RK (LW) TEAM REC
1 (3) Spurs 11-1
Before the season began, I predicted that the Spurs would make one last run with Tim Duncan and challenge the Lakers in the West and through 12 games they have the best record in the nba at 11-1. Tim Duncan offensive skills have clearly diminished as evident in his career low 13.7ppg output this season, but Ginobili, Parker and Jefferson have more than picked up for that loss by averaging 55.4ppg combined.
2 (1) Hornets 11-1
Chris Paul’s 16.8ppg this season may be below his career average of 19.2ppg, but he has clearly reemerged as the best point guard in the nba. He is the engine that has the Hornets clicking on all cylinders. Defensively, they are allowing their opponents only 90.4, which is second in the league and I expect them to remain stingy on the defensive end for the rest of the season. Trading for Jarrett Jack gives them a solid backup for CP3, which will help preserve him and keep in fresh for the playoffs.
3 (4) Lakers 12-2
The defending champs are the most efficient offensive team in the league and they owe that primarily to their formidable trio of Kobe, Gasol and Odom. They are averaging 63ppg, 29rpg and 12.8apg making them the nba’s most dominant trio. If Andrew Bynum, the Lakers starting center can stay healthy when he returns, the Lakers might just be in route to give their legendary coach Phil Jackson his fourth 3-peat in 20 years.
4 (8) Magic 9-3
Over the last few seasons, the Magic have been one of the nba’s most prolific offensive team, but in their first 12 games this season, they are only averaging 97.8ppg. They have put a major emphasis on the defensive end, which has helped make up for their offensive decline. They currently lead the league in opponent points allowed at 90.3ppg.
5 (2) Celtics 9-4
The Celtics starting point guard Rondo sat out against the Raptors, due to a hamstring injury he suffered against the Thunder. He might sit out on Monday against Hawks, but I expect him to be in the Celtics lineup shortly after that. He is obviously the heart and soul of the Celtics and without him, they go from being a great team to simply a good team as evident in their 102-101 loss to the Raptors.
6 (14) Thunder 9-4
In only 13 games this season, Russell Westbrook has proven that he is the MVP of his team and is currently one of the nba’s top 5 point guards. Westbrook was so dominant in the Thunder 89-84 win in Boston that he caused Rondo, the nba’s self proclaimed best point guard to pull his hamstring. The Thunder were also able to squeeze out another win, an 82-81 defeat over the Bucks in Milwaukee. The Thunder won both games on the road without Kevin Durant, the nba’s leading scorer, which further proves my point that Westbrook is their true MVP.
7 (5) Heat 8-5
Mike Miller, the Heat sharp shooting guard/forward has been out for the entire season due to a hand injury he suffered in the preseason. Haslem, the player everyone considers to be the heart and soul of the Miami Heat tore a ligament in his big toe against the Memphis Grizzlies and is expected to be out for a while. Dwyane Wade missed the game against Memphis, but is expected to return on Wednesday against the Magic. I think you get the point. The Heat may have chemistry issues, but the real issue stems from the fact that they are an injury depleted team which means players like Lebron and most definitely Bosh, now that Haslem is out, must step up.
8 (7) Mavericks 8-4
The Mavericks made up for losses against the Hornets and the Bulls by ending their week with a win against the stumbling Hawks. Defensively, the Mavs have become a much better team, but I still believe they are one solid offensive player away from contending with the Spurs and the Lakers.
9 (6) Jazz 9-5
After winning 5 straight games by overcoming double digit deficits in each of them, the Jazz finally returned back to earth with a subpar 1-2 week. I was very critically of the Jazz during their 5 games winning streak because I didn’t think constantly having to make up double digits deficit was a good recipe for success. Last week 1-2 record proves that point, but I expect them to be very competitive throughout the season and eventually make the playoffs.
