Dallas Leads NBA Power Rankings
Mavericks, Suns streaking, while LeBron and Cleveland are surging
Jan 7, 2007
Dallas has won 13 straight games, and Phoenix has another win streak started. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are moving up in Suite101's NBA Power Rankings.
- Dallas Mavericks – Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks can do no wrong. Dallas is in the midst of a stunning 13-game win streak and is the clear choice for the top spot in our NBA Power Rankings.
- Phoenix Suns -- The Suns ran off 15 straight wins, behind NBA MVP candidate Steve Nash. After coming back to earth briefly, Phoenix has strung together 5 more wins, moving the Suns up one notch in the NBA rankings.
- Cleveland Cavaliers -- A huge week for Cleveland included a second win this year over San Antonio, a come-from-behind victory over Milwaukee, in which LeBron James scored just 8 points, and an impressive win over New Jersey. Scoring less and getting more players involved, LeBron James' Cavaliers grabbed first place in arguably the NBA's toughest division and the top spot in the NBA's Eastern Conference. Plus, Cleveland moves to number 3 in our NBA Power Rankings.
- Washington Wizards -- Another team on the rise, Washington jumps to the 4 spot in the NBA rankings, by winning 13 of its last 15 games and the incredible play of NBA MVP candidate Gilbert Arenas. In five of those wins, Arenas has scored 38 or higher, including games of 60 and 54. With a stellar supporting cast, there's no telling how far Washington can climb.
- Utah Jazz – Everyone outside of Utah keeps waiting for the Jazz to drop from the NBA Power Rankings. Utah just wasn't supposed to be this good. Who would have guessed that Deron Williams would be one of the best point guards in the NBA and Carlos Boozer would be an NBA MVP candidate?
- Houston Rockets -- Jeff Van Gundy is making a strong case for NBA Coach of the Year honors. With superstar Yao Ming on the shelf with injury, Van Gundy has not only handed the ball to Tracy McGrady, but he has squeezed more out of Shane Battier and revived an aging Dikembe Mutombo; meanwhile, the Rockets have reeled off 5 straight wins. With McGrady playing as well as ever and Mutombo dominating inside (he's had rebounding games of 12, 14 and 19), Houston has improved to 21-12 and moved into 3rd place in the Southwest Division.
- San Antonio Spurs -- The schedule got tough and San Antonio suffered three straight losses, two on the road to Cleveland and Minnesota and one at home to smoking hot Dallas. NBA MVP candidate Tim Duncan was not the Spurs' leading scorer in any of the losses, which underscores an Achilles Heel that teams probably already knew existed. Meanwhile, Duncan and the Spurs drop 5 spots in our NBA Power Rankings.
- Los Angeles Lakers -- Kobe Bryant is once again a legitimate NBA MVP candidate, as he keeps strapping the Lakers on his back. Three straight wins, and Los Angeles is back on the move in our NBA Power Rankings.
- Chicago Bulls -- Ben Wallace had a monster game in a win against his former Detroit Pistons team, helping Chicago improve to 20-14 and remain in our NBA rankings.
- Detroit Pistons -- A tough loss to the Bulls and great weeks by other teams bump the Pistons to the final spot in our NBA Power Rankings. Detroit is still the number 2 team in the East, though, making them a solid choice to remain among the NBA's elite.
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