Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 5 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: -3
The Lakers can make up for their two straight losses with a win over the Cavs on Monday. That’s their second of six straight games at the STAPLES Center, including a road game against the Clippers. After that, they’re out of town for 22 of 31.
ESPN.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: N/A
Do the absences of Delonte and Big Z and the Lakers’ own issues — Farmar’s absence, Odom’s knee, Bynum’s rebounding — make you any less excited to see Kobe duel LeBron on Martin Luther King Day? Didn’t think so.
SI.com
This Week: 4 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: -2
One trade rumor making the rounds: Jermaine O’Neal for Lamar Odom. One player the Lakers apparently won’t be pursuing is Stephon Marbury, who is still seeking his release from the Knicks. Coach Phil Jackson said there had been no substantive discussions about Marbury, and Bryant said he hadn’t heard even a “whisper” about the possibility.
USAToday.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: -2
Now Lakers are going through a bit of a mini-slump.
Average Ranking: This Week: 3.75 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: -1.75
Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: -1
After an inconsistent four-week stretch that ended with a 2-for-7 performance in Tuesday’s loss to the Hornets, Andrew Bynum has got it together again, averaging 20.7 points on 65.7 percent shooting over the last three games. A back-to-back in Houston and San Antonio this week is followed by home games against the Magic and Cavs, maybe the toughest four-game stretch L.A. will play all season.
ESPN.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: -2
Are we grading them too hard? Not really. We can pardon the loss to the Hornets, but three shaky home wins (Golden State, Indy and Miami) and three injuries (Farmar, Walton and Odom) aren’t a good combination.
SI.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: -1
For all the talk about how Andrew Bynum would bolster the defense this season, they appear content to win games with their offense. The Lakers have given up 100 points or more 16 times since Dec. 1, but they have only five losses in that stretch thanks to their league-leading offense (107.8 points). “I gave up on the notion that we’re going to be a possession team earlier in December,” coach Phil Jackson said.
USAToday.com
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: N/A
Lakers beat good Miami team even without Odom, Farmar, Walton.
Average Ranking: This Week: 2 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: -1
Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: +1
Thanks to some upsets in the East and an impressive win over the Blazers, the Lakers are back to having the best record in the league. They’re also the most efficient offense for the first time this season. As much as the Pau Gasol trade helped the Lakers last season, the deal they made for Trevor Ariza last November is looking pretty good too.
ESPN.com
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: N/A
Throw out a winter trip to Florida that went awry and the Lakers are 10-0 since the Dec. 9 debacle in Sacramento. And so they’ve reclaimed the league’s best record along with the top spot where it matters. (Yes, here.)
SI.com
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: +1
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/chris_mannix/01/05/power.rankings/index.html?eref=T1
USAToday.com
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: +2
Portland’s McMillan: Lakers are “on a mission.”
Average Ranking: This Week: 1 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: +1
Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 4 | Diff: +2
The Lakers needed that win over the Celtics and they got it. And we shouldn’t overlook Tuesday’s win in New Orleans. But Jordan Farmar’s injury (he’s out two months after knee surgery) hurts, so they’ll be looking for a backup point guard.
ESPN.com
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: +2
About Adande’s theory for the Lakers’ up-and-down play in December after such a dominant November because they couldn’t get excited about anything except the Boston game: They sure made him look good.
SI.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: +1
Who should be the Lakers’ starting small forward? Vladimir Radmanovic? Trevor Ariza? Lamar Odom? Right now, it’s Luke Walton, and don’t expect a change anytime soon. The Lakers are 8-2 since coach Phil Jackson moved Walton into the starting lineup. “Luke’s a real good passer-playmaker,” Jackson said. “I felt the team was lacking that.”
USAToday.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: N/A
Gasol shines in sweet Christmas Day revenge win over Celtics.
Average Ranking: This Week: 2 | Last Week: 3.25 | Diff: +1.25
Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 4 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: -2
The Lakers’ weekend could be described in three words: “In and out.” Back-to-back losses in Florida come after a narrow escape at home over the Knicks. The offense was bad in Miami and the defense was bad in the other two games. Bottom line: this does not look like a team that is ready for the Celtics on Thursday.
ESPN.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: N/A
Getting swept on a Florida back-to-back, losing Farmar to injury and heading into the Boston showdown with Bynum in a funk adds up to their worst week of the season. So how did they stay here? See next comment.
Ball Don’t Lie - Yahoo!
This Week: 4 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: -2
Two losses in a row, both in Florida, after a close call over the Knicks at home. If you’re stockpiling canned goods and firearms, it might already be too late. Stop ruining my Christmas Day dinner, Lamar!
USAToday.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: -1
Lakers lose two in a row after Kobe’s last-second shots don’t fall.
