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.