| 23 February 2009
Week 18 Power Rankings
1. Los Angeles Lakers | Record: 46-10 | Previous Rank: 1st | Last Week: 4-0
Upcoming Schedule: at OKC, PHX, at DEN, at PHX
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Lamar Odom is averaging 16 rebounds per game to go with his 19 points and 55% shooting from the field. Is he finally realizing his potential in the triangle system? Nope. Just setting up Lakers fans for a deep depression when he poops on the court in June. -- Zach Harper
2. Cleveland Cavaliers | Record: 43-11 | Previous Rank: 4th | Last Week: 3-0
Upcoming Schedule: MEM, at HOU, at SA, at ATL, at MIA
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: The Cavs may secretly be the best team in the league. Fans were screaming that they didn't make any moves, but wasn't getting Delonte West back from injury trading absolutely nothing for a top-notch contributor? LeBron and Co should worry everyone in the East. -- Brandon Gallawa
3. Boston Celtics | Record: 46-12 | Previous Rank: 2nd | Last Week: 2-1
Upcoming Schedule: at LAC, IND, DET
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Celtics are averaging 121 points per game since Kevin Garnett went down with a knee injury. Clearly, KG has worn out his welcome and needs to be traded in the off-season. -- Zach Harper
4. San Antonio Spurs | Record: 37-17 | Previous Rank: 3rd | Last Week: 2-1
Upcoming Schedule: DAL, POR, CLE, at POR, at LAC
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Manu may miss 3 weeks with an ankle. This could kill some of the momentum that the Spurs have had since their Big 3 got healthy. Or maybe it will just lower everyone's expectations again, so they can go on another roll. -- Brandon Gallawa
5. Orlando Magic | Record: 41-14 | Previous Rank: 5th | Last Week: 3-1
Upcoming Schedule: at CHI, at NY, DET, at PHI
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Rafer Alston running the show so far is much better to watch than Anthony Johnson or any other NBA player who looks like Cole from Martin. Skip has 17 assists to five turnovers in his first two Disney World games. -- Zach Harper
6. Denver Nuggets | Record: 37-20 | Previous Rank: 6th | Last Week: 1-3
Upcoming Schedule: ATL, LAL, at IND
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: The Nuggets have now lost 3 in row and are really only this high because the teams behind them are falling off. It may be time to start worrying because Portland is right on their heels and the inevitable injury problems are starting to pop up. -- Brandon Gallawa
7. Portland Trailblazers | Record: 35-20 | Previous Rank: 7th | Last Week: 3-0
Upcoming Schedule: at HOU, at SA, at MIN, SA
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Say what you want about Greg Oden and this team's young players, but if GO isn't ready to go in the playoffs, this team isn't going to be able to truly compete. They need the depth of Pryzbilla coming off the bench to upset one of the big guns. -- Zach Harper
8. Atlanta Hawks | Record: 32-24 | Previous Rank: 13th | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: at DEN, MIA, CLE, at WSH
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: The Hawks are 1-3 so far on this current west coast swing, and the only win was against Sacramento. Add to that Joe Johnson's recent slide to mediocrity, and you have home court advantage in the first round. The East is bad. -- Brandon Gallawa
9. Houston Rockets | Record: 35-21 | Previous Rank: 9th | Last Week: 3-0
Upcoming Schedule: POR, CLE, at CHI, at MIN
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Does anybody else feel like this team will be better the rest of the season without T-Mac's malaise hanging around the team? Plus, having consistent Von Wafer minutes is just a morale boost. -- Zach Harper
10. Utah Jazz | Record: 34-23 | Previous Rank: 10th | Last Week: 4-0
Upcoming Schedule: at MIN, SAC, at GS
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko are back, and it is time for the West to be very, very afraid. Their depth is scary, but it becomes significantly scarier when that depth is actually coming off the bench. It is not out of the realm of possibility that the Jazz end up winning their division. In fact I'm calling it. -- Brandon Gallawa
11. New Orleans Hornets | Record: 33-22 | Previous Rank: 8th | Last Week: 3-2
Upcoming Schedule: DET, MIL, at NJ, at PHI
