New Jersey gives East something to think about

Another week, another Eastern Conference team making a power move. Two weeks ago it was the Heat. Now it's the Nets who are opening eyes around the league with their red-hot play.

Is New Jersey for real? It sure looks that way. The Nets have picked up their defense of late, and the emergence of center Nenad Krstic has given them some much-needed interior presence to go with Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson.

The Nets' schedule is conducive to a strong finish heading into the playoffs. They play at Atlanta on Friday, then return home for seven of their final 11 games. Their biggest test comes Sunday against the Heat at the Meadowlands in a possible preview of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

This week's high riser: Cavs (No. 7 from 11)
This week's big drop: Suns (No. 9 from 4)

NBA Power Rankings Rank LW Team 1 1 San Antonio Spurs (56-16) They won big at the Lakers on Thursday to finish 3-2 on their final extended road trip of the season. Meanwhile, Nick Van Exel is back and they've got seven of their final 10 at home. 2 2 Detroit Pistons (57-14) After coasting a bit the past few weeks, they appear to be finally getting ready for the playoffs. They certainly looked more like the early-season Pistons in Wednesday's win over the Mavs. 3 3 Dallas Mavericks (54-18) Without injured starters Josh Howard (hamstring) and Adrian Griffin (hamstring), they had dropped four of six through Thursday. The duo should be back soon, but is it too late to catch the Spurs in the West? 4 6 New Jersey Nets (42-28) Krstic is coming up big in the middle, and they are starting to look like a real threat in the East. Through Thursday they had won 10 straight -- including victories over the Mavs, Lakers, Wizards, Suns, Grizzlies and at Detroit. 5 5 Miami Heat (48-23) Even with Shaquille O'Neal sitting out to rest a sore knee, they rallied from a 13-point deficit to win at Toronto on Wednesday. It marked the seventh time this season they have come back from at least 13 down to win a game. 6 7 Memphis Grizzlies (41-31) Back-to-back losses to the Sonics and Nets brought them back to earth after that seven-game win streak. Still, they continue to chug along as perhaps the NBA's most underrated team. 7 11 Cleveland Cavaliers (42-29) LeBron James had 46 points as they beat the Mavs on Wednesday night to make it six straight and 10 of 13 overall. It clinched their first playoff berth since 1998, and the first of LeBron's three-year career. 8 9 Los Angeles Clippers (41-29) Tuesday's loss to the Spurs snapped a four-game home streak and prevented them from clinching their first winning season in 14 years. They'll get another chance Friday against the Jazz at Staples Center. 9 4 Phoenix Suns (48-23) The Amaré Stoudemire shutdown is a blow to their title hopes. At least they won at Indiana on Thursday to get back on track after back-to-back blowout losses at New Jersey and Milwaukee. 10 8 Denver Nuggets (40-32) They missed Marcus Camby (back) in Wednesday's loss to the Jazz. But they had still won nine of 13 overall, and Earl Boykins (broken hand) says he hopes to be back by the playoffs.