Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 5 | Diff: +3
Sunday’s blowout of the Spurs was certainly a statement, but home court in the playoffs probably doesn’t mean as much to the Lakers (29-11 at STAPLES with one more to play) than it would for some of the other contenders. No matter what, they may have to go through much of the postseason without Andrew Bynum.
ESPN.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 4 | Diff: +2
Let the record show that this MVP vote for Kobe was posted before L.A.’s weekend wins over the Hornets and Spurs. One more win now should clinch Kobe’s MVP trophy and the West’s top seed.
SI.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: +1
A season that began with turmoil surrounding Kobe Bryant’s future with the team has become something out of a Hollywood movie. Bryant’s MVP-type season — and a blockbuster trade for Pau Gasol — has the Lakers back atop the West and a prime title contender.
Average Ranking: This Week: 2 | Last Week: 4 | Diff: +2
Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 5 | Last Week: 7 | Diff: +2
With the return of Pau Gasol, the Lakers are one 7-foot piece away from a completed puzzle (See: Bynum, Andrew). They keep killing with consistency, not dropping more than two consecutive games since a three-game slide in January.
ESPN.com
This Week: 4 | Last Week: 6 | Diff: +2
Pau’s return pretty much locks up a top-three seed. Yet you have to ask — in spite of that impressive rally against Dallas — if the Lakers can be true title contenders with Bynum (and Ariza) still out and Fisher playing hurt.
SI.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 8 | Diff: +5
Pau Gasol’s return from his ankle injury has vaulted them back into these lofty regions. Gasol had 20 points and nine rebounds Sunday at Sacramento as L.A. won its fourth straight game and stayed in the race for the West’s top seed.
Average Ranking: This Week: 4 | Last Week: 7 | Diff: +3
Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 7 | Last Week: 5 | Diff: -2
After inexplicable losses to the Bobcats and Grizzlies at STAPLES Center, the Lakers needed OT to beat the Wizards after blowing a late lead. With Derek Fisher playing through a partially torn tendon in his foot, are the Lakers looking vulnerable? Fortunately, Pau Gasol should be back on Wednesday.
ESPN.com
This Week: 6 | Last Week: 4 | Diff: -2
Did we speak too soon? Could back-to-back home Ls to Charlotte and Memphis cost Kobe his first MVP trophy? Is the division slipping away? Just add those to list of injury questions about Pau, Bynum and now Fisher.
SI.com
This Week: 8 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: -5
They survived the Wizards in OT on Sunday to get back on track after consecutive embarrassing home losses to the Bobcats and Grizzlies. But Phil Jackson’s main concern right now has to be injuries, with Derek Fisher (sore foot) having joined Pau Gasol (ankle) and Andrew Bynum (knee) as question marks heading into the postseason.
Average Ranking: This Week: 7 | Last Week: 4 | Diff: -3
Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 5 | Last Week: 5 | Diff: 0
With Sunday’s loss to Golden State, the Lakers are now a game behind the Hornets in the loss column, but they’ve nine of their last 12 games are at STAPLES Center (including a “road game” against the Clippers), and the big guys are on their way back.
ESPN.com
This Week: 4 | Last Week: 5 | Diff: +1
Nothing could have topped Boston’s week, but the Lakers were at least in that zip code before losing at home to Golden State. Wins don’t get much bigger than L.A.’s roadies in Dallas and Utah without Pau and Bynum.
SI.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 9 | Diff: +6
They made a statement of their own by winning back-to-back at Dallas and Utah (without Pau Gasol) to finish 2-2 on their recent trip. With nine of their final 12 at Staples Center (including a “road” game against the Clippers), Kobe Bryant’s crew is well-positioned for a top seed — even if Andrew Bynum doesn’t return until the playoffs.
Average Ranking: This Week: 4 | Last Week: 6 | Diff: +2
Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 5 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: -2
No one will miss Pau Gasol (estimated to be out for another two weeks) more than Lamar Odom. Since Gasol arrived in L.A., Odom is shooting an unbelievable .633 from the field.
ESPN.com
This Week: 5 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: -2
It won’t be easy — and the Lakers honestly have bigger concerns if Pau isn’t back in a few games — but Kobe can’t do his MVP campaign any harm if he can keep LA in the top five with Bynum and Gasol out injured.
SI.com
This Week: 9 | Last Week: 6 | Diff: -3
The loss of Pau Gasol (sprained ankle) for at least a week knocks them down a few spots in these rankings. With stops this week at Dallas (Tuesday) and Utah (Thursday), on the heels of losses at New Orleans and Houston, they could easily go winless on their four-game trip.
