NBA Power Rankings: Post-Trade Deadline Edition
By Matt Shetler
The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, with little to no action, but that gives us a solid look at what all 30 teams will look like from this point until the end of the season.
With that being said, let’s get right into my post-trade deadline NBA Power Rankings.
Feb 22, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) drives to the basket during the second half against the Chicago Bulls at Time Warner Arena. Mandatory Credit: Curtis Wilson-USA TODAY Sports
30. Orlando Magic (15-41): The Magic have lost 16-of-17 and even though they brought in some young talent in the J.J. Redick deal, there may be no end to their slump in sight. Last Week’s Ranking-29
29. Charlotte Bobcats (13-43): The Bobcats have to be encouraged by Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s improved play, but this team is still a mess. But they have won two of their past six, including a win over the Magic, which gets them out of the basement for the first time in a while. Last Week’s Ranking-30
28. Phoenix Suns (18-39): The Suns have lost 7-of-8 and it looks as if Lindsey Hunter is going to start giving more minutes to his younger players. The Sebastian Telfair trade frees up minutes for rookie Kendall Marshall and they added another youngster in a trade for Marcus Morris. Last Week’s Ranking-26
27. Sacramento Kings (19-38): The Kings decision to give up on No. 5 pick Thomas Robinson because they made other financial mistakes will prove to be yet another bad decision by one of the worst run organizations in sports. In addition they are on a current five-game skid. Last Week’s Ranking-27
26. Minnesota Timberwolves (20-33): The Wolves have won a couple of games as of late, but that makes only two wins in their past nine. At one point Minnesota was 16-15, but have gone only 4-18 since. Last Week’s Ranking-28
25. New Orleans Hornets (20-37): The Hornets have won 5-of-9 and are a team with upside. They have a nice core of Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson, Greivis Vasquez and Eric Gordon, but Gordon’s health must continuously be monitored. Last Week’s Ranking-25
24. Philadelphia 76ers (22-32): The Sixers have dropped five in a row and remain one of the worst offensive teams in the league, averaging only 92.2 points per game (29th). Last Week’s Ranking-19
23. Portland Trail Blazers (26-30): Great move for the Blazers at the deadline getting Eric Maynor. He averaged only 10.6 minutes for the Thunder, but he is a quality backup for Damian Lillard and adds some scoring punch to a Blazers bench that has none. Sunday’s win against the Celtics broke a seven-game losing streak as their playoff hopes are starting to fade. Last Week’s Ranking-17
22. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-38): The Cavs have been showing some life as of late, winners of 5-of-9 despite a tough loss to the Heat on Sunday night. Kyrie Irving has been brilliant, but the Cavs go as he goes. Irving is averaging 29.5 points on 53.7 percent shooting in victories but 20.6 points on 43 percent shooting in losses. Last Week’s Ranking-24
Feb 19, 2013; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons point guard Jose Calderon (8) calls out a play during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Grizzlies beat the Pistons 105-91. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
21. Washington Wizards (17-37): Washington is starting to put things together by winning 6-of-8. They also have the sixth-ranked scoring defense (95.7 ppg) in the NBA. Last Week’s Ranking-22
20. Detroit Pistons (22-36): The Pistons have gone 4-4 since Jose Calderon joined the starting lineup. Calderon is averaging 14.6 points, 6.4 assists and 1.8 turnovers as a Piston and Detroit is only six games behind the struggling Milwaukee Bucks for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Last Week’s Ranking-23
19. Milwaukee Bucks (26-28): The Bucks are holding onto the No. 8 seed and pulled off the biggest move of the trade deadline by acquiring Redick. We will see how much he helps a Bucks team that have lost 9-of-11. Last Week’s Ranking-16
18. Dallas Mavericks (25-30): There is good news as the Mavs have won 6-of-9 and Dirk Nowitzki is starting to look like he is at full strength. There is still an outside shot at the playoffs for Dallas but getting to .500 needs to be the first goal. Last Week’s Ranking-18
17. Toronto Raptors (23-33): The Raptors added Telfair at the deadline to address point guard depth and this is a surging team, winners of 6-of-7, including beating the Knicks (twice), Pacers and Nuggets during that stretch. The Raps currently sit only four games outside the playoffs. Last Week’s Ranking-21
16. Atlanta Hawks (31-23): Danny Ferry choose to keep Josh Smith at the deadline, which could hurt them in the long-term, but they have turned things around recently by winning 4-of-5. Last Week’s Ranking-15
15. Boston Celtics (29-27): The Celtics had reeled off seven consecutive wins without Rajon Rondo, but have since lost 4-of-6. The Jordan Crawford acquisition helps the perimeter scoring, but without Rondo I don’t feel the Celtics have enough to make a charge in the east. Last Week’s Ranking-13
