NBA Power Rankings: Which Surprise Teams Shook Up the League?

Each week, there are a flurry of league-wide surprises that shake up the NBA's Power Rankings, and this past week proved to be no different.

Although some teams continue to play dominant basketball, the playoff picture remains anything but clear. 

The Orlando Magic have continued their Jekyll and Hyde act, Kobe Bryant may have scared Dwight Howard from coming to Los Angeles and the Clippers have finally hit their stride.

All of this, and more, factors into where each team stands as the season's halfway point rapidly approaches.

No. 30: Charlotte Bobcats

Record: 3-21

No surprises here, as the Bobcats continue their downward spiral. Injuries to D.J. Augustin, DeSagana Diop, Gerald Henderson and Corey Maggette render Charlotte less than competitive.

The Bobcats have lost 11 straight games and show no signs of turning their season around. Even slightly.

No. 29: New Orleans Hornets

Record: 4-20

The Hornets have lost five straight and continue to struggle without Eric Gordon. Injuries to Carl Landry and Jarrett Jack haven't helped their case, and Trevor Ariza cannot lead this team alone.

Gordon should return sometime this month to inject some life into a dying franchise, but it would not be surprising to see Charlotte win well under 20 games this year.

No. 28: Washington Wizards

Record: 4-20

John Wall has emerged as a fantasy owner's dream, but he's living a nightmare in Washington.

The Wizards have lost four straight and continue to play abysmally on both ends of the floor. Fresh off a romping dealt out by the Clippers, it appears this perennial group of underachievers has hit rock bottom.

Wall and company anxiously await Andray Blatche's return from a calf injury, but even his presence won't help bolster Washington's record; it's clear more than a coaching change is needed to fix this team.  

No. 27: Detroit Pistons

Record: 6-20

Like many other teams, the Pistons are hampered by a surplus of injuries, and despite two straight victories at home, Detroit will be lucky to close out the season with 15 wins.

Tayshaun Prince continues to struggle, as Brandon Knight, Ben Gordon, Will Bynum and Charlie Villanueva all watch from the sidelines.

If and when the Pistons return to full strength, don't expect them to climb through the rankings. Despite what certain contracts dictate, relief in the form of production is not on the way.

No. 26: Toronto Raptors

Record: 8-17

Andrea Bargnani's absence has severely hampered any potential Toronto could possibly have.

The Raptors pummeled the Nets on the road, but New Jersey's roster is in worse shape than theirs, and they don't even stack up against a team like the Heat.

Until Bargnani returns to the lineup and Toronto embraces the brand of defense currently being preached, the losses will continue to pile up.

No. 25: New Jersey Nets

Record: 8-17

Since getting blown out by the Raptors at home, the Nets have remained surprisingly competitive against superior teams, nearly pulling out victories against the Pacers, Timberwolves and Knicks.

Deron Williams and Kris Humphries continue to shoulder a majority of the burden on both ends, as New Jersey hopes to have MarShon Brooks and DeShawn Stevenson back in the lineup soon, with Brook Lopez not far behind.

The Nets remain one of the league's lower-level teams, but may be able to turn their ship around once healthy.

No. 24: Sacramento Kings

Record: 8-15

The Kings are on a two-game winning streak after upsetting the Blazers and pulling out an overtime victory against the Warriors at home, a mini-series of displays that has warranted a slight rise in ranking.

Marcus Thornton's return should instill some much-needed fire into Sacramento's lineup, but until someone outside of DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans shoulders any offensive or defensive burden, the Kings may have peaked here.

No. 23: Phoenix Suns

Record: 9-14

Steve Nash allows the Suns to stay a step ahead of teams like the Bobcats and Hornets, but not by much.

Phoenix recently destroyed the Hornets but hasn't been able to keep pace against better teams like the Mavericks or Rockets, even with Nash dishing and swishing. Their near loss at home against Charlotte represents a new low, as it makes a case to put them in the same class of team.

