NBA Development League: D-League Power Rankings: February 13, 2008

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D-League Power Rankings: February 13, 2008

by Matthew Brennan, D-League.com

Brian Chase and the Los Angeles D-Fenders are 19-9 this season.
Andre D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images
The Idaho Stampede's grip on the top of the D-League Power Rankings has slipped as their D-League record winning streak finally came to an end at 18 games on Monday. The Los Angeles D-Fenders, who became the first team to defeat the Stampede at home, take over the top spot this week after winning four of their last five. Idaho falls to number two after dropping their last two games, but still holds the league's best record and paces Los Angeles in the West Division. The Austin Toros move up to the third spot as they continue to maintain the Southwest Division lead and the league's third-best record at 19-10. The Dakota Wizards, who lead the Central Division, and the red-hot Tulsa 66ers make up the last two slots in the top five. Tulsa has won eight of their last ten games and are mounting a challenge to Austin in the Southwest Division.

The current playoff picture would have Idaho, Austin and Dakota qualifying as the division winners, while Los Angeles, Tulsa and Colorado would also make the playoffs with the next three best records in the D-League. The regular season ends two months from now on April 12, so expect plenty of shuffling as the regular season winds down. The majority of teams have around 20 games remaning in the 50-game regular season.

The D-League All-Star Game and D-League Dream Factory Friday Night are scheduled for next week, so there will be no regular season games scheduled for this Friday and Saturday. Click here for complete information on the All-Star Teams and events that will be taking place in New Orleans. The D-League regular season schedule will resume with a three-game slate on Sunday.

D-League Power Rankings Archive

TEAM (LAST WK) REC. BREAKDOWN

1 Los Angeles (2) 19-9 The D-Fenders finally knocked off Idaho in Boise to end their D-League record winning streak, and also became the first team to defeat the Stampede in Qwest Arena. Los Angeles will fit road games in Tulsa and Rio Grande Valley into this week, while in between head coach Dan Panaggio, Sean Banks and Jelani McCoy will take part in Saturday's D-League All-Star Game.

2 Idaho (1) 23-7 The Stampede saw their D-League record 18-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday, and then fell to Utah on Monday night. They return to action on Sunday in Iowa, while head coach Bryan Gates and three players will head to Des Moines after Saturday's All-Star Game. This will be the first meeting of the season between the Stampede and the Energy.

3 Austin (3) 19-10 Austin has won four of their last five games and will close out a road trip tomorrow night in Fort Wayne. The Toros have dropped their last three games against second-place Tulsa, but still lead the 66ers by 2.5 games in the Southwest Division.

4 Tulsa (5) 16-12 The 66ers split a homestand with Albuquerque over the weekend but have still won eight of their last ten games. The 66ers' next two games are the only two meetings with the Los Angeles D-Fenders this season, with games in Tulsa tomorrow night and at STAPLES Center next Tuesday after the All-Star Break.

5 Dakota (4) 18-11 The Wizards have dropped two straight and three of their last five, but it seems that no other team in the Central Division is able to mount a serious bid at their lead, which currently stands at four games. With five of their next seven games against Sioux Falls, the Wizards can either really start to pull away or see things get very interesting in the division race.

6 Colorado (7) 17-13 The 14ers won their last two games and are currently tied with Tulsa for second place in the Southwest Division. A D-League high four Colorado players will play in the All-Star game, including forwards Elton Brown and Kaniel Dickens, and guards Eddie Gill and Billy Thomas.

7 Utah (8) 16-16 The Flash are coming off of a big win at home, defeating the Idaho Stampede in Orem to snap a two-game losing streak. Utah will have plenty of time to rest, as they are now off until next Friday when they head to Tulsa. Jazz assignees Morris Almond and Kyrylo Fesenko will be busy this weekend as they take part in Saturday's All-Star Game.

8 Sioux Falls (6) 15-16 The Skyforce dropped two games in Iowa over the weekend to snap a seven-game winning streak. All six of their remaining games in February are against Central Division rivals, including five against the division leading Wizards.

9 Iowa (9) 14-15 The Energy swept Sioux Falls over the weekend and have now on five straight games after snapping a nine-game losing streak. They will head to Rio Grande Valley on Thursday night before returning home to host Idaho on Monday. 13 of their 21 remaining games are on the road, where the Energy are 4-8 this season.

10 Albuquerque (10) 12-16 The Thunderbirds have won two games, then lost two games over their past eight. The next stretch could be their best chance at making a run at a playoff spot, with ten of their next 13 games at home in Tingley Coliseum. Albuquerque is 7-5 at home this season.

11 Anaheim (11) 10-17 The Arsenal won in Utah on Friday night to snap a three-game losing streak and earn their second road victory of the season. 6-25 Bakersfield will visit Anaheim this Thursday, but the Arsenal have accounted for two of the Jam's six wins this season as they compete in the West Division.

