2012 NBA power rankings: Heat remain at No. 4

The Miami Heat stayed idle in this week's SB Nation NBA Power Rankings, compiled by Seth Rosenthal. The Heat remain at No. 4 despite victories against the No. 1 ranked San Antonio Spurs and the Brooklyn Nets, who rose two spots to No. 5. The caveat with the Spurs is that head coach Greg Popovich rested his players for that game.

Rosenthal wonders if the Heat are playing up to their potential at this stage though:

The Heat continue to play juuuust hard enough to cover opponents of any caliber. They're like NBA shrink wrap? Nah. In any event, Dwyane Wade looks very much alive since returning from injury and the defense might be gradually climbing out of the league's basement. Miami's still kinda just hangin' out. They might very well be the best team in the NBA, but they're just not in the mood right now.

The Orlando Magic, meanwhile, are ranked at No. 23, up one spot from last week after going 1-2 last week. However, that one win came against the Los Angeles Lakers. Rosenthal brings up the fact that even though the Magic have been known as defensive team lately, their offense has been winning games for them:

Oddly enough for a halfway decent defensive team, a decent portion of Orlando's few wins have come from simply blowing the opposition out of the water with streaking offense, like the Magic did with their 90-point (it was only 40? Are you sure?) fourth quarter in Los Angeles.That had to feel great. It's been nice, by the way, to get to know Kyle O'Quinn better these last few games. O'Quinn's younger than I am, but I find myself wanting to sit on his knee and have him tell me tales of dragons he's tamed.

As for the rest of the teams in the Southeast Division, The Atlanta Hawks are ranked at No. 8, unchanged from last week. The Charlotte Bobcats are ranked at No. 21, also unchanged from last week. The Washington Wizards are ranked last in the power rankings at No. 30.