ESPN Power Rankings

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerranking?season=2006&week=18


2005-06 Power Rankings: Week 18
RANK (LAST WK) TEAM REC. COMMENT
1 (3) Spurs 46-12 For all its big-game experience, Spurs still will get a confidence boost from beating Dallas -- and denting Mavs' confidence -- after losing two 'big' games to Pistons.

2 (4) Suns 41-17 I had the wrong Frenchman at Most Improved Player in my Weekend Dime. It should be Diaw, now a nightly triple-double threat at center, over Parker.

3 (2) Pistons 48-11 A 22-1 finish gets 'em to 70 wins, but weary Pistons would settle for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs (at any number) and some rest for the starters.

4 (1) Mavericks 46-13 Mavs were due for a couple Ls. The greater disappointment is that now, no matter what happened before SA and PHX, they'll be subjected to all the old criticisms.

5 (5) Heat 38-20 Can't overhype this win streak with Heat fed seven straight cupcakes after the Detroit breakthrough. But we don't want to be too downbeat on Shaq's 34th birthday.

6 (8) Pacers 30-26 Pacers are 9-5 with Peja, who's averaging 19.6 ppg as a Pacer. So they're not complaining that Artest-for-Maggette fell through, even with Maggette playing again.

7 (7) Nuggets 32-28 With a seven-game trip looming, Nuggets appear to be at their up-and-down best, following up a home spanking from Bucks by punishing Pistons.

8 (6) Nets 32-26 It might have been a bit premature to suggest in the Midweek Dime that Nets had cemented their top-six standing. They haven't, even with Kidd playing great.

9 (9) Clippers 33-25 A 3-7 slump should be alarming, especially after Clips trade for Radmanovic and regain Maggette, but let's be honest. Finishing sixth in the West is better anyway.

10 (13) Grizzlies 33-26 After dropping 13 of 18 in one stretch, worst appears to be over for Grizz. At least Jerry West thinks so, because The Logo apparently has guaranteed a playoff berth.

11 (11) Cavaliers 34-26 Yes, Cleveland. Looks like I was way out of line in recent weeks to suggest that your Cavs were possibly ripe for a third successive second-half slide. I take it all back.

13 (10) Hornets 31-27 Hornets are torn about Wednesday's emotional return to New Orleans because it takes a big away game away from their proven home-court advantage in OKC.

13 (15) 76ers 30-29 Like a lot of you, I'm saddened that Team USA didn't bring back its greatest patriot. But the snub is helping Sixers, with Iverson pouring it on in this 5-2 uptick.

14 (16) Lakers 31-29 Even after beating Pistons, Lakers have to be careful. They were also 31-29 last season after a big win over Dallas . . . and won three more games all season.

15 (12) Wizards 30-28 Here's a rare Wiz stat that doesn't involve Gilbert Arenas: Washington's recent nine-game home winning streak was its longest since a 15-gamer in (yikes) 1989.

16 (17) Kings 28-31 They're only 11-7 since Artest arrived, but Kings seem hotter than that given the pressure they're putting on Lakers at the bottom of the West playoff ladder.

17 (14) Rockets 27-33 Yao just strung together double-doubles in six consecutive games for the first time in his career . . . but T-Mac just tweaked his back for the third time this season.

18 (22) Timberwolves 26-32 I thought Wolves would be better than 7-11 with Ricky. Of course, I never thought I'd see the day that KG, at 29, misses the playoffs two seasons in a row.

19 (18) Bucks 29-30 As if a dwindling lead over No. 9 Bulls and a home loss to Knicks aren't enough, there's this for sub-.500 Bucks: Magloire just took a swipe at Stotts' rotation.

20 (20) Bulls 26-33 A playoff berth remains a maybe at best, even with Hinrich and Gordon scoring freely these days, but Bulls can bank on a thank-you note from Phoenix for T. Thomas.

21 (19) Jazz 28-31 I just don't know if this Jazz ever will be healthy enough to make a lasting playoff push. What I do know is that Kirilenko is the talk of the league.

22 (23) Raptors 21-38 After six straight excruciating defeats -- three in OT -- Raps cap a big week in franchise history by adding a W over Boston to success in the Colangelo tug-of-war.

23 (24) Hawks 19-39 Blowing that lead in Miami was a downer, but Hawks can comfort themselves with thoughts of a 6-6 February . . . and wins over Pistons, Nets, Lakers and Pacers.

24 (21) Celtics 24-35 Something else that's not Pierce's fault? Celts are still the only team in the league without a single three-game win streak this season.

25 (26) SuperSonics 23-37 Says Rashard: Schultz's reluctance to spend money and the franchise's uncertain future in town have, according to Lewis, put 'that Seattle rain' over Sonics' heads.

26 (25) Warriors 25-34 Anyone remember that 12-6 start? Warriors are 13-
27 since, which is why Monty's name is bound to start coming up for college openings.

27 (27) Magic 20-39 Bleak as day-to-day life must be for a team that has dropped 17 of 19, Magic can honestly say that Dwight and Darko look better than OK together.

28 (28) Trail Blazers 19-40 With his last 11 losses coming by an average of 19.5 points, only solace for McMillan is that Blazers are only 3 1/2 games shy of Pacific Northwest bragging rights.

29 (29) Knicks 16-43 They have a 3-22 record since Larry's 1,000th victory, but don't fret. Dolan said -- 30-something times in one sitting -- that Knicks also do have a ''strategy.''

30 (30) Bobcats 16-44 Bobcats have racked up so many injuries and losses lately that no one even asks any more if Okafor (ankle) plans to come back for a few games.