SB Nation Chicago - NBA Power Rankings 2012: Chicago Bulls Can't Hold Top Spot After Overtime Losshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48877/chicago-fave.png2012-04-23T19:08:52-05:00http://chicago.sbnation.com/rss/stream/26293162012-04-23T19:08:52-05:002012-04-23T19:08:52-05:00NBA Power Rankings 2012: SB Nation's Tom Ziller Places Chicago Bulls At No. 2
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<p>With the start of the 2012 NBA playoffs right around the corner, SB Nation's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/4/23/2968459/nba-power-rankings-2012-playoffs-spurs-bulls">Tom Ziller has released his latest set of NBA power rankings</a>. Ziller ranks the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a> at No. 2 overall, behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">San Antonio Spurs</a>.</p>
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<p>We worry about <span>Derrick Rose's</span> health, and rightfully so: He's the talisman on what has become the league's No. 6 offense. But Chicago has been pretty darned good without Rose this season, and there's a sneaking suspicion that the ailments that have kept the point guard out during the regular season wouldn't do the same in the playoffs.</p>
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<p><i>Related: <a href="http://www.blogabull.com/2012/4/23/2968540/eastern-conference-playoff-seeding-what-teams-are-preferring-to-face">Eastern Conference Playoff Seeding: what teams are preferring to face Bulls instead of Heat?</a></i></p>
<p>The Bulls finish up their regular season slate this week with games against Indiana and Cleveland.</p>
<p><i>For updates on the matchup, stay tuned to <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a>. For more in-depth coverage, visit <a href="http://blogabull.com/">Blog a Bull</a>, and for more news and notes from around the NBA, head over to SB Nation's <a href="http://sbnation.com/nba">NBA news hub</a>.</i></p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bulls/2012/4/23/2970305/2012-nba-power-rankings-chicago-bullsSteven Muma2012-04-09T13:06:30-05:002012-04-09T13:06:30-05:00NBA Power Rankings 2012: Bulls Drop To No. 2 After Sunday's Loss
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<p>After a deflating <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bulls/2012/4/2/2920553/bulls-vs-rockets-preview">100-99 overtime loss</a> to the New York Knick, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Chicago Bulls</a> find themselves slipping in the Tom Ziller's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/4/9/2935615/nba-power-rankings-spurs-winning-streak">NBA Power Rankings</a> for the first time in a very long time.</p>
<p>According to Ziller, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">San Antonio Spurs</a> -- who still have three fewer wins than the Bulls -- grab the top spot, followed by the Bulls at No. 2. Chicago has now lost 4 of its last 7 games after having lost only 10 games all season. Click here for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/4/9/2935615/nba-power-rankings-spurs-winning-streak">full power rankings</a>.</p>
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<th width="10">Rank</th> <th>Team</th> <th>Record</th> <th>Last Week</th> <th>SB Nation Blog</th>
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<td><b>1.</b></td>
<td><b>San Antonio Spurs</b></td>
<td><b>40-14</b></td>
<td><b>W: CLE, BOS, NO, UTA</b></td>
<td><a href="http://www.poundingtherock.com" target="_blank"><b>Pounding The Rock</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5">This is the second double-digit win streak of the season for the Spurs. Expect some more analysis downplaying San Antonio's playoff chances based on last year's first-round exit; please remember that <span>Manu Ginobili</span> busted up his arm entering that series. He looks healthy now. This team has always been different when he's healthy.</td>
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<td><b>2.</b></td>
<td><b>Chicago Bulls</b></td>
<td><b>43-14</b></td>
<td><b>W: BOS; L: HOU, NY</b></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blogabull.com/" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><b>Blog-a-Bull</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5">I secretly hope some fool tries out the "Bulls are better without <span>Derrick Rose</span>" argument just because I've always wanted to see a live human self-ridicule himself into oblivion.</td>
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<td><b>3.</b></td>
<td><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a></b></td>
<td><b>41-15</b></td>
<td><b>W: TOR; L: MEM, MIA, IND</b></td>
<td><a href="http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" target="_blank"><b>Welcome To Loud City</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5">We told you that the Thunder's Hell Week wasn't over after they beat the Heat and Bulls! The Thunder got busted up three straight times. Why do we have them ahead of Miami given last week's result? The Thunder looked more convincing in their win in the home-and-home than Miami did in its victory. #science</td>
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<td><b>4.</b></td>
<td><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a></b></td>
<td><b>40-15</b></td>
<td><b>W: PHI, OKC, DET; L: MEM</b></td>