Average Ranking: This Week: 6.33 | Last Week: 4 | Diff: -2.33
Every Monday the Lakers.com BasketBlog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: 0
After seeing how easily the Kings got to the basket in the first half last night, Laker fans might be wondering if Andrew Bynum is close to returning. Answer: No. After hosting the Raptors (81!) on Tuesday, the Lakers have a rough trip (New Orleans, Houston, Dallas and Utah) in front of them.
ESPN.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: -1
The Lakers have lost more games since we bumped them up to the top spot on Feb. 25 — two — than they dropped in the first three-plus weeks of February. You don’t think it was us who jinxed them, do you?
SI.com
This Week: 6 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: -3
Kobe Bryant couldn’t bail them out at the last second in Sunday’s loss to the Kings that snapped a three-game winning streak. They head out on a four-game road trip at New Orleans, Houston, Dallas and Utah beginning Friday.
Average Ranking: 4 | Last Week: 2.66 | Diff: -1.33
Every Monday the Lakers.com BasketBlog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: -2
You could chalk up Friday’s loss in Portland, which ended the Lakers’ 10-game winning streak, to fatigue. And you can chalk up Sunday’s win over the Mavs to my new pick for MVP (sorry, KG), Kobe Bryant.
ESPN.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: -1
The latest pearl of Zen wisdom from Phil Jackson: “40 before 20.” Translation: You must win 40 games before you lose 20 to be seen as an elite team . . . and these Lakers just did so for the first time since Shaq left.
SI.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: 0
They downed the Mavericks on Sunday in OT to get back on track after having their 10-game winning streak snapped in Portland. Kobe Bryant had an NBA-season-high 52 points, along with 10 rebounds, to continue his MVP surge.
Average Ranking: 2.66 | Last Week: 1.66 | Diff: +1
Every Monday the Lakers.com BasketBlog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings (except last week where the holiday and all-star weekend derailed us).
NBA.com
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 7 | Diff: +6
With Pau Gasol fitting in perfectly and Kobe Bryant seemingly unaffected by his mangled pinky, I’m not sure this team isn’t the favorite to win the title even without Andrew Bynum. And with Bynum’s rehab coming along, it would be very difficult for anyone to pick against the Lakers right now.
ESPN.com
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 5 | Diff: +4
If our new BFFs from The Onion thought it was gutsy a few weeks back when we moved the Lakers from No. 4 to No. 3, what will they say when they see our mea culpa promotion of Kobe and Co. from No. 5 to No. 1?
SI.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 5 | Diff: +2
Gee, Kobe Bryant’s pinkie sure had a miraculous recovery, didn’t it? The Lakers’ star pumped in 21 points in 26 minutes Sunday as they won at Seattle to make it eight straight. He also had 41 to slay the Suns last Wednesday.
Average Ranking: 1.66 | Last Week: 5.66 | Diff: +4
Every Monday the Lakers.com BasketBlog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 7 | Last Week: 6 | Diff: -1
With games in Charlotte and Minnesota before the break, the Lakers have a real shot at putting together a 7-2 Grammy trip. But we still await word on the knee.
ESPN.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 4 | Diff: +1
At 5-1 since the big trade and with Kobe clearly energized by the blockbuster move he’s been waiting for, there’s only one complaint in Lakerland: Pau won’t make his home debut until after the All-Star break.
SI.com
This Week: 5 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: -4
Friday’s loss at Atlanta officially ends their Pau Gasol-inspired ceremonial one-week reign atop these rankings. But they still had won five of seven on their epic nine-game road trip to keep the good vibe going.
Average Ranking: 5 | Last Week: 3.66 | Diff: +1.33
Every Monday the Lakers.com BasketBlog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 6 | Last Week: 7 | Diff: +1
All eyes will be on New Jersey on Tuesday as Pau Gasol makes his Laker debut. They could probably use him more defensively than offensively, as they’ve struggled on that end (111.0 rating) since Andrew Bynum went out.
ESPN.com
This Week: 4 | Last Week: 11 | Diff: +7
The steal, er, deal that envious execs and media types can’t stop talking about — Gasol for none of the Lakers’ top 10 players — was summed up best in all of three words by Dallas’ Avery Johnson: ”Merry Christmas, L.A.”
SI.com
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 13 | Diff: +12
How geeked is Kobe over the Gasol acquisition? He outscored the Wizards all by himself 19-15 in the first quarter en route to an easy victory Sunday. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ new 7-foot star could make his debut Tuesday at New Jersey.
Average Ranking: 3.66 | Last Week: 10.33 | Diff: +6.67
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