RK (LW) TEAM REC
1 (1) SPURS 26-4
The San Antonio Spurs enters week 10 once again as the number one ranked team in the nba. Their one slippage against Orlando did nothing to dampen their 26-4 record.
2 (5) CELTICS 23-5
Most skeptics expected the Boston Celtics to be one of the best teams in the East and to eventually challenge the Lakers for the title, but no one expected them to be this consistent, especially with key players being in and out of the lineup. Their 14-game winning streak was finally snapped by the Magic in Orlando, but I look for them to start another one.
3 (4) MAVERICKS 23-5
The Mavs did something that only two teams have been able to do early on this season and that was defeat the Miami Heat twice. What made their win even more impressive was that they ended the Heat 12-game winning streak by defeating them in Miami. I think this team is for real, but I still think they are one player away from seriously contending for a title.
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4 (3) HEAT 23-9
The Heat have won 14 of their last 15 games following a subpar 9-8 start and are beginning to look like a real contender. Many point to their blowout of the Cavaliers as the turning point, but I think increasing Mario Chalmers minutes was a key ingredient that helped open up their running game.
5 (7) JAZZ 21-9
The Jazz last three wins have been over teams with sub .500 records, but that didn’t stop them from moving up two spots to claim the fifth ranking. Like the Mavericks I think they are one solid player away from seriously contending.
6 (5) LAKERS 21-9
I guess the Lakers are so over confident that they feel they don’t have to show up until the playoffs, considering that has been their approach in each of the last two seasons. However in past seasons, the Lakers had the best record in the West, which may not be the case this year. The Spurs may have the best record locked and the Lakers are a year older, so like Kobe said they have to start taking these games seriously.
7 (6) THUNDER 21-10
I guess Kevin Durant may be getting tired of hearing that the mvp on his team is Russell Westbrook and not him. His 44 points Christmas day performance against the Nuggets was a reminder that he is still the best player on the Thunder team, even though he may not be the team’s mvp.
8 (8) BULLS 19-10
The is no question that the Bulls are missing Joakim Noah’s energy and rebounding, but you wouldn’t tell from watching Carlos Boozer recently. He averaged 25.6ppg and 11rpg over the last five games to help the Bulls maintain the third seed in the East with a 19-10 record.
9 (10) MAGIC 18-12
Call them the streak busters! They ended the Spurs 10-games winning streak and followed that with a come from behind victory to end the Celtics 14-games winning streak. Otis Smith, the Magic G.M rolled the dice by making some risky blockbuster trades that may pay off.
10 (13) KNICKS 18-12
The Knicks got back on track after losing three straight following their eight-game winning streak with two impressive wins over the Thunder and Bulls. The Knicks may not be a title contender, but they are definitely playoff bound.
11 (11) HORNETS 18-12
The Hornets are once again out of the top 10, but truth be told, they have no real upside and were actually playing above the capabilities early on in the season. I expect them to make the playoffs, but unless something major happens in terms of a trade, I don’t expect them to move up in the standings.
12 (9) HAWKS 19-13
Joe Johnson the Hawks $126 million investment returned back after an injury to give him team much needed help and to hopefully pick up the pace. Johnson is averaging 17.4ppg and I am positive that was not what the Hawks anticipated when they committed $126 million to Johnson this off-season.
13 (9) NUGGETS 16-13
My sympathy goes out to the Nuggets Carmelo Anthony who has been out for three games due to the death of his sister. The Nuggets are 0-3 since Carmelo left, which clearly proves his worth and explains why the Nuggets management have refused to pull the trigger and have hung on to Melo rather than caving in to the pressure and trading him.
14 (14) TRAIL BLAZERS 15-15
Brandon Roy has been out four games due to a persistent knee injury and the Blazers are 3-1 during that stretch. I think the Blazers should keep Roy out indefinitely even if that means losing him for the season and move on without him like they did Greg Oden. He is not healthy and will only hurt the team.
15 (18) ROCKETS 14-15
The Rockets seem to have completely put Yao Ming’s season ending injury behind them and have won their last four games and have a 7-3 record over their last 10 outings. If the Blazers Roy remains out, I expect the Rockets to move up and snatch the eighth seed from the Blazers.
16 (20) BUCKS 12-16
When you go in L.A. and defeat the Lakers by almost 20 points, you deserve to move up in the standings. Keep in mind the Bucks were without Brandon Jennings, but Earl Boykins the shortest player in the nba, stepped up with 22 points to spearhead the win.
17 (15) PACERS 13-15
The Pacers have been struggling as of late, winners of only 4 of their last 12 games. Fortunately for them, they are in the Eastern Conference where a 13-15 record is good enough to get them the seventh seed.
18 (17) PHOENIX 13-16
The Suns are still trying to get their new additions acclimated, but a key member named Vince Carter has yet to play with the team. I know the Suns are sporting a 3-game losing streak, but I actually believe that they will recover when Carter joins the team. The reason for my prediction is because the Suns are a much better defensive team since the trade and with Steve Nash, the former two-time mvp leading the way, anything seem possible.
19 (16) SIXERS 12-16
The Sixers have a 6-4 record over the last 10 games and with the Bucks Brandon Jennings out for at least another month, I expect the Sixers to move up and take over the eighth seed from the Bucks within a week.
20 (19) GRIZZLIES 12-16
Rudy Gay returned from his one-game suspension with a subpar 11 points game, but followed it up with a 30 points performance to lead his team to a 104-90 victory against the Pacers. The Grizzlies don’t have any major upside, but they could be spoilers for a lot of teams trying to make the playoffs.
21 (25) WARRIORS 11-18
The Warriors are sporting a 2-game winning streak, which is a good sign but not the kind that should have you thinking they are playoff bound. I expect them to continue to be a fun team, but they are definitely not playoff bound.
22 (24) CLIPPERS 9-22
The Clippers are one of the most exciting teams to watch and since their 1-13 start now have an 8-9 record. Unlike previous Clippers teams, this team may not be playoff bound but is definitely not hopeless as in years past. Led by Blake Griffin who has posted 18 straight double-doubles, they have become must see television.
23 (21) RAPTORS 10-19
Other than Andrea Bargnani, the Raptors have 7 players averaging double figures in points, a clear indication that they are very balance, but defensively they are horrible and will remain this way for a while.
24 (24) PISTONS 9-19
I guess every now and then you can expect one of the Pistons previously good players to have a nice game like Rip Hamilton’s 35 point performance that he put up against the Raptors, other than that, the Pistons glory days seem to be behind them.
25 (22) BOBCATS 9-19
Something had to be done in Charlotte so it didn’t surprise me that Larry Brown stepped down from his head coaching position with the team. New interim coach Paul Silas promises to speed up their offense, something the team desperately needs.
26 (27) NETS 9-21
Word has it that the Nets are preparing to make a big move, which I don’t necessarily think is in their best interest unless they are bringing in a superstar or two. I think they should simply rebuild through the draft and hope that the move to Brooklyn in a few years might eventually entice free agents to join the team.
27 (26) CAVALIERS 8-22
Every week the rhetoric remains the same when it comes to the Cavs, what more can you expect from a team that lose Lebron, arguably one of the top two players in the nba. They will not make the playoffs as I initially thought, but within a few years they will be in a very good position financially.
28 (28) WIZARDS 7-21
Javale McGee and Andray Blatche were both suspended for fighting in a Washington D.C night club. I think this may be just what the doctor ordered. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Blatche being the next Wizards player traded. No disrespect to his game, but he is the last link holding up the Wizards rebuilding process.
29 (29) TIMBERWOLVES 7-24
Kevin Love numbers may be monstrous, 20ppg and 15.6rpg, but if he was on another team like Lebron mentioned over the weekend, would he be able to average those number? Probably not! I think he is an excellent player, but his numbers are overblown, especially his points. In terms of rebounding, the guy is a stud, but the Timberwolves need more solid guard and perimeter play if they want to improve.
