NBA Power Rankings: Spurs have staying power
The San Antonio Spurs remain atop Yahoo! Sports' NBA rankings for the fourth straight week, and by the looks of the rest of their regular-season schedule, they may never leave the No. 1 spot.
The Spurs own an NBA-best 20-10 road record with four games remaining on their nine-game rodeo road trip. San Antonio then plays 17 of its final 24 games at home, where it has a 22-2 mark. The Western Conference makes up four of the top five ranked teams this week.
Records are through Monday.
1. San Antonio Spurs (42-12, previous ranking: first): The Spurs have a Western Conference showdown on Thursday night at the Los Angeles Clippers. San Antonio is still the only team in the NBA that has 40 or more wins.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (39-14, previous ranking: second): Backup PG Eric Maynor is getting interest with the trade deadline approaching, a source said. After returning from a knee surgery, Maynor has lost his backup PG job to Reggie Jackson.
3. Los Angeles Clippers (39-17, previous ranking: third): Guard Eric Bledsoe has been linked to trade rumors, but he isn't a restricted free agent until after the 2013-2014 season and PG Chris Paul has yet to sign a long-term extension.
4. Miami Heat (36-14, previous ranking: fourth): The Heat put their seven-game winning streak on the line against host Atlanta on Wednesday. The Hawks are 7½ games behind Miami in the Southeast Division.
5. Memphis Grizzlies (33-18, previous ranking: sixth): With the dust now settled after the All-Star break and a recent visit by new owner Robert Pera, it’s time for the Grizzlies to move on from the Rudy Gay trade and focus on playoff positioning in the West.
[Watch: Possible movers at NBA trade deadline]
6. New York Knicks (32-18, previous ranking: fifth): The Knicks have a big Eastern Conference showdown Wednesday at Indiana. The Knicks are second in the East behind Miami and hold a 1½ game lead over the Pacers.
7. Denver Nuggets (33-21, previous ranking: seventh): The Nuggets had lost three straight entering the All-Star break and host the hot Celtics on Tuesday. Keep an eye on C Timofey Mozgov as the trade deadline approaches.
8. Indiana Pacers (32-21, previous ranking: eighth): Forward Danny Granger (knee) could make his season debut on Wednesday against the Knicks. All-Star Paul George will be tough to stop at shooting guard with Granger back.
9. Brooklyn Nets (31-22, previous ranking: 11th): Deron Williams is expected to return from an ankle injury this week in what would be his first action since USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said he wasn’t in the best shape during the Olympics.
10. Chicago Bulls (30-22, previous ranking: 10th): Injured Bulls guard Derrick Rose recently said that his knee injury could keep him out the entire season, but is now playing in 5-on-5 scrimmages.
11. Golden State Warriors (30-22, previous ranking: ninth): The Warriors have had a tough schedule of late and are in the midst of a season-high five-game losing streak. C Andrew Bogut is now cleared to play in back-to-backs.
12. Atlanta Hawks (29-22, previous ranking: 12th): Forward Josh Smith’s last game with the Hawks could be Wednesday against Miami. Smith is garnering the most interest among big-name players before the trade deadline, a source said.
13. Utah Jazz (30-24, previous ranking: 13th): The Jazz have been linked to a trade rumor involving Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe. Keep an eye on Paul Millsap more so than Al Jefferson at trade deadline.
14. Houston Rockets (29-26, previous ranking: 14th): All-Star James Harden faces his old teammates again Tuesday as Oklahoma City visits. Harden is averaging 25 points and 12.5 free-throw attempts in two games against the Thunder.
15. Boston Celtics (28-24, previous ranking: 15th): The Celtics renew their storied rivalry Wednesday, when they visit the Lakers. Kevin Garnett has said he will not waive his no-trade clause, but the Clippers are confident they can change his mind.
16. Milwaukee Bucks (26-25, previous ranking: 16th): The Bucks don’t have anything going trade-wise for guards Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis and doubt either will get moved, a source told Yahoo! Sports.
17. Los Angeles Lakers (25-29, previous ranking: 17th): The Lakers’ first chance to celebrate the life of beloved owner Jerry Buss is Wednesday against the rival Celtics. Wouldn’t be surprised if a Buss statue is eventually put outside the Staples Center.
[Watch: NBA's next big star?]
18. Portland Trail Blazers (25-28, previous ranking: 18th): LaMarcus Aldridge went scoreless for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game despite the Clippers' Chris Paul earning 15 assists. Aldridge is averaging two points in two All-Star appearances.
19. Dallas Mavericks (23-29, previous ranking: 20th): Mavs owner Mark Cuban is open to making a trade if it makes Dirk Nowitzki his second-best player. It does not appear that Lakers center Dwight Howard will be traded, but keep an eye on Atlanta’s Josh Smith.
20. Philadelphia 76ers (22-29, previous ranking: 19th): With so much uncertainty surrounding center Andrew Bynum’s return from knee surgery, should the Sixers push to deal him? No. Imagine what he brings if he returns.
21. Toronto Raptors (21-32, previous ranking: 23rd): There is finally good news for the Raptors. Toronto has won four straight, and they have Rudy Gay and slam dunk champion Terrence Ross. Keep an eye on Andrea Bargnani at the trade deadline.
22. Detroit Pistons (21-33, previous ranking: 22nd): Don't expect the Pistons to make any more deals before the deadline, a source said. Detroit is satisfied with the deal it made, landing Jose Calderon while moving Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves (19-31, previous ranking: 21st): The Wolves are not shopping PG Luke Ridnour, according to a source. The Timberwolves are 2-6 in February, but PG Ricky Rubio is averaging 13.5 points and 9.3 assists during the month.
24. New Orleans Hornets (19-34, previous ranking: 25th): The Hornets are expected to keep guard Eric Gordon through the trade deadline and explore potential deals for him during the off-season, a source told Yahoo! Sports.
[Watch: Lakers owner Jerry Buss dead at 80 | Remembering Buss]
25. Sacramento Kings (19-35, previous ranking: 24th): The Kings are not expected to make any trades, preferring to let the new Seattle ownership inherit the team as is, a source told Yahoo! Sports.
26. Phoenix Suns (17-36, previous ranking: 27th): The Suns have dropped four straight and next have back-to-back road games at Portland and Golden State before taking a day off and then hosting Boston on Friday.
27. Washington Wizards (15-36, previous ranking: 26th): The Wizards are showing continued improvement with John Wall back, having won four of five. Nene faces his old Nuggets teammates Friday for the final time this season.
28. Cleveland Cavaliers (16-37, previous ranking: 28th): Injury-riddled center Greg Oden probably won't sign with a team until the off-season, his agent Mike Conley told Yahoo! Sports. The Cavs are interested in the ex-Ohio State star.
29. Orlando Magic (15-37, previous ranking: 29th): Sharp-shooter J.J. Redick, who is making $6 million in the final year of his contract, is a hot commodity as the trade deadline approaches.
30. Charlotte Bobcats (12-40, previous ranking: 30th): The Bobcats have been intrigued with Brooklyn forward Kris Humphries since he re-signed with the Nets as a free agent last summer. Charlotte would love to move disgruntled guard Ben Gordon.
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