To what do you owe the Power Rankings to appear a day early? The All-Star Break. The Power Rankings will be flying to Denver on Thursday, so, we're going to go at it on Wednesday. Besides, what a week! I was ready to move the Sonics up after they beat the Suns in Phoenix, but then they lost to the Mavs. I was ready to keep the Spurs in first, but they lost to the Heat. I was ready to move the Suns down after losing to the Sonics, but they bounced back after that loss with two wins. And Mavs fans, don't worry, your team has moved ahead of the Kings.

That being said, here's our E-mail of the Week from Derek in Bellevue, Wash.:

"You didn't do your homework, chief! Seattle's beat Miami ... twice. That would be BOTH times they've played them. I agree with the S.A. and PHX placements, even though we're leading the season series with S.A. as well (the last game was a thumping, I'll admit ... without Ray Allen of course). But Miami, thus far, has not at all shown they're better than Seattle. C'mon man, I LIKE YOU!!! But you've got no justification for that one."

Derek, I like you too, though I was never really much for homework (and I did know the Sonics have beaten the Heat twice). Let's see where your beloved Sonics end up this week.

High jump of the week: Magic (+4)
Free fall of the week: Kings, Celtics (-4)

	TEAM (LAST WK)	REC.	BREAKDOWN
1	Phoenix (2)	41-12	Numero uno into the break. All-Star Weekend participants : 5 -- Nash, A-S Game, Skills; Marion, A-S Game, Stars; Stoudemire, A-S Game; Johnson, Richardson, 3-pt.
2	Miami (3)	39-14	Won nine of last 10 and six in a row, including one over Duncan-led Spurs. ASWP: 3 -- O'Neal, starter A-S Game; Wade, A-S Game, Rookie; Haslem, Rookie
3	Seattle (4)	35-14	Won five in a row before bowing to Mavericks. Was 25-27 at A-S break last season. ASWP: 4 -- Allen A-S Game, 3-pt.; Lewis, A-S Game, Ridnour, Rookie, Skills; Radmanovic, 3-pt.
4	San Antonio (1)	40-12	Only here because of top teams, only team to lose two of last three. The Spurs can tell you it's tough at the top. ASWP: 3 -- Duncan, starter A-S Game; Ginobili, A-S Game; Udrih, Rookie
5	Dallas (6)	34-16	Winners of three in a row on the road and victims have been: Kings, Sonics and Warriors. ASWP: 3 -- Nowitzki, A-S Game; Harris and Howard, got milk? Rookie
6	Houston (7)	32-21	Scorching hot, winners of eight straight and they're off a week before back-to-back against Sonics, Spurs. ASWP: 2 -- Yao and McGrady, starters in All-Star Game
7	Detroit (9)	31-19	Won three in a row by an average of -- get this -- 22.3 ppg. Championship form, anyone? ASWP: 2 -- Ben Wallace, All-Star Game; Ronald Dupree, Shooting Stars
8	Sacramento (5)	33-19	Eek! Lost five of their last six and seven of their next eight are on the road. Good luck, Kings. ASWP: None
9	Memphis (8)	30-22	Should Mike Fratello get pub for coach of the year? He's 25-11 since taking over. Nice work! ASWP: None.
10	Cleveland (10)	29-20	Won three of their last four, but still have two games (vs. Hawks and at Wolves) before the break. ASWP: 2 -- LeBron James, starter A-S Game and Rookie Challenge; Z, A-S Game
11	Washington (11)	30-22	Strugg-a-ling with three losses in a row. Still, 30 wins at the break is spectacular. ASWP: 2 -- Arenas, Skills and All-Star Game; Jamison, reserve All-Star Game
12	Orlando (16)	28-24	Into the break with a two-game win streak. Plus, they were 13-41 at the break last season. ASWP: 2 -- Hill, starter All-Star Game; Howard, Rookie Challenge
13	Chicago (13)	25-23	Won two in a row and get the Raps on Feb. 16. Was 14-38 last season at A-S break ASWP: 3 -- Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, got milk? Rookie Challenge
14	L.A. Lakers (15)	26-24	After missing a month, Kobe's back with 62 in first two games back. Should be interesting the rest of the way. ASWP: 2 -- Bryant, starter All-Star Game; Walton, Shooting Stars
15	Philadelphia (17)	26-26	Iverson has fostered MVP talk and says he want to stay in Philly. ASWP: 3 -- Iguodala, Rookie Challenge; Korver 3-Pt. and Rookie; Iverson, starter All-Star Game
16	Boston (12)	26-26	Yeah, I know the C's and Philly have the same record, but Iverson's lifted Philly one spot ahead. ASWP: 2 -- Paul Pierce, A-S Game; Tony Allen, Rookie Challenge
17	Indiana (18)	24-26	Despite woes, just two games out of the playoff race in the East. Was 39-14 at A-S break last year. ASWP: 1 -- Jermaine O'Neal, reserve All-Star Game
18	Minnesota (14)	26-27	McHale replaced Flip Saunders and is 1-1 so far. It will take a Herculean effort to make playoffs ASWP: 1 -- Kevin Garnett, starter All-Star Game
19	Denver (19)	24-28	Currently 2-2 on five-game trip and the Nugs are 6-3 under Karl. ASWP: 4 -- Anthony, Rookie Challenge; Lenard, 3-Pt. Shootout; Boykins, Skills; Miller, Shooting Stars
20	New Jersey (21)	22-30	Reports out of NY-NJ has Jason Kidd wanting to play with KG. Kidd sez: "That's news to me." No, it's just news.. ASWP: 1 -- Vince Carter, starter in All-Star Game
21	L.A. Clippers (20)	23-29	Have been in every game on this nine-game trip, but they're 1-6 with Heat and Suns staring them in the face. ASWP: None
22	Milwaukee (22)	20-29	Were on a roll until getting shellacked by the Pistons in Auburn Hills. Were 27-24 at the All-Star break last year. ASWP: None
23	Portland (23)	21-29	Broke three-game skid with Van Exel's heave at the buzzer in Charlotte, but enter break with tough game in Indy. ASWP: None.
24	Toronto (24)	21-31	Broke four-game skid with much-needed win at home over the Clips. In March, 10 of 15 games are on the road. ASWP: 1 -- Chris Bosh, got milk? Rookie Challenge
25	New York (25)	20-32	Needed a lucky bounce on a desperation 3-pointer to beat fading 'Cats at home. We're 25-29 at last season's A-S break. ASWP: None
26	Utah (26)	17-35	Trouncing of Wolves was last straw for Flip in Minnesota, though despite Kirilenko's return, Jazz have yet to find firm footing. ASWP: None
27	Golden State (27)	14-38	Traded Clifford Robinson and have lost three straight, but played Suns and Mavs tough. Tough, though, ain't enough. ASWP: None (We'll miss J-Rich not being in the dunk contest)
28	New Orleans (29)	11-41	Up another spot. At this rate, they'll be No. 1 by... Oh, never mind. The Hornets were 28-24 at the All-Star break last season. ASWP: None
29	Atlanta (28)	10-40	Lost all three games since our last Power Rankings and they start tough five-game trip in Cleveland on Feb. 16 ASWP: 1 -- Josh Smith, got milk? Rookie Challenge
30	Charlotte (30)	10-39	Losing streak has reached seven games and Emeka Okafor can't seem to get healthy and back in uniform. ASWP: 1 -- Okafor, got milk? Rookie Challenge