Lakers rank on top of NBA Primetime Power Rankings

[basketball20001]

Since our last NBA Primetime Power Rankings a lot has changed throughout the league.

NBA Primetime presents to you our second installment of the Top 10 NBA’s Power Rankings.

1. Los Angeles Lakers (16-3)

LA has won nine straight games and will look to continue there scorching hot streak. With Gasol back in the lineup the team has yet to lose a single game. Maybe a sign of whats to come? (Cough, 70 wins this season?)

2. Orlando Magic (16-4)

The Magic are currently 9-2 on the road. Their recent Jameer Nelson injury has not slowed this team down one bit as veteran Jason Williams has fit in rather well, helping Orlando to a 8-1 since the Nelson loss.

3. Boston Celtics (16-4)

Maybe its the Celtics second best overall FG% (49.6%) or their second best APG total (24.5 APG) in the league. Or how about their undefeated 5-0 division record or possibly their current 7-0 winning streak. Did I forget to mention their second best opponent PPG average of just 90.6 per game? The Celtics look good, real good.

4. Denver Nuggets (16-5)

The Nuggets lead the league in scoring, averaging just under 110 PPG while giving up only 101.47 per game. They have an excellent 9-1 home record and are one of only two teams that have lost one or less games at home. With an extremely productive core the Nuggets rank as a definite top 5 team in the league.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers (15-5)

After getting off to a slow start to the season (losing two quick home games to tie their entire last seasons home game loss record) the Cavaliers are back into the swing of things. Cleveland has won by a margin of 15.5 points during there recent four game win streak.

6. Phoenix Suns (15-6)

The Suns began the first month of the season with a 14-3 overall record but have quickly picked up three loses in the four games played in the month of December, just as we expected.

With match ups against Orlando, Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, and LA remaining in the month of December, the Suns are bound to take a serious pitfall within a few weeks.

7. Atlanta Hawks (14-6)

The Hawks have lost four of their last seven games with disappointing loses to New Orleans, Detroit, and New York. Hmmm, will the Hawks rebound?

8. Dallas Mavericks (14-7)

After losing to the Memphis Grizzlies by 16 points, my high thoughts on the Mavericks have quickly gone down the drain. With a relatively difficult schedule ahead of themselves, Dallas will be put to the test to see how legit they really are.

9. Utah Jazz (12-8)

Utah has been on a serious hot streak winning 8 of their last 10 games. If they could keep up the recent tear against the Lakers and Magic who they each play twice in the month of December, they could quickly move up on the rankings, but we doubt that will happen.

10. Miami Heat (11-9)

After a heart-breaking loss to the Lakers at the Staples Center, I feel kinda guilty not placing Miami in the Top 10. With five of the ten opponents they face in December above .500, Dwyane Wade and the Heat will have to battle it out to remain in this prestigious top 10.

http://nbaprimetime.com/2009/12/08/lake ... kings.html