Tim Duncan and the Spurs are reaching for the top spot again.

Last week we anointed the Trail Blazers as the league's top team and the Bulls as the league's worst. Now we've changed our minds, at least in one case.

Monday's Blazers loss to an Indiana team, while veteran-tested and occasionally solid, convinced us that the Spurs and their five-game winning streak belong back on top. The Pacers had lost three of four games and not looked real intense in them. The Blazers lost twice in the past week and now have the same amount of losses as the Heat, Spurs and Sonics. Maybe all that depth and experience will shine in the long haul, but you have to be ready to play every night.

We were asked often on Monday what we were going to do with the top spot in the rankings had the Kings gone to Miami and beat the Heat. It was Sacramento's first road test of the season. They failed. We won't answer as to what we would have done had they won.

It should be noted, as if we haven't done it already, that the Eastern Conference is a dismal, brutal mess. The Heat are first-rate, the Raptors have shown they can win or lose to anybody, and after that it is ugly. It's not a misprint: We've ranked only two Eastern teams in our top 10. And we'd do it again.

Anyway, here are the ESPN.com Power Rankings as of the day before December begins. Check out Jason Jackson, Fred Carter and the other nice people on NBA 2Night on Tuesday as they discuss these rankings more in-depth.

When you don't agree with our rankings, which we expect, let us know your thoughts by clicking here and giving us a few Rank Comments of your own. But please remember that these rankings were compiled Tuesday morning and anything that happens beginning Tuesday night will not be reflected.