RealGM

By John Hollinger
ESPN.com

Several e-mails are also coming in from Laker fans regarding Boston's loss to the Clippers, juxtaposed with the Celtics' continued perch atop the Power Rankings.

Here's the deal: Boston had enough of a margin over the Cavs and Lakers that a two-point road loss, even to the Clippers, wasn't going to knock their rating down far enough to put them behind those teams. All the facts I mentioned on Tuesday remain true: Boston still has a better scoring margin and a stronger strength of schedule, both on the season and in the most recent 25 percent of their schedule, and they've done it with the benefit of fewer home games.