Celts should top the power rankings this week

[Surferdad]

Both Cleveland and Orlando have faltered, making the C's the top dog in the East.  They are on a nine game winning streak, including a 4-0 road trip.  LAL is winning too, but they have played a lot of home games including many lesser opponents.

I just want to see some love from the national media.

[celtsrp33]

Won't happen.  LA will still be 1st.  C's get no love. 

[Drucci]

If we win tonight in Chicago, I don't see how we couldn't be the #1 in the next power ranking. However, never underestimate the silly and biased arguments of ESPN& cie to dismiss us and rank us lower than where we should be.

I'm fine with that though, I like the underdog role, and our team usually plays better when we're in this position.

[misha]

Don't you know how it works? When there is a tie with Lakers involved, it's always goes their way...

[Kiorrik]

Who gives a rats bottom about the bloody power rankings anyway. Rather be somewhere like third or fourth tbh, don't want teams to think we're the team to beat. Let the Lakers carry the bullseye on their backs, instead of us.

Seriously, I don't want the first spot.

Also, no reason why the Lakers shouldn't be on top I guess. I think right now we're in a very good place, but not quite there yet in terms of consistent defense and bench performance.

We'll get there though.

[nickagneta]

Not happening. LA has won 11 in a row and most power rankings either ignore the fact that the Lakers have played 11 of their last 12 and 17 of their first 21 at home or they just don't care.

When the Lakers have to hit the road and some adversity starts, then the Lakers will fall some in the rankings, but not now when they are finishing up the the best stretch of home games that most any team in the league has at any point in any of their schedules.

[Surferdad]

Who gives a rats bottom about the bloody power rankings anyway. Rather be somewhere like third or fourth tbh, don't want teams to think we're the team to beat. Let the Lakers carry the bullseye on their backs, instead of us.

Seriously, I don't want the first spot.

Also, no reason why the Lakers shouldn't be on top I guess. I think right now we're in a very good place, but not quite there yet in terms of consistent defense and bench performance.

We'll get there though.

OK well first of all, I really don't care either, even though I am the OP.  My life is just fine without the Celtics being #1 in the power rankings and I won't be upset if they are not #1.

Second, I am quite sure that other teams take the Celtics quite seriously.  As of today, the Lakers C's are #1 and #2 in winning pct.  TEAMS don't pay attention to power rankings, only silly fans like me.

Third, as champs, the Lakers already have the "bullseye on their backs", but even that is sort of meaningless anyway.  It's just a way for opposing teams to motivate themselves, among many other ways.  If you listen/read pre-game interviews, players always seem to find some reason to get up for a game.  They have to do that.  Nobody ever says, "Oh, this game isn't all that important, so I'm not going to go as hard as if we were playing the Lakers or the Celtics".

All that said, it just seems to me they deserve to be #1 and I remain hopeful that the national talking heads will get it right (for once).

[fairweatherfan]

It'll be the Lakers - their ridiculous number of home games is offset by the fact that we haven't played many good teams during our streak.  Compare their opponent win% to ours.  Plus we've lost to 3 of the 4 elite teams we have played.  Gotta do better than that to make it to the top.

[LarBrd33]

the jinx is in...

[indeedproceed]

LA has a better record and they're the defending champions. They've won 11 straight games. What possible leg do we have to stand on?

[KCattheStripe]

LA has a better record and they're the defending champions. They've won 11 straight games. What possible leg do we have to stand on?

I stand on the leg that power rankings mean didly.

[dark_lord]

LA has a better record and they're the defending champions. They've won 11 straight games. What possible leg do we have to stand on?

the only argument i could make is that the lakers have only played 4 away games this season, where as we have the best road record in the league and of our 9 game winning streak, 6 have been road games.

i still think the lakers will be ranked 1, but i think we are closer than the national critics would think or give us credit.

[RAcker]

LA has a better record and they're the defending champions. They've won 11 straight games. What possible leg do we have to stand on?

the only argument i could make is that the lakers have only played 4 away games this season, where as we have the best road record in the league and of our 9 game winning streak, 6 have been road games.

i still think the lakers will be ranked 1, but i think we are closer than the national critics would think or give us credit.

DL, I was about to type the exact same thing.  Everytime the Lakers are playing on League Pass, even my wife notices that they are always at home early in this season.

Although I think the power rankings are a little stupid, I still like the discussions of what one team has really accomplished as opposed to another team.  That best road record for the C's despite a few slip ups at home (to good teams mind you) is impressive.

TP for DL for great minds thinking alike.   

[BballTim]

LA has a better record and they're the defending champions. They've won 11 straight games. What possible leg do we have to stand on?

  Better efficiency differential and probably 7-8 more road games. I can wait until mid-late June to get to the top of the rankings, though.

[BigBaby]

I can see it. If not we will be second.

LA deserved top spot the last couple weeks because they were blowing out every team badly.

Either way, I could care less about the weekly power rankings.