Week 21 Power Rankings

The Heat keep winning, and the rest of the league is wondering who can stop them. Here are your week 21 power rankings:

 (Oh my word are we good at basketball!)

1. Miami Heat (52-14)

-24 and counting. After the 17 point comeback and the 27 point comeback in Cleveland, you wonder how anyone can beat this time once, let alone four times in the playoffs. (BF)

2. San Antonio Spurs (51-16)

-Still getting it done as the season hits its final stretch.  The Spurs are clearly the 2nd best team in the NBA behind Miami, but they face 7 straight opponents with a record above .500%.  Big stretch ahead for Pop, TD and crew. (AL)

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (50-17)

-Two top 5 players, a defensive player of the year candidate and OKC miraculously isn’t dominating every team not named Miami. Hopefully they are able to focus on getting better shots down the stretch, because if they continue to settle for jumpers in the playoffs, their playoff run will be a short one. (EJ)

4. Denver Nuggets (46-22)

-Denver has won 13 straight without an all-star. Suddenly the possibility of a three seed in the playoffs is not out of reach. Although the Nuggets probably will come up short, look for the team to take an OKC type leap after their playoff run this year. (EJ)

5. Memphis Grizzlies (45-21)

-This team is capable of beating anyone.  Its a pleasure to watch Gasol and Randolph dominate the interior every single game. (AL)

6. Los Angeles Clippers (46-21)

-The Clippers have quietly fallen to fourth in the West, which isn’t a good thing. A team that struggled on the road(just 20-14) needs home court for the first two rounds to have any chance in the playoffs. (BF)

7. Indiana Pacers (42-26)

-Indiana is the second best team in the east simply because the rules prohibit the Heat from occupying more than one spot in the standings. Danny Granger has yet to fill his role as the savior of the franchise’s title hopes. (EJ)

8. Brooklyn Nets (39-28)

-I know Dwill and Brook Lopez continue to play well, but the rest of the cast is frustratingly inconsistent.  Coach C needs to get his rotation down heading into the postseason or it will be a disastrous first round exit for the Nets. (AL)

(This has been a familiar face in Brooklyn.)

9. Boston Celtics (36-30)

-A loss to Miami is somewhat expected, but they proved once again they can play with anyone.  I just can't see this team bowing out before a series with Miami in whatever round that ends up being. (AL)

10. New York Knicks (39-26)

-Injuries have left this team in a horrible way.  Without Melo, Amare, or Chandler they put out laughable lineups.  Health will be the key for this team, but even still, I've been unimpressed with what i've seen over the last month.

 11. Los Angeles Lakers (36-33) 

-Listen, the Kobe injury hurts, we get it. But this team is staying afloat, could have Kobe by tomorrow, and Pao by early next week? With Steve Blake playing well and Jamison improving, all of the sudden the Lakers are the team NO ONE wants to face in round 1. (BF)

12. Chicago Bulls (36-30)

-The return of Derrick Rose, originally was viewed as the weapon that would turn the tide in the war that is the Bull’s season. Now it is looking more and more like reinforcements never will arrive. (EJ)

(I'll give it to Rose, that's a sweet jacket.)

13. Golden State Warriors  (39-30)

-The season’s early darlings have fallen back into somewhat of a mediocrity. Since a hot start in November and December, the Warriors are just 18-21 in the calendar year and are looking at a date with Memphis, LAC or OKC in the first round. (BF)

14. Houston Rockets (36-31)

-Still hanging onto the 7th seed, this team face some tough competition through the rest of March.  Visits from the Jazz, Cavs and Spurs are in store this week. (AL)

15. Atlanta Hawks (37-30)

-Jeff Teagueshowed what he can last night as the primary ball handler when he torched the Bucks with a solid double double. But can he do that against point guards that actually know how to play defense? (BF)

16. Milwaukee Bucks (33- 32)

-Since the JJ Redick trade, Monta Ellis has finally lived up to the promise he showed early in his career. Suddenly the Bucks are watchable again, and the future looks bright, with overpaying JJ and Jennings right on the horizon. (EJ)

17. Dallas Mavericks (32-35)

-They are trying so hard, but I just can't see them getting over the hump to the postseason. Thankfully Mark Cuban says Dirk has "at least 3" more good years, so Dallas fans, there's that. (AL)

18. Portland Trailblazers(31-35)

-It’s been the same old song and dance all year, good starters, no bench. To give you a different narrative how about we discuss the most recent Champs Sports national commercial, featuring All Pro Von Miller, future rookie of the year Damian Lillard and IMAN SHUMPERT! With the season Shumpert is having he would be lucky if the Pick and Pop Diaries hired him as a spokesman, his agent is making his fee and then some. (EJ)

(Remember when this was the Nets pick? Oh wait, they wanted Gerald Wallace.)

