NBA Power Report

So football is over, baseball still has a month to go, and I don't care for college basketball, so I've been watching a lot of and following the NBA lately.

1. Lakers. Kobe Bryant has numerous injuries but they keep winning anyway. If you forced me now to pick the finals winner with my life savings on the line, I'd probably pick Los Angeles. They were 4-1 this month even without Kobe.

2. Cavaliers. If you read my last blog about LeBron James you'll know how I feel. He is the most completely dominating player in the NBA. Yet when the game is close he has this itching to be a hero launching the ball from downtown. If he cuts down his 3-pt shots and drives more this team will win it all, but not until then. And that might not be this year.

3. Mavericks. Mavs were completely disfunctional on defense before the All Star break (8 straight games allowing 100+ points) but after the trade with the Wizards they have completely changed around (7 straight since allowing less than 100, [excluding OT vs. the Hawks], including Lakers, Suns, and Magic). Dirk, Terry, and Kidd have been the best 4th quarter trio this season.

4. Nuggets. Billups and Carmelo are also huge in the clutch. Denver haas the NBA's best record against the NBA's best teams. But they are only 14-14 on the road.

5. Jazz. Most of the time this team runs like a well-oiled machine. For the first time in a decade the Jazz are not afraid of any other team in the Western Conference. Highest FG% team.

6. Magic. This is a strange team. Magic have a huge player at center who is #2 in field goal percentage and they have taken about 150 more 3-pt attempts than every other team. Perhaps they are afraid of Howard's dreadful free throw percentage but still... feed Dwight Howard in the middle and he can open things up for the shooters, not the other way around. But anyway, they still have the Cavs' number.

7. Suns. Steve Nash is incredible to watch. He's old but still probably the best passer and shooter in the league. Everything he throws up goes in. #1 offensive team, #last defensive team. Hasn't worked before, this year won't be any different.

8. Thunder. It's no secret that Kevin Durant is a superstar elite now. And he has some good players around him, too.

9. Hawks. For a team with high energy guys (Josh Smith, Jamal Crawford, Joe Johnson, Al Horford), The Hawks Atlanta simply shut down in the second half against Golden State and Dallas. I don't know why.

10. Celtics. Gave up a 13 point lead at home to the Cavs and two days later lost at home to the Nets. I thought this was the NBA's most overrated team so it was about time they showed it.

11. Spurs
12. Trailblazers
13. Raptors
14. Bulls.
15. Bucks. Highest they've probably ever been.
16. Rockets.
17. Hornets.
18. Grizzlies.
19. Bobcats.
20. Heat. With Wade or without?
21. Clippers.
22. Knicks.
23. 76ers.
24. Pistons.
25. Pacers.

26. Warriors. They don't win much, but they can sure score a lot with Ellis and Curry.
27. Wizards. Quick, name me 2 healthy and active players on the Wizards. I can't name one.
28. After trading Kevin Martin, the only player I can name on this team is a rookie, Tyreke Evans.
29. Timberwolves. Only 14 wins, but 4 were against Utah, Denver, and Dallas.
30. Nets. Win Saturday raises them to above .100 for the first time this year. And they finally matched the Jets with three 2010 wins.