NBA

2014-15 NBA Power Rankings: Week 9

2014-15 NBA Power Rankings: Week 9

Chicago Bulls v Atlanta Hawks
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Where do your favorite teams stand as the NBA heads into 2015?

30. New York Knicks (5-28), Last Week: 28

New York Knicks v Sacramento Kings
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30. New York Knicks (5-28), Last Week: 28

New York Knicks v Sacramento Kings
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It’s official -- they are the worst team in the league.

29. Philadelphia 76ers (4-25), Last Week: 30

Philadelphia 76ers v Miami Heat
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29. Philadelphia 76ers (4-25), Last Week: 30

Philadelphia 76ers v Miami Heat
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Thanks to the Knicks, the 76ers can’t even tank right.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (5-24), Last Week: 27

Minnesota Timberwolves v Golden State Warriors
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28. Minnesota Timberwolves (5-24), Last Week: 27

Minnesota Timberwolves v Golden State Warriors
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The losses continue to mount, and the bright spots are starting to fade. Andrew Wiggins has a PER of 9.8 and a VORP of -1.7.

27. Detroit Pistons (7-23), Last Week: 29

Indiana Pacers v Detroit Pistons
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27. Detroit Pistons (7-23), Last Week: 29

Indiana Pacers v Detroit Pistons
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What’s this? A winning streak? It couldn’t be because Josh Smith is gone, could it?

26. Charlotte Hornets (10-21), Last Week: 26

Orlando Magic v Charlotte Hornets
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26. Charlotte Hornets (10-21), Last Week: 26

Orlando Magic v Charlotte Hornets
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They are playing much better since Lance Stephenson went out with an injury. Could that be the main factor in initiating a trade?

25. Los Angeles Lakers (9-22), Last Week: 23

Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Lakers
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25. Los Angeles Lakers (9-22), Last Week: 23

Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Lakers
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The Lakers continue to be the most entertaining bad team of all time.

24. Boston Celtics (10-18), Last Week: 21

Boston Celtics v Washington Wizards
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24. Boston Celtics (10-18), Last Week: 21

Boston Celtics v Washington Wizards
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They haven’t won a game since Rondo was traded, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing in the grand scheme of things.

23. Utah Jazz (10-20), Last Week: 24

Utah Jazz v Sacramento Kings
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23. Utah Jazz (10-20), Last Week: 24

Utah Jazz v Sacramento Kings
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The Jazz are winners of four of their last six, including road wins in Miami and Memphis.

22. Indiana Pacers (11-20), Last Week: 25

Indiana Pacers v Brooklyn Nets
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22. Indiana Pacers (11-20), Last Week: 25

Indiana Pacers v Brooklyn Nets
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The Pacers had a good week, and are showing that they may contend for a playoff spot after all.

21. Orlando Magic (12-21), Last Week: 22

Boston Celtics v Orlando Magic
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21. Orlando Magic (12-21), Last Week: 22

Boston Celtics v Orlando Magic
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Harris and Vucevic are balling out of control, and every once in a while, the Magic win games.

20. Denver Nuggets (13-18), Last Week: 17

Minnesota Timberwolves v Denver Nuggets
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20. Denver Nuggets (13-18), Last Week: 17

Minnesota Timberwolves v Denver Nuggets
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This team isn’t as good as their 13 wins may insinuate.

19. Sacramento Kings (13-17), Last Week: 19

New York Knicks v Sacramento Kings
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19. Sacramento Kings (13-17), Last Week: 19

New York Knicks v Sacramento Kings
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The Kings have won two of their last four. That’s about what I would expect from them for the rest of the season.

18. Brooklyn Nets (13-16), Last Week: 20

Indiana Pacers v Brooklyn Nets
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18. Brooklyn Nets (13-16), Last Week: 20

Indiana Pacers v Brooklyn Nets
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The Nets are playing slightly more coherent basketball as of late, but that’s not saying much.

17. Miami Heat (14-17), Last Week: 18

Memphis Grizzlies v Miami Heat
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17. Miami Heat (14-17), Last Week: 18

Memphis Grizzlies v Miami Heat
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They are clearly not ready to compete with the elite teams. Josh Smith could have helped them a lot.

16. Milwaukee Bucks (15-16), Last Week: 16

Atlanta Hawks vs Milwaukee Bucks
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16. Milwaukee Bucks (15-16), Last Week: 16

Atlanta Hawks vs Milwaukee Bucks
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the Bucks lost to the Hornets, then turned around to and blow out the Hawks. Go figure.

15. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-12), Last Week: 10

Detroit Pistons v Cleveland Cavaliers
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15. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-12), Last Week: 10

Detroit Pistons v Cleveland Cavaliers
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One thing has become clear: The Cavs are not an elite team, and probably won’t be this season.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder (15-17), Last Week: 14

Charlotte Hornets v Oklahoma City Thunder
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14. Oklahoma City Thunder (15-17), Last Week: 14

Charlotte Hornets v Oklahoma City Thunder
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I still don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that they will make the playoffs. They certainly have to do better than winning only three of their last seven games to make a real push.

13. New Orleans Pelicans (15-15), Last Week: 13

San Antonio Spurs v New Orleans Pelicans
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13. New Orleans Pelicans (15-15), Last Week: 13

San Antonio Spurs v New Orleans Pelicans
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Maybe the most inconsistent team in the league, the Pelicans are capable of beating anyone, but are equally capable of losing as well.

12. San Antonio Spurs (19-12), Last Week: 12

San Antonio Spurs v New Orleans Pelicans
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12. San Antonio Spurs (19-12), Last Week: 12

San Antonio Spurs v New Orleans Pelicans
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I still think the title goes through San Antonio, but I am also nearing a point where it is difficult to not be concerned.

11. Phoenix Suns (18-14), Last Week: 15

Toronto Raptors v Los Angeles Clippers
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11. Phoenix Suns (18-14), Last Week: 15

Toronto Raptors v Los Angeles Clippers
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Winners of six in a row, the Suns are one of the league’s hottest teams.

10. Los Angeles Clippers (20-11), Last Week: 8

Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Lakers
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10. Los Angeles Clippers (20-11), Last Week: 8

Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Lakers
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They have lost four of their last six. Something still isn’t right with this team. They are not a championship threat as currently constituted.

9. Dallas Mavericks (22-10), Last Week: 11

Oklahoma City Thunder v Dallas Mavericks
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9. Dallas Mavericks (22-10), Last Week: 11

Oklahoma City Thunder v Dallas Mavericks
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It may take some time for Rondo to integrate, but the Mavs are starting to prove they are legit contenders. I still think they need to add more depth to their bench though.

8. Chicago Bulls (21-9), Last Week: 9

Los Angeles Lakers v Chicago Bulls
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8. Chicago Bulls (21-9), Last Week: 9

Los Angeles Lakers v Chicago Bulls
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Dare I say it? Is Derrick Rose officially back?

7. Houston Rockets (21-8), Last Week: 5

Houston Rockets v San Antonio Spurs
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7. Houston Rockets (21-8), Last Week: 5

Houston Rockets v San Antonio Spurs
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They won the Josh Smith sweepstakes, but is that a good thing? To be fair, they have three new players and will need time to integrate them.

6. Washington Wizards (21-8), Last Week: 4

Boston Celtics v Washington Wizards
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6. Washington Wizards (21-8), Last Week: 4

Boston Celtics v Washington Wizards
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John Wall has officially put the world on notice of his talent.

5. Memphis Grizzlies (22-8), Last Week: 3

Utah Jazz v Memphis Grizzlies
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5. Memphis Grizzlies (22-8), Last Week: 3

Utah Jazz v Memphis Grizzlies
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The Grizzlies' four-game losing streak was snapped this week. I don’t think it was anything to be concerned about. Just a hiccup.

4. Atlanta Hawks (22-8), Last Week: 6

Chicago Bulls v Atlanta Hawks
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4. Atlanta Hawks (22-8), Last Week: 6

Chicago Bulls v Atlanta Hawks
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I'm not sure what happened against the Bucks, but I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

3. Toronto Raptors (24-7), Last Week: 7

Toronto Raptors v Denver Nuggets
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3 Toronto Raptors (24-7), Last Week: 7

Toronto Raptors v Denver Nuggets
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They may have the best chemistry of any team in the league. Oh, and they are pretty darn good too. Just imagine when DeRozan gets back.

2. Portland Trail Blazers (25-7), Last Week: 2

Indiana Pacers v Portland Trail Blazers
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2. Portland Trail Blazers (25-7), Last Week: 2

Indiana Pacers v Portland Trail Blazers
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Lillard and Aldridge are making a case for the best duo in the league.

1. Golden State Warriors (24-5), Last Week: 1

Minnesota Timberwolves v Golden State Warriors
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1. Golden State Warriors (24-5), Last Week: 1

Minnesota Timberwolves v Golden State Warriors
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Their still the best, but I think they showed some chinks in their armor this week.

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