<td><a href="http://www.peninsulaismightier.com/" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><b>Peninsula Is Mightier</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5">I still have not forgiven <span>Udonis Haslem</span> for losing the braids.</td>
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<p><i>For updates on the matchup, stay tuned to <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a>. For more in-depth coverage, visit <a href="http://blogabull.com/">Blog a Bull</a>, and for more news and notes from around the NBA, head over to SB Nation's <a href="http://sbnation.com/nba">NBA news hub</a>.</i></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=sbnation" title="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com.s3.amazonaws.com/youtube/youtube-article-insert.png" alt="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" style="margin-left: -15px" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'SBN YouTube Integration', 'HTML Article Insert - Grey']);"></a></p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bulls/2012/4/9/2936505/2012-nba-power-rankings-chicago-bullsBradley Woodrum2012-03-26T15:48:35-05:002012-03-26T15:48:35-05:002012 NBA Power Rankings: Chicago Bulls Remain On Top With Best Record
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<p>The No. 1 <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Chicago Bulls</a> sport the NBA's best record entering the final month of the regular season and have likewise earned high marks in Tom Ziller's late <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/3/26/2901177/nba-power-rankings-2012-thunder-bulls-heat">NBA Power Rankings</a>.</p>
<p>The Bulls, who sport one of the league's best defenses (88.7 points allowed per game) and better offenses (97.6 points score per game), have a chance of finishing with the second-highest winning percentage in the team's history (ahead of the 1996-97 Bulls, behind the 1995-96 Bulls) in winning percentage -- if they can win out in their final 16 games.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the No. 4 <a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a>, who eliminated the Bulls 4-1 in the 2010-11 Eastern Conference Finals, are in the midst of a slide. Two weeks ago, the Bulls were able to beat the Heat 106-102 without their star PG Derrick Rose.</p>
<p>Here is a look at Ziller's top four teams for this week:</p>
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<th width="10">Rank</th> <th>Team</th> <th>Record</th> <th>Last Week</th> <th>SB Nation Blog</th>
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<td><b>1.</b></td>
<td><b><a href="https://www.blogabull.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bulls</a></b></td>
<td><b>40-10</b></td>
<td><b>W: ORL, TOR x 2</b></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blogabull.com/" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><b>Blog-a-Bull</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5">The Bulls continue to rack up wins even with <span>Derrick Rose</span> bouncing in and out of the lineup. As long as Rose joins the postseason healthy, there's a strong chance Chicago enters an inevitable Eastern finals against Miami as a favorite.</td>
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<td><b>2.</b></td>
<td><b><a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oklahoma City Thunder</a></b></td>
<td><b>37-12</b></td>
<td><b>W: POR, LAC, MIN, MIA; L: UTA</b></td>
<td><a href="http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; background-color: #ffffff;"><b>Welcome To Loud City</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5">Well, that was quite a haymaker thrown by the Thunder on Sunday! The most frightening part of it for everyone watching was that <span>Russell Westbrook</span> was out of sorts. The question is whether the OKC defense can <i>actually</i> handle Miami's offense -- I remain skeptical -- or whether the Heat were just out of sync on the road.</td>
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<td><b>3.</b></td>
<td><b><a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Antonio Spurs</a></b></td>
<td><b>33-14</b></td>
<td><b>W: MIN, NO, DAL, PHI</b></td>
<td><a href="http://www.poundingtherock.com" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; background-color: #ffffff;"><b>Pounding The Rock</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5">When we discard the 2012 Spurs because of the playoff flame-out of the 2011 Spurs, we need to remember that <span>Manu Ginobili</span> was broken in that series against Memphis. He seems OK these days.</td>
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<td><b>4.</b></td>
<td><b><a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a></b></td>
<td><b>35-12</b></td>
<td><b>W: PHX, DET; L: OKC</b></td>
<td><a href="http://www.peninsulaismightier.com/" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;"><b>Peninsula Is Mightier</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5">Welp. That was not a great performance.</td>
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<p><i>For updates on the matchup, stay tuned to <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a>. For more in-depth coverage, visit <a href="http://blogabull.com/">Blog a Bull</a>, a</i><i>nd for more news and notes from around the NBA, head over to SB Nation's <a href="http://sbnation.com/nba">NBA news hub</a>.</i></p>