12 Fort Wayne (12) 10-17 The Mad Ants knocked off Colorado to terminate a three-game losing streak. They return to action after a week off, hosting Austin on Thursday night. Fort Wayne is one of only three teams with a losing record at home, going 7-8 so far this season.

13 Rio Grande Valley (13) 10-21 The Vipers lost to Colorado in overtime on Saturday, extending their losing streak to ten games. Rio Grande Valley is now 1-16 since starting the season 9-5. They will host Iowa and Los Angeles this week before starting a four-game road trip.

14 Bakersfield (14) 6-25 The Jam are 6-25 and will need to win all 19 of their remaining games to finish the season with a .500 record, which means a playoff berth is probably out of the cards. The good news is that Bakersfield, five of six wins have come at Rabobank Arena, will be at home for twelve of those 19 games..

	TEAM (LAST WK)	REC.	BREAKDOWN
1	Los Angeles (2)	19-9	The D-Fenders finally knocked off Idaho in Boise to end their D-League record winning streak, and also became the first team to defeat the Stampede in Qwest Arena. Los Angeles will fit road games in Tulsa and Rio Grande Valley into this week, while in between head coach Dan Panaggio, Sean Banks and Jelani McCoy will take part in Saturday's D-League All-Star Game.
2	Idaho (1)	23-7	The Stampede saw their D-League record 18-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday, and then fell to Utah on Monday night. They return to action on Sunday in Iowa, while head coach Bryan Gates and three players will head to Des Moines after Saturday's All-Star Game. This will be the first meeting of the season between the Stampede and the Energy.
3	Austin (3)	19-10	Austin has won four of their last five games and will close out a road trip tomorrow night in Fort Wayne. The Toros have dropped their last three games against second-place Tulsa, but still lead the 66ers by 2.5 games in the Southwest Division.
4	Tulsa (5)	16-12	The 66ers split a homestand with Albuquerque over the weekend but have still won eight of their last ten games. The 66ers' next two games are the only two meetings with the Los Angeles D-Fenders this season, with games in Tulsa tomorrow night and at STAPLES Center next Tuesday after the All-Star Break.
5	Dakota (4)	18-11	The Wizards have dropped two straight and three of their last five, but it seems that no other team in the Central Division is able to mount a serious bid at their lead, which currently stands at four games. With five of their next seven games against Sioux Falls, the Wizards can either really start to pull away or see things get very interesting in the division race.
6	Colorado (7)	17-13	The 14ers won their last two games and are currently tied with Tulsa for second place in the Southwest Division. A D-League high four Colorado players will play in the All-Star game, including forwards Elton Brown and Kaniel Dickens, and guards Eddie Gill and Billy Thomas.
7	Utah (8)	16-16	The Flash are coming off of a big win at home, defeating the Idaho Stampede in Orem to snap a two-game losing streak. Utah will have plenty of time to rest, as they are now off until next Friday when they head to Tulsa. Jazz assignees Morris Almond and Kyrylo Fesenko will be busy this weekend as they take part in Saturday's All-Star Game.
8	Sioux Falls (6)	15-16	The Skyforce dropped two games in Iowa over the weekend to snap a seven-game winning streak. All six of their remaining games in February are against Central Division rivals, including five against the division leading Wizards.
9	Iowa (9)	14-15	The Energy swept Sioux Falls over the weekend and have now on five straight games after snapping a nine-game losing streak. They will head to Rio Grande Valley on Thursday night before returning home to host Idaho on Monday. 13 of their 21 remaining games are on the road, where the Energy are 4-8 this season.
10	Albuquerque (10)	12-16	The Thunderbirds have won two games, then lost two games over their past eight. The next stretch could be their best chance at making a run at a playoff spot, with ten of their next 13 games at home in Tingley Coliseum. Albuquerque is 7-5 at home this season.
11	Anaheim (11)	10-17	The Arsenal won in Utah on Friday night to snap a three-game losing streak and earn their second road victory of the season. 6-25 Bakersfield will visit Anaheim this Thursday, but the Arsenal have accounted for two of the Jam's six wins this season as they compete in the West Division.
12	Fort Wayne (12)	10-17	The Mad Ants knocked off Colorado to terminate a three-game losing streak. They return to action after a week off, hosting Austin on Thursday night. Fort Wayne is one of only three teams with a losing record at home, going 7-8 so far this season.
13	Rio Grande Valley (13)	10-21	The Vipers lost to Colorado in overtime on Saturday, extending their losing streak to ten games. Rio Grande Valley is now 1-16 since starting the season 9-5. They will host Iowa and Los Angeles this week before starting a four-game road trip.
14	Bakersfield (14)	6-25	The Jam are 6-25 and will need to win all 19 of their remaining games to finish the season with a .500 record, which means a playoff berth is probably out of the cards. The good news is that Bakersfield, five of six wins have come at Rabobank Arena, will be at home for twelve of those 19 games..