NBA Power Rankings: 7-9

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!

7. New Orleans Hornets

Rec (L10): 5-5 Margin of Victory against L25%: +3.79 SOS (L25%): .550

The Hornets have certainly fallen since leading the conference just a few weeks ago. They currently stand in third place. However, it's not all their fault. They have had one of tougher, if not the toughest, schedules in the NBA over the past 13 games. Considering they still went 5-5, with wins over the Mavericks, Suns, Spurs and Nuggets, means that they still should be considered a serious factor come playoff time. Does that mean we should consider them a factor in the chase for the Western Conference Title? Well, that's a whole other question.

8. Toronto Raptors

Rec (L10): 6-4 Margin of Victory against L25%: +10.29 SOS (L25%): .453

It was really hard for me to put the Raptors ahead of the Magic, especially after considering the SOS for both teams. However, I gave the Raptors the nod in part because of their margin of victory. They just seem to be handling teams as of late, and even when they do lose, they come back the next game with a fiery, just as they did against the New York Knicks in a home-and-home series this past weekend. There is no question that Chris Bosh has been living up to his billing as an All-Star this season. And as you all know, PG Jose Calderon is my own personal player of the year. But the real key to this team going forward is going to be the play they get from their center, Andrea Bargnani. I just witnessed a game where he was driving to the rim with reckless abandonment like a young Dirk Nowitzki. I loved it, and I think if he'll do more of that, especially against slow-footed centers who have no business guarding him out on the perimeter, then the Raptors could go much further than the experts are picking them to.

9. Orlando Magic

Rec (L10): 6-4 Margin of Victory against L25%: +5.93 SOS (L25%): .535

The Magic have played some tough opponent over the past several games, and to come out with a 6-4 record is quite impressive for this young team. They've played quite a few games on the road as of late and still have a few more to go, but once they return to Orlando for a stretch of games you'll see that margin of victory go up, along with their tally marks in the win column. Currently, they stand at 36-22, 14 games over .500, and they don't appear to be headed for the fall they had last season. If the Magic can hang on to that 3^rd seed, we may be talking about the first 2^nd round playoff appearance for the city of Orlando since Kazaam debuted!