It’s the Week 16 NBA Power Rankings.
By James Glenn
Feb 22, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginobili (20) high fives center Boris Diaw (33) after the play against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeats the San Antonio Spurs 107-101 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
| It’s the the week 16 NBA Power Rankings on Dunking with Wolves. JJ Glenn breaks down every NBA team this week and throughout the NBA season. | |||
| This Week | Last Week | Team | Notes |
| 1 | 1 | San Antonio | The Spurs are 18-2 over their last 20 games, and they’re 8-2 over their last 10. They’ve won their last 10 homes games. The Spurs are also -.3 behind the top EDIFF team in the NBA. Their 5th best in OEFF and have the 3rd best DEFF in the NBA. The only question about this team has yet to be answered, can this group get over the past few years of playoff woes. |
| 2 | 2 | Heat | The reigning champs look to be hitting their stride. They have the 3rd best EDIFF in the NBA. James is playing at a level that you need to watch at any chance possible. Bosh is playing at a high level. No size acquired at the trade deadline, still leaves this team wih their most glaring concern. |
| 3 | 3 | Oklahoma City | The Thunder are the top over all DEFF team in the league and are 6-4 in their last 10. The offense continues to be their strength. Head coach Scotty Brooks is working to get the rotation paired down. Westbrook has been playing at one of the highest in his young career. |
| 4 | 4 | L.A. Clippers | The Clippers are possibly the deepest team in the NBA, problem is that super talented bench is one of the biggest reason’s they are here. Problem is the bench doesn’t win games when it comes to the playoffs. |
| 5 | 8 | Memphis | The Grizzlies defense continues to be the calling card of this team. The offense is getting just enough production that this team is outscoring opponents by a +3.78 per game margin. Can the offense produce points when it matters is the real question? |
| 6 | 7 | Indiana | Paul George is the Pacers 1A, will Danny Granger be able to come back to play Robin? If the Pacers can get the 2 of them to play together, this team looks to challenge the Heat in the east. |
| 7 | 5 | Denver | While the Nuggets have been 6-4 in their last 10, they are currently 5th in the West. As this teams SOS continues to even out, this team will be making a run at home court advantage in the 1st round, and they have one of the best home court advantages in the NBA. |
| 8 | 6 | New York Knicks | The Knicks have gone 5-5 over their last 10. They are proving to be another example of when the outside shot isn’t falling, they struggle to win games. The Knicks schedule is going to be getting tougher, and this old team could continue to keep falling. The lack of defense + old age = a team not built for the push to the playoffs. |
| 9 | 11 | Brooklyn | Brooklyn has the star power, and they have talent. History has shown a team with so many talented players takes time to build chemistry. Will they be able to get it together come playoff time? |
| 10 | 10 | Houston | The Rockets were the most active team at the trade deadline, will all of the moves prove to slow down such a high scoring offense? The Rockets are 8th & will have to continue to play at a high level. Even if they do, this team isn’t built for this season. |
| 11 | 9 | Chicago | No Derrick Rose this season will ensure the Bulls are a first round out. The defense is one of the best, but if they can’t score, this team is waiting for next season. |
| 12 | 12 | Boston | The Celtics are getting surprising play from Terrence Williams gives in his brief time. Should he continue to provide some stability for the 2nd unit, and they can get scoring from Jordan Crawford, the Celtic should get out of the first round. If they aren’t able to pick up a big before the playoffs this team might not make it out of the first round. |
| 13 | 15 | Atlanta | Danny Ferry seems to be content knowing he can make the playoffs this season. But, making the playoffs is all this current roster will do. The real story will come this off season. |
| 14 | 13 | Golden State | The Warriors have been 4-6 over their last 10. This team is hitting a major wall. They have had the 3rd most difficult SOS in the NBA. The Warriors will need to amp up their play if they are to do anything in the playoffs. |
| 15 | 14 | Utah | The Jazz are still a -.09 in point difference per game. With no moves at the deadline, the Jazz’s offense is going to have to play at a much higher level if they are to avoid being a 1st round contender. |
| 16 | 16 | Milwaukee | The Bucks are the 8th seed in the East and getting outscored over a point a game. It’s not the offense that is the problem, it is the defense that is the issue. If the defense isn’t able to get any better, this roster is in jeopardy of not making the playoffs. |
| 17 | 18 | L.A. Lakers | Do the Lakers have enough time? Can they get the production from Howard they were hoping for? Can Howard play a sustained period of time at a high level? So many questions, and almost all of them revolve around Dwight. |
| 18 | 19 | Dallas | The Mavericks have won 3 straight, but they are 6-4 in their last 10. At 4.5 game behind, the Mavs will need to play even better if they are to make a playoff run. |
| 19 | 17 | Portland | The Blazers have some nice pieces in place. Problem is, they just don’t enough. They have some cap room though, and will look correct that in the off season. |
| 20 | 22 | Toronto | The Raptors look to be making a push for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. They are 5 games out, but have been showing life since the trade of Rudy Gay. |
| 21 | 20 | Philadelphia | The 76ers without Andrew Bynum have never had a chance to show what this team can do. They are .500 over their last 10, and continued to lose group to the charging Raptors. |
| 22 | 23 | Cleveland | The Cavs are getting a chance to see a star being born in Kyrie Irving. With a lot of young talent, this team is built for years to come, not this season though. |
| 23 | 21 | Minnesota | The Wolves injuries and SOS are catching up to this team. Rick Adelman has said he still thinks it can make the playoffs. With Love and Budinger not do back till sometime in March, the team will need to start making noise without them. |
| 24 | 25 | Detroit | The Pistons seem to be getting solidified with Jose in the fold. The young Pistons big men are the direction of the future, but there are a lot of pieces still missing. This team is a work in progress |
| 25 | 24 | Washington D.C | The Wizards have been a completely different team since Walls return. They have been playing close to .500 since his return. If they are all healthy next year, this team will not be in the same place in the power rankings. |
| 26 | 26 | New Orleans | The Hornets have lost 3 straight and are 4-6 over their last 10. The defense isn’t bad, it’s the offense that seems to be the biggest issue for this team. When Gordon isn’t healthy this team really suffers. |
| 27 | 27 | Sacramento | The Kings with the moves made prior to the trade deadline is just as confusing as to what the future of this team is going to be. |
| 28 | 28 | Phoenix | The Suns are just not good. There is really nothing else to say about them. The entire organization needs an overhaul. |
| 29 | 29 | Orlando | The Magic have said to be building for the future. While they got young pieces in return for Redick, they got no draft picks. I’m not so sure they won that deal. |
| 30 | 30 | Charlotte | The ‘Cats are 2-8 over their last 10. This team needs a lot, Rich Cho has his work cut out for him as this team moves into the off season. |