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SportsPulse: While All-Star captains Lebron James and Steph Curry are entitled to draft their teams however they want, USA TODAY Sports' Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt have their own thoughts. USA TODAY Sports

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Channeling our inner captains LeBron James and Stephen Curry, USA TODAY Sports’ NBA desk took the liberty of mocking the All-Star draft ahead of Thursday’s team announcements.

Jeff Zillgitt, as James, had the No. 1 pick and opted for 2017 Finals MVP Kevin Durant. That ensured Sam Amick, as Curry, wouldn’t get to build an All-Star super-team out of the four Golden State Warriors that were selected.

With the second pick, Amick went with New Orleans center Anthony Davis. On and on they went, Zillgitt opting for pettiness and Amick opting for length. Not only did Zillgitt end up with James and Kyrie Irving on his squad, he also reunited Russell Westbrook and Durant. So much for team harmony.

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Meanwhile, Amick stockpiled the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis.

In response to Amick’s length, Zillgitt drafted DeMarcus Cousins as his enforcer. His explanation?

“Giannis is going to snap in two when DeMarcus Cousins fouls him,” he said. “I got DeMarcus. He’s going to take Anthony Davis out, too.”

Feeling confident in his squad’s length, Amick started to get cocky toward the end of the draft.

“I think I’m probably winning by 20 at this point,” he said. “I don’t know how you feel.”

The two traded picks, beginning with the starters and finishing with reserves. Here's how their two squads shook out. 

Zillgitt: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden, DeMarcus Cousins, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love, Bradley Beal, Kyle Lowry, LaMarcus Aldridge. 

Amick: Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, DeMar DeRozan, Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis, Damian Lillard, Karl-Anthony Towns, Victor Oladipo, John Wall, Al Horford