30 (30) KINGS 5-22
The Kings management and ownership made it clear that no changes will be made to their head coaching position and that Paul Westphal is safe for the remainder of the season. I don’t think any coach can change the situation is Sacramento. I think this is one time when you have to look to move players rather than fire a coach.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
NBA WIZARD 2010-11 NBA POWER RANKING WEEK 9
RK (LW) TEAM REC
1 (1) SPURS 23-3
Make no mistake about it, the San Antonio Spurs are the best team in the West and the Lakers and everyone else better watch out because the Spurs are for real and in my opinion are the team to beat out West.
2 (5) CELTICS 22-4
Unlike last season, this Celtics team is showing no signs of letting up. From their first game against the Heat in Boston to now, 25 games later, the Celtics have looked dominant and seem to be on a mission.
3 (4) HEAT 21-8
After a horrible 9-8 start, the Heat have rallied and are clicking on all cylinders. A prime example of how well the Heat are playing could be seen in their recent one point win against the Wizards. The Heat were down by 5 with 32 seconds left, but somehow found a way to win to extend their streak to 12 straight wins. Earlier this season, that would not have been the case, because they would have found a way to lose that game.
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4 (3) MAVERICKS 21-5
With all the trade action over the weekend, I really thought the Mavericks would have been one of the teams involved, but apparently not. I guess they are content with their 21-5 record however, I still believe they are one notch below the Lakers and Spurs if their current roster remains the same.
5 (5) LAKERS 21-7
The Lakers starting center Andrew Bynum returned back to bolster their front line and the Lakers won all four games Bynum played in convincing fashion. As expected he is very sluggish and will take some time to get back into nba shape, but when he does the Lakers will be a scary team.
6 (6) THUNDER 19-9
OKC are playing well and the Durant-Westbrook tandem is creating nightmares for Thunder opponents. Ironically, Durant and Westbrook are averaging 27.4 and 23.1 points respectively, but Westbrook actually has a higher Player’s Efficiency Rating (PER) 24.6 as opposed to Durant’s 22.3 PER.
7 (7) JAZZ 19-9
The Jazz continues to play under the radar and have remained consistent as you would expect out of a Jerry Sloan team. Point guard Deron Williams is leading his team with 22.5ppg and 9.7rpg and continues to be in the discussion of whether he is the nba’s best point guard.
8 (9) BULLS 16-9
The Bulls can’t seem to get a break. For most of the season Carlos Boozer was out, now it’s the Bulls energizer bunny and their best interior defender Joakim Noah who went out recently due to a broken hand. The one constant for the Bulls all season long has been point guard Derrick Rose, who is leading the team in scoring and assist with 24.3 and 8.4 respectively.
9 (12) NUGGETS 16-10
Everyone knows Carmelo wants to be traded to New York, but no one can question his professionalism because he has played well for the Nuggets this season. He currently leads the team in scoring and rebound with 24ppg and 8.4rpg. I guess the Nuggets management concluded that there is no rush in trading Carmelo.
10 (8) MAGIC 16-10
Speaking of blockbusters! Out went Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Mickael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat and in came Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas and Hedo was brought back. The trade gives the Magic three players as oppose to only Vince Carter, which obviously makes them a better offensive team. Losing Marcin Gortat, the best backup center in the league is a definite setback and weakens the Magic interior, which will put even more pressure on the Dwight Howard to defend the middle. It is going to be interesting to see how things unfold over the next few months.
11 (9) HORNETS 16-11
The Hornets redeemed themselves after an early season 18 points loss to the Jazz in Utah by demolishing the Jazz in a 100-71 victory. The Hornets may be moving in the right direction now that the chaos of the league taking over the Hornets has settled.
12 (11) HAWKS 17-12
Being without Joe Johnson has been tough for the Hawks, but losing Crawford for their last three games has not helped the Hawks either. Johnson may be out a while longer, but Crawford should be returning soon.
13 (10) KNICKS 16-12
Before last week the Knicks were riding on ‘cloud 9’ sporting an eight game winning streak, but then they ran into the two best teams in the East which was a humbling experience. They were still on their cloud after losing to the Celtics because Amare’s 3-pointer at the buzzer would have counted if they had more time, so that loss had them feeling good about themselves. Unfortunately, their next game against the Heat really brought them down to earth. The 113-91 defeat against the Heat really put things in prospective and that is, the Knicks are a good team, but in terms of being a championship contender, pleaseeee!
14 (14) TRAIL BLAZERS 14-14
Brandon Roy was giving three games off and the Blazers won the first two. Personally, I think he needs more time off. I know Roy is a warrior and he means well, but he is clearly hurting his team. After hearing reports about Roy complaining that his knee feels like he has bone on bone, I started to pay close attention and from what I gathered Roy is far from the player he used to be. If surgery is not an option, then maybe more time off might be the best recipe for the Blazers.
15 (15) PACERS 12-14
The Pacers are 17th in scoring at 98.3ppg, 15th in points allowed at 97.8ppg and 13th in assist with 21.3apg. The average of 17, 15 and 13 is 15, which is exactly where I rank the Pacers entering week 9.
16 (21) 76ERS 11-16
An 11-16 record is not great and wouldn’t be worth mentioning except that in the Eastern Conference it is good enough for the eighth and final playoff seed. I’ve always argued the Sixers were one of, if not the best sub .500 team in the nba and over the last 10 games they have proven me right with their 7-3 record over that stretch.
17 (17) PHOENIX 11-12
The Suns took a bold step by trading Jason Richardson, their leading scorer along with Hedo to the Magic, but they got back Vince Carter in return, whom I guess they believe will fill in for Richardson. As far as Hedo, they felt his 9.5ppg was not worth the 4year/$44 million left on his contract. With the center tandem of Marcin Gortat and Robin Lopez, the Suns made a substantial improvement on their interior defense. The Suns have a good chance of making the playoffs if Vince Carter can stay healthy.
18 (19) ROCKETS 12-15
Please say it ain’t so! Yao Ming may be out for a second straight season if he undergoes surgery for a foot fracture. I guess it’s time for the Rockets to accept the fact that Yao Ming may likely retire and prepared to move on without him. This is a very sad situation for the Rockets because when healthy I actually considered Yao a better all-around center than the Magic Dwight Howard, but that was a few years ago.
19 (18) GRIZZLIES 12-16
When you are not a very good team, the last thing you expect is for your best player to make a bone headed play like the one Rudy Gay made when he shoved the Rockets Luis Scola, which caused him an injection and a one-game suspension. The Griz lost both games.
20 (16) BUCKS 10-15
Just when it seemed like the Bucks were heading in the right direction disaster strike. They lost Brandon Jennings, their starting point guard who leads the team in points with 17.9ppg and assist with 5.5apg. The Bucks are expected to be without Jennings for 4-6 weeks with a broken foot.
21 (20) RAPTORS 10-18
The Raptors are 2-7 over their last 9 games after a somewhat respectable 8-11 start. Perhaps the effects of losing all-star Chris Bosh is starting to wear on a team that couldn’t even make the playoffs with Bosh last season.
22 (22) BOBCATS 9-17
Word out of Charlotte is that the Bobcats have made former all-star Gerald Wallace available. It doesn’t surprise me because something has to be done in Charlotte. Luckily for them, they are in the Eastern Conference and are currently only 1.5 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot.
23 (25) PISTONS 9-19
How good can anyone expect the Pistons to be when 36 year old Ben Wallace and fourth year guard Rodney Stuckey leads them in every stat. Keep in mind this is a team that still has Tayshaun Prince, Rip Hamilton, Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon. Gordon used to be known for his instant offense and always averaged over 20ppg, but in Detroit he is only averaging 12.2ppg and that is just not getting the job done.
