Monroe: NBA Power Rankings: March 8, 2009

**duncan228** · 03-07-2009

NBA Power rankings: March 8, 2009
Mike Monroe

TOP 10

(Last week’s rank in parentheses)

1. Lakers (1): First to 50 wins. Next? “We’d like to be the first to win 60, basically,” says Zen Master Phil.

2. Celtics (3): Beating Cavs with Garnett out qualifies as more than a statement game.

3. Cavaliers (2): Their secret weapon in luring Joe Smith: Mo Williams is Smith’s best friend and musical collaborator.

4. Jazz (9): They haven’t lost since Boozer’s return — 10 straight wins in which Deron Williams has had at least 10 assists.

5. Hornets (8): Spurs have had three alley-oop dunks all season. Tyson Chandler had three in one quarter vs. Dallas.

6. SPURS (6): Adding Gooden provides a new dimension for playoffs, but extending Ginobili’s absence is a worry.

7. Rockets (5): Yao takes offense at getting called for so many offensive fouls, says NBA has too many floppers.

8. Nuggets (4): Blowing a 19-point lead in Utah will haunt them when they lose division champ seed to Jazz by season’s end.

9. Magic (7): Stan Van Gundy, on Shaq rant that Van Gundy is a flop: “He’s dealt with this like he’s dealt with everything else.”

10. Trail Blazers (10): They still can’t win big games on the road. Loss to Nuggets in Denver latest disappointment.

THE REST

11. Hawks (13)
12. Heat (14)
13. Mavericks (11)
14. Suns (12)
15. Pistons (19)
16. Bobcats (20)
17. Bulls (18)
18. Nets (20)
19. Bucks (17)
20. 76ers (15)
21. Warriors (22)
22. Knicks (21)
23. Thunder (27)
24. Pacers (23)
25. Raptors (24)
26. Wizards (26)
27. Grizzlies (28)
28. Clippers (25)
29. Kings (29)
30. Timberwolves (30)