Updated: May 17, 2012, 5:22 pm ET

NBA Playoff Power Rankings Week Three

5/14/12 – The first round is finally over and the two Los Angeles series proved to be the most entertaining, both lasting seven games.  The prediction here for the second round, made prior to this weekend’s start had the Miami HEAT in five over the Indiana Pacers but now Chris Bosh is hurt?  The Boston Celtics should take the Philadelphia 76ers in six.  In the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs are favorites over the Clippers in six.  The Los Angeles Lakers don’t have home court advantage but they’re the upset to watch in seven, closing out in Oklahoma City.  Meanwhile the Denver Nuggets had a great but short run.  The Chicago Bulls were decimated by injury but ultimately it can comes down to just hitting your free throws (right Atlanta?).   The NBA playoffs, three week in . . .

NBA Playoff Power Rankings Week Three

Team Rank Last Standing Comments
1
 1 4-0 James Harden will be key as the Lakers try to slow Kevin Durant with Metta World Peace and Russell Westbrook with Kobe Bryant.
2
 2 4-0 The Spurs would be favored over the Clippers but more so with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin aching.  LAC at full strength does pose some problems for SAS.
3
 3 5-1 Chris Bosh is out indefinitely.  That’s not a small problem for the HEAT.
4
 6 5-2 Knowing how to win in the playoffs – a skill the Celtics may ride to June.
5
 4 4-3 The Lakers are a very different team with Metta World Peace – still imperfect but a LOT tougher.
6
 5 4-3 The Clippers take over in Memphis, Game 7, with Kenyon Martin, Reggie Evans, Mo Williams, Eric Bledsoe and Nick Young?
7
 8 4-2 The Pacers have been one of the best teams you didn’t notice all year.  Now is their opportunity to make some real noise.
8
 8 4-3 The Sixers have a lot to prove against the Celtics, given their first-round pass over the Bulls.
9
 9 3-4 The Grizzlies lost at home twice to the Clippers.
10
 13 3-4 The Nuggets were a great story, despite the first-round loss.  Huge moments from Ty Lawson, Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee.
11
 12 2-4 Gotta hit your free throws Part I.
12
 10 1-4 Gotta hit your free throws Part II.
13
 11 1-4 Four of Orlando’s starters shot below 40% for the series against Indiana.
14
 14 1-4 J.R. Smith shot 76 times against the HEAT, second-most on the team but just 31.6% from the field and 17.9% from three.
15
 16 0-4 The Mavericks, who were hot all postseason last year, shoot 40.4% as a team against the Thunder.
16
 15 0-4 The Jazz as a team struggled but anyone more than the Gordon Haywood?  He has a strong regular season but learned a lot against the Spurs.
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