NBA Power Rankings: Where 'I'll Be Home for Christmas' Happens

NBA Power Rankings: Ours is much more of an emotional look than most. Recent events matter, and long-term projections are (mostly) ignored. After all, no one wants to simply read the Vegas odds for winning the title each week, right?

In this week's holiday edition, the Celtics remain on top as the gift that keeps on giving. Winners of 19 straight, they're just crushing the competition night in, night out.

If watching a single team dominate the entire league isn't your thing, then the NBA has got you covered with a pretty great gift of their own. A fantastic Christmas Day lineup of five games is on tap, including (in case you hadn't heard) a Finals rematch between the Lakers and Celtics. That should be reason enough for anyone to spend the holiday in front of the television instead of ~~arguing~~ hanging with the family.

Until then, we have some rankings to take care of, where we've got 29 other teams that are jockeying for position (at least) a rung or two below Boston on the NBA ladder. Where does your favorite rank? Our gift to you awaits, after the jump.

1. Celtics (26-2) | Prev.: 1
Not to go all Gregg Popovich here, but the Celtics have won like, 57 games in a row. Alright, so it's only 19. And nothing would be sweeter for their fans than getting to 20 on the Lakers' home floor. (BP)
2. Cavaliers (24-4) | Prev.: 2
LeBron is so good that he's gotten to the point where he's apologizing to his opponents' parents for humiliating them on the basketball court. (BP)
3. Magic (22-6) | Prev.: 4
Winners of six straight, including quality ones over the Jazz, Spurs, and Lakers during that streak. It's still early, but they're looking like contenders at the moment. (BP)
4. Lakers (23-5) | Prev.: 3
For a team with 23 wins, the Lakers sure have their doubters. But after a nice win on the road in New Orleans, it seems like they might be ready to give the Celtics a game on Christmas Day. (BP)
5. Hornets (16-8) | Prev.: 5
Only loss in their last five? A humbling blowout at the hands of the Lakers. As Ric Flair would say: WOOOO! (BP)
6. Rockets (19-10) | Prev.: 7
Losing to the Cavaliers on the road isn't a crime. But T-Mac's four point performance in the game certainly was. (BP)
7. Spurs (18-10) | Prev.: 6
All things considered, I think Manu-Tim-Parker are a much better "Three Amigos" comparison than KG-Allen-Truth. Parker is obviously Martin Short, and Duncan is Chevy Chase. But maybe that's just because I like imagining Manu trying to get out of the chain wall. (Matt Moore)
8. Suns (16-11) | Prev.: 9
A quirk in the schedule sees them play only three games in a 15-day span, which should be enough time to pick someone for that final roster spot. Oh, and one of those three games happens to be against the Spurs on Christmas Day. (BP)
9. Nuggets (18-10) | Prev.: 8
A tough stretch of losses and Carmelo Anthony's injury dampen the resurgence. But you have a feeling finishing better than Detroit -- and beating out Dallas for the eighth playoff spot -- might count as victories. (Tom Ziller)
10. Hawks (18-10) | Prev.: 13
Joe Johnson en fuego, Mike Bibby going Gonzo, Marvin Williams is fo' sho', and Josh Smith is still kind of in limbo. Engines are go-go. (MM)

11. Mavericks (16-11) | Prev.: 11
No, no, they're chanting "Thank you, Boo-urns!" And if that doesn't make sense, well, then, you have an idea of how the Kidd-Harris deal looks to the rest of the world, Cubes. (MM)
12. Blazers (17-11) | Prev.: 10
The question that follows the Blazers now: will the offense fall back to Earth? You suspect the defense could improve, but it seems unlikely Portland will finish as a top five offensive team. (TZ)
13. Jazz (17-13) | Prev.: 12
How far away is Carlos Boozer? He doesn't even have his next exam until this weekend. With surgery as a possibility, the Jazz need Paul Millsap to keep it up. (TZ)
14. Heat (15-12) | Prev.: 18
Last week, I wondered if Dwyane Wade was fatigued. This week, I'm wondering if he can be stopped. (BP)
15. Pistons (15-11) | Prev.: 14
Allen Iverson leaves with an injury last night, and Rodney Stuckey drops 40. I'm not saying, I'm just saying. (BP)
16. Nets (14-14) | Prev.: 15
Devin Harris, FTW. No, seriously. He saved a horrible-looking final possession by hitting the game winner at the buzzer in Indiana. (BP)
17. Bulls (13-15) | Prev.: 17
These guys have alternated wins and losses over their last eight games. At least they're consistent here: 17th for the third straight week. (BP)
18. Bucks (14-16) | Prev.: 19
They're 5-1 in their last six games, and led by as many as 44 the other night against an exhausted Clippers team. Technically, only one game out of the eighth spot in the East. (Hey, it could happen.) (BP)
19. Sixers (12-16) | Prev.: 20
You can go ahead and mark this week on your calendars as the week the "Philadelphia is the New Boston Sports Town" stuff keeled over, died, and rotted to dust in about 36 hours. (MM)
20. Knicks (11-16) | Prev.: 16
Losers of four straight, and have surrendered 111 points or more in three of the four losses. But no, defense isn't the issue. (BP)

21. Pacers (10-18) | Prev.: 24
Took the Clippers to double overtime with their three best players in the hospital, and got Devin Harris-ed at the buzzer or they woulda-coulda-shoulda beat the Nets. A fiesty bunch, these Pacers. (BP)
22. Raptors (11-17) | Prev.: 21
Winners of one in a row (hey, times are tough), home town fans should really think long and hard before booing Chris Bosh and his teammates. 2010 is just around the corner. (BP)
23. Grizzlies (9-18) | Prev.: 23
One step forward, one epic space-opera FAIL step back. Brutalized by the Diaw-led Bobcats, this team carries a giant "I" on their chest for "Inconsistent." (MM)
24. Bobcats (8-16) | Prev.: 22
The Boris Diaw part of the trade looks awesome. The Raja Bell part of the team looks like it was Michael Jordan's idea. We should just rename every bad idea in the NBA an "MJ Idea." (MM)
25. Clippers (8-20) | Prev.: 22
Baron Davis can't shoot anymore, and Zach Randolph left the team's loss to the Raptors with a knee injury. Cursed? You betcha! (wink) (BP)
26. Kings (7-22) | Prev.: 26
Beno Udrih sets goodwill on fire. Brad Miller sets trade value on fire. John Salmons ... well, he just sets the league on fire. (TZ)
27. Warriors (4-18) | Prev.: 28
Jamal Crawford scored 50 points. In a game. A real NBA basketball game. And it wasn't his career high. Golden State is pretty much the indie rock scene of the NBA. Guys you've only heard mentioned show up and rock the building to debris. Of course, they lose, very very badly, but still. Much rockage. (MM)
28. Wizards (4-22) | Prev.: 28
The "DeShawn Stevenson coming off the bench" experiment?: How about 1-4 from the field, three points, in 26 minutes. In a loss to the Bobcats, the team's seventh straight. FAIL. (BP)
29. Thunder (3-26) | Prev.: 29
Coach Brooks likes to text message his players. Allow me. "HAI! PLS TRY NOT 2 SUCK 2NIGHT. IT IZ COLD IN TEH WINTR IN OK & MAI FAMLY N33DS F00D. KTHXBAI." (MM)
30. Timberwolves (4-22) | Prev.: 30
Is there a single team the Wolves would be favored to beat? Even the Thunder have some immediate hope. Nothing but bad basketball in Minneapolis. (TZ)