Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs have taken over the top spot in this week’s NBA Power Rankings at The Wife Hates Sports.
Last week’s leader, the Oklahoma City Thunder, fall one spot to second place, followed by the New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers.
The Chicago Bulls jumped three spots and into the top ten, while the struggling Los Angeles Lakers fell eight spots to 18th place and have the distinction of being this edition’s biggest loser.
The full set of rankings is as follows, featuring some quick stats and thoughts for all thirty teams.
KP’s NBA Power Rankings: December 10, 2012
* Games and statistics include results up to 4pm on December 10, 2012
1. San Antonio Spurs (105 points) – Last Week: #3
Tony Parker leads the Spurs in points (18.4 per game) and assists (7.4 apg).
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (100 points) – Last Week: #1
OKC’s +9.5 scoring differential leads the NBA.
3. New York Knicks (85 points) – Last Week: #4
New York is the only undefeated team at home (8-0).
4. Memphis Grizzlies (82 points) – Last Week: #2
Zach Randolph is averaging a double-double this season (17.9 ppg and 12.9 rpg).
5. Los Angeles Clippers (78 points) – Last Week: #6
L.A.’s ten conference wins are tied with the Spurs for the most in the West.
6. Atlanta Hawks (74 points) – Last Week: #8
Josh Smith leads the Hawks in scoring, averaging 17.0 points per game.
7. Miami Heat (67 points) – Last Week: #5
The Heat, losers to the Wizards on December 4th, will get a chance at revenge on the 15th.
8. Golden State Warriors (60 points) – Last Week: #9
The Warriors are 8-1 versus the East so far this season.
9. Chicago Bulls (57 points) – Last Week: #12
Luol Deng continues to be the team’s leading scorer (18.3 ppg) with Derrick Rose out.
10. Brooklyn Nets (47 points) – Last Week: #7
The Nets have lost four straight, including losses to the Heat and Thunder.
11. Boston Celtics (41 points) – Last Week: #14
The Celtics are 4-1 versus the West so far this year.
12. Utah Jazz (39 points) – Last Week: #16
Utah is 8-1 at home and 4-9 on the road so far this season.
13. Philadelphia 76ers (35 points) – Last Week: #11
The Sixers have a winning record, but are just averaging 89.2 points per game.
14. Minnesota Timberwolves (33 points) – Last Week: #19
Minnesota’s last three victories are each by double digits.
15. Milwaukee Bucks (33 points) – Last Week: #13
Ground could be gained this week with both the Kings and Cavaliers up on the schedule.
16. Dallas Mavericks (27 points) – Last Week: #20
O.J. Mayo continues to be the team’s key scoring threat, averaging 20.9 points per game.
17. Indiana Pacers (26 points) – Last Week: #17
David West leads the Pacers in both points (17.5 per game) and rebounds (8.6 per game).
18. Los Angeles Lakers (23 points) – Last Week: #10
The Lakers are the only team not in a playoff position with a plus scoring differential.
19. Houston Rockets (21 points) – Last Week: #15
The Rockets are just 3-10 versus the Western Conference.
20. Denver Nuggets (20 points) – Last Week: #18
Denver has been a balanced team, with six players averaging in double figures.
21. Orlando Magic (13 points) – Last Week: #23
Orlando has a winning record (5-4) against the Western conference this year.
22. Sacramento Kings (9 points) – Last Week: #29
DeMarcus Cousins leads the team in points (16.8 ppg), rebounds (10.1 rpg) and steals (1.4 spg).
23. Portland Trail Blazers (3 points) – Last Week: #22
Portland opened the month of December with back-to-back overtime victories over Charlotte and Cleveland.
24. Detroit Pistons (1 point) – Last Week: #24
The Pistons are 5-5 at home, but just 2-11 on the road this season.
25. Charlotte Bobcats (-9 points) – Last Week: #21
Charlotte has lost eight straight after starting the season 7-5.
26. Phoenix Suns (-12 points) – Last Week: #25
Goran Dragic leads the team in scoring (15.1 ppg), assists (6.4 apg) and steals (2.0 spg).
27. New Orleans Hornets (-15 points) – Last Week: #27
Ryan Anderson has started just 13 games, yet leads the team in scoring (18.4 ppg).
28. Washington Wizards (-26 points) – Last Week: #30
Washington’s -7.4 points differential is the worst in the NBA.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (-29 points) – Last Week: #28
The Cavs are winless in the month of December.
30. Toronto Raptors (-35 points) – Last Week: #26
The Raptors are 1-13 on the road and have lost four straight 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.
Why yes, YES they are. I ran the numbers again last night and the Lakers came up as in 18th place yet again this week, too. Oh, how I know how much you love those Power Rankings that I do…
The Lakers… are a train wreck.