NBA Western Conference Power Rankings- January 22nd
On Thursday night, the Los Angeles Lakers lost a huge showdown with Eastern Conference power Cleveland, but they are still the best team in the Western Conference with a 32-10 record. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games and have a 7 ½ game lead over Phoenix in the Pacific division. In the Northwest division, Denver has won five straight games to open up a 2 ½ game lead over Portland and a four game lead over Oklahoma City and Utah. Briefly knocked out of the lead by San Antonio, Dallas is back on top in the Southwest division with a 2 ½ game lead over the slumping Spurs. In a very tight race, Houston is 4 ½ games back, while New Orleans and Memphis are just 5 ½ games out of the lead. There are 11 teams in the West with a winning record with the 24-18 Utah Jazz clinging to the eighth spot. Here is a brief look at my power rankings for the top three teams in the West.
Los Angeles Lakers (32-10) Current Odds to Win the Western Conference: 2/3
The Lakers avenged an earlier defeat this month to their Los Angeles rivals, beating the Clippers 126-86. They only led by three at the half, but completely blew them out in the second half. They followed this up with a 98-92 win over the Magic. Six players scored in double figures with Shannon Brown coming off the bench to lead all scorers with 22 points. On Thursday night in a huge showdown with Cleveland, Kobe Bryant’s 31 points were not enough to hold off LeBron James and the Cavs as the Lakers fell 87-93. Through 42 games Bryant leads in points per game with 28.3 and assists with 4.5. Pau Gasol is the leading rebounder with 11.2. Next up for the Lakers is a four game East Coast road trip starting with the Knicks tonight, the Raptors on Sunday, the Wizards on Tuesday, and the Pacers on Wednesday, January 27th.
Denver Nuggets (28-14) Current Odds to Win the Western Conference: 5/1
In a wild one, the Nuggets came away with a 119-112 win over the Jazz with Carmelo Anthony scoring 37 points and Chauncey Billups adding 27 of his own. In a 123-118 win over the Warriors, six players scored in double figures with Billups leading the way with 37 points. On Wednesday night they won their fifth straight game with a 105-85 blowout of the Clippers despite actually trailing by one point at the half. Through 42 games Anthony is the leading scorer averaging 29.8 points per game. Kenyon Martin is averaging 8.9 rebounds and Billups is averaging 5.7 assists. Next up for the Nuggets are the Hornets on Saturday and the Bobcats on Monday at home, and then on the road against the Rockets on Wednesday, January 27th.
Dallas Mavericks (28-14) Current Odds to Win the Western Conference: 8/1
In an exciting one point 99-98 win over the Thunder the Mav’s overcame an 11 point deficit to snap a two game home losing streak. In their next game they found themselves trailing by 14 points at the half, and were never able to make it a game losing to the Raptors 88-110. Against the Celtics, Dirk Nowitzki’s 37 points led the way in the 99-90 win. In a 94-93 victory over the Wizards, the Mav’s defense came up big down the stretch to preserve the win. Through 42 games Nowitzki leads in scoring; averaging 24.9 points per game, Erick Dampier leads in rebounds with 9.4, and Jason Kidd leads in assists with 8.8. Next up for the Mavericks are the 76ers tonight and the Knicks on Sunday on the road, and then back home to play the Bucks on Tuesday, January 26th.
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