http://www.nba.com/features/power_rankings_050113.html Here is the blurb on the Rox: T-Mac's on a tear, scoring 30 points per in the last five, including dropping 45 on the Nuggets. The 10-point win over Dallas on Wed. put the Rockets above .500 for the first time this year. But weren't we over .500 last week before we lost two in a row? TEAM (LAST WK) REC. BREAKDOWN 1 Phoenix (1) 31-5 Followed win against the Heat on Tue. with a loss to the Jazz on Wed. The starters played 394 of the total 480 minutes (82 percent). Will lack of depth hurt the Suns down the road? 2 San Antonio (2) 29-8 Hiccupped against the Jazz on the road on Mon., but rebounded by shellacking Milwaukee on Wed. Three of the next four are at SBC, where the Spurs are 18-1. 3 Seattle (4) 25-9 Beat the Heat twice this season, beat the Spurs twice this season, but lost twice to Clippers in L.A. and dropped season series to Clips for first time since '89-90. 4 Miami (3) 28-10 Shaq returns to L.A.! Oh, wait, that's the Clippers, the final game of a five-game trip on which the Heat are 2-2. Shaq's averaged 29.8 points per in the last five games. 5 Dallas (5) 22-11 Loss to Houston on Wed. was the only loss of a five-game, 17-day(!) home stand. In San Antonio on Fri. Schedule's still favorable, though, as three of next four are at home. 6 Sacramento (6) 22-11 Trade for Mobley should help the Kings offensively keep pace with the Suns and Mavericks in the West. And they should have time to fit him in as six of the Kings' next seven are at ARCO. 7 Cleveland (7) 21-12 Have four straight wins, including a crushing of the Knicks last Saturday on ABC. Spotlight's on Cavs again as they meet Lakers on Thurs. (10:30 p.m. ET, TNT). 8 Detroit (8) 20-14 They're 5-1 in January and they're only 1½ games out of first in the Central. Also, last time someone named Wallace didn't lead in rebounding in a game: Tayshaun on Dec. 6 with 11. 9 Washington (9) 20-13 When was the last time Washington was seven games over .500? Not since the Bullets days of Greg Ballard and Jeff Malone, way back in 1985. 10 Orlando (13) 19-15 Sneaking back into the top 10 for winning four of their last five and for making a bold trade that pleased the franchise, but not "The Franchise." Magic host Kings on March 2. 11 Indiana (10) 17-16 Finding out the road ain't no place to raise a winning streak. Lost three of four on tough trip (Spurs, Mavs, Suns) but won gritty game in Memphis. That's the Pacers' season in a nutshell. 12 Houston (16) 18-17 T-Mac's on a tear, scoring 30 points per in the last five, including dropping 45 on the Nuggets. The 10-point win over Dallas on Wed. put the Rockets above .500 for the first time this year. 13 Memphis (17) 18-18 Sure, they lost a tough one at home to the Pacers on Tue., but the Grizzlies' resurrection continues thanks to Gasol, who's gone goofy from the field at .577 in the last five. 14 L.A. Lakers (11) 18-15 Can't get a handle on this team. Haven't lost more than two games in a row this season (that's good), but haven't won more than two straight this season (that's not so good). 15 L.A. Clippers (14) 17-17 Lost to Suns and Sonics on the road, but beat Sonics at home. Maggette's been studly at 26 points per in the last five, but the next five (Heat, Kings twice, Spurs and Mavs) are scary. 16 Minnesota (12) 17-17 The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that Kevin Garnett and Flip Saunders gave each other a pep talk: "Just trying to keep each other upbeat." The Wolves have lost three in a row. 17 New York (18) 17-18 Despite the nice win over the Blazers, it was a lousy week for the Knicks, losing by 25 to the Cavs and then at home to the Hornets. Still, they lead the Atlantic. 18 Philadelphia (15) 15-19 Climbed within a game of .500, but have lost three in a row, including getting beat by the Bulls by 32 in Chicago. Iverson's only averaged 21.7 in his last three. 19 Chicago (25) 15-18 You play with the Bulls, you get the horns. That was true in the '90s and it's been true lately as they've won five straight. Gordon's 31 points in 25 minutes against Philly was impressive. 20 Boston (19) 16-20 Went 1-3 last week and gave up 105.3 points per in those losses. Paul Pierce said: "This is the first time in my Celtics career that we've given up so many 100-point games." 21 Portland (20) 15-19 Another team that went 1-3 this past week, and they've lost five of their last six overall. Have had a different player lead them in scoring in all seven Jan. games. 22 Denver (21) 15-20 Another team that lost three of four last week, but snapped five-game skid with a nice home win vs. the Lakers. Only two of remaining nine games in Jan. are at Pepsi Center. 23 Toronto (22) 14-22 Nice week by Morris Peterson (no relation), including a 37-point explosion against the Celtics on Wed. Crazy schedule (road, home, road, home, road, home) could derail any progress. 24 New Jersey (24) 12-22 Losing R-Jeff hurts literally and figuratively. Could you imagine where they'd be without the Carter trade? Tough week ahead with Rockets, Mavs and Hawks away from home. 25 Utah (27) 13-24 Jazz fans, there is hope. A win over the Spurs stopped a nine-game skid. A win over the Suns was great. And Kirilenko returning to practice is icing on the cake. 26 Golden State (23) 11-25 Haven't won since last year (Dec. 29 ,2004 to be exact). Not so coincidentally, that's the last time J-Rich played. It doesn't get any easier this week with the Sonics, Lakers and Nuggets. 27 Milwaukee (26) 12-21 Routed in Atlanta and at the end, the Hawks were ooping off the glass to each other. And what's up with Redd? Shooting only .369 in last five. More bad news: Ford out for the year. 28 Charlotte (28) 8-23 Followed up a great win over the Timberwolves with two losses, both on the road. Having four of the next five at home, though, should help. 29 Atlanta (29) 6-26 Had lost six in a row before winning in a rout (A rout!) over the Bucks. SI.com says Josh Smith already being compared to Dominique and the guys at SLAM! love Mr. Smith. 30 New Orleans (30) 4-30 At this time last week, they had won two games. This week alone, they won TWO games, doubling their win total for the season. B-Diddy's digits in wins: 47 pts., 27 dimes, 15 boards.
