NBA Power Rankings (March 3, 2009)

1. Los Angeles Lakers – L.A. looks great even with Bynum out (11-3 w/o him, pictured right), but I feel like they’ve expended a lot of energy trying to keep up with their Big Man sidelined. I don’t see the Lakers not keeping it up enough to lock-up that No. 1 seed in the West and the entire NBA for that matter. But a slow-down could be in order (as in two straight losses).

2. Cleveland Cavaliers – Cleveland is 6-1 when James goes for 40 or more. Cleveland appears serious about running at the title and Joe Smith is the perfect help. The Cavs will use his services in the meantime to fill in for an injured Ben Wallace as well as to give some regular season rest to the old knees of big Z.


3. Boston Celtics – Who is that guy with the long braids, he doesn’t look like he belongs on the Celtics roster or that guy with the side-head tattoo?? Mikki Moore and Stephon Marbury (pictured right) might help, but they won’t be the deciding factor in if the Celtics win it all – that will still be up to the Big 3. Hesitantly, I’m saying they are too old.


4. Utah Jazz – Utah is getting the ball rolling and it’s not a moment too soon. They have all the keys to putting together a championship run. And as one of the deepest team’s in the NBA, they have the talent to compete with the big named teams of the NBA: Kobe's Lakers, Carmelo's Nugs, Duncan's Spurs and CP3's Hornets.


5. Denver Nuggets – I don’t know much about how Denver has kept themselves in contention for a home series in the first round of the playoffs, but I have to give credit to Chauncey Billups. Or should Chris Andersen get some credit? He averaged 3.3 blocks per game in February... Do you have him on your fantasy team? The Birdman!? (Pictured Right)


6. San Antonio Spurs – San Antonio is a team that doesn’t need to be concerned with seeding because they will get it done no matter what. But if the playoffs began today, the Spurs would see the Jazz in the first round – yikes! Spurs fans better hope that Portland, Dallas or Phoenix ends up at the seventh slot or it may be a quick exit for what had hoped to be a Finals-bound roster. Adding Drew Gooden is HUGE!


7. Orlando Magic – The Magic will end up with the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They will win the first round easily, but will fall to the second seed – Cavs or Celtics – in the second round. This team is good, but who is going to buy that they’ll get to the ECF?? Not me.


8. New Orleans Hornets – The Hornets seem to be going about their business, sit as the fifth seed. With the return and rejuvenation of Tyson Chandler, New Orleans should be hosting a playoff series. If you are looking for fantasy playoff help, look to David West who just finished a 4-0 week with 28.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 blocks per.


9. Portland Trail Blazers – Brandon Roy is trying to get his name in the same breath as LeBron, Kobe and Chris Paul. In order to do so, the Blazers need to get the fourth seed in the West and Roy needs to drop-in a couple more baskets in each night. If Oden were what Oden should be, Roy would average a couple more assists per night and his life around the perimeter would be much easier. When will Oden be Oden? Maybe never.


10. Atlanta Hawks – Why would you underestimate a team that took Boston to seven games in the first round last year? Have you seen this line-up? Joe Johnson, Joe Smith, Al Horford, Mike Bibby, Marvin Williams. All they need is ZaZa or Flip Murray to be a stud.


11. Phoenix Suns – I like what I’ve seen from Shaq recently, but the Suns could be in trouble without having Amare Stoudemire (pictured right) the rest of the way. Grant Hill and the rest of the supporting cast will have to step it up if the Suns think they'll be playing in the post-season. But even if the Suns do manage to make the playoffs, they’ll be one-and-done.

12. Dallas Mavericks – Dirk has played great this season, quietly. He’ll have to bring the noise in this stretch run if the Mavs want a shot at a playoff spot. Dallas entered Wednesday night’s game against San Antonio at 6-13 against the other playoff contenders in the Western Conference.

13. Houston Rockets – I’m not sold on the Rockets as a playoff team. Remember last year’s magical March? I don’t see them having that kind of luck this season.

14. Miami Heat – Dwayne Wade (pictured right in the white White Sox) is crazy good and a total P.I.M.P. I feel like he’s playing the same way he did when Lamar Odom and Caron Butler were on the roster… Is it possible that Wade is MVP this year?

15. Philadelphia 76ers – This team is kind of crappy without Elton Brand. My fantasy teams like Thaddeus Young, though.

16. Detroit Pistons – Detroit is horrible, Rasheed is the TO of the NBA.

17. Milwaukee Bucks – Charlie Vilineuva and Ramon Sessions are picking-up the slack of where Michael Redd left off. Sessions had games of 17, 12 and 10 assists in February. And Milwaukee is in the playoffs if they started today – gosh, the East is bad.

18. Indiana Pacers – Who doesn’t love Troy Murphy?

19. Chicago Bulls – I have this feeling that Chicago will slip past Milwaukee for the eighth and final playoff spot. Although it’s hard to tell which direction this team is going. The Bulls had great home comeback wins over the Pistons and Rockets, alongside home blowouts of the Magic and Nuggets, but they lost to the Wizards, Nets, and Pacers over the same stretch.

20. Charlotte Bobcats – Not sure about the Bobcats, I sure as hell don’t rush home to click on NBA TV to watch Charlotte vs whoever.

21. New Jersey Nets – This was a playoff contender just a bit ago… A few wins here and there and they could sneak in. Brook Lopez (pictured right) is playing as good as any rookie and could beat Beasley, Rose and Oden for ROY honors.

22. New York Knicks – In order to have a realistic shot at the playoffs, the Knicks need to finish the season with 40 wins (finish 16-7). And unfortunately, the Knicks play more than just the Grizzlies, Wolves and Kings the rest of the way.

23. Golden State Warriors – Anthony Randolph should play more.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant should have been drafted No. 1, who knew?

25. Toronto Raptors – Toronto should NOT be this bad.

26. Los Angeles Clippers – I can appreciate the youth and enthusiasm, but that doesn’t get you a playoff berth.

27. Minnesota Timberwolves – I guess if you buy season tickets for next year, you lose your job, they’ll refund you. Well, that’s nice of them, but I wouldn’t even go to the games if they paid me.

28. Washington Wizards – Wasted season, see you next year with Gilbert and Jamison 100%.

29. Sacramento Kings – Kevin Martin is the new Brandon Roy – Note to Sacramento: build a team around him.

30. Memphis Grizzlies – Maybe the draft will be in the Grizzlies favor this year.