<p><a title="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" href="http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=sbnation"><img onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'SBN YouTube Integration', 'HTML Article Insert - Grey']);" style="margin-left: -15px" alt="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" src="http://assets.sbnation.com.s3.amazonaws.com/youtube/youtube-article-insert.png"></a></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bulls/2012/3/26/2904264/2012-nba-power-rankings-chicago-bullsBradley Woodrum2012-03-19T15:21:20-05:002012-03-19T15:21:20-05:00NBA Power Rankings 2012: No. 1 Bulls Stay Atop SB Nation's Power Rankings
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<p>The <b>Chicago Bulls</b> have the league's best record at 37-10 and have managed to keep winning despite missing star PG <span>Derrick Rose</span> and free agent acquisition SG <span>Richard Hamilton</span> at different times through much of the season. According to Tom Ziller's latest <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/3/19/2882860/nba-power-rankings-2012-suns-jazz">NBA Power Rankings</a>, the Bulls have cause to be excited about their impressive record:</p>
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<th width="10">Rank</th> <th>Team</th> <th>Record</th> <th>Last Week</th> <th>SB Nation Blog</th>
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<td><b>1.</b></td>
<td><b><a href="https://www.blogabull.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bulls</a></b></td>
<td><b>37-10</b></td>
<td><b>W: NY, MIA, PHI; L: POR</b></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blogabull.com/" target="_blank"><b>Blog-a-Bull</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5">The Bulls are ridiculously solid even when <span>Derrick Rose</span> is forced to sit, as that win over the Heat without the MVP proved. I can't wait to see how beamed in Chicago will be in this postseason after early round trouble and a disappointing finish a year ago.</td>
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<td><b>2.</b></td>
<td><b><a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oklahoma City Thunder</a></b></td>
<td><b>34-11</b></td>
<td><b>W: DEN, POR; L: HOU, SA</b></td>
<td><a href="http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" target="_blank"><b>Welcome To Loud City</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5">That loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">Spurs</a> was seen as ominous, but the Thunder have been good for one bad show a week pretty much all season. All critics of <span>Russell Westbrook</span> should note that Oklahoma City has the league's No. 1 offense right now. He can't be doing too much wrong.</td>
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<td><b>3.</b></td>
<td><b><a href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Heat</a></b></td>
<td><b>33-11</b></td>
<td><b>W: PHI, ORL; L: CHI, ORL</b></td>
<td><a href="http://www.peninsulaismightier.com/" target="_blank"><b>Peninsula Is Mightier</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5">It's hard to imagine that Miami lost any confidence by losing to a Rose-less Chicago given how dominant the Heat were in the Eastern Conference Finals last season and in previous meet-ups this season. Coming back to get revenge on <span>Dwight Howard</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Magic</a> seemed like an important victory, though.</td>
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<td><b>4.</b></td>
<td><b>L.A. <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Lakers</a></b></td>
<td><b>28-17</b></td>
<td><b>W: MEM, NO, MIN; L: UTA</b></td>
<td><a href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" target="_blank"><b>Silver Screen And Roll</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5">Sunday's Utah loss at home was as ugly as the Lakers' road win in Memphis was pretty. <span>Andrew Bynum</span> is pretty clearly the team's most effective player on offense right now. He's averaging 24 and 13 while shooting 66 percent in his last 10 games. Feed the beast.</td>
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<p>Drop by Ziller's latest <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/3/19/2882860/nba-power-rankings-2012-suns-jazz">Power Rankings post</a> for the complete list.</p>
<p><i>For updates on the matchup, stay tuned to <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a>. For more in-depth coverage, visit <a href="http://blogabull.com/">Blog a Bull</a>, a</i><i>nd for more news and notes from around the NBA, head over to SB Nation's <a href="http://sbnation.com/nba">NBA news hub</a>.</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bulls/2012/3/19/2885398/2012-nba-power-rankings-chicago-bullsBradley Woodrum2012-03-12T14:11:21-05:002012-03-12T14:11:21-05:00NBA Power Rankings 2012: Bulls Edge Out Heat For Top Spot In SB Nation's Rankings
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<p><span>Derrick Rose</span> and the Chicago Bulls are technically ahead of LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the standings and the Eastern Conference playoff seeding, but at times it feels like they are still chasing. With guys like <span>Dwyane Wade</span> and <span>Chris Bosh</span> next up to make plays for the Heat, it makes Luol Deng, <span>Carlos Boozer</span> and Joakim Noah seem like quite a drop off. Even so, people around the NBA are showing their trust in the Bulls at the moment. Tom Ziller of SB Nation released his latest <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/3/12/2862049/nba-power-rankings-new-york-knicks">NBA Power Rankings</a> on Monday, and the Bulls grabbed the top spot:</p>
