| 12 January 2009
Week 12 Power Rankings
1. Cleveland Cavaliers | Record: 29-6 | Previous Rank: 2nd | Last Week: 2-0
Upcoming Schedule: at MEM, at CHI, NOH, at LAL
Comments: You have to assume in the playoffs that LeBron is going to score 40 points. And you have to assume that the Cavs won't give up more than 90 points per game. So can you keep the rest of the Cavs players to under 50? -- Zach Harper
2. Los Angeles Lakers | Record: 30-6 | Previous Rank: 1st | Last Week: 3-1
Upcoming Schedule: at HOU, at SA, ORL, CLE
Comments: This is where Lakers' fans start emailing us about how moronic we are, but they just haven't been nearly as impressive as the Cavs. -- Brandon Gallawa
3. Boston Celtics | Record: 31-9 | Previous Rank: 3rd | Last Week: 2-3
Upcoming Schedule: NJ, at NJ, PHX
Comments: According to Brandon Gallawa, the way to get off the snide is to play the Raptors in back to back games. But with Kendrick Perkins missing a week, a starting Brian Scalabrine could mean further doom for the Celtics. -- Zach Harper
4. Orlando Magic | Record: 30-8 | Previous Rank: 4th | Last Week: 4-0
Upcoming Schedule: at SAC, at LAL, at DEN
Comments: The Magic had as good a week as any team this season last week and they are still under the radar. Can we start calling it a Northeast Coast Bias? -- Brandon Gallawa
5. San Antonio Spurs | Record: 24-12 | Previous Rank: 5th | Last Week: 1-1
Upcoming Schedule: LAL, at PHI, at CHI, at CHA
Comments: Dammit, Tim Duncan is the MVP thus far. Look at what they have and where they are and the injuries they started out with for the first month. Tell me this guy isn't the front-runner! -- Zach Harper
6. New Orleans Hornets | Record: 22-12 | Previous Rank: 7th | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: at DAL, at CLE, at DET, IND
Comments: The Hornets may be the most frustrating team in the league. Blow out the Lakers then get blown out by the Jazz. -- Brandon Gallawa
7. Denver Nuggets | Record: 25-13 | Previous Rank: 8th | Last Week: 1-1
Upcoming Schedule: DAL, PHX, ORL, at HOU
Comments: Uh oh. A 1-1 record since Carmelo's injury isn't something to be afraid of but the fact that they've lost 1.5 games to the Blazers in the standings. But never fear, the stonehands of Johan Petro have been acquired. -- Zach Harper
8. Detroit Pistons | Record: 22-13 | Previous Rank: 11th | Last Week: 1-2
Upcoming Schedule: CHA, at IND, at OKC, NOH, at MEM
Comments: The Pistons are somewhere between the 4th and 6th best team in the East which shouldn't have them swelling with pride. At least the have AI's 41% shooting to hold them up. -- Brandon Gallawa
9. Portland Trailblazers | Record: 23-14 | Previous Rank: 9th | Last Week: 3-0
Upcoming Schedule: at PHI, at NJ, at CHA, MIL
Comments: I received this email from team president Larry Miller that stated, "Mr. Harper, if you don't move us up in the power rankings for week 12, we will take legal action." I'm calling his bluff. They stay at 9. -- Zach Harper
10. Phoenix Suns | Record: 21-13 | Previous Rank: 10th | Last Week: 2-1
Upcoming Schedule: ATL, at DEN, MIN, at TOR, at BOS
Comments: The Suns can score with the best of them. Unfortunately their opponents always look like "the best of them" because their defense is wretched. -- Brandon Gallawa
11. Houston Rockets | Record: 24-15 | Previous Rank: 15th | Last Week: 3-1
Upcoming Schedule: LAL, MIA, DEN
Comments: I have shocking news. T-Mac is out for another two weeks. But this time they're conditioning him to put his injured knee in better position when he does finally come back. That's something that should have happened months ago. -- Zach Harper
12. Utah Jazz | Record: 23-15 | Previous Rank: 14th | Last Week: 3-0
Upcoming Schedule: at OKC, at MEM, at DAL
Comments: The Jazz are already scary, but they'll be giving teams nightmares if they ever get healthy. -- Brandon Gallawa
13. Atlanta Hawks | Record: 22-14 | Previous Rank: 6th | Last Week: 0-3
Upcoming Schedule: at PHX, at LAC, at GS, TOR
Comments: It's okay to lose to the Magic by four at home because Orlando is one of the best road teams of the past two seasons. But losing by 34 in Orlando the following game, and the game wasn't even that close, is embarrassing. -- Zach Harper
14. Miami Heat | Record: 19-17 | Previous Rank: 12th | Last Week: 1-2
Upcoming Schedule: at MIN, at MIL, at HOU, at OKC
Comments: Any team that needs overtime to beat Sacramento for their only win in the last 4 games shouldn't be anywhere near the top ten. -- Brandon Gallawa
