NBA And CBA Power Rankings As Of 2/25

NBA Power Rankings

1. San Antonio Spurs (45-13) - The San Antonio Spurs are on track to snag the best record in the NBA for the third season running. They're winning games despite a smattering of injuries, thanks to the contributions of a deep and superbly coached bench. They'll soon return home having gone 7-2 on their annual rodeo road trip. And, better yet, Tony Parker is playing like an MVP and Tim Duncan like a player five years his junior. It’s hard not to make a case for the Spurs as the best team in the league, especially winning 17 of their past 19. In addition to that, they are dominating teams by winning 26-of-30 overall. It’s a shame that Tony Parker doesn’t get more love when it comes to the MVP talks.

2. Miami Heat (40-14) - The Miami Heat have officially left the rest of the Eastern Conference behind. They've won 11 in a row to move a full six games clear of the Indiana Pacers in the race for the top seed. That stretch has seen the Heat top the 100-point plateau nine times and hold the opposition below triple digits on seven occasions. So much for the Heat cruising through the regular season. The way LeBron James has been playing- and Dwyane Wade recently- Miami looks near unbeatable.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (41-15) - The Thunder dealt Maynor and added Ronnie Brewer, which will help defensively, as will the addition of Derek Fisher, who was just recently signed. OKC rebounded from a rare three-game skid to win their past two games. Brewer will help as the Thunder have surrendered an average of 113.6 points during their three-game losing streak. While they are still among the best in the NBA, the Thunder now find themselves three games behind the Spurs for the top spot in the west.

4. Indiana Pacers (35-21) - Indiana has Danny Granger back and have won 9-of-11. They have the best scoring defense (89.4 PPG) in the league. Their defense (also tops in the NBA in efficiency) has been stellar all season, but the offense suffered a significant setback when Granger's long-term absence became a reality. Indy's productivity on that end has since improved drastically, up to 20th in offensive efficiency with the All-Star play of Paul George, the emergence of Lance Stephenson and the steady play of David West.

5. Los Angeles Clippers (40-18) - It's all well and good that the Los Angeles Clippers can beat up on the Lakers, the Jazz and the Rockets, as they have of late. But recent blowout losses to the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs suggest more about the Clips' capabilities than do bully jobs against mid-tier teams. The Clippers were thumped by the San Antonio Spurs, but have still one 5-of-6 overall. They held onto Eric Bledsoe, which means they didn’t improve their frontcourt. The Clippers are still deep, but it remains to be seen if they have enough to win a title.

                                                                                                                                             

CBA Power Rankings 

1. Indiana - Statements don’t come much bigger than the Hoosiers’ clutch win on the road at powerful Michigan State. IU now controls its destiny for the Big Ten title (along with, almost certainly, a No. 1 overall seed in March). The preseason’s top-ranked team continues to walk the walk with an astonishing offensive arsenal and Victor Oladipo’s defensive playmaking. It’s not over yet for the Hoosiers, who host the terrific defense of Ohio State on March 5. The Buckeyes will get a chance to avenge a 13-point home loss from a couple of weeks ago.

2. Gonzaga - Two more home games, two more demolition jobs for the Gonzaga offensive behemoth. The Zags haven’t lost since January 19, they’re 14-0 in conference and a No. 1 seed is easily within reach. Kelly Olynyk and his sweet shooting touch lead one of the country’s smoothest, scariest offenses. The chances of Gonzaga losing before the WCC tournament are slim and none (and it has a great chance of winning out in that tourney too).

3. Michigan - Michigan got the job done in its lone game of the week, handling a Jekyll-and-Hyde Illinois squad in Ann Arbor to complete a season sweep. Even with the win, though, the Wolverines sit two games behind Big Ten leader Indiana with time running out in the regular year. Player of the Year prospect Trey Burke is just one of Michigan’s brigade of three-point marksmen. The Maize and Blue will be looking to make a statement when rival Michigan State comes to the Crisler Center on Sunday. The Spartans annihilated the Wolverines by 23 in the first meeting.