The Suns will reportedly listen if Nash asks for a trade, and given the path this team is headed down, a request of the nature is far from out of the question.

No. 22: Golden State Warriors

Record: 8-13

The Warriors have proved they can hold their own at home, but have yet to distinguish themselves on the road, especially when playing inferior teams like the Kings.

Golden State's most recent overtime collapse in Sacramento demonstrates its inability to close out games. Thus far, talent like Stephen Curry, David Lee and Monta Ellis has not been enough to offset the negative impact of Andris Biedrins and Earl Barron.

The Warriors are built to score, but Mark Jackson is emphasizing defense, and that's a problem. A shift in culture or a roster change is imperative if this team is to capture any momentum moving forward.

No. 21: Milwaukee Bucks

Record: 10-13

Despite an improbable win over the Heat, the Bucks' losses to the Pistons and Bulls were a series of underwhelming performances at best.

Milwaukee is currently clinging to the Eastern Conference's eighth seed, but failure to exhibit any kind of consistency suggests we have already seen the team's best.

With teams like the Knicks and Cavaliers establishing some continuity, and Stephen Jackson looking more and more like a bust, the Bucks could find themselves out of the playoff picture very soon.

No. 20: New York Knicks

Record: 9-15

There are no moral victories in the NBA, but the Knicks' ability to hang tough with the Bulls and surging Celtics represents a turning point.

New York's recent win over the battered Nets saw the emergence of another option at point guard in Jeremy Lin. Whether his display will turn out to be a one-time wonder or sign of things to come is unknown.

What is known, though, is there seems to be life within the Knicks locker room again, as they head into Monday night's game against the Jazz with a renewed sense of hope.

No. 19: Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: 9-13

Despite a wealth of injuries and exhibition of inconsistency, the Cavaliers have held their own in a weak Eastern Conference.

Kyrie Irving continues to shine, and wins over the Celtics and Mavericks have Cleveland fans thinking playoffs.

That being said, losses to Boston and Orlando leave much to be desired, specifically the returns of Daniel Gibson, Anthony Parker and Tristan Thompson.

No. 18: Utah Jazz

Record: 13-9

After consecutive losses to the Clippers and Warriors, the Jazz seemed headed for a stretch of losses, but found a way to redeem themselves with a victory over the Lakers.

Less than adequate performances by Utah's point guards, coupled with an unhealthy Al Jefferson, have kept the team from surprising the basketball world any further.

For now, the Jazz have proved to be a strong team at home and an underwhelming one on the road. Until they develop a knack for winning outside of Utah, there is nowhere to go but down.

No. 17: Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 12-12

Memphis continues to fluctuate in the standings as the team looks to establish a sense of consistency.

The Grizzlies are losers of two straight, falling to the Thunder and Celtics after pummeling the Hawks in Atlanta.

Winning at home has not been an issue for Memphis, but staying competitive on the road has. Defense has emerged as a glaring need, and the returns of Zach Randolph and Tony Allen cannot come soon enough. 

No. 16: Houston Rockets

Record: 13-11

The Rockets are coming off a rough week in which they lost two games to the Timberwolves and one to the Spurs.

Houston has shown it can manhandle lesser squads like the Suns but still has a ways to go before it can be a threat to make any noise in the talent-laden West.

Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin and Luis Scola give the Rockets a solid core to build upon, but they have yet to find the right balance of role players in the rotation to reach the next level.

No. 15: Dallas Mavericks

Record: 14-11

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

After a subpar start to the season, Dallas seemed to regain its swagger. Now, though, it seems to have disappeared once again.

The Mavericks have dropped three straight, the most disconcerting of which came against the Cavaliers. Dirk Nowitzki has hit a wall and isn't getting much relief from his supporting cast, outside of Jason Terry.

Unless Vince Carter, Shawn Marion and Lamar Odom can pick up their production, the reigning NBA champions will find themselves outside the postseason bubble.