15. Dallas Mavericks | Record: 22-15 | Previous Rank: 13th | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: at DEN, NOH, UTA, at PHI
Comments: The Mavericks almost traded for Raymond Felton in an effort to confuse the entire world. Thankfully for Mavericks fans, D.J. Augustin went down with an injury and the deal is now "dormant." -- Zach Harper
16. Philadelphia 76ers | Record: 17-20 | Previous Rank: 20th | Last Week: 4-0
Upcoming Schedule: POR, SA, at NY, DAL
Comments: Apparently the key to success is getting rid of Elton Brand. The Sixers have won 4 in a row with Williams, Iguodala and Miller playing their best ball of the season. -- Brandon Gallawa
17. New Jersey Nets | Record: 19-19| Previous Rank: 16th | Last Week: 2-1
Upcoming Schedule: at BOS, POR, BOS
Comments: The Knicks are .500 after 38 games. I wasn't sure that they'd win 19 games all season long. Give Larry Frank some credit for adapting to his roster. -- Zach Harper
18. Milwaukee Bucks | Record: 19-21 | Previous Rank: 18th | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: MIA, at SAC, at LAC, at POR
Comments: I love Michael Redd, but even I would refuse to watch the first round of the playoffs if the weasel their way into the 8th seed. -- Brandon Gallawa
19. Chicago Bulls | Record: 16-22 | Previous Rank: 19th | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: at TOR, CLE, SA, at NY
Comments: Kirk Hinrich is back. Luol Deng is back. The All-Star Weekend is back. The Dunk Contest is back. Magic Johnson saying things are back is back. -- Zach Harper
20. Toronto Raptors | Record: 16-23 | Previous Rank: 17th | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: CHI, at IND, PHX, at ATL
Comments: Jay Triano is now 8-13 as the Raptors' head coach. The hope of this team making a run should be tempered. -- Brandon Gallawa
21. Golden State Warriors | Record: 11-28 | Previous Rank: 25th | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: SAC, ATL, WSH
Comments: If this Warriors team played back in the 1980s, they'd be giving up 147 points per game. It's a mathematical fact. -- Zach Harper
22. Charlotte Bobcats | Record: 14-24 | Previous Rank: 24th | Last Week: 2-2
Upcoming Schedule: at DET, POR, SA
Comments: The Bobcats went 2-2 with a win against the Celtics last week. They're baby stepping. They're doing the work. -- Brandon Gallawa
23. New York Knicks | Record: 14-22 | Previous Rank: 23rd | Last Week: 1-3
Upcoming Schedule: WSH, at WSH, PHI, CHI
Comments: (Giggling to myself) -- Zach Harper
24. Minnesota T'wolves | Record: 11-25| Previous Rank: 26th | Last Week: 3-0
Upcoming Schedule: MIA, at PHX, at LAC
Comments: T-Wolves' fans (Read: Zach Harper) should be pissed. They've won 7 of their last 10 and are moving further down in the lottery. -- Brandon Gallawa
25. Indiana Pacers | Record: 13-25| Previous Rank: 21st | Last Week: 1-3
Upcoming Schedule: DET, TOR, at NOH
Comments: If Wilt Chamberlain got to play against this frontcourt, he'd average 345 points per game and he'd sleep with Jeff Foster if he wanted to. -- Zach Harper
26. Memphis Grizzlies | Record: 11-26 | Previous Rank: 22nd | Last Week: 0-3
Upcoming Schedule: CLE, UTA, DET
Comments: I'm an optimist, so I hate pointing out how many games a team has lost. Instead I prefer to think that at least they have won 2 of their last 13. -- Brandon Gallawa
27. Washington Wizards | Record: 7-30 | Previous Rank: 28th | Last Week: 0-5
Upcoming Schedule: at NY, NY, at GS
Comments: Need something to be happy about Wizards fans? Nick Young is averaging 23 points per game on 69.7% shooting from the field. Other than that.....eesh. -- Zach Harper
28. Sacramento Kings | Record: 9-29 | Previous Rank: 27th | Last Week: 1-2
Upcoming Schedule: ORL, at GS, MIL
Comments: Did Pete Carril commit some sort of crime? Is this why they are punishing such a nice old man by forcing him to watch the Kings play every night? -- Brandon Gallawa
29. Los Angeles Clippers | Record: 8-29 | Previous Rank: 29th | Last Week: 0-4
Upcoming Schedule: ATL, MIL, MIN
Comments: They've lose 11 in a row but at least they didn't lose to the Wolves by 42 points this week. -- Zach Harper
30. Oklahoma City Thunder | Record: 6-33 | Previous Rank: 30th | Last Week: 2-5
Upcoming Schedule: UTA, DET, MIA
Comments: The Thunder have already matched their monthly wins in Nov and Dec through 5 games in Jan, and Jeff Green and Kevin Durant are playing extremely well. -- 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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