| 20 January 2009
Week 13 Power Rankings
1. Orlando Magic | Record: 33-8 | Previous Rank: 4th | Last Week: 3-0
Upcoming Schedule: BOS, at MIA
Comments: I'm still not crazy about this placement but I have to give them their due for now. But isn't this similar to the '04-'05 Seattle Supersonics team that won 52 games out of nowhere and everyone assumed they were much better than they actually were? I never liked that team either. -- Zach Harper
2. Los Angeles Lakers | Record: 32-8 | Previous Rank: 2nd | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: at LAC, WSH, SA
Comments: The Lakers lost to San Antonio on a pretty fluky call, but this seems to be the match-up to watch come playoff time in the West. -- Brandon Gallawa
3. Boston Celtics | Record: 34-9 | Previous Rank: 3rd | Last Week: 3-0
Upcoming Schedule: at MIA, at ORL, DAL
Comments: Is Brian Scalabrine the most improved player in-season? 1.9 ppg as a reserve player. 9.2 ppg as a starter in Kendrick Perkins' absence. I smell hardware coming his way. -- Zach Harper
4. Cleveland Cavaliers | Record: 31-8 | Previous Rank: 1st | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: at POR, at GS, at UTA
Comments: The Cavs' inability to win on the road against significantly worse clubs is worrisome, but their home court dominance has been very impressive. -- Brandon Gallawa
5. San Antonio Spurs | Record: 27-13 | Previous Rank: 5th | Last Week: 3-1
Upcoming Schedule: IND, NJ, at LAL
Comments: This team is a solid big man away from being a contender for the Western Conference crown. They're a big man and a better wing reserve away from being a title contender in the NBA. But how can they get those players without any real trade assets? -- Zach Harper
6. New Orleans Hornets | Record: 25-13 | Previous Rank: 6th | Last Week: 3-1
Upcoming Schedule: NJ, at MIN, PHI
Comments: This team is so frustrating. I'm waiting for Chris Paul to rip Peja's heart out and show it to all his teammates and say "Who wants to be next?" -- Brandon Gallawa
7. Denver Nuggets | Record: 27-15 | Previous Rank: 7th | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: SAC, UTA
Comments: Just like I haven't warmed up to the Orlando Magic as real contenders in this league, I haven't warmed up to Nene as a legit, good player in this league. I'm giving him the Andrew Bynum treatment and reserving acceptance until I see more than 40 good games. If he does this next year, I'm sold. -- Zach Harper
8. Utah Jazz | Record: 24-17 | Previous Rank: 12th | Last Week: 1-2
Upcoming Schedule: MIN, at HOU, CLE, at DEN
Comments: The Jazz and Rockets have overcome injuries to key players and still are winning the majority of their games, but good teams shouldn't get demolished by OKC. -- Brandon Gallawa
9. Houston Rockets | Record: 26-16 | Previous Rank: 11th | Last Week: 2-1
Upcoming Schedule: UTA, at IND, at DET, at NY
Comments: During the month of January, Von Wafer is averaging 16.4 points per game and hasn't had a game under double digit points. This has led most of the league to ask, "Who in the hell is Von Wafer?" -- Zach Harper
10. Portland Trailblazers | Record: 25-16 | Previous Rank: 9th | Last Week: 2-1
Upcoming Schedule: CLE, WSH, at LAC
Comments: Who cares what the Blazers have done against the bottom-feeders when they get blown out by the Lakers, Hornets and Philly? -- Brandon Gallawa
11. Phoenix Suns | Record: 23-16 | Previous Rank: 10th | Last Week: 2-3
Upcoming Schedule: at NY, at CHA, at ATL, at WSH
Comments: Here's why +/- is a ridiculously superfluous statistic in basketball. In Sunday's win over the Raptors, Steve Nash had 18 assists and was just a +2 for the day. -- Zach Harper
12. Atlanta Hawks | Record: 24-16 | Previous Rank: 13th | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: at CHI, MIL, PHX, at MIA
Comments: The Hawks could not be missing Horford more. Their rebounding and interior defense has been incredibly suspect since his injury. -- Brandon Gallawa
13. Detroit Pistons | Record: 23-17 | Previous Rank: 8th | Last Week: 1-4
Upcoming Schedule: TOR, DAL, HOU
Comments: The Pistons have 10 of their next 13 games at the Palace at Auburn Hills. That's a good thing because they're just one game over .500 on the road and haven't scored 100 points in regulation on the road since November 14th against the Lakers. -- Zach Harper
14. Dallas Mavericks | Record: 24-17 | Previous Rank: 15th | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: at MIN, at MIL, at HOU, at OKC
Comments: The Mavs are a part of what I call the Frustrating 4. Dallas, Detroit, Atlanta & Phoenix are so inconsistent and are quite adept at 4-game losing and winning streaks. Ugh! -- Brandon Gallawa
15. Miami Heat | Record: 22-18 | Previous Rank: 14th | Last Week: 3-1
Upcoming Schedule: BOS, ORL, ATL
Comments: If they come away from this week with one win, then it's a very successful week for this team. If they come away with two wins or more, then I'm calling Dwyane Wade the MVP. -- Zach Harper
