The NBA is less than a week away from becoming the only basketball left to watch. The NBA season officially ends following the games on Wednesday, April 16 -- exactly two weeks from tonight. This is the second to last version of CheChe23's NBA Power Rankings, read my comments about each NBA team and then make your own.
BIGGEST RISE: Denver Nuggets from 13th to 9th.
BIGGEST FALL: Philadelphia from 10th to 13th.
(Editor's note: "LW" indicates each team's ranking from CheChe23's previous week. —DC)
| CheChe23's Power Rankings: April 2, 2008 | |||
| TEAM | RK (LW) | W-L | COMMENT |
 | 1 (2) | 58-21 | Boston could and should enter the playoffs with a 12 game winning streak and the No. 1 overall seed in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics started the year as the expected 2008 NBA championship and they'll enter the post season with the same expectations. There is no question we will eventually see the overly awaited Celtics/Pistons Eastern conference championship series, but will it go seven games? |
 | 2 (1) | 51-22 | Just when I thought that the Hornets were about to lose last night to Orlando, they put together a 30-23 third quarter and outlasted the Magic in the fourth quarter thanks to 19 points and 12 assists from Chris Paul. The schedule isn't favorable, but the Hornets are capable of winning every game they have left. The Dallas/New Orleans game on the last day of the season might be a preview of a potential opening round playoff series. |
 | 3 (3) | 53-21 | As soon as Flip Saunders saw Minnesota on the schedule he deactivated Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton. Not because he was scared of the team he once coached to the Western conference finals but because Saunders admits he's settling for second place in the East and his guys might need a rest. Detroit has played eight sets of back-to-back games since the All-Star break and they finish the final eight regular season games playing two sets of back-to-backs. Oh, and without the big three, the Pistons still won. |
 | 4 (8) | 51-23 | Wouldn't it be fitting if after all is said and done the Spurs sat atop the Western Conference? If they can finish the regular season unblemished, they'll do just that. But that might be easier said than done with Portland, Phoenix, Los Angeles and two games against Utah still remaining on the schedule. |
 | 5 (6) | 51-24 | Before last night's loss to Denver, the Suns had won 11 of their last 13 and the only losses were to the top of the East (@ DET, @ BOS). Amare Stoudemire has emerged as an MVP candidate with his extended role since Shaq replaced Shawn Marion. Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl said it best following his teams loss to the Suns Monday night, "The window of his offensive opportunities has grown since Shaq has gotten here," Karl said. "Nash and D'Antoni have done a good job of changing their offense in a subtle way, and Stoudemire seems to be the guy that's gained the most touches and advantages." |
 | 6 (5) | 49-26 | There is a possibility that the Jazz will enter the playoffs as the fourth seed and have home court advantage in the first round, but the fifth overall seed could have a better record. Since Utah will have the best record in the Northwest division, they will be granted homecourt advantage. This means that the loser of the Suns and Lakers battle for the Pacific may end up with a better record than Utah, but will have to play on the road in round one. Kicker stat: Utah has the best record at home and the most home victories in the NBA. |
 | 7 (4) | 50-24 | If you just read my Jazz comment than you understand the importance of winning the Pacific division. The way things are going right now have the Suns moving one way and the Lakers going the other. Kobe needs to lock up his bid for MVP by stepping up in the Lakers final eight games. Maybe Phil Jackson's team meditation session will do the trick or maybe Ira Newble will help. |
 | 8 (7) | 49-24 | Houston is 3-5 since their win streak ended. The Rockets are still firmly in the playoff picture, but their status without Yao Ming is now beginning to wear on them. This season, the three seed in the West might have the easiest time in round one if Houston finishes sixth. |
 | 9 (13) | 46-29 | With a win over Phoenix last night Denver sneaks into the playoffs picture. The hardest victory that the Nuggets have left on the schedule might come in a string of games that Denver plays at Golden State, at Utah and against Houston. |
 | 10 (11) | 46-29 | The Warriors matched every win with a loss for their last six victories. The Warriors/Mavericks game tonight will mean a lot more than a re-match of last season's crazy first round playoff series. |
OUTSIDE THE TOP 10:
11. Dallas Mavericks (46-28): Dallas Mavericks vs Golden State Warriors, tonight, 9:30 ET, ESPN. The Mavericks play games against playoff teams in five of their final eight games.
12. Orlando Magic (47-28): The Magic couldn't move up in the rankings after giving the Hornets a win last night. Orlando has all but locked in on the three seed in the East and therefore a date in round one with either Washington or Toronto.
