Miami Heat finally regain top spot
by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Heat are on top. Because of course they are.
USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings panel wasn’t about to hand the Heat the top spot for nothing. Then Miami won 15 consecutive games while competitors showed cracks. Now the Heat are on top, where they belong as defending champions.
The Heat were our preseason No. 1 but relinquished the title when they lost two games early in the season and haven’t had it since. But the Oklahoma City Thunder have shown cracks because of a lack of depth, and the San Antonio Spurs just lost Tony Parker for four weeks with a sprained ankle.
And the Heat are really, really, really good.
Voters Sam Amick, Adi Joseph, Kevin Spain and Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY Sports; Lang Greene and Steve Kyler of Hoopsworld.com; and Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press are not easily impressed. But this vote was unanimous. Here’s the top five this week (points on a 30-29-28-etc. scale):
The Heat also continued to dominate the MVP vote, as LeBron James maintained his unquestioned candidacy. Here’s the top five (points on a 7-5-3-2-1 scale):
Shooting guards Kobe Bryant (four points) of the Los Angeles Lakers and James Harden (three) of the Houston Rockets also received votes.
Finally, the rookie of the year balloting remains at a standstill, as it has for most of the season. Here’s that top three (points on a 5-3-1 scale):
Shooting guards Bradley Beal (three points) of the Washington Wizards, Alexey Shved (one) of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dion Waiters (one) of the Cleveland Cavaliers also received votes.
So how did we do? Have the Heat … [For more on NBA power rankings: Miami Heat finally regain top spot, click here.]
Loading ...