4. Florida - Although Florida did avenge its tough loss at Arkansas this week, the Gators also showed that they’re still vulnerable away from Gainesville. A comeback home win by Missouri won’t keep Florida from running away with the title in an iffy SEC, but it will increase the odds that Kenny Boynton and company fall off the top line of the bracket come March. The nation’s No. 3 scoring defense—highlighted by a lethal full-court press—has a wealth of three-point shooters backing it up. It’s hard to believe, but Florida might actually get a competitive game from the banged-up Kentucky Wildcats in the regular-season finale. Even without Nerlens Noel, injured in an easy Florida win two weeks ago, UK just beat Mizzou at Rupp Arena, which is where the Gators must travel on March 9.

5. Michigan State - For a week in which the Spartans’ combined point margin was just minus-12, it was an awfully damaging couple of games for Michigan State. A narrow home defeat by Indiana and a tough road loss at Ohio State are far from embarrassing results, but they combine to knock the Spartans well off their No. 1 perch. Tom Izzo’s always intimidating D is getting some offensive help this season from an impressive collection of perimeter athletes led by veteran PG Keith Appling. Next Sunday, the Spartans must travel to arch-rival Michigan for the second leg of their season series. The Wolverines will be playing angry after getting run out of the gym in East Lansing, 75-52, two weeks ago.

Crawford Ready For Fresh Start In L.A.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Injuries, inconsistency and the spotlight of playing in Boston weighed onCarl Crawford, even had him doubting himself for the first time in his career.

It also made him question why he ever left Tampa Bay to sign a $142 million, seven-year contract with the Red Sox.

"You hear a lot of talk about how I just wanted money," Crawford said. "At some point, you just wondered if you made the right decision."

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After bottoming out, Crawford feels as though he has a second chance, ready to show the Los Angeles Dodgers and the rest of the baseball that he can again be the player who was one of the best left fielders in the game before those two lost seasons in Boston.

"Coming from over there to here is definitely a different feel," Crawford said.

Crawford was a four-time All-Star during his nine seasons with Tampa Bay, a superb fielder and slasher who could hit for average and wreak havoc on the bases. He led the majors in steals four times with the Rays and hit over .300 five times, earning Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards during his final season with them in 2010.

That set up Crawford for a huge payday on the free-agent market and he decided to play for the Red Sox, hoping for a chance to win a World Series.

Instead, Crawford foundered in Boston, setting career lows with a .255 average and 18 stolen bases in 2011. Then he was limited to 31 games last season due to injuries.

"There definitely was a dark cloud over me when I was in Boston," Crawford said. "I knew with the struggles I was having it would never get better for me. I just didn't see a light at the end of the tunnel. It puts you in kind of a depression stage. You just don't see a way out."

It didn't help that he was playing in one of the toughest media and fan environments in baseball, a town where even the slightest slump is overanalyzed and criticized.

Crawford went into the situation thinking he could handle it, but it became unbearable the more he struggled.

"From the outside, you watch guys playing over there and you think you can go and play," Crawford said. "But you realize, once you get there, it's a little tougher than you expected."

Because of his contract, Crawford figured he was stuck in Boston, adding to the this-will-never-end feeling he had.

He got a big surprise last August when the Dodgers pulled off a blockbuster trade to bring him, Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett from Beantown to Chavez Ravine.

Crawford didn't get to play for the Dodgers last season -- he had reconstructive elbow surgery two days before the trade -- but feels as though the change from East Coast to West will be just what he needs to get his mojo back.

"I had some confidence problems during that time," Crawford said of playing in Boston. "When you start to have those problems is when you lose confidence. I had some issues with that, but I'm at a place where I feel a lot better about myself. I just feel like the player I once was right now."

Playing in Los Angeles should give him a boost.

Yes, it's a big market like Boston, but more laid-back and without the type of vitriol that comes from fans and media back East.

The Dodgers also have a stacked lineup that will give him the freedom to slash and dash, and Dodger Stadium's spacious outfield should be a perfect fit for a player who led the majors in triples four times.

