RANK (LAST WK)REC.
1 (1) Lakers 11-1
With a 4-0 week and 11-1 overall record, the Lakers ended week 4 maintaining the 1st spot for a third straight week.
2 (2) Celtics 13-2
The Boston Celtics are slowly making me a believer then again they are the world champions. Can they continue at this pace with the entire league gunning for them remains to be seen?
3 (3) Cavaliers 10-3
If the season ended today, LeBron James, the nba leading scorer would win the MVP award hands down. However, the Cavaliers have 3 other players averaging almost 44ppg, with newcomer Mo Williams accounting for 17.2ppg of those points. If Cavs guard Bobbie Gibson can bounce out of an early season shooting slump, the Cavs could be a very dangerous team.
4 (7) Nuggets 9-5
When you think of a 4th rank team you assume they are a serious championship contender but the Nuggets are really not, at least not this early in the season. They are actually ranked 4th by default. I expect them to slide once key players from other teams currently ranked lower return from injuries to their respective lineups.
5 (8) Rockets 9-5
The injury plagued Houston Rockets continues to find ways to gel, and a 3-1 week 4 earned them the 5th spot. Two things must happen for the Rockets to be among the elite teams in the nba. First, Yao must stay healthy and the Rockets must establish him as their first option, period. Second, Tracy needs to accept the fact that he is not the first option and figure out how to co-exist with defensive specialist and newly acquired Ron Artest.
6 (5) Magic 9-4
The Orlando Magic started the week 3-0 but ran into the defensive minded Houston Rockets who ended their 5 games winning streak. Yao dominated the Magic Dwight Howard as he usually does. In spite of that the Magic were still good enough to secure the 6th spot.
7 (4) Suns 9-4
The Phoenix Suns went 2-2 in week 4 but their two losses were to Utah in Salt Lake and the nba’s best team Los Angeles Lakers earning them the 7th spot. Shaq is averaging 15.4ppg and 8.6rpg a few points better than I anticipated and together with Amare have given the Suns a very formidable interior force.
8 12) Jazz 8-5
The Utah Jazz continues to amaze me. Carlos Boozer has been out the last two games. U.S. Olympian Deron Williams out for most of the season. Center Okur out for several games. Yet the Jazz went 3-1 in week 4 and a 9-5 overall record. Very impressive and a lot of Kudos goes to Jerry Sloan, the Jazz tough minded head coach.
9 (6) Pistons 8-5
After ending the Cavaliers 8 game winning streak in an impressive second half comeback, I thought the Pistons meant business. An 18 point loss to the Celtics in Boston didn’t bother me, but to be blown out at home by the lottery bound Minnesotta Timberwolves by 26 points… Wow! I guess the Pistons really could use Antonio McDyess who has committed to returning on December 3, 2008.
10 (10) TrailBlazers 8-6
In 8 games center Greg Oden is averaging 9ppg, 6.9rpg with 1.88 blocks per. Unfortunately he’s also averaging 3.8 fouls in only 19.6 minutes. His timing is not there yet. If he plays 30 minutes per game with less than 4.5 fouls, his averages will be more like 12ppg, 11-12rpg with 3.0bpg (blocks per game). With those numbers the Blazers will maintain their top 10 spot throughout the season.
11 (18) Spurs 6-6
Even without Manu and Tony Parker, the Spurs keep finding ways to win. They may be inking out wins, but a 3-1 week and 6-6 overall record gives them the 11th ranking for week 4. If the regular season ended today the Spurs will be the 8th and final playoff team in West.
12 (9) Hawks 8-5
The Hawks are still without defensive stopper Josh Smith who could return in a week or two. A 2-2 week wasn’t bad considering one of those losses were against the Cavaliers in Cleveland.
13 (11) Hornets 7-5
The Hornets have a top 3 fantasy player in Chris Paul, 21.1ppg, 11.8apg with 3.1apg. He leads the nba in the last two categories for a second straight year. However back to back wins over Oklahoma City and a 7-5 overall record was only good enough for the 13th spot in week 4. The Hornets were supposed to be a top 5 team but have been very disappointing this season. I guess it’s much harder being the hunted than the hunter as the Hornets are finding out this season.
14 (15) 76ers 7-6
It is obvious that the Sixers are not a top 4 team in the East. After acquiring Elton Brand the expectations for them were high coming into the season. With a 2-2 week and 7-6 overall record, the 76ers settled into the 14th spot in week 4.
15 (23) Mavericks 6-7
I am not ready to say the Mavericks are back but after a disappointing 2-7 start, going 4-0 in week 4, including 3 road wins have the Mavs breathing a sigh of relief, especially from new head coach Rick Carlisle. I will have a better understanding of the Mavs true color by the second week of December.
16 (20) Nets 6-6
I thought the Nets were supposed to be rebuilding. Maybe not, all-star Vince Carter and Devin Harris are the league’s highest scoring duo at 47.5ppg, 8rpg and 11.5apg. Word is the Cavaliers will offer Wally and Varejao for Vince before the trade deadline, by then we will see if the Nets are really rebuilding or content with the pieces they have.