24 (29) CLIPPERS 7-21
No, this is not a mistake the Clippers have a two-game winning streak. What makes this even more impressive is that the last two victories have come on the road. As expected, Blake Griffins continues to dominate. Even though Griffin is a rookie, he is one of only three players averaging over 20 points and 12 rebounds a game. Clearly, he is ahead in the rookie of the year (ROY) race.
25 (23) WARRIORS 9-17
The Warriors are in a serious funk, losers of 11 of their last 13 games. Steph Curry, Monte Ellis and David Lee have all missed games due to their fair share of injuries, but 2 wins in the last 13 games tells me the team have completely taken a step backwards, especially on the defensive end.
26 (24) CAVALIERS 8-19
I wonder who draws up the nba’s schedule? The Cavs are probably asking the same question along with the New York Knicks. After starting the season 7-9, the Cavaliers were scheduled to play Boston and then Miami, which starting a two-games losing streak that eventually grew to 10 straight losses. The Cavs finally ended that streak by beating the Knicks in a 109-102 overtime victory. Ironically, after winning 8 straight, the Knicks were also pitted against the Celtics and Heat respectively. Like I said, who drew up the nba’s schedule?
27 (28) NETS 8-20
The Nets are a third of the way to the 12 wins they had all of last season, but the expectations coming into this season were a lot higher. With Carmelo making it clear that he will not sign an extension with any team other than the Knicks, I believe the Nets may have finally giving up the possibility of trading for Carmelo and may be looking to trade for someone else.
28 (27) WIZARDS 6-19
The Wizards made it official that they are in complete rebuilding mode when they traded Gilbert Arenas over the weekend. By doing so, rookie sensation John Wall will finally have full reigns over the team. I expect his numbers to increase which should give him a fighting chance to compete with the Clippers Blake Griffin for the ROY Award.
29 (26) TIMBERWOLVES 6-22
Kevin Love is the only player averaging 20 plus points with over 15 rebounds in the league. Love and Beasley have a combined average of 42.3ppg and 19.7rpg and may be the league’s best forward tandem behind Lebron and Bosh. Martell Webster's 14.8ppg average has also helped, but the Wolves are 6-22 because they allow their opponents to score a league high 109.9 points per game.
30 (30) KINGS 5-20
Nothing is working in Sacramento. The Kings are simply the worse team in the entire nba. A change is inevitable. At this point, any change will be welcomed.
1 (1) SPURS 23-3
Make no mistake about it, the San Antonio Spurs are the best team in the West and the Lakers and everyone else better watch out because the Spurs are for real and in my opinion are the team to beat out West.
2 (5) CELTICS 22-4
Unlike last season, this Celtics team is showing no signs of letting up. From their first game against the Heat in Boston to now, 25 games later, the Celtics have looked dominant and seem to be on a mission.
3 (4) HEAT 21-8
After a horrible 9-8 start, the Heat have rallied and are clicking on all cylinders. A prime example of how well the Heat are playing could be seen in their recent one point win against the Wizards. The Heat were down by 5 with 32 seconds left, but somehow found a way to win to extend their streak to 12 straight wins. Earlier this season, that would not have been the case, because they would have found a way to lose that game.
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4 (3) MAVERICKS 21-5
With all the trade action over the weekend, I really thought the Mavericks would have been one of the teams involved, but apparently not. I guess they are content with their 21-5 record however, I still believe they are one notch below the Lakers and Spurs if their current roster remains the same.
5 (5) LAKERS 21-7
The Lakers starting center Andrew Bynum returned back to bolster their front line and the Lakers won all four games Bynum played in convincing fashion. As expected he is very sluggish and will take some time to get back into nba shape, but when he does the Lakers will be a scary team.
6 (6) THUNDER 19-9
OKC are playing well and the Durant-Westbrook tandem is creating nightmares for Thunder opponents. Ironically, Durant and Westbrook are averaging 27.4 and 23.1 points respectively, but Westbrook actually has a higher Player’s Efficiency Rating (PER) 24.6 as opposed to Durant’s 22.3 PER.
7 (7) JAZZ 19-9
The Jazz continues to play under the radar and have remained consistent as you would expect out of a Jerry Sloan team. Point guard Deron Williams is leading his team with 22.5ppg and 9.7rpg and continues to be in the discussion of whether he is the nba’s best point guard.
8 (9) BULLS 16-9
The Bulls can’t seem to get a break. For most of the season Carlos Boozer was out, now it’s the Bulls energizer bunny and their best interior defender Joakim Noah who went out recently due to a broken hand. The one constant for the Bulls all season long has been point guard Derrick Rose, who is leading the team in scoring and assist with 24.3 and 8.4 respectively.
9 (12) NUGGETS 16-10
Everyone knows Carmelo wants to be traded to New York, but no one can question his professionalism because he has played well for the Nuggets this season. He currently leads the team in scoring and rebound with 24ppg and 8.4rpg. I guess the Nuggets management concluded that there is no rush in trading Carmelo.
10 (8) MAGIC 16-10
Speaking of blockbusters! Out went Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Mickael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat and in came Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas and Hedo was brought back. The trade gives the Magic three players as oppose to only Vince Carter, which obviously makes them a better offensive team. Losing Marcin Gortat, the best backup center in the league is a definite setback and weakens the Magic interior, which will put even more pressure on the Dwight Howard to defend the middle. It is going to be interesting to see how things unfold over the next few months.
11 (9) HORNETS 16-11
The Hornets redeemed themselves after an early season 18 points loss to the Jazz in Utah by demolishing the Jazz in a 100-71 victory. The Hornets may be moving in the right direction now that the chaos of the league taking over the Hornets has settled.
12 (11) HAWKS 17-12
Being without Joe Johnson has been tough for the Hawks, but losing Crawford for their last three games has not helped the Hawks either. Johnson may be out a while longer, but Crawford should be returning soon.
13 (10) KNICKS 16-12
Before last week the Knicks were riding on ‘cloud 9’ sporting an eight game winning streak, but then they ran into the two best teams in the East which was a humbling experience. They were still on their cloud after losing to the Celtics because Amare’s 3-pointer at the buzzer would have counted if they had more time, so that loss had them feeling good about themselves. Unfortunately, their next game against the Heat really brought them down to earth. The 113-91 defeat against the Heat really put things in prospective and that is, the Knicks are a good team, but in terms of being a championship contender, pleaseeee!
14 (14) TRAIL BLAZERS 14-14
Brandon Roy was giving three games off and the Blazers won the first two. Personally, I think he needs more time off. I know Roy is a warrior and he means well, but he is clearly hurting his team. After hearing reports about Roy complaining that his knee feels like he has bone on bone, I started to pay close attention and from what I gathered Roy is far from the player he used to be. If surgery is not an option, then maybe more time off might be the best recipe for the Blazers.
15 (15) PACERS 12-14
The Pacers are 17th in scoring at 98.3ppg, 15th in points allowed at 97.8ppg and 13th in assist with 21.3apg. The average of 17, 15 and 13 is 15, which is exactly where I rank the Pacers entering week 9.
16 (21) 76ERS 11-16
An 11-16 record is not great and wouldn’t be worth mentioning except that in the Eastern Conference it is good enough for the eighth and final playoff seed. I’ve always argued the Sixers were one of, if not the best sub .500 team in the nba and over the last 10 games they have proven me right with their 7-3 record over that stretch.
17 (17) PHOENIX 11-12
The Suns took a bold step by trading Jason Richardson, their leading scorer along with Hedo to the Magic, but they got back Vince Carter in return, whom I guess they believe will fill in for Richardson. As far as Hedo, they felt his 9.5ppg was not worth the 4year/$44 million left on his contract. With the center tandem of Marcin Gortat and Robin Lopez, the Suns made a substantial improvement on their interior defense. The Suns have a good chance of making the playoffs if Vince Carter can stay healthy.
