As we enter the final month and a half of the NBA’s regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers are 46-16 and still have a firm grip on the Western Conference with a five game lead over the Dallas Mavericks for the number one spot as well as an eight game lead over Phoenix (39-25) in the Pacific division. Denver at 40-21 still has a battle on their hands in the Northwest division as Utah (39-22) is only one game back and Oklahoma City (36-24) is 3 ½ games back. In the Southwest division, the Mavericks (41-21) have won nine straight to create some separation from San Antonio (34-24) who is five games back. There are nine teams in the conference that have a winning record with Portland currently in the eighth spot at 37-27. Here is a brief look at my power rankings for the top three teams in the West.
Los Angeles Lakers (46-16) Current Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 7/5
Against the Sixers last Friday night, Pau Gasol scored 23 points and had 11 rebounds in the 99-90 win. In a huge conference showdown against the Nuggets, Lamar Odom scored a team high 20 points off the bench in a 95-89 win. In their next game they outscored the Pacers 38-17 in the third quarter on their way to a 122-99 rout. Last night they were stunned by the Heat 111-114 in overtime despite Kobe Bryant scoring a game high 39 points. Through 62 games Bryant leads in points per game with 27.6 and assists with 4.8. Gasol is the leading rebounder with 11.1. Next up for the Lakers are the Bobcats tonight and the Magic on Sunday on the road and then back home to play the Raptors on Tuesday, March 9th.
Dallas Mavericks (41-21) Current Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 8/1
Against one of the better teams in the East, the Mavs pulled out a 111-103 overtime win over the Hawks. In a 108-100 win over the Hornets, Dirk Nowitzki scored a game high 36 points. They held the Bobcats to just 31 points in the second half on their way to an 89-84 win. They made it nine straight with a 112-109 win over the Timberwolves with Jason Terry scoring a game high 26 points off the bench. Through 62 games Nowitzki is the leading scorer, averaging 25.2 points per game. In his 10 games with the Mavs, Brendon Haywood has averaged 9.7 rebounds per game and Jason Kidd leads in assists with 9.3. Next up for the Mavericks are the Kings at home tonight, on the road against the Bulls on Saturday and the Timberwolves on Monday, and then back home to play the Nets on Wednesday, March 10th.
Denver Nuggets (40-21) Current Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 8/1
Last Friday the Nuggets pounded out a 107-102 win over the Pistons with Chauncey Billups scoring a team high 25 points. In an 89-95 loss to the Lakers, Carmelo Anthony led all scorers with 21 points in the losing effort. They lost their second straight, dropping an 85-101 decision to the Suns. Bouncing back with a convincing 119-90 rout of the Thunder, they outscored them 31-12 in the third quarter. Through 61 games Anthony is the leading scorer, averaging 28.6 points per game. Kenyon Martin is averaging 9.6 rebounds and Billups is averaging six assists. Next up for the Nuggets are the Pacers tonight and the Trail Blazers on Sunday at home and then on the road against the Timberwolves on Wednesday, March 10th.
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