10 (9) Hawks 8-5
The Hawks started the season winning six straight games, at which time I didn’t think they were as good as their 6-0 record. They followed that by losing four straight, which also was not a good indication of them as a team. They followed that by going 2-1 a .667 winning percentage, which is where I expect to see the Hawks hover for most of the season.
11 (10) Bulls 7-4
Since starting the season 2-3, the Bulls have won 5 of their last 6 games to give them a 7-4 record and they have done this without Carlos Boozer, their newly acquired all-star power forward who has been out for the entire season due to a hand injury. Their star point guard Derrick Rose has been a force and is the main reason why the Bulls are in the position they are in. Rose is averaging 25.2ppg and 8.2apg in 13 games this season and is currently one of the leading candidates for the nba’s MVP Award, something I didn’t think I would be associating Derrick Rose name with for a while.
12 (16) Trail Blazers 8-6
The Blazers received an expected bad news that center Greg Oden would be have a season ending surgery, for a second straight season. I am sure the Blazers have adjusted to not having Oden in their lineup, but losing Brandon Roy has Portland really concern. Without Roy, the Blazers won two straight thanks in part to Wesley Matthew’s 25 points average in their two wins, but in the long run the Blazers will not survive without Roy in the mix.
13 (11) Nuggets 7-6
Other than a 2 game winning streak, the Nuggets have pretty much alternated wins and losses this season leading to their 7-6 record. They are currently tied with Golden State for the eighth seed in the West, which is where I expect them to hover and barely make the playoffs if they end up not trading Carmelo Anthony, something I think they must do in order to move on.
14 (25) Knicks 6-8
Like I said, anything is possible in the East where the Knicks were able to move up to the seventh seed just by winning three straight. For the first time this season, Danilo Gallinari seem to have put the trade rumors of him for Carmelo in the back burner, because during the Knicks 3 game winning streak he averaged a whopping 27ppg, making 47 percent of his shots from the field with 44.4 percent from 3s. I don’t expect him to continue at that pace, but the Knicks sure benefitted from his performance. Amare wasn’t too shabby either. He averaged 30.7ppg and 10.7rpg on 55 percent shooting during the Knicks 3 game winning streak.
15 (13) Warriors 7-6
The Warriors have really struggled during the last 5 games without forward David Lee, who has been out since November 10th because of an elbow surgery. Before Lee’s injury, the Warriors were 6-2, since the injury, the Warriors are 1-5. He has clearly been missed and hopefully he can return soon because the Warriors are sinking faster than a ship without him.
16 (12) Suns 6-7
At best, the Suns are barely a playoff team with Nash, without him they are definitely lottery bound. Nash missed the last two games due to a groin injury and to no surprise the Suns lose by a combined 34 points. He is expected back Monday against the Rockets.
17 (21) Bobcats 5-8
The Bobcats are 4-2 after starting the season 1-6. Stephen Jackson recorded the Bobcats first triple double by posting 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assist in a 123-105 victory over the Suns. The Cats are clearly playing better over their last six games. Their two losses included a one point loss to the Jazz 96-95 and an eight point loss to the Heat, a game in which they overcame an 18 point deficit but eventually ended up losing.
18 (17) Pacers 5-6
Starting point guard Darren Collison was out the last three games due an ankle injury and was replaced in the lineup by T.J. Ford. The Pacers finished the week 1-2, but even with a 5-6 record are still the 6th seed in the East. Collison should return back to the starting lineup soon to help his team battle for a playoff spot.
19 (18) Cavaliers 5-7
The Cavaliers have adjusted to life without Lebron and expectations are far less in Cleveland as a result of that. Making the playoffs seems to be the Cavaliers immediate goal and if the season ended today, they would be seeded with the eighth and final spot in the East.
20 (20) Pistons 5-8
The Pistons have a 3-2 record over their last games. Two of their wins were in overtime against the Clippers and Wizard, games that they should win but they struggled to get. The positive from that is, the Pistons pulled together and won two games down the stretch. The negative to that is, the Pistons could have easily loss those games and finish with a 1-4 record over their last 5 games, but they were fortunate to beat two of the worst teams in the league.
