Updated February 25
This Week1Last Week1Cleveland Cavaliers 44-14
Halted a three-game losing streak with Tuesday's win vs. NewOrleans, but giving up more than 100 points in five of the last sevengames isn't the defensive stuff of champions.
Key Injuries: None.
This Week2Last Week2Los Angeles Lakers 43-15
Thought to be ahead of the rest of the class along with Cleveland,the Lakers are 6-4 in February, which includes a 4-1 mark without KobeBryant (and a 2-3 record with him in the lineup).
Key Injuries: None.
This Week3Last Week3Denver Nuggets 37-19
6-4 in their last ten, the Nuggets have a couple of OT wins in thereas well, so they've been treading water as they go through a difficultschedule, with eight of those ten games against playoff teams.
Key Injuries: None.
This Week4Last Week8Dallas Mavericks 37-21
Winners of five straight, the Mavericks have really benefitted fromthe addition of C Brendan Haywood, who has grabbed 11.6 rebounds pergame in those five contests.
Key Injuries: C Erick Dampier (finger).
This Week5Last Week5Utah Jazz 37-20
18-3 in the last 21 games, the Jazz only have losses to the Lakers,Hawks and Nuggets since mid-January and PF Carlos Boozer continues toraise his free agent value with a streak of five straightdouble-doubles, during which he's averaged 22.6 points and 16.0rebounds per game.
Key Injuries: None.
This Week6Last Week9Phoenix Suns 36-23
Held on to Amare Stoudemire and maybe it's not the worst idea totake a shot this year with a team that is 10-2 in the last dozen gamesand is getting nice interior minutes from second-year C Robin Lopez.
Key Injuries: None.
This Week7Last Week4Boston Celtics 36-19
With Paul Pierce ailing, the Celtics have been able to count on thebackcourt of Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo as they've won four of five,with Allen averaging 21.8 points and Rondo dishing 11.0 assists pergame.
Key Injuries: SF Paul Pierce (thumb).
This Week8Last Week6Orlando Magic 39-19
10-3 in the last 13 games, the Magic are getting C Dwight Howardmore involved offensively -- he's averaging a season-best 12.6 fieldgoal attempts and 23.4 points per game in February.
Key Injuries: None.
This Week9Last Week10Oklahoma City Thunder 33-23
Had nine straight wins before suffering back-to-back losses and thesecond of those losses also saw SF Kevin Durant score less than 25points for the first time since December 19, a span of 29 games.
Key Injuries: PF Nick Collison (knee).
This Week10Last Week11San Antonio Spurs 32-23
Losses at Philadelphia and Detroit make it hard to expect the Spursof old to resurface, but then they show enough savvy in a home winagainst Oklahoma City to indicate that they're not entirely doneeither.
Key Injuries: None.
This Week11Last Week7Atlanta Hawks 36-20
Like his AAU teammate Dwight Howard, Josh Smith is getting moreinvolved offensively, putting up 18.3 points and 12.9 field goalattempts per game while shooting 55% from the field in February.
Key Injuries: None.
This Week12Last Week13Portland Trail Blazers34-26
The centre position continues to be a problem area as newly-acquiredMarcus Camby promptly got hurt, but with Brandon Roy back and hope thatCamby's injury isn't serious, the Blazers will need to finish strongwith 13 of their last 22 games on the road.
Key Injuries: C Greg Oden (knee), C Joel Przybilla (knee).
This Week13Last Week18Chicago Bulls 30-27
Have won five of six and don't appear to have lost anything byreplacing Tyrus Thomas with Taj Gibson at power forward. For his part,Gibson has averaged 11.4 rebounds per game in the last five.
Key Injuries: None.
This Week14Last Week12Toronto Raptors 31-25
10-3 in the last 13 games, the Raptors are trying to remaincompetitive without Chris Bosh, with Reggie Evans and Amir Johnsonseeing more time as a result. With upcoming games against Oklahoma Cityand Cleveland, the short-staffed Raptors will certainly be tested.
Key Injuries: PF Chris Bosh (ankle).
This Week15Last Week14Miami Heat 29-29
Had a five-game winning streak snapped at Dallas, which is fine, butto follow it up with a loss at home against Minnesota doesn't doanything to inspire confidence in the Heat.
