NBA Power Rankings - December 30, 2014

Definitely more vulnerable without Andrew Bogut to lock down the paint, but the Warriors will happily chuck away with stellar three point shooting and perimeter defence.

Key Injuries: C Andrew Bogut (knee), PF Festus Ezeli (ankle).

Moving the Rockets up is something of a leap of faith, requiring belief that Josh Smith won't remain an inveterate chucker while playing for a contender that can use his length and athleticism in the frontcourt.

Key Injuries: PF Terrence Jones (leg).

Only one loss in the past nine games (at Houston) for a Trail Blazers team pushing the Warriors for the best record in the Association, with PF LaMarcus Aldridge and PG Damian Lillard starting to take a bigger role in December.

Key Injuries: C Robin Lopez (hand).

The Bulls have won seven straight; with Derrick Rose getting healthy and Jimmy Butler rising to stardom, they are more formidable offensively and they're still strong defensively.

Key Injuries: PG Kirk Hinrich (hamstring).

The Raptors have won eight of nine and, even after losing DeMar DeRozan to injury, they've become even more efficient offensively. According to Basketball Reference, they have the best offense ever.

Key Injuries: SG DeMar DeRozan (groin).

Problems are afoot in Clipperland, with five wins in the past 11 games. Aside from Saturday's 12-point loss to the Raptors, the previous five losses were all by eight points or less, but the defence hasn't been where it needs to be for the Clippers to hang with the best in the West.

Key Injuries: None.

The defence isn't as lock-down as it was early in the season and missing PF Zach Randolph leaves the Grizzlies more vulnerable on the block, at both ends of the floor.

Key Injuries: PF Zach Randolph (knee).

One reason to be more optimistic about the Wizards: improved offensive efficiency from guards John Wall and Bradley Beal, both over 1.20 points per shot, which isn't amazing, but better than they were last season.

Key Injuries: SF Martell Webster (back).

Early returns on Rajon Rondo in Dallas have been mixed. His inability to get to the basket, a hesitance coming from his abysmal free-throw shooting, remains an issue that needs to be solved if the Mavericks are going to make a run.

Key Injuries: None.

The Hawks are 15-2 in their last 17 games, though the second loss was a 30-pointer at home against Milwaukee on Friday. Nonetheless, they've forced their way into relevance in the wide-open Eastern Conference.

Key Injuries: None.

We've already reached the point at which the coach is getting thrown under the bus and LeBron won't hesitate to opt out of his contract at season's end? This is going just swimmingly.

Key Injuries: C Anderson Varejao (Achilles).

Of course they will be better when it matters most, but missing a couple starters and with a 3-7 record in their past 10 games, the Spurs are more beatable than they have been typically in recent seasons.

Key Injuries: PG Tony Parker (hamstring), SF Kawhi Leonard (hand).

Followed up a six-game losing streak with six straight wins, five on the road. Improved shooting from Goran Dragic (40.3% on threes in December) helps the cause. 

Key Injuries: None.

The Thunder were starting to look good when healthy, but they're going to have to wait for Kevin Durant's return before they vault up the rankings. As it is, they can be competitive with Russell Westbrook as the alpha dog.

Key Injuries: SF Kevin Durant (ankle).

Mediocre as can be, but that's good enough to be a playoff team in the East, thanks to a productive bench, led by F Khris Middleton, G Jerryd Bayless and swingman Jared Dudley. 

Key Injuries: PF Ersan Ilyasova (concussion), SF Jabari Parker (knee).

Need to be better on D, and with PF Anthony Davis patrolling the paint, at least some of that improvement has to come on the perimeter.

Key Injuries: SG Eric Gordon (shoulder).

Two wins in the past 10 games, both at home, and they came against the Lakers and Knicks. Sure, some were without DeMarcus Cousins, but this was the team that ownership felt wasn't meeting expectations under head coach Mike Malone? Might be worth revisiting those expectations.

Key Injuries: None.

Only 6-12 in their past 18 games, but if there is one reason to be hopeful for the Heat, it is that SG Dwyane Wade is producing, averaging 25.0 points per game, while shooting better than 50% from the field, in December.

Key Injuries: PF Josh McRoberts (knee).

4-4 in the past eight games is a little dose of respectability, but the Pacers are struggling without a go-to scorer. Even their bigs, PF David West and C Roy Hibbert, are terribly inefficient offensively and some of that is likely due to the lack of consistent threat on the perimeter too. It's all intertwined.

Key Injuries: SF Paul George (leg), PF Ian Mahinmi (foot).

Fading fast, with four wins in the past 14 games, the Nuggets haven't been good defensively, but their offence is declining too.

Key Injuries: G Randy Foye (quad), C JaVale McGee (leg), SF Danilo Gallinari (knee).

Still sorting out the point guard situation without Rajon Rondo, but the Celtics are getting a good look at their bigs lately, with Kelly Olynyk and Tyler Zeller both averaging better than 12 points per game in December.

Key Injuries: SG Marcus Thornton (calf).

Three wins in the past four and have a double-double machine in C Nikola Vucevic, who is averaging 18.4 points and 11.5 rebounds per game this season.

Key Injuries: PF Aaron Gordon (foot).

Four wins in the past five, though not playoff teams in that stretch, keeps the Nets in playoff position in their own right.

Key Injuries: None.

A little progress, with a 6-7 record in the past 13 games, as PG Kemba Walker has dropped 22.4 points per game in December.

Key Injuries: SG Lance Stephenson (pelvis).

Four wins in the past six games, with Rudy Gobert, averaging 8.6 rebounds per game in December, doing a nice job filling in when Derrick Favors was hurt. 

Key Injuries: None.

What's amazing about the Lakers is that all the talk is about how Kobe's shot selection is so laughable, yet they can score. They're even worse defensively.

Key Injuries: PG Steve Nash (back), PF Julius Randle (leg), SF Xavier Henry (Achilles).

The Pistons have won a couple of games in a row, and it could be interesting to see what C Andre Drummond can do with more touches now that Josh Smith is gone. In the past three games, Drummond has put up 18.0 points and 14.3 rebounds per game.

Key Injuries: None.

Kind of interesting that as awful as the Sixers have been, they are making progress, with four wins after losing their first 17 games of the season. The strange part is that all four wins have come on the road, so they are still oh-fer at home this year.

Key Injuries:  C Joel Embiid (foot), SG Jason Richardson (knee, foot).

One win in the past 19 games, with their defensive numbers sinking like a stone. How does Phil Jackson fix this?

Key Injuries: SG J.R. Smith (foot), SG Iman Shumpert (shoulder).

One win in the past 15 games and it was against...Portland? How did that happen?

Key Injuries: PG Ricky Rubio (ankle), SG Kevin Martin (wrist), C Nikola Pekovic (wrist),