Warriors hold steady atop NBA Power Rankings

Since I noted that the Spurs were closing in on the Warriors for the top spot, Golden State proceeded to bury Cleveland (132-98), Chicago (125-94), Indiana (122-110) and San Antonio (120-90). so never mind. Steve Kerr is back on the bench and all appears to be just fine with the Warriors.

Key Injuries: None.

The Spurs had won 13 straight before going into Golden State, sans Tim Duncan due a sore knee, so it's not the end of the world that they got stomped. At the same time, there's work to do if they are going to catch up with the Warriors. 

Key Injuries: None.

The Thunder have won eight of nine and they're contenders as long as SF Kevin Durant and PG Russell Westbrook can remain healthy. While their all-around games have holes, both C Enes Kanter and SG Dion Waiters have been productive scorers off the bench.

Key Injuries: None.

Getting destroyed by Golden State prompted the Cavaliers to fire head coach David Blatt, replacing him with Tyronn Lue. It's asking a lot for Lue, a former player but first-time head coach, to steer the ship for a championship-contending team and the Cavaliers remain the best option coming out of the East.

Key Injuries: None.

31-year-old SG J.J. Redick is having the best season of his career, knocking down 48.9 of his three-point attempts on his way to averaging 16.5 points per game. Also, if he continues to score at this rate, it will be the eighth consecutive season in which his average points per game has increased.

Key Injuries: PF Blake Griffin (quad).

The Raptors have won nine straight, including six by double-digit margins. They haven't gained a spot in the rankings, but they've closed the gap on top teams, so they're closer to overtaking the Clippers and even the Cavaliers. 

Key Injuries: SF DeMarre Carroll (knee).

The Hawks have gone 7-7 in the past 14 games, which isn't ideal, but given the other options in the Eastern Conference, the healthy Hawks are still worthy of a decent ranking.

Key Injuries: None.

Winning three in a row pushes the Celtics into a more competitive place in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. PG Isaiah Thomas has averaged 23.8 points per game in January to lead the way.

Key Injuries: None.

Five wins in the past six games has the Grizz looking a little better than they did through the first half of the season. They're still terribly inefficient offensively, as even bigs like Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph have been mediocre finishers, at best.

Key Injuries: PF Brandan Wright (knee).

Only three wins in the past 10 games, though the most recent win was a 13-point victory at Cleveland. Can they pull it together to be an Eastern Conference contender?

Key Injuries: SF Mike Dunleavy (ankle), C Joakim Noah (shoulder).

As the Mavericks mix and match lineups, 29-year-old Tunisian centre Salah Mejri has found his way into the rotation and the 7-foot-2 big man has dropped 19 points and 15 rebounds in 52 minutes over the past two games.

Key Injuries: None.

Following a surprisingly good start to the year, the Pacers have dropped six of seven games, with their only win coming against free-falling Phoenix. 

Key Injuries: G Rodney Stuckey (foot).

The Pistons are seeing some good progress from SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who is averaging 17.3 points, shooting 47.7% from the field, over the past 13 games.

Key Injuries: SG Jodie Meeks (foot).

The Rockets have won three straight, but Dwight Howard going back on the shelf for the time being costs them some love in the rankings.

Key Injuries: C Dwight Howard (ankle).

The Wizards can't gain any ground, and probably won't as long as they keep losing Bradley Beal to injury.

Key Injuries: PF Kris Humphries (knee), SG Bradley Beal (nose).

Have won five of seven, with one of the losses coming in double overtime on a night when DeMarcus Cousins dropped 56 points, after scoring 48 the game before. Boogie's dominance and gradually improving defence is going to give them a chance.

Key Injuries: SF Rudy Gay (eye).

The Knicks haven't had a regulation win in five games, but three of those games have gone to OT. They're still a couple of games out of a playoff spot, but that's close enough to challenge and that's a step forward for the organization.

Key Injuries: None.

The Magic are getting healthy, but that's not doing them much good, as they've dropped 11 of 12.

Key Injuries: PG C.J. Watson (calf).

4-8 in the past dozen games, the Heat are also dealing with significant injuries and had gone seven straight without scoring 100 points before hitting 102 at Brooklyn Tuesday.

Key Injuries: PF Josh McRoberts (knee), PG Goran Dragic (calf), C Hassan Whiteside (oblique), C Chris Andersen (knee).

The Hornets have won four of five, but the current rotation is a shell of what is really going to be available. In the meantime, PG Jeremy Lin has 46 points in 90 minutes over the past couple of games.

Key Injuries: SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (shoulder), C Al Jefferson (knee), SF Nicolas Batum (toe), SG Jeremy Lamb (toe).

4-8 in the past dozen games, the Jazz are at least getting healthier, with PF Derrick Favors returning to action.

Key Injuries: PG Dante Exum (knee), SG Alec Burks (fibula).

6-4 in the past 10 games, the Bucks are playing better defensively, and SF Giannis Antetokounmpo has put up 19.6 points and 9.4 rebounds while shooting 58.6% in the past eight games. 

Key Injuries: G Greivis Vasquez (ankle), SG O.J. Mayo (hamstring).

Six wins in the past eight games has been enough for the Blazers to slide into the final playoff spot in the West. They're relying a lot on guards Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, even though they aren't particularly efficient.

Key Injuries: None.

Six wins in the past 20 games isn't a great stretch, but at least SF Danilo Gallinari is going off, averaging 23.3 points per game, while earning 10.4 free-throw attempts per game in January. 

Key Injuries: SF Wilson Chandler (hip), PG Jameer Nelson (wrist).

The Pelicans have won five of seven, but with Anthony Davis sidelined, they don't get a rankings bump.

Key Injuries: SG Eric Gordon (finger), PF Anthony Davis (concussion).

Shabazz Muhammad is turning into a nice threat off the bench, averaging 14.4 points per game in the past eight.

Key Injuries: None.

Donald Sloan is the Nets' starting point guard now that Jarrett Jack is out. He's started the past nine games, averaging a modest 8.6 points and 6.0 assists per game in that role. 

Key Injuries: PG Jarrett Jack (knee), SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (ankle).

The Sixers aren't good, but they've won three of five and are no longer the worst team in the league with Ish Smith running the point.

Key Injuries:  C Joel Embiid (foot).

The Lakers have lost 11 of 12, and while the team isn't doing anything, SG Lou Williams is putting up 20.5 points per game, getting to the line 8.1 times per game, in January.

Key Injuries: None.

Two wins in the past 18 games is bad enough to fall to the bottom, but especially when the team's starting backcourt -- their two best players -- are out with injuries.

Key Injuries: PG Eric Bledsoe (knee), PF Jon Leuer (back), SG Brandon Knight (groin).