| | Rankings as of Tuesday, Jan. 25
|  | | The Lakers took it on the chin and nose from Portland and Utah this weekend. |
Click here. We're going to post the link for you right off the bat to get your angry comments in to us. We know that Lakers fans won't be happy. Heck, we're not happy. We had the Lakers No. 1 for more than a month, but common sense demands we remove them and place the Blazers in that spot after Saturday's result.
And much to our shock, it turned out that Monday's Jazz win over the Lakers was for No. 2. Bad move? Remember, don't look at the overall record. If that decided the best teams in the end, the Jaguars wouldn't be playing golf this weekend and the Braves would have more than one World Series title.
Want more controversy? The top six teams on our list play in the same conference. The Knicks, by default more than anything else, are the highest-ranking East team. Indy drops a bunch, Seattle drops a little and Detroit barely drops at all. Don't agree? Let us know why. We can take it. Best comments will be posted on Thursday.
Here are the ESPN.com Power Rankings as of Jan. 25.
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Team (Record)
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Last week
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Pvs.
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ESPN.com skinny
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1. Blazers (31-10)
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3-1
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2
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Lakers didn't give us a choice; Portland's depth just too much for a team relying heavily on stars
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2. Jazz (27-12)
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3-1
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4
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Road win in Sacramento and home one over Lakers; No reason to think surprising Jazz can't keep this up
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3. Lakers (33-9)
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1-2
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1
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Maybe Blazers fans were actually right all along: An easy schedule made the team complacent
|
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4. Kings (25-13)
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2-1
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6
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With next eight on road, they are put to the test; Ineptitude of Pacers, Sonics moves 'em up this week
|
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5. Wolves (22-16)
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3-0
|
10
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This could be fourth seed in West if Garnett's helpers (Brandon, Sealy, Mitchell) keep it up all year
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6. Spurs (26-15)
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1-1
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9
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Win over Knicks undeservedly jumps them; Fact is, away from Dome, Spurs pretty beatable no matter who's the 3
|
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7. Knicks (25-15)
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2-1
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7
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Did we really declare them best in average East? Amazingly, top eight in East separated by 4½ games
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8. 76ers (24-17)
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2-1
|
11
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Beat Pacers, have been on a roll, and have two prior wins over Seattle, so this ranking is just fine, thank you
|
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9. Sonics (27-16)
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2-3
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5
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Still don't know what to make of this crew after tough trip; Where did Shammond's cool 'fro go?
|
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10. Pacers (26-15)
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1-3
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3
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Philly loss explainable, but Washington and Chicago? LB needs to get team up for more than just big ones
|
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11. Heat (25-14)
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1-2
|
8
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Lost to Bulls and Rockets, the latter with Timmy at the point; Mash-Hughes deal looks off for now
|
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12. Suns (23-15)
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2-0
|
12
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Beat Denver and Cleveland -- woo hoo! How will fragile Penny do in return to Orlando next Monday?
|
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13. Hornets (22-17)
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3-0
|
15
|
Beat Bulls, Celts and Sixers, thanks to DC and return of critical Eddie Jones; Is something wrong with Mason?
|
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14. Pistons (21-19)
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0-3
|
13
|
See, we do have compassion; No team wins without a guy like Hill, who better return quickly or team freefalls
|
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15. Bucks (22-19)
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0-2
|
14
|
Sonics and Pacers struggling, but each managed to beat Bucks; How much more proof needed that size is lacking?
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16. Raptors (21-19)
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1-1
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16
|
Mookie for Christie deal held up as Blaylock refuses to play where it snows; McGrady needs deal to happen
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17. Celtics (19-21)
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2-1
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17
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Celts don't win without Pierce (1-10 last two years), and now he's out; Just in time for big road games
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18. Rockets (16-24)
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3-0
|
21
|
These weren't just any wins; Beat Miami, Portland and Denver; Kenny Thomas getting double-doubles
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19. Nets (17-24)
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2-2
|
19
|
Have no fear, Big Gheorghe is here: Muresan called being activated the "most happy day of my life I think."
|
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20. Nuggets (18-21)
|
1-2
|
18
|
Quickly becoming non-factor in playoff race; Issel should worry more about finishing over .500 for now |
|
21. Mavs (14-26)
|
2-1
|
22
|
We're all sitting on pins and needles on Rodman's decision; Think he and Bradley hang out with the same crew? |
|
22. Magic (18-24)
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2-1
|
25
|
Long losing streak ended in Vancouver and Clip land; Beleaguered Rivers saying, thank God for Grizz and Clips
|
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23. Cavs (16-25)
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0-4
|
20
|
News that Ilgauskas was gone for season must've been too much to take; Oh where oh where is Vitaly now...
|
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24. Hawks (14-25)
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1-2
|
24
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Not only are they bad, but they don't seem to care -- oh, wait, Isaiah cares. He told us and his teammates so
|
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25. Wizards (13-29)
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1-2
|
27
|
Dealing Austin is addition by subtraction; If Jordan could throw in Juwan, team might turn it around
|
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26. Bulls (8-30)
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3-1
|
29
|
Same record as Lakers last few weeks; Is Kukoc playing to win, or playing to get dealt to winner? Does it matter?
|
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27. Warriors (8-31)
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1-1
|
26
|
Jamison no all-star, but he will show off in the Slam-Dunk contest in Oakland; That's as good as this season gets
|
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28. Grizzlies (10-30)
|
0-3
|
23
|
Good news or bad? Grizz aren't moving to St. Louis; Rumor has it Dick Vermeil cried watching Grizz play
|
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29. Clippers (10-30)
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0-3
|
28
|
Mr. Sterling, do Chris Ford a favor and let him go. Let Billy Crystal coach; He actually pays to watch your team
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ALSO SEE
NBA Power Rankings, Jan. 18
NBA Power Rankings, Jan. 11
NBA Power Rankings, Jan. 4
NBA Power Rankings, Dec. 28
NBA Power Rankings, Dec. 21
NBA Power Rankings, Dec. 14
NBA Power Rankings, Dec. 7
NBA Power Rankings, Nov. 30
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