19. Utah Jazz (34-33)

- Hey Utah, everyone is tired of hearing an endless string of Lakers news it would be cool if you could actually start winning some games. Good thing their most difficult game is behind them after losing to a Knicks team at home that is missing its three best players. My only hope for this team at this point involves Al Jefferson playing so poorly he’s forced to take the MLE in Boston. (EJ)

20. Toronto Raptors (26-41)

-A rough stretch for the team, winning only 3 of their last 10, but at least Rudy Gayhas finally put together back-to-back good games of shooting over 50%.  (AL)

21. Minnesota Timberwolves (23-42)

-Good thing, Minnesota’s best players are coming back in time for the playoffs. What’s that? They aren’t going to make the playoffs. Oh well in that case the Wolves should find a way to sit everyone, I hear the Caucasian flue is going around. (EJ)

22. Philadelphia 76ers (26-40)

-After all my ranting, Bynum is now officially done for the season.  Should the 76ers max him out in the offseason? (AL)

(This is pretty much the most Bynum touched a basketball in Phili.)

23. Washington Wizards (23-43)

-The Wizards make the All-League Pass team. Despite not being that good, they are so much fun to watch. This team could be a 7 or 8 seed next year. (BF)

24. Detroit Pistons(23-46)

-The Pistons clearly don’t not what they are doing. Bringing back Andre Drummond during tank season, terrible take a lap. Hopefully Drummond continues to progress in these last few games making his return worthwhile to the franchise. (EJ)

25. New Orleans Hornets (22-46)

-Last place record wise in the west, but this team has talent.  When watching them at times you see a playoff-esque team, but most of the time you just see a group not organized enough to win against quality NBA teams. (AL)

26. Phoenix Suns (18-50)

-Umm….the Morris twins are playing well together? So that’s cool. If there was ever a team that needed their draft pick to land, it’s the Suns. (BF)

27. Cleveland Cavaliers (22-45)

-The skeptic in me thinks it is curious that both Dion Waiters and Kyrie Irving got injured during the tanking portion of the season. Obviously they are both hurt but it is convenient none the less. Since Kyrie graduated high school he has struggled to stay healthy for an entire year. In this case his injury history will help Cleveland rebuild, but is it a bad omen for the future? (EJ)

28. Sacramento Kings (23-44)

-Quietly, Sacramento picked up wins over the Clippers and a blowout victory over the Bulls. But the efficient offense that is too dependent on the three is still there. (BF)

29. Orlando Magic (18-50)

-The Hack a Dwight was the writing on the wall for this team. Whenever a premier scorer comes into town, the Magic have little to no shoot with no premier defender. (BF)

30. Charlotte Bobcats (15-52)

-Why are we even doing this anymore to this team? Just let them go golf. (BF)

San Antonio Spurs: The NBA's best Chance at Knocking off the Heat

The Miami Heat have become an unstoppable force to end the NBA season. Having won their last 22 games has cemented them as one of the hottest teams in history. As the defending champions they have always been the favorites this year but that point has been hammered home during this win streak. LeBron James is clearly the best player in the game, this has been true for several years and will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future. Dwyane Wade is again playing like the top five player that he was before teaming up with LeBron ( and taking a back seat). The Heat are playing the type of basketball that could lead to them breaking the record for wins in a row.

Miami has shown that no one can stop them in the East if they are at their best. The last time they played in a rematch against the 2012 NBA Finals Western conference foes, they beat up Thunder en route to a blow out. That isn't to say that the Heat winning a title is forgone conclusion, I believe one team will stand in their way, The San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs are one of the few teams in the league that match up well with the Heat, to see why you just need look at the stats and he weaknesses they point out.