13. Philadelphia 76ers (38-37): The Sixers have played as good as any Eastern conference team since the All-Star break. Philadelphia can put Atlanta back in the same group as Indiana and New Jersey and vault themselves in the same group as Toronto and Washington if they Sixers win back-to-back with the Hawks this weekend.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers (41-33): Cleveland will get Ben Wallace back in the lineup if his coach would let him play. Wallace, who has suffered from back spasms, received clearance to play on Sunday, but head coach Mike Brown wants to be conservative. Regardless, I'm not confident that LeBron James will be able to lead this group back to the NBA Finals.
15. Toronto Raptors (38-36): Compared with the Wizards, who are tied with the Raptors for fifth in the East, the Raptors have an easier remainder of the season which will give them a shot at matching with Cleveland in round one and not Orlando.
16. Washington Wizards (38-36): The Wizards expect to get Agent Zero back soon and a playoff run isn't out of the picture for Washington.
17. Portland Trail Blazers (38-36): Portland finishes the year playing six out of eight games against playoff teams starting tonight against the Lakers.
18. Atlanta Hawks (34-40): Atlanta doesn't expect to miss the postseason, up three games on New Jersey with eight games to go.
19. Sacramento Kings (34-40): Sacramento would be a playoff team if the post season was the NBA's top 16 teams.
20. New Jersey Nets (31-44): The Nets will try to make up ground on the Hawks with only seven games remaining and five of the seven are against Eastern conference playoff bound teams.
21. Indiana Pacers (31-43): If Indiana can stun Boston tonight, they have a shot at the post season. The Celtics win, the Pacers are done (not mathematically, but according to me).
22. Chicago Bulls (29-45): Chicago was my sleeper to emerge in the East for a magical playoff run. Boy, was I wrong. The Bulls are going to miss the post season in what will amount to one big disappointing seasons.
23. Charlotte Bobcats (28-46): Charlotte has a lot of potential, but they've fallen short of the post season and won't be a major player in the lottery either.
24. Minnesota Timberwolves (19-53): The Timberwolves are so bad that other teams treat them as a night off. The Pistons big three was granted the night off against Minnesota Tuesday and the Wolves still managed to find a way to lose.
25. Los Angeles Clippers (22-52): Apparently Elton Brand is coming back. But Chris Kaman is probably done for the year.
26. Milwaukee Bucks (25-48): It took Milwaukee overtime to beat New York. Wow, what a great game to be at -- the Bradley Center was probably packed to capacity.
27. Seattle Sonics (17-57): Seattle's Jeff Green finished Sunday's game with 21 points, topping the 20-point mark for the third time this year.
28. Memphis Grizzlies (19-55): If the Grizzlies get the second overall pick in next year's draft, I'm hoping that they don't take Memphis Tigers guard Derek Rose -- because I want Minnesota to land him.
29. New York Knicks (20-54): Thankfully New York got to play Miami beause they wouldn't know what it's like to win otherwise. New York has lost 15 of 17 games with the only two wins coming against Miami.
30. Miami Heat (13-61): Pat Riley missed the Heat's last two games because he was scouting at the NCAA tournament. Riley did say that it was doubtful he'd miss any games scouting the Final Four.
HOT HOT HOT
1. Josh Howard -- Howard has done his best to step up in place of Dirk Nowitzki and try to lead the Mavericks into the playoffs. The guard-forward finished March with 30+ points in three of the final four games.
2. Carmelo Anthony -- Denver is making a late season playoff push thanks to the one-two punch of Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony. Last Thursday, Melo nearly put up a triple double hanging 32 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists on the Mavericks.
3. Michael Finley -- The Spurs are happy to get 10 points and a couple rebounds from Mike Finley, but recently he's been stepping up. Finley played the first nearly the first three months of the season as the starting shooting guard, but came off the bench for most of February. Back in the starting line-up the past nine games Finley has played inspired. Over the last five games, all Spur victories, Finley is averaging 18.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg best of all he's shooting 63% from the field (35/55).
NOT NOT NOT
2. Shane Battier -- I went to bed decided on Battier for the NOT list. Battier didn't start for the first time all season Sunday in a Rockets loss to the Spurs and has struggled from the floor in his past three games (8/26, 30%). But Battier made his pledge to avoid the Not list with 9 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals, 4 blocks and 2 assists last night. The reason why he stayed? The Rockets lost.
3. Mo Williams -- Since going back-to-back nights with 20, 10 assists and five rebounds on March 22 and 24, Williams hasn't eclipsed 20 points, 10 assists or five rebounds once. Last night's five points, two assists and one rebound was poor enough to make the NOT list. Not to mention that Williams averages nearly 3.0 turnovers per game.
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