Week 12 NBA Rankings

1. Boston Celtics (33-6) (1) KG slapping the bling off Doc's wrist has to be the NBA's funniest first half moment.
2. Phoenix Suns (30-12) (6) They capitalized on the Bynum-less Lakers, sparking a four-game winning streak that has allowed the Suns to take back division control.
3. New Orleans Hornets (28-12) (7) Be honest. No one thought this team would be in 1st by the halfway point, but when healthy, this team can do some damage.
4. Los Angeles Lakers (27-12) (3) First Bynum, then Ariza? Does a second half collapse seem inevitable?
5. Dallas Mavericks (27-13) (4) Bottom line is their offense still has to be perfect because they just don't scare anyone on defense.
6. Detroit Pistons (29-13) (2) If this is as bad as it gets for Detroit and they're still 16 over .500, that tells you something about the expectations around that team.
7. San Antonio Spurs (26-13) (5) One thing that definitely breaks the Spurs way is that even as they struggle, no one's really running away in the West.
8. Portland Trail Blazers (25-16) (8) How many game-winners has Outlaw hit this season?
9. Denver Nuggets (24-16) (10) I still have no idea how Linas Kleiza scored 41 points.
10. Utah Jazz (24-18) (9) You listening Boozer?? Don't start going in the tank just because you have a contract in a few years. Linas Kleiza???
11. Orlando Magic (26-17) (11) Winning those home games against the Magic and Blazers was huge. I mean HUGE!
12. Cleveland Cavaliers (22-18) (13) All 11 of LeBron's teammates, his coaches and his GM better chip in when he throws one of his mansion parties. He's keeping guys like Hughes and Illgauskas looking good on the court and Mike Brown looking good on the sidelines while Ferry can sign whatever stiff he wants and LeBron will still make him look good.
13. Golden State Warriors (25-18) (12) Ryan Gomes's performance is no surprise when you consider GS has no one who can adequately guard small, stocky post players.
14. Houston Rockets (22-19) (15) Yao's been going nuts since TMac got hurt and he pretty much has to since the team has no other reliable 4th quarter options.
15. Washington Wizards (22-17) (14) If this team is capable of beating teams like Dallas and Boston without Arenas, wait till he gets back healthy!
16. Toronto Raptors (22-19) (16) Bosh's huge statistical outburst has put me within spitting distance of first place in my fantasy league.
17. Sacramento Kings (18-22) (19) If this team played in the East, they'd be a top 4 team, but being in the West, they're counting on at least two teams to collapse for this run to mean anything.
18. Indiana Pacers (19-23) (21) You can pretty much cross out any trade rumors if O'Neal's willing to sit out all year to rehab the knee.
19. Atlanta Hawks (17-20) (17) If they don't win a game on their next road trip, the Hawks might as well start tanking again.
20. Charlotte Bobcats (16-25) (20) With most of their road games still ahead and the team's 2-13 record away from home, Charlotte better grow up in a hurry.
21. Chicago Bulls (16-24) (23) When you drop from 1st in the league in defensive efficiency to middle-of-the-pack, it explains the record much better.
22. Milwaukee Bucks (16-26) (22) They're too finesse. If they would spend as much money on power players as they do on shooters, they'd be set.
23. New Jersey Nets (18-23) (18) You know it's going bad when the Knicks hold regional bragging rights.
24. Philadelphia 76ers (16-26) (24) Win or lose, you have to like the potential this team has through all the youth they've accumulated through the draft.
25. New York Knicks (13-28) (26) The Knicks are finally starting to win consistently and show some effort, but the problem is they should have been doing this from Day 1 with the kind of talent they have.
26. Los Angeles Clippers (12-25) (25) Don Sterling is actually blaming the only coach who's led the Clips anywhere beyond lottery land in the past two decades?
27. Memphis Grizzlies (12-29) (27) It should be a fun second half with the youngsters such as Conley and Gay developing and every annoying Gasol trade rumor filling the TV screen.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (6-34) (28) It seems like the TWolves have some post talent. Now if they just had some guards to get Gomes and Jefferson the ball consistently...
29. Seattle Supersonics (9-32) (28) Durant is looking like he hit the wall, and hard.
30. Miami Heat (8-32) (30) It's been truly sad to watch Shaq deteroirate and Wade play recklessly hard on Team Ineptitude.