The “NBA Power Rankings” at TSJ have been shaken up once again as Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks had an impressive week, ending Tim Duncan and the Spurs’ twelve-game winning streak and halting the Thunder’s run at five. Top that off with a decisive victory over LeBron James and the Heat and I’m tempted to put these guys at the top of the heap.  Nowitzki is absolutely playing lights-out and Tyson Chandler is looking like the defensive anchor this team has needed for years.

Not so fast though Mr. Cuban, as the Spurs and Lakers are not quite ready to give up their spots yet - one more week of excellence though and first place could be yours.

The biggest surprise? A Heat-less top-ten for the first time this season after losing four of their last five games. You can head to the locker-room and pout, LeBron. Read THIS article while you’re in there, please. Listen to Mr. Michael Jordan!

Oh, and props to my man Roy Hibbert for delivering 24 points, 12 boards, and six assists for the Pacers in their win over the Lakers last night. Way to be big!

I’ve extended these rankings to twelve teams - this week my NBA Power Rankings are in honor of former Miami Heat guard Bimbo Coles who wore #12 with pride.

(NOTE: Remember, the number in parenthesis to the left of each team name represents their placing last week)

Here we go….

1. (1) San Antonio Spurs: 14-2 (Last week: 3-1)

If the Spurs hadn’t defeated the Magic and Hornets this week their hold on this spot would have been tenuous at best. Look, losing to the red-hot Mavs by collapsing in the fourth quarter doesn’t eliminate a season’s worth of excellence so the Spurs hold on for the second straight week. Manu continued his MVP-level season with averages of 26 points, 6.8 assists, and 5.5 assists last week and the Spurs only tough opponent coming up will be against the Hornets on Dec. 5th. Statistical nugget alert: Spurs forward Matt Bonner has recorded ZERO turnovers in 212 minutes this season. How unbelievable is that?!

2. (3) Los Angeles Lakers: 13-4 (Last week: 1-2)

Last night’s loss to the Pacers was a great game to watch, as Indiana didn’t back down all night and essentially forced Kobe into trying to take over the game, which worked into the Pacers’ favor. That being said, L.A. was handed its second straight loss as Pau Gasol was bothered by Roy Hibbert’s defense all night and Shannon Brown shot poorly from the field off the bench in support of Kobe’s scoring onslaught. Their other loss last week? Against surging Utah, so relax Lakers fans. Gasol had his roughest week statistically this season and I don’t expect him to stay down long. The Lakers have Memphis, Houston, and Sacramento coming up, so they could be 16-4 by next Monday.

3. (7) Dallas Mavericks: 12-4 (Last week: 4-0)

Dallas has been putting together remarkably complete performances recently and currently ranks #5 in offense and #7 in defense this season. Tyson Chandler has been outstanding of late, posting 16.7 points and 14.3 rebounds in the past three games as Coach Carlisle has clearly chosen Chandler over Haywood on the center depth-chart. Dirk Nowitzki is shooting an impressive .540 from the field this season, including a blistering .661 last week. Check out this line from Dirk against the Spurs: 34 points on 12-14 shooting, 8 boards, five assists, and just two turnovers. The Jazz loom as the only difficult foe for Kidd and company next week, on paper at least, and the number two spot is within their sights.

4. (6) Boston Celtics: 12-4 (Last week: 3-0)

Back into the top five for the gang in green, as they disposed of the Hawks, Raptors, and Nets last week fairly convincingly. Rajon Rondo returned to dynamic form with fourteen assists against Toronto and Shaquille O’Neal posted 25 points and eleven boards against the Nets. Oh, and Kevin Garnett joined the fun with twenty-six points and eleven boards Friday night. Can you say deep, folks? Bulls and Blazers coming up next for Boston.

5. (4) Orlando Magic: 12-4 (Last week: 3-1)

Their loss to the Spurs withstanding, Orlando concluded their week by winning a third straight, although just barely by squeaking past the John Wall-less Wizards. Dwight Howard has been an absolute beast as usual, posting 26.3 points on ridiculous .632 percent shooting and 14.5 boards for the division-leading Magic. I’d love to tell you that beating the Heat cemented their high spot this week but, you know, EVERYONE is beating the Heat these days. Orlando’s toughest game next week looks to be against Chicago - I’m sure facing the Pistons twice won’t cause Van Gundy and crew to sweat.

6. (8) Utah Jazz: 13-5 (Last week: 4-0)

The Jazz are on an impressive five-game winning streak after losing to the Thunder and Spurs last week and show few signs of slowing down. Deron Williams has been on a tear all year but particularly during his past two games averaging a whopping 27.5 points, 11.5 dimes, and 3.5 steals on .594 shooting from the floor and hitting all ten of his freebies. Yikes! Even big Al Jefferson has been involved posting more than twenty points and ten boards on the week. Utah has a short week coming up with just the Bucks, Pacers, and Mavericks on tap.

