10 - NBA Basketball Games (Previous Rank: NA)
NBA All-Star Weekend was a big success for both EA Sports' NBA Live 09 and 2K Sports' NBA 2K9, as the two immensely popular gaming franchises crowned champions in their respective tournaments. Portland Trailblazers' All-Star guard Brandon Roy was on hand to present Ryan Dawson with his prize after winning the NBA Live Challenge, and Celtics' great, Eastern Conference All-Star and future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett made an appearance at the NBA 2K9 All-Star Challenge, presenting a $25,000 prize to champion Lloren Sanders. EA Sports also put on a fantastic Pros vs. G.I. Joes event that included appearances from Shaquille O'Neal and "The Admiral" David Robinson.
Shaq was a hit at EA Sports' Pros vs. G.I. Joes event.
9 - Madden 10 (Previous Rank: 10)
There is no NFL offseason, as fans who spent their weekend following all the action at the NFL Draft Combine will certainly attest to. Yes, the 2009 NFL Draft is two months away, and fans are already working themselves into a frenzy with speculation about which talents are going to land with which NFL franchises. Of course, gamers are also working themselves into a frenzy over Madden NFL 10, which is already in the works over at EA Sports.
The NFL Combine is underway!
8 - San Jose Sharks (Previous Rank: NA)
The Boston Bruins occupied this spot in the last edition of the IGN Sports Power Rankings, but a devastating shark bite has dropped the Bruins from the top-spot in the NHL standings and bumped the team from this edition of the Power Rankings. A day after I published the last Power Rankings, the San Jose Sharks went into Boston and crushed the East-leading Bruins, 5-2, to assert their dominance as the NHL's top team. The Sharks currently lead the entire league in points with 89, one point ahead of the Bruins, who have played three more games than San Jose.
Oops! Wrong shark.
7 - Skate 2 (Previous Rank: 2)
Let's face it, it's the dead of winter and the weather isn't all that conducive to skaters getting out there and busting real-life kick-flips and rail-grinds. Thankfully, Skate 2 is providing plenty of opportunity for extreme gamers to break out their favorite tricks in the comfort of ultra-realistic digital environments.
The weather is always conducive to digital skating.
6 - Los Angeles Lakers (Previous Rank: 7)
No team in basketball has been as good as the Los Angeles Lakers so far this season, earning the Lakers another spot on the IGN Sports Power Rankings (they were No. 7 on our last edition). All-Star guard Kobe Bryant has led his team to a phenomenal, 46-10 record so far, as the Lakers have a narrow lead over the Boston Celtics (45-12) for the best record in the NBA. No Bynum, no problem for Los Angeles, as the Lakers have gone 9-1 since losing starting center Andrew Bynum to a torn MCL on Jan. 31. Forward Lamar Odom has been a big part of the Lakers' ability to thrive without their young big man, as he's averaged 13.8 rebounds per game since the big fella' went down to injury.
Kobe and Co. are giving these women reason to cheer.