"Making the change out here is hopefully something that will be good for him," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.

Crawford will spend most of spring training trying to get fully healthy after having elbow surgery in January 2012 and Tommy John surgery last season.

He's been swinging a bat for a few weeks and was throwing up to 90 feet at the start of camp, feeling no pain, only a little fatigue.

As much as anything, Crawford is in a better place mentally, ready to put his time in Boston behind him and get the next phase of his career going.

"This is my first spring in Arizona, closer to family and all that," Crawford said. "It just feels different."

Kevin Youkilis Arrives At Camp

TAMPA, Fla. -- Kevin Youkilis has two messages for New York Yankees fans: He'll always be a Boston Red Sox, and he'll never be Alex Rodriguez.

A newly clean-shaven Youkilis made his first appearance in Yankees camp on Thursday, going straight from a red-eye flight from his home in San Jose, Calif., to the batting cage at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

After batting practice, Youkilis made a sweep through the Yankees' clubhouse, where he greeted a few of his new teammates -- but notJoba Chamberlain -- and had a brief chat with manager Joe Girardi.

But although Youkilis, who signed a one-year, $12 million contract in December, said he looks forward to "an enjoyable season" in New York, his heart still belongs to rival Boston, where he spent his first 8½ seasons in the majors.

"I'll always be a Red Sock," Youkilis said. "To negate all the years I played for the Boston Red Sox, and all the tradition, you look at all the stuff I have piled up at my house and to say I'd just throw it out the window, it's not true.

"Those were great years in Boston. One bad half-year doesn't take away from all the great years I had there."

The signing of the 33-year-old Youkilis, who batted a career-low .235 last year while splitting time between the Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox, became a necessity when Rodriguez underwent hip surgery that is expected to sideline him at least until the All-Star break.

While Youkilis is being relied upon to play Rodriguez's position, he cautioned against expectations that he will replace the three-time MVP's production in the lineup.

"I don't think you look at it like that," Youkilis said. "You can't be thinking about shoes to fill, because I'll never be Alex Rodriguez. I mean, Alex Rodriguez is one of the best hitters of all time. I'm not going to be that same guy. But I can be a good major league player who can help the team win."

Youkilis' brief swing through the clubhouse took him to the opposite side of the room from where Chamberlain was sitting at his locker. Youkilis and Chamberlain famously feuded during the third baseman's time in Boston.

Although Chamberlain said the two have exchanged text messages, they have yet to speak face-to-face.

"You guys have written a lot about it, but we're here in spring training as a team and ready to play," Chamberlain said. "At some time, we'll all sit down and talk. I think it's all going to be OK."

NBA And CBA Power Rankings (as of 2/11)

NBA Power Rankings (as of 2/11)

 1. San Antonio (40-12) - The Spurs' winning streak came to an end when they got scorched in Detroit on Friday, but they won the race to 40 wins in Brooklyn on Sunday. That probably doesn't affect Gregg Popovich's conservative approach to Tim Duncan's and Manu Ginobili's day-to-day status, but it doesn't hurt. So don't be surprised if neither sees action before the break. Either way, Tony Parker's got this. 

 2. Oklahoma City (39-12) - The Thunder are back to winning more than one game in a row and, after holding the Suns to 69 points on Sunday, are back in the top five defensively for the first time since Week 2. So it's a good time for another meeting with the champs, which comes Thursday. Going back to Game 2 of The Finals, they've allowed the Heat to score 112 points per 100 possessions over five games. They'll be tested at Utah and against the Heat, leading into the All-Star break. 

 3. Miami (34-14) - LeBron James is on a ridiculous run, shooting 55-for-77 (71 percent) and averaging 31.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists as the Heat have won five straight. And since he completed avoided the cold/flu that ran through the Miami locker room last week, it's fair to wonder if he's human. Dwyane Wade (52 percent, 24.8 points, 6.0 boards, 5.8 assists) hasn't been too bad either. 

