NBA Power Rankings: Kobe Bryant and the Lakers Struggling
We are almost half way through the 2010-2011 NBA season and what an exciting first half it has been.
The Miami Heat are finally playing to their potential while the Los Angeles Lakers have been struggling a bit in the Western Conference.
The Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs are atop their respective conferences and are both looking to make another NBA Finals run.
Here are the NBA Power Rankings almost half way through the season.
30. Sacramento Kings (6-23)
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After going 25-57 last season, things have not gotten better for the Sacramento Kings.
They are 2-8 in their last 10 games and are at the bottom of the Western Conferences with a 6-23 record.
They have a long season to go.
The Kings are dead last in the power rankings.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (8-24)
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Life has not been easy without LeBron James for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Coach Byron Scott and his Cavaliers are having a miserable season with an 8-24 record in the basement of the Eastern Conference.
Their leading scorer is Mo Williams, who is averaging 15 points per game, so they certainly miss James' talents.
28. Washington Wizards (8-22)
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The Washington Wizards have a lot of young talent but have not been able to put it together so far this season.
At 8-22, they are second to last in the Eastern Conference, which is largely due to their miserable 0-15 record on the road.
The Wizards are rebuilding and that is more clear after getting rid of Gilbert Arenas.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves (8-25)
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The Timberwolves have been at the bottom of the Western Conference the past few seasons but they do have a bright spot, Kevin Love.
He is averaging nearly 21 points and 15.5 rebounds per game, incredible numbers.
If David Kahn can put the right core players around Love, the Timberwolves can have a solid team.
26. New Jersey Nets (9-23)
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Compared to last season, the Nets are much improved.
They did not get their ninth win last season until March 26th, so they have made some progress.
The Nets have young talent in Brook Lopez and Devin Harris and adding Carmelo Anthony would only make them better.
As of today, they come in at No. 26.
25. Detroit Pistons (11-21)
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The Detroit Pistons are 11-21 and the money they spent on Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva has not worked out the way they planned.
They did get a win against the Boston Celtics last night, which could be a boost of confidence but that does not change the fact that the Pistons have not played well.
They stand at No. 25 in the Power Rankings.
24. Los Angeles Clippers (10-23)
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The Los Angeles Clippers are 10-23, but have had exciting times this season due to the young Blake Griffin.
Griffin missed his rookie season with an injury, but is back and playing like a veteran.
Griffin is averaging 21 points and 12 rebounds per game giving Clipper fans something to cheer for.
23. Toronto Raptors (11-20)
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The Raptors are currently the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference with an 11-20 record.
Led by Andrea Bargnani, the Raptors have a young team with a lot of talent.
They may be a few years away from making some noise in the East, but it will not happen this season.
22. Charlotte Bobcats (11-19)
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The Charlotte Bobcats made the playoffs as the seventh seed last season and will look to return this year.
The Bobcats got eliminated in the first round by the Orlando Magic and they would love to redeem themselves with another postseason appearance.
The Bobcats are currently the 10th seed in the East and are right in the mix for one of the last seeds.
21. Golden State Warriors (12-19)
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The Golden State Warriors are an exciting team but unfortunately for them, they play in the tough Western Conference.
The Warriors are 12-19, led by Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry, two young players with bright futures in the NBA.
The Warriors will be hanging around for that eighth seed down the stretch, so keep an eye on them.
20. Milwaukee Bucks (12-18)
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The Milwaukee Bucks are 12-18, but are hovering around that eighth and final playoff spot, just one game behind the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Bucks' problem this year has been on offense, scoring just 90.3 points per game, the lowest in the NBA.
The Bucks would love to make the playoffs for the second year in a row, but they have to step it up on offense.
19. Memphis Grizzlies (14-18)
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The Memphis Grizzlies are 14-18 and the 10th seed in the Western Conference.
The Grizzlies will probably hang around the 8-10 seed throughout the course of the season but if O.J. Mayo gets traded, that could hurt them.
The Grizzlies currently rank 19th in the NBA.
18. Philadelphia 76ers (13-19)
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A team that is under .500 is currently the eighth seed.
Only in the Eastern Conference.
The Sixers are 13-19 and will have to play well down the stretch with the Bucks and Bobcats breathing down their necks.
We have all heard the rumors of Andre Iguodala being traded and if he is, that will hurt their playoff chances.
17. Phoenix Suns (13-17)
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The Suns are in a sport we are not used to seeing them in, below .500 almost half way through the season.
The Suns acquired Vince Carter from the Magic in hopes that he will help turn things around in Phoenix.
The Suns hope he will because they are 0-9 when they do not score 100 or more points.
Things better turn around in Phoenix, but as of right now, they come in at No. 17.
16. Indiana Pacers (13-17)
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Another team under .500 that is currently in a playoff seed.
The Pacers are the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference but have company behind them, so they will have to play better basketball for the remainder of the season.
Danny Granger's numbers are down and he will need to get things going for the Pacers
15. Houston Rockets (15-16)
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The Houston Rockets are right behind the Portland Trail Blazers for the eighth seed and with Luis Scola and Kevin Martin, they have a good shot at surpassing them.