18 (19) ROCKETS 12-15
Please say it ain’t so! Yao Ming may be out for a second straight season if he undergoes surgery for a foot fracture. I guess it’s time for the Rockets to accept the fact that Yao Ming may likely retire and prepared to move on without him. This is a very sad situation for the Rockets because when healthy I actually considered Yao a better all-around center than the Magic Dwight Howard, but that was a few years ago.
19 (18) GRIZZLIES 12-16
When you are not a very good team, the last thing you expect is for your best player to make a bone headed play like the one Rudy Gay made when he shoved the Rockets Luis Scola, which caused him an injection and a one-game suspension. The Griz lost both games.
20 (16) BUCKS 10-15
Just when it seemed like the Bucks were heading in the right direction disaster strike. They lost Brandon Jennings, their starting point guard who leads the team in points with 17.9ppg and assist with 5.5apg. The Bucks are expected to be without Jennings for 4-6 weeks with a broken foot.
21 (20) RAPTORS 10-18
The Raptors are 2-7 over their last 9 games after a somewhat respectable 8-11 start. Perhaps the effects of losing all-star Chris Bosh is starting to wear on a team that couldn’t even make the playoffs with Bosh last season.
22 (22) BOBCATS 9-17
Word out of Charlotte is that the Bobcats have made former all-star Gerald Wallace available. It doesn’t surprise me because something has to be done in Charlotte. Luckily for them, they are in the Eastern Conference and are currently only 1.5 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot.
23 (25) PISTONS 9-19
How good can anyone expect the Pistons to be when 36 year old Ben Wallace and fourth year guard Rodney Stuckey leads them in every stat. Keep in mind this is a team that still has Tayshaun Prince, Rip Hamilton, Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon. Gordon used to be known for his instant offense and always averaged over 20ppg, but in Detroit he is only averaging 12.2ppg and that is just not getting the job done.
24 (29) CLIPPERS 7-21
No, this is not a mistake the Clippers have a two-game winning streak. What makes this even more impressive is that the last two victories have come on the road. As expected, Blake Griffins continues to dominate. Even though Griffin is a rookie, he is one of only three players averaging over 20 points and 12 rebounds a game. Clearly, he is ahead in the rookie of the year (ROY) race.
25 (23) WARRIORS 9-17
The Warriors are in a serious funk, losers of 11 of their last 13 games. Steph Curry, Monte Ellis and David Lee have all missed games due to their fair share of injuries, but 2 wins in the last 13 games tells me the team have completely taken a step backwards, especially on the defensive end.
26 (24) CAVALIERS 8-19
I wonder who draws up the nba’s schedule? The Cavs are probably asking the same question along with the New York Knicks. After starting the season 7-9, the Cavaliers were scheduled to play Boston and then Miami, which starting a two-games losing streak that eventually grew to 10 straight losses. The Cavs finally ended that streak by beating the Knicks in a 109-102 overtime victory. Ironically, after winning 8 straight, the Knicks were also pitted against the Celtics and Heat respectively. Like I said, who drew up the nba’s schedule?
27 (28) NETS 8-20
The Nets are a third of the way to the 12 wins they had all of last season, but the expectations coming into this season were a lot higher. With Carmelo making it clear that he will not sign an extension with any team other than the Knicks, I believe the Nets may have finally giving up the possibility of trading for Carmelo and may be looking to trade for someone else.
28 (27) WIZARDS 6-19
The Wizards made it official that they are in complete rebuilding mode when they traded Gilbert Arenas over the weekend. By doing so, rookie sensation John Wall will finally have full reigns over the team. I expect his numbers to increase which should give him a fighting chance to compete with the Clippers Blake Griffin for the ROY Award.
29 (26) TIMBERWOLVES 6-22
Kevin Love is the only player averaging 20 plus points with over 15 rebounds in the league. Love and Beasley have a combined average of 42.3ppg and 19.7rpg and may be the league’s best forward tandem behind Lebron and Bosh. Martell Webster's 14.8ppg average has also helped, but the Wolves are 6-22 because they allow their opponents to score a league high 109.9 points per game.
30 (30) KINGS 5-20
Nothing is working in Sacramento. The Kings are simply the worse team in the entire nba. A change is inevitable. At this point, any change will be welcomed.
Monday, December 13, 2010
NBA WIZARD 2010-11 NBA POWER RANKING WEEK 8
RK (LW) TEAM REC
1 (1) SPURS 20-3
The San Antonio Spurs are off to their best start in franchise history at 20-3. In previous seasons, the Spurs played a lot slower, but not this one. With a 106.4 points average this season, the Spurs are tied with the Lakers for third in the league in scoring.
2 (5) CELTICS 19-4
The Celtics are currently sporting a 10-game winning streak and they don’t seem to be slowing down. Ironically, the Celtics were also 19-4 after 23 games last season but ended up going 31-28 over their last 59 games so let’s wait and see what happens over the next 20 games, before crowning them Eastern Conference champs.
3 (6) MAVERICKS 19-4
I think Mark Cuban tried to diffuse his team’s `12-games winning streak by claiming that Miami was the best team in the nba. Regardless of that, the Mavericks are the hottest team in the league right now. Since installing forward Stevenson in the starting lineup per the request of the Maverick other starters, the team has a 16-2 record.
4 (8) HEAT 17-8
The word out of Miami is that the Miami Heat have finally figured it out. I disagree with this claim. I don’t understand why Lebron James is deferring to Dwyane Wade when they are both on the court at the same time, especially if Lebron is supposed to be the best player in the nba.
5 (5) LAKERS 17-7
From the looks of things, it appears that the Lakers will finish with the second best record in the West behind the San Antonio Spurs. I don’t see the Lakers overtaken the Spurs without their starting center Bynum in the lineup.
6 (10) THUNDER 17-8
The Thunder one-two punch of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are averaging a monstrous triple-double with 50.9ppg, 12.2rpg 11.7apg and the rest of the team is simply filling in.
7 (10) JAZZ 17-8
Consistency has been the key for the Utah Jazz all season long. They have not wowed anyone, but somehow they are tied for the best third best record in the Western Conference.
8 (4) MAGIC 16-8
The Magic have lost four out of their last five games, but considering they are in the East there’s no reason to be alarmed. I expect them to finish with the third or fourth seed by the end of the season behind the Celtics and Heat for sure and perhaps behind the Bulls.
9 (14) BULLS 14-8
The Bulls loss their first two games when Carlos Boozer returned, but since then they have reeled off five straight wins. Boozer averaged 17.2ppg and 8.4 rebounds during the Bulls five-game winning streak and it looks like the Bulls have finally found the low post scorer they’ve been coveting since Derrick Rose came aboard two season ago.
10 (12) KNICKS 16-9
I honestly thought the Knicks overpaid when they signed Amare Stoudemire to a 5 year/$100 milliion contract, but I must admit I was wrong. So far Amare has been the best investment made by any team last summer. He is averaging 26.2ppg, 9.1rpg and 2bpg and the Knicks are sporting an eight-game winning streak. How could you argue against that?
11 (9) HAWKS 16-9
The Hawks are 5-2 without Joe Johnson who is set to return with the team shortly. I know the Hawks could not afford to lose Johnson during the summer, but was he really worth the 7 year/$126 million he received? With him the Hawks are 11-7 .611, without him 5-2 .714. I guess in the long run it was worth signing him, but their record indicates that they’ve been better without him this year.
12 (7) NUGGETS 14-9
The situation in Denver continues to get sticky. Carmelo Anthony recently said he will only sign an extension with the Knicks, which clearly tells me his heart is no longer with the Nuggets. I guess the Nuggets are looking for the perfect sucker who will be willing to rent Carmelo for the rest of the year, because it is clear he is not going to re-sign with any team other than the Knicks. The question is how long will the Nuggets and Carmelo continue to play their cat-and-mouse game?
