Panther's Perspective: NBA Power Rankings Week 2

For the second straight week, I will rank my top six teams in the NBA.  Once other sports begin to pick up, I will end my running NBA column and change it up a little bit.  But for the second straight week, here are my NBA Power Rankings:

1.Los Angeles Lakers-The Lakers have regained their swagger since slumping heading into the All-Star break.  The Lakers have won seven straight games including a stomping of the Spurs in San Antonio.  Andruw Bynum is finally playing like he is healthy, and Kobe Bryant has been unstoppable as of late.  There is a reason they have won two straight championships, and if they continue to play like they have been heading into the playoffs, they will be the favorites to win it all yet again.

2.Chicago Bulls-As if beating Miami two weeks ago wasn't enough, the Bulls played in Orlando and in Miami in back-to-back games last week and won both of them.  The Bulls have become a defensive juggernaught under coach Tom Thibodeau and dominate the boards with Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.  They are following the Boston Celtic and Los Angeles Laker blueprint of defense and rebounding and it is working well for them.  The only thing that Bulls fans should be worried about come playoff time is their teams lack of experience.  Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng have never made it out of the first round and that will be a factor as the playoffs progress.

3.San Antonio Spurs-For as impressive as their 30 point victory over Miami was last week, their 16 point loss to the Lakers at home as every bit as disappointing.  The Spurs were number one in my rankings last week, but I can't get over that loss to the Lakers which is why I have them third this week.  The Spurs will be alright though.  They, like the Lakers, know that the only games that matter are played in April, May and June.  As long as they are healthy come playoff time, they will have a better shot at knocking off the Lakers in the Western Conference than any other Western Conference team.

4.Boston Celtics-The Celtics are undefeated since they traded Kendrick Perkins, but you can't really draw much off of that seeing who they have beaten (Warriors, Bucks, Clippers, Jazz and the Suns).  I still have questions about their rotation come playoff time.  I don't see Jeff Green getting more than 15 minutes per game during the playoffs.  Where are his minutes going to come from?  We all know Pierce and Garnett are going to get heavy minutes.  So the Celtics essentially traded their starting center and defensive enforcer for a backup who won't get too many minutes in the playoffs.  The Celtics will most likely be the first seed come playoff time which will be hugely beneficial to them.  I wouldn't be surprised if Doc Rivers started to play some of his star players less minutes as the season winds down so they are more fresh come playoff time (a la Greg Popovich and the Spurs).  As long as Boston is healthy, they have as good a chance as anybody.

5.Dallas Mavericks-The Mavs are quietly the second seed out West and have currently won seven of their last eight.  Despite Dallas' quality play this year, they always seem to underachieve come playoff time.  So until they prove it in the playoffs, I won't believe they can get it done.

6.Miami Heat-The Heat have lost four straight games all to teams with winning records (Knicks, Magic, Spurs and Bulls).  The Heat have feasted on bad teams this season while they have done very poorly against teams above .500.  The problems Miami have should be a major concern as they enter the playoffs.  They don't have a quality center and they don't have a quality point guard.  Teams that have good, strong frontcourts and teams that have quick point guards will give them trouble.  But let's not write them off too quickly.  They still do have the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.  That has to count for something right?

Didn't quite make the cut:

Orlando Magic

Oklahoma City Thunder

New York Knicks

Atlanta Hawks