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| Business as usual for the San Antonio Spurs (8-1). Photo credit NBA |
We have some movement on our NBA Power Rankings this week. This past week hurt more than helped most teams as we watched buzzer beaters and blowouts permeate the association. Will the Miami Heat remain in the top five? How good are the Houston Rockets? Let's get right to it...
1. Indiana Pacers (8-0)
There is not much debate needed for a team that is undefeated. I am more impressed with the way they have handled each game with precision focus. It can be easy to take teams lightly in the NBA. They were able to beat Chicago by 17, Brooklyn on the road by 8, and a 16 point win over Memphis. The only question mark for the Pacers is what to do with Danny Granger when he returns. Do you disrupt the chemistry with Lance Stephenson in the starting lineup?
Highlight Wins: Chicago, @Brooklyn, Cleveland
Upcoming Week: @Chicago, @New York Knicks, Philadelphia, Minnesota
2. San Antonio Spurs (8-1)
Other than a two point win over the Golden State Warriors, the Spurs won every other game last week by a margin 22 points, including a 31 point win over the New York Knicks. In their playoff rematch with the Warriors, Tony Parker did not play nor did Steph Curry. It's business as usual for Coach Pop and the boys.
Highlight Wins: Golden State, @New York Knicks, @Philadelphia
Upcoming Week: @Memphis, Cleveland
3. Los Angeles Clippers (6-3)
The Clippers bounced back from a road loss to the Miami Heat with three straight wins over Western Conference playoff teams. The are ranked first in the league for points per game, but next to last for defense. Not a good recipe for the playoffs, but Doc Rivers has 73 more games to work it out. Now, if they can only keep Matt Barnes off of Twitter...
Highlight Wins: @Houston, Minnesota, OKC Thunder
Upcoming Week: Brooklyn, @Minnesota, @OKC Thunder
4. Golden State Warriors (6-3)
A pretty up and down week for the Warriors. They started with two straight road losses and ended with two straight home wins. High drama in the bay when Andre Igoudala bonded with his new fans by hitting a game-winning shot over Serge Ibaka. I say Andre smile hard for the first time ever during his postgame interview. Their losses without Steph Curry raise questions about the health of his ankles. Was it a precautionary move to sit him now or will this become a bigger issue like last year?
Highlight Wins: OKC Thunder
Upcoming Week: @Los Angeles Lakers
5. Miami Heat (5-3)
I can the see the comments starting to pile up now from the Heat faithful. The bar for the team is set so high that a home loss to Boston, even though Jeff Green's buzzer beater was spectacular, is a sign that things need to improve for the team on the defensive end. Even King James had to comment to the media about the Heat's subpar play on defense. With all three losses against the Eastern Conference, maybe playing a Western Conference team reminds them of The Finals.
Highlight Wins: Los Angeles Clippers
Upcoming Week: Dallas
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
7. Portland Trailblazers
8. Houston Rockets
9. Philadelphia 76ers
10. Chicago Bulls
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