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2014-15 NBA Power Rankings: Week 13

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By @courtzierk

2014-15 NBA Power Rankings: Week 13

Brooklyn Nets v Los Angeles Clippers
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There is never any shortage of excitement in the NBA, and this week was no different. This week’s power rankings will be indicative of the unpredictable and exhilarating season that we are witnessing. There are surprise teams that continue their hot play, but there are also teams many had high expectations for that continue to disappoint. Here is the Week 13 edition of RantSports’ NBA Power Rankings.

30. Minnesota Timberwolves (7-37), Last Week: 29

Minnesota Timberwolves v Oklahoma City Thunder
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30. Minnesota Timberwolves (7-37), Last Week: 29

Minnesota Timberwolves v Oklahoma City Thunder
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I didn’t think I would see the day where neither the 76ers nor the Knicks would occupy the bottom position in these rankings. Congratulations Minnesota, you have reached rock bottom.

29. Philadelphia 76ers (8-37), Last Week: 28

Philadelphia 76ers V Toronto Raptors
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29. Philadelphia 76ers (8-37), Last Week: 28

Philadelphia 76ers V Toronto Raptors
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After winning three out of five games, for their best stretch of the season, the 76ers have now lost six straight, bringing order back to the world as we know it.

28. Los Angeles Lakers (12-33), Last Week: 26

Houston Rockets v Los Angeles Lakers
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28. Los Angeles Lakers (12-33), Last Week: 26

Houston Rockets v Los Angeles Lakers
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The Lakers have lost eight games in a row and looked lifeless in the process. Kobe Bryant is now out for the season. Nick Young played in only eight minutes in their most recent loss. Things are getting flat-out weird in Tinseltown.

27. New York Knicks (8-37), Last Week: 30

Orlando Magic v New York Knicks
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27. New York Knicks (8-37), Last Week: 30

Orlando Magic v New York Knicks
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The Knicks finally showed some signs of life, winning three games in a row before falling to the Hornets in their most recent game.

26. Orlando Magic (15-33), Last Week: 24

Indiana Pacers v Orlando Magic
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26. Orlando Magic (15-33), Last Week: 24

Indiana Pacers v Orlando Magic
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The Magic are losing control of a once-promising season that had many putting them into fringe discussions about contending for a playoff spot.

25. Indiana Pacers (16-30), Last Week: 25

Indiana Pacers v Miami Heat
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25. Indiana Pacers (16-30), Last Week: 25

Indiana Pacers v Miami Heat
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The Pacers snapped a seven-game losing streak against the hapless Magic, but as we just saw, that isn’t saying much.

24. Boston Celtics (16-27), Last Week: 27

Boston Celtics v Denver Nuggets
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24. Boston Celtics (16-27), Last Week: 27

Boston Celtics v Denver Nuggets
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The Celtics have begun to show some signs of life, winning three of their last four games, including a near-win in Oakland against the conference leading Warriors.

23. Sacramento Kings (16-27), Last Week: 22

Sacramento Kings v Golden State Warriors
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23. Sacramento Kings (16-27), Last Week: 22

Sacramento Kings v Golden State Warriors
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The demise of the Kings continues to unfold before our eyes.

22. Utah Jazz (16-29), Last Week: 23

Boston Celtics v Utah Jazz
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22. Utah Jazz (16-29), Last Week: 23

Boston Celtics v Utah Jazz
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The Jazz are quickly becoming darlings among diehard NBA fans everywhere. Their young and talented roster has made them a League Pass favorite.

21. Brooklyn Nets (18-26), Last Week: 21

Brooklyn Nets v Utah Jazz
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21. Brooklyn Nets (18-26), Last Week: 21

Brooklyn Nets v Utah Jazz
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There may not be a more hopeless situation than what is unfolding in Brooklyn. The Nets' only hope is that they can somehow get teams to take on some of their enormous salaries to clear the way for their future.

20. Denver Nuggets (18-27), Last Week: 20

Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Clippers
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20. Denver Nuggets (18-27), Last Week: 20

Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Clippers
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I just said that Brooklyn may have the most hopeless situation in all of the NBA. I take that back. The Nuggets have even less reason to be optimistic.

19. Detroit Pistons (17-28), Last Week: 18

Detroit Pistons v Milwaukee Bucks
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19. Detroit Pistons (17-28), Last Week: 18

Detroit Pistons v Milwaukee Bucks
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The Pistons were delivered a huge blow with the loss of Brandon Jennings for the season. I still think they have enough to make a run at the playoffs, but expectations certainly need to be tamed.

18. Charlotte Hornets (19-26), Last Week: 19

Charlotte Hornets v Cleveland Cavaliers
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18. Charlotte Hornets (19-26), Last Week: 19

Charlotte Hornets v Cleveland Cavaliers
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Much like the Pistons, the Hornets have also lost their starting point guard for significant time. It’s now time for Lance Stephenson to show us what he’s made of.

17. Miami Heat (20-24), Last Week: 17

Miami Heat v Sacramento Kings
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17. Miami Heat (20-24), Last Week: 17

Miami Heat v Sacramento Kings
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The Heat are starting to play much better basketball as of late, thanks in no small part to the emergence of Hassan Whiteside.

16. Milwaukee Bucks (22-22), Last Week: 14

Detroit Pistons v Milwaukee Bucks
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16. Milwaukee Bucks (22-22), Last Week: 14

Detroit Pistons v Milwaukee Bucks
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The Bucks continue to exceed expectations, but they have not been able to string together any sort of significant winning streak.

15. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-22), Last Week: 13

Minnesota Timberwolves v Oklahoma City Thunder
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15. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-22), Last Week: 13

Minnesota Timberwolves v Oklahoma City Thunder
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One thing is for sure when talking about the Thunder; they will need to play much better than they have been in order to even make the playoffs. It’s by no means a sure thing as many people are labeling it.

14. New Orleans Pelicans (24-21), Last Week: 16

Dallas Mavericks v New Orleans Pelicans
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14. New Orleans Pelicans (24-21), Last Week: 16

Dallas Mavericks v New Orleans Pelicans
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These next two weeks may make or break the Pelicans’ playoff chances with a four-game homestand which includes games against the Clippers, Hawks and Thunder. Then they turn right around and play the Thunder in OKC.

13. Phoenix Suns (26-20), Last Week: 11

Portland Trail Blazers v Phoenix Suns
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13. Phoenix Suns (26-20), Last Week: 11

Portland Trail Blazers v Phoenix Suns
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The Suns have won six of their last 10 games, but they probably need to win about 70 percent of their final games to stand a chance at holding on to that last playoff spot.

12. Cleveland Cavaliers (25-20), Last Week: 15

Oklahoma City Thunder v Cleveland Cavaliers
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12. Cleveland Cavaliers (25-20), Last Week: 15

Oklahoma City Thunder v Cleveland Cavaliers
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What’s the most impressive thing about the Cavs’ recent six-game winning streak? They have held their opponents to an average of 99 points.

11. Chicago Bulls (29-17), Last Week: 10

Chicago Bulls v Dallas Mavericks
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11. Chicago Bulls (29-17), Last Week: 10

Chicago Bulls v Dallas Mavericks
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Just when you thought the Bulls had stopped the bleeding with back-to-back wins over the Spurs and Mavericks, they lay an egg at home against the Heat. Bulls fans should definitely be worried.

10. Toronto Raptors (29-15), Last Week: 9

Philadelphia 76ers V Toronto Raptors
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10. Toronto Raptors (29-15), Last Week: 9

Philadelphia 76ers V Toronto Raptors
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The Raptors have only won five of their last 10 games, but their schedule gets much easier over the next two weeks. They should continue to remain near the top of the Eastern Conference.

9. Washington Wizards (30-15), Last Week: 7

Washington Wizards v Portland Trail Blazers
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9. Washington Wizards (30-15), Last Week: 7

Washington Wizards v Portland Trail Blazers
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The Wizards remain the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and continue to play some really good basketball. You may have to get used to them in this position.

8. Los Angeles Clippers (31-14), Last Week: 12

Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Clippers
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8. Los Angeles Clippers (31-14), Last Week: 12

Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Clippers
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Not many people are talking about the Clippers, which is weird considering they were many people’s preseason title favorites. They have quietly started to turn it around and are re-emerging as legitimate contenders.

7. Dallas Mavericks (30-15), Last Week: 4

Dallas Mavericks v New Orleans Pelicans
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7. Dallas Mavericks (30-15), Last Week: 4

Dallas Mavericks v New Orleans Pelicans
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The Mavericks’ offense is beginning to slow down a bit, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. They appear to be experiencing some delayed growing pains from the Rondo trade, going 5-5 over their last 10 games.

6. San Antonio Spurs (29-17), Last Week: 8

Los Angeles Lakers v San Antonio Spurs
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6. San Antonio Spurs (29-17), Last Week: 8

Los Angeles Lakers v San Antonio Spurs
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You knew the Spurs wouldn’t stay down for long. They are 8-2 over their last 10 games and appear to have put their early-season “struggles” behind them.

5. Portland Trail Blazers (32-13), Last Week: 3

Sacramento Kings v Portland Trail Blazers
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5. Portland Trail Blazers (32-13), Last Week: 3

Sacramento Kings v Portland Trail Blazers
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Blazers fans let out a collective sigh of relief when LaMarcus Aldridge announced he would be delaying his season-ending surgery on his hand. It may not be the smartest long-term decision, but this is definitely their best shot at a championship in decades.

4. Houston Rockets (31-14), Last Week: 6

Houston Rockets v Los Angeles Lakers
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4. Houston Rockets (31-14), Last Week: 6

Houston Rockets v Los Angeles Lakers
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As long as the Rockets aren’t playing the Warriors, they are playing great basketball.

3. Memphis Grizzlies (32-12), Last Week: 5

Orlando Magic v Memphis Grizzlies
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3. Memphis Grizzlies (32-12), Last Week: 5

Orlando Magic v Memphis Grizzlies
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The Grizzlies are 7-1 since acquiring Jeff Green from the Celtics. Vegas doesn’t have them valued very high as a championship threat, but I do. Go lay down your next paycheck.

2. Atlanta Hawks (37-8), Last Week: 2

Minnesota Timberwolves v Atlanta Hawks
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2. Atlanta Hawks (37-8), Last Week: 2

Minnesota Timberwolves v Atlanta Hawks
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It is rare when a team that has won 30 of 32 games and 16 straight isn’t in the top position. Welcome to the 2014-15 NBA season.

1. Golden State Warriors (36-6), Last Week: 1

Boston Celtics v Golden State Warriors
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1. Golden State Warriors (36-6), Last Week: 1

Boston Celtics v Golden State Warriors
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Dwight Howard doesn’t think they are the best team in the league, but everyone else should.

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