| RANK | TEAM | THE RUNDOWN | LAST |
| 1 | PACERS (20-3) |
Only played twice last week, with one a win over Miami. Haven’t done anything to deserve dropping from top, but for what it’s worth no longer have best point differential. Let’s see how they do Wednesday at Miami. | 1 |
| 2 | BLAZERS (21-4) |
Swept four games in seven days. Starters have second best efficiency differential but bench has third worst. We all remember what happened a year ago – December darlings, March mush. | 5 |
| 3 | SPURS (19-4) |
Took point differential lead (+10.2), winning games, and aren’t taxing anybody’s legs. Only Tony Parker has cracked 30 mpg mark – by about 20 seconds. | 2 |
| 4 | THUNDER (19-4) |
Remember those worries about an inefficient-(ish) Kevin Durant? Forget them. 57.5 percent from the floor, 60 percent from deep over last five. You knew it was coming. | 3 |
| 5 | HEAT (17-6) |
Looking for a weakness? Heat dropped to 29th in rebound rate, slipping from 21st last season and sixth in 2011-12. Although as Chris Bernucca points out, there aren’t all that many missed shots to rebound. | 4 |
| 6 | ROCKETS (15-7) |
Earned split in Portland and GSW before Sunday’s clunker in Sacramento. 11-5 since a 5-4 start. 5.7 points better with Omri Casspi on the floor! By this time next week, Omer Asik will be gone. | 6 |
| 7 | CLIPPERS (16-9) |
Can’t quite bust into the elite but could prove a lot Monday against Spurs. Does signing Stephen Jackson make them better? Well, it doesn’t make them worse. As mentioned in intro, a fresh, healthy body is needed. | 7 |
| 8 | SUNS (14-9) |
Five straight wins after knocking off Golden State Sunday. Didn’t profile to win five games in December before the season started. Terry Stotts continues to look over his shoulder at the hard-charging Jeff Hornacek. | 11 |
| 9 | MAVERICKS (14-10) |
Brandan Wright adds depth to a surprisingly strong team, hitting 9-of-10 in debut Saturday. In related news, Mavs are undefeated when Brandan Wright shoots 90% from the floor. | 8 |
| 10 | NUGGETS (14-9) |
Starting to develop a sense of last season’s depth and performance. If Danilo Gallinari is viable in the second half, Nugs become potential playoff pain-in-the-ass. | 9 |
| 11 | WARRIORS (13-12) |
So many things about their numbers suggest Dubs — arguably NBA’s most disappointing team (yes, I’m including the NY teams) — should be better, yet here they are. 5-7 since Andre Iguodala went down. | 10 |
| 12 | HAWKS (12-12) |
What would they be in the Western Conference? As irrelevant as they are in the East. | 13 |
| 13 | PELICANS (11-11) |
Hanging in (3-3) since Anthony Davis broke his hand. Ryan Anderson (21.4 ppg) as a bellwether? Shoots 49 percent in wins, 37 percent in losses. | 16 |
| 14 | LAKERS (11-12) |
Kobe will be fine in the long run. If the same can’t be said for Pau Gasol, the Lakers lose a big potential trade chip they need for their rebuild. Sheridan’s No. 1 preseason prediction was a Gasol trade, FYI. | 12 |
| 15 | WOLVES (12-12) |
Kevin Love (30/9/4/3 Sunday in Memphis) continues dominating, the Wolves continue scuffling, Lakers fans continue sticking pins in voodoo dolls and sending fan mail to Love extolling the virtues of free agency. | 14 |
| 16 | GRIZZLIES (10-13) |
Continue to slide defensively (24th in efficiency). Don’t blame Jon Leuer, though. The former Badger has posted 16.4 points, 8.2 rebounds over his last five games. | 15 |
| 17 | CELTICS (11-14) |
Jordan Crawford’s PER (18.59) shatters his career high. Averaging 17.8/6.5 on 47.5 percent shooting in December. Now rumored to be a player in the Omer Asik sweepstakes. | 20 |
| 18 | PISTONS (11-14) |
7-6 over their last 13 games overall. 7-2 vs. the East, 0-4 vs. the West. This should surprise … nobody. But that effort Sunday night against Portland? Not shabby. | 17 |
| 19 | BULLS (9-13) |
Taking on water fast because they can’t score. The Bulls have cracked 80 only once in their last five. Nominations for most unlikely Tankapalooza team are now closed. | 18 |
| 20 | WIZARDS (9-13) |
Losers of four straight, Washington gets five of next six the road. Gortat latest big to complain about his role. Wants to be closer to the basket (Pau Gasol empathizes). | 19 |
| 21 | CAVALIERS (9-14) |
Mike Brown was brought back to improve the D, help Kyrie make The Leap. The D has improved* but Cavs are four points worse with Irving on the floor. *-(While the O has tanked.) | 23 |
| 22 | NETS (8-15) |
Won two of three with Deron Williams back in the lineup, including one over the LAC. Unfortunately, Brook Lopez re-injured his ankle Friday night. | 26 |
| 23 | KNICKS (7-16) |
J.R. Smith takes one shot in 26 minutes vs. Boston Friday in a total eff-you move toward Woody. Probably for best, since he’s shooting 25 percent since Dec. 8. What will Dolan do? Read Peter May’s Sunday column. | 24 |
| 24 | BOBCATS (10-14) |
Lost three straight this week, though two were by five or less. Moral victories. Feels more like Bobcats basketball than all that playoff talk. | 21 |
| 25 | RAPTORS (9-13) |
They might try to tank at some point, but people understand trading Rudy Gay doesn’t make your team worse, right? (Sheridan’s take in this podcast). | 27 |
| 26 | MAGIC (7-17) |
Finally have Tobias Harris back in the lineup. Scarily enough, that could be more than enough to get the Magic to a seven seed. | 28 |
| 27 | KINGS (5-13) |
Gay goes for 26 points on 10-20 shooting in his latest home debut, after nailing 8-12 in his first game with Sacto. Kings fans wonder what all the inefficiency talk is about. | 25 |
| 28 | SIXERS (7-18) |
Losing Michael Carter-Williams to a skin infection sucks, but Tony Wroten has more than stepped up as a starter: 19 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists in nine games. | 22 |
| 29 | JAZZ (6-20) |
They’ve won a game more recently than Milwaukee. Good enough to get out of the basement! | 30 |
| 30 | BUCKS (5-19) |
Among 13 players averaging more than 17 minutes a game, only one (John Henson) has a PER above 14. Look at it that way, and winning five seems more impressive. | 29 |
OTHER RANKINGS: MVP | Rookies | Most Improved | Sixth Man
Brian Kamenetsky is a frequent contributor to SheridanHoops.com. Follow him and his brother, Andy, on Twitter.
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