More Rankings: 21-30
| NBA Power Rankings |
| 21 |
25 |
 |
Reasons for optimism: 1) They won at Charlotte on Saturday to snap a three-game skid. 2) They continue to play hard most nights. 3) They have seven of the next eight at home. 4) The Andre Miller trade talk has cooled a bit, with a growing sense they might keep the veteran QB around next season. |
| 22 |
19 |
 |
The players, led by Jason Richardson, reportedly didn't like coach Sam Vincent questioning their competitiveness after Saturday's home loss to the Sixers, Charlotte's third defeat in four games. They'll get a chance to prove him wrong with a five-game Western trip up next, starting Monday at the Clippers. |
| 23 |
23 |
 |
Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf told a local TV station that Scott Skiles asked for his own release last month. Hmmm ... sounds like a lame attempt to deflect blame. Meanwhile, their anemic offense is suffering even more with Luol Deng (achilles) and Ben Gordon (wrist) out of the lineup. |
| 24 |
29 |
 |
Jefferson had a career-high 40 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 11.9 seconds left, and 19 boards in Sunday's win over the Nets. Big Al has posted career highs in two of his last three games (he had 39 vs. the Suns), and is averaging 21 points and 12 boards for the season. |
| 25 |
20 |
 |
Pack those bags, Jason Kidd. You might get that rumored trade request after all. Sunday's dismal loss at Minnesota capped an 0-6 road trip and was their ninth straight defeat overall. Lawrence Frank might not want to get too comfortable, either. |
| 26 |
24 |
 |
Coach Jim O'Brien says they're going to continue to play small ball, even if Jermaine O'Neal (knee) eventually returns this season. In the meantime, they're going to take their lumps. Saturday's loss at Miami was their third straight setback, and the upcoming schedule is brutal. |
| 27 |
26 |
 |
Saturday's OT win over the Clippers was a rare treat in an otherwise dismal season. But with Pau Gasol (sore back, day to day) and Mike Conley (chest, out a week) ailing, they will need Darko Milicic and Kyle Lowry, respectively, to step in and fill the void. |
| 28 |
27 |
 |
Never a dull moment in Clipper Land as Mike Dunleavy trades barbs with owner Donald Sterling, and the annual Corey Maggette trade rumors heat up. It should only get more interesting with the Clips headed out on a seven-game road trip starting Friday at Minnesota. |
| 29 |
30 |
 |
Shaquille O'Neal has brushed aside that retirement talk, even though he probably won't get a record 15th straight selection to the All-Star team. At least his Miami team finally ended its 15-game losing streak with Saturday's victory over the Pacers. |
| 30 |
28 |
 |
OK, so they've been the victim of some rotten luck of late -- with Kevin Martin's dagger for Sacramento following similar late heroics by Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady. But a franchise-record 14-game skid speaks for itself. |
|
 |
|
|