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<td style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px; margin: 0px;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">1.</b></td>
<td style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px; margin: 0px;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Chicago Bulls</a></b></td>
<td style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px; margin: 0px;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">34-9</b></td>
<td style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px; margin: 0px;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">W: IND, MIL, UTA; L: ORL</b></td>
<td style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.blogabull.com/" target="_blank" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Blog-a-Bull</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px; margin: 0px;">The Bulls remain incredibly impressive, despite a surprising home loss -- Chicago's second all season -- to Orlando. On Saturday, the Bulls whipped the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Jazz</a> (a good team) without <span>Luol Deng</span> or <span>Joakim Noah</span>.</td>
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<td style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px; margin: 0px;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">2.</b></td>
<td style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px; margin: 0px;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Miami Heat</a></b></td>
<td style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px; margin: 0px;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">31-9</b></td>
<td style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px; margin: 0px;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">W: NJ, ATL, IND</b></td>
<td style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.peninsulaismightier.com/" target="_blank" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #c52126; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><b style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Peninsula Is Mightier</b></a></td>
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<td colspan="5" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px; margin: 0px;">The Heat earned a pair of narrow victories over East playoff teams this week, forever quieting the implication that <span>LeBron James</span> cannot close in the fourth quarter. And the world was at peace.</td>
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<p>A few other interesting notes from this round of rankings includes the <a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Orlando Magic</a> at No. 8 and the <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia 76ers</a> at No. 10 overall.</p>
<p><i>For updates on the matchup, stay tuned to <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Chicago</a>. For more in-depth coverage, visit <a href="http://blogabull.com/">Blog a Bull</a>, a</i><i>nd for more news and notes from around the NBA, head over to SB Nation's <a href="http://sbnation.com/nba">NBA news hub</a>.</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bulls/2012/3/12/2865286/2012-nba-power-rankings-chicago-bullsSteve von Horn2012-03-11T11:18:22-05:002012-03-11T11:18:22-05:00NBA Power Rankings 2012: Bulls And Heat Have Company As Sixers, Magic And Pacers Push Forward
<figure>
<img alt="That's right Ronnie, things aren't going to be easy." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8mw4ar3BGkji9kr4kx-qFTzDeD4=/0x175:523x524/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5834751/20120305_ajw_aw6_240.jpg" />
<figcaption>That's right Ronnie, things aren't going to be easy.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The latest edition of 2012 NBA Power Rankings shows the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat might have to start thinking about the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers a bit harder.</p> <p>Writing about <span>Derrick Rose</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Chicago Bulls</a> is usually pretty stress-free. At 34-9, they have the best record in the NBA and are on track for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. However, the current version of these 2012 NBA Power Rankings actually suggests the road to the NBA Finals is constantly getting more difficult. <span>LeBron James</span>, <span>Dwyane Wade</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a> own the top efficiency differential in the association, and four of the top five teams are from the East.</p>
<p>The conference will still catch flack for a pathetic race at the eighth seed position -- it belongs to the 18-22 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">New York Knicks</a> at the moment -- but the top of the East is actually stronger than the West. After the Heat and Bulls, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.libertyballers.com/">Philadelphia 76ers</a> are the No. 3 team in efficiency differential, while the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.indycornrows.com/">Indiana Pacers</a> have moved up to No. 5. Even back at No. 9, the dangerous <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Magic</a> (the second-best three-point shooting team in the league) loom as a legitimate obstacle on the road to the Finals. </p>
