Cavs push Warriors at top of NBA Power Rankings

A little stumbling lately, going 11-6 after a 36-6 start, but the Warriors have built up enough of a lead that they still need to be chased. Head's up Warriors, Cleveland's coming.

Key Injuries: None.

Since the Cavs started the year 19-20, they are 20-5 and, more often that not, looking like the championship contender they were supposed to be after their epic offseason.

Key Injuries: C Anderson Varejao (Achilles), SF Shawn Marion (hip).

With Dwight Howard hurt, third-year PF Terrence Jones is stepping up, averaging 16.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game since the All-Star break. Even so, it would still be nice to have Dwight.

Key Injuries: D Dwight Howard (ankle).

Winners of four straight, including victories over San Antonio, Oklahoma City and the Clippers, the Blazers made one of the savviest deadline moves, adding sharpshooter Arron Afflalo, providing a real upgrade to their wing depth.

Key Injuries: None.

On a five-game winning streak, after three losses in four games. PG Jeff Teague has a True Shooting Percentage of .576, third among point guards, behind Steph Curry, Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving; not bad company.

Key Injuries: SG Thabo Sefolosha (calf).

A little trouble lately with PF Zach Randolph, whose production has fallen off (14.5 ppg, 9.7 rpg) since a monster January (19.3 ppg, 13.8 rpg).

Key Injuries: SG Vince Carter (foot).

When is it okay to worry about the Spurs' ability to repeat? They don't seem terribly worried about blips during the regular season, but they are up and down and PG Tony Parker has been mostly down, with his PER of 14.5 representing a career low.

Key Injuries: None.

As PG Rajon Rondo struggles, generating .913 points per shot, Devin Harris becomes a more important part of the Mavs' rotation.

Key Injuries: SF Chandler Parsons (ankle).

C DeAndre Jordan has been dunktastic, shooting a league-best 71.3% from the field this season, but increasing his output with Blake Griffin out, averaging 13.8 points and 19.3 rebounds per game since the All-Star break.

Key Injuries: PF Blake Griffin (staph infection), SF Matt Barnes (hamstring).

Pushing their way into the playoff picture, even with Kevin Durant out, the Thunder are 9-2 in the past 11 games, with PG Russell Westbrook scoring 39 or more points in six of his past 13 games.

Key Injuries: SF Kevin Durant (toe), PF Steven Adams (hand).

Six wins in the past seven games gets the Pelicans within a game of a playoff spot in the West, but they're chasing Oklahoma City, which isn't easy at the best of times, let alone missing two starters.

Key Injuries: PG Jrue Holiday (leg), PF Ryan Anderson (knee).

8-3 in the past 11 games, the Bulls are going to be hard-pressed to keep winning down the stretch, currently down three starters, including both stars in the backcourt.

Key Injuries: PG Derrick Rose (knee), SG Jimmy Butler (elbow), PF Taj Gibson (ankle).

Six losses in seven games brings the Raptors back to relatively even terms with Chicago and Cleveland in the battle for spots two through four in the East. Their current flailing about shows how desperately they need a healthy Kyle Lowry running the point.

Key Injuries: PG Kyle Lowry (finger).

12 losses in the past 15 games has the Wizards plummeting in the standings. Fortunately, there's still a healthy 6.5-game cushion between fifth (Wiz) and seventh.

Key Injuries: PF Kris Humphries (groin).

4-10 in the past 14 games leaves the Suns looking up at a playoff spot and after their deadline dealing, getting rid of every point guard on the roster but Eric Bledsoe, it's hard to like their chances to get back into the postseason mix.

Key Injuries: None.

Six losses in seven games for the Bucks but, immediate results notwithstanding, they did make an interesting acquisition at the deadline, picking up PG Michael-Carter Williams.

Key Injuries: SG Jabari Parker (knee).

While much of the Eastern Conference playoff challengers have slumped, the Pacers have won nine of 11 to get within a half-game of a playoff spot as G Rodney Stuckey has given them a jolt off the bench, putting up 15.6 points per game over that span.

Key Injuries: SF Paul George (leg).

Losing Chris Bosh for the season could be the end of the Heat's playoff hopes, but they are 7-3 since he was knocked out of the lineup and C Hassan Whiteside is giving Miami the kind of post play they need to complement the backcourt of PG Goran Dragic and SG Dwyane Wade.

Key Injuries: PF Josh McRoberts (knee), PF Chris Bosh (blood clots).

5-7 in the past dozen games, the Timberwolves are a mediocre team when healthy, which is miles better than what they were through the first half of the season. 

Key Injuries: SG Shabazz Muhammad (abdominal), F Anthony Bennett (leg).

Moving out C Enes Kanter to give Rudy Gobert starter's minutes in the middle was a no-brainer for the Jazz. Gobert is an elite rim protector, who has blocked three shots per game over the past two months.

Key Injuries: SG Alec Burks (shoulder).

Three straight wins has the Bobcats in the last playoff spot in the East, but it's a tenuous grip -- three teams are within two games.

Key Injuries: PG Kemba Walker (knee).

The Nets don't score efficiently enough, though newcomer Thaddeus Young should help in that regard...if he gets enough touches.

Key Injuries: SF Mirza Teletovic (chest).

Coming off back-to-back wins, following a stretch of two wins in 21 games.

Key Injuries: C Jusuf Nurkic (ankle).

Lots of minutes in the backcourt for youth -- Ray McCallum, Ben McLemore and Nik Stauskas included -- but that comes with predictable results.

Key Injuries: PG Darren Collison (hip).

New point guard Reggie Jackson is a bit more of a distributor and that's particularly helped C Andre Drummond, who has improved efficiency (1.333 points per shot) in the past half dozen games.

Key Injuries: PG Brandon Jennings (Achilles).

An 8-5 record in the past 13 games has the Celtics inching closer to challenging for a playoff spot, and PG Isaiah Thomas has averaged better than 20 points per game off the bench since coming over from Phoenix.

Key Injuries: PF Jared Sullinger (foot).

Might as well turn SG Victor Oladipo loose more after he went off for 38 points (on 15-of-25 shooting). He's the perimeter player with a chance to fill it up.

Key Injuries: None.

It's almost comical how the Sixers keep moving out assets for draft picks. Presumably there will be a payoff at some point, but my fear would be that it will happen when Joel Embiid is an old man.

Key Injuries:  C Joel Embiid (foot), SG Tony Wroten (knee).

The Lakers are getting decent production out of their point guard tandem -- Jeremy Lin and Jordan Clarkson, with 17.1 points per game and 14.3 points per game, respectively, since the All-Star break.

Key Injuries: PG Steve Nash (back), PF Julius Randle (leg), SG Kobe Bryant (shoulder).

Lost 10 of 12 and with 'Melo hurt and Amar'e released, the one Knick on the roster averaging at least 12 points per game is...Andrea Bargnani.

Key Injuries: SF Carmelo Anthony (knee), PG Jose Calderon (Achilles).