NBA Power Rankings

NBA Power Rankings
1 Last Week: 1 Los Angeles Lakers (46-10)
If you don't believe them when they say they can win a championship without Bynum, at least consider what others around the league are saying. "I think they are better without Bynum," an Eastern Conference head coach said. "Look at the way the league is trending. The really good teams are the ones that play fast. This Lakers team plays really fast." Bynum's replacement in the starting lineup, Lamar Odom, continues to play well, having pulled down at least 14 rebounds in seven games this month.

2 Last Week: 4 Cleveland Cavaliers (43-11)
Remember when Wally Szczerbiak was deemed expendable, when the only reason to speak his name was to remind everyone of his expiring contract? Maybe the Cavs decided to hold on to him because he is actually needed. Szczerbiak's consistent scoring during West's absence helped keep the Cavs rolling. It's looking more and more like Szczerbiak will be counted on to play significant minutes down the stretch.

3 Last Week: 2 San Antonio Spurs (37-17)
Ginobili had been coming on offensively of late, scoring at least 30 points in three of his last six appearances, before being sidelined for two to three weeks with a stress reaction in his right ankle. Coach Gregg Popovich expressed optimism about Ginobili's status. "New bone has already been laying down, they've seen it on the X-rays," Popovich told reporters. "So the healing process has already begun."

4 Last Week: 3 Boston Celtics (45-12)
There are two ways to look at Garnett's recent injury. One, the Celtics may struggle without their defensive quarterback. Or two, the injury could turn out to be a blessing in disguise, as it gives the hyperactive Garnett a few weeks to cool his engines and refresh his body in time for the playoffs. I'll take Option B. Remember, Garnett missed nine games in the middle of last season and had a full tank for Boston's championship run.

5 Last Week: 5 Orlando Magic (41-14)
Their deadline acquisition of Alston for, essentially, the seldom-used Brian Cook and a first-round pick isn't in the Pau Gasol-to-the-Lakers category, but it was a savvy move. "I couldn't believe they got him," said an Eastern Conference assistant coach, who noted that, when Nelson returns next season, the Magic could get more for Alston than the the pick they gave to Houston. Alston was steady in his first start, scoring 12 points with nine assists as Orlando dusted division rival Miami on Sunday.

6 Last Week: 7 Denver Nuggets (37-19)
Could free-agent forward/center Mikki Moore be bound for Denver? While Boston is still considered the front-runner, Moore's agent reportedly had discussions with Denver last week. The Nuggets could certainly use another big man. Kenyon Martin has back spasms and the Nuggets suffered a scare when Nene went down with a bruised right knee in Sunday's loss at Milwaukee.

7 Last Week: 8 Houston Rockets (35-21)
Who will be Alston's long-term replacement at point guard? Houston should have a good idea by the end of the season whether it will be Kyle Lowry, a 2006 first-round pick acquired in the Alston trade, or Aaron Brooks, a 2007 first-round pick who had 19 points and eight assists as a starter in a victory against Dallas in the first game after the trade.

8 Last Week: 10 Portland Trail Blazers (35-20)
Memo to those who have questioned me about putting Joe Johnson over Brandon Roy on my All-NBA third team in Sports Illustrated's midseason package: It was close. Razor close. That's not to say Roy won't end the season with the spot, especially if he continues to have more weeks like this past one. Roy averaged 29.3 points in three Portland home victories.

9 Last Week: 13 Utah Jazz (33-23)
A 3-0 week was overshadowed by the loss of longtime owner Larry Miller, who died from complications from diabetes on Friday. "I looked up to Larry," Mavs owner Mark Cuban wrote in an e-mail to SI.com. "He was fiery, he stuck to his beliefs, even if they weren't popular, and he wanted to win as badly as anyone. He pulled no punches, whether it was letting the guys know how he felt in a huddle or in the locker room, or his work ethic in the business community. It was clear that there are few people in this world as competitive as Larry."

10 Last Week: 6 Dallas Mavericks (33-22)
Jerry Stackhouse, who expected to be traded or bought out by now, will now be thrust back into the rotation after the Mavs lost Jason Terry to a broken hand. After missing 40 games with a right foot injury, Stackhouse went scoreless in his first two games back last week. "If you love to play basketball, you love to compete," Stackhouse told the Dallas Morning News. "That's all my focus is, to be a contributor in helping us achieve our goals, and that's winning a championship."