Every Tuesday during the regular season, Talkhoops.net will update the power rankings based on team production, record, record from the previous week, injuries to the team, and overall talent on the team. If your team has dropped siginificantly from week to week then you probably are rooting for a pretty bad team. If your team is shooting up the power rankings towards the top spot, then you are probably either rooting for a pretty good team or jumping on the bandwagon of one.
The rankings are based solely on the opinion owner and editor of Talkhoops.net, Zach Harper. If you happen to disagree, you can email Zach and let him know how dumb he is by sending an email to zharper@talkhoops.net. If you think that Zach is a genius with his rankings and want to stroke his ego and possibly get mentioned in his blog, email him at zharper@talkhoops.net.
Remember to check back for updated rankings every Tuesday morning.
2007-2008 NBA Power Rankings: Week 23 Rankings |
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Rank |
Last Week |
Team |
Upcoming Games |
Week |
Rec. |
Comment |
 |
1 (1) |
at MIL, at WSH, MIL, at ATL, at NY |
3-0 |
61-15 |
They've secured the biggest turnover in from one season to the next in NBA history. However, their most impressive team stat this season has to be the fact that they are 25-5 against the Western Conference this season. |
|
 |
2 (2) |
UTH, at MIN, at LAL, at SAC |
4-0 |
54-22 |
The Hornets basically need 5 more wins to secure their first #1 seed in franchise history. Chris Paul is also trying to become the first 21-point, 11-assist point guard since Magic Johnson did so back in the 80's. |
|
 |
3 (4) |
at POR, at LAC, NOH, SA |
3-0 |
53-24 |
To be as simple and blunt as possible, if the Lakers can't get a healthy Pau Gasol, a healthy Derek Fisher, and a healthy Andrew Bynum, they will not challenge for an NBA championship. |
|
 |
4 (5) |
NY, at PHI, WSH, TOR |
3-0 |
55-21 |
In the 50th anniversary of the Detroit Pistons franchise, the Pistons have celebrated by wrapping up their 4th straight division title, which happens to beat the previous franchise record of three straight. |
|
 |
5 (3) |
PHX, SEA, at LAL, at SAC |
2-1 |
53-24 |
Spurs need a 4-0 week to try to secure home court advantage for the entire Western Conference playoffs. If the road to the NBA Finals goes through the Alamo, then Tim Duncan can almost assure himself a crack at a 5th title. |
|
 |
6 (7) |
at NOH, at DAL, DEN, HOU |
2-0 |
51-26 |
Utah is going to have to get home court advantage in one of these series or more to make a serious run at the title. But this team may still be one really good perimeter defender away from challenging anyway. What? They have that in Andrei Kirilenko? Does he still play? |
|
 |
7 (9) |
SEA, PHX, at DEN, at UTH |
3-1 |
52-25 |
Houston needs to get completely healthy and back to playing stellar defense if they're going to get Tracy McGrady out of the first round. He can't do it all in this conference and players like Rafer Alston and Luther Head will have to be on fire. |
|
 |
8 (6) |
at MEM, at SA, at HOU, GS |
1-2 |
51-26 |
Let's stop asking if Shaq can be effective for the Suns in the playoffs. The trade clearly works. Let's start asking if Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa can play well enough to stop guys on the perimeter and to knock down open shots. That's how this team wins a title. |
|
 |
9 (17) |
SEA, UTH, at POR, at SEA |
2-1 |
48-29 |
The Mavericks aren't going to miss the playoffs thanks to the faltering of the Warriors and Nuggets, but can they really be confident that they'll win 2 playoff games let alone a complete series if they face anyone other than Houston? |
|
 |
10 (8) |
CHI, MIN, at CHI |
1-2 |
48-29 |
Orlando isn't being mentioned in the same breath with Detroit and Boston in the East and are often thought to be behind the Cavs in the strength of the conference conversation. How can a 50-win team be thought of like this? The starting point guard for your Orlando Magic- Jameer Nelson! |
|
 |
11 (12) |
DET, IND, at WSH, CLE |
2-1 |
39-38 |
It's a cute story for everyone to say that nobody wants to play this Sixers' team in the first round of the playoffs because they're playing so well, but their best players are still Iguodala and Andre Miller, which is going to scare anybody in Detroit or Boston. |
|
 |
12 (14) |
BOS, at DET, PHI, iND |
2-1 |
40-37 |
Gilbert is back and the Wizards are still suffering from injuries. Jamison and Stevenson going down now makes a first round series win an unlikelihood no matter how good Arenas is. Jamison has been the best player all season for the Wiz. Eddie Jordan for Coach of the Year. |
|
 |
13 (10) |
at LAC, at GS, at UTH, HOU |
1-2 |
46-31 |
I don't care if they did put up 168 on the Sonics earlier in the year. Playoff teams don't give up 151 points no matter how many overtimes you play to this terrible team in Seattle. |
