Tuesday February 21, 2012 - 3:40 PM

Power Rankings: Spurs are West's most dangerous heading to break

By Matt Moore | CBSSports.com Senior NBA Blogger

Gregg Popovich rests his veterans plenty, spelling Parker and Duncan a combined 33.6 mpg. (Getty Images)

Updated Feb. 21

The All-Star break has arrived. We're at the halfway mark of the season, and every team has to be thankful they managed to make it here.

This schedule has wreaked havoc on teams, and so much of what we're seeing doesn't seem in line with what would have happened in a normal season. Could Linsanity have happened? Would the Celtics be better? Would the Sixers be worse? It's impossible to know.

What we do know is that teams need this break. It's honestly a shame that All-Star weekend is such a short intermission, that the break is so hectic for those involved because these guys need a chance to catch their breath and rest their bones. But so it goes in a lockout-shortened season -- those not involved get a handful of days off, then it's back to the meat grinder.

We're entering the most dangerous time of year for teams -- approaching the point of no return for clubs wanting to make a run or blow it up. The trade deadline is looming, so the next few weeks are critical. For some teams, the All-Star break is a chance to reaffirm their commitment to what has worked so far. For others, it's their last chance to right the ship. And for some it's just a chance to get away from a miserable season that seems twice as hard at twice the pace.

At this point, the teams at the top need to check their rearview mirror, especially the Thunder. The Spurs all of sudden have won 11 straight (seven in a row on their annual Rodeo Road Trip), and sit just two games behind Oklahoma City. The Spurs have managed this stretch despite not having Manu Ginobili for all but a game and a half. They are deep, talented, loaded on the perimeter and the defense has shown signs of life.

The Spurs go into the break needing rest for Tim Duncan's knees, for Tony Parker's ankles and to get more recovery time for Ginobili, who strained an oblique early in San Antonio's Feb. 18 win over the Clippers -- just his fourth game back from a broken left hand that kept him sidelined for 22 games. Also out for two weeks (calf strain) is second-year forward Tiago Splitter, who at 6-foot-11 has been a key role player in the paint as Duncan's age limits his minutes. The Brazilian was averaging 9.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in just over 20 minutes a game before straining his calf vs. the Clippers.

Despite the limited minutes for their veterans and the team's injuries, while most teams are either trying to fight off teams behind them or figure out what's gone wrong this season, the Spurs are in a perfect position. Still chasing the Thunder, still beating teams with their versatility, offensive firepower, and experience, and with the understanding that they can't slack off after last year's playoff debacle. So while it's a perilous time for teams in this league, the Spurs may wind up being the greatest danger to the competition.

It's time for a break, but after that, it only gets harder from here.

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Spurs · Trends	1
	Can you win an NBA title with an offense-first team? That's what Popovich is trying to do this season. And he may have a better shot than the Seven-Seconds-or-Less Suns. It would not be celebrated as such, but it would be an incredible accomplishment.
	2	Bulls · Trends	2
	The most consistent team in the league for two years running. Tom Thibodeau is the Dr. Doom of the NBA.
	3	Heat · Trends	3
	To live up to expectations, the Heat have to make such a huge jump, they need rocket fuel to get it done.
	4	Thunder · Trends	5
	The Thunder have had nothing but upside and positive feelings the past two years as they climbed into contention. They're facing their first bout of serious adversity. How they handle it determines whether this team has championship mettle.
	5	Pacers · Trends	9
	You know how hippos are made out to be sweet and silly, like big cows, but are actually extremely dangerous and can kill you with stunning brutality? The Pacers are the NBA's hippos.
	6	Lakers · Trends	6
	The Lakers winning the Pacific again would be like the Kansas Jayhawks winning their conference. They have a closet where they just toss the trophies on top of the pile. Looks like Scrooge McDuck's gold.
	7	Clippers · Trends	7
	Uh, anyone else notice that despite all the questions (defense, coaching, shooters, coaching, cohesiveness, coaching), the Clippers are really pretty good?
	8	Celtics · Trends	4
	One more ride, old-timers. One more ride.
	9	Hawks · Trends	11
	Boston and Atlanta began their playoff runs with their cores pitted against one another. It's possible they'll end them as well.
	10	Knicks · Trends	12
	The grind-it-out style of the playoffs means having Carmelo Anthony's super-ISO offense is a whole different thing.
	11	Grizzlies · Trends	8
	The Grizzlies are on the worst-looking five-game winning streak ever.
	12	Nuggets · Trends	10
	Oh, look, Denver, you found your offense under the porch! Good job! Maybe that'll teach you not to be so cavalier with it.
	13	Jazz · Trends	16
	The Jazz hope the first round's title will be "Hidden Tiger, Crouching Millsap."
	14	Mavericks · Trends	17
	I've decided the Mavericks' 2012 season is "Cabin in the Woods." It looks like your standard horror show, but there's so much more going on.
	15	Suns · Trends	13
	If this were Steve Nash's last legitimate playoff run ... #slowclap
	16	76ers · Trends	19
	"Mr. and Mrs. Sixers fans? Hi. Yes, I'm Dr. Easy Schedule. Your team is stable. It's resting comfortably. It was touch-and-go for a while, but we managed to repair the playoff eligibility. It's going to make it. ... You don't look happy?"
	17	Rockets · Trends	15
	Oh, look. The late lottery. There's a new area for the Rockets to explore. #stare
	18	Magic · Trends	14
	The Orlando Magic: The walking, talking reason for the league to enact a "you can trade your playoff spot for a lottery pick" rule.
	19	Bucks · Trends	18
	A pivotal offseason for the Bucks is set to begin. It's extremely unlikely, but imagine if this team lands a top-three pick.
	20	Timberwolves · Trends	22
	To the tune of "Total Eclipse of the Heart:" "Ru-bi-o, every now and then I get a little bit lonely and your leg still isn't healed. Ru-bi-o, every now and then I get a little bit tired of Beasley getting killed on defense ..."
	21	Trail Blazers · Trends	21
	The Blazers were 12-9 on Feb. 1. This completes today's lesson in "How quickly things can go to hell in a handcart."
	22	Kings · Trends	23
	The Kings can look back and point to legitimate growth. But the next steps are even more important. The leap from "promising young talent" to "team that doesn't make you want to gouge your eye out with a lobster fork" is a difficult process.
	23	Hornets · Trends	20
	Monty Williams and Dell Demps need to go bowling, get drunk and forget this year ever happened. Unfortunately, it's New Orleans, so finding alcohol could be a problem.
	24	Pistons · Trends	24
	Well, a young, inexperienced team like that is going to have ... what's that? Tayshaun Prince is how old? Oh, never mind, they're just bad.
	25	Raptors · Trends	25
	Dwane Casey can look back and say he changed the culture. The talent comes next, then the winning. The future is bright in Toronto.
	26	Nets · Trends	26
	I'm sure New Jersey is all choked up over losing the Nets. At least they're used to that when it comes to the Nets -- losing, that is.
	27	Cavaliers · Trends	27
	It had to get worse before it gets better. They've got their next franchise guy. Now they just have to build around him. And do it better this time.
	28	Warriors · Trends	28
	This had better have been worth it.
	29	Wizards · Trends	29
	The Wizards managed to move from pathetic joke to just pathetic by the end of the year. Progress in our time!
	30	Bobcats · Trends	30
	Now let us never speak of this again.