RANK (LAST WK/NOW) REC.
1 (2) Lakers 7-1
The Lakers managed to hang on to the 1st spot entering week 4 even with a 106-95 loss to the Detroit Pistons, their first of the season.
2 (2) Celtics 9-2
The Celtics enters week 4 maintaining the 2nd spot. They finished week 3 with a 4-1 record but their 94-85 loss to the new look Denver Nuggets kept them from reclaiming the 1st spot.
3 (3) Cavaliers 8-2
The Cleveland Cavaliers are owners of the nba’s longest current winning streak. Since starting with a 1-2 record, the Cavaliers have won 7 straight and have the highest scoring ‘big 3’ in the nba with Lebron, Big Z and newly acquired point guard Mo Williams averaging a combined 60.2ppg. During the winning streak they’ve averaged a combined 65ppg and are ranked no. 1 in offensive efficiency in the league.
4 (5) Suns 8-3
The Phoenix Suns have been playing under the radar and have slowly inched their way up in the top 4 with a with a 3-1 week. The Amare – Shaquille experiment seems to be working.
5 (10) Magic 7-3
A 3-1 week moved the Orlando Magic up five positions to the 5th spot. I expect a decline from here.
6 (9) Pistons 7-3
The A.I experiment has been up and down to say the least. The Pistons loss two straight after making the trade with A.I averaging 17 ppg. Then last week they won 3 straight with A.I averaging 26ppg while making 44.4% of his shot. They ended week 3 with a 104-86 loss to the Phoenix Suns with A.I scoring 9 points on a horrific 4 for 17 shooting. As Iverson goes, so goes the Pistons it seems since his arrival.
7 (12) Nuggets 6-4
The Nuggets moved up 5 spots with a 3-1 week which included an impressive 94-85 win over the defending champion Boston Celtics. Newly acquired point guard Chauncey Billups is playing well and the Nuggets are following his lead.
8 (11) Rockets 6-4
A 2-1 week was just enough to move the Rockets into the 8th spot. However, they have been disappointing and are still trying to adjust since acquiring Ron Artest. Shane Battier is still injured and maybe his return will give the Rockets the perfect balance between McGrady and Ron Artest.
9 (4) Hawks 6-3
The Atlanta Hawks have lost three straight games since starting the season 6-0, the last two without superhuman defender Josh Smith who has been out with an ankle injury. Expect this decline until Smith returns.
10 (13) TrailBlazers 6-4
Even without center Greg Oden out for six games with an ankle injury, the Blazers are off to a 6-4 start thanks to two game winning shots by super stud Brandon Roy. They were 3-1 in week 3 and Oden is back. They might make the playoff this year especially if Oden stays healthy.
11 (7) Hornets 5-4
I don’t know what to make of the Hornets yet. With the addition of James Posey I expected them to be among the elite teams in the league. It’s still early so let’s not get nervous yet.
12 (6) Jazz 6-4
Considering all the injuries the Jazz have had early on in the season, the 12th spot is not a bad place to be. Keep in mind this is with 3 straight losses in week 3.
13 (8) Raptors 5-4
The Raptors have been struggling as of late and without a healthy Jose Calderon, second in assist in the nba, I don’t expect them to make a serious push for a top ten spot.
14 (14) Knicks 6-4
A 2-2 week have the Knicks in the 14th spot. Starbury and Eddy Curry are still absent so I guess D’Antoni is making all the right moves so far. However, for the Knicks to improve they must look to move those players, but then again who really wants them.
15 (19) 76ers 5-5
Early in the season the 76ers blew a 23 point lead to the Atlanta Hawks. They made up for that loss by overcoming a 26 point deficit in a game against the Indiana Pacers which they won by 94-92. Over the last two games Thaddeus Young has averaged 24ppg helping the 76ers go 3-1 in week 3 to move them up four positions to the 15th spot entering week four.
16 (17) Bulls 5-5
The Bulls are still without point guard Kirk Hinrich for at least another two months. They managed a 2-1 week and earned the 16th spot thanks to the return of guard Larry Hughes and forward Drew Gooden.
17 (15) Heat 5-5
The Heat have the nba’s second leading scorer in Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley is one of the league’s top 3 rookies, hence a 5-5 record. Surprisingly they are one of the league’s best defensive team which is why I like their upside.
18 (25) Spurs 4-5
After a terrible 1-4 start without Manu and then having to lose Tony to an ankle injury, the Spurs have gone 3-1 and defensively are beginning to find themselves again. All they need to do is stay close and I think they will do just that until Manu and Tony returns.
19 (18) Bucks 5-6
The Bucks have been without their all-star guard Michael Redd but still went 2-2 in week 3 including an overtime loss against the defending champion Boston Celtics to earn the 19th spot entering week 4.
20 (23) Nets 4-5
The Nets went 2-2 in week 3 but finished with back to back wins over the Atlanta Hawks to earn the 20th spot, up 3 positions from the previous week. Nets point guard Devin Harris playing like an all-star averaged 31.5ppg in the two wins.
21 (16) Pacers 4-5
The Pacers started the week with two straight wins but ended week 3 with back to back losses to the 76ers and Bulls dropping them five positions to the 21st spot.
22 (26) Warriors 4-6
The only thing positive about going 1-3 is the 37 points performance by the little known Anthony Morrow. The Warriors 3 losses were a combined 16 points and if super stud Monte Ellis was in the lineup things could be a lot different which is why I like their upside. The question is can they stay afloat until Ellis return?
23 (24) Mavericks 3-7
Trade Stackhouse and Josh Howard and maybe things will change, because as of right now the Mavs are a complete mess. A 1-3 week 3 and 3-7 overall record, means change is coming for the Mavericks.
24 (22) Bobcats 3-6
The Charlotte Bobcats are trying to trade Gerald Wallace in order to move Emeka Okafor from the center to the power forward position. Maybe trade rumors had something to do with their 1-2 record for week 3. Let’s face it the Bobcats are not that good anyways.
25 (20) Kings 4-7
The Kings are without their superstar Kevin Martin’s 22.4ppg who out with an injury resulting in a 1-3 week 3. However, the Kings last two losses were close ones to Phoenix 97-95 and San Antonio 90-88 earning them the 25th spot entering week 4.
26 (21) Grizzlies 3-7
O.J Mayo has taken over the first spot in the rookie of the year race, slightly ahead of Chicago’s Derrick Rose with a 21ppg season average. The Grizzlies also have Marc Gasol, L.A’s Pau younger brother who will eventually be better than his older brother in 3 years. The Grizzlies have a really nice nucleus of Mayo, Gay and Gasol.
27 (28) Wizards 1-6
The Wizards are struggling way more than I thought they would even though they are without their all-star Gilbert Arenas who is out for at least another month. Coach Eddie Jordan must be held accountable because he still has two mid level all-star caliber players, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison playing.
28 (27) Clippers 1-8
Hurry up and trade center Chris Kaman already because it is obvious he is not a good fit with Baron Davis. As for Mr. Davis, I guess he got his wish… He’s playing at home and making the money he wanted, but I am positive he didn’t anticipate a 1-8 start.
29 (30) Timberwolves 1-9
The Timberwolves are in a rebuilding mold so let’s just say and that’s all that can be said for them. Hopefully the Boston Celtics organization is paying the Timberwolves G.M. and former Celtics great Kevin McHale a secret amount for giving away Kevin Garnett.
30 (29) Thunder 1-8
I guess throughout the season the Thunder and Timberwolves will battle for the highest probability of winning the number one pick in the 2009-2010 draft. Entering week 4 the Thunder earned the title as the league’s worse team.
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