30. Cleveland Cavaliers (22-50, Last Week: 28): The Cavs have lost eight games in a row.
29. Phoenix Suns (23-51, Last Week: 26): Adding to the list of bad teams are the Phoenix Suns, who have lost six games in a row and 10 of their last 11.
28. Detroit Pistons (24-50, Last Week: 27): The Pistons have lost three in a row and 13 of their last 14 games.
27. Orlando Magic (19-55, Last Week: 29): The Magic have lost nine of their last ten games.
26. Charlotte Bobcats (17-56, Last Week: 30): The Bobcats move up here only as a result of other teams’ horrible play.
25. Toronto Raptors (27-46, Last Week: 25): The Raps have lost six of their last seven.
24. Sacramento Kings (27-47, Last Week: 23): The Kings have played relatively well as of late, and their demotion is less of a knock on them as it is a result of other teams’ improved play.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves (26-46, Last Week: 24): The Wolves managed to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday before losing to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
22. New Orleans Hornets (26-48, Last Week: 22): The Hornets went 2-2 last week.
21. Milwaukee Bucks (35-37, Last Week: 21): The Bucks have lost five of their last six–with their only victory coming against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Next Page: Middle Of The Pack
20. Portland Trailblazers (33-40, Last Week: 17): The Blazers have lost four games in a row.
19. Washington Wizards (27-46, Last Week: 18): The Wizards went 2-2 last week.
18. Philadelphia 76ers (30-43, Last Week: 19): The Sixers have won three games in a row; going 3-1 last week.
17. Los Angeles Lakers (38-36, Last Week: 12): The Lakers have lost four of their last six games. Because of this, they have placed themselves in jeopardy of making the playoffs, and are currently in ninth spot. Additionally, while currently being on the “outside looking in,” I can not justifiably place them any higher in these Power Rankings. They did, however, put together a solid effort on Saturday night against the Sacramento Kings in a 103-98 victory.
16. Boston Celtics (38-35, Last Week: 16): The Celtics have lost six of their last eight games.
15. Dallas Mavericks (36-37, Last Week: 15): The Mavs have won four of their last five games, and look poised to give the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers a run for their money with regards to the eighth playoff slot.
14. Atlanta Hawks (41-33, Last Week: 13): The Hawks went 2-2 last week, with their two losses coming at the hands of division rivals in the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics.
13. Chicago Bulls (40-32, Last Week: 14): The Bulls have won four of their last five games, and even snapped the Miami Heat’s incredible winning streak on Wednesday.
12. Utah Jazz (38-36, Last Week: 21): The biggest jump this week belongs to the Utah Jazz, who shook off a four-game losing streak only to go on a four-game winning streak; essentially reclaiming the eighth playoff spot in the West and making things extremely difficult for the Lakers.
11. Houston Rockets (40-33, Last Week: 10): The Rockets went 1-2 last week, but managed to defeat the Clippers on Saturday in a 98-81 victory.
Next Page: Knicks Rally, Heat Dominate
10. Golden State Warriors (42-32, Last Week: 11): The Warriors went 2-1 last week, including victories over Western Conference foes the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers.
9. Brooklyn Nets (42-31, Last Week: 7): The Nets went 1-2 last week, but are 4-3 so far on an eight game road trip which ends on Wednesday night in Cleveland.
8. Los Angeles Clipper (49-25, Last Week: 6): The Clips have lost two in a row, and went 1-3 last week; all of which came on the road.
7. Indiana Pacers (47-27, Last Week: 8): The Pacers are currently in the midst of a four-game winning streak; one in which Paul George has played exceptionally well. Unfortunately for Indiana, Danny Granger will require surgery and will miss the rest of the season and playoffs.
6. Memphis Grizzlies (49-24, Last Week: 4): The Grizzlies went 2-2 last week.
5. New York Knicks (46-26, Last Week: 9): The Knicks are on an eight-game winning streak right now, and will face the Miami Heat on Tuesday in what should make for an entertaining showdown.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (54-20, Last Week: 5): The Thunder have won four of their last five games.
3. Denver Nuggets (50-24, Last Week: 2): The Nuggets followed up a 15-game winning streak with two losses against the New Orleans Hornets and San Antonio Spurs, respectively. However, they still remain a powerhouse in the West.
2. San Antonio Spurs (55-18, Last Week: 3): The Spurs have won six of their last eight games.
1. Miami Heat (58-15, Last Week: 1): The Heat–despite LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers all being out due to injury–defeated the best team in the West in the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.