 4. Denver (33-19) - The Nuggets' road trip is only halfway done, but it's already been fascinating. First, they came a missed Wilson Chandler three from having all nine guys in double-figures in Cleveland on Saturday. Then, they fell in triple-OT in Boston on Sunday, with Andre Miller pulling up for a three to win with plenty of time left on the clock. He's now 9-for-41 (22 percent) on threes this season. Tougher stretch on the road started with the 3OT loss to Boston Sunday and the Raptors and Nets next on the road heading into the break. 

 5. L.A. Clippers (36-17) - They didn’t play that well during their Grammy road trip, going 3-4 (with one more game Monday night in Philly) but the return of Chris Paul and what he did to the Knicks reminds you how much they missed him. Eric Bledsoe had a huge game (27 points, six rebounds, six steals and three blocks) in Orlando on Wednesday, but he's back where he belongs -- the bench -- with the return of Chris Paul. And the Clippers' bench provided a huge lift in Sunday's win in New York. Bledsoe was active, Jamal Crawford was on fire, and Grant Hill helped keep Carmelo Anthony in check down the stretch. 

CBA Power Rankings (as of 2/11)

1. Indiana (21-3) - What an eight days for Indiana, both for better and for worse. Last Saturday, IU dropped Michigan in a thrilling home game. On Thursday, it was upset at Illinois on an ugly last play. On Sunday, it beat Ohio State in one of the most impressive road performances of the season. Call it a wash. 

 2. Miami (FL) (19-3) - Miami blew out North Carolina in Coral Gables this week, remaining perfect in games in which stars Reggie Johnson and Durand Scott have both been available. The rest of the Hurricanes' February is stuffed with eminently winnable games. It's time to believe in them. 

 3. Duke (21-2) - The Blue Devils barely escaped Boston College with a win, and an ugly win at that. Their defense is still struggling without injured forward Ryan Kelly, but it should be enough to handle bitter rival UNC at home Wednesday. 

 4. Michigan (21-3) - The Wolverines were bound to take a few losses in Big Ten play, but the one they suffered at Wisconsin on Saturday -- which followed Ben Brust's game-tying half-court buzzer-beater -- will go down as one of the toughest to swallow. Up next is Tuesday's rivalry game at Michigan State. 

 5. Florida (19-3) - Florida's sudden shooting slump in the first half at Arkansas cost the Gators their perfect SEC record, but it's clear that Billy Donovan's team is still the overwhelming favorite to win the SEC. K

Sources: Schilling's Claims Untrue

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Curt Schilling's claim in 2008 that a member of the team's medical staff raised the possibility of treating his injured shoulder with a performance-enhancing drug was "completely baseless," investigations conducted by both the Boston Red Sox and Major League Baseball concluded, according to two baseball sources with direct knowledge of the investigations.

Schilling, now an ESPN commentator, disputed the report.

"It happened. I informed the club, and there were other players that heard the conversation, who I spoke with after," Schilling told ESPNBoston.com in an email. "The club immediately informed MLB, and they launched an investigation in which all parties were interviewed. If someone's saying it didn't happen, I am not sure why, since the two people in the discussion are gone -- I'm retired and the other person was fired last year, I think. But it doesn't shock me that people would deny it was 'an event,' though I am unsure why."

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Brad White/Getty Images

Mike Reinold, let go by the Red Sox in 2012, was accused by Curt Schilling of suggesting he take PEDs to help get over an injury, according to sources. An investigation found Schilling's claims to be "baseless."

Schilling had contended Wednesday in an interview with ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd: "It was brought to my attention that [using a banned substance] is a potential path I might want to pursue."

The conversation with the staff member, which according to a source took place during spring training of 2008, was overheard by several teammates, Schilling said. In subsequent interviews, Schilling said it was a member of the medical staff who made the suggestion.

"It was an incredibly uncomfortable conversation," he said, "because it came up in the midst of a group of people. The other people weren't in the conversation, but they could clearly hear the conversation. And it was suggested to me that at my age and in my situation, why not? What did I have to lose? Because if I wasn't going to get healthy, it didn't matter. And if I did get healthy, great. It caught me off guard, to say the least."

