Celtics back on top, but for how long?

So much for the New Orleans Hornets seven days of glory. They reached the top rung of the Poweless Rankings last week only to start a three-game losing streak.

That was enough to nudge the KG-less Boston Celtics, who put together an impressive Sunday victory over the Dallas Mavericks, back into the top spot. If Powerless history is any indicator, however, they won't be there for long.

The Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz, the latter of whom stretched their win streak to nine games, all seem poised to make a run at the No. 1 ranking next week.

As usual, rankings are judged on games from Tuesday through Monday. Previous standing for each team follows current ranking.

PARADE PLANNERS

1. (3) Boston Celtics – Celtics now saying there's a good chance Kevin Garnett won't play in his long-awaited return to Minnesota on Friday. Abdominal injury or a nasty case of Jefferson-itis?

2. (5) Detroit Pistons – "When Rasheed is ready, motivated and focused, he can dominate anyone he plays," Detroit coach Flip Saunders said of Wallace's 21-point performance in the Pistons' 90-67 victory over Dallas. Translation: "Rasheed isn't ready, motivated and focused nearly as often as I would like."

3. (7)Utah Jazz– We're not saying Demi Moore should move to Salt Lake City just yet, but the Jazz are 15-2 since trading for Kyle Korver.

4. (4) Phoenix Suns – Memo to those upper-level Suns fans: That guy you jeered in the No. 5 jersey last Thursday? Ime Udoka. Robert Horry now wears No. 25, hidden by the warmups he never removed.

5. (6) Cleveland Cavaliers – Even Thursday's loss in Seattle enhanced LeBron James' MVP candidacy: Cavs 0-6 without James, 26-14 with him.

6. (9) Los Angeles Lakers – Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said it best: "Merry Christmas L.A.!"

STILL DREAMING

7. (2) Dallas Mavericks – Jason Kidd talks cooling? Or just a two-game losing streak from warming up again?

8. (8) San Antonio Spurs – Sign the Spurs picked up Damon Stoudamire on the backside of his career: His Mighty Mouse tattoo now has a walker.

9. (1) New Orleans Hornets – Chris Paul, paging Chris Paul. Deron Williams is at the courtesy desk awaiting his All-Star invitation.

10. (13) Denver Nuggets – Upon hearing Bob Knight had retired, Nuggets coach George Karl told Denver reporters, "I think he's been an incredible coach and someone we've all stolen and learned from as coaches." To demonstrate just how much he had stolen from Knight, Karl choked Linas Kleiza.

11. (12) Orlando Magic – Just wondering: If the Magic felt Rashard Lewis was worth $118 million, how underpaid is Hedo Turkoglu?

12. (10) Golden State Warriors – Warriors coach Don Nelson on newly signed Chris Webber: "I'm planning on starting him every game." Unless, of course, his left knee explodes while he tries to keep pace with his new teammates.

13. (11) Portland Trail Blazers – Remember that inspiring 13-game winning streak by Portland in December? If playoffs began today, the Blazers would need to purchase a ticket to watch.

14. (14) Houston Rockets – Maybe that T-Mac guy isn't so bad after all: Rockets 8-1 since his return with five of those wins coming on the road.

15. (15) Toronto Raptors – Raptors pick up this week's Team Xtreme Award. Their last five games: 31-point win, four-point loss, 39-point win, 20-point loss, 32-point win.

16. (17) Sacramento Kings – Ron Artest told The Sacramento Bee Monday he thinks the Kings "would be better if I wasn't on the team." That should do wonders for his trade value, particularly considering his previous two employers came to the same conclusion.

17. (16) Washington Wizards – No Gilbert Arenas? No problem. No Gilbert Arenas AND no Caron Butler? That's asking too much.

18. (18) Atlanta Hawks – Back-to-back wins temporarily quieted calls for Mike Woodson and Billy Knight to be fired. But with a Laker-Cleveland-Houston-Detroit stretch this week, natives figure to be back on Hawks' doorstep, torches ablaze.

GET THOSE TEE TIMES READY

19. (20) Philadelphia 76ers – Larry Brown showed up in Atlanta for Sixers-Hawks game, says he wants to coach, but doesn't want Mo Cheek's job. That, however, doesn't explain why Brown seemed to be sizing up Cheek's back the entire night.

20. (26) Chicago Bulls – Not sure which is more alarming: That the Bulls began Tuesday with a 19-28 record? Or that they're only one game out of the Eastern Conference playoffs?

21. (23) Minnesota Timberwolves – If Al Jefferson continues to develop into a franchise-level player, does everyone owe Kevin McHale an apology?

22. (19) Milwaukee Bucks – The Bucks keep a poster of the NBA standings in the corner of their locker room. Said Andrew Bogut to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "We should just rip that board down." The truth apparently hurts.

23. (25) New Jersey Nets – Shockingly enough, Nets' acquisition of Stromile Swift has yet to prompt Jason Kidd to rescind trade demand.

24. (21) Charlotte Bobcats – "Tough game in Golden State last night, late-night travel, high altitude, but we don't want to make excuses," said Sam Vincent, apparently unaware he did just that.

SECAUCUS SIX

25. (28) Los Angeles Clippers – Chris Kaman gets Quote of the Week honors, summing up Clippers' victory over the Knicks: "It's like a toilet bowl game or a dust bowl game. Two bottom teams fighting."

26. (30) Seattle SuperSonics– Sonics run off three consecutive victories, giving team's fan base in OKC hope for next season.

27. (22) Indiana Pacers – Autographed Jermaine O'Neal authentic Pacers jersey was auctioned off for $160 at recent fundraising banquet. Cost of non-autographed Jermaine O'Neal authentic Pacers jersey on NBAStore.com: $169.99.

28. (24) New York Knicks – Who says the Garden faithful aren't supportive? On Monday they gave the Giants a warm standing ovation.

29. (27) Memphis Grizzlies – Memphis owner Michael Heisley said former Lakers and Grizzlies president Jerry West was "not at all" involved in Pau Gasol trade. Except, of course, for passing along Mitch Kupchak's phone number. And then recommending he call Kupchak and offer to send him the franchise's best player for salary-cap relief and low-end draft picks three weeks before the trade deadline.

30. (29) Miami Heat – Just when you thought the season couldn't get any worse, the Heat lose by 32. To Toronto. At home. Said Pat Riley: "We're going to have to do some evaluation here." A 9-37 record needs evaluating?

Johnny Ludden is the NBA editor for Yahoo! Sports. Send Johnny a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.

Updated on Wednesday, Feb 6, 2008 5:46 am, EST

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