Rebounding 
Statistic
Miami Heat 2500 Total Rebounds, Last in the NBA

This is the most deceiving of the Heat's weaknesses. Eric Spoelstra has always been a coach who emphasized getting back on defense first and offensive rebounding second, so their lack of rebounding is in part designed.
San Antonio subscribes to the same rebounding philosophy. With the Heat having one of the most explosive fast break attacks in the league, getting back on defense becomes all the more essential. That doesn't mean that Spurs can't crash one or two players to the glass to take advantage of Miami's woeful defensive rebounding.

Miami's rebounding problems can be broken down to two factors. First, a lack of rebounding from their bigs, specifically all star Chris Bosh (12.6 rebounding percentage, good for 7th on the team). Second, and most importantly, their rotating defense causes their big men to blitz screens and defend on the perimeter making it so a lot of defensive rebounds come down to a guard/wing attempting to box out the other teams big man.

The best way to beat any defense is ball movement, which the Spurs excel at (first in the league in assists) but against a trapping defense it becomes even more important. With San Antonio's ability to move the ball Miami will find itself more out of position for rebounds than normal, allowing the front court players Popovich does send to the glass to excel. Tiago Splitter, Tim Duncan and even DeJuan Blair (the three best rotation offensive rebounders), will find the gaps in the Miami rotation and be a big threat on the glass against Miami.


Interior Scoring
Statistic:
Heat percentage of close shots taken by PF, C: 31%, 38%
Opponents percentage of close shots taken by PF, C: 38%, 51%
Spurs' percentage of close shots taken by PF, C: 37%, 50%

The Heat lack a post presence, both offensively and defensively. Their best interrior player, Chris Bosh, has the offensive skill set of a small forward. Their offense is founded upon the idea of spacing the floor with shooters in order to allow LeBron James and Dwyane Wade the space to drive to the hoop. The Heat thrive by pulling shot blockers away from the hoop, creating lanes to the basket. It is for this reason that the Heat struggle against zone defenses, that keep their shot blockers in and around the painted area.

San Antonio is one of the most disciplined defenses in the league, lead by the league leader in defensive rating, Tim Duncan. The Spurs will zone up, staying home in the paint on rotations leaving Wade and James little room to drive to the hoop. Even when the Spurs play man to man defense against the Heat, their help principles have much in common with a zone.

The best way to defeat a collapsing match up zone type defense that the Spurs will throw at Miami is to get the ball inside to break down the zone, then throw the ball out for open shots. Miami's lack of interior scoring will make shots difficult, forcing LeBron into many ill advised shots. If Miami can not manufacture shots close to the basket to break down San Antonio's defense expect LeBron to develop a fake injury reminiscent of elbow injuries past, en route to missing a ton of contested jumpers.

Fouls
Statistic:
Miami Heat .208 Free Throws per Field Goal Attempted, 19th in NBA

If you adjust for the pace that they play at (shockingly slow at 23rd in the league even after factoring in James and Wade's breakouts) the Miami Heat are near the bottom third in the league in fouls committed per shot attempted. Now this number is considerably more perplexing when you consider that fouls are almost never called on LeBron or Flash, a combined 3.7 fouls over 72.9 minutes a game.

The Spurs play at a much faster pace than the Heat are comfortable with. With the increased number of possessions the Heat's fouls will probably increase. If the Spurs are able to get the ball inside and challenge the Heat's size deficiency they have a good chance to have the Heat  at a bigger size disadvantage than their normal tiny front court.

Yes Lebron and Wade are great, but if their teammates are ushering the Spurs to the free throw line, their chance of victory plummets. With the Spurs combination of size, speed and ball movement San Antonio could force Miami into a lot of fouls.


Lack of Attempts
Statistic
Heat 5092 Field Goals attempted, last in NBA

The Heat are the best shooting team in the league, leading the NBA with a .548 effective field goal rate. They  take a lot of good shots and knock them down at a great rate. However, they have compiled these numbers against a worse than average schedule (25th in the NBA). Against, more difficult playoff competition the Heat might not have as easy a time scoring.

In the playoffs, defense is taken to the next level. At the same time due to the importance of the games, each possession becomes that much more vital. Regardless, of how good teams shoot, it is important to get as many scoring opportunities as possible. With the Heat lacking in both pace and rebounding they do not create the extra shots that can be the difference between winning and losing in the playoffs.

The Spurs on the other hand, are 7th in the league in pace, they are 19th in total rebounds both far superior to Miami's numbers in these categories. These extra possessions in the NBA finals will force the Heat and Lebron short of their ultimate goal. If the Heat are to lose in the playoffs these concern areas will be their undoing.