13 (11) HORNETS 14-9
I guess it’s official now that the nba will take over the New Orleans Hornets and operate like an Escrow holder at least until they can secure a buyer for the team in hopes of keeping the Hornets in New Orleans. I expect their free fall to continue, because it’s obvious no moves will be made until a new owner is secured and for whatever reason, that has been wearing on the players.
14 (16) TRAIL BLAZERS 12-12
The Blazers are benefitting from being in a watered down Western Conference where a .500 record (12-12) is good enough to make the playoffs. Injuries to key players mainly Roy has hurt their team, but somehow if the playoff were starting today, the Blazers would be seeded eighth in the Western Conference.
15 (15) PACERS 11-11
Word out of Indiana is that newly acquired point guard Darren Collison is unhappy with the point guard rotation. I think he thought he would have a free ride, but T.J. Ford has been a proven veteran, which means Collison will have to work hard if he expects to reclaim the point guard position full time. I think he has the talent and this could end up being a blessing in disguise, because ultimately, I expect Collison to be the Pacers point guard of the future.
16 (19) BUCKS 9-13
Bucks center Andrew Bogut is leading the league in blocks with 2.94 per game and the Bucks are obviously one of the best defensive teams in the league, but scoring 97 points in back-to-back games helped them win their last two outings. Hopefully this can be a sign of good things to come on the offensive end because they are one of the slowest teams in the league.
17 (13) PHOENIX 11-12
The Suns are still one of the most prolific offensive teams in the league and are second in scoring with 108.1 point per game, but they have taken over the title of the league’s worst defensive team allowing their opponent 109.5 points per game.
18 (20) GRIZZLIES 10-14
The Grizzlies are coming off a four-game road trip in which they won their last two games. I would consider that a very successful road trip for the Griz. I still believe they are a team with some upsides, but so far they have been a little disappointing this season.
19 (21) ROCKETS 9-14
The Rockets are averaging 104.9 points per game and are also giving up the exactly 104.9 to their opponents. Yao Ming continues to be a mystery and his glory days may be behind him, because I don’t think we will ever see a healthy season out of Yao again.
20 (17) RAPTORS 9-14
The Raptors are a very efficient team on the offensive end, but unless they improve on the defensive end, they will always be a team struggling to make the playoffs. As of right now, they are one game out of the playoffs in the East behind the Bucks.
21 (26) 76ERS 8-15
The Sixers are 5-2 over their last seven games and one of the two losses was a one point heart breaker 102-101 to the Celtics. For now it appears that Iggy is staying put and trade rumors for him may have fizzled off since their hot streak. I believe the Sixers are one of the best teams under .500 and they will make the playoffs if they can stay healthy.
22 (22) BOBCATS 8-15
The Bobcats were barely good enough to make the playoffs last season and losing center Tyson Chandler and guard Raymond Felton has really set them back. I am not sure what the Bobcats owner Michael Jordan has in mind, but he cannot afford to lose head coach Larry Brown, because without him, the Bobcats will in all likelihood miss the playoff.
23 (18) WARRIORS 8-15
I was fortunate to be in attendance when the Warriors hosted the Heat in Oakland and it was really sad to see that the Warriors did not put up a fight, especially in the second half of that game. I know Steph Curry is out, but the Warriors played with absolutely no urgency.
24 (23) CAVS 7-17
I doesn’t surprise me that the Cavs have lose their last eight games, but the most surprising stat is the 93.2 points that the Cavs are scoring this season, which is 29th in league. I thought the Cavs would struggle defensively after losing Lebron, but for them to be 29th in scoring under new head coach Byron Scott’s up tempo offense is shocking to me.
25 (24) PISTONS 7-18
The Pistons are dead last in rebounding at 38.8 rebounds per game and offensively the once discipline Pistons have absolutely no structure. I guess things will continue to go downhill for the Pistons until they address their ownership issue.
26 (28) TIMBERWOLVES 6-18
The Timberwolves are first in the league in rebounding with 45.8 led by Kevin Love’s 15.6, which leads the league in rebounding. The Wolves have a great future that will only come to fruition when they address their perimeter deficiencies, which could be as early as next season.
27 (25) WIZARDS 6-16
The Wizards Josh Howard is scheduled to return soon to give the Wizards a much needed boost on the offensive end. John Wall assist should go up once that happens, because he will have another player running the break that can finish.
28 (27) NETS 6-18
The Nets have to make a trade. This team appears to be completely stagnant and I just don’t see any upside. Of course they will win more than the 12 games they won last year, but I don’t think the addition of new head coach Avery Johnson has had any real impact on the team’s improvement.
29 (29) CLIPPERS 5-20
The Clippers are another one of those teams that need a check up from the neck up. Baron Davis returned from an early season injury, but has clearly not been himself. Kaman is still out and Blake Griffin has continued to dominate. However, the Clippers look like a team with no direction right now.
30 (30) KINGS 5-16
The Kings are struggling and now word is Tyreke Evans is day-to-day with a foot injury. This team was projected to move up this season, but so far they are the most disappointing team entering week 8 and are ranked 30th for second straight week in my power ranking.
1 (1) SPURS 20-3
The San Antonio Spurs are off to their best start in franchise history at 20-3. In previous seasons, the Spurs played a lot slower, but not this one. With a 106.4 points average this season, the Spurs are tied with the Lakers for third in the league in scoring.
2 (5) CELTICS 19-4
The Celtics are currently sporting a 10-game winning streak and they don’t seem to be slowing down. Ironically, the Celtics were also 19-4 after 23 games last season but ended up going 31-28 over their last 59 games so let’s wait and see what happens over the next 20 games, before crowning them Eastern Conference champs.
3 (6) MAVERICKS 19-4
I think Mark Cuban tried to diffuse his team’s `12-games winning streak by claiming that Miami was the best team in the nba. Regardless of that, the Mavericks are the hottest team in the league right now. Since installing forward Stevenson in the starting lineup per the request of the Maverick other starters, the team has a 16-2 record.
4 (8) HEAT 17-8
The word out of Miami is that the Miami Heat have finally figured it out. I disagree with this claim. I don’t understand why Lebron James is deferring to Dwyane Wade when they are both on the court at the same time, especially if Lebron is supposed to be the best player in the nba.
5 (5) LAKERS 17-7
From the looks of things, it appears that the Lakers will finish with the second best record in the West behind the San Antonio Spurs. I don’t see the Lakers overtaken the Spurs without their starting center Bynum in the lineup.
6 (10) THUNDER 17-8
The Thunder one-two punch of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are averaging a monstrous triple-double with 50.9ppg, 12.2rpg 11.7apg and the rest of the team is simply filling in.
7 (10) JAZZ 17-8
Consistency has been the key for the Utah Jazz all season long. They have not wowed anyone, but somehow they are tied for the best third best record in the Western Conference.
8 (4) MAGIC 16-8
The Magic have lost four out of their last five games, but considering they are in the East there’s no reason to be alarmed. I expect them to finish with the third or fourth seed by the end of the season behind the Celtics and Heat for sure and perhaps behind the Bulls.
9 (14) BULLS 14-8
The Bulls loss their first two games when Carlos Boozer returned, but since then they have reeled off five straight wins. Boozer averaged 17.2ppg and 8.4 rebounds during the Bulls five-game winning streak and it looks like the Bulls have finally found the low post scorer they’ve been coveting since Derrick Rose came aboard two season ago.
10 (12) KNICKS 16-9
I honestly thought the Knicks overpaid when they signed Amare Stoudemire to a 5 year/$100 milliion contract, but I must admit I was wrong. So far Amare has been the best investment made by any team last summer. He is averaging 26.2ppg, 9.1rpg and 2bpg and the Knicks are sporting an eight-game winning streak. How could you argue against that?
