Marc Stein, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Power Rankings: Week 18

Dribbling through some of the most pertinent new developments in ESPN.com's weekly NBA Power Rankings:

Easy calls for the committee (of one) to move Houston and Portland into the top seven. The tougher decision was weighing how far to drop slumping Toronto. The Raptors ultimately retained their top-10 slot as much because of Oklahoma City's inability to keep its stars out of harm's way as the Raptors' own prowess.

There are only three teams in the East in the top 10. And it might well be down to two once Russell Westbrook and ‎Kevin Durant return for the Thunder. Atlanta and Cleveland appear to have separated themselves from the rest of the East, while Toronto, Washington and banged-up Chicago are all trending in the wrong direction.

Since the East is clearly in need of a pick-me-up, here's one: Indiana! The Pacers, at No. 13, are higher than we ever thought we'd put them without Paul George. But when you look at the teams in the 10-to-15 range, only the Pacers and the New Orleans Pelicans have what you'd call momentum. The Pels have been helped somewhat by a friendly schedule at just the right time, given all of their injuries, but a 5-0 stretch is highly impressive no matter whom you're playing when Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson are all out injured.

‎Utah and Boston are two more teams, like Indiana, that are exceeding expectations and flirting with a spot in the top half of the poll. The Jazz probably would have cracked the top 15 if not for last Wednesday's bad home loss to the Lakers.

As we discussed at length on ESPN Radio's latest NBA Insiders show Sunday, Denver is putting itself in line for a demotion to the basement with the way this group appears to have surrendered. But No. 29 was as low as the committee was prepared to go for now. Check back next Monday to see if the Nuggets arrest their slide ... or take another step toward Cancun. ‎

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