7. (2) New Orleans Hornets: 12-4 (Last week: 1-3)

The Hornets are falling fast and could potentially be out of the top-ten altogether next week, as having the surging Knicks, Thunder, and Spurs looming on the horizon isn’t exactly a cupcake schedule. The Hornets have been stuck in a rut offensively, scoring less than one-hundred points in seven of their last eight, including a paltry 75 in a win over the Kings. Chris Paul’s squad even allowed Blake Griffin (24 pts, 13 reb) and Eric Gordon (27 pts) to run the pick-and-roll like Stockton and Malone on Monday night, although to their credit those two are becoming quite the exciting duo, aren’t they?

8. (N/A) Oklahoma City Thunder: 11-6 (Last week: 2-2)

A heartbreaking loss last night against the under-manned Rockets allowed New Orleans to stay in front of Durant and crew but I don’t expect that to last. For them to rise in the rankings they MUST start playing better defense, though - the Thunder have slipped from 9th in defense during their magical 2009-10 campaign to 21st as of last night, including allowing 117 points to Minnesota! I know Durant is the face of this franchise but Russell Westbrook is playing amazing basketball this season - he averaged 24.8 points, 10.5 assists, and 4.8 boards per night last week and will continue to lead Durant in tomorrow’s MVP Roll Call. The Thunder host the reeling Hornets on Monday night before facing the Nets, Raptors, and Warriors.

9. (N/A) Chicago Bulls: 9-6 (Last week: 2-2)

Alright!!! I admit that ranking the Hawks at number ten last week over the Bulls was a terrible decision and I hope I make up for it this week. A tough loss to the Nuggets without Rose after that thrilling double-overtime win against the Suns will not stop me from including them, especially after their easy win over the Kings. Derrick Rose continues to impress me - I hadn’t really watched him perform much until the Suns game and I’m now sold on this guy. Rose is averaging 31.7 points, 8.0 boards, and 7.3 assists in his last three for Chicago who have an unbelievably brutal schedule this week as they face the Magic, Rockets, and Celtics. Did I mention that C.J. Watson went off for 33 points for the Bulls in their loss to Denver? Where have you been, C.J.?

10. (N/A) Denver Nuggets: 10-6 (Last week: 3-0)

Denver won a shootout against Phoenix 138-133 last night for their third-straight victory, this one without the services of Carmelo Anthony who left after playing just 2:48 because of illness. The Nuggets can simply fall apart defensively at times (allowing the Pacers to score 54 third-quarter points, anyone?) and I’m sure they were thankful last night for J.R. Smith’s 30-point outburst to match up with Jason Richardson’s 39. I’m unsure what the issue was with Carmelo tonight but I’m assuming he’ll be back for next week’s weak slate of contests vs. the Bucks, Clippers, and Grizzlies. You never know what to expect from Denver though, as this team has been under the trade-microscope all season between Anthony and Billups. For now they belong.

11. (10) Atlanta Hawks: 11-7 (Last week: 3-2)

Very busy week for Atlanta - five games in seven nights culminating with a victory over the Raptors to win their third straight. Josh Smith posted a triple-double against Toronto with 12 points, 13 boards, and 10 assists as well. I’m still unsure of how this season will play out in Atlanta as they continue alternating winning-streaks with losing streaks - this inconsistency is maddening! The Grizzlies and Heat loom as their toughest contests next week, although the 76ers are feistier than their record indicates.

12. (9) Miami Heat: 9-8 (Last week: 1-3)

Only a nine-point win over the 76ers on Friday kept LeBron’s Heat from vanishing out of these rankings altogether. Miami clearly misses Haslem’s presence down low defensively and I’m not certain Erick Dampier is the solution. Next week the Heat face the Wizards, Pistons, Cavaliers, and Hawks - I expect that at least two of these will be in blowout fashion, although if Wade keeps shooting poorly (three of his last five have been sub .300 shooting performances) and Bosh doesn’t learn how to defend the paint their woes may very well continue. After a closed-door team meeting following their loss to the Mavericks I expect Coach Spoelstra’s angry bunch to try and blow foes away early. I’m just not sure that will happen. I admit it’s a stretch putting these guys ahead of Indiana right now - we’ll see how next week turns out.

***OH SO CLOSE!!! ***

New York Knicks - Winning six of your last seven sure looks impressive - now beat a contender, please!

Indiana Pacers - One more week like the last one and I won’t be able to deny Roy Hibbert and crew any longer.

Phoenix Suns - These guys are slipping fast - make it happen before it’s too late! I’m pulling for you, Steve!

See you Wednesday with my “NBA MVP Roll Call”.