NBA Power Rankings Week 18: How Do Knicks, Celtics Look After Trade Deadline?
The NBA trade deadline saw a flurry of activity between teams that resulted in some spectacular and surprising deals.
While the top teams stayed quiet for the most part outside of the Boston Celtics, the rest of the league was plenty busy wheeling and dealing in an attempt for a successful playoff push.
Are the New York Knicks now a force to be reckoned with in the East with the addition of Carmelo Anthony? Can the Nuggets re-build around Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler?
Let's take a look at how things shake out in week 18.
The Bleacher Report NBA Power Rankings are done by averaging individual featured columnists' tallies. This week's contributors were Ethan Norof (NBA), Andrew Bailey (NBA/Mavericks), Adam Fromal (NBA/Hawks), David Spohn (NBA/Kings), Kevin Nesgoda (NBA), Chris Faig (NBA), Brian Chappatta (Bulls), Patrick Harrell (Rockets), and Allen Kim (NBA Team Leader).
30. Cleveland Cavaliers
1 of 30
The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming off of impressive home wins against the Los Angeles Lakers and Knicks, but unfortunately that will probably be as exciting as it gets in Cleveland this season.
Baron Davis cares more about his beard than he does his new team, and an aging Antawn Jamison down low with youngster JJ Hickson hasn’t worked out the way Dan Gilbert might have hoped in the post-LeBron era.
Record: 11-48
Last Week: 30
29. Sacramento Kings
2 of 30
Tyreke Evans continues to battle his plantar fasciitis, DeMarcus Cousins continues to be a hothead and Paul Westphal is still an atrocious coach.
Another week gone by in Sactown, and once again not much changes. A nice win at Orlando gave the team a temporary boost, but that’s about the only thing to get excited about with these young guns.
Record: 14-43
Last Week: 28
28. Minnesota Timberwolves
3 of 30
Kevin Love has the potential to be the most prolific rebounder in the history of the Caucasian race, but unfortunately that’s not helping the team win any games.
The T-Wolves lack anyone who can take over the game when they need it and it shows. With inconsistent play from every spot except Love’s, Rambis should be starting the youth the rest of the way out.
Record: 14-46
Last Week: 29
27. Toronto Raptors
4 of 30
Andrea Bargnani as the No. 1 offensive option is not working.
DeMar DeRozan has done his part to help this season, but the other pieces on this Canadian team haven’t done much.
It’s time to launch the full-blown youth movement.
Record: 16-44
Last Week: 27
26. Washington Wizards
5 of 30
To recap, rookie John Wall called out his veteran teammates, Andray Blatche challenged a Twitter follower to a fight and Flip Saunders continues to fade into the background.
This team desperately needs to turn the keys over to Wall, Nick Young and Javale McGee, and simply go from there. There’s a lot of turmoil behind the scenes, and it seems like not all of the pieces are quite on the same page.
Record: 15-43
Last Week: 26
25. Detroit Pistons
6 of 30
The Detroit Pistons are a disaster.
In the last week, there has been a player’s protest that resulted in four of the five starters being benched, as well as multiple rumors of John Kuester’s impending termination.
Paging Joe Dumars, Mr. Joe Dumars.
Record: 22-39
Last Week: 24
24. New Jersey Nets
7 of 30
Deron Williams was a huge acquisition for this team who is clearly playing for next season.
D-Will gives New Jersey a legitimate superstar to attract other potential free agents in an effort to finally put the Nets back on the map.
He and Brook Lopez can’t win games on their own, but if a third (or fourth) legitimate talent comes to help? Things can turn around in a hurry in the NBA.
Record: 17-42
Last Week: 25
23. Milwaukee Bucks
8 of 30
The Milwaukee Bucks are an absolute disaster despite their 22 wins this season.
Brandon Jennings isn’t happy about his role, they’ve got too many guys who play the same position, and as always, Andrew Bogut’s health is a serious question mark.
This is a squad that should really look to blow it up and start from scratch with Jennings because there’s nothing else on the roster that they can’t replace.
Record: 22-36
Last Week: 23
22. Los Angeles Clippers
9 of 30
Blake Griffin is the most exciting player in the league to watch hands down, but the rest of his team? Eh, not so much.
There was a brief surge of optimism when the Clips actually won nine straight earlier this season, but reality has sunken in and it’s back to the same lowly ways.