Stephen Jackson Bringing all Thirty Seven Pieces of Flair to the Spurs Offense.

Stephen Jackson's thought process during the 3rd quarter of last night's win over the Thunder: 

"I could do this pass normally by putting two hands on the ball and moving my arms from my chest forward.....OR.....I could one arm it, SPIN 360, AND THEN STICK THE LANDING!"

Oh Stephen Jackson, never a dull moment. For what it was worth, it was right on target.

via Deadspin

-Bford

Week 17 Power Rankings

Power Rankings makes a return after a break during the All-Star break. While the Spurs stay on top, there was much buzz that the Clips, Heat, and Thunder all deserve a place up there as well. Let us know what you think!

(The Spurs D has been stifling this year.)

1. San Antonio Spurs 42-12
-The team has won 14 of its last 15 games including multiple wins without Tim Duncan or Manu Ginobli who were hobbled with minor leg injuries.  They have the best coach in the league, an MVP candidate in Tony Parker, and the strongest supporting cast in basketball.  They are the biggest challenger for the Heat as the postseason approaches. (AL)

2. Miami Heat 36-14
-The only question after Lebron's unreal shooting streak that remains? How many times is he going to do it again, and if anyone can stop it come playoff time. (BF)

3. Oklahoma City Thunder 39-14
-Despite not having the best record in the league I still think they have the best team.  OKC ranks number one because they play great defense, are explosive on the break and have players to knock down important shots in clutch situations. (EJ)

4. Los Angeles Clippers 39-17
-If their recent slide proved anything, this team is going nowhere without Chris Paul. And while Eric Bledsoe has shown he can be a strong back-up, his worth to gain some more bigs might be more important to the Clippers. (BF)

5. Memphis Grizzlies 33-18
-I'm still not sure what to make of this team since the trade that shipped Rudy Gay out of town went down. I actually like their team more in a normal game setting thanks to the added depth, but I worry about them in last shot opportunities without the go-to wing scorer. Memphis may not be done dealing as the deadline is just 3 days away. (AL)




6. New York Knicks 32-18
-The Knicks have looked vulnerable in their last week of games behind ice cold shooting from the likes of JR Smith and Jason Kidd.  6. The good news is that Amar'e looks like he is going to remain playing at a high level for the remainder of the season if he stays healthy. (AL)

7. Chicago Bulls 30-22
-This entire season the Bulls have outperformed expectations without Derrick Rose. However, the longer this season has gone on the less likely it seems that he will return.  Without him returning their championship ceiling is going to crash through the floor. (EJ)

(Derrick Rose might be waiting until next year, and it is probably the right, but tough choice.)

8. Denver Nuggets 33-21
-The Nuggets are finally playing up to their talent level. They are one of the hottest teams in the league, the only reason they aren’t higher is because they lack a true go to scorer who can put the team on his back. (EJ)

9. Indiana Pacers 32-21
-To me the Pacers are the only team in the east that has a chance at competing with the Heat in the Eastern Conference. They are the best rebounding team in the league. Indiana’s only downfall has been their scoring, which could be remedied when Danny Granger returns tomorrow. (EJ)

10. Brooklyn Nets 31-22
-This squad has split their last six games including a couple of nice back to back wins against Indi and Denver, but it's time they put it together more regularly.  No more excuses, they have all the pieces, it's time to see them make a run here. (AL)

11. Golden State Warriors 30-22
-No team may have needed the All-Star break than the Warriors. Losers of five in a row, the Warriors need to get back on track quickly to keep pace with the rest of the playoff teams in the West. They are scary close to drawing OKC or SAS in round one. (BF)

12. Utah Jazz 30-24
-The Jazz have been rumored to be a landing spot for Eric Bledsoe. Getting an elite point guard would give Utah great prospects at every position, making their future even brighter. (EJ)

(Could Bledsoe be the right fit in Utah?)

