Well the NBA season has just hit the ¼ pole of it race for the champion, so I figured it would be the right time to do a little power rating of the league from both ends of the spectrum, the top 10 and then the bottom 10. As fans of the NBA know, teams can get hot rather quickly, especially if they are a decent to good team. Likewise, if a team is a "cellar-dweller", they can run off 8-10 game or more losing streak. So we will see if this article has any interest whatsoever. I am going the easy route to start off and do the bottom 10 first.

Number 10 - Sacramento Kings 10-14. The Kings entered this season in a rebuilding mode and then lost Kevin Martin. Martin's loss along with inconsistent play of Brad Miller has caused the Kings to be one of 2 teams (Timberwolves) without a division win, 0-4. Things are starting to look up as Miller has now posted back to back 20 point games.

Number 9 - Milwaukee Bucks 10-14. The Bucks are a very impressive 2-12 on the road, but did get a victory at home against Minnesota and have won 2 out of 3 after a 4 game losing streak. Yi Jianlian posted a career high of 22 points against the T-wolves. The Bucks are 8-2 at home, but if they can't win on the road it will be a long season.

Number 8 - Los Angles Clippers 10-14. The Clippers are struggling through injuries right now with Elton Brand still rehabbing from Achilles tendon surgery and has been cleared by the doctors to increase is workout. Sam Cassell's injury has resulted in a 3-10 record. This is a team that once they get healthy should improve.

Number 7 - Chicago Bulls 8-14. I have no idea as to why the Bulls are struggling other than Kirk Hinrich, but he isn't the only reason, I sense a chemistry issue, or "Kobe" hangover from all the pre-season talk of the trade. The Bulls have been only 3-8 on the road, but have shown signs of coming out of the slump by going 6-3 over the past couple of weeks.

Number 6 - Charlotte Bobcats 8-14. The Bobcats started out 6-4 but since that start they have gone 2-12. Team president, someone by the name of Michael Jordan recently traded for Narz Mohammed to provide an inside presence. More than likely the Bobcats are still a year away from competing with the big boys.

Number 5 - Miami Heat 7-17. In my NBA preview I stated that the Heat were one of those teams that could lose 50 as well as win 50. Well they are well on their way to the "lose 50" side. Shaq has been out of shape, slow and just plain not producing, his back-up Alonzo Mourning is actually out-playing him. There are not enough parts for Dwayne Wade to get them anywhere except for the lottery. Unless Pat Riley can pull off a trade, the lottery is where they are going to wind up.

Number 4 - Seattle Supersonics - Kevin Durant is in the official "learn as you go" mode and the Sonics are actually showing signs of improvement as they have won 5 of 8, but don't get too excited as 2 of those wins were against the Knicks and T-Wolves, but they were road wins nevertheless, and the Sonics are 4-10 on the road.

Number 3 - Memphis Grizzles 7-17. The Grizzles are just as impressive on the road (3-9) as they are at home (4-8). They surprised everyone by beating Orlando on the road Saturday with Pau Gasol sitting out with an injury. The result of that game may make GM Chris Wallace of trading the 7 footer before the season is over.

Number 2 - New York Knicks 7-17. The Knicks are an impressive 1-9 on the road and more and more fans are calling for Isiah Thomas' head. They have no inside defense, but what did they expect when they picked up Zach Randolph in the off season, who has never been confused with Dennis Rodman. They won't get out of the bottom 5 in my opinion as long as Thomas is here.

Number 1 - Minnesota Timberwolves 3-20. No surprise as they toil with a 1-11 road record and a current 5 game losing streak, making many of the bottom 10 teams look good. With their luck they will wind up with the 3^rd pick in the draft and the worst record.

Now for the "other half" of the food chain.

Number 10 - Orlando Magic 17-9. The Magic are an NBA best 12-4 on the road, but only 5-5 at home. Dwight Howard is fast becoming the best center in the NBA as he lead all centers in scoring, rebounding and block shots. Their next 4 games will be a major test as they will play at Dallas (Monday), at Houston (Wednesday), vs. Utah (Friday) and at Boston (Sunday).

Number 9 - Golden State Warriors 14-11. Don Nelson's "shot-em from anywhere" creed has seen the Warriors climb from the Pacific cellar. However they are on the beginning of a 5 game road trip and 8 of their next 10 on the road.

Number 8 - New Orleans Hornets 15-10. Chris Paul is proving he may be the 3^rd best point guard in the NBA. He has also scored 20 or more point in 8 of his last 9 games and kept the Hornets in 3^rd place in the tough Midwest division.

Number 7 - Los Angles Lakers 15-9. So where has all the "trade Kobe" talk went to? Winning will do that to a team. Andrew Bynum, the Lakers 20-year-old Center has averaged 14.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks over his last four games to help provide Kobe with a little of that help he craved prior to the start of the season.

Number 6 - Denver Nuggets 14-10. Kenyon Martin is back in full force as evident by his fragrant foul on Melvin Ely, which earned K-mart a one gamer. This team would be higher ranked if not for their recent win 2, lose 2 play as of late. They are also benefiting from Utah being in a slump right now.

Number 5 - Dallas Mavericks 19-9. I am still having a tough time figuring out exactly where the Mavs are this season, which a 7-7 record will do to you. They did look good in beating the Rockets and Hornets this past weekend. Now will be the time for them to "make hay" as 8 of their next 10 will be at home.

Number 4 - Phoenix Suns 18-7. You might think that a chipped tooth would keep your point guard out for a couple of days. It might if your point guard wasn't from Canada, like Steve Nash is. However they lost to the Heat and the Hornets, but then came back Monday and defeated the Spurs (without Duncan and Parker), a tough match-up today (Wednesday) against the Mavericks will determine where they go next.

Number 3 - Detroit Pistons 17-7. The Pistons have starting moving up a gear or two here recently with 11 wins over the past 14 games, including a blowout of Golden State, then they go and pick up 7-footer Primoz Brezec from Charlotte for Narz Mohammed, who rarely played for the Pistons.

Number 2 - San Antonio Spurs 18-6. How strong have the Spurs been this year, well consider that they have been without Duncan for more than a week and the last couple of games without Tony Parker and they still have the second best record in the NBA and would probably be the number 1 team if not for 3-staright losses to the Warriors, Lakers and Suns.

Number 1 - Boston Celtics 20-2. Sure starting center Cedric Perkins is out for a few games after dropping his bed on his foot, and Ray Allen has missed a couple games with an ankle problem, but they have now won 9 straight games and are the only undefeated home team left in the NBA and the Celts are also undefeated within their division. They face their toughest test at home on Wednesday against the surging Pistons in Boston.

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