11 (9) HAWKS 16-9
The Hawks are 5-2 without Joe Johnson who is set to return with the team shortly. I know the Hawks could not afford to lose Johnson during the summer, but was he really worth the 7 year/$126 million he received? With him the Hawks are 11-7 .611, without him 5-2 .714. I guess in the long run it was worth signing him, but their record indicates that they’ve been better without him this year.
12 (7) NUGGETS 14-9
The situation in Denver continues to get sticky. Carmelo Anthony recently said he will only sign an extension with the Knicks, which clearly tells me his heart is no longer with the Nuggets. I guess the Nuggets are looking for the perfect sucker who will be willing to rent Carmelo for the rest of the year, because it is clear he is not going to re-sign with any team other than the Knicks. The question is how long will the Nuggets and Carmelo continue to play their cat-and-mouse game?
13 (11) HORNETS 14-9
I guess it’s official now that the nba will take over the New Orleans Hornets and operate like an Escrow holder at least until they can secure a buyer for the team in hopes of keeping the Hornets in New Orleans. I expect their free fall to continue, because it’s obvious no moves will be made until a new owner is secured and for whatever reason, that has been wearing on the players.
14 (16) TRAIL BLAZERS 12-12
The Blazers are benefitting from being in a watered down Western Conference where a .500 record (12-12) is good enough to make the playoffs. Injuries to key players mainly Roy has hurt their team, but somehow if the playoff were starting today, the Blazers would be seeded eighth in the Western Conference.
15 (15) PACERS 11-11
Word out of Indiana is that newly acquired point guard Darren Collison is unhappy with the point guard rotation. I think he thought he would have a free ride, but T.J. Ford has been a proven veteran, which means Collison will have to work hard if he expects to reclaim the point guard position full time. I think he has the talent and this could end up being a blessing in disguise, because ultimately, I expect Collison to be the Pacers point guard of the future.
16 (19) BUCKS 9-13
Bucks center Andrew Bogut is leading the league in blocks with 2.94 per game and the Bucks are obviously one of the best defensive teams in the league, but scoring 97 points in back-to-back games helped them win their last two outings. Hopefully this can be a sign of good things to come on the offensive end because they are one of the slowest teams in the league.
17 (13) PHOENIX 11-12
The Suns are still one of the most prolific offensive teams in the league and are second in scoring with 108.1 point per game, but they have taken over the title of the league’s worst defensive team allowing their opponent 109.5 points per game.
18 (20) GRIZZLIES 10-14
The Grizzlies are coming off a four-game road trip in which they won their last two games. I would consider that a very successful road trip for the Griz. I still believe they are a team with some upsides, but so far they have been a little disappointing this season.
19 (21) ROCKETS 9-14
The Rockets are averaging 104.9 points per game and are also giving up the exactly 104.9 to their opponents. Yao Ming continues to be a mystery and his glory days may be behind him, because I don’t think we will ever see a healthy season out of Yao again.
20 (17) RAPTORS 9-14
The Raptors are a very efficient team on the offensive end, but unless they improve on the defensive end, they will always be a team struggling to make the playoffs. As of right now, they are one game out of the playoffs in the East behind the Bucks.
21 (26) 76ERS 8-15
The Sixers are 5-2 over their last seven games and one of the two losses was a one point heart breaker 102-101 to the Celtics. For now it appears that Iggy is staying put and trade rumors for him may have fizzled off since their hot streak. I believe the Sixers are one of the best teams under .500 and they will make the playoffs if they can stay healthy.
22 (22) BOBCATS 8-15
The Bobcats were barely good enough to make the playoffs last season and losing center Tyson Chandler and guard Raymond Felton has really set them back. I am not sure what the Bobcats owner Michael Jordan has in mind, but he cannot afford to lose head coach Larry Brown, because without him, the Bobcats will in all likelihood miss the playoff.
23 (18) WARRIORS 8-15
I was fortunate to be in attendance when the Warriors hosted the Heat in Oakland and it was really sad to see that the Warriors did not put up a fight, especially in the second half of that game. I know Steph Curry is out, but the Warriors played with absolutely no urgency.
24 (23) CAVS 7-17
I doesn’t surprise me that the Cavs have lose their last eight games, but the most surprising stat is the 93.2 points that the Cavs are scoring this season, which is 29th in league. I thought the Cavs would struggle defensively after losing Lebron, but for them to be 29th in scoring under new head coach Byron Scott’s up tempo offense is shocking to me.
25 (24) PISTONS 7-18
The Pistons are dead last in rebounding at 38.8 rebounds per game and offensively the once discipline Pistons have absolutely no structure. I guess things will continue to go downhill for the Pistons until they address their ownership issue.
26 (28) TIMBERWOLVES 6-18
The Timberwolves are first in the league in rebounding with 45.8 led by Kevin Love’s 15.6, which leads the league in rebounding. The Wolves have a great future that will only come to fruition when they address their perimeter deficiencies, which could be as early as next season.
27 (25) WIZARDS 6-16
The Wizards Josh Howard is scheduled to return soon to give the Wizards a much needed boost on the offensive end. John Wall assist should go up once that happens, because he will have another player running the break that can finish.
28 (27) NETS 6-18
The Nets have to make a trade. This team appears to be completely stagnant and I just don’t see any upside. Of course they will win more than the 12 games they won last year, but I don’t think the addition of new head coach Avery Johnson has had any real impact on the team’s improvement.
29 (29) CLIPPERS 5-20
The Clippers are another one of those teams that need a check up from the neck up. Baron Davis returned from an early season injury, but has clearly not been himself. Kaman is still out and Blake Griffin has continued to dominate. However, the Clippers look like a team with no direction right now.
30 (30) KINGS 5-16
The Kings are struggling and now word is Tyreke Evans is day-to-day with a foot injury. This team was projected to move up this season, but so far they are the most disappointing team entering week 8 and are ranked 30th for second straight week in my power ranking.
Monday, December 6, 2010
NBA WIZARD 2010-11 NBA POWER RANKING WEEK 7
RK (LW) TEAM REC
1 (1) SPURS 17-3
The Spurs are once again entering yet another week in the top spot. I think the ‘big 3’ knows what’s at stake and from the looks of things, the Lakers may have to beat the Spurs in San Antonio if they expect to 3-peat, because the Spurs are on track to finish with the best record in the league.
2 (5) CELTICS 16-4
Rondo has been in and out with nagging injuries, but that has not stopped the Celtics from maintaining. They currently have the best record in the league. The Celtics are considered to be an aging team by many, but I consider them an ageless wonder. Barring injuries, all roads to the finals will lead through Boston.
3 (6) MAVERICKS 16-4
The Mavericks are currently the hottest team in the league sporting a nine game winning streak. They are clicking on all cylinders and if I had to point to one reason for their success, I would say it’s their defense. Clearly, they have become one of the better defensive teams in the West.
4 (4) MAGIC 15-6
Stan Van Gundy, the Orlando Magic head coach has been quoted saying, “there’s Miami, Brett Farve and then, there’s everyone else, as if to say, the Magic gets no respect. Truth be told, I think the Magic are very content playing under the radar and with a 15-5 record are only one game behind the Boston Celtics for the best record in the East.
5 (5) LAKERS 14-6
The Lakers finally snapped the four games skid by blowing out the Sacramento Kings 113-80. The Lakers Andrew Bynum was cleared to practice 5 on 5 and is expected to return soon. Like I’ve always said, if Bynum is 100% healthy, the Lakers would be my pick to win the nba championship and give coach Phil Jackson his fourth 3-peat.
6 (6) JAZZ 15-6
Deron Williams is leading this team and the Jazz are taking heed. They are one of those teams that no one’s really talking about, but by the time the season ends, the Jazz will be right there with the big boys in the West.
