NBA power rankings for mid-December

By Rick Morris

TOP TIER
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Boston
3. Cleveland

SECOND TIER
4. Orlando
5. New Orleans
6. Houston
7. Denver
8. Portland
9. San Antonio
10. Utah
11. Atlanta

THIRD TIER
12. Detroit
13. Phoenix
14. Dallas
15. Miami
16. New Jersey
17. Chicago

FOURTH TIER
18. Philadelphia
19. New York Knicks
20. Toronto
21. Milwaukee
22. Golden State
23. Indiana
24. Charlotte
25. Memphis

FIFTH TIER
26. Sacramento
27. Washington
28. Los Angeles Clippers
29. Minnesota
30. Oklahoma City