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A recap of how the local teams fared last week…

Los Angeles Lakers

Highlights of the Week: All that talk about Kobe Bryant slowing down? Call it a distant memory. In three games the reigning MVP averaged 35 points on a sizzling 57% (38-66) shooting.

Lowlights of the Week: Defense still seems to be the one thing this Laker team can’t bring consistently. They allowed a whopping 116 points in a loss Tuesday night to the visiting New Orleans Hornets.

The Week Ahead: A road game Wednesday against the Warriors before home games against the Pacers on Friday and the Heat on Sunday.

Los Angeles Clippers

Highlights of the Week: Rookie Eric Gordon had his best game as a pro last Sunday afternoon against the Pistons, pouring in 31 points on 9-21 shooting and 12-12 from the charity stripe.

Lowlights of the Week: Gordon’s career night was unfortunately the only thing worth mentioning in an 0-3 week for a team that has lost eight in a row.

The Week Ahead: Things don’t get any easier with back-to-back roadies against the Spurs and Hornets before coming home to face the Suns on Sunday afternoon.

This week’s NBA Power Rankings (December 31 - January 7) with the team’s current standings and their rise/fall since last week’s rankings:

1. Los Angeles Lakers (27-6) (+1): Things might get tough for the second unit if Lamar Odom’s bone bruise in his right knee turns out to be serious.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (27-6) (-1): Zydrunas Illgauskas could be out up to a month with an ankle injury.

3. Orlando Magic (27-8) (+1): Talk about the Cavs and C’s all you want, but Dwight Howard’s crew will be a force all season long in the Eastern Conference.

4. Boston Celtics (29-7) (-1): They’ve lost five of seven since Christmas, including games against the Warriors, Knicks, and Bobcats. So much for invincibility.

5. San Antonio Spurs (23-11) (no change): Who says the elderly don’t live on the edge? These old timers have gone 8-3 in games extended to overtime or decided by four points or less.

6. New Orleans Hornets (21-10) (no change): Tuesday’s win over the Lakers re-established them as contenders in the Western Conference, and provided a major confidence boost.

7. Atlanta Hawks (22-11) (+1): Dominant at home with a 15-2 mark.

8. Denver Nuggets (24-12) (+1): Carmelo Anthony will miss at least three weeks with a broken right hand.

9. Detroit Pistons (21-11) (+3): The win streak is up to seven games.

10. Dallas Mavericks (21-13) (no change): Playing some good ball, but who considers them legitimate WC title contenders anymore?

11. Phoenix Suns (19-12) (+3): Terry Porter’s emphasis on defense has yielded mixed results.

12. Portland Trailblazers (20-14) (-1): A totally different team when Brandon Roy is out of the lineup.

13. Houston Rockets (21-15) (-6): Three straight losses and they aren’t getting any healthier.

14. Miami Heat (18-15) (+1): Shaun Livington’s release is just another sad turn in what should have been a promising career.

15. Utah Jazz (20-15) (-2): Still a very dangerous team if they can somehow find a way to get healthy.

16. New Jersey Nets (17-18) (no change): The big question is Vince Carter. Do they move him, or see if a playoff run can be made with him?

17. Toronto Raptors (14-21) (+2): Bad as things have been, they are only 2.5 games back of a playoff spot thanks to a weak Eastern Conference. Brian Colangelo is busy working the phones.

18. Milwaukee Bucks (17-19) (no change): Andrew Bogut’s health is a growing concern.

19. Philadelphia 76ers (14-20) (+1): Is it safe to say that this is as good as Andre Iguodala will ever be?

20. Chicago Bulls (15-20) (-3): Losers of six in seven.

21. Charlotte Bobcats (13-22) (no change): MJ the franchise builder is a far cry from MJ the championship player.

22. Indiana Pacers (12-22) (+2): Danny Granger (25.5 ppg) should earn his first All-Star appearance.

23. New York Knicks (13-20) (-1): Beat the Celtics then lose to the Thunder. Kind of manic, don’t you think?

24. Golden State Warriors (10-26) (+1): Not even the return of Baron Davis would turn this team around.

25. Memphis Grizzlies (11-24) (-2): Could coach Mark Iavaroni be the next head coach to be fired this season?

26. Minnesota Timberwolves (9-25) (+3): The current three game winning streak is cause for celebration in Minny.

27. Washington Wizards (7-26) (+1): They don’t play a team with a winning record until January 22nd against the the Lakers. Not that it matters.

28. Sacramento Kings (8-28) (-1): Looks like Reggie Theus wasn’t the problem.

29. Los Angeles Clippers (8-26) (-3): The draft lottery can’t come soon enough.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder (5-30) (no change): With all the losses its hard to notice that Kevin Durant is averaging a solid 23.9 ppg this season.

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