7 (10) NUGGETS 13-6
My guess is the Nuggets will not trade Carmelo Anthony before the trading deadline in February and probably might even wait until next summer before working out a sign-and-trade deal with Melo. Things have stabilized in Denver and with head coach George Karl recently receiving a clear bill of health in regards to his cancer, the Nuggets are playing like a cohesive unit.
8 (12) HEAT 13-8
Lebron’s long awaited return to Cleveland came and went and the King did not disappoint scoring 38 points in only 29 minutes. I was impressed with Lebron’s performance, but I was even more impressed by the way the Heat team played together as a unit. It was their best game together as a team and could be the beginning of good things to come.
9 (8) HAWKS 13-8
The Hawks $126 million man Joe Johnson will have arthroscopic elbow surgery and could be out for some time, but I expect the Hawks to continue to play well. Johnson’s absence will force them to depend and each other to play together. However, there’s no denying Johnson will be missed, which means other players will have to step up.
10 (9) THUNDER 14-7
Russell Westbrook is a stud! He is currently averaging 24.1ppg, 8.7apg and 2.2spg. Kevin Durant may be the poster child, but Westbrook is clearly the mvp of that team.
11 (13) HORNETS 13-7
Since starting the season 11-1 the Hornets have gone 2-6 and are falling faster than the Dow Jones did when Obama first took office. The NBA is making an unprecedented move to acquire the Hornets from Mr. Shinn, the Hornets current owner in an attempt to keep the team in New Orleans and maybe all the hoopla involving this change has been wearing down on the players.
12 (14) KNICKS 13-7
I keep asking myself if the Knicks are for real, but with four straight wins, it’s hard to argue that they are not a playoff team. Amare Stoudemire has clearly emerged as one of the top power forward in the league. His 24.9ppg and 9rpg averages can be measured against any power forward and may come out ahead with the exception of the Mavericks Dirk.
13 (11) SUNS 11-9
The Suns are back in the playoff picture following wins over Golden State, Indiana and Washington. The Trail Blazers and the Warriors have helped the Suns move up to the 8th seed in the West, by compiling losses of their own.
14 (11) BULLS 10-8
The Bulls free agent prize, power forward Carlos Boozer has been with the team for only several games now, so I expect them to go through a period of transition with him, but once he gets acclimated to the system, the Bulls will be a force to reckon with.
15 (13) PACERS 10-9
At 10-9, the Pacers are off to a very impressive start considering they were not projected to make the playoffs. They are currently seeded 7th in the East and even though I don’t see any real upside with this team, I feel they have an excellent shot at making the playoffs.
16 (12) TRAIL BLAZERS 8-12
Wesley Matthews is emerging into a nice young player for the Blazers, but Brandon Roy has taken a step backwards due to several knee injuries. Like I’ve always said, the Blazers will go as far as Roy can take them and so far, he can barely walk, so there you go.
17 (21) RAPTORS 8-13
I guess only in the East a team can be 5 games below .500 and still be in the playoffs. The Raptors own that distinction and are currently hanging on the 8th and final playoff seed in the East.
18 (16) WARRIORS 8-12
The Warriors are fun and entertaining, but I’ve always felt that their Achilles heel is also their strength. They have the best offensive backcourt in the nba, but due to the undersize, Monte Ellis and Steph Curry are usually a liability on defense. They will continue to be fun to watch, but unless the Warriors add some size to their backcourt, they will continue to struggle with their perimeter defense.
19 (20) BUCKS 7-12
I really thought Corey Maggette would have impacted the Bucks offensive. Along with Bogut and Jennings, I expected the Bucks to be much better offensively, but that simply has not been the case in Milwaukee. The good news is the Bucks are in the East and right ahead of them is Toronto, which means making the playoffs should be attainable since their defense is very potent.
20 (19) GRIZZLIES 8-13
The Grizzlies are obviously in the bottom half of the league, so four straight losses doesn’t surprise me, especially with three of those losses being against .500 and better teams. However, I believe the Grizzlies are playing below their potential.
21 (25) ROCKETS 7-13
The Rockets have played without Yao and Brooks, their starting center and point guard in all but 5 games this season and let’s face it, very few teams in this league can survive without two starters. With Yao and Brooks the Rockets were off to a disappointing start, without them they simply have no chance of making the playoffs in the West.
22 (22) BOBCATS 7-13
The Bobcats need to make a change. After a breakout season last year, Gerald Wallace may have taken a step backwards and Stephen Jackson may be gritty, but he cannot be the Bobcats best player if they expect to really move up. Although they may be solid on the defensive end, they simply don’t score enough points, which is why I think a change or an addition to their team may be necessary.
23 (17) CAVALIERS 7-13
I guess the Cavaliers are still stunned from their 118-90 loss to their former king, Lebron James. But they must move on and do so in a hurry, because the 34 points loss they suffer in their very next game to the Timberwolves, one of the worse teams in the league was unacceptable.
24 (24) PISTONS 7-14
The Pistons will have to compete with their current roster until around the all-star break at which time the team is expected to be sold. I don’t anticipate any major changes out of Detroit until a new owner arrives. Could Magic Johnson pull the rabbit out of the hat? Could he be in line to buy the Pistons? Is that why he cashed out $160 from selling his starbucks and 24 hour fitness chains? All speculations will be answered in February.
25 (26) WIZARDS 6-11
Rookie sensation John Wall is in a bit of a slum since returning from his ankle injury. Over the last three games, Wall is averaging 13.7ppg and 7.3apg meanwhile Gilbert Arenas numbers continues to rise and he could be leading the team in scoring by the end of week 7. I remember not long ago Wall was averaging 23ppg and 10apg. Oh yeah, that was before Arenas returned.
26 (27) 76ERS 6-14
Trade rumors seem to be intensifying around Iguodala, the Sixers high flying small forward. I believe a change is coming very soon in Philadelphia and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Iggy traded soon.
27 (23) NETS 6-15
I am very surprised to see that the Nets are second to last in scoring in the league at 93.2 points per game, especially because they have an up tempo point guard like Devin Harris. I think new head coach Avery Johnson has the strangle hold on his team and is not allowing them to play freely.
28 (28) TIMBERWOLVES 5-15
Kevin Love continues to lead the league in rebound with 15.3 rebounds per game and Michael Beasley’s 21.6ppg, leads the team in scoring. Because of that, the Timberwolves have surprisingly stayed in games with some good team, but they always find a way to lose down the stretch because they don’t have any consistent scoring from their wing players.
29 (30) CLIPPERS 4-17
The nba should just give Blake Griffin his ROY Award, because there’s nothing anyone can do about it, not even John Wall. Baron Davis return should further help bolster Griffin chance of winning the award. The Clippers will succeed when Griffin learns how to use his athleticism on the defensive end, until then they are lottery bound.
30 (25) KINGS 4-14
Word out of Sacramento is that coach Paul Westphal days are numbered. I don’t know if that is the case or not, but something has to change in Sacramento and with the Kings losing their last seven games a change may be inevitable.
1 (1) SPURS 17-3
The Spurs are once again entering yet another week in the top spot. I think the ‘big 3’ knows what’s at stake and from the looks of things, the Lakers may have to beat the Spurs in San Antonio if they expect to 3-peat, because the Spurs are on track to finish with the best record in the league.
2 (5) CELTICS 16-4
Rondo has been in and out with nagging injuries, but that has not stopped the Celtics from maintaining. They currently have the best record in the league. The Celtics are considered to be an aging team by many, but I consider them an ageless wonder. Barring injuries, all roads to the finals will lead through Boston.
3 (6) MAVERICKS 16-4
The Mavericks are currently the hottest team in the league sporting a nine game winning streak. They are clicking on all cylinders and if I had to point to one reason for their success, I would say it’s their defense. Clearly, they have become one of the better defensive teams in the West.