16. Philadelphia 76ers | Record: 20-21 | Previous Rank: 16th | Last Week: 3-1
Upcoming Schedule: NY, at NOH
Comments: The Sixers are rolling and back in the playoff picture. Maybe they should use Elton Brand off the bench when he comes back. -- Brandon Gallawa
17. Milwaukee Bucks | Record: 20-24| Previous Rank: 18th | Last Week: 1-3
Upcoming Schedule: DAL, at ATL, SAC, MIN
Comments: Is Michael Redd back to actually mattering in this league? People don't realize how bad he had gotten but his 25.6 ppg in the month of January are bringing him back. -- Zach Harper
18. New Jersey Nets | Record: 19-22 | Previous Rank: 17th | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: at NOH, at SA, at MEM, at OKC
Comments: The Nets are falling off the pace just like clockwork. On the brighter side, Brook Lopez has been ballin' of late. I don't know if that is good or not. -- Brandon Gallawa
19. Chicago Bulls | Record: 18-24 | Previous Rank: 19th | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: ATL, TOR, at MIN
Comments: Rookie wall for Derrick Rose anyone? Even though his assists are improved for the month of January at 6.9 per game, his scoring, shooting, three-point shooting, and steals have all taken significant hits since the New Year. -- Zach Harper
20. New York Knicks | Record: 16-24 | Previous Rank: 23rd | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: PHX, MEM, at PHI, HOU
Comments: The Raptors have lost their last 6 in a row by a combined 30 points. Calderon has missed 9 of the last 10 games, so that might have something to do with it. -- Brandon Gallawa
21. Charlotte Bobcats | Record: 16-25 | Previous Rank: 22nd | Last Week: 2-1
Upcoming Schedule: MEM, PHX, at IND
Comments: I don't want to get overzealous about the play of Boris Diaw on the Bobs but his averages since the trade are 13.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. That's not bad for a French guy not named Tony Parker Longoria. -- Zach Harper
22. Minnesota Timberwolves | Record: 13-26 | Previous Rank: 24th | Last Week: 2-1
Upcoming Schedule: at UTA, NOH, CHI, at MIL
Comments: The T-Wolves are Hansel-hot right now. They're going to love that 11th pick. -- Brandon Gallawa
23. Toronto Raptors | Record: 16-27 | Previous Rank: 20th | Last Week: 0-4
Upcoming Schedule: at DET, at CHI, SAC
Comments: Are they trying to get basketball moved away completely from Canada? Because the last time a Canadian team played this poorly in the NBA, they moved from Vancouver to Memphis. -- Zach Harper
24. Indiana Pacers | Record: 15-26 | Previous Rank: 25th | Last Week: 2-1
Upcoming Schedule: at SA, HOU, CHA
Comments: Danny Granger can do no wrong, and his shot against the Hornets was the super-clutch play of the game until Paul ripped the Pacers' hearts out 2 seconds later. -- Brandon Gallawa
25. Golden State Warriors | Record: 13-29 | Previous Rank: 21st | Last Week: 2-1
Upcoming Schedule: OKC, CLE, LAC
Comments: It's a shame they couldn't pull out that triple overtime game against the Kings. It was one of the best games I've seen in years because both teams played extremely well in clutch moments. -- Zach Harper
26. Memphis Grizzlies | Record: 11-29 | Previous Rank: 26th | Last Week: 0-3
Upcoming Schedule: at CHA, at NY, NJ
Comments: In their last 16 games, the Grizzlies have two separate 4-game losing streaks and a 6-game losing streak. For all you math majors, they've only won 2 in their last 16. -- Brandon Gallawa
27. Sacramento Kings | Record: 10-31 | Previous Rank: 28th | Last Week: 1-2
Upcoming Schedule: at DEN, WSH, at MIL, at TOR
Comments: If this team had lost against the Warriors, I would have mandated that they be the last team on this list. And the three-point defense against Orlando was just embarrassing. I mean, I understand the first 21, but to give one up to Jeremy Richardson? C'mon! -- Zach Harper
28. Oklahoma City Thunder | Record: 8-34 | Previous Rank: 30th | Last Week: 2-1
Upcoming Schedule: at GS, at LAC, NJ
Comments: Sure the Thunder are at the bottom of the league in win percentage, but they are 5-5 in their last 10 and beat Detroit and Utah last week. -- Brandon Gallawa
29. Washington Wizards | Record: 8-32 | Previous Rank: 27th | Last Week: 1-2
Upcoming Schedule: at SAC, at LAL, at POR, PHX
Comments: I tried for 15 minutes to try and come up with something nice to say about this team. Then another 10 minutes to figure out something interesting. And all I could come up with was the previous two sentences and this one. -- Zach Harper
30. Los Angeles Clippers | Record: 9-31 | Previous Rank: 29th | Last Week: 1-2
Upcoming Schedule: LAL, OKC, at GS, POR
Comments: The Clippers are without question the worst team in the league, and there shouldn't be an argument. They've only won one game in the last month and now Baron is being injured Baron. -- 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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