NBA Post-Season Power Rankings

Okay, that was odd.  Sure, some of the teams that were supposed to step it up, like the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers, were terrific, but other teams, like the Boston Celtics, looked very beatable.

What the first few games of the first round tells us is that the teams in the NBA are much closer than a lot of BetUS online sportsbook fans previously thought.  That’s a big deal.

Let’s analyze the NBA Power Rankings going into this weekends action.

NBA Power Rankings

1. Los Angeles Lakers - - LA covered as 12 point favorites to beat the Utah Jazz by +1 in the sportsbook in game one and beat them by 10 in game two.  They looked out of this world in the first half of game one when shooting 66% and racking up 62 points.  L.A. showed that they are definitely the team to beat for the NBA Championship this season and should only get better.  It’s too bad for Utah who really looked like they had a shot in the playoffs before finishing the regular season with the 8th seed in the Western Conference.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers - - The Cavs grab the number two spot after their 18 point destruction of the Detroit Pistons in game one of their first round series and followed that up with a very business like win in game two.  Cleveland was an 11 ½ point favorite in game one but absolutely dominated the Pistons by putting up 102 to Detroit’s 84 points.  Scoring that many against Detroit, and still playing tough defense, means that the Cavs are ready to march into the NBA Championship.

3. Chicago Bulls - - The Bulls were brilliant this past Saturday when beating the Boston Celtics on the road as 8 ½ point underdogs.  Chicago did give up a 9 point halftime lead and let the Celtics back into the game, but then they settled down and outhustled the Men in Green to a 105 to 103 beat down in overtime. Guard, Derrick Rose, had 36 points, 11 assists and 4 rebounds.  Wow. Game two went right down to the wire again in an absolute thriller, this time it was Ray Allen with the heroics as he buried a three with two seconds left to seal the victory. Sure, the Celtics were without Kevin Garnett, but the Bulls have a first year point guard and inexperienced guys at almost every position. 

4. Denver Nuggets - - Denver was fantastic against the Hornets in both games this series.  In game one, they came into the game as 6 point favorites and ended up beating New Orleans by a score of 113 to 84. It came down to adjustments as the Nuggets held an 8 point lead in the first half but then proceeded to outscore the Hornets 58 to 37 in the second half.  Chauncey Billups had 36 points and 8 assists. Game two was much of the same as Chauncey was fantastic and the Birdman had the crowd going wild. The Hornets just don't have the same magic as last year and Chris Paul won't be able to carry this team out of the first round unless guys start stepping up.

5. Houston Rockets - - No Rafer Alston, who they shipped to Orlando during the regular season, and no Tracey McGrady, who’s just hurt, didn’t hinder the 4 ½ point underdog Houston Rockets from absolutely dominating the young Portland Trailblazers on the road. The Blazers eeked out a win in game two but again looked like they were overmatched at times during the game. The fact of the matter is that Houston is just the better team and that as good as Portland was during the regular season, and there were moments where the Blazers looked like serious contenders, they can’t handle Houston’s defense or Yao Ming who had 27 points and 7 assists in game one.  Now, that’s how to play center in the NBA, Greg Oden!

6. Philadelphia 76’ers - - How did the Orlando Magic blow an 18 point lead to the Philadelphia 76’ers in the first game of their first round playoff series?  By getting outscored 35 to 19 in the fourth quarter is how. What is worse for Orlando backers is that it almost happened again in game two! Winning straight-up as 9 ½ point underdogs, the 76’ers showed why a lot of bettors considered them for a wager to win the Eastern Conference when the season started. The Magic’s absolute implosion is something that bettors might want to worry about in future rounds.