The NBA: Power Rankings: Week 11

The Nets and Knicks are playing well since the start of 2014. Both teams have positioned themselves well for a playoff spot.

The Blazers, Heat and Thunder have been in a mini-slump since the New Year while the Spurs and Pacers continue to lead their respective conferences.

Hero team of the week: The Bulls have won 5 straight even after Luol Deng.

Sucky team of the week: The Celtics have lost 8 straight (league-high) with their next games vs HOU & TOR.

The standings are current up to January 12, 2014 and the rankings from Last Week refer to Week 10.

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Joe Johnson and his hot shooting has brought the Brooklyn Nets back into playoff contention
(Image from: NBA.com)

1. Indiana Pacers | 29-7 | Last Week: 1 | Same
The Pacers are 18-1 at home, tops in the NBA. They are 1st in least points allowed and 1st in opponent FG percentage.


2. San Antonio Spurs | 28-8 | Last Week: 5 | +3
The Spurs are 2-0 since Splitter went down with an injury. Marco Belinelli is having his most efficient season off the bench.

3. Portland Trailblazers | 28-9 | Last Week: 6 | +3
Nic Batum has played 2 games with a finger splint. So far, he hasn't been affected by that: (15 ppg, 8 rpg, 10 apg).

4. Golden State Warriors | 25-14 | Last Week: 3 | -1
GSW is 9-1 in their last 10 games. Their #fullsquad starting lineup of Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Lee & Bogut are 20-4.

5. Oklahoma City Thunder | 28-9 | Last Week: 2 | -3
Kevin Durant has scored over 40 points three times this season including a 48-point outing in a loss to the Jazz last week.

6. Miami Heat | 27-10 | Last Week: 4 | -2
Miami is 0-3 vs teams from New York and in a 2-game losing streak. Eight of their 10 losses are from teams with sub-.500 records.

7. Los Angeles Clippers | 26-13 | Last Week: 9 | +2
The Clips won 3 straight without Chris Paul. JJ Redick is back from injury and started. He finished with 19 points on 8-15 shooting.

8. Houston Rockets | 24-14 | Last Week: 7 | -1
Terrence Jones should be a candidate for MIP. Since starting, Jones has 9 double-doubles and averages 10 and 7 plus 16-55 from three

9. Dallas Mavericks | 22-16 | Last Week: 10 | +1
Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 pts in the 3rd and finished with 40 points vs the Pelicans. The Mavs played without Shawn Marion for t he 4th straight game.

10. Phoenix Suns | 21-15 | Last Week: 8 | -2
Eric Bledsoe had knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. This was the 2nd time his meniscus was fixed on his right knee. His return is undetermined.

11. Denver Nuggets | 19-17 | Last Week: 14 | +3
Nuggets have won 5 straight after dropping 9 consecutive. Andre Miller has 6 straight DNPs since his suspension and is now on the trading block.

12. Atlanta Hawks | 20-17 | Last Week: 13 | +1
Impressive defensive win over the Rockets by holding them to 80 points after beating the Pacers in their previous game. Hawks are 4-4 without Horford.

13. Toronto Raptors | 18-17 | Last Week: 11 | -2
The Raptors have won 7 of 10 and continue to lead the Atlantic division. DeMar DeRozan is making a strong case for an All-Star spot (21 ppg, 4 rpg).

14. Minnesota Timberwolves | 18-18 | Last Week: 12 | -2
Kevin Love blasted JJ Barea and Dante Cunningham for poor body language while on the bench. The team responded with a 27-point rout of the Bobcats.

15. Chicago Bulls | 17-18 | Last Week: 19 | +4
The Bulls won 3 straight after trading Luol Deng and their 5th straight win. Mike Dunleavy is playing well over his last 5 games: 15 ppg, 5 rpg on 54% shooting.

16. Memphis Grizzlies | 16-19 | Last Week: 16 | Same
Tony Allen has a small fracture in his hand and will miss 2 weeks. Courtney Lee played 2 games since his arrival and contributed 10 points and 4 assists.

17. Washington Wizards | 16-19 | Last Week: 17 | Same
The Wizards are 15-13 when Nene plays and his numbers are slightly higher (14 ppg and 6 rpg) compared to when they lose (12 and 5).

18. Detroit Pistons | 16-22 | Last Week: 20 | +2
The Pistons are 3-7 in the last 10 but have won 2 straight. Andre Drummond should receive consideration for the East All-Star team. Dre is 2nd in doub-doub.

19. Brooklyn Nets | 15-22 | Last Week: 22 | +3

The Nets have won 5 of 6 games and now occupy the 8th spot in the East. Joe Johnson had his second 20+ quarter when he had 22 points in the 1st quarter vs Miami.

20. New York Knicks | 14-22 | Last Week: 23 | +3
The Knicks have won 4 straight even with JR Smith being a distraction and receiving a 1-game benching. Amare scored in double figures in 3 of the last 5 games.

21. New Orleans Pelicans | 15-21 | Last Week: 15 | -6
Too many injury problems are plaguing the Pellies. Ryan Anderson is out indefinitely, Jrue Holiday has a leg injury and Tyreke Evans has a sprained ankle.

22. Charlotte Bobcats | 15-23 | Last Week: 18 | -4

The Bobcats lost 3 straight and are 2-8 in the last 10. Al Jefferson struggled scoring in losses to the T'wolves and Wizards (14 total points).

23. Cleveland Cavaliers | 13-23 | Last Week: 26 | +3
Luol Deng made his Cavs debut last Friday and had 10 points with 4 turnovers. The more important part was that Kyrie Irving seemed like his old self with 25-6-8.

24. Los Angeles Lakers | 14-23 | Last Week: 22 | -3
The Lakers got blasted by 36 points vs the Clips last Friday. They lost 4 straight and are 1-10 since Kobe Bryant was injured. Pau Gasol is back on the trading block.

25. Sacramento Kings | 12-22 | Last Week: 27 | +2
DeMarcus Cousins has two 30+ games in the last 4 games. Rudy Gay has been efficient since joining the Kings. Gay is shooting 51% with SAC after being at 40% with TOR.

26. Utah Jazz | 12-26 | Last Week: 28 | +2
Utah defeated the Thunder after withstanding a 48-point game from KD. Richard Jefferson has been effective as a starter: 10 ppg on 43% shooting from downtown.

27. Philadelphia 76ers | 12-25 | Last Week: 25 | -2
The Sixers are last in points allowed and are 9-25 since their 3-0 start. Spencer Hawes has cooled off after starting the season as a double-double player.

28. Boston Celtics | 13-25 | Last Week: 24 | -4
The Celtics have lost 8 straight and the arrival of Jerryd Bayless has not helped them win games which was probably their goal to begin with.

29. Orlando Magic | 10-27 | Last Week: 29 | Same
They lost 7 straight games and to make matters worse, Nic Vucevic is having concussion symptoms and will be out indefinitely.

30. Milwaukee Bucks | 7-29 | Last Week: 30 | Same
The Bucks have lost 5 straight but rookie "Greek Freak" has been a pleasant surprise while Larry Sanders, OJ Mayo and Ersan Ilyasova have been disappointments.


Biggest Jump of the Week: Bulls +4
Biggest Drop of the Week: Pelicans -6 


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