NBA Power Rankings: How Rumbling Thunder Impact the Top 5 Teams
The Oklahoma City Thunder are red hot. They have won four consecutive games, pulling their record up to 38-12 and opening up a three-game lead for top honors in the Western Conference. Last night's impressive win over the Portland Trail Blazers also pulled OKC within only a couple of games of the Chicago Bulls for the NBA's best record.
With Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook playing at such a high level, have they over taken the Bulls for the top spot in this week's power rankings?
Let's jump right in and find out.
1. Chicago Bulls (40-11)
Chicago not only has the best record in the NBA but they've gone 5-2 in their last seven games without the reigning MVP Derrick Rose in the lineup. We've yet to really see Tom Thibodeu's team completely healthy this season, but somehow they are the first to 40 wins.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (38-12)
The Thunder are knocking on the doorstep and if Rose continues to remain out of the lineup for Chicago, which looks to be the case for tonight, they will soon knock the Bulls off the top of the mountain.
They are the highest scoring team in the NBA at 103.7 PPG and are also in the top 10 in the NBA in rebounding (43.4 RPG). All eyes will be on the NBA calender on Sunday when OKC takes on the Bulls.
3. San Antonio Spurs (34-14)
Solid win last night for the Spurs, who cooled off a very hot Phoenix Suns team behind a double-double performance from Tim Duncan. Maybe he's not so old after all.
4. Miami Heat (35-13)
Two consecutive losses by double digits haven't happened to the Big Three since they joined forces. Now they have to worry about the health of LeBron James, who can add a dislocated finger to his already troublesome elbow. They will look to get things turned around tomorrow night in an NBA Finals re-match against Dallas.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (31-19)
Kobe Bryant was tough down the stretch last night leading the Lakers to a win over Golden State, but now they have to worry about how Andrew Bynum's immaturity will take a role on the team. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens as Bynum attempts to transform himself into a three-point shooter.
6. Orlando Magic (32-18)
Orlando's getting the Knicks at the right time, with Amar'e Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin on the shelf, but it will be interesting to see if the 22nd ranked team in the NBA in terms of scoring (94.2 PPG) will have any success against the Knicks' newly found defensive success (86.0 points against under Mike Woodson).
7. Indiana Pacers (29-19)
Indiana's playing well, winning four of their past five and catch a break as their next two games are against Washington and New Jersey.
8. Atlanta Hawks (30-21)
After a nice stretch, the Hawks lost a tough one last night against the Bucks and it doesn't get any easier as Atlanta's next three happen to be against Chicago, New York and Philadelphia.
9. New York Knicks (25-25)
Once again the Knicks will be without Stoudemire and Lin tonight against Orlando. Baron Davis is going to have to be much better and an also banged up Carmelo Anthony is going to have to pick things up on the offensive end.
10. Dallas Mavericks (29-22)
Another nice win over Houston gives the Mavs six wins in eight games and are once again climbing the standings in the Western Conference.
11. Memphis Grizzlies (27-21)
Nice performance last night for Memphis in a win over Minnesota, doing so without the likes of All-Star center Marc Gasol. The Grizzlies are in a nice spot to make another nice playoff run this season.
12. Philadelphia 76ers (28-22)
Back in sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division after a dominating win over Cleveland, in which Jodie Meeks dropped 31 points.
13. Los Angeles Clippers (28-21)
The Clippers have looked good the past two games. Now is the time for them to get hot, with games against Phoenix, Portland and Utah upcoming.
14. Boston Celtics (27-22)
The Celtics not only need to keep winning to make a run at winning the Atlantic Division, but they only lead the Knicks by 2.5 games in an attempt to hold onto the No. 7 seed in the east.
15. Utah Jazz (27-23)
Utah is one of the only teams that rank in the top six in both scoring (99.1PPG) and rebounding (43.6 RPG) in the NBA.
16. Denver Nuggets (27-24)
The Nuggets are barely back in the playoff mix, holding onto the No. 8 spot for the moment and they can improve on that with games against Toronto and Charlotte on tap.
17. Houston Rockets (27-24)
Tough back-to-back losses against Dallas for a team barely holding onto the No. 8 seed in the west. Now they are barely on the outside looking in.
18. Phoenix Suns (25-25)
A loss to San Antonio knocks the Suns two games out of a playoff spot and it doesn't get any easier with the Clippers on tap next.
19. Milwaukee Bucks (23-27)
The Bucks are trying to hold onto hope for a playoff spot and a big win against Atlanta last night helps out a lot.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (24-27)
Where would the Wolves likely be without injuries to Ricky Rubio and Nikola Pekovic?
21. Portland Trail Blazers (23-27)
Portland's just treading water until the end of the season, although new addition J.J. Hickson had a nice 21-point effort in last night's loss to Oklahoma City.
22. Golden State Warriors (20-28)
Kobe closed out the Warriors last night, but injuries closed out their season a long time ago.
23. Toronto Raptors (16-33)
The Raptors don't have much to play for and games upcoming against Denver and Miami don't help matters much.
24. Sacramento Kings (17-32)
The Kings have a chance to play spoiler as eight of their next 10 games happen to be against teams in the playoff mix.
25. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-30)
Ugly showing for the Cavs last night who are all but ready to throw in the towel.
26. New Orleans Hornets (12-36)
Good news for the Hornets is that Eric Gordon should return to the lineup very soon.
27. New Jersey Nets (16-34)
Is it me or does Deron Williams look really uninterested?
28. Detroit Pistons (16-32)
Detroit's lost six of eight and there's not much to get excited about in the Motor City.
29. Washington Wizards (11-37)
Wins now hurt the Wizards' chances of beating out Charlotte for the No. 1 pick in the draft.
30. Charlotte Bobcats (7-39)
"With the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Bobcats select Anthony Davis out of Kentucky."
