NBA Power Rankings - January 8, 2015

Five straight wins, by an average margin of 23 points, underscores that the Warriors aren't too concerned about their currently thin frontcourt, in part due to the contributions of Marreese Speights, who averaged 16.6 points per game, on 57.6% from the field, in those five wins.

Key Injuries: C Andrew Bogut (knee), PF Festus Ezeli (ankle).

Two losses in the past 12 games, and they've come against quality opponents (Houston and Atlanta), as the Blazers ride the hot hand of PG Damian Lillard, who is averaging 26.4 points per game in his last 13 games.

Key Injuries: C Robin Lopez (hand).

The good news for the Rockets is that Josh Smith is only averaging 11.4 field goal attempts per game since joining Houston, but the worry for a three-friendly team like the Rockets is that Smith is shooting an abysmal 22.6% (12-for-53) from beyond the arc this season, 3-for-16 (18.8%) with Houston.

Key Injuries: PF Terrence Jones (leg).

Contributions from the bench -- Taj Gibson, Aaron Brooks, Nikola Mirotic -- have been crucial as the Bulls make up for various injuries.

Key Injuries: SF Mike Dunleavy (ankle).

With 11 wins in the past 12 games, suddenly the Hawks can't be ignored, at least when it comes to Eastern Conference contenders. The emergence of PG Jeff Teague is making a difference.

Key Injuries: None.

Only five wins in the last 11 games, but with SF Kevin Durant back in the lineup, there is some reason to project the Thunder to be better than their record. 

Key Injuries: None.

Four wins in the past five games, and PF Blake Griffin is becoming more efficient as the season progresses, averaging 16.5 field goal attempts per game over the past eight, yet still putting up 20.6 points per game in that span.

Key Injuries: None.

Wednesday's loss to Detroit snapped a six-game winning streak, and while PG Rajon Rondo is providing more offence than he did in Boston, the Mavericks' improved defence is what should have long-term value.

Key Injuries: None.

Turns out that the Grizzlies miss Z-Bo's low-post game, as Jon Leuer and Jarnell Stokes are providing barely any offence at all as replacements at power forward.

Key Injuries: PF Zach Randolph (knee).

The competition (Golden State, Portland, Phoenix) was tough to end Toronto's road trip, but a three-game losing streak drops them in the rankings. Some home dates and the pending return of DeMar DeRozan could have them bouncing back in short order.

Key Injuries: SG DeMar DeRozan (groin).

It's probably not ideal for the Spurs to have Canadian PG Cory Joseph getting so many minutes, but Joseph is taking advantage of playing time available when Tony Parker has been hurt, averaging 12.2 points and 3.6 assists per game since the start of December.

Key Injuries: SF Kawhi Leonard (hand).

Ran into problems with Dallas, Oklahoma City and San Antonio, but it got better for the Wiz when they faced New Orleans and the Knicks.

Key Injuries: None.

Soft opposition has helped the Suns on a four-game winning streak, but they need to do whatever they can to cling to a playoff spot. Currently eighth in the West, they are 3.5-game ahead of New Orleans and four ahead of Oklahoma City.

Key Injuries: None.

Three losses in the past four games, but getting SG Eric Gordon back from injury gives the Pelicans a little boost.

Key Injuries: None.

Six losses in the past seven games, and LeBron is out, but the Cavs are making a desperate push to bolster the roster, trading for C Timofey Mozgov and shooting guards J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert.

Key Injuries: C Anderson Varejao (Achilles), SF LeBron James (back, knee).

As C Larry Sanders seems to have lost interest in basketball, his absence is creating an opportunity for second-round pick Johnny O'Bryant, averaging nearly 20 minutes per game in the last three.

Key Injuries: PF Ersan Ilyasova (concussion), SF Jabari Parker (knee).

As C Brook Lopez works his way back into the rotation, with 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in the last five, the Nets have a passable starting five -- likely good enough to get into the postseason, but probably not much more than that.

Key Injuries: None.

It will be interesting to see what the Kings become when DeMarcus Cousins gets back in gear. In the past four games, one of the league's most dominant low-post scorers is hitting 33.8% (24-for-71) from the field.

Key Injuries: PG Ramon Sessions (back), F Omri Casspi (knee).

Snapped a four-game losing streak with Sunday's win over Brooklyn, but now head on a Western road trip that could be trouble, given the calibre of opposition that they will face.

Key Injuries: PF Josh McRoberts (knee).

It comes as no surprise that the Pistons' offence functions better without Josh Smith, but they are pretty much better everywhere since cutting Smith loose. Detroit has won seven straight and PG Brandon Jennings has upped his shots (16.1 per game since Smith departed) to fill some of the offensive void.

Key Injuries: None.

Winners of three straight, the Nuggets also secured valuable draft picks from Cleveland in exchange for C Timofey Mozgov, who was easy enough to trade, given the development of rookie Jusuf Nurkic, averaging 11.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game in the past five.

Key Injuries: G Randy Foye (quad), C JaVale McGee (leg), SF Danilo Gallinari (knee).

Hanging in the playoff hunt, two games behind Miami, the Pacers have battled with an injury-depleted lineup and were looking pretty good with PG George Hill healthy but, alas, he's hurt again.

Key Injuries: SF Paul George (leg), PF Ian Mahinmi (foot), PG George Hill (groin).

Turns out that SF Jae Crowder was the prize for Boston in the Rondo deal, as his playing time has bumped up to 16 minutes per game with the Celtics, while PF Brandan Wright is mostly on the outside looking in, playing a little over 10 minutes per game.

Key Injuries: PG Jameer Nelson (ankle).

The Hornets have won three straight, which would normally earn a move up, but losing C Al Jefferson to injury limits their upward mobility. 

Key Injuries: SG Lance Stephenson (pelvis), C Al Jefferson (groin).

In his past five games, SG Kobe Bryant has averaged 12.2 field goal attempts per game, and is still averaging 20.8 per game for the season, but with Kobe's reduced shot volume, Nick Young has shot more. That may not be a good thing, as Swaggy P is shooting 31.6% from the field in the past five games.

Key Injuries: PG Steve Nash (back), PF Julius Randle (leg).

Four straight losses for the Magic, who have to work through cold spells from SG Evan Fournier and rookie PG Elfrid Payton, who have combined to shoot 36.4% from the field in the past five games.

Key Injuries: PF Aaron Gordon (foot).

It's some luxury that the Jazz can turn to Rudy Gobert (11.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 blocks per game in the past four) when starting centre Enes Kanter is injured.

Key Injuries: C Enes Kanter (ankle), SG Alec Burks (shoulder).

On a team of mostly lost causes, G Tony Wroten is doing his part to stand out as a viable NBA contributor, averaging 19.9 points per game in the past seven.

Key Injuries:  C Joel Embiid (foot), SG Jason Richardson (knee, foot).

13 straight losses, their best player is hurt and they dealt away two rotation shooting guards...yet it's still not enough to land in the basement.

Key Injuries: SF Carmelo Anthony (knee).

That's because the Timberwolves have lost 13 straight and still have more injury concerns. On the plus side, rookie SF Andrew Wiggins has averaged 22.6 points on 52.2% shooting in the past five games. 

Key Injuries: PG Ricky Rubio (ankle), SG Kevin Martin (wrist), C Nikola Pekovic (wrist),