Scola and Martin have played extremely well this year and they will need to continue to do so in order to have a chance at the playoffs.
Scola, Martin and the Rockets come in at No. 15 in the Power Rankings.
14. Portland Trail Blazers (16-16)
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The Portland Trail Blazers are in the eighth spot for the playoffs and it is largely due to their record at home, 10-3.
Their 6-13 record on the road must improve if they want to stay ahead of the Rockets, who are a half game behind them in the Western Conference.
Brandon Roy's injuries will hurt the Blazers, who come in at No. 14.
13. New Orleans Hornets (18-14)
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The New Orleans Hornets have lost two in a row and are now 18-13 in the Western Conference, currently the seventh seed.
After the Hornets' red hot start, they have cooled off and will now need Chris Paul to step up and lead them to the playoffs.
Paul's points are down from recent years, but he is a good enough player to turn it around.
12. Denver Nuggets (18-13)
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The Nuggets are the sixth seed in the Western Conference and are ready to make another playoff push.
Carmelo Anthony is still with the team despite all the trade rumors, but if they lose him, they are a completely different basketball team.
Melo has been their leader since coming into the league in 2003, and the Nuggets need to keep him if they want to make any noise in the playoffs.
11. New York Knicks (18-13)
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Knick fans have been thrilled this season as Amar'e Stoudemire has put the Knicks back on the map.
The Knicks are the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and will look to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2003-2004 season.
Stoudemire is having an MVP-caliber season and his outstanding play will have to continue.
The Knicks are No. 11 in the Power Rankings.
10. Atlanta Hawks (21-10)
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The Atlanta Hawks have a talented young team but do they finally have what it takes to make a run at the NBA Finals?
The answer is probably no because the Eastern Conference is just too strong.
With the likes of the Heat, Celtics and Magic in front of them, the Hawks will have a difficult time going far into the postseason.
9. Oklahoma City Thunder (22-11)
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The Oklahoma City Thunder are an exciting young team.
Kevin Durant is the NBA's leading scorer and he and the Thunder took the Lakers to six games in the first round of the playoffs last year.
With the most dynamic duo in the NBA in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the Thunder have a chance to make some noise this year.
8. Los Angeles Lakers (22-10)
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The Lakers normally get off to better starts than this, as they have struggled recently.
The Lakers are a good enough team to turn it around but a three-peat may not be in the works for Phil Jackson.
The Lakers are coming off a 103-88 win over the Hornets and are No. 8 in the Power Rankings.
7. Utah Jazz (22-10)
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The Utah Jazz are 21-10 and neck and neck with the Lakers in the Western Conference.
The Jazz are five and half games back of the first seed and have the same record as the Los Angeles Lakers at 21-10.
The Jazz got Mehmet Okur back, which is big for them, so it should be interesting where they end up in the West at the end of the season.
6. Orlando Magic (20-12)
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After trading for Gilbert Arenas, Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson, the Magic are revamped and ready to make a run at the NBA Finals.
The Magic had a huge comeback against the Celtics on Christmas Day with their improved roster.
Granted, the Celtics did not have Rajon Rondo, but it was still a big win for the Magic, who want to get back to the NBA Finals.
They are currently No. 6 in the Power Rankings.
5. Chicago Bulls (20-10)
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Since returning from an injury, Carlos Boozer is averaging just over 20 points per game and has been a huge addition for the Chicago Bulls.
The explosiveness of Derrick Rose and the rebounding of Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer will be extremely difficult for opposing teams in the East to contain.
The Bulls are a very talented team that is currently in pursuit of a shooting guard.
If they add a quality number two, watch out.
4. Miami Heat (25-9)
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Lebron James, Dywane Wade and Chris Bosh are finally living up to their name of the "Big Three."
The Heat have gone 15-1 one since starting 9-8 and have turned around their season.
After all the criticism, the Heat have managed to put that behind them to be one of the best teams in the NBA.
Dwyane Wade scoring 45 points last night also helps.
3. Boston Celtics (24-6)
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The Celtics have been able to win without Rajon Rondo, but now Garnett went down.
Garnett's injury is not severe but he is expected to miss some time.
The Celtics had an amazing 14-game winning streak before it ended in a collapse against the Magic, but if the Celtics get healthy, they are the team to beat in the East.
They rank at No. 3.
2. San Antonio Spurs (27-4)
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The Spurs are coming off an expected win over the Wizards and a big win over the Lakers.
The Spurs will travel to Dallas on Thursday and we will see if the 27-4 Spurs are for real this season.
As of right now, they are the No. 1 seed in the West and have a huge game against the Mavericks tomorrow.
1. Dallas Mavericks (24-6)
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The Dallas Mavericks come in at No. 1 in the Power Rankings and rightfully so.
The Mavericks have a 13-3 record against teams who are .500 or above and have the NBA's best road record at 11-1.
The Mavericks have a huge game on Thursday night against the first seed in the West, the San Antonio Spurs.
Early in the season, this game will have a playoff type atmosphere.