17 (17) Heat 7-6
I am not surprise at all by the Heat 7-6 start. How can a team with Shawn Marion, Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley not be good enough to at least make the playoffs? Dwyane Wade, the nba’s second leading scorer at 28.9ppg was not a question mark for me. Shawn Marion was always the key. In six earlier games this season he averaged 9ppg and 8rpg, over the last 3 he averaged almost 17ppg and 10.7rpg. If Marion can average 15ppg and 10apg consistently the Heat could be very interesting.
18 (19) Bucks 7-8
The Bucks are still without their sharp shooting all-star guard Michael Redd, but have been very competitive under the leadership of new head coach Scott Skiles. The emergence of second year guard Ramon Sessions has helped him stabilize the Bucks point guard position. The Bucks should be a playoff team if Redd returns soon.
19 (13) Raptors 6-7
Everybody keeps talking about Lebron leaving Cleveland, but I think it’s Chris Bosh people should be worry about. His 26.7ppg and 10.5rpg is as good as gold yet the Raptors are only 6-7 for the season. The Raptors also have newcomer Jermain O’neal averaging 12.4ppg and 8.8rpg, but the Raptors still managed an embarrassing 118-103 home loss to the Celtics to wrap up a disappointing 1-3 week. Coach Sam Mitchell better get it together.
20 (16) Bulls 6-8
The Bulls are a work in progress but they do have Derrick Rose the leading candidate for the rookie of the year award entering week 5. I expect a trade to be made namely, guards Larry Hughes, Kirk Hinrick and Ben Gordon will all be shopped before the trade deadline.
21 (14) Knicks 7-6
All this talk about Lebron going to New York went into overdrive when the Knicks traded Jamal Crawford to the Warriors for Al Harrington and Zack Randolph to the Clippers for Cuttino Mobley. The Knicks put themselves in position to go after at least two big name free agents in 2010, but in the interim they took a step backwards and the chance of making the playoffs is now in jeopardy.
22 (21) Pacers 5-7
The Pacers are a very athletic team and have the talent to beat any team on any given night, but the reality is they are only good as their record. I predicted before the season that they will not make the playoffs. Without Mike Dunleavy who’s been out the entire season due to injury, I don’t see them proving me wrong. On a positive note, their best player Danny Granger may make his first all-star team this year if he maintains his 23.9ppg.
23 (22) Warriors 5-8
The Warriors Stephen Jackson is averaging 21.9ppg but is taking 18.9 shots and making only 39.4 percent of them. With the addition of Jamal Crawford and when Ellis returns in about a month, Jackson shot attempts should decrease and his percentage will improve because he will actually be the Warriors third option as oppose to their first right now. Ellis, Crawford, Jackson, Maggette and Biedrins will be very electrifying on offense and may make a playoff push if Ellis can return soon.
24 (25) Kings 5-10
A 1-3 week shows how much the Kings are missing their leading scorer Kevin Martin’s 22.4ppg. They are perhaps the most competitive losing team in the league. They compete every night and with Martin are better than the 5-10 overall record.
25 (29) Timberwolves 3-9
I must apologize for claiming last week that the Timberwolves would battle the Thunder for the 29th spot for the entire season. I am not saying they are a top 20 team or anything close right now, but with a 2-2 week highlighted by a 26 points blowout of the Pistons in Detroit, the Timberwolves were able to move up four positions to the 25th spot by the end of week 4.
26 (26) Grizzlies 4-9
No matter how much you root for the Grizzlies, the reality is their best player is a rookie. O.J. Mayo will continue to put up big numbers and challenge Rose and Beasley for rookie of the year, but it will take three years for us to discuss the Grizzlies with any real significance. Three straight losses give them the 26th spot.
27 (24) Bobcats 3-9
The Bobcats continues to play hard for head coach Larry Brown. Even though they went 0-4 in week 3, three of their losses were by 5 points, only two possessions in each game. I think it’s time to pull the trigger on Gerald Wallace and put an end to the trade rumors so the team can move forward.
28 (28) Clippers 2-11
I took a moment to analyze the Clippers situation and by now there’s no secret they need an inside scorer, but that’s only one problem. Baron Davis is averaging 16.9ppg on 16.2 shots making 38.7 percent of them. He is also averaging 6.8 3s a game making only 1.9 of them. Trading for an inside player like Zack Randolph answers the first question, but it ends with Baron. Baron Davis must average 20ppg, 9.5apg, 45 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3s with less than 4 attempts per game. The Clippers season will turn around with those changes, but it may be too late to salvage this season, especially after a 2-11 start.
29 (27) Wizards 1-10
I predicted last week that Eddie Jordan was to be held accountable and not to my surprise the Wizards pulled the trigger. I still don’t see them making the playoffs and it’s unfortunate he had to be the skip goat, but with a 1-10 start change was inevitable.
30 (30) Thunder 1-13
Sorry P.J, but when you are the coach on the worst team in basketball, your job is always suspect. I always wonder, why do certain individuals take on terrible head coaching jobs knowing they are bound for failure? Well hopefully second year stud Kevin Durant can be unleashed now that the shackles that bounded him under coach P.J. has been remove. Either way, the Thunder will have the highest odds of winning the first pick in next year’s draft.
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