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NBA Basketball Rankings

Final 2006-07: Spurs Claim Fourth Title

After surviving the rugged Western Conference, there was no doubt who the better team was in the finals this year as San Antonio dominated Cleveland in a four-game sweep for the Spurs' fourth championship in nine years.  Trying to live up to the pressure of the "dynasty" tag, San Antonio used a stifling defense to shut down Cleveland's LeBron James and got an MVP performance out of Tony Parker, who averaged 24.5 points per game on 57 percent shooting in the series.  The Spurs finish a solid No. 1 in the Index, while Cleveland finished at No. 4.   Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the 2006-07 season.

* Updated Through Games on June 14

Regular Season: Spurs Finish No. 1

While much of the attention has been on Dallas and Phoenix in the West, San Antonio slipped just ahead of the two in the final regular season ratings thanks to a stretch that saw the Spurs win 25 of 28 from mid-February until the last week of the season.  The highest rating in the East goes to Chicago, which had a similar run in winning 20 of 27 before losing the season finale at New Jersey.  Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the 2006-07 regular season.

* Updated Through Games on April 18

Week 24: Chicago Style Tasting Good

Scott Skiles has the Bulls focused on 50 wins and that motivation is helping them lock up the No. 2 seed in the East.  Chicago moved to within one win of the 50-win plateau after trouncing the short-handed Wizards on Sunday (101-68) for its third straight win and 10th in 12 games.  The streak moved Chicago to the top of the Index, while San Antonio dropped to No. 2 after losing at Dallas (91-86).  Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the week.

* Updated Through Games on April 15

Week 23: Lakers Sinking Fast

While Kobe Bryant may be setting scoring records, his Laker teammates are not contributing enough to keep L.A. in the win column right now.  The Lakers have lost five of their last seven, including a 115-107 loss to Phoenix on Sunday, that has dropped Phil Jackson's team to seventh in the Western Conference playoff standings and No. 21 in the Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the week.

* Updated Through Games on April 8

Week 22: San Antonio Earning Its Spurs

With the focus in the West squarely on Dallas and Phoenix, San Antonio has quietly sent a message that they are not to be overlooked.  The Spurs put together a six-game winning streak that surprisingly ended on Sunday when Indiana erased a seven-point deficit in the final four minutes of a 100-99 Pacers' victory.  But the setback was not enough to keep San Antonio from taking over the top spot in the Index.   Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the week.

* Updated Through Games on April 1

Week 21: L.A. Not Clipped Yet

The race between the Clippers and Golden State for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West is heating up and so is Los Angeles.  The Clippers moved a game and a half ahead of the Warriors thanks to a four-game winning streak capped off by a 111-105 win against the Wizards on Saturday night.  Golden State has also been playing well, but slipped against the Lakers Sunday night for just their third loss in 11 games.  The Clippers are No. 5 in the Index; the Warriors are No. 8.  Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the week.

* Updated Through Games on March 25

Week 20: Cleveland Rocks To Top

Cleveland may be changing the perception that the Western Conference is far better than the East as the Cavaliers have built an 18-9 record against the West, including Saturday's 82-73 win over Utah.  The win was the eighth straight for the Cavs and provided a little extra satisfaction as it marked the first appearance by Carlos Boozer in Cleveland since he left for more money three years ago.  The streak also has Cleveland No. 1 in the Index just ahead of Dallas, which slipped a bit with back-to-back losses to Golden State and Phoenix during the week.  Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the week.

* Updated Through Games on March 18

Week 19: Miami Bringing On The Heat

When Dwyane Wade went down with a shoulder injury, it was questionable whether the defending-champion Heat would be able to even make it back to the playoffs.  But Miami has responded by winning six straight games, including two over Southeast Division-leading Washington, to get right back into the thick of the playoff chase.  The Heat, who have also won 12 straight home games, are just a game behind the Wizards in the division standings and have moved up to No. 4 in the Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the week.

* Updated Through Games on March 11

Week 18: Utah Getting Jazzed Up On Road

The Jazz won three straight road games last week over Memphis, Minnesota and New Orleans by an average margin of 18.66 points to push their record to 10-2 since the start of February.  Utah has now won eight of its last 10 road games after starting out the season 10-10 outside Salt Lake City.  Even more impressive is the fact that the Jazz are 14-0 when leading after three quarters on the road.  The push has been good enough to move Utah up to No. 3 in the Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the week.

* Updated Through Games on March 4

Week 17: Raptors Feasting In East

Toronto's win at Charlotte on Saturday lifted the Raptors' record to 31-25 and extended their Atlantic Division lead over New Jersey to five games.  It's the first time since 2002 that the Raptors record stood six games above .500 this late in the season.  The turnaround is a far cry from Toronto's situation at the beginning of the season when the Raptors started out 13-19.  But since that time Toronto has gone 18-6, which is behind just Dallas and Phoenix for the best record over that span, and has pushed the Raptors up to No. 3 in the Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the week.

* Updated Through Games on February 25

Week 16: Mavs Head Into Break No. 1

Dallas heads into this weekend's All-Star break with the best record in the NBA and the top ranking in the Index.  The Mavericks finished the first half with a nine-game winning streak capped by an 80-77 victory at Houston on Thursday.  Over in the East, Cleveland has turned it up a notch by winning for of its last five, including victories over the Lakers twice and Miami, to move up to No. 2.  Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the week.

* Updated Through Games on February 15

Week 15: Nash-less Suns Cool Down

Any doubts about where the Suns get their energy from have been erased by Phoenix' struggles without Steve Nash.  With the defending two-time MVP on the bench with a shoulder injury, Phoenix has dropped two straight, including a 116-103 home loss to Chicago on Sunday that was the Bulls' first win in Phoenix since the days of Michael Jordan in 1996.  The skid has dropped the Suns to No. 11 in this week's Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the week.

* Updated Through Games on February 11

Week 14: Pistons Catching East In Web

Any doubts about Chris Webber's value to the Pistons have been answered in the early going as Detroit has won seven of its last nine to move into the top spot in the Eastern Conference.  The Pistons completed a strong week by dominating the Cavaliers in Cleveland (90-78) with Webber finishing with 15 points and six rebounds.  Detroit's surge has moved them up to No. 3 in this week's Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the week.

* Updated Through Games on February 4

Week 13: No Party In Boston

When Paul Pierce went down with an injury, the Celtics knew it would be tough.  But just how tough has become apparent as Boston has lost 11 straight for its longest losing streak since dropping 13 in a row in 1996-97.  The undermanned Celtics kept the streak alive on Sunday with a 105-91 loss to Washington that dropped Doc Rivers' team to No. 29 in this week's Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the week.

* Updated Through Games on January 28

Week 12: Suns Refuse To Set

Phoenix extended its winning streak to 13 games, becoming just the eighth team in NBA history to have two streaks of that duration in the same season.  The Suns achieved the mark in typical high-scoring fashion as they topped Minnesota 131-102 behind Shawn Marion's 17 points and 20 rebounds. Phoenix remains in the top spot for the fourth straight week ahead of Dallas, which has won 20 of its last 21.  Here are the complete Dunkel ratings* for the week.