7)
Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks were one of the first to pull the trade trigger this season, picking up Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood from the Washington Wizards in a seven-player deal. Dallas has been reeling lately, going 4-6 in their last 10 games.

8. Boston (Last Week: 8)
Boston is 5-5 over their last 10 games and they are currently in fourth place in what appears to be a four-team race in the East (and maybe five if you count Toronto). The Celtics are 15-9 at home this season while going 17-9 on the road.

9. San Antonio (Last Week: 12)
The Spurs made a three-spot leap in this week’s Power Rankings, going 5-5 in their last 10 games and picking up win number 30 just before the All-Star break. San Antonio is 19-10 at home this season but are just at .500 on the road (11-11).

10. Oklahoma City (Last Week: 10)
Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder are on the rise. Winners of six straight and currently riding a 7-3 record over their last 10 games, the Thunder aim to make a new name for themselves in 2010.

11. Phoenix (Last Week: 9)
Even with 31 wins, the Suns are just barely on the cusp of the playoffs in the West. Sitting in seventh place, Phoenix is 6-4 over their last 10 games.

12. Portland (Last Week: 13)
The Trail Blazers currently hold down the West’s final playoff spot, and Portland has an impressive 31-14 record this season.

13. Toronto (Last Week: 11)
A fifth place team in the East, the Raptors have won three in a row and are 8-2 over their last 10 games.

14. Houston (Last Week: 14)
Thankfully, the Houston Rockets still find themselves in Bleacher Report’s top-15. However, if the playoffs were to begin today, Houston would be on the onside looking in as a member of the Western Conference. The Rockets are just 4-6 over their last 10.

15. Memphis (Last Week: 17)
The Grizzlies are in a similar boat to Houston, although Memphis has dropped four straight contests and are barely above .500 at 26-25.

16. New Orleans (Last Week: 16)
How are Chris Paul and New Orleans not better? The Hornets are still playoff hopefuls in the West at 28-25, but they are just 11-17 on the road this season.

17. Charlotte (Last Week: 18)
The Bobcats, 26-25 overall and currently in sixth place in the East, are 5-5 over their last 10 games and have won two in a row. However, Charlotte has won only seven games on the road this season (while dropping 19).

18. Miami (Last Week: 20)
D-Wade’s Heat are not having the best 2010, and without him they’d be cellar-bound for quite some time. Currently in seventh place in the weak East at 26-27, Miami is 3-7 over their last 10 and have actually won two straight.

19. Chicago (Last Week: 15)
The Bulls are currently the final playoff team in the Eastern Conference, holding a 25-26 record but going an impressive 6-4 over their last 10 games.

20. Milwaukee (Last Week: 19)
The Bucks, 24-27, are 7-3 over their last 10 games and are 16-8 at home this season (while going 8-19 on the road).

21. Philadelphia (Last Week: 22)
Hopefully Allen Iverson is enjoying his final stay in Philly, but the reeling Sixers have just 20 wins this season. In addition, Philadelphia also has losing records at home (9-16) and on the road (11-16).

22. LA Clippers (Last Week: 21)
Even with coach Dunleavy’s departure, the Clippers are still far from contenders in the Western Conference. Going 2-8 over their last 10 games, LA’s other team is 21-31 this season and are 7-20 on the road.

23. New York (Last Week: 23)
The Knicks, 19-32 on the season, have lost three in a row and are 2-8 over their last 10 games.

24. Indiana (Last Week: 24)
The Pacers have dropped two straight and are 4-6 over their last 10 games. Indiana has 18 wins this season and just six wins on the road.

25. Detroit (Last Week: 26)
The Pistons, 18-33 overall, are 3-7 over their last 10 games as Detroit is in a free-fall in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.

26. Sacramento (Last Week: 25)
Sacramento, also a pathetic 3-7 over their last 10 games, have just 18 wins this season and are merely 5-22 on the road (though they have somehow reeled off two straight victories).

27. Washington (Last Week: 27)
The Wizards began their first step towards major change with their seven-player deal with the Dallas Mavericks that brings Josh Howard and Drew Gooden to Washington. The Wizards are 3-7 over their last 10 games and have been looking for answers after a dismal season turned into a nightmare after a gun-toting locker room altercation.

28. Golden State (Last Week: 29)
The Warriors, 14-37 this season, are sadly 1-9 over their last 10 games and have garnered just four wins on the road.

29. Minnesota (Last Week: 28)
The Timberwolves have matched Golden State’s terrible road record with just four wins and are 4-6 over their last 10 games while dropping two in a row. Minnesota is 13-40 overall this season.

30. New Jersey (Last Week: 30)
The Nets are nothing short of pathetic, and as their season comes crashing down they are in the midst of looking for a new coach. And you’ve got to love it when Duke’s Coach K is throwing out jokes in the form of absolutely declining any potential offer from the reeling New Jersey franchise...

The Bleacher Report NBA Power Rankings are done by averaging individual feature columnist's tallies. Weekly contributors are: Alex McVeigh (Dallas), Rich Kurtzman (Denver), Denton Ramsey (Houston Rockets), Jose Salviati (LA Clippers), Keith Schlosser (NY Knicks), Curtis Finchum (Oklahoma City), Bryan Toporek (Philadelphia 76ers), Jared Wright (Portland Trail Blazers), Shaun Ahmad (Washington Wizards), and DeMarco Williams (NBA Lead).