14. Los Angeles Lakers (28-29): Even though it now looks like Pau Gasol will miss the rest of the season, the Lakers circus is now surging, winners of 11 of their past 15 games. Look out because the Lakers are now only 2.5 games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and if they get in playing the way they are now, they will be a tough out for anyone. Last Week’s Ranking-20
13. Chicago Bulls (32-24): The Bulls have been reeling as of late, losers of 7-of-11. They didn’t make a move at the deadline, but if Derrick Rose returns, that will be better than any trade they could have made. Last Week’s Ranking-10
12. Houston Rockets (31-27): The Rockets traded both of their power forwards (Morris and Patrick Patterson) at the deadline, but got the upside of Robinson, whose athleticism should fit in tremendously with this young Rockets team for years. While this deal is great long-term for the Rockets, who have won 6-of-10, it could hurt their chances in the short-term of holding of the Lakers for the final playoff spot in the west. Last Week’s Ranking-14
February 9, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Utah Jazz power forward Paul Millsap (24) and center Al Jefferson (25) react after being called for a foul during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings defeated the Jazz 120-109. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
11. Golden State Warriors (33-23): The Warriors had been slumping as of late, losers of six in a row before reeling off three consecutive wins, including an overtime victory against the San Antonio Spurs. They are down to the No. 6 seed currently, but there is still time for Golden State to get hot once again. Last Week’s Ranking-9
10. Utah Jazz (31-25): The Jazz shockingly didn’t move Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap at the deadline, which could have improved the team in other areas. Utah won’t be able to sign both in the offseason, but are going to roll the dice with what they have. They have gone 14-7 in their past 21 games and are an impressive 21-6 at home. Last Week’s Ranking-12
9. Brooklyn Nets (33-24): The Nets have lost back-to-back games after reeling off five consecutive wins. They are a team that needed to make a move for Smith at the deadline as this Nets team doesn’t have enough to be a legit factor come playoff time. Last Week’s Ranking-11
8. New York Knicks (33-20): The same can be said for the Knicks, who stood pat at the deadline. They are now down to the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference and their lead in the Atlantic Division, which looked like they had locked up just a short while ago, is down to only two games. Remember that Knicks team that started the season 19-6? They are a distant memory as Mike Woodson’s team has managed to go only 14-14 since. Last Week’s Ranking-5
7. Denver Nuggets (35-22): The Nuggets have cooled off a bit by dropping 4-of-6. Denver is the deepest team in the NBA, but getting up to the No. 4 seed will be huge for them, as they currently trail Memphis by three games, The Nuggets are 23-3 at home on the season and only 12-19 on the road. If they don’t get home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, it may be hard for this team to advance. Last Week’s Ranking-4
6. Memphis Grizzlies (37-18): No Rudy Gay. No problem for the Grizzlies, who have won seven in a row. Memphis may miss Gay’s scoring ability at times, but they have the NBA’s second-best scoring defense (89.8 PPG), which means they can compete with anyone in the playoffs. Last Week’s Ranking-8
5. Los Angeles Clippers (40-18): The Clippers were thumped by the San Antonio Spurs, but have still one 5-of-6 overall. They held onto Eric Bledsoe, which means they didn’t improve their frontcourt. The Clippers are still deep, but it remains to be seen if they have enough to win a title. Last Week’s Ranking-7
Feb 24, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the American Airlines Arena. Miami won 109-105. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
4. Indiana Pacers (35-21): Indiana has Danny Granger back and have won 9-of-11. They have the best scoring defense (89.4 PPG) in the league and despite their offensive woes at times, the Pacers can play with anyone in the postseason. Last Week’s Ranking-6
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (41-15): The Thunder dealt Maynor and added Ronnie Brewer, which will help defensively, as will the addition of Derek Fisher, who was just recently signed. OKC rebounded from a rare three-game skid to win their past two games. Brewer will help as the Thunder have surrendered an average of 113.6 points during their three-game losing streak. While they are still among the best in the NBA, the Thunder now find themselves three games behind the Spurs for the top spot in the west. Last Week’s Ranking-2
2. Miami Heat (40-14): So much for the Heat cruising through the regular season. It’s now 11 straight wins and counting for the defending champs and with the way LeBron James has been playing- and Dwyane Wade recently- Miami looks near unbeatable. Last Week’s Ranking-3
1. San Antonio Spurs (45-13): It’s hard not to make a case for the Spurs as the best team in the league, especially winning 17 of their past 19. In addition to that, they are dominating teams by winning 26-of-30 overall. It’s a shame that Tony Parker doesn’t get more love when it comes to the MVP talks. Last Week’s Ranking-1
Biggest Climber: Lakers (+6)
Biggest Faller: Blazers (-6)
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