Week 14 NBA power rankings
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Flip through the gallery to see power rankings for
Flip through the gallery to see power rankings for Week 14 of the 2017-18 NBA season, as voted on by NBA reporters from across the USA TODAY Network.  David Richard, USA TODAY Sports
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30. Sacramento Kings (13-32) | Last week: 29 - Not
30. Sacramento Kings (13-32) | Last week: 29 - Not only have the Kings lost their last seven games, but coach Dave Joerger plans to rest two or three veterans each game for the rest of the season.  Ed Szczepanski, USA TODAY Sports
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29. Atlanta Hawks (13-32) | Last week: 28 - John Collins
29. Atlanta Hawks (13-32) | Last week: 28 - John Collins leads all rookies in total offensive rebounds with 108. The next closest player is Ben Simmons with 72.  Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports
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28. Orlando Magic (14-32) | Last week: 30 - Take it
28. Orlando Magic (14-32) | Last week: 30 - In their last three games — impressive wins over Minnesota and Boston and a one-point loss to Cleveland — the Magic have the seventh-ranked defense in the NBA in terms of defensive rating.  Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports
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27. Memphis Grizzlies (16-29) | Last week: 27 - In
27. Memphis Grizzlies (16-29) | Last week: 27 - Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons, who were signed to contracts worth a combined $247 million two summers ago, remain on the sidelines, and there's little clarity as to when — or if — they'll return this season.  Justin Ford, USA TODAY Sports
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26. Dallas Mavericks (15-31) | Last week: 24 - The
26. Dallas Mavericks (15-31) | Last week: 24 - The Mavs, with a winning percentage of .326, may just finish with the worst record since the 1997-98 season — also the season during which Dennis Smith Jr. was born.  Isaiah J. Downing, USA TODAY Sports
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25. Phoenix Suns (17-29) | Last week: 26 - Devin Booker
25. Phoenix Suns (17-29) | Last week: 26 - Devin Booker ranks fourth in the NBA in away-game scoring with 27.8 points per game and shoots significantly better in opposing arenas (46.9% from the field, 41.5% from three) than he does in games played at home (41.8% from the field, 35.8% from three).  Isaiah J. Downing, USA TODAY Sports
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24. Brooklyn Nets (18-29) | Last week: 23 - The Nets
24. Brooklyn Nets (18-29) | Last week: 23 - The Nets needed 77 games to reach 18 wins last season. They only needed 47 this season.  Tim Fuller, USA TODAY Sports
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23. Los Angeles Lakers (17-29) | Last week: 25 - The
23. Los Angeles Lakers (17-29) | Last week: 25 - The Lakers, winners of six of their last eight games, have already matched their win total from the 2015-16 season and are on pace for their best finish since 2012-13.  Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports
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22. Chicago Bulls (18-28) | Last week: 22 - The Bulls,
22. Chicago Bulls (18-28) | Last week: 22 - The Bulls, who have won four of their last five games, are tied for the sixth-best record in the NBA (15-8) since their 3-20 start.  Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports
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21. Utah Jazz (19-27) | Last week: 21 - Donovan Mitchell
21. Utah Jazz (19-27) | Last week: 21 - Donovan Mitchell is on pace to become the first rookie since Blake Griffin (excluding Joel Embiid, who only played 31 games) to average more than 19 points per game.  Jeffrey Swinger, USA TODAY Sports
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20. Charlotte Hornets (18-26) | Last week: 20 - As
20. Charlotte Hornets (18-26) | Last week: 20 - Kemba Walker says he'd be "pretty upset" if he were to be traded. "I'm here right now," Walker said Friday. "I've put my heart and soul into this team, this city, and that's what I'm going to do until everything is over."  Sam Sharpe, USA TODAY Sports
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19. New York Knicks (21-26) | Last week: 19 - While
19. New York Knicks (21-26) | Last week: 19 - While the Knicks, losers of seven of their last 10, continue to slip in the standings, Tim Hardaway Jr. is thinking postseason. "We’re trying to make the playoffs, point blank," he said Saturday.  Chris Nicoll, USA TODAY Sports
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18. Detroit Pistons (22-23) | Last week: 15 - The Pistons,
18. Detroit Pistons (22-23) | Last week: 15 - The Pistons, whose fifth consecutive loss came on a Brooklyn game-winner with 0.9 seconds remaining on Sunday, have the second-worst record in the NBA in January (2-8).  Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
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17. Denver Nuggets (23-23) | Last week: 16 - In their
17. Denver Nuggets (23-23) | Last week: 16 - In their last eight games, six of which have been losses, the Nuggets' once-elite offense ranks 28th in the NBA, scoring just 99.1 points per 100 possessions.  Isaiah J. Downing, USA TODAY Sports
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16. Milwaukee Bucks (23-22) | Last week: 12 - The Bucks,
16. Milwaukee Bucks (23-22) | Last week: 12 - The Bucks, who have lost four of their last five games and have fallen to eighth place in the East, continue to underperform. If they fall to Phoenix on Monday, they'll be .500 for the sixth time this season.  Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports
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15. Los Angeles Clippers (23-22) | Last week: 14 -
15. Los Angeles Clippers (23-22) | Last week: 14 - Lou Williams' All-Star campaign reached new heights in Saturday's loss to Utah, as he became the first player since Michael Jordan (1988) to record 30 points and 10 steals in a game.  Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports
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14. Philadelphia 76ers (22-20) | Last week: 17 - The
14. Philadelphia 76ers (22-20) | Last week: 17 - The 76ers, who have won seven of their last eight games and eight of their last 10, are now just ½ game out of sixth place in the East.  Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports
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13. New Orleans Pelicans (24-21) | Last week: 13 -
13. New Orleans Pelicans (24-21) | Last week: 13 - Jrue Holiday is reaping the benefits of his All-Star teammates Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, as he's averaging career-highs in scoring (18.8 points per game), rebounds (4.4) and field goal percentage (49.8%).  Adam Hunger, USA TODAY Sports
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12. Indiana Pacers (25-22) | Last week: 11 - The Pacers,
12. Indiana Pacers (25-22) | Last week: 11 - The Pacers, who snapped San Antonio's 14-game home winning streak on Sunday, have the NBA's fourth-ranked defense in January, allowing 102.4 points per 100 possessions. They rank 16th on the season (106 points allowed per).  Soobum Im, USA TODAY Sports
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11. Portland Trail Blazers (25-21) | Last week: 18
11. Portland Trail Blazers (25-21) | Last week: 18 - Can the Blazers ever overcome their inconsistencies? They've followed up each of their three three-game winning streaks this season with a losing streak of at least three games.  Jaime Valdez, USA TODAY Sports
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10. Cleveland Cavaliers (27-18) | Last week: 7 - Not
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (27-18) | Last week: 7 - Not only did Oklahoma City's 148 points match the most allowed in regulation in Cavaliers history, it was the most points ever scored on a LeBron James-led team.  David Richard, USA TODAY Sports
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9. Washington Wizards (26-20) | Last week: 8 - The
9. Washington Wizards (26-20) | Last week: 8 - Lowly opponents have been Washington's kryptonite this season; 10 of their 20 losses have come against sub-.500 teams.  Sam Sharpe, USA TODAY Sports
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8. Miami Heat (27-19) | Last week: 9 - Wayne Ellington,
8. Miami Heat (27-19) | Last week: 9 - Wayne Ellington, who ranks third in the NBA with 137 three-pointers made, has already tied the Heat single-season franchise record of eight games with at least six three-pointers made.  Sam Sharpe, USA TODAY Sports
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7. Oklahoma City Thunder (26-20) | Last week: 10 -
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (26-20) | Last week: 10 - The Thunder, winners of four in a row, had four players — Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony and Steven Adams — score 23 points or more in Saturday's rout of Cleveland. The quartet combined for 113 points.  Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports
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6. San Antonio Spurs (30-18) | Last week: 6 - How much
6. San Antonio Spurs (30-18) | Last week: 6 - How much longer can the Spurs, who have gone 5-6 in January, stay afloat without Kawhi Leonard? Gregg Popovich says he won't be out for the rest of the season, but his extended absence is nonetheless concerning for a Spurs team that's now fourth in the West.  Sergio Estrada, USA TODAY Sports
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5. Minnesota Timberwolves (30-18) | Last week: 5 -
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (30-18) | Last week: 5 - Saturday night's win over Toronto was an encouraging sign for those concerned about Andrew Wiggins, as the fourth-year forward scored a season-high 29 points and made some key plays down the stretch.  Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports
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4. Toronto Raptors (31-14) | Last week: 3 - The Raptors,
4. Toronto Raptors (31-14) | Last week: 3 - The Raptors, who now have a four-game lead over Cleveland for second place in the East, boast the second-best home record in the NBA at 17-3.  Brace Hemmelgarn, USA TODAY Sports
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3. Boston Celtics (34-13) | Last week: 2 - The Celtics,
3. Boston Celtics (34-13) | Last week: 2 - The Celtics, who have lost three in a row, have the NBA's worst offense in January, scoring just 96.4 points per 100 possessions.  Bob DeChiara, USA TODAY Sports
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2. Houston Rockets (32-12) | Last week: 4 - With their
2. Houston Rockets (32-12) | Last week: 4 - With their win over Golden State on Saturday, the Rockets improved to 17-0 when the trio of James Harden, Chris Paul and Clint Capela play.  Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports
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1. Golden State Warriors (37-10) | Last week: 1 - Saturday's
1. Golden State Warriors (37-10) | Last week: 1 - Saturday's loss to Houston wasn't enough for a drop in these rankings. It was, if nothing else, a reminder that the Rockets — heathy and firing on all cylinders — will likely be the toughest test for the Warriors as they seek their third championship in four years.  Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports
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