NBA Power Rankings: Which Top 10 Teams Are Beating The Top 10 Teams?

The Miami Heat are now a half game over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. Yet they have dropped two games to Boston and won none. Today, they hope to get their first win against the reigning conference champions. 

Eventually, to be the best, you have to beat the best. It's not going to be how you played against the Pistons or Cavaliers that determines the eventual NBA champions. It's the elite against the elite. 

I took the top 10 teams in the NBA based on winning percentage and looked to see how they play against each other. The following slide show is a ranking by winning percentage against the top 10 teams in the NBA.

10: Atlanta Hawks

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ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 12: Joe Johnson #2 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Shaun Livingston #2 of the Charlotte Bobcats at Philips Arena on February 12, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloadi

Record: 3-9, (.250)

If their winning percentage against the top 10 teams is any indication, the reason they are in the top 10 is that they're tied with the Lakers for the fewest games against top 10 teams of any of the top 10. They have two wins against Orlando, a potential first round opponent, and one against the Heat. 

9 Miami Heat

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AUBURN HILLS, MI - FEBRUARY 11: LeBron James #6 and Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat talk while playing the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills on February 11, 2011 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Miami won the game 106-92. NOTE TO USER: User expres

Record: 6-8 (.429)

The Miami Heat have been beating up on the little guys better than anyone in the NBA. They have a 27-2 record against teams below .500. It's the pick on someone your own size area where they've had more struggles, going 12-12 against teams with a wining record.

Even that, though, doesn't quite tell the whole story. The Heat have the second worst record of top 10 teams against top 10 teams. Against potential second round Eastern Conference opponents, Orlando, Boston and Chicago, they are only 2-5. Today's game is certainly a game they need to win to prove they can beat the best.

8: Orlando Magic

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ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 08: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic reacts to a foul during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Amway Arena on February 8, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by dow

Record: 7-9 (.438)

The Eastern Conference occupies the bottom three spots in the list. Orlando is not looking like the elite team they were expected to be. Their struggles against the elite aren't helping them make a case for themselves. Their best argument is a 2-1 record against Miami. 

The fact is they may have robbed Peter to pay Paul. They made their huge trades to get some offense, but it's cost them defense. They are scoring more, but they are giving up about two more points per game since the trade.  

7: Oklahoma City Thunder

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JANUARY 30: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ford Center on January 30, 2011 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User

Record: 8-9 (.471)

The Thunder were expected to compete for the Western Conference after their breakout year last season. Instead, they are trailing the older generation of teams, the Spurs, Mavericks and Lakers. While the incredibly talented duo will have a lot to look forward to, this year still belongs to the senior statesmen.

With Sloan's retirement, the pending breakup of the Hornets and Nuggets and the aging of the other elite teams in the Western Conference, it's tough to see where the challenge is going to come for the Thunder in the not too distant future. Could the Grizzlies be their rivals?

6: New Orleans Hornets

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PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 30: Chris Paul #3 of the New Orleans Hornets puts up a shot over Steve Nash #13 and Channing Frye #8 of the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game at US Airways Center on January 30, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Hornets

Record: 10-11 (.476)

Someone please make sense out of the Hornets for me! It seems like the moment you start thinking they are a threat, they start to lose. Then, the moment you think they aren't, they thrash a top 10 team by 45. If they want me to "bee" a "beeliever," they might want to "bee" a little more consistent. 

5: Los Angeles Lakers

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 11: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 11, 2011 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading

Record: 6-6 (.500)

Does the win against the Celtics make there struggles go away? No, but it's a good start. The fact that they haven't beaten Dallas or San Antonio yet this season is more concerning. What they could do in a potential finals matchup with Boston isn't going to matter if they don't get to the finals. Today's game against the Magic gives them another opportunity to prove themselves, but eventually, they have to answer the West.

4: Chicago Bulls

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 02: Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls goes up for a shot over Blake Griffin #32 and Eric Bledsoe #12 of the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on February 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressl

Record: 8-6 (.571)

The Bulls started off the season 1-6 against the teams on this list. When Carlos Boozer finally joined the team, Chicago was blown out in back to back games against the Magic and the Celtics. There was a lot of talk about how they were beating up on the losing teams, but couldn't beat the elite.

Since then, they've won seven straight against top 10 teams. The only teams on the list they haven't beaten since then are San Antonio, who they play on Thursday, and Atlanta, who they have not played yet. No team in the NBA has played better against top 10 teams over that span. 

3: Dallas Mavericks

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DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 10: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks takes a shot over Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets during NBA action at the Pepsi Center on February 10, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and

Record: 12-7 (.632)

No team in the NBA has played or won more games against the top 10 teams in the NBA. No team has won more either. That actually spells trouble for the Lakers, as it means that, while they are presently tied, the Mavericks have an easier schedule over the course of the season.

Chicago and the Spurs are the only two top 10 teams with a winning record over the Mavs. 

2: Boston Celitcs

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BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: Ray Allen #20 of the Boston Celtics reacts after he is called for a foul in the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 10, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Lakers defeated the Celtics 92-86. N

Record: 11-6 (.647)

Kevin Garnett has had a resurgent year, even if he's been questionable in his conduct. The Celtics have winning records against all the Eastern Conference teams in the top 10. They have the best record in the Eastern Conference against .500 teams. They are the Conference Champs and until they are beaten in the tournament, they are the team to beat. 

1: San Antonio Spurs

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 03: Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a jumper between Paul Gasol #16 and Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers as Tim Duncan #21 heads to the basket at Staples Center on February 3, 2011 in Los Angeles, Calif

Record: 11-5 (.688)

The Spurs have surprised pretty much everyone. The team which everyone thought was on their way out of the elite has been the elite of the elite through the year. It's not just the weaker teams they are beating up on, either. They've been running over the best of the best as well. The only team in the top 10 they have not beaten is Boston. They get a chance to rectify that on March 31.