Average Ranking: This Week: 3.5 | Last Week: 2.25 | Diff: -1.25
Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 3 | Diff: +1
The Lakers aren’t exactly sharp, losing to the Pacers and Kings in the span of eight days and not putting away teams like the Timberwolves. After hosting the Knicks on Tuesday, L.A. heads east again and will face the Magic and Hornets before returning home for the big one Christmas Day.
ESPN.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: -1
Even if we were to ignore the L in Sacramento and the slippage on D, we might have been forced to put the West’s best here. But Phil Jackson doesn’t want us to ignore the L — to rile up his guys.
SI.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: N/A
Recent road losses at Indiana and Sacramento have taken some of the luster off their otherwise sensational start. Trevor Ariza continues to play a key role, contributing 9.6 points, 5.2 boards, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals off the bench while playing solid defense on the perimeter.
Average Ranking: This Week: 2.33 | Last Week: 2.33 | Diff: N/A
Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: -2
After a string of five games, including a surprisingly difficult three-game trip, where they had a defensive rating of 113.0, the Lakers tightened it up upon returning home, holding the Bucks to just 38 percent shooting on Sunday. Derek Fisher says that teams are adjusting to the Lakers’ new defensive scheme.
ESPN.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: N/A
We say there’s more to life than a points margin, but those of you obsessed with it should note that the Lakers have slipped to No. 2 there, too, after blown leads in Indy and D.C. gave the (underrated?) Cavs an opening.
SI.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: -1
Blown leads are becoming a concern. The “Bench Mob” coughed up big leads in all three road games last week, including a 16-point fourth-quarter edge in that last-second loss at Indy. Apparently, the Lakers didn’t learn their lesson from that epic 24-point meltdown in Game 4 of last season’s Finals.
Average Ranking: This Week: 2.33 | Last Week: 1.33 | Diff: -1
Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: N/A
It seems like every team hangs around for about 30-36 minutes before the Lakers’ bench puts the game away with a second-half run. This team is cruising right now, but has played 10 of their 15 games at home. They leave STAPLES for three games this week, but Indiana, Philly and Washington isn’t exactly a rough trip.
ESPN.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: N/A
If it’s any consolation — and we realize that it’s probably not — allow us to confirm that the only other two Phil Jackson teams to start so well (Bulls at 17-1 in 1996-97, Lakers at 16-1 in 2001-02) went on to win it all.
SI.com
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: N/A
You don’t need Vladimir Radmanovic’s pink-tinted goggles to see they have something special cooking in Hollywood. Sunday’s triumph over the Raptors made it seven straight as they continue to show no signs of weakness. But can they keep it going when they hit the road for three games this week?
Average Ranking: This Week: 1.33 | Last Week: 1.33 | Diff: N/A
Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: +1
The Lakers are cruising so far with Kobe Bryant averaging less than 34 minutes per game, Andrew Bynum getting more consistent and Vladimir Radmanovic hitting 10-for-13 from downtown in the last three games. It’s time to start talking about the ‘95-96 Bulls, because the schedule looks pretty easy for the next few weeks.
ESPN.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: 0
Spanking the Suns in Phoenix, then drubbing Denver at home one night later is an authoritative back-to-back sweep. The Lakers, though, would tell you that their D has slipped lately, those two impressive games aside.
SI.com
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: 0
Their perfect start ended at 7-0 with last Friday’s home loss to the Pistons, but Kobe Bryant & Co. remain the NBA’s gold standard at present. Now Kobe can turn his attention to Thursday’s trip to Phoenix and his former nemesis Shaq, who teased him in a rather “tasteless” rap song last summer.
Average Ranking: This Week: 1.33 | Last Week: 1.66 | Diff: +.33
Every Monday, the Lakers Basketblog checks the net to bring you the latest NBA power rankings.
NBA.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: -1
So the Lakers aren’t perfect (Friday’s loss to the Pistons was both their worst offensive and worst defensive game so far), but they’ll have the opportunity to stay close to it with this stretch where they play seven of eight games at home with only one back-to-back.
ESPN.com
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 2 | Diff: 0
Seemed headed back to No. 1 after a back-to-back road sweep of the Mavs and Hornets. Yet that home loss to Detroit reminds you, amid all the runaway hype, that L.A. has lots to prove against teams that play physical.
SI.com
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 1 | Diff: 0
Their perfect start ended at 7-0 with last Friday’s home loss to the Pistons, but Kobe Bryant & Co. remain the NBA’s gold standard at present. Now Kobe can turn his attention to Thursday’s trip to Phoenix and his former nemesis Shaq, who teased him in a rather “tasteless” rap song last summer.
Average Ranking: This Week: 1.66 | Last Week: 1.33 | Diff: -.33
