NBA: The team tracker #2

New standings for the NBA's top 10:

1) Orlando Magic: With eight wins from their last nine games, Stan Van Gundy is on the verge of a smile. It could have been nine straight but for Michael Beasley's late intervention. Dwight Howard and Vince Carter continue to share the spotlight and Rashard Lewis is beginning to heat up too, scoring a season-high 26 against the Knicks.

2) Phoenix Suns: The predicted blip still has not come, though losing to the Knicks on Tuesday raised a few eyebrows. The Suns are winning over the sceptics with their play and Steve Nash is in stellar form, dropping 20 points and 16 assists in Toronto. Facing the Cavs on the road will bring the Suns face-to-face with Shaq again and a win in Cleveland would really cement their contender status.

3) LA Lakers: They've done nothing wrong this week and falling from top spot may seem harsh after doing everything right against the Warriors and Nets. But the light patch in their schedule meant the Suns and Magic kicked on. Phil Jackson must be happy to see important contributions coming from everyone in his squad, allowing him to limit Kobe's minutes.

4) Boston Celtics: The Celtics are rumbling into action now with some momentum behind them. Kevin Garnett has stepped up his play this week and is returning to his pre-injury form. His jumper looks good and his body is getting stronger game by game. Rasheed Wallace is back in the groove too, just in time for the clash with the Spurs.

5) Denver Nuggets: Inconsistency is hurting the Nuggets. Free-scoring one night against the Knicks, Denver then fell short versus the T'Wolves, who had not won since opening night. Melo is in unstoppable form but Chauncey Billups and JR Smith need to get their shot sorted - the pounding they gave the Warriors on Tuesday will have helped. They made big strides on defense last year but have been sloppy over the past few games.

6) Cleveland Cavaliers: The win over Dallas was a big statement and somewhat saved face after losing to the Bobcats. Delonte West's progress is encouraging and LeBron just keeps making key plays. The Suns and Bulls will provide energetic opposition over the coming days.

7) Dallas Mavericks: An up and down week for the Mavs. Defensively, they were shambolic in Cleveland but Jason Terry's jumper earned a solid win in Philadelphia. They have so many scoring options and Jason Kidd is still turning pulling the strings to perfection. There are still areas to tweak but the Mavs look set for a high playoff spot. Their record will receive a nice boost with games against the Nets and Grizzlies this week.

8) Atlanta Hawks: Things are on the slide for the Hawks. Losing at home to the Magic was a blow but a road loss in Detroit was particularly poor. Their fast start is fading but games at home this week against the Raptors and Knicks present chances to get back on track.

9) Utah Jazz: The Deron Williams-Carlos Boozer combination is showing signs of life and the Jazz are stringing wins together again. A demolition of Portland was an impressive showing and they have the Spurs in their sights later this week. Their road form is always a concern though and an upcoming game in Minnesota is the ideal opportunity to put that right.

10) San Antonio Spurs: Never write them off. Just when things start to look a little shaky, the Spurs crank things up. Gregg Popovich's team have won five straight and are back in the playoff slots. The visits of Boston and Denver this week will tell us more about San Antonio's progress since picking up Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess this summer.