Frank Zicarelli’s weekly NBA power rankings:
1. Chicago Bulls (40-10)
Joakim Noah needs to do a better job of keeping his cool.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (37-12)
So-so week ended with a dominant win over the visiting Heat.
3. San Antonio Spurs (33-14)
Only Miami has fewer home losses than savvy Spurs.
4. Miami Heat (35-12)
Took a step back in OKC, where Thunder rocked.
5. Orlando Magic (31-18)
Less three-balls and more touches for Dwight Howard is key.
6. Los Angeles Lakers (30-18)
Need to clean up act on road, where Lakers are road kill.
7. Atlanta Hawks (30-20)
Hitting their stride at the right time; team worth watching.
8. Philadelphia 76ers (27-22)
Knocking on the door, but need to knock off elite teams.
9. Indiana Pacers (28-19)
A losing week exposed flaws, but remain playoff worthy.
10. Dallas Mavericks (28-22)
Hard to figure team out when so much is about this summer.
11. Boston Celtics (26-22)
Ray Allen’s injury absence continues to be felt.
12. Milwaukee Bucks (22-16)
Very dangerous and explosive as team eyes playoffs.
13. Memphis Grizzlies (25-21)
Bench outscored Lakers’ reserves 41-9.
14. Los Angeles Clippers (27-21)
Going backwards when team should be moving forward.
15. Utah Jazz (26-13)
Much like Bucks, a team on the rise.
16. Houston Rockets (26-23)
Terrible away record must somehow be improved.
17. Phoenix Suns (25-24)
Marcin Gortat playing as well as any centre in the game.
18. Denver Nuggets (26-23)
Losing week has team looking on the outside of playoffs.
19. New York Knicks (24-25)
Brutal loss in Toronto should raise plenty of concerns.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves (24-26)
Kevin Love being compared to Larry Bird, minus the rings.
21. Portland Trail Blazers (23-26)
One of many teams looking to establish an identity.
22. Golden State Warriors (20-27)
Chris Mullin tribute turned ugly when fans booed owner Joe Lacob.
23. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-29)
In playoff race, but in reality they’re far from post-season ready.
24. Sacramento Kings (17-31)
Have shown some good signs, but team remains too young.
25. Toronto Raptors (16-33)
Showed plenty of resiliency in OT loss to host Bulls.
26. Detroit Pistons (16-32)
Pistons have hit a rough stretch where winning is elusive.
27. New Jersey Nets (16-34)
Very limited with centre Brook Lopez on the shelf.
28. New Orleans Hornets (12-36)
At least team went .500 during past week.
29. Washington Wizards (11-37)
Nene must be wishing he had never been traded.
30. Charlotte Bobcats (7-39)
Boris Diaw’s fat body and fat contract finally gone.
*Records do not include Monday’s games