Schilling has exonerated, in a number of interviews, a host of people that did not make the suggestion, including members of the front office and the medical staff, but has declined to identify the accused staffer. According to multiple sources, Schilling accused Mike Reinold, who had just been named the team's rehabilitation coordinator in 2008 and with whom the team cut ties after the 2012 season.

Reinold did not respond to emails seeking comment.

Schilling reported the alleged conversation to Terry Francona and Theo Epstein, the team's manager and general manager at the time, and according to MLB sources, Epstein immediately contacted MLB offices in New York, as is required under the terms of baseball's joint drug agreement. Both the Red Sox and MLB subsequently initiated investigations -- "within a week," one source said -- interviewing Schilling, the staff member who allegedly made the comment, and at least one witness to the conversation.

The investigations were thorough, the sources said, and the players' union was informed, and both probes came to the same conclusion.

"Completely baseless," one source said. "It didn't happen. The staff member did not say it, and he had no PED history whatsoever."

Schilling told ESPNBoston.com there was no team probe into the incident.

"Schilling didn't stand up enough [to investigators] for what he said happened," one MLB source said. "Our investigation also discovered there was some [bad] history between Schilling and [Reinold].

"Investigators interviewed one witness to the conversation, who said he did not think in any way that [Reinold] said, 'Hey, this is something you should consider.' "

Schilling told WEEI.com on Thursday night that he regretted not being more forthcoming to investigators at the time.

The Red Sox medical staff has undergone a number of changes in recent years. Reinold was given greater responsibility after the team reshuffled its medical staff and cut ties with Dr. Thomas Gill after the 2011 season, but several players were known to have issues with him. The team's manager in 2012, Bobby Valentine, also complained that Reinold exercised too much control over when injured players were cleared to play.

MLB issued a statement Friday, saying it considered the matter closed.

Kevin Garnett Hits 25,000 Points

BOSTON -- Celtics forward Kevin Garnett became the 16th player in NBA history to score 25,000 career points during Thursday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Garnett entered the night six points shy of the milestone. He went to the bench scoreless after picking up two fouls in the first 2:08. Garnett hit a long jumper to start the second quarter, then registered a putback. He reached 25,000 points with a turnaround fadeaway with 8:08 to play in the second quarter.

Quick Ticket To 25K Points

Celtics All-Star Kevin Garnett became the 16th player in NBA history to score 25,000 points. Here's a look at where those points came from entering Thursday night's game:

Area on floor	Points
Mid-range	9,056
Restricted area	6,618
Free throws	4,658
In the paint (non-RA)	3,338
Above the break 3	462
Corner 3	27
-- Not including KG's rookie year (1995-96) -- ESPN Stats & Information

The Celtics acknowledged the milestone during the next stoppage in play and the crowd gave Garnett a standing ovation, which he acknowledged by waving to the fans.

Garnett finished with 15 points in the Celtics' 116-95 win.

Garnett joins an exclusive club of players with at least 25,000 points that includes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928), Michael Jordan (32,292), Wilt Chamberlain (31,419),Kobe Bryant (30,834), Shaquille O'Neal (28,596),Moses Malone (27,409), Elvin Hayes (27,313),Hakeem Olajuwon (26,946), Oscar Robertson (26,710), Dominique Wilkins (26,668), John Havlicek (26,395), Alex English (25,613), Reggie Miller (25,279) and Jerry West (25,192).

Last month, after passing Patrick Ewing for 16th place on the all-time scoring list, Garnett downplayed the accomplishment.

"I guess when you've been in the league as long as I've been in it you want to accomplish some things," Garnett said. "Nothing more, nothing special in it. I guess some day it'll mean something to me. But at this point, it's relative. I'm sorry to be kind of, you know ... I'm not into the individual stuff, but obviously I've accomplished some things in this league, so that's a good thing."

