NBA Power Rankings: 1-3

Another month in this marathon we call an NBA season has come to an end. So at the end of February, where do the best teams rank in the league? Who are the best teams? Those answers, and more, are provided to you in this edition of the NBA Power Rankings!

1. Los Angeles Lakers

Rec (L10): 9-1 Margin of Victory against L25%: +11.47 SOS (L25%): .446

For those of you who thought that Shaquille O'Neal's arrival in Phoenix or Jason Kidd's arrival in Dallas were the big splashy trades of the season, think again! Neither one of their squads is in the Top 5 of this edition of the Power Rankings, and the team that brought Pau Gasol over to La-La land is in first place in the power rankings. Look, there is no question that this team has looked like the most dominant team over the past couple of weeks. They have won eight games in a row, and they sit atop of the Western Conference despite having played six more games on the road than they have at home. This team is built for the playoffs, I just hope that Kobe can overcome that finger injury wants Bruce Bowen "unintentionally" whacks him on the hand in the playoffs.

2. Detroit Pistons

Rec (L10): 8-2 Margin of Victory against L25%: +9.27 SOS (L25%): .504

I'm not sure what conference the Pistons are in to have mustered up an SOS of .504 over there last 13 games or so, but nonetheless, they have faired well against them, going 8-2 over their last 10 games. They just spanked Phoenix, and they didn't do a bad job of spanking Milwaukee either. Their margin of victory is quite impressive... even for a team in the Eastern Conference!

3. Utah Jazz

Rec (L10): 8-2 Margin of Victory against L25%: +8.67 SOS (L25%): .473

Very few teams have played as good as basketball as the Jazz have over the past 21 games. Therefore, with an 18-3 record in those games, I just had to move the Jazz up to third in the Power Rankings. A lot of people who don't follow the Jazz may think they are carried by their two stars, Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, but while Williams leads the team in assists, and Boozer leads the team in scoring and rebounds, other players have stepped up as well. Ronnie Brewer leads the team in steals. Andrei Kirilenko leads the team in blocks. Kyle Korver leads the team in three pointers. And Jason Hart has the best assists:turnover ratio on the team.

Right now, a lot of you are probably thinking that I have jumped on the bandwagon of the Jazz, because as many of you know, the media has made the Jazz their sexy pick to win the championship. But no, that is not me. I know I have them behind only the Lakers, but that is dependent upon the fact that the team below them doesn't get much better with some of the things they are doing right now.