Fortunately, BG should provide enough electricity for the team to become major players in the free agent market, and shedding Baron Davis’ burdensome contract was a step in the right direction.
Record: 21-39
Last Week: 21
21. Charlotte Bobcats
10 of 30
DJ Augustin, Gerald Henderson and Tyrus Thomas are a few very good young players, but would you be willing to hedge your bets around them?
Stephen Jackson has to be the biggest loser of any player at the deadline, as he’s probably trying to convince owner Michael Jordan to come out of retirement and play for the team.
Record: 26-33
Last Week: 22
20. Indiana Pacers
11 of 30
The Indiana Pacers have looked a lot better since Frank Vogel took over, but anything was better than the effort Jim O’Brien was getting from them.
Indiana has some nice pieces to build around in Granger, Hibbert and Collison, but it’s going to be tough to convince any free agent to join the Pacers’ cause.
Record: 26-32
Last Week: 20
19. Houston Rockets
12 of 30
The team shipped out a disgruntled Aaron Brooks and an expiring contract in Shane Battier, but the return of future draft picks, Goran Dragic and Hasheem Thabeet don’t exactly inspire a ton of confidence.
The Rockets’ future might be looking bright with Chase Budinger coming on strong, but this year? Fuh-get-about-it.
Record: 30-31
Last Week: 19
18. Golden State Warriors
13 of 30
This team needs a legitimate center, and they need one now.
They should be a whole lot better than their record shows with a core of Ellis, Curry and Lee, especially with the emergence of Dorell Wright this season.
The team will need to upgrade its bench as well if they hope to start consistently winning games, because those guys can’t play all 48 every night.
Record: 26-32
Last Week: 17
17. Philadelphia 76ers
14 of 30
Doug Collins has done a good job with a young squad, but mediocre is the definition of this team.
They have been playing very competitive basketball recently, and it seems that Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday are finally beginning to learn how to play together.
But with Spencer Hawes in the middle and Jodie Meeks on the wing in the starting five, there’s a lot more work to be done.
Record: 30-29
Last Week: 18
16. Utah Jazz
15 of 30
However shocking it might have been, the Utah Jazz did the right thing in dealing Williams and acquiring pieces for the re-building movement.
While Favors won’t be ready to contribute until 2011-2012, Devin Harris’ style of play should mesh nicely with Paul Millsap & Andrei Kirilenko.
The loss of Jerry Sloan will probably sting the rest of the season, but things are definitely not as bleak for the Jazz as some are making them out to be.
Record: 32-28
Last Week: 15
15. Phoenix Suns
16 of 30
The Suns should have traded Steve Nash at the deadline if they were serious about re-building.
Now left with a roster of role players and complementary pieces outside of their 37-year-old point guard, the Suns aren’t exactly striking fear in the hearts of their opponents.
Record: 30-27
Last Week: 16
14. Memphis Grizzlies
17 of 30
The Grizzlies have become a very intriguing team to watch, but to say they’re turning into a playoff contender would be an overstatement.
The team is probably going to lose Zach Randolph via free agency after financially committing themselves to Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, and for whatever reason OJ Mayo can’t seem to get out of the dog house.
Record: 33-28
Last Week: 14
13. Denver Nuggets
18 of 30
The Nuggets have surprised a lot of people over the last week with their strong play, but nobody should really be that shocked.
With a solid core of young talent in Lawson, Afflalo and Nene coupled with the new pieces of Chandler, Gallinari and Felton, this is a team that has the potential to produce in more prolific ways than many had expected.
Record: 34-26
Last Week: 12
12. New York Knicks
19 of 30
There’s been a lot of excitement among the New York fanbase regarding the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony, but does it bring them closer to beating the elite teams in the East?
With the potential to be the worst defensive team of all-time, a recent loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers are sure to have some New Yorkers thinking twice about dealing three legitimate NBA starters for their newest superstar.
Record: 30-27
Last Week: 13
11. Portland Trailblazers
20 of 30
The Blazers have been playing quite well recently and owe their success this season to all-star snub LaMarcus Aldridge.
The acquisition of Gerald Wallace from Charlotte will certainly help bolster the roster, but with a bunch of role players outside of LA and GW complemented by a gimpy Brandon Roy, it’s hard to see this team lasting long in the playoffs.
