The NBA: Power Rankings: Week 20

The San Antonio Spurs are sitting atop the standings and the Power Rankings. They are all healthy and it's showing in their winning margins. The Spurs have won 10 straight games and 7 of those games were at least 10 points or more. The Clippers have also been hot lately and with injuries to JJ Redick and Jamal Crawford, they haven't successfully challenged the Spurs or the Thunder for the top 2 spots in the West.

Meanwhile, the Pacers are starting to get back into rhythm and one of their best games of the season came against the Pistons where they overcame a 25-point deficit and won in overtime. The defending champs are somewhat struggling a little bit and teams like the Bulls and Nets cannot wait to play the Heat in the playoffs.

Hero team of the week: The Spurs have won 10 straight games and have the best record in the NBA.

Sucky team of the week: 21 and counting for the Sixers. They can realistically challenge the record of 26 straight.

The standings are current up to March 18, 2014 and the rankings from Last Week refer to Week 19.

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The best PF in NBA history is still producing decent numbers in his 16th year in the league
(Image from: USA Today Sports)

1. San Antonio Spurs | 50-16 | Last Week: 1 | Same
The Spurs have won 10 straight and that could stretch to 12 before they face the GSW on the road where the Spurs own the best road mark at 24 and 8. If SAS can beat the Dubs, they can be at 18 straight before a Finals preview with the Pacers on March 31.

The NBA: Power Rankings: Week 20

The Miami Heat Streak is still intact at 23 straight games and they now have sole possession of the 2nd best streak in NBA history. The 33 games by the LA Lakers of 1971-72 are still far away but the Heat have a rather favorable and easy schedule in their next 10 games where only 3 teams (Spurs, Bulls, Knicks) have winning records.

The "mini-streak" is also alive for the Denver Nuggets who have won 13 straight games yet have only moved up by one spot in the tough Western Conference. The Nuggets and Heat are tied for the best home record in the NBA at 30-3.

Meanwhile, the LA Lakers are holding on to the 8th spot even with Kobe missing a few games due to injury. Their supporting cast have managed to contribute (Jamison, Blake, Meeks) and the Jazz keep on wasting their chances by losing on the road.

The playoffs will begin in about a month and the playoff positioning have intensified.

The standings are current up to March 20, 2013. The rankings from last week refer to Week 19.

Shane Battier of the Miami Heat has been an integral part of their 23-game win streak.
He was also part of the Houston Rockets in 2007-08 who won 22 straight.
(Image from: Toronto Sun) 

1. Miami Heat | 52-14 | Last Week: 1 | Same
Have you seen THIS video yet? The Heat has clinched their division already and their next 4 games will be against inferior teams where they have had close calls due to lack of effort and motivation. Their supporting cast has been huge with big games from Chalmers and Allen while Birdman and Battier have been solid.

2. San Antonio Spurs | 51-16 | Last Week: 2 | Same
The Spurs could get Parker back by the weekend but they have been doing just fine without him. Kawhi Leonard has been great lately: 17 points and 7 boards. Meanwhile, Tim Duncan is playing at a MVP-level with 22 points and 12 boards while TP has been out.

3. Denver Nuggets | 47-22 | Last Week: 5 | +2
The Nuggets have won 13 straight games and they have beaten the OKC Thunder 3 times already. Andre Miller and Wilson Chandler have been solid coming off the bench. Chandler dropped 35 points on the Bulls while Miller had 20 points, 7 boards and 9 assists on his 37th birthday.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder | 50-18 | Last Week: 3 | -1
The Thunder failed to catch the Spurs in the couple of weeks that Parker has been out. Durant and Westbrook are still the highest scoring duo in the league but their supporting cast has struggled especially Kevin Martin who is shooting 38% and only 11 points per game in his last 10 games.

5. Memphis Grizzlies | 45-21 | Last Week: 4 | -1
The Grizzlies are #1 in team defense but they also struggle putting up points (26th). They had a bad week losing 2 of 4 games but they beat their playoffs nemesis (Clippers) which gives them a chance to tie their season series with the Clippers and possibly have a better tie-breaker for home-court advantage.