Old School Power Rankings

Week 17: Field gaining some ground on ailing Gasol, Barnes makes big move while Bryant tumbles off the list.

• The window is open -- if only a crack.

With the king of the mountain hobbled, this may be the last (and only) chance for someone to catch him. Is anyone ready to stand up and make a major move? In all honesty, only two guys have a realistic shot at ascending to the top.
A shooting guard's latest cold spell has opened the door for a handful of names. Meanwhile, one player in particular continues to step up for the injury-riddled Grizzlies while a future Hall of Famer falls off the list for the first time since Week 11.

• Notes: Statistics are through games of March 17. Rankings are based on entire regular season with heavy emphasis on recent play.
• Any player who turns 33 during the regular season can be added to the Old School Power Rankings

1. Pau Gasol (35), Chicago Bulls

Last week's rank: 1
Last week's stats: 1 game, 17.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 9.0 apg
Season stats: 17.0 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 4.1 apg
The big fella only played one game last week because of knee inflammation, but what a stat-stuffer it was: 17 points (7-for-12 shooting, including 2-for-3 3-pointers), 12 rebounds, nine assists and two blocks. With Gasol already listed out for Saturday's game, this is a big opportunity for someone to shake up the OSPR.

2. Dirk Nowitzki (37), Dallas Mavericks

Last week's rank: 3
Last week's stats: 3 games, 24.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.0 apg
Season stats: 18.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.7 apg
Ever since we bumped him to No. 5 in Week 15, Nowitzki has played like a man on a mission, averaging 23.1 points on 51.5 FG% in his last eight games. In fact, he now has six straight games of 20 or more points after surpassing the mark just twice in the previous 10 games. Here's your shot at the top of the mountain, Dirk.

3. Dwyane Wade (34), Miami Heat

Last week's rank: 2
Last week's stats: 3 games, 13.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.3 apg
Season stats: 19.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.7 apg
This was one of Wade's ugliest weeks in a while (a lingering thigh injury certainly played a role), as he shot just 30.2 from the field and eclipsed 12 points in one of three games. Last Friday's nine-point effort was the first time he didn't register double-figuring scoring since going for eight on Feb. 14, a span of 11 games.

4. Joe Johnson (34), Miami Heat

Last week's rank: 6
Last week's stats: 4 games, 18.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.0 apg
Season stats: 12.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.9 apg
With his teammate off, Johnson picked up the slack, going for 13 or more points in all four games on 52.9 FG%, 52.6 3PT% and 83.3 FT%. Johnson has now gone four straight games with two or more 3-pointers and seven consecutive of 50 percent or better from the field. It certainly looks like Johnson has found his stroke.