Key Injuries: None.
This Week16Last Week15Memphis Grizzlies 28-28
The addition of John Salmons improves the backcourt and four straight wins has lifted the Bucks into playoff position.
Key Injuries: SG Michael Redd (knee).
This Week17Last Week16Milwaukee Bucks 29-28
The push for the playoffs has hit a snag as the Grizz are now 4-9 intheir last 13 games, though they've won three (and suffered an OT loss)in the last five.
Key Injuries: SG Ronnie Brewer (hamstring).
This Week18Last Week17Charlotte Bobcats 27-29
Though to be even more dangerous and athletic with the addition ofTyrus Thomas to the frontcourt, the Bobcats have dropped four of fiveto fall out of a playoff position.
Key Injuries: C Tyson Chandler (ankle).
This Week19Last Week19Houston Rockets 28-28
Losing six of seven leaves the Rockets in a tough spot, trying tomake up a four-game deficit just to get into the playoffs, but theaddition of Kevin Martin seems more geared to next season, when theRockets anticipate having Yao Ming back in the fold.
Key Injuries: C Yao Ming (foot), PG Kyle Lowry (ankle).
This Week20Last Week20New Orleans Hornets 30-28
Rookie PG Darren Collison is doing his best to fill in for ChrisPaul, averaging 9.7 assists per game in the last dozen games, but it'snot enough to keep the Hornets in the postseason.
Key Injuries: PG Chris Paul (knee).
This Week21Last Week25Los Angeles Clippers 24-33
Just when it looked like the Clippers had mailed in the season(though perhaps angling for a big free agent signing in the summer),they've won three in a row, following a stretch during which they hadlost 10 of 11.
Key Injuries: PF Blake Griffin (knee).
This Week22Last Week22New York Knicks 19-37
Cleared out a ton of cap room in order to pursue LeBron or Bosh orWade or some combination thereof, but it could be tough to attract themto a team that has currently lost eight in a row and may not have muchleft on the roster at season's end.
Key Injuries: None.
This Week23Last Week21Sacramento Kings 18-39
Losers of five straight, the Kings added a cost-efficient CarlLandry in the deal to unload Kevin Martin, which should help the youngKings going forward.
Key Injuries: None.
This Week24Last Week23Indiana Pacers 19-38
Losing six of seven, the Pacers are struggling to provide adequatesupport to Danny Granger and didn't move Troy Murphy at the deadline,leaving questions about what this team will look like in the future.
Key Injuries: PF Tyler Hansbrough (ear).
This Week25Last Week24Detroit Pistons 21-36
6-5 in February, the Pistons are showing faint promise with ahealthy lineup and Rip Hamilton is leading the way, averaging 28.6 ppgin the last five games.
Key Injuries: None.
This Week26Last Week26Philadelphia 76ers 22-35
7-4 in their last 11 games (and 2-4 in the last six), the Sixers areseeing progress with the improving backcourt of Lou Williams and AndreIguodala, but losing Allen Iverson does cut into the club's scoring.
Key Injuries: SG Allen Iverson (personal).
This Week27Last Week27Washington Wizards 20-35
With newcomer Josh Howard out for the season due to a knee injury,the rest of the season may well be focused on the development of AndrayBlatche, who has put up 24.8 ppg and 9.8 rpg in the last five games.
Key Injuries: SF Josh Howard (knee).
This Week28Last Week28Minnesota Timberwolves 14-45
1-7 in the last eight as PF Al Jefferson has gone quiet, averaging a pedestrian 12.4 ppg and 7.3 rpg in those eight games.
Key Injuries: None.
This Week29Last Week29Golden State Warriors 16-40
3-3 in the last six, the Warriors have to be pleased with thedevelopment of rookie PG Stephen Curry, who is averaging season-highsof 20.1 points and 5.2 assists per game in February.
Key Injuries: SG Kelenna Azubuike (knee), SG Raja Bell (knee), PF Anthony Randolph (ankle), PF Brandan Wright (shoulder).
This Week30Last Week30New Jersey Nets 5-52
Possibly salvaging his lost season, PG Devin Harris has put up 20.3points and 9.0 assists per game in February, easily his best month ofthe season.
Key Injuries: None. |