Race for final playoff spots begins

Entering the second half of the season, the Power Rankings have predictable casts at the top and bottom, and plenty of dynamic movement among the teams in between. Preseason favorites Miami and Oklahoma City own the top, and last year's top regular-season teams, San Antonio and Chicago, are right below. At the other end, the Bobcats are as bad as most people feared, and the dregs of the Eastern Conference comprise five of the bottom six teams.

But the middle is chaos. There are teams struggling mightily to survive injuries to key personnel, such as Atlanta, Denver, and Memphis. There are disappointments like Boston, New York and Portland, and surprising overachievers such as Minnesota and Cleveland. This is where the final playoff spots in each conference will be determined, and the race is extremely fluid.

So buckle up. Because you know that cliché about the season being less of a sprint than a marathon? Well, in this post-lockout season, it's a sprint, with the games coming fast and furious and the finish line not that far away.

(All stats and records are through Monday, Feb. 27 unless otherwise noted.)

NBA Power Rankings