RK (LW) TEAM REC
1 (1) SPURS 49-10
With 23 games in the season, it’s fair to say the Spurs will end up with the best record in the league. The team stayed pat during the trade deadline and will have to rely on Tony, Manu, Tim and Jefferson to lead them to the promise land.
2 (2) CELTICS 42-15
The Celtics pulled out the most shocking trade before the deadline when they traded center Kendrick Perkins and guard Nate Robinson to the Thunder for forward Jeff Green and center Nenad Krstic. I think the trade was a great move for the Celtics if their goal was to improve for the future, because if the goal was to improve the team now, I think they may have decreased their chances of making it to the finals. Kendrick Perkins was the anchor to their defense and even though Shaq may be a better offensive player, I believe the Celtics took a step backwards defensively.
3 (4) MAVERICKS 42-16
The Mavs could not trade Caron Butler’s expiring contract and will have to either win with what they have or hope to add a player who contract is bought out. I don’t expect that to happen. I expect the Mavs to make a run with their current roster, but I don’t think they have what it takes to defeat the Lakers or Spurs in a 7-game series.
4 (3) HEAT 43-17
The Heat should be 3-0 since the break, but their lackadaisical play cost them two games and perhaps hurt Lebron’s chances of winning his third straight MVP Award. Against the Bulls and Knicks, the Heat gave up double digit leads and Lebron failed to hit 3-point attempts that would have tied and sent both games to overtime. Quite frankly, it shouldn’t have even come down to that, because the Heat were clearly in control for most of both games.
5 (5) BULLS 40-17
The Bulls stayed pat at the trade deadline, but where excited to welcome back center Joakim Noah who averaged 7.3ppg and 13.7rpg in the three games since he’s been back. The Bulls are at full strength and are determined to make a run for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
6 (8) LAKERS 42-19
The Lakers didn’t make any moves and decided to hold on to Andrew Bynum, rather than trade him for Carmelo Anthony. I think this was an excellent move, because by keeping Bynum, the Lakers still have the most imposing frontline, which is the main reason why they are back to back champions.
7 (7) MAGIC 38-22
The team didn’t make any trades in hopes of landing a veteran big man once their current team buys them out. They are hoping to sign Troy Murphy once he agrees to a buyout from the Warriors, because they could definitely use a big man to help out their all-star center Dwight Howard, who called out his team and proclaimed that they would lose every game if they didn’t start playing with urgency. The Magic will not make it out of the second round if they don’t add a big man.
8 (9) HAWKS 36-23
The Hawks traded Bibby to the Wizards for Kirk Hinrich because the team felt that they needed to add a defensive minded point guard, which Hinrich definitely is. The problem is, Bibby may seek a buyout from the Wizards and decide to sign with either the Heat or Celtics, a move that will eventually come back to haunt the Hawks.
9 (6) THUNDER 36-22
Everyone believes trading for Kendrick Perkins and Nazr Mohammed gives the Thunder two big bodies to contend with the Lakers and Spurs. The argument is that the team was a rebound away from taking the Lakers to a seventh game in L.A during the playoffs last year and if a similar scenario was to occur, Perkins would be there to get the rebound. I agree with this argument, but I think losing forward Jeff Green will put a lot of pressure on the Thunder’s two all-star, Wesbrook and Durant. For as good as Perkins might be on defense, offensively he is nowhere close to Jeff Green.
10 (10) TRAIL BLAZERS 33-26
The Blazers traded center Joel Przybilla to the Bobcats for former all-star forward Gerald Wallace and I believe that was a good trade for them. Many questioned why the Blazers would trade for another small forward when they already have Nicolas Batum, but I think the reason the Blazers made the trade is because they may be looking to have Wallace play both forwards spots. He will eventually backup both Batum and Aldridge which will allow the team to play small or big depending on different matchup scenarios.
11 (11) NUGGETS 34-26
The Nuggets finally traded Carmelo Anthony and couldn’t be happier. I think the trade made them one of the deepest teams in the league at every position and also made them a much better defensive team. I believe the player who will benefit the most from this trade is the Nuggets J.R.Smith. If he can keep his head right, Smith could take his game to a whole new level.
12 (12) GRIZZLIES 33-28
The Grizzlies failed to trade O.J. Mayo, because they could not complete their trade with the Pacers in time. I truly believe that was a blessing in disguise, because I think the trade made absolutely no sense. The Griz were giving up Mayo and a draft picks for Pacers power forward Josh McRoberts, who is only averaging 7.4ppg. I know McRoberts has a great upside, but giving away Mayo, who will definitely help the Grizzlies make the playoffs this year and a draft pick to the Pacers was just too much, especially with Rudy Gay being hurt.
13 (16) 76ERS 30-29
The Sixers stayed pat and decided not to trade forward Andre Iguodala and I think that was a great move. This team has upset written all over them and I can assure you whichever team is matched up against them in the first round of the playoff will have their work cut out for them.
14 (14) KNICKS 30-27
The Knicks got the prize jewel Carmelo Anthony, but Chaucey Billlups will the one who determines how far the team goes in the playoffs. Mr. “big shot” showed how valuable he is to the Knicks success when he hit a huge 3-pointer along with two steals in the final minutes of a game against the Heat in Miami which led to a 91-86 win. To me that game gave a glimpse into what could unfold in New York. Another key to the Knicks success is whether they can commit to defense, something they haven’t been known for.
15 (13) HORNETS 35-26
The Hornets definitely improved their team by trading Marcus Thornton and cash to the Sacramento Kings for forward Carl Landry, a move that I didn’t expect considering the team is strapped for cash and also because the team is owned by the league. I was caught off guard, because if the league is complaining about losing money, the last thing I expected is for them to add more cash to a team that is cash poor. From a basketball standpoint, the Hornets improved, but from a financial standpoint, the team lost more money at the expense of the league’s other 29 owners.
16 (17) SUNS 30-27
The Phoenix Suns decided to stay pat and milk Steve Nash for everything he’s worth and even though it doesn’t get Nash any closer to winning a championship, keeping him certainly increases the Suns chance of making the playoffs. They are only one game behind the Grizzlies for the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference. A few weeks ago, I wrote that the