Lakers Rest Atop Power Rankings
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The All Star break passed and the Lakers still sit where they did prior to it. They are currently ranked #1 in all of the power rankings around the league including ESPN, Sports Illustrates, NBA.com and USA Today. It’s a real pleasure to see them playing this well, especially without Andrew Bynum.
Los Angeles has dominated in the month of February and especially in the last week. Pau Gasol is the Western Conference player of the week and definitely deserves it based on his intensity since Bynum has gone down. He has really stepped up and worked well with Lamar Odom to keep the Lakers on the right path.
In the Lakers last ten games, they are 9-1 with the only loss coming in Utah, on the back end of a back-to-back, by 4 points. I’d say thats pretty good for almost an entire month without a starting center and the trading away of two players.
Without further ado, here are the rankings from four sources showing the Lakers to be the best in the league:
2008-09 Power Rankings: Week 17 RANK (LAST WK) TEAM REC. COMMENT 
1 (1) Lakers 46-10 How deep is the league’s deepest team? The Lakers dumped Radmanovic and Mihm to save a little money and are still 9-1 in February … all without the injured Bynum. A four-point stumble at Utah is the lone blemish. 
2 (3) Cavaliers 43-11 KG’s injury could be the opening that enables the Cavs — now that Delonte is back — to move past the Celts in the race for the East’s best record. One disclaimer, though: Eight of Cleveland’s next 11 games are roadies. 
3 (2) Celtics 45-12 The Celtics are worried about KG’s knee troubles lingering, not the next two or three weeks. They’ve actually been fine without him on a short-term basis, as a 13-2 record this season and last season should tell you. 
4 (5) Magic 41-14 The early evidence suggests that Alston, if nothing else, should enable the Jameer-less Magic to hang onto their top-five status here. Which is almost as important as beating Boston or Cleveland in the playoffs, right? 
5 (4) Spurs 37-17 There was no springboard effect for the Spurs from this season’s Rodeo Road Trip. Not with Ginobili going down. Duncan, though, sounds eerily confident. Says Timmy: “Right now, I think we’re right in the mix.” 1 
L.A. Lakers (1)46-10 Pace: 93.4 (5), Off: 115.7 (1), Def: 107.0 (8)
If you count the game he got hurt (and only played five minutes), the Lakers are 10-1 without Andrew Bynum. But their defense has fallen off a bit (as it did last year when he went down), from 106.4 in their first 45 games to 109.0 in their last 11. That’s why they’ve struggled to beat the Warriors, Hornets and T-Wolves.2 
Cleveland (2)43-11 Pace: 88.0 (25), Off: 114.4 (3), Def: 102.9 (2)
LeBron’s 55 points (hitting 8-of-11 from downtown) and nine assists in Milwaukee on Friday was a ridiculous performance and I’d say that it almost puts a wrap on the MVP race, but that’s not my column.3 
Boston (3)45-12 Pace: 89.5 (17), Off: 112.4 (5), Def: 102.1 (1)
Before they host the Cavs next Friday, the Celtics’ toughest challenge in dealing with the loss of Kevin Garnett (out 2-3 weeks with a “posterior muscle strain of the right knee”) comes tonight in Denver. After that, they play the Clippers, Pacers, Pistons and Nets. So, don’t hand the No. 1 seed in the East to the Cavs just yet.4 
Orlando (5)41-14 Pace: 90.8 (12), Off: 112.1 (6), Def: 103.6 (3)
Rafer Alston picked up 18 assists in his first 58 minutes as the Magic’s new point guard. More importantly, Orlando picked up a pair of wins after getting crushed in New Orleans on Wednesday, it’s worst defensive game of the season. Weird coincidence of the week: Orlando’s worst defensive game last year was also the second game after the break.5 
San Antonio (4)37-17 Pace: 87.3 (26), Off: 110.2 (13), Def: 106.1 (5)
With the rodeo in town, the Spurs went 5-3 away from the AT&T Center, but that included losses in Toronto and New York. The next six games (three home and three away) could be critical as they deal with the loss of Manu Ginobili (out 2-3 weeks with a stress reaction in his right leg). They play Portland twice, Dallas twice and Cleveland during that stretch.1 
Last Week: 1Los Angeles Lakers (46-10)If you don’t believe them when they say they can win a championship without Bynum, at least consider what others around the league are saying. “I think they are better without Bynum,” an Eastern Conference head coach said. “Look at the way the league is trending. The really good teams are the ones that play fast. This Lakers team plays really fast.” Bynum’s replacement in the starting lineup, Lamar Odom, continues to play well, having pulled down at least 14 rebounds in seven games this month.
2 
Last Week: 4Cleveland Cavaliers (43-11)Remember when Wally Szczerbiak was deemed expendable, when the only reason to speak his name was to remind everyone of his expiring contract? Maybe the Cavs decided to hold on to him because he is actually needed. Szczerbiak’s consistent scoring during West’s absence helped keep the Cavs rolling. It’s looking more and more like Szczerbiak will be counted on to play significant minutes down the stretch.
3 
Last Week: 2San Antonio Spurs (37-17)Ginobili had been coming on offensively of late, scoring at least 30 points in three of his last six appearances, before being sidelined for two to three weeks with a stress reaction in his right ankle. Coach Gregg Popovich expressed optimism about Ginobili’s status. “New bone has already been laying down, they’ve seen it on the X-rays,” Popovich told reporters. “So the healing process has already begun.”
4 
Last Week: 3Boston Celtics (45-12)There are two ways to look at Garnett’s recent injury. One, the Celtics may struggle without their defensive quarterback. Or two, the injury could turn out to be a blessing in disguise, as it gives the hyperactive Garnett a few weeks to cool his engines and refresh his body in time for the playoffs. I’ll take Option B. Remember, Garnett missed nine games in the middle of last season and had a full tank for Boston’s championship run.
5 
Last Week: 5Orlando Magic (41-14)Their deadline acquisition of Alston for, essentially, the seldom-used Brian Cook and a first-round pick isn’t in the Pau Gasol-to-the-Lakers category, but it was a savvy move. “I couldn’t believe they got him,” said an Eastern Conference assistant coach, who noted that, when Nelson returns next season, the Magic could get more for Alston than the the pick they gave to Houston. Alston was steady in his first start, scoring 12 points with nine assists as Orlando dusted division rival Miami on Sunday.
1
Los Angeles Lakers (42-10) 1Who needed to make a trade? Lakers 4-0 this week. 
2
Cleveland Cavaliers (43-11) 3Cavs go 3-0. 3
Orlando Magic (41-14) 5Alston acquisition puts Orlando back in Finals picture. 4
Boston Celtics (45-12) 2Garnett injury could impact Celtics’ quest for home-court advantage. 5
San Antonio Spurs (37-17) 4Ginobili out again, but he just needs to be ready by mid-April.
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February 24th, 2009 at 2:37 am
I really dont care whats going on now. They did the same thing last year. What I care about is a championship and to do that they are going to need Bynum and a good backup, Mikki Moore is a free agent, pick him up. Rumors are saying the celtics have made him an offer. What if, God forbid, Bynum doesnt return in time what then. You have a chance to get a great back up. Dept is how the Lakers beat the best teams. The regular season is practice for the playoffs and the championship. Nice going for Febuary Lakers but make the right move in free agency and lets get some rings.