|
 |
14 (11) |
NJ, at CHI, MIA, at PHI |
1-2 |
42-35 |
LeBron's squad isn't playing good defense since the trade and they haven't played consistent offense all year long. LeBron is going to have to stay injury free if the Cavs are going to give the powers in the East any problems. |
|
 |
15 (13) |
SAC, DEN, LAC, at PHX |
1-3 |
46-32 |
The Ws need to get it together and beat out the Nuggets to secure that final playoff spot. The showdown Thursday will be must see TNT action and may result in the first 200-199 game in NBA history. |
|
 |
16 (15) |
at IND, at NY, BOS |
2-1 |
36-41 |
Don't look now, but the Hawks are playing really well and could probably save Mike Woodson's job in the process. Maybe they should start losing some games to finish the year so they can go after a better coach in the off-season. |
|
 |
17 (19) |
at GS, POR, NOH, SA |
3-1 |
36-41 |
Talkhoops.net writer, Phillip Barnett, sent me this text message, "It's too bad that Kevin Martin is on such a bad team." This guy is one of the best kept secrets in the NBA and people won't realize it until it's too late. |
|
 |
18 (18) |
LAL, at SAC, DAL |
0-3 |
38-39 |
Greg Oden played at a 24-hour Fitness. The Blazers freaked out. The concerning thing to me is don't you think that Greg Oden should be going to a better training facility than a 24-hour Fitness? That's the best that Portland has to offer? |
|
 |
19 (16) |
MIL, NJ, at DET, MIA |
0-3 |
38-39 |
T.J. Ford is a good player and he's going to remain a fine point guard for the rest of the season. However, Jose Calderon is the best point guard for this team and if he isn't playing 35 minutes per game as a starter next year, then that means nobody was willing to trade for Ford. |
|
 |
20 (20) |
ATL, at PHI, CHA, at WSH |
2-1 |
33-44 |
Now Jermaine O'Neal comes back! Are you kidding me? Where was this for the previous 60 games when your vaginitis kept you from testing your knee? It's not like you make $20 million+ this year to play basketball. Oh wait, you do? Thanks for nothing. - Signed, Fantasy Owners |
|
 |
21 (22) |
MIN, at NY, at IND |
1-2 |
29-48 |
Fans are used to 50 losses every year for the Bobcats. But they will never get over a #1 ranked North Carolina team getting destroyed in the Final Four. Sam Vincent better get his resume up to date. |
|
 |
22 (25) |
PHX, at MIA, MIN |
2-1 |
21-56 |
How is Mike Conley, Jr not playing 35 minutes per game now to get him used to being a full-time point guard? What the hell is Memphis thinking? It's win-win. If he does well, he'll be great next year and if he doesn't do well, then you're tanking anyway. |
|
 |
23 (21) |
at CLE, at TOR, at MIL |
1-2 |
32-45 |
Now we know why Mark Cuban decided to trade Jason Kidd to the Nets. He didn't know what to get co-owner and rap mogul, Jay-Z, for his secret wedding. He got him a point guard that will be relevant in two years. |
|
 |
24 (26) |
BOS, at TOR, at BOS, NJ, CHI |
2-2 |
26-50 |
I know it's insulting for basketball executives and people involved with the NBA to consider this, but what would be wrong with entertaining the thought of hiring Bill Simmons as the Bucks' GM? At least the Bucks would be worth paying attention to. |
|
 |
25 (23) |
at MIA, at ORL, CLE, ORL, at MIL |
1-2 |
30-46 |
Hoopsvine.com editor, Lang Greene, had this idea months ago, but Chicago should really hire Larry Brown. He'll only be there for 2 or 3 years but he could definitely get them to play defense and teach Kirk Hinrich to not be a total failure. |
|
 |
26 (27) |
DEN, LAL, at GS |
1-2 |
23-54 |
Poor Clippers fans. Elton Brand has scored 17.7 points per game in just 29.4 minutes per contest this year. He looks like he's ready to play and ready to be a force once again. Next year, they'll need him for more than 8 games. |
|
 |
27 (24) |
at CHA, NOH, at ORL, at MEM |
0-4 |
19-57 |
Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale!
Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! |
|
 |
28 (28) |
at DAL, at HOU, at SA, DAL |
1-2 |
18-59 |
I really hope the NBA and its owners do the right thing and make the Sonics at least stay through their contract with Key Arena. This is a basketball city and deserve a team a lot more than Oklahoma City does. David Stern needs to do the right thing here. |
|
 |
29 (29) |
at DET, CHA, ATL, BOS |
1-3 |
21-56 |
"If I'm a manager at Payless Shoes and I know who Isiah Thomas is, I'm not hiring him."- Phillip Barnett during a conversation between us about Isiah Thomas having a job next year. Knicks fans just loaded their guns. |
|
 |
30 (30) |
CHI, MEM, at CLE, at TOR |
0-3 |
13-64 |
Even if people believed that the Dwyane Wade injury was legit and Miami wasn't trying to tank to get a higher draft pick, then they probably believe that Shawn Marion really has an injured left foot that requires him to sit the final 7 games. |
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