NBA Power Rankings: Raptors cruising behind East's top backcourt

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The East's best backcourt is playing its hottest basketball.

All-Stars Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have the Raptors on a franchise-record 11-game winning streak and are now just 3.5 games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the top spot in the East.

During that 11-game span, Lowry has averaged 21.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 39.1 minutes per game. DeRozan has been just as good, if not better, averaging 24.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in his last 11 games.

Impressively enough, the Raptors are doing this without DeMarre Carroll, who is recovering from knee surgery. Once their defensive stalwart returns the Raptors will be even more dangerous. For now, they simply look like the second best team in their conference, with the best backcourt.

On to the rankings:

Previous power rankings: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13

Rank (LW) Team
Record Comment
1 (1) (44-4) Beat the Spurs by 30, the Mavericks by 20 and the Sixers by....3? Hey, a win's a win and now they just need to go 29-5 to top the '96 Bulls.
(3) (36-13) Kevin Durant has entered the MVP conversation, and this week he averaged 34.7 points and 11.7 rebounds in three Thunder victories. They've won 10 of 11.
(5) (34-12) Kevin Love seems to like Tyronn Lue's offense. Since David Blatt's firing, Love has averaged 19.2 points on 50 percent shooting and 40 percent 3-point shooting.
4 (2) (39-8) Odd week for the Spurs, who lost by 30 to the Warriors and 14 to the Cavaliers, sandwiched between a 31-point win over the Rockets. Have to drop them for the L's.
5 (4) (32-15) DeMar DeRozan will pair with Kyle Lowry to be the first starting backcourt to play in the All-Star Game in their home city since 1972. Well deserved for both players.
6 (6) (32-16) Lots more responsibility for DeAndre Jordan with Blake Griffin out 4-6 more weeks. His 17-point, 20-rebound performance in a Sunday win over the Bulls was a nice start.
7 (7) (28-20)  Jeff Green was great for the Griz this week, averaging 26.7 points on 63 percent shooting during their 3-0 week. They could really use him to be a consistent third scorer.
8 (13) (27-22) Despite losing a lead in Orlando on Monday, the Celtics have done enough to vault into the top 10. They've maintained their No. 2 defensive efficiency while winning seven of eight.
9 (15) (27-21) Here come the Heat. They're getting healthy and now have won four straight, including victories over the Bulls and Hawks. When healthy, they might be Cleveland's biggest competition in the East.
10 (8) (27-22) Ugly road losses in Indiana and Miami leave questions about where they stand in the East. How much longer will Jeff Teague be in Atlanta?
11 (9) (26-20) Pau Gasol said the Bulls aren't disciplined. He may be right after a 27-point loss to the Clippers. The rest of their West Coast trip could be rough if they don't figure things out.
12 (10) (25-23) They had a chance for a statement-making win twice this week but ended up with narrow losses to the Cavaliers and Raptors. Props to Andre Drummond for earning his first All-Star nod.
13 (12) (28-22)  In his last five games Chandler Parsons has averaged 21.0 points on 53 percent shooting and 6.8 rebounds in, most importantly, 35.2 minutes a night. He changes the Mavs' ceiling when healthy.
14 (11) (25-25) Difficult week against San Antonio, OKC and Washington, and they lost all three. They revert back to .500 and get a red-hot Miami team on Tuesday to avoid dipping below.
15 (17) (25-22) Rookie Myles Turner is the real deal. In his last seven games he's averaged 18.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. Still, the Pacers are 3-4 in those games and are still struggling for consistency.
16 (14) (21-24) About as middling a team in the East as can be. They're just 2.5 games out of the final spot in the East, but get Golden State and Oklahoma City this week. Winning one would be huge.
17 (20) (18-28) Remarkable they've won seven of nine and could make the playoffs. Jrue Holiday averaged 27.7 points and 8.0 assists in a 2-1 week for the Pellies.
18 (23) (21-25) They've won three of four to stop the bleeding and, with Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert back, can make a run at that No. 8 seed against Portland and Sacramento.
19 (16) (20-27) Of course. After we tout them as a contender for a playoff spot they lose four straight and DeMarcus Cousins injures his ankle. Ouch.
20 (18) (23-26) Looking for an All-Star snub? Damian Lillard. Forget the numbers (which are All-Star worthy): The Blazers are currently the No. 8 seed in the West. That's absurd given what they lost in the offseason.
21 (19) (23-27) It was Kristaps Porzingis vs. the Warriors and Madison Square Garden didn't explode. Instead, Zinger had 14 quiet points and the Knicks were blown out.
22 (21) (22-25)  Love seeing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist back in the lineup for the Hornets. Even more, love seeing him play well with 13 points in his season debut back from shoulder surgery.
23 (22) (18-30) Gary Harris is quietly putting a string of good games together, averaging 13.2 points on 56 percent shooting in his last five games. He looks like a piece to build on for the future.
24 (24) (20-29) Khris Middleton could have been an All-Star in the East (the Bucks' record didn't help). He's averaging 17.7 points and shooting better than 41 percent from deep.
25 (25) (21-25) A come-from-behind win over the Celtics on Sunday mercifully ended an eight-game losing streak. Aaron Gordon was huge in that win, going for 19 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in 39 minutes.
26 (26) (14-35) The L's continue to pile up, and it's worth remembering here that they were once 4-2, and once 9-12. 5-23 since.
27 (27) (7-41) The Sixers' frantic finish in Saturday's buzzer-beating loss to the Warriors was one of the funnest endings to an NBA game this year. What an upset that would have been. Alas, one step closer to Ben Simmons.
28 (28) (12-36) Brook Lopez went for 31 points and 10 rebounds in a win over the Thunder on Monday. Have to wonder if the Nets consider trading him at this year's deadline.
29 (29) (14-35) Stay hot, Devin Booker. The rookie sharpshooter averaged 17.2 points on 45 percent shooting and 1.8 3-point makes per game in January.
30 (30) (9-41) Ten straight losses for a team entirely stuck in the mud. Kobe's Sunday performance against the Hornets was fun, at least.
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