Record: 33-26
Last Week: 10
10. New Orleans Hornets
21 of 30
The New Orleans Hornets are playing every game between now and 2012 in an attempt to keep Chris Paul happy, but even their surprising success this season might fall short of that goal.
David West looks likely to leave at season’s end via free agency, and there’s no chance of a core built around CP3, West and Okafor is going to challenge any of the top teams for a title anytime soon.
Record: 35-26
Last Week: 11
9. Atlanta Hawks
22 of 30
The Atlanta Hawks are not going to beat the Magic, Bulls, Heat or Celtics in a seven-game playoff series.
Until they can prove capable of overcoming their lack of size and play at a consistently high level, there’s not much else to discuss here.
Record: 36-23
Last Week: 9
8. Orlando Magic
23 of 30
Dwight Howard is a lock for a dominant performance just about every night, but what about his teammates?
Gilbert Arenas has been a huge bust, Hedo Turkoglu hasn’t exactly turned heads and the rest of the supporting crew hasn’t done much to help the broad-shouldered superstar.
If the Magic hope to retain Howard long-term, GM Otis Smith needs to figure out how to build around Howard rather than just attempt to appease both he and the fan base in the short-term.
Record: 38-22
Last Week: 8
7. Oklahoma City Thunder
24 of 30
Sam Presti is one shrewd general manager.
Knowing he wouldn’t be able to dole out the kind of mullah that Jeff Green would be looking for on the open market, the team swapped the swingman for Perkins who finally gives them some legitimate size inside.
Additionally, acquiring backup veteran center Nazr Mohammed gives the team the insurance they need until Perkins’ knee(s) rights ship, and they look much more threatening heading into this season’s playoffs.
Record: 36-22
Last Week: 6
6. Los Angeles Lakers
25 of 30
Despite not making any moves before the deadline, the Lakers were definitely a winner when all the dust settled.
Although they’ll have another tough time with the new-look Thunder, the size on the Los Angeles squad is unmatched by any other in the league. If they make it back to the finals, they’ll have to exploit that advantage early and often.
Record: 42-19
Last Week: 7
5. Miami Heat
26 of 30
After beginning the season 9-8, the Miami Heat are in the driver’s seat. The Celtics played right into their hands by trading away Kendrick Perkins, and now they’ll have to prove they can beat the defending Eastern Conference champs.
After LeBron showed us all in Cleveland that he could literally carry a team by himself, just think of what a team with he, Wade and Bosh are capable of when it really matters. Scary.
Record: 43-17
Last Week: 4
4. Chicago Bulls
27 of 30
Derrick Rose is the MVP of the league this season.
After blossoming into a full-blown star in just his third year, Rose is guiding a talented Chicago Bulls team under first-year head coach Tom Thibodeau toward the team’s first potential successful playoff run in quite some time.
Although they lack a legitimate shooting guard (which could come back to hurt them), the Bulls are very in the hunt, especially with two recent victories over Miami.
Record: 40-17
Last Week: 5
3. Boston Celtics
28 of 30
Are the C’s sacrificing this season for the long-term? That’s what many were left wondering after their recent trade of Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City.
In an attempt to stay competitive both now and in the future, GM Danny Ainge pulled the trigger on a move that relies heavily on the health of his oft-injured centers in Jermaine O'Neal and Shaquille O’Neal.
Clearly the team seems a road to the title as one that goes through Miami, but if the Lakers come out of the West, they’re really going to have their hands full with LA’s incredible length down low.
Record: 42-15
Last Week: 2
2. Dallas Mavericks
29 of 30
The Dallas Mavericks might have a sparkling record, but can they really compete for a title?
It’s the same swan song for Mark Cuban’s team, that seems to be perennially good enough to compete but never make it over the edge.
Tyson Chandler has been a nice surprise, and the return of Rodrigue Beaubois should inject some life into the squad, but a team that starts Peja Stojakovic at small forward? I’m not buying it.
Record: 43-16
Last Week: 3
1. San Antonio Spurs
30 of 30
The Spurs are looking like the team to beat as we get closer toward the postseason.
With Popovich notorious for resting his stars down the stretch, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Spurs lose a little bit more in the season’s second half, but by no means does that mean they should be discounted.
They will be rested and ready to go come playoff time and pose a serious threat toward the Lakers’ hopes of returning to the finals.
Record: 49-10
Last Week: 1