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: This was supposed to be a 60-win team this season that would challenge for the Western crown with James Posey added to the team. Instead, they're barely holding onto the eighth seed and could miss the playoffs entirely. Who's fault is it? Coach Byron Scott or GM Jeff Bower? -- Zach Harper
12. Phoenix Suns | Record: 31-24 | Previous Rank: 12th | Last Week: 3-1
Upcoming Schedule: CHA, at LAL, TOR, LAL
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: I want to thank the Suns for making this trade deadline the ultimate cock-tease. You dangle Ama'''''re out there and don't move him? You leave us with Brad Miller and John Salmons being the biggest names moved. You owe us one. -- Brandon Gallawa
13. Miami Heat | Record: 29-26 | Previous Rank: 15th | Last Week: 1-2
Upcoming Schedule: DET, at ATL, NY, CLE
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: 50 points for Dwyane Wade on just 30 shots is profusely efficient. Throw in the one turnover and it may have been his best regular season performance of his career. And yet the team is so crappy that they lost by 23. Sad. -- Zach Harper
14. Dallas Mavericks | Record: 33-22 | Previous Rank: 11th | Last Week: 2-1
Upcoming Schedule: at SA, MIL, OKC, TOR, at OKC
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: I'm going to start calling the Mavs David Blaine because they are doing it with smoke and mirrors. Jason Terry is going to miss significant time. Their leading rebounder is only pulling down 8/game. Their defense isn't very good. In spite of all these things, they are still 11 games over .500. -- Brandon Gallawa
15. Detroit Pistons | Record: 27-27 | Previous Rank: 14th | Last Week: 0-3
Upcoming Schedule: at MIA, at NOH, at ORL, at BOS
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Does anybody think that this team can win a first round series? Can they beat any of the top six teams (not including themselves) in a seven-game series in the East? -- Zach Harper
16. Philadelphia 76ers | Record: 27-28 | Previous Rank: 16th | Last Week: 0-4
Upcoming Schedule: at WSH, at NY, ORL, NOH
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: The Sixers are the type of team we as NBA fans should all get behind. They're scrappy and young. They have veteran leadership in Andre Miller. They distribute their scoring very well and have a bunch of good team guys. Most importantly they have Elton Brand in a suit, and who can't root for that? -- Brandon Gallawa
17. Chicago Bulls | Record: 25-31 | Previous Rank: 18th | Last Week: 2-1
Upcoming Schedule: ORL, at NJ, at WSH, HOU
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Larry Hughes is no longer on the team. That had to give them a better spot than last week just on principle. Congrats, Bulls fans. -- Zach Harper
18. Milwaukee Bucks | Record: 28-31 | Previous Rank: 19th | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: at DAL, at NOH, WSH
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Shouldn't the recent ridiculous play of Ramon Sessions have Bucks' fans pissed at Scott Skiles? It took Redd and Ridnour getting injured for Sessions to get some significant run. Better question: are there actually any Bucks' fans that would admit it? -- Brandon Gallawa
19. New Jersey Nets | Record: 25-32 | Previous Rank: 17th | Last Week: 1-3
Upcoming Schedule: CHI, NOH
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Devin Harris' crazy game-winner from Monday night. -- Zach Harper
20. New York Knicks | Record: 24-32 | Previous Rank: 20th | Last Week: 3-1
Upcoming Schedule: ORL, PHI, at MIA
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Apparently fans should be pushing for their favorite player to win the dunk contest in a scripted manner. Since winning, Nate Robinson has averaged 29 PPG, and the Knicks are 3-1 and averaging 115 points scored. Either way I still hate the little midget. -- Brandon Gallawa
21. Indiana Pacers | Record: 24-35 | Previous Rank: 22nd | Last Week: 3-2
Upcoming Schedule: MEM, at BOS, DEN
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: During Sunday's telecast on ABC, Stu Scott mentioned at halftime that Troy Murphy was one of the top five underrated players in the NBA. Well, maybe Stu should not just watch the box scores and see Murph try to play some defense. It's not underrated AT ALL. -- Zach Harper
22. Charlotte Bobcats | Record: 22-34 | Previous Rank: 21st | Last Week: 1-3
