NBA Power Rankings: Pre All-Star Break Edition
By Seth Klein
21. New York Knicks (19, -2): Time is running out for the Knicks to make a push, and with no picks in what could possibly be the most talent-filled draft of all-time, making the playoffs is the only thing they have left. They have talent, but with so many ups and downs all season, it makes them a maddening team to watch — and be a fan of.
22. New Orleans Pelicans (24, +2): If not for injuries, the Pelicans would be a lot more competitive, but that hasn’t been the case for this seemingly cursed team. Ryan Anderson and Jason Smith are out for the season and Jrue Holiday has been without a timetable to return since fracturing his right tibia on January 8. The Pelicans have been all Anthony Davis and a bunch of other guys that hardly resemble a professional team.
Jan 28, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) takes a shot against the New York Knicks during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
23. Utah Jazz (23, NC): The Jazz pulled off a shocker Saturday night, defeating the Heat, 94-89, and holding LeBron James to his lowest point total of the season (13 points). The 89 points was the third-lowest output of the 2013-14 campaign for the reigning champs. So let’s not talk about how the Jazz are 17-33 and just enjoy this for one night.
24. Sacramento Kings (25, +1): The Kings are a fun team – I’ll give ‘em that – but they’re just not very good. The team from California’s capital city are now 3-10 over their last 13 games and can only hope management doesn’t waste another lottery pick in this summer’s draft. Thomas Robinson was a bust and barely last half a season in Sacramento, and Ben McLemore is looking like he’s headed down the same path. A new arena set to open in 2016 should be a huge upgrade over their current digs.
25. Boston Celtics (27, +2): Rajon Rondo automatically makes the Celtics more exciting. He’s getting more minutes now that his surgically repaired ACL is healing and the wins keep on coming. The C’s have won three straight games, giving them their first winning streak of any kind since they beat the Knicks and T’Wolves on Dec. 13 and 16.
26. Cleveland Cavaliers (22, -4): There is no NBA team in more turmoil than the Cavs right now. All-Star Kyrie Irving wants out – so much that he’s switched agents. Dion Waiters is missing practices. Anderson Varejao is hurting – again. They lost to a Lakers team that only had five players on their roster for the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game. The team fired GM Chris Grant on Thursday, but curiously kept coach Mike Brown. If the Cavs keep losing, though, Brown will be the next to go. It’s open season on pretty much everyone’s head in Cleveland.
27. Philadelphia 76ers (28, +1): It’s tough to analyze the Sixers at this point because we know that they’re poised to trade away nearly everyone on their team not named Michael Carter-Williams or Nerlens Noel. They’re fun to watch…well, it’s more fun to watch teams play against them. The Sixers are allowing a league-high 110 points per game.
28. Los Angeles Lakers (26, -2): Who knew that Steve Nash’s return would make such an impact? Raise the banners, the Lakers have won two straight! All kidding aside, the Lakers are terrible. They have so many injuries that they were forced to implement a rule that had never before been used in NBA history. Robert Sacre fouled out during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game vs. the Cavs, but because that would’ve left them with only four players, the refs allowed him to stay on the court! The lottery can’t come soon enough for the purple and gold.
29. Orlando Magic (29, NC): The Magic’s young core of Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic have excelled lately – and it’s resulted in wins in three of their last five games. Harris’ game-winning buzzer-beating dunk to beat the Thunder on Friday was the pinnacle of the Magic’s season. This trio has a lot in store for the future.
30. Milwaukee Bucks (30, NC): As per my rule, I will not be blurbing about the Bucks. I’d rather eat three-month old cottage cheese.