NBA power rankings: How Spurs owned the first half

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Emerging MVP candidate Tony Parker has the Spurs in a familiar spot heading into the second half -- on top of the Western Conference.(Photo: Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sport)

Story Highlights

• San Antonio Spurs rank No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports' All-Star break NBA power rankings
• Miami Heat forward LeBron James leads MVP race comfortably after sweeping No. 1 votes
• Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard tightens grip on rookie of the year honors with sweep

The San Antonio Spurs' three stars have missed 23 games this season. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili sat out together six times. Key role players Kawhi Leonard, Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw each missed almost 20 games.

So things haven't been easy. And it hasn't mattered.

The Spurs maintained their spot at No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports' NBA power rankings at the All-Star break because they have overcome all those hurdles and still have the best record in the NBA. They have won 14 of their past 15 games, even as Ginobili and Duncan each missed time.

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Point guard Tony Parker has emerged as an MVP candidate, and the defense and offense both rank among the five most efficient in the NBA.

Much of it comes down to hitting the shots that matter. Three-pointers count for more points than two-pointers, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has used that to his advantage. The Spurs make 38.4% of their threes, fourth-best in the NBA, while allowing opponents to make 32.6%, second-lowest in the NBA. They also lead the league in assists and rank third in steals, showing their team-wide intelligence.

Our panel of USA TODAY Sports' Adi Joseph and Kevin Spain; Hoopsworld.com's Steve Kyler and Lang Greene; and the Detroit Free Press' Vince Ellis sided heavily with the Spurs, but it wasn't unanimous. Here's the breakdown of the top five teams (points on a 30-29-28-etc. scale):

1. San Antonio Spurs (42-12): 4 first-place votes, 149 points
2. Miami Heat (36-14): 1 first-place vote, 145 points
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (39-14): 140 points
4. Los Angeles Clippers (39-17): 136 points
5. Memphis Grizzlies (33-18): 128 points

THE OTHER 25: Where did your favorite team rank?

The All-Star break MVP vote proved even more lopsided, thanks to the winner's recent hot play. LeBron James entered the break on a run of seven consecutive games, all Heat wins, with at least 30 points and 58% shooting from the field.

That run seemingly sealed this week's vote for James, though it's been a seesaw battle all season. Here's this week's top five (points on a 7-5-3-2-1 scale):

1. LeBron James, Miami Heat: 5 first-place votes, 35 points
2. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder: 25 points
3. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs: 10 points
4. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers: 9 points
5. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks: 6 points

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Also receiving votes were the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (two points), Houston Rockets' James Harden (two) and Spurs' Duncan (one).

Finally, the rookie of the year race would have been a three-horse race, had all three been able to stay healthy this season. But only Damian Lillard has, and he won the skills contest Saturday down at All-Star weekend to further cement his status as a rising star. Here's the top three (points on a 5-3-1 basis):

1. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers: 25 points
2. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Hornets: 11 points
3. Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons: 6 points

Also receiving votes were the Cleveland Cavaliers' Dion Waiters (one point) and Minnesota Timberwolves' Alexey Shved (one).

So how'd we do? Let us know in the comments.

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About the Author

Adi Joseph

Adi Joseph spent nearly three years as a copy editor, first for The Des Moines Register, then USA TODAY Sports, before taking over as NBA digital producer.

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