NBA Power Rankings: Golden State still on top, LeBron James is ready for playoffs

10. Dallas Mavericks

Dirk Nowitzki says the Mavs are still playing hard. They are not playing well. Leading scorer, enigmatic Monta Ellis sat out Sunday night’s loss to Indiana with a right calf strain. The Mavs were able to split a home-and-home with San Antonio getting 38 from Ellis in the home win earlier in the week. If Kevin Durant had been healthy, the Mavericks would have ended up as the eighth seed in the West at best. Instead, they will most likely avoid a first round matchup with Golden State barring a complete collapse which is unlikely with Phoenix, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah and Denver still on the schedule.

9. Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose is back practicing. This Friday will be five weeks since Rose had a small portion of his meniscus removed. He was expected to be out four to six weeks. The Bulls are a respectable 16-12 when Rose is out. They could probably win a first round series versus Milwaukee or Miami without Rose. They would have no chance against Cleveland or Atlanta in the second round. Both Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson have come back and played well. Pau Gasol has been a double-double machine and Joakim Noah appears healthier than he has been all year. There is a confidence around the Bulls that if Rose comes back and is close to himself this team is capable of making a deep playoff run. That is still a big if. 

8. Memphis Grizzlies

Last week was a chance to prove that the second half Grizzlies slide was not a real thing. Turns out it is. Memphis lost at home to Cleveland and Golden State then got waxed on the road by San Antonio. Add up the three losses and you get a total of 59 points. Ouch.

7. Portland Trailblazers

Banged up Portland got LaMarcus Aldridge back from a left hand injury, Nicolas Batum from a lower back injury and Chris Kaman from a right shoulder strain. The injuries had caught up to the Blazers who had lost five in a row, but have now won their last four. Dallas, Oklahoma City, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State all remain on the schedule. Portland will be no worse than the fourth seed having clinched the Northwest Division although they could start the playoff on the road. Memo to commissioner Adam Silver: this makes no sense and no one even knows who is in what division.

6. Los Angeles Clippers

Seven wins in a row is impressive. But, the Clippers are still under .500 against teams with a winning record, 19-20. Marquee matchup of the week has the Clippers squaring off with Golden State Tuesday night. These two teams do not like each other. Clipper Dahntay Jones was fined $10,000 for making postgame contact with Warrior Draymond Greene earlier this month in what has been described as “Bumpgate.” Green is expected to sit out with a shin injury, but said he will miss the game with “Blake-itis.” The Clippers are 7-1 since Griffin returned. DeAndre Jordan has been the leading rebounder in 18 straight games.

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