Power Rankings : Week 7

The Way to Glory

The Spurs are back in the top by winning their last 9 games. Everyone is healthy, and they're proving to the West that they are still the Champions



Hero Team of the Week: Houston Rockets (15 straight wins)
Zero Team of the Week: LA Clippers (6 straight losses)

High Jumps of the Week: +5 Rockets, +4 Pacers, +3 Jazz, +3 Warriors
Free Falls of the Week: -4 Suns, -4 Magic, -4 Timberwolves, -3 Mavs

1) San Antonio Spurs (2) - The Spurs are on a nine-game winning streak, and during that, they are giving up 87.8 points for opponents. They are healthy and with Kurt Thomas connecting on the Spurs, they are out and gunning.

2) Los Angeles Lakers (1) - Tough loss against Portland that stopped their 10-game winning streak. But there is no joy than seeing them fight toe-to-toe against the Mavericks in an epic shootout between Kobe and Dirk. They won the game and they are ready to start another one.

3) Boston Celtics - KG is healthy, and the Celtics are running again with their 5-game winning streak. It may halt on Wednesday though, as they fight their conference rival, the Pistons.

4) Houston Rockets (9) - Fifteen straight wins including three without their best player is amazing. What's more amazing is that they have held opponents to 88.6 points per game. They may see their streak stopped this week, as they fight Dallas and New Orleans.

5) Detroit Pistons (4) - I don't understand how they lost to Utah when they were up by 18 points. Aren't they veteran?

6) New Orleans Hornets (8) - Won against Utah and Phoenix, lost to Washington two straight times. You should know how to win against bad teams, too.

7) Utah Jazz (10) - Utah won their last 7 of 10. A loss came from New Orleans, the other 2 came from Minnesota and LA Clippers, the worst teams in the Western Conference.

8) Dallas Mavericks (5) - 4-4 Since Kidd arrived, no need to press the panic button.

9) Golden State Warriors (12) - Easy schedule ahead, a good time to outrun Phoenix and get C-Webb back into shape.

10) Phoenix Suns (6) - 2-4 with Shaq, the reason: We're just starting to know each other and gel. Isn't six games a good way to learn the anything-goes offense?

11) Orlando Magic (7) - As if losing to Philadelphia isn't enough, they will fight 3 of the most hungry-playoff team in the NBA this week.

12) Cleveland Cavaliers (11) - I can't wait to see what will happen when Lebron, Hughes, and Gooden meet at Chicago.

13) Portland Trailblazers - They are the only team the Lakers wouldn't like to face in the playoffs, provided that they play home games only.

14) Denver Nuggets - Inconsistency crawls upon this team. Losing to a team without its best player is questionable.

15) Toronto Raptors - Jose Calderon's number has been down lately. Well, what's worse is that Chris Bosh is down, too.

16) Washington Wizards - You can't expect anything more from this team, if i have to choose who gets the Coach of the Year, it has to be Eddie Jordan. I am amazed this team has been overachieving. Next year, would be pretty special, if all are healthy.

17) Philadelphia 76ers - The Sixers are becoming more serious about beating playoff teams. Andre Miller is The Reason.

18) New Jersey Nets (19) - Devin Harris had been himself all game long against the Spurs, the problem is that, the Nets still lack that inside defensive presence they need IF EVER they would be in the playoffs.

19) Atlanta Hawks (20) - Mike Bibby has transformed this team from mediocre to something special. I won't be surprised if next year, Larry Brown would coach this team and take them to the playoffs.

20) Sacramento Kings (18) - A 21-point loss to Miami was awful. It didn't matter , though, when they kicked the Heat's butts in Sac-Town.

21) Chicago Bulls - I don't understand why Hughes was made a starter.

22) Milwaukee Bucks - I'm all done with Michael Redd, somebody needs to have this guy a great supporting cast or we might be seeing him next year in a new uniform.

23) Indiana Pacers (27) - 72 points in the last 2 games. Now, that's what I call a late-bloomer.

24) Charlotte Bobcats - At least they got a win versus Toronto.

25) New York Knicks - Fire Isaiah.

26) Seattle Supersonics - They may be the best 15-40 team in the league right now, so don't underestimate this team, especially when they will have 6 first-rounders next season.

27) Minnesota Timberwolves (23) - The win on Utah was nice.

28) Miami Heat (30) - At last, they won 2 of their last 8 games.

29) Los Angeles Clippers (28) - Why would Elton Brand go back and play?

30) Memphis Grizzlies (29) - Not another Top 5 first-round pick.