21 (27) Toronto 5-9
The Raptors are sporting a three game winning streak thanks to starting center Andrea Bargnani. During the winning streak, Bargnani averaged 28.33ppg while making a whopping 58 percent of his shots. The Raptors bolstered their Euro team appearance recently by trading Jarrett Jack to the Hornets for Peja Stojakovic.
22 (15) Bucks 5-8
A three game winning streak followed by a three game losing streak, concluded the Bucks last six games. In fairness to them, one of losses was against the Lakers with the other being an 82-81 loss to the Thunder. Despite that, the Bucks head coach Scott Skiles cannot be happy with him team’s early season inconsistency.
23 (23) Grizzlies 5-9
Thanks to a miraculous fade-away shot by Rudy Gay over the Heat Lebron James, the Grizzlies were able to end their 5 games losing streak. Rudy Gay probably won the early season award for trash talking after making the shot by turning to the Heat bench to let them have it. Personally, I didn’t see the point of his disrespect, considering his team’s 5-9 record, but I guess he deserve to celebrate after hitting the nba’s first true buzzer-beater of the season.
24 (28) Wizard 4-8
I wouldn’t say Gilbert Arenas is back, but I will say he has been very assertive over the last 5 games for the Wizards. During that stretch, Arenas is averaging 20.4ppg and 6.2apg and has shown signs of his old self. The reality is, rookie sensation John Wall has been out for the Wizards last four games nursing an injured ankle. Once he returns, Arenas will have to take a back seat to Wall who is the future of the team. Then again, maybe Arenas, Wall and Hinrich might give the Wizards a formidable three guard rotation.
25 (26) Kings 4-8
The Kings have gone from looking like a very promising team when they started the season 3-2 with rookie DeMarcus Cousins starting as center, to a 1-6 record with him coming off the bench. Obviously he has not adjusted to coming off the bench and with a 1-6 record it’s hard to argue that the Kings made the right decision by inserting Samuel Dalembert in the starting lineup over Cousins. I think the Kings drafted Cousins to be their center of the future, but with their 4-8 record, there’s no reason he should be coming off the bench.
26 (19) Rockets 3-9
There’s no question the Rockets are leading candidate for Most Disappointing Team in the nba early on in the season, but I have to give them a little pass because of injuries to Yao and Brooks. The Rockets starting center and point guard have played in only five games each this season. We will be able to determine if this Rockets team is playoff bound or lottery bound once they both return in a few weeks.
27 (22) Timberwolves 4-10
The Wolves clearly have one of the best forward tandems in the league in Beasley and Love. They combined to average 40ppg and 19.5rpg, but outside of that, the Wolves do not have any other player averaging double figures. I think their future looks bright and they could probably be a playoff team come next season when they add another high draft pick and their European point guard sensation finally joins the team.
28 (24) Nets 4-9
It was almost a certainty that the Nets had to improve after posting the worst record in the nba of 12-70 last season. However, even though they may be on track to win 25 games this season, I think Avery Johnson dictator coaching style is not suited for this team. He has to tone his antics down because this team is a very young team and simply not that good.
29 (20) 76ers 3-10
After practicing with the team on Sunday, Andre Iguodala appears set to return. However, I am not sure his return makes the Sixers a better team. I think the Sixers should seriously consider moving Igoudala because I don’t see them making the playoffs with or without him in the lineup.
30 (28) Clippers 1-13
Blake Griffin continues to be a monster and he showed that against the Knicks by scoring a career high 44 points to go along with 15 rebounds. For the season Griffin is averaging 18.5ppg and 10.9rpg and his counterpart guard Eric Gordon is averaging 23.3ppg, but he Clips are without their starting point guard Baron Davis and Chris Kaman, their starting center. Well, it’s fair to say that the Clippers are not going to make the playoffs, but rookie Blake Griffin will eventually win the ROY Award to give the Clips their only positive news of this nba season.
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