Mason Plumlee scores 30 points, lifts No. 4 Duke by NC State

Big leads haven't been entirely safe when Duke and North Carolina State get together at Cameron Indoor Stadium. So even as the Blue Devils went up by 21 points,Mason Plumlee knew the Wolfpack would rally somehow.

"They're too good not to," Plumlee said.

And No. 4 Duke was too good to let its lead slip away.

Plumlee scored 30 points in the Blue Devils' 98-85 victory Thursday night.

Seth Curry added 26 points and Quinn Cook had 21 for Duke (20-2, 7-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), which never trailed, shot 53.8 percent from the field and had to fend off the Wolfpack's late surge for its fourth straight win.

Richard Howell had 15 of his 23 points in the second half for the Wolfpack (16-7, 5-5). Playing their first game this season as an unranked team, they clawed back in it by making 12 of their first 14 shots of the second half.

But NC State -- the preseason favorite in the ACC -- lost its third straight and was denied its first win in Cameron Indoor Stadium since 1995.

"We (were) getting it handed to us, but I love the way my team fought back," Howell said.

Howell's layup with 5:16 remaining got the Wolfpack within single digits for the first time since the opening minutes at 84-73.

Cook countered with a jumper and Howell picked up his fifth foul on the offensive end with 3:41 left. Plumlee followed with two free throws to make it 88-75.

NC State then cut it to eight on Scott Wood's 3 with 1:08 left but Curry hit two free throws with 52 seconds left to make it 95-85 and Plumlee added a dunk to make it a 12-point game. 

C.J. Leslie finished with 16 points and Wood had 14 for the Wolfpack, whose previous four conference losses came by a total of seven points.

Freshman Rasheed Sulaimon, who missed all 10 of his shots in the previous meeting -- an 84-76 loss on Jan. 12 that knocked Duke from No. 1 -- had 11 points in this one.

Plumlee was 9 of 11 from the field and 12 of 16 from the free throw line while finishing two points shy of the career high he set last week at Wake Forest.

Curry finished with his third straight 20-point game this season and second consecutive huge performance at home against the Wolfpack.

In their last visit to Cameron, they led by 20 points with 11½ minutes left before Curry took over, scoring 21 of his 26 points in the second half to key the Blue Devils' 78-73 win.

NC State tried to turn the tables on Duke with a hot second half of its own, but the Wolfpack simply let the Blue Devils get too far ahead in the opening 20 minutes.

"At halftime, that's what I was telling my team -- we had them down like this last year, and they came back and beat us," Howell said. "I just wanted to tell my team that to try to keep their heads up and keep them playing in the game, because we were definitely getting ... whupped."

Duke shot 61 percent during a 58-point first half -- its highest-scoring half of the season about which coach Mike Krzyzewski said "I don't know if we can play any harder or better."

The ACC's top 3-point-shooting team hit all 10 in the first half -- four each by Cook and Curry -- and nearly matched its previous season high for a full game, 12, set two months ago against Temple.

"We got good looks, and we had a lot of energy defensively, and that translates to the offensive end," Curry said. "We came out motivated and with a lot of energy, and that showed."

At the other end, NC State -- which shoots an ACC-best 50 percent -- couldn't get anything to fall early and fell way behind. Lewis started 2 of 4, but the rest of his teammates combined to miss their first 11 shots.

"I thought we got some good shots early. We just couldn't make them," coach Mark Gottfried said. "And at the same time we seemed to be struggling, they were on fire."

Cook gave Duke its first 20-point lead when his 3 at the 7-minute mark made it 41-21. Curry's jumper with about 30 seconds left gave the Blue Devils their largest lead, 58-37 at halftime.

Tyler Lewis scored 13 points in place of injured point guard Lorenzo Brown and fellow freshman T.J. Warren had 12 for NC State.

A run of injuries left the teams with only a combined 15 available scholarship players.

Brown sat out his second straight game with a sprained left ankle. Duke played without both power forward Ryan Kelly and one of his replacements. Josh Hairston joined him on the bench, out with an infected arm.

"For two teams that have key players out, what a performance by both teams," Krzyzewski said. "That was ACC basketball tonight."