Derrick Rose’s back isn’t hurting due to carrying the Bulls, but if he continues to be hampered by the injury, Chicago could fall back in the pack. But for now, the Bulls remain in the top spot of KP’s NBA Power Rankings for the third straight week.
The Miami Heat, with help from its recent blowout win over the Atlanta Hawks, leapfrogged the Oklahoma City Thunder and into second place.
Other teams making noise include the New York Knicks, led by Jeremy Lin, who jumped five spots. Also, the defending champion Mavericks had a solid week, jumping four spots and cracking the top ten.
Here is how each team fared in KP’s latest edition of NBA Power Rankings:
Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose and the Bulls have done plenty of celebrating this season
KP’s NBA Power Rankings: February 13, 2012
* Games, statistics and rankings include results up to Sunday February 12, 2012
1. Chicago Bulls – 23-7 (105 points) – Last Week: #1
Chicago maintains the top spot, but star Derrick Rose has been dealing with back spasms. As he goes, the Bulls go – and the injury is bad enough that Rose is seeing a specialist this week.
2. Miami Heat – 21-7 (93 points) – Last Week: #3
As the unsung member of the “Big 3”, Chris Bosh is still posting solid numbers, specifically 19.2 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder – 21-6 (88 points) – Last Week: #2
Serge Ibaka has been a solid defensive presence this season, posting 7.2 rebounds per game and 2.93 blocks per game.
4. Philadelphia 76ers – 19-9 (85 points) – Last Week: #4
The Sixers may have one of the league’s best records, but as a team, Philadelphia is 6-7 against teams with a winning record and 0-2 in games decided by three points or less.
5. San Antonio Spurs – 19-9 (77 points) – Last Week: #8
The Spurs have struggled against lesser competition this season, posting a mediocre 5-4 record against teams with a losing record.
6. Los Angeles Clippers – 17-8 (74 points) – Last Week: #7
Dunk machine Blake Griffin is averaging a double-double so far this season, with 21.2 points per game and 11.0 rebounds per game to date.
7. Atlanta Hawks – 18-10 (69 points) – Last Week: #6
Joe Johnson is Atlanta’s leading scorer so far this season
Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Jeff Teague and Marvin Williams are all averaging in double figures, with Johnson leading the way with 18.2 points per game.
8. Dallas Mavericks – 17-11 (59 points) – Last Week: #12
Dirk Nowitzki has scored 20 or more points over the last four games.
9. Indiana Pacers – 17-10 (56 points) – Last Week: #5
Roy Hibbert has been a defensive presence for the Pacers this season, leading the team in rebounds (9.6 per game) and blocks (1.8 per game).
10. Orlando Magic – 17-11 (54 points) – Last Week: #13
Defensively, the Magic have been led by, who else, but Dwight Howard, who currently leads the NBA in rebounds (15.5 per game) and is fifth in blocks (2.21 per game).
11. Boston Celtics – 15-12 (51 points) – Last Week: #11
In Boston’s big win over the Bulls on Sunday, Rajon Rondo was at his best, posting a triple-double (32 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists).
12. Houston Rockets – 16-12 (49 points) – Last Week: #17
Three road wins over the Nuggets, Blazers and Suns gave the Rockets a boost this week.
13. Denver Nuggets – 16-12 (47 points) – Last Week: #9
The struggling Nuggets have lost 7 of 10 and are just 7-7 at home this season.
14. Los Angeles Lakers – 16-12 (46 points) – Last Week: #14
Kobe Bryant leads the Lakers in points per game (29.3), assists (5.0) and steals (1.2).
15. Portland Trail Blazers – 15-13 (40 points) – Last Week: #10
The Blazers are 0-6 this season in games that have been decided by three points or less and 0-3 this year in overtime games.
16. New York Knicks – 13-15 (37 points) – Last Week: #21
“Linsanity” lives on in New York
A few days back, The Wife Hates Sports compared Jeremy Lin statistically to some of the NBA’s top scorers, as well as some of this year’s high profile rookies. The numbers were staggering.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves – 13-15 (35 points) – Last Week: #15
Rookie Ricky Rubio currently leads the NBA in steals (2.46 per game) and sits tied for fourth in the NBA in assists per game (8.7).
18. Utah Jazz – 14-12 (29 points) – Last Week: #16
In his first season as a full-time starter, Gordon Hayward is averaging 10.4 points per game.
19. Memphis Grizzlies – 14-14 (24 points) – Last Week: #19
Marc Gasol is averaging a double-double this season (15.0 ppg and 10.0 rebounds per game).
20. Phoenix Suns – 12-15 (19 points) – Last Week: #22
Remember when Marcin Gortat was Dwight Howard’s backup in Orlando? Now entrenched as the starting center in Phoenix, Gortat is averaging a double-double (15.1 ppg and 10 rpg).
21. Golden State Warriors – 10-14 (19 points) – Last Week: #20
Monta Ellis has erupted for 30 or more points in three of five games this month, including a 48-point performance against the Thunder on February 7th.
22. Milwaukee Bucks – 12-15 (14 points) – Last Week: #18
Brandon Jennings leads the Bucks in points per game (18.6), assists (5.4) and steals (1.6).
23. Cleveland Cavaliers – 10-16 (1 point) – Last Week: #23
Rookie Kyrie Irving – the team’s leading scorer, averaging 18 points per game – has missed the last three games with a concussion.
24. Toronto Raptors – 9-20 (-12 points) – Last Week: #24
Andrea Bargnani (23.5 points per game), out with a calf injury, is clearly missed in Toronto.
25. Sacramento Kings – 10-17 (-19 points) – Last Week: #26
DeMarcus Cousins is averaging a double-double this season (15.8 points and 11.3 boards).
26. Detroit Pistons – 8-21 (-22 points) – Last Week: #28
Second-year player Greg Monroe currently leads the team in points (16.8), rebounds (9.9) and steals (1.5).
27. New Jersey Nets – 8-21 (-26 points) – Last Week: #25
Opponents are shooting over 50% from the floor against the Nets over the last ten games, which is by far the highest allowed in that span.
28. New Orleans Hornets – 4-23 (-31 points) – Last Week: #27
Jarrett Jack, before being out with a knee injury, has been setting career highs this season (15.5 ppg, 6.7 apg and 3.7 rpg).
29. Washington Wizards – 6-22 (-35 points) – Last Week: #29
The Wizards have allowed 102 points per game over the last ten games, tied for the most points allowed during that span.
30. Charlotte Bobcats – 3-24 (-68 points) – Last Week: #30
Just how bad are the Bobcats? After 27 games, Charlotte has scored the fewest points per game (86.3), while also giving up the most (100.9 per game).
* All stats per NBA.com
Note: RED = Falling 3+ spots from last week, GREEN = Rising 3+ spots from last week
The Wife Hates Sports NBA Power Rankings system has a method to its madness, attempting to be different and not just rank by popularity and record. It mixes a secret formula of six completely different categories, meshed into a points system. The categories don’t just include team results regarding record, but how each team has performed recently, as well as incorporating some statistics on both a team’s offense and defense, too.
