| Ranking (previous) | Team | Commentary | Record |
| 1 (2) |  | If the regular season ended today we would see a Lakers/Mavericks first round matchup. That's right, the 2-7 showdown would be Lakers/Mavs and judging by how entertained I was Sunday it could be the greatest first round matchup ever. I am giving the Lakers the top spot even though they are only 2 in the conference right now because since Pau came to L.A., there has only been minor flukes. | 42-18 |
| 2 (5) |  | A lot of people have the Spurs at the top of the NBA right now but even with the win streak I would still take the Lakers to beat them one on one. However, that is until the playoffs where Duncan and the boys always step their game up. I expect another perfect week from the Spurs as they try to catch that one spot again. | 41-17 |
| 3 (4) |  | Yao who? Since Yao went down the Rockets haven't even come close to dropping a game. They made a real statement this week by blowing teams away, including the Nuggets who never stood a chance in the path of the runaway train Rockets. The win streak might squeal to a halt this week when they play Dallas and New Orleans. | 39-20 |
| 4 (1) |  | The Pistons are still playing great ball but with the excitement in the West the storyline of Detroit vs. Boston seems to shrink a little. | 43-16 |
| 5 (3) |  | The addition of Sam Cassell adds some much needed depth and experience to the point guard position. This really gives the Celtics a better chance in a series against the Pistons because I couldn't take a team with a young, inexperienced point guard over a team with Chauncey Billups. Now the Celtics have youth and experience splitting time. | 46-12 |
| 6 (8) |  | Every time I think the Hornets are going away they bounce right back into the swing of things. A big win over the Jazz this week proved they still have what it takes to remain atop the Western Conference and they could just send a big name team home in the first round if the Hornets get home court advantage. | 40-19 |
| 7 (9) |  | The Jazz are going to win the division, this is a fact, but it is still up in the air whether they will get the home court advantage in the playoffs and without that they might crumble under the pressure of some of the better teams. | 39-22 |
| 8 (11) |  | There are teams the Warriors really match up well against and teams they get killed by. Basically, put the Warriors up against a solid defensive squad and they have no prayer. If the playoffs started today Golden State would draw the Spurs, which would be a four game series. They need to catch the Suns and Mavs to get themselves away from Timmy D and put themselves in position for another big upset. | 36-22 |
| 9 (6) |  | Jason Kidd really didn't add any magic to the Mavs roster as they continue to just float in the middle of the Western Conference playoff hunt. A team that once was number 1 in the Sports Kid Rankings went out and got a big name player but it isn't helping. Time to rethink some strategy. | 39-22 |
| 10 (7) |  | They dropped from 2 to 10 since the All-Star break but we all know the Suns are a streaky team that can catch fire. They need to get themselves out of the sixth seed quickly because the Hornets WILL beat them in the first round of the playoffs. | 39-20 |
| 11 (11) |  | I guess it is time for me to just accept that the Nuggets will miss the playoffs this year. With Yao's injury I thought the Rockets would be the team to catch but Saturday nights blowout really spoke volumes about who will finish 9 in the West. | 35-24 |
| 12 (12) |  | The Magic are really in love with this 12 spot right now. Expectations aren't to high and they are a shoe-in to grab a three seed in the East. However losing to the Sixers is inexcusable, even though it doesn't mean all that much in the long run. | 38-23 |
| 13 (13) |  | Cleveland had possibly the easiest road to the finals last season when they got to beat up on a Gilbert Arenas-less Wizards team, than play a pathetic Nets squad in the second round before besting the Pistons in the finals due to their stamina just out playing a team with a tougher road. This year will be different if the Cavs get stuck at the four because beating both the Celtics and Pistons would be a tall order. | 34-26 |
| 14 (14) |  | The Raptors have some underrated players but still are an overrated team as far as 5th seeds go. This team isn't that great even though they have a solid position in the playoffs locked up. | 32-26 |
15 (17) |  | Washington has that upset power because they have looked wonderful on some nights. Right now if they come in at the 6 I might like them to take down an inexperienced Magic squad and than they get to play the Celtics (most likely) who they have already beaten twice. | 29-30 | | 16 (19) |  | The Sixers really looked like a solid team this week and have been a great surprise since the All-Star break. Even though Golden State pummeled them they bounced back well beating Jason Kidd and the Mavs and even pulled off the victory over the Magic in a great game. The key for the Sixers to come out of the first round of playoffs is catch the Wizards and get the 6th seed because 7 and 8 in the East are automatic first round exits. | 28-33 |
| 17 (15) |  | Sure they are above .500 right now but the Blazers have lost almost all of that spark that made when one of the most fun teams to watch in the NBA. It might take another year or two but the talent is there, the West is just to tough for a young team like this to make a serious playoff push. | 31-29 |
| 18 (16) |  | I really preached a lot about this team being better than their record but now am I starting to think they might just drop back into the bottom 10 before the season is over, especially after a tough week with the Lakers twice. | 27-32 |
| 19 (18) |  | I guess the Nets can take solace in the fact they are going to make the playoffs, just don't think about how embarrassing it is going to be when the Celtics beat up on the them easily in the first round. Atleast Devin Harris and Marcus Williams will get some playoff experience out of the season though. | 26-33 |
| 20 (20) |  | I am really surprised at how many Hawks fans comment on me hating on their team week in and week out. Well I won't hate on them this week, how is that? If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. | 24-33 |
21 (22) |  | The Pacers are still in a position to sneak into the playoffs if they get hot. Fortunately for them with streaky shooting that can heat up it might just happen. | 24-36 | 22 (21) |  | Larry Hughes has been a good fit so far but the Bulls still are way to stacked at the shooting guard position. Honestly, they have five shooting guards on the team and no real centers. Not that smart in the long run. | 23-36 | 23 (25) |  | Nothing positive came from the Bucks this season. That is, unless Bogut can continue this string of great double-double showings down the stretch and announce his presence as a top center in the East. | 22-38 | 24 (24) |  | So they have lost three straight, who cares. I think they lost them because they got worried about the Grizzlies sinking like stones and stealing some ping-pong balls away from them. | 12-46 | 25 (26) |  | Seattle needs to really examine what they want to do this season because they are getting a little to good for their own well being. They need another piece and a top draft pick could fill that hole but with all the bottom of the NBA teams slipping they might see their top 5 pick slip away. | 16-43 | 26 (27) |  | The Knicks are up a spot for a solid 4-6 record in their last 10. That's right for the Knicks, 4-6 is good. | 18-42 | 27 (23) |  | A six game losing streak isn't good but atleast Al Thorton put up a double double against the Sixers Monday night. Unfortunately it was a double double in points and turnovers. Does someone want to teach this guy what a charge is because I am not sure he knows. | 19-39 | 28 (28) |  | 2-8 in their last 10, still not good enough for tanking purposes, they had better lose 10 straight if they want to catch the rest of the bottom of the NBA. | 20-39 | 29 (29) |  | The Grizzlies are putting up a fight night in and night out to give the team hope for the future and they are losing enough games to pray for Beasley. | 14-45 | 30 (30) |  | They are still here but hey, a 2-win week? That's got to be some sort of record. | 11-46 |
