NBA Power Rankings Week 7: Where the Magic *Disappear*

After a two week mini-hiatus, the Serra-Melnick Power Poll is back in full effect. Bammo! We are now more than half way through the season and the somewhat surprising team of the year is still on top of the Power Poll.  The San Antonio Spurs lead the way for both Andrew Melnick and I, as they top the league with their 20-3 record.  Orlando’s beloved Magic have begun a hard slide down the poll and are struggling mightily at the moment.  Since starting 15-4, the team is only 1-5 in their last 6 games.  Shortages and sickness aside, this team as currently constructed is cemented for a second round exit.

The hot teams of late should come as no surprise.  The Heat, Celtics, Mavs and Spurs are all chugging along the proverbial pain train that is the long NBA season and are separating themselves as leaders.  The Miami Heat are finally starting to hit their stride (8-0 since last poll) and that is something that should be very, very scary for the rest of the league.

This weeks big jump? The media’s favorite new darling, the upstart yet still mediocre, New York Knicks.  The Knicks have won 13 of their last 14 games.  That sounds really impressive until you know that only 3 of those teams had winning records.

Biggest tumble? Yourrrrrrrrrrr Orlandoooooo Magic.  Melnick dropped the Magic 7 spots from the last poll and I dropped them 5 spots.  The next biggest drop was the NBA Hornets who dropped from 8 to 12.

Least surprising rank of the week? Pick any team from 18-30.  The talent disparity between any of these teams and the teams at the top of the polls is striking. Actually, I think a more appropriate word would be… sad. Contraction anybody?

The full poll is available the jump by clicking “continue reading” below:

S&M Power Poll – Serra		S&M Power Poll – Melnick
1	San Antonio Spurs (1) (20-3)	1	San Antonio Spurs (1) (20-3)
2	Boston Celtics (2) (19-4)	2	Boston Celtics (2) (19-4)
3	Los Angeles Lakers (3) (18-7)	3	Dallas Mavericks (5) (19-5)
4	Miami Heat (11) (18-8)	4	Los Angeles Lakers (4) (18-7)
5	Dallas Mavericks (5) (19-5)	5	Miami Heat (12) (18-8)
6	Utah Jazz (6) (18-8)	6	Utah Jazz (6) (18-8)
7	Oklahoma City Thunder (8) (17-8)	7	Oklahoma City Thunder (7) (17-8)
8	Denver Nuggets (12) (15-9)	8	Chicago Bulls (10) (15-8)
9	Orlando Magic (4) (16-9)	9	Denver Nuggets (9) (15-9)
10	Chicago Bulls (9) (15-8)	10	Orlando Magic (3) (16-9)
11	New York Knicks (14) (16-9)	11	New York Knicks (14) (16-9)
12	New Orleans Hornets (8) (14-10)	12	New Orleans Hornets (8) (14-10)
13	Atlanta Hawks (10) (16-10)	13	Atlanta Hawks (11) (16-10)
14	Phoenix Suns (15) (11-12)	14	Portland Trail Blazers (15) (12-13)
15	Indiana Pacers (13) (11-12)	15	Phoenix Suns (16) (11-12)
16	Portland Trail Blazers (17) (12-13)	16	Indiana Pacers (13) (11-12)
17	Memphis Grizzlies (16) (11-14)	17	Memphis Grizzlies (17) (11-14)
18	Milwaukee Bucks (20) (10-13)	18	Milwaukee Bucks (20) (10-13)
19	Houston Rockets (26) (10-14)	19	Houston Rockets (22) (10-14)
20	Golden State Warriors (18) (9-16)	20	Charlotte Bobcats (21) (9-15)
21	Charlotte Bobcats (22) (9-15)	21	Golden State Warriors (18) (9-16)
22	Philadelphia 76ers (28) (9-15)	22	Philadelphia 76ers (28) (9-15)
23	Toronto Raptors (24) (9-16)	23	Toronto Raptors (24) (9-16)
24	Detroit Pistons (26) (8-18)	24	Detroit Pistons (25) (8-18)
25	Washington Wizards (21) (6-17)	25	Washington Wizards (26) (6-17)
26	New Jersey Nets (23) (6-19)	26	Minnesota Timberwolves (27) (6-19)
27	Cleveland Cavaliers (19) (7-17)	27	Cleveland Cavaliers (19) (7-17)
28	Minnesota Timberwolves (28) (6-19)	28	New Jersey Nets (23) (6-19)
29	Los Angeles Clippers (29) (5-20)	29	Sacramento Kings (29) (5-17)
30	Sacramento Kings (30) (5-17)	30	Los Angeles Clippers (30) (5-17)

Brian Serra is the VP of Power Polls for Howard the Dunk and founder of MagicBasketballOnline.com.  You can follow/add him on Twitter and on Facebook.  Compare pricing of Orlando Magic tickets for all future games using TiqIQ to find the best deals!