NBA Power Rankings

NBA Power Rankings – Cavs finally take top spot from Lakers
There’s a new No.1 team in the NBA, but not by much. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers will probably fight for the top spot for the rest of the year, and NBA betting players will have a tough time deciding which team to go with in their offshore sportsbook.

1. (2) Cleveland Cavaliers (50-13): They really should have beaten the ailing Celtics at home last week, but an 8-2 mark in their last 10 was enough to move them up.

2. (1) Los Angeles Lakers (51-13): They were thoroughly hammered in Portland, and Trevor Ariza’s foul on Rudy Fernandez was one of the dirtiest plays of the season.

3. (5) San Antonio Spurs (43-20): Ginobili’s still hurt, Duncan’s not at 10 per cent, yet they carry a three-game winning streak into Thursday’s showdown with the Lakers.

4. (4) Orlando Magic (47-17): Beating the Celtics in Boston was a solid win, but let’s see how they fare when the defending champions get all their players back.

5. (3) Boston Celtics (49-16): The Celtics are getting pummeled on the injury front and their main goal for the rest of the season is to get KG and Rondo healthy.

6. (8) Utah Jazz (41-24): Their winning streak was snapped at 12 in Atlanta, and they head to Orlando and Miami next. The Jazz need to win on the road to have good sportsbook odds this year.

7. (11) New Orleans Hornets (40-23): Don’t look now, but the Hornets are getting hot at the right time of year. Watching Chris Paul play is like watching a maestro conducting an orchestra.

8. (10) Miami Heat (35-29): 36.0 points, 11.0 assists, 6.0 boards, and a couple of steals in his last five games. It’s safe to say D-Wade just thrust himself into the midst of the MVP race. The Heat couldn’t beat a high school team without him.

9. (9) Houston Rockets (42-24): They even beat a decent team (Denver) on the road, but the teams ahead of them are just hot right now. If they lose in Charlotte on Friday, they could drop.

10. (12) Atlanta Hawks (37-28): After losing in Charlotte, the Hawks rebounded with home wins over Detroit, New Orleans and Utah. A seven-game homestand continues this week, and the Hawks should split it, at the very least.

11. (13) Dallas Mavericks (40-25): Just when you count the Mavs out, they go on a three-game winning streak, including victories at Phoenix and Portland. A game in Golden State and a Sunday showdown with the Lakers loom.

12. (6) Portland Trail Blazers (40-24): Narrowly beating Minnesota, then pounding the Lakers, then losing to Dallas, all at home? Inconsistency is why the Trail Blazers drop six spots, and why NBA betting players should be sketchy on them.

13. (7) Denver Nuggets (41-25): Three straight losses and a win over Oklahoma City gets no love around here. If they lose to the Clippers at home on Saturday, start reaching for the panic button.NBA betting chances?

14. (14) Detroit Pistons (32-31): The Pistons were poised to move up……and then they lost to the Knicks at home on Wednesday. But they’re playing better and will still be a tough first-round out.

15. (16) Philadelphia 76ers (31-31): Back-to-back games against the Lakers and Suns on the road next week could be the difference between the playoffs and, well, no NBA betting odds for the postseason.

16. (17) Milwaukee Bucks (30-37)
17. (15) Phoenix Suns (34-30)
18. (18) Chicago Bulls (29-36)
19. (20) New Jersey Nets (28-36)
20. (19) Charlotte Bobcats (28-36)
21. (22) Oklahoma City Thunder (18-47)
22. (21) Indiana Pacers (28-38)
23. (23) New York Knicks (27-37)
24. (24) Golden State Warriors (22-42)
25. (25) Toronto Raptors (23-42)
26. (26) Memphis Grizzlies (16-47)
27. (27) Minnesota Timberwolves (19-45)
28. (29) Washington Wizards (15-50)
29. (30) Sacramento Kings (14-50)
30. (28) Los Angeles Clippers (15-49)

Not much change near the bottom, but the Thunder keep moving up because they’re the most entertaining bad team in the league. Also…..something needs to be done about the Clippers. New owner, new coach, new GM, new everything. They’re a disgrace, and probably wouldn’t even have good March Madness betting odds.