NBA Power Rankings 1-6-12

As of January 5.

EAST

1. MIAMI (7-1) - Even without LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, the Heat were able to win in triple-overtime thanks to the efforts of Chris Bosh, Mario Chalmers, Shane Battier and Udonis Haslem. The NBA's favorite villains have something to prove.

2. CHICAGO (6-1) - They seem like a more well-rounded starting five. Rose is the reigning MVP, Noah's the tenacious defender, Boozer leads the team in rebounds and steals, Luol Deng has reasserted himself as the #2 scoring option, and Rip Hamilton is keeping them honest in the mid-range game. Taj Gibson continues his sixth-man yeoman's work, and the other bench guys are on fire from 3 right now.

3. ORLANDO (5-2) - The Magic hold the cards in the Dwight Howard trade sweepstakes. If they'd started 2-5, they might be a little more desperate, but Ryan Anderson has been playing like an All-Star next to Dwight, Hedo's numbers are returning to form, and JJ Redick and Glen Davis anchor an effective second unit. If J-Rich and Jameer can rediscover their outside shooting, this will be a team that the Heat and Bulls have to take seriously.

4. INDIANA (4-2) - Danny Granger's been struggling with his shot so far this year, but everything else is there. David West's presense has brought a renewed confidence to the team. Remember when Ray Allen criticized West for pursuing "the dollars" when he signed with the Pacers instead of the Celtics? West knew what he was doing.

5. ATLANTA (4-3) - They'll always be a first or second-round team, and they'll stay that way until they blown it up. But why blow something up when you make the playoffs every year?

6. PHILADELPHIA (3-2) - Jodie Meeks' shooting has been off, but that's a small complaint compared to how coach Doug Collins has Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young to turn to on his bench. Spencer Hawes looks like he's having a career year.

7. BOSTON (4-3) - They'd probably be 6-1 if Paul Pierce hadn't missed three games. But the thin bench is going to come back to bite them. The perpetual Rondo trade rumors don't help.

8. TORONTO (3-3) - Bargnani's finally come into his own. Looking forward to see him and Jonas V. play side by side. Jose Calderon may be the most underrated point guard in the league.

9. CLEVELAND (3-3) - Some of their success can be attributed to their schedule, but they hung in there til the 4th quarter with the Pacers and they're 1-1 with the improved Raptors.

10. NEW YORK (2-4) - This team's fate should not live or die based on the health of Iman Shumpert. Mike Bibby was a terrible signing. I expect a trade before the deadline.

11. CHARLOTTE (2-4) - Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo are going to take some time, but Kemba's shown enough flashes to show he'll challenge DJ Augustin sooner rather than later for the starting spot.

12. MILWAUKEE (2-4) - This team is not talented enough to get by without Andrew Bogut.

13. DETROIT (2-4) - This team was terrible last year, so it's a mystery to me why they brought most of the players back. Maybe they believe Lawrence Frank can work some magic.

14. NEW JERSEY (1-6) - I feel bad for this franchise. Without Brook Lopez they're vying with Washington to be the worst team in the league, not just the East. And that means Deron Williams will bolt this summer and they'll have given away Derrick Favors for nothing.

15. WASHINGTON (0-6) - Glad Maurice Evans called the players' meeting. Somebody had to. And it's a little disturbing that #6 pick Jan Vesely has yet to see a minute on the floor for the worst team in the NBA.

WEST

1. OKLAHOMA CITY (5-2) - Russell Westbrook trade rumors? Are you kidding? Sure, his turnover ratio isn't good, nor his outside shooting, but they still look like the team to beat in the West.

2. PORTLAND (4-1) - You know that team with LaMarcus Aldridge, Gerald Wallace, Wesley Matthews, Raymond Felton, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Camby and Jamal Crawford is pretty good.

3. SAN ANTONIO (4-2) - The old men still had the best regular season record last year, lest we forget, but how they survive without leading scorer Manu Ginobili will be their real test.

4. DENVER (5-2) - Oh yeah, George Karl coaches this team. Six guys averaging double-figures, seven guys averaging at least 1 steal a game. Rookie Kenneth Faried is a beast but he has a hard time getting minutes with this squad.

5. L.A. CLIPPERS (3-2) - They're living up to the hype, pretty much. They'll be a playoff team. They need to tighten up their defense; opposing team outrebound them by an average of eight.

6. L.A. LAKERS (4-3) - Good thing coach Mike Brown has made this team focus on defense because their 3-point shooting is atrocious. Kobe Bryant (7-37), Metta World Peace (2-17), and Derek Fisher (1-11) need some extra practice or something.

7. UTAH (3-3) - They've been unwatchable on the road, but they're undefeated at home, and they have a lot of games at home in January. Rookies Enes Kanter and Alec Burks are coming along nicely, easing into it, and Derrick Favors is improving. It's a weird mix of old and young players; are they going to commit to the rebuilding or are they going to try to make the playoffs this year?

8. MEMPHIS (3-3) - Zach Randolph and Darrell Arthur are down. But there's enough talent on this team that I don't see them slipping too far out of the hunt by the time they get Z-Bo back.

9. DALLAS (3-4) - The Vince Carter three-year contract made no sense, but Lamar Odom seemed like a bargain at the time. Instead he's acting like a Trojan Horse saboteur with how he's been playing. It's clear Mark Cuban knew they weren't going to be able to repeat so he's biding his time for the free-agent class of 2012.

10. NEW ORLEANS (2-4) - It all hinges on Eric Gordon's return.

11. HOUSTON (2-4) - So yeah. Having David Stern veto the trade for Pau Gasol really hurt them. But Kevin Martin and Luis Scola are professionals, and Kyle Lowry's been great. It's still too easy to score against this team.

12. MINNESOTA (2-4) - Oh, the promise is there. They're so close. They'll be a great team to watch in 2012. They're fun now; they just keep happening to lose.

13. SACRAMENTO (3-5) - Keith Smart has to figure out how to get these guys to pass to each other. But now that we know DeMarcus Cousins runs this team, I don't see their abyssmal assist numbers going up anytime soon.

14. GOLDEN STATE (2-4) - Steph Curry's breaking down again, so it's a good thing Monta Ellis and David Lee are playing well. I see them making a move before the trade deadline.

15. PHOENIX (2-4) - Trade Steve Nash or you'll lose him for nothing. Something is better than nothing.