<p>NBA Trade Deadline chatter will only get louder until it passes at 2 pm CT on Thursday, March 13, so it makes sense to take a look around the league for strengths and deficiencies right now. One matchup problem for the Bulls with those top teams in the East involves <span>Carlos Boozer</span>. He has been phased out a bit in favor of the more agile <span>Taj Gibson</span> in late-game situations, but the issue might get worse in the coming months. The Miami Heat are a problem even if Boozer doesn't matchup up with <span>Chris Bosh</span>, but the Pacers, Sixers and Magic also feature stretch fours in their offense.</p>
<p>David West is having one of his worst seasons, posting career lows in True Shooting percentage (51.2), PER (17.22), Field Goal percentage (46.7), and Points Per Game (12.5), but he still takes five shots per game beyond 10 feet and works well in pick-and-pop that Carlos will have trouble covering. The same thing goes for Sixers forwards <span>Elton Brand</span> and <span>Thaddeus Young</span>, but it gets multiplied for Magic PF <span>Ryan Anderson</span>. He takes nearly seven three-point attempts per game and hits 43.4 percent, and anyone who thinks Boozer can show and recover back to the arc is way too optimistic.</p>
<p>Getting <span>Dwight Howard</span> would be a way to make the Magic irrelevant and shore up Chicago's No. 17 rank for finishing at the rim this season, but you don't really need any convincing about the benefits of adding Howard. Besides, even <a href="http://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bulls/2012/3/9/2858686/dwight-howard-chicago-bulls-trade-rumors" target="_blank">Derrick Rose says that whole angle is getting old</a>. Perhaps the most valuable thing might be to look at the competition to understand their true needs at the moment.</p>
<p>The Magic might just make a desperate move and hope they can convince Dwight to stay in the offseason. If it fails, they can always deal him in a sign-and-trade anyways, so the risk isn't that big to let Otis Smith wheel and deal once more. Dwight is a great finisher (read: dunker), converting 73.5 percent of his shots at the rim, but the team is still just No. 15 overall inside three feet. Some of that is due to playing three-point specialists like Ryan Anderson and <span>J.J. Redick</span>, but finding an upgrade over <span>Chris Duhon</span> at backup PG or someone to bang down low other than <span>Glen Davis</span> would surely improve their situation. <span>Ramon Sessions</span> is suitable pick-and-roll threat with a nose for finishing at the rim, so if the Magic get someone like him they become a bigger threat.</p>
<p>The Sixers are a bit misleading in the chart. They have the third-best finishing rate at the rim (67.1 percent), but they are No. 29 in attempts per game from that area. Being selective and scoring in transition off forced turnovers from <span>Andre Iguodala</span> and <span>Jrue Holiday</span> likely helps the percentage, but Philly needs to find someone with a semblance of a post talent if they really want to make noise in the playoffs. A mid-range jumper offense isn't going to scare anyone. Center has been an invisible problem so far this season thanks to Brand playing well in post defense and rookie <span>Lavoy Allen</span> bringing more than passable play, but the team needs someone to take that job and do more on offense. <span>Spencer Hawes</span> can't get healthy, so if the Sixers can get someone like <span>Chris Kaman</span> for a song at the deadline, their offense will look even better than their No. 10-ranked attack does now.</p>
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</p>
<p>Finally, the Indiana Pacers have been impressive so far this season, and currently own the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but there is a serious problem with their offense. With stretch shooters like <span>Danny Granger</span>,<span>Paul George</span>, <span>David West</span> and even <span>Roy Hibbert</span> (who attempts more shots from 3-9 feet than at the rim), Indiana currently has the lowest shooting percentage at the rim of any NBA team (56.1 percent). That's a whopping six percent below the league average! It explains why the Pacers' offense ranks just 20th in True Shooting and 15th in Offensive Efficiency, but it might be difficult to find an easy fix to the problem.</p>
<p>One quick solution for Indy might come from playing <span>George Hill</span> (61.5 percent finisher) over <span>Darren Collison</span> (52.3 percent finisher) more at point guard, but adding a big man with any semblance of a post game or even just an athletic slasher could go a long way towards making Indy a more legitimate challenger in the playoffs. Warning: <span>Jamal Crawford</span>-- a 54.1 percent finisher in 2011-12 and 59.3 in 2010-11 -- isn't the answer the Pacers are really looking for right now. However, someone like <span>Luis Scola</span> would be a nice fit that actually addresses their big offensive deficiency.</p>
<p>Here is a complete look at the NBA:</p>
<p><b></b></p>
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https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bulls/2012/3/11/2861874/2012-nba-power-rankings-bulls-heat-magic-sixers-pacersSteve von Horn