NBA Power Rankings: Knicks on the rise

After just one week, there's been a shake-up at the top of our weekly NBA power rankings, with the Miami Heat falling from the top spot and the Memphis Grizzlies rising to No. 1 status.

Here's how we see the NBA, from top to bottom:
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1. Memphis (13-3) - Last Week: 2
If this team had someone like Jason Kidd backing up Mike Conley Jr. at point guard, they'd be primed to go all the way.

2. Oklahoma City (15-4) - LW: 4
Nobody is hotter than the Thunder, which starts a five-game homestand Friday vs. the Lakers and on a six-game winning streak.

3. KNICKS (14-4) - LW: 6
Look who owns the Heat, the same team that went 1-7 vs? Miami last season, including the playoffs.

4. San Antonio (15-4) - LW: 3
Sure, the Miami game was costly for the Spurs, they took a $250,000 hit from the NBA for resting their stars. But did you see what the extra R&R did for Tim Duncan vs. Memphis? He had a monster game in the Spurs' OT win.

5. Miami (12-5) - LW: 1
After the Heat took a 20-point drubbing at home from the Knicks, following its embarrassing road defeat to the lowly Wiz, Chris Bosh observed: "We've got to talk this out." You bet they do. And fast.

6. NETS (11-6) - LW: 5
Look, even if his wrist is killing him, Deron Williams is going to have to play like a franchise player for Brooklyn to be a real factor this season.

7. Atlanta (10-5) - LW: 8
The Hawks can make a lot of doubters start believing in them this weekend when they play Memphis and Miami on the road, starting with the Grizzlies on Saturday.

8. L.A. Clippers (12-6) - LW: 10
Here's the standard media take on the Clips: When they lose, it's Vinny Del Negro's fault. When they win, it's because they've got Chris Paul, the best point guard in the NBA. As they've rolled
to four straight wins, it's been the latter.

9. Indiana (10-9) - LW: 7
Let's see them build off a great road win in Chicago when they make their only appearance of the season in Oklahoma City on Sunday.

10. Philadelphia (10-8) - LW: 9
The schedule-maker has them playing the Celtics on Friday at home and Saturday in Beantown. After that, they get their Atlantic Division rivals just one more time, all season, on March 5.

11. Golden State (11-7) - LW: 12
It's a good thing that Mark Jackson's team has built up a little cushion, because they're on the road in the East for seven games over 12 days, including visits to Brooklyn, Miami and Atlanta.

12. Chicago (9-8) - LW: 13
Richard Hamilton's foot injury isn't going to help when the Bulls play on Saturday, with the Knicks in the United Center, they start a stretch in which they play eight straight games against teams with winning records.

13. Milwaukee (8-9) - LW: 11
You know what Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis need? A frontcourt difference-maker.

14. Houston (9-8) - LW: 19
The Rockets beat the Lakers using the Hack-a-Howard foul strategy, and Big Dwight helped their cause by missing five of 10 from the stripe in the final 3:30.

15. Lakers (9-10) - LW: 14
Congratulations to Kobe Bryant on passing the 30,000-point mark. As with everything else, Bryant won't be satisfied until he passes Michael Jordan on the NBA's all-time scoring list, with His Airness roughly 2,200 points in front.

16. Boston (10-8) - LW: 15
Rajon Rondo made it a mystery where he was during his two-game suspension for going after the Nets' Kris Humphries - "I went to Mexico for a couple of days," Rondo said - but all the Celtics know is that they're ecstatic that he's back.

17. Utah (10-10) - LW: 16
After winning six straight home games, the Jazz finally lost in Salt Lake City when they couldn't contain the Clippers' Blake Griffin. It didn't help the Jazz that they didn't have Marvin Williams (concussion) or Derrick Favors (foot injury).

18. Dallas (9-10) - LW: 17
Dirk Nowitzki has been seen back on the practice court, doing some shooting and basketball work. That's one of the very few positive signs we've seen from the Mavs this season.

19. Denver (9-10) - LW: 18
Ex-Knick Wilson Chandler won't be in the Garden on Sunday night, as he's still recovering from off-season surgery on his left hip and didn't make the Nuggets' five-game road trip.

20. Minnesota (8-9) - LW: 20
The old Utah Jazz forward, Andrei Kirilenko, back in the NBA and starting for the T-wolves, missed the two-game trip to Philly (a Minnesota win) and Boston (a Minnesota loss) due to back spasms.

21. Orlando (7-11) - LW: 24
The Magic stunned the Lakers in L.A. by forcing Dwight Howard to beat them at the foul line when they hacked him on purpose, and he couldn't make them pay. Then they went out the next night and topped Golden State in Oakland to raise their record vs. Pacific Division teams to 3-0.

22. Detroit (6-14) - LW: 22
Until losing to the Warriors, the Pistons had won five straight at home, the most since 2008-09, the last time they made the playoffs.

23. Portland (8-11) - LW: 25
Rookie Damian Lillard is putting up the kind of scoring and assist numbers in his first 20 games that haven't been seen from a first-year player since Derrick Rose was a rookie, and before that, Allen Iverson.

24. Charlotte (7-10) - LW: 21
With the Hornets changing their name to the Pelicans, there's a strong sentiment for Charlotte to go back to the Hornets and drop the Bobcats. Anything to take their mind off a five-game losing streak has got to help.

25. Phoenix (7-13) - LW: 23
The Suns are quickly setting in the West, with five straight losses and upcoming games vs. the Clippers and Grizzlies.

26. Sacramento (5-12) - LW: 28
In the race to see which team can finally win a road game, it's come down to the Kings vs. the Wizards. Next up for Sacramento is a game on Saturday in Portland, which is its first game home after a 13-day, seven-game, road trip.

27. New Orleans (5-12) - LW: 29
If the Hornets really want to change their name, they should go back to the Jazz. Although some people in Utah would have a problem with that.

28. Toronto (4-15) - LW: 26
The Raptors are the best 4-15 team around. Six of their 14 losses have been by five points or less.

29. Cleveland (4-15) - LW: 27
Byron Scott must be going crazy, as he can't keep his starting backcourt healthy and on the floor. First Kyrie Irving went down and now rookie Dion Waiters is out with a sprained ankle.

30. Washington (2-13) - LW: 30
Good things happen when Robert Griffin III is in the house. Exhibit A: The Wizards beat the Heat with the Redskins sensation in attendance.

Source: http://feeds.nydailynews.com/~r/nydnrss/sports/~3/4teo1i0HySw/story01.htm

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