4 (4) MAGIC 15-6
Stan Van Gundy, the Orlando Magic head coach has been quoted saying, “there’s Miami, Brett Farve and then, there’s everyone else, as if to say, the Magic gets no respect. Truth be told, I think the Magic are very content playing under the radar and with a 15-5 record are only one game behind the Boston Celtics for the best record in the East.
5 (5) LAKERS 14-6
The Lakers finally snapped the four games skid by blowing out the Sacramento Kings 113-80. The Lakers Andrew Bynum was cleared to practice 5 on 5 and is expected to return soon. Like I’ve always said, if Bynum is 100% healthy, the Lakers would be my pick to win the nba championship and give coach Phil Jackson his fourth 3-peat.
6 (6) JAZZ 15-6
Deron Williams is leading this team and the Jazz are taking heed. They are one of those teams that no one’s really talking about, but by the time the season ends, the Jazz will be right there with the big boys in the West.
7 (10) NUGGETS 13-6
My guess is the Nuggets will not trade Carmelo Anthony before the trading deadline in February and probably might even wait until next summer before working out a sign-and-trade deal with Melo. Things have stabilized in Denver and with head coach George Karl recently receiving a clear bill of health in regards to his cancer, the Nuggets are playing like a cohesive unit.
8 (12) HEAT 13-8
Lebron’s long awaited return to Cleveland came and went and the King did not disappoint scoring 38 points in only 29 minutes. I was impressed with Lebron’s performance, but I was even more impressed by the way the Heat team played together as a unit. It was their best game together as a team and could be the beginning of good things to come.
9 (8) HAWKS 13-8
The Hawks $126 million man Joe Johnson will have arthroscopic elbow surgery and could be out for some time, but I expect the Hawks to continue to play well. Johnson’s absence will force them to depend and each other to play together. However, there’s no denying Johnson will be missed, which means other players will have to step up.
10 (9) THUNDER 14-7
Russell Westbrook is a stud! He is currently averaging 24.1ppg, 8.7apg and 2.2spg. Kevin Durant may be the poster child, but Westbrook is clearly the mvp of that team.
11 (13) HORNETS 13-7
Since starting the season 11-1 the Hornets have gone 2-6 and are falling faster than the Dow Jones did when Obama first took office. The NBA is making an unprecedented move to acquire the Hornets from Mr. Shinn, the Hornets current owner in an attempt to keep the team in New Orleans and maybe all the hoopla involving this change has been wearing down on the players.
12 (14) KNICKS 13-7
I keep asking myself if the Knicks are for real, but with four straight wins, it’s hard to argue that they are not a playoff team. Amare Stoudemire has clearly emerged as one of the top power forward in the league. His 24.9ppg and 9rpg averages can be measured against any power forward and may come out ahead with the exception of the Mavericks Dirk.
13 (11) SUNS 11-9
The Suns are back in the playoff picture following wins over Golden State, Indiana and Washington. The Trail Blazers and the Warriors have helped the Suns move up to the 8th seed in the West, by compiling losses of their own.
14 (11) BULLS 10-8
The Bulls free agent prize, power forward Carlos Boozer has been with the team for only several games now, so I expect them to go through a period of transition with him, but once he gets acclimated to the system, the Bulls will be a force to reckon with.
15 (13) PACERS 10-9
At 10-9, the Pacers are off to a very impressive start considering they were not projected to make the playoffs. They are currently seeded 7th in the East and even though I don’t see any real upside with this team, I feel they have an excellent shot at making the playoffs.
16 (12) TRAIL BLAZERS 8-12
Wesley Matthews is emerging into a nice young player for the Blazers, but Brandon Roy has taken a step backwards due to several knee injuries. Like I’ve always said, the Blazers will go as far as Roy can take them and so far, he can barely walk, so there you go.
17 (21) RAPTORS 8-13
I guess only in the East a team can be 5 games below .500 and still be in the playoffs. The Raptors own that distinction and are currently hanging on the 8th and final playoff seed in the East.
18 (16) WARRIORS 8-12
The Warriors are fun and entertaining, but I’ve always felt that their Achilles heel is also their strength. They have the best offensive backcourt in the nba, but due to the undersize, Monte Ellis and Steph Curry are usually a liability on defense. They will continue to be fun to watch, but unless the Warriors add some size to their backcourt, they will continue to struggle with their perimeter defense.
19 (20) BUCKS 7-12
I really thought Corey Maggette would have impacted the Bucks offensive. Along with Bogut and Jennings, I expected the Bucks to be much better offensively, but that simply has not been the case in Milwaukee. The good news is the Bucks are in the East and right ahead of them is Toronto, which means making the playoffs should be attainable since their defense is very potent.
20 (19) GRIZZLIES 8-13
The Grizzlies are obviously in the bottom half of the league, so four straight losses doesn’t surprise me, especially with three of those losses being against .500 and better teams. However, I believe the Grizzlies are playing below their potential.
21 (25) ROCKETS 7-13
The Rockets have played without Yao and Brooks, their starting center and point guard in all but 5 games this season and let’s face it, very few teams in this league can survive without two starters. With Yao and Brooks the Rockets were off to a disappointing start, without them they simply have no chance of making the playoffs in the West.
22 (22) BOBCATS 7-13
The Bobcats need to make a change. After a breakout season last year, Gerald Wallace may have taken a step backwards and Stephen Jackson may be gritty, but he cannot be the Bobcats best player if they expect to really move up. Although they may be solid on the defensive end, they simply don’t score enough points, which is why I think a change or an addition to their team may be necessary.
23 (17) CAVALIERS 7-13
I guess the Cavaliers are still stunned from their 118-90 loss to their former king, Lebron James. But they must move on and do so in a hurry, because the 34 points loss they suffer in their very next game to the Timberwolves, one of the worse teams in the league was unacceptable.
24 (24) PISTONS 7-14
The Pistons will have to compete with their current roster until around the all-star break at which time the team is expected to be sold. I don’t anticipate any major changes out of Detroit until a new owner arrives. Could Magic Johnson pull the rabbit out of the hat? Could he be in line to buy the Pistons? Is that why he cashed out $160 from selling his starbucks and 24 hour fitness chains? All speculations will be answered in February.
25 (26) WIZARDS 6-11
Rookie sensation John Wall is in a bit of a slum since returning from his ankle injury. Over the last three games, Wall is averaging 13.7ppg and 7.3apg meanwhile Gilbert Arenas numbers continues to rise and he could be leading the team in scoring by the end of week 7. I remember not long ago Wall was averaging 23ppg and 10apg. Oh yeah, that was before Arenas returned.
26 (27) 76ERS 6-14
Trade rumors seem to be intensifying around Iguodala, the Sixers high flying small forward. I believe a change is coming very soon in Philadelphia and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Iggy traded soon.
27 (23) NETS 6-15
I am very surprised to see that the Nets are second to last in scoring in the league at 93.2 points per game, especially because they have an up tempo point guard like Devin Harris. I think new head coach Avery Johnson has the strangle hold on his team and is not allowing them to play freely.
28 (28) TIMBERWOLVES 5-15
Kevin Love continues to lead the league in rebound with 15.3 rebounds per game and Michael Beasley’s 21.6ppg, leads the team in scoring. Because of that, the Timberwolves have surprisingly stayed in games with some good team, but they always find a way to lose down the stretch because they don’t have any consistent scoring from their wing players.
29 (30) CLIPPERS 4-17
The nba should just give Blake Griffin his ROY Award, because there’s nothing anyone can do about it, not even John Wall. Baron Davis return should further help bolster Griffin chance of winning the award. The Clippers will succeed when Griffin learns how to use his athleticism on the defensive end, until then they are lottery bound.
30 (25) KINGS 4-14
Word out of Sacramento is that coach Paul Westphal days are numbered. I don’t know if that is the case or not, but something has to change in Sacramento and with the Kings losing their last seven games a change may be inevitable.
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