The midway point of the season is upon us.

Game No. 615 of 1,230 is scheduled for Thursday night, and there's still no team with a record within two games of .500. But the disparity between the top 13 teams and the bottom 17 isn't quite as stark as it was a couple of weeks ago (and the race for eighth in the West is a little more compelling).

There has been some separation in the East, where the eighth-place Orlando Magic aren't exactly setting the world on fire. But they still have five fewer losses than any of the seven teams behind them.

The first-place Milwaukee Bucks haven't clinched a playoff berth yet, but stay tuned. Despite a loss in San Antonio on Monday, the Bucks are at No. 1 in the Power Rankings for a seventh straight week.

Plus-Minus Players of the Week

Teams of the Week

Make It Last Forever: San Antonio (3-1) -- The Spurs lost to the Grizzlies on Friday, but began the week with a win over the Bucks, and sandwiched the Memphis loss with wins in Boston and Toronto.

San Antonio (3-1) -- The Spurs lost to the Grizzlies on Friday, but began the week with a win over the Bucks, and sandwiched the Memphis loss with wins in Boston and Toronto. Something Just Ain't Right: Detroit (1-2) -- The Pistons won a nail-biter in Cleveland before losing at home to both the Cavs and Bulls. Throw in a knee procedure for their best player and it felt like the beginning of the end for this version of Detroit Basketball.

East vs. West

Schedule strength through Week 12

Toughest: 1. New Orleans, 2. Atlanta, 3. Cleveland

1. New Orleans, 2. Atlanta, 3. Cleveland Easiest: 1. Brooklyn, 2. Milwaukee, 3. Houston

1. Brooklyn, 2. Milwaukee, 3. Houston Schedule strength is based on cumulative opponent record, and adjusted for home vs. away and days of rest before a game.

Movement in the Rankings

High jumps of the week: Philadelphia (+4), Four teams (+3)

Philadelphia (+4), Four teams (+3) Free falls of the week: Charlotte (-4), Detroit (-3), LA Clippers (-3), Miami (-3)

Week 13 Team to Watch

Brooklyn -- Kyrie Irving is back, and he shot 10-for-11 (with some deft finishes in and around the paint) in his return on Sunday. Now the Nets will play a stretch of five games against teams no worse than the 25-15 Sixers. It starts with a game against the red-hot Jazz on Tuesday. They'll visit Philly on Wednesday and then host the best team in the league (the Bucks) on Saturday.

Previously...

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Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)

OffRtg: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)

DefRtg: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)

NetRtg: Point differential per 100 possessions (League Rank)

The league has averaged 100.8 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes and 108.8 points scored per 100 possessions this season.

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NBA.com's Power Rankings, released every Monday during the season, are just one man's opinion. If you have an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, send him an e-mail or contact him via Twitter.

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