No. 14: Minnesota Timberwolves

Record: 12-12

No, it's not a typo. The Timberwolves have reached .500 and continue to surge. They have won two straight and continue to excel against teams with a better record.  

Ricky Rubio has transformed Minnesota into a team to be feared on any given night, Michael Beasley is grasping the concept of a team effort and Kevin Love, while not as athletic, is more valuable than Blake Griffin.

If the Mavericks, Rockets, Grizzlies and Lakers continue to falter, Minnesota may find itself making a postseason appearance.

No. 13: Portland Trail Blazers

Record: 14-10

Portland saved itself from hitting rock bottom with an impressive victory at home over the Nuggets. That being said, the Blazers will not be out of the woods until they start to become victorious on the road.

Currently, Portland sits at 3-9 on the road, almost eclipsing their 11-1 home record. Their poor display away from home has them sitting near the bottom of the playoff picture, barely holding on to the sixth seed.

The Blazers looked like contenders to start the season, but have since cooled off, leading many to believe they are nothing more than a pretender.

No. 12: Orlando Magic

Record: 15-9

After losing four straight, the Magic have since rattled off three consecutive victories. While two came against the Wizards and Cavaliers, they grabbed an impressive win in Indiana on Saturday night.

Dwight Howard's loyalty to his teammates and the entire organization will continue to be questioned, but in a weak Eastern Conference, this team has the potential to make some serious noise.

Orlando has a rough road ahead with games against the Clippers, Heat and Hawks on the docket, but if the Magic can play team basketball, we won't have to hear Howard taking any more shots at his teammates.  

No. 11: Los Angeles Lakers

Record: 14-10

Kobe Bryant's monster of a season has not been enough to save the Lakers from mortality.

Wins over the Nuggets and Bobcats are not going to be enough, as Los Angeles is hanging on to the seventh seed in the Western Conference by a thread and has one of the league's worst road records at 3-8.

The Lakers' season recently hit an all-time low when a report surfaced claiming that Bryant may have inadvertently talked Dwight Howard out of coming to Los Angeles.

While the Lakers have the talent to move forward without Howard, their season will not truly begin until his situation is resolved.

No. 10: Boston Celtics

Record: 13-10

No team in the NBA is as hot as the Celtics right now, who have won four straight games and eight of their last 10, including an 18-point beatdown at the expense of the Grizzlies.

With Rajon Rondo back in the lineup, Boston has looked like the Celtics of old, not an older version of the Celtics.

Boston will continue to struggle when matching up against teams like the Thunder and Heat, but if there was any doubt as to whether they had another run in them, it has been all but put to bed.

No. 9: Denver Nuggets

Record: 15-9

The Nuggets have remained one of the top teams in the West, but their mediocre home record has brought them back down to earth.

Despite dismantling the Clippers in Los Angeles, Denver let a winnable game slip away at home against the Lakers before pulling a disappearing act against the Blazers.

Few would have expected the Nuggets to be where they are right now, but if they are serious about contending for a championship, dominant performances while at home are a necessity.

No. 8: Atlanta Hawks

Record: 16-8

The Hawks continue to be one of the biggest surprises of the season, but have recently dropped two games at home against teams that serve as a measuring stick.

Al Horford's presence is sorely missed, as opponents are beginning to exploit Atlanta's lack of a low-post anchor, specifically the Grizzlies. His return is far from imminent, so it's a need the team must address.

The Hawks have the misfortune of playing in a division with the Heat, so if they want to prove that they can contend with the league's best, they are going to have to start beating the league's best. 

No. 7: San Antonio Spurs

Record: 16-9

The Spurs continue to surge even without Manu Ginobili. They are winners of their last four and boast a dominant 13-1 record at home.

San Antonio's abilities away must improve, but the resiliency of this aging core has been overwhelming and warrants such a high placement.

Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and company have spread the ball extremely well and remain one of the tougher teams to score on. There's no limit as to how far this team can go once Ginobili is back on the floor.

No. 6: Indiana Pacers

Record: 16-7

Few teams boast the type of depth the Pacers do, as the team continues to keep pace with the best in the league.

Indiana's most recent loss at home against Orlando is cause for some concern, but not much. They have not lost back-to-back games yet this season and are still fresh off impressive victories on the road against the Timberwolves and Mavericks.

Like the Nuggets, the Pacers' team basketball has got them this far, and with the way they are playing, they have far from hit their ceiling.

No. 5: Philadelphia 76ers

Record: 17-7

Despite being hammered at home by the Heat, the 76ers continue to play top-notch basketball.

Andre Iguodala has led the charge on both ends of the floor, as Philadelphia has taken down the Magic, Bulls and Hawks in the past week.

Expectations were anything but high for the 76ers heading into this season, but they have proven, now more than ever, that they are one of the best teams in the league, capable of making a deep playoff push.

No. 4: Los Angeles Clippers

Record: 14-7

For the first time all season, the Clippers are at full strength, which spells nothing but trouble for the rest of the league.

After beating the Thunder at home and Jazz on the road, Los Angeles looked like a deer in headlights against the Nuggets. The Clippers caught themselves before they could fall any further, though, defeating the Wizards by 26 points.

Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are truly a combination to be feared. That being said, Chauncey Billups, Mo Williams, Caron Butler and even DeAndre Jordan have assumed some of the offensive burden at times and have helped render this team deeper than advertised.

Los Angeles has taken over the second seed in the Western Conference and won seven of its last 10. Chemistry has finally been established, and if Paul can remain healthy, the Clippers have a legitimate shot at catching up to the Thunder.

No. 3: Chicago Bulls

Record: 20-6

The NBA's first team to reach 20 wins looked like it may have been headed for a rough stretch after a heartbreaking loss to the Heat and disappointing defeat at the hands of the 76ers. Before widespread panic could be achieved, though, the Bulls rattled off impressive road wins against the Knicks and Bucks.

In Richard Hamilton's absence, Derrick Rose has taken his level of contribution to a whole other level. Chicago proved deep enough to withstand multiple key injuries, but with Luol Deng back and Hamilton on the way, the Bulls are poised to run away with the Central Division.

Despite having fallen to Miami and Philadelphia in their previous meetings, Chicago remains one of the most lethal teams in the league and a real threat to come out of the Eastern Conference.

No. 2: Oklahoma City Thunder

Record: 18-5

The Thunder remain atop the Western Conference, but have proved to be vulnerable in their most recent string of road games, which included losses to the Clippers and Spurs.

Despite attempts to create controversy regarding their ability to play alongside each other, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant continue to have exceptional stat lines. James Harden is still scoring, Kendrick Perkins has emerged as a dependable low-post presence and Serge Ibaka is finally gaining some momentum.

All of that being said, Oklahoma City has four straight road games on the horizon and has not shown a flair for being dominant away from home.

Whether or not the Thunder can return to the top of the league's power rankings depends on how well they do during that stretch.

No. 1: Miami Heat

Record: 18-6

Amidst notions that claimed LeBron James and company were a better team without Dwyane Wade on the floor, the self-proclaimed King stated chemistry between him and the shooting guard was at an all-time high.

Despite a slip-up against the Bucks in Milwaukee, it's hard to argue against James' sentiments as he and the Heat continue dominate with or without Wade. 

Miami has won eight of its last 10, taking advantage of an extensive homestand while coming up big against Philadelphia on the road.

For all the talk about the Thunder and Bulls, the Heat have really elevated their level of play. Depth was considered to be a glaring issue at the beginning of the year, but role players like Norris Cole, Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller and Shane Battier continue to impress. As well, Chris Bosh finally seems to have created an identity outside of the Big Three.

Miami is rolling, and it's tough to gauge what team will be able to stop it at this point.

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