13. Atlanta Hawks 29-22
-Until Thursday, expect to hear Josh Smith's name come up alot. You can't expect to know where the Hawks' season is going to go until they know whether Smith is on the roster come playoff time. (BF)

14. Boston Celtics 28-24
-This team continues to defy logic, playing great ball since their team was ravaged by injuries to three key contributors.  They face their toughest stretch of the year now, with 9 of their next 11 away from The Garden.  The first of 5 straight on the road starts tomorrow in Denver, before they play a tough back to back in LA against the Lakers.  Danny Ainge will be one of the most active GMs in the next few days as he has key decisions to make about the near future of this franchise. (AL)

15. Houston Rockets 29-26
-Houston's next two games are tough against OKC and Brooklyn, but after that look for them to get hot and make their stand to hold onto their playoff spot as 7 of the 10 games after those next two games are below .500 on the season. This is Clutch City's chance to prove they are a playoff team this season. (EJ)

16. Portland Trailblazers 25-28
-Expect Portland to use the all-star break to their advantage. The Blazers play their starters heavier minutes than almost any team. Expect their starters to come back well rested and spur them to a hot start out of the all-star break. (EJ)

17. Milwaukee Bucks 26-25 
-Larry Sanders statistically is the second best defender in the league behind Tim Duncan. The Bucks should be building around him instead of watching their black hole of a back court jack up shots. Hopefully the Bucks move either Jennings or Ellis soon so that the Larry Sanders era can begin in earnest. (EJ)

(Larry Sanders is a strong part of the future of the Bucks.)

18. Los Angeles Lakers 25-29
-The loss of Jerry Buss is just another heartbreaking turn within the Lakers' disastrous season. The NBA truly lost a legend this week. (BF)

19. Dallas Mavericks 23-29 
-The Bank of Cuban is always open.  What will it buy this year? This team has playoff tested veterans, but they need another piece to truly be a scary team and make a run at the 8th seed. (AL)

20. Toronto Raptors 21-32
-This team has reached a new level of excitement since the trade.  Everyone is now healthy and if there is ever a time to make a run for a playoff spot it starts now as they are 6 game back of Milwaukee.  Look for Andrea Bargnani to be moved at the deadline too, hopefully bringing back a rotation player in return. The team has won 4 in a row and counting. (AL)

21. Detroit Pistons 21-33
-This team is one of my favorite to watch when Monroe and Drummond are both healthy. Pair those two with a good floor general in Calderon and you have the makings of an excellent team. Next year when they pair those three with a solid wing prospect expect this team to take off. (EJ)

(If the Pistons decide to keep Calderon, his unselfish, veteran attitude could pay dividends.)

22. Minnesota Timberwolves 19-31

-The wolves are in a curious position. They have a roster stocked with talent but will undoubtedly not make the playoffs due to injuries. Normally if a team has so many good players and is not in the playoff talks they sell of pieces, but since all their good pieces are injured you can expect the status quo of losing to continue in Minnesota. (EJ)

23. Philadelphia 76ers 22-29
-Blah blah blah Andrew Bynum blah blah.  I'll believe it when I see it. Until then, it's straight to the lottery for the Sixers. (AL)

24. Phoenix Suns 17-36
-The Suns are like gas station sushi: a number of a bad decisions. It wasn't a shock that literally no one for the Suns was around for all-star weekend in any form.

25. New Orleans Hornets 19-34
-The team continues to play poorly, but I am predicting much better play in the second half led by Anthony Davis.  Davis should be a double double guy night in and night out here in the final few months.  Monty Williams is a good coach too, I like this team a lot for the future. (AL)

26. Sacramento Kings 19-35
-The Kings have been working hard to try to build a base for a future. Unfortunately, their base might not even be in Sacramento. With the Kings unsure of their future, it is going to be tough to make any inside personnel situations. (BJ)

27. Washington Wizards 15-36
-The Wizards look like a decent team that could have had a chance at the 8 seed in a weaker East this year. Unfortunately injuries derailed that. The Wizards however, seem to be a team that is finally taking a turn. (BF)

28. Cleveland Cavaliers 16-37
-The Cavs have a bright future. Lost in the shuffle of Kyrie’s great play is the emergence of Tristan Thompson as an elite big man prospect.  Since Varejao has went down Thompson has shown himself to be a big that can play Robin to Kyrie’s Bat man. (EJ)

29. Orlando Magic 15-37
-The Magic are very much lost for the rest of this year. With so many injuries and many of the players tied up in contracts, the Magic are going to have to try to build from within.

30. Charlotte Bobcats 12-40 
-The Bobcats could be where the Wizards were two years ago: Alot of immature talent that needs to bloom. Unfortunately, it's tough to bloom when your veterans don't want to be there to help. Here's lookin' at you Ben Gordon. (BF)

-BFord