2011-2012 NBA Power Rankings - Week 15
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Week: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 - (Power Rankings updated on Mondays.)
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Each week, we respond to one roundtable question and here's this week's question: If you the GM of a franchise and can start it with any (current NBA) player, who would it be?
John (follow on Twitter): LeBron James
I'd still start a franchise with LeBron James. I'd give the usual suspects like KD and D-Rose consideration, and probably more consideration to Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love than most would, but ultimately, I'm still taking Lebron.
LBJ is the equivalent of a 5-tool player in baseball. He does it all - he can score, assist, rebound, and defend, and I'm not sure we've seen a player who is as well rounded before. LeBron takes a lot of flack because of "The Decision" and the fact that he has not won a title yet, but even Jordan struggled early on in his career. MJ could not beat the Pistons until finally he did, and nobody remembers that it took him seven years to get one; they just remember that he ended up with six. LeBron may not end up with as many, but it would be tough to think that he won't get any. He's the most versatile and dominant player in the game today, with his best years still in front of him.
I think any GM would have a hard time explaining why they would pass up on Lebron if they had the option to take him. And just to keep it in perspective, pretty much every player that could even possibly be on the list to take (Durant, Wesbrook, Rose, Howard, Love, D Williams, CP3) have a combined zero championships. LeBron may be a bit older, but at 28, he's hardly an old man. And as a GM, if the goal is to win championships, LeBron seems like the clear choice to me.
Kevin (follow on Twitter): LeBron James
There are plenty of talented players to consider, but no player is as well-rounded and dominant as LeBron James. The number of players to average at least 20 points, five assists and five rebounds per game or better is one: LeBron James. James is averaging 26.8 points, 8.0 boards and 6.4 assists per game this season. His end-of-game shortcomings have been well-documented, but he has the ability to dominate the game in a variety of ways including on defense. James currently ranks third in the NBA in steals (1.9 per game).
Dan (follow on Twitter): Dwight Howard
Maybe this is a bit of LeBron bias, but if I am a GM and have the first pick I will be taking Dwight Howard. He averages 20 points, 14 boards and two blocks per game, and there is not a big man in the league that can hang with him. Howard has Hakeem and Ewing potential to dominate the middle and just completely take over a game. Surround Howard with a capable cast and it's a ticket to the Finals.
Here are some stats about this week's NBA Consensus Power Rankings:
- Biggest jump from last week: New York Knicks (+2.75)
- Biggest drop from last week: Philadelphia 76ers (-4.17)
- Team with widest difference between high and low ranker: Memphis Grizzlies (6)
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Updated: Tuesday, April 10, 2012.
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HITTHEBOARDS.COM WEEK 15 CONSENSUS NBA POWER RANKINGS
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Rank (Last)
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Team (Record as of 4/9/12)
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Kevin
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Dan
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Sean
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John
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Overall
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1 (3).
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Miami Heat (40-15)
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1
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2
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-
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1
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1.33
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2 (T1).
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Chicago Bulls (43-14)
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2
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1
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-
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4
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2.33
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3 (T1).
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Oklahoma City Thunder (42-15)
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3
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4
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-
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2
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3.00
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4 (4).
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San Antonio Spurs (40-15)
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4
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3
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-
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3
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3.33
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5 (6).
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Los Angeles Lakers (36-22)
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5
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5
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-
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6
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5.33
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6 (7).
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Los Angeles Clippers (34-23)
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7
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6
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-
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8
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7.00
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7 (9).
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Memphis Grizzlies (33-23)
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6
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11
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-
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5
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7.33
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8 (11).
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Indiana Pacers (35-22)
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9
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7
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-
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10
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8.67
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9 (8).
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Boston Celtics (32-24)
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8
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8
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-
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11
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9.00
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10 (5).
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Orlando Magic (34-23)
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12
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9
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-
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7
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9.33
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11 (13).
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Atlanta Hawks (34-23)
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10
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12
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-
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9
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10.33
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12 (10).
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Dallas Mavericks (31-26)
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11
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10
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-
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12
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11.00
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13 (14).
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Houston Rockets (32-25)
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13
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13
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-
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14
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13.33
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14 (16).
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New York Knicks (29-27)
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14
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15
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-
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13
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14.00
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15 (15).
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Denver Nuggets (31-26)
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15
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14
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-
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16
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15.00
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16 (12).
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Philadelphia 76ers (29-27)
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16
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16
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-
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15
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15.67
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17 (18).
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Phoenix Suns (30-27)
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18
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17
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-
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18
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17.67
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18 (17).
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Utah Jazz (30-28)
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17
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18
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-
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19
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18.00
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19 (20).
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Milwaukee Bucks (28-29)
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19
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19
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-
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17
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18.33
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20 (21).
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Portland Trail Blazers (27-31)
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20
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21
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-
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20
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20.33
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21 (19).
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Minnesota Timberwolves (25-33)
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21
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20
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-
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21
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20.67
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22 (22).
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Golden State Warriors (22-34)
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22
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22
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-
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22
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22.00
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23 (23).
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New Jersey Nets (21-37)
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23
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24
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-
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24
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23.67
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T24 (27).
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Toronto Raptors (20-38)
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25
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25
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-
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23
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24.33
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T24 (24).
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Detroit Pistons (21-36)
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24
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23
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-
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26
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24.33
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26 (25).
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Sacramento Kings (19-38)
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26
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26
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-
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25
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25.67
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27 (26).
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Cleveland Cavaliers (18-36)
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27
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27
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-
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27
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27.00
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28 (28).
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New Orleans Hornets (15-42)
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28
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28
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-
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28
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28.00
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29 (29).
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Washington Wizards (13-44)
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29
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29
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-
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29
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29.00
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30 (30).
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Charlotte Bobcats (7-48)
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30
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30
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-
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30
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30.00
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See our NFL Consensus Power Rankings
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