A week before the NBA All-Star break not much has changed in the Western Conference. The LA Lakers are still on top as they have been all season long. At 38-12 they have a 4 ½ game lead in the conference and an 8 ½ game lead over 30-21 Phoenix in the Pacific division. Denver is second in the conference with a record of 33-16. They have a 2 ½ game lead over 30-18 Utah and a four game lead over 28-21 Oklahoma City in the Northwest division. In the Southwest division, Dallas is 31-18 and has a two game lead over 28-19 San Antonio and a 4 ½ game lead over Houston and Memphis who are both 26-22. Eleven teams in the West have a winning record with Portland is currently in the eighth spot at 29-22. Here is a brief look at my power rankings for the top three teams in the West.
Los Angeles Lakers (38-12) Current Odds to Win the Western Conference: 4/7
Last Friday, Kobe Bryant paid a visit to his home town of Philadelphia and help beat the 76ers 99-91 by scoring a team high 24 points. Against the Celtics, he hit a game winning jumper with 7.3 seconds left to pull off a 90-89 win. Despite becoming the Lakers all time scorer, Bryant’s 44 points were not enough to avoid a tough 93-95 loss to the Grizzlies. In another close battle, they came away with a two point 99-97 win over the Bobcats. Through 50 games Bryant leads in points per game with 27.9 and assists with 4.7. Pau Gasol is the leading rebounder with 10.7. Next up for the Lakers are the Nuggets tonight at home, Saturday on the road against the Trail Blazers, home against the Spurs on Monday, and then back on the road to play the Jazz on Wednesday, February 10th.
Denver Nuggets (33-16) Current Odds to Win the Western Conference: 5/1
Without Carmelo Anthony in the lineup, the Nuggets had no answer for the Thunder’s Kevin Durant’s 30 points, losing 84-101. They bounced back with a 103-89 win over the Spurs. Kenyon Martin lead the way with 27 points and 11 rebounds. They made it two in a row with a 112-109 win over the Kings. The streak did not last long as they dropped a 97-109 decision to the Suns on Wednesday night. Through 49 games Anthony is the leading scorer, averaging 29.7 points per game. Martin is averaging 9.2 rebounds and Chauncey Billups is averaging 6.1 assists. Next up for the Nuggets are the Lakers tonight and the Jazz on Saturday on the road, and then back home against the Mavericks on Tuesday and the Spurs on Thursday, February 11th.
Dallas Mavericks (31-18) Current Odds to Win the Western Conference: 8/1
Last Saturday night the Mavs were torched by Andre Miller’s career high 52 points in a 112-114 loss to the Trail Blazers. The losing streak reached three games after dropping a 109-112 decision to the Kings. On Wednesday night, they were able to snap the streak with a 110-101 win over the Warriors. Through 49 games Dirk Nowitzki leads in scoring; averaging 25.1 points per game, Erick Dampier leads in rebounds with 8.3, and Jason Kidd leads in assists with 9.3. Next up for the Mavericks are the Timberwolves at home tonight and then on the road against the Warriors on Monday and the Nuggets on Tuesday, February 9th.
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