Upcoming Schedule: at PHX, at SAC, at GS, at LAC
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: The Bobcats have only topped the 100-point mark twice this month and needed overtime in Orlando and the atrocious defense of Washington to do so. Needless to say there is nothing to be excited about in Charlotte. -- Brandon Gallawa
23. Golden State Warriors | Record: 20-37 | Previous Rank: 25th | Last Week: 1-2
Upcoming Schedule: CHA, UTH
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Monta Ellis has played horribly (13.4 ppg, 13.5 fga, 39.8% fg) since he returned from his moped induced injury. But the Warriors with that added depth have thrived with a 7-6 record, their best stretch of the season. -- Zach Harper
24. Minnesota Timberwolves | Record: 18-37 | Previous Rank: 23rd | Last Week: 1-3
Upcoming Schedule: at TOR, UTH, POR, HOU
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: If Rashad McCants is cancer apparently Shelden Williams is the cure for cancer. Somebody alert the medical community. I think we may have a breakthrough. -- Brandon Gallawa
25. Toronto Raptors | Record: 22-36 | Previous Rank: 26th | Last Week: 1-2
Upcoming Schedule: MIN, at PHX, at DAL
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Let's quell that Andrea Bargnani is a bust talk. In the first two months of the season, Bargnani scored in single digits 16 times. Since December 31st, he's only had fewer than 10 points twice. His 18.9 points per game during that time frame isn't anything to scoff at either. His defense on the other hand... -- Zach Harper
26. Oklahoma City Thunder | Record: 13-43 | Previous Rank: 24th | Last Week: 0-3
Upcoming Schedule: LAL, at DAL, at MEM, DAL
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Well the Thunder has lost 5 in a row and is back in the mix for worst team in the league. On the bright side at least the team didn't introduce a mascot that will draw jeers and snickers for years to come. -- Brandon Gallawa
27. Washington Wizards | Record: 13-43 | Previous Rank: 28th | Last Week: 2-1
Upcoming Schedule: PHI, CHI, at MIL, ATL
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Already three wins this month. Last time that happened (January), they ended up with four. Yep, it's been that kind of season in the District. -- Zach Harper
28. Memphis Grizzlies | Record: 15-40 | Previous Rank: 27th | Last Week: 0-3
Upcoming Schedule: at CLE, at IND, OKC
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Normally I'd drop the Grizzlies even further because of their loss to an atrociously bad Kings team. Fortunately for them the Kings are far too bad to lose the bottom spot. -- Brandon Gallawa
29. Los Angeles Clippers | Record: 14-44 | Previous Rank: 29th | Last Week: 1-3
Upcoming Schedule: BOS, at SAC, CHA, SA
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Eric Gordon is being forgotten in this rookie class. 18.3 ppg and 45% shooting as a starter this year. Reliable, efficient scoring as a rookie guard is always something to admire. -- Zach Harper
30. Sacramento Kings | Record: 12-45 | Previous Rank: 30th | Last Week: 1-3
Upcoming Schedule: CHA, LAC, at UTH
Potentially Inflammatory Comments: Salary dumps that actually bring on more salary overall are the new build your team for long-term success. I think Geoff Petrie is just ahead of the curve on this one. -- Brandon Gallawa
Every Tuesday during the regular season, Talkhoops.net will update the power rankings based on team production, record, record from the previous week, injuries to the team, and overall talent on the team. If your team has dropped siginificantly from week to week then you probably are rooting for a pretty bad team. If your team is shooting up the power rankings towards the top spot, then you are probably either rooting for a pretty good team or jumping on the bandwagon of one.
The rankings are based solely on the opinions of Zach Harper and Brandon Gallawa. If you happen to disagree, you can email Zach and Brandon and let them know how dumb they are by sending an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . If you think that Zach and Brandon are geniuses with their rankings and want to stroke their egos, email them at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Remember to check back for updated rankings every Tuesday morning when the regular season begins.
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