A four game win week, coupled with a few Miami losses, and the Chicago Bulls have built a comfortable lead in this week’s edition of NBA Power Rankings at The Wife Hates Sports. Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder have also closed the gap on the Heat, sitting just a few points behind in third place.
Don’t look now, but the Los Angeles Lakers and their newly “masked vigilante” Kobe Bryant have been playing strong basketball as of late. Fueled by a weekend win over Miami, the Lakers have jumped six spots this week, and cracked the top ten.
Here’s how each team sits in KP’s latest edition of NBA Power Rankings:
Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls are a slam dunk in this week’s NBA Power Rankings
KP’s NBA Power Rankings: March 5, 2012
* Games, statistics and rankings include results up to Sunday March 4, 2012
1. Chicago Bulls – 31-8 (125 points) – Last Week: #1
The Bulls, behind a four-win week that featured three straight road victories against the Spurs, Cavs and 76ers, gained 17 ratings points on the Heat over the last seven days.
2. Miami Heat – 28-9 (107 points) – Last Week: #2
After nine straight wins, the Heat have lost two straight games, both road losses at the hands of the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder – 29-8 (103 points) – Last Week: #3
The Thunder had a seven-game win streak snapped on Saturday, when the Hawks ran away with a key 97-90 win.
4. San Antonio Spurs – 25-12 (83 points) – Last Week: #4
The Spurs have lost three of five, including to the Bulls and Nuggets last week, dropping them even further back of the top three.
5. Indiana Pacers – 23-12 (73 points) – Last Week: #7
The Pacers have recovered from a five-game skid by winning six straight games. However, it’s important to note that each of these wins were against the likes of the Warriors, Nets, Bobcats and Hornets.
6. Orlando Magic – 24-14 (68 points) – Last Week: #8
Dwight Howard currently leads the Magic in points (20.4 ppg), rebounds (15.0 rpg), steals (1.5 spg) and blocks (2.2 bpg).
7. Los Angeles Clippers – 22-13 (67 points) – Last Week: #5
Blake Griffin is averaging a double-double over 35 games this season, posting 21.1 points per game and 11.0 rebounds per game.
8. Philadelphia 76ers – 22-16 (59 points) – Last Week: #9
The 76ers have six players averaging in double figures this season: Lou Williams, Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young, Andre Iguodala, Spencer Hawes and Elton Brand.
9. Los Angeles Lakers – 23-14 (58 points) – Last Week: #15
The suddenly red-hot Lakers have three road games to start the week, facing the Pistons, Wizards and Timberwolves away from home.
10. Dallas Mavericks – 22-16 (55 points) – Last Week: #6
The Mavs have lost four of five games, including two bad losses last week to the New Jersey Nets and New Orleans Hornets.
11. Memphis Grizzlies – 22-15 (54 points) – Last Week: #12
Don’t look now, but the Grizzlies are reaching last year’s playoff form, winning eight of nine games, including four straight.
12. Denver Nuggets – 21-17 (49 points) – Last Week: #17
The Nuggets are gaining some momentum back, winning three straight games, including two key road wins last week against the Rockets and Spurs.
13. Atlanta Hawks – 22-15 (48 points) – Last Week: #11
Josh Smith has opened up March strong, scoring 54 points and adding 31 rebounds in Atlanta’s first two games this month.
14. New York Knicks – 18-19 (40 points) – Last Week: #14
Jeremy Lin is statistically cooling off, failing to reach the 20-point barrier over his last four games.
15. Houston Rockets – 21-17 (37 points) – Last Week: #10
The Rockets have lost three straight games, including two by double-digits.
16. Boston Celtics – 19-17 (37 points) – Last Week: #18
Rajon Rondo’s triple-double on Sunday is one of the best NBA single game box scores in years
Ridiculous Statline of the Week: Hosting the Knicks on Sunday, Rajon Rondo notched a triple-double, with 18 points, 17 rebounds and 20 assists.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves – 19-19 (37 points) – Last Week: #16
Kevin Love is averaging a double-double in 35 games this season, scoring 25.0 points per game and averaging 13.6 rebounds per game.
18. Portland Trail Blazers – 18-19 (30 points) – Last Week: #13
Portland has opened the second half with three straight losses, falling on the road to the Nuggets, and at home to the Heat and Timberwolves.
19. Phoenix Suns – 17-20 (17 points) – Last Week: #20
Marcin Gortat leads the team in points (15.9 ppg), rebounds (10.6 rpg) and blocks (1.6 bpg).
20. Utah Jazz – 17-19 (7 points) – Last Week: #22
The Jazz gained a few spots this week with two impressive home victories against both the Miami Heat and Houston Rockets.
21. Golden State Warriors – 14-20 (5 points) – Last Week: #19
Sharpshooter Stephen Curry averages five three-point shots per game, and is shooting 45% from behind the arc this season.
22. Toronto Raptors – 12-25 (-8 points) – Last Week: #24
DeMar DeRozan is averaging 17.2 points per game in 18 home games.
23. Milwaukee Bucks – 14-23 (-10 points) – Last Week: #23
The Bucks have lost four straight road games.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers – 13-22 (-13 points) – Last Week: #21
Antawn Jamison is averaging 18.8 points per game in 19 home games.
25. New Orleans Hornets – 9-28 (-18 points) – Last Week: #26
This coming week, the Hornets have four games all on the road, facing the Trail Blazers, Kings, Nuggets and Timberwolves.
26. New Jersey Nets – 12-26 (-20 points) – Last Week: #28
Deron Williams’ 57-point game was one of this year’s best single game performances
Ridiculous Statline of the Week Part II: Deron Williams at the Bobcats on Sunday – 16-29 FG, 4-11 3PT, 21-21 FT, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 57 points, which by the way, was not only a franchise record, but also a game high points total in the NBA this year.
27. Detroit Pistons – 12-26 (-25 points) – Last Week: #25
Greg Monroe is averaging 17.6 points, 10.3 boards and 1.6 steals in 18 road games this season.
28. Sacramento Kings – 12-25 (-34 points) – Last Week: #27
Marcus Thornton is averaging 20.5 points in 13 home games this season.
29. Washington Wizards – 8-28 (-45 points) – Last Week: #29
John Wall is averaging 20.7 points and 7.3 assists in 19 home games this season.
30. Charlotte Bobcats – 4-31 (-76 points) – Last Week: #30
Gerald Henderson is Charlotte’s leading scorer on the road (14.9 ppg in 14 games), while D.J. Augustin leads the team at home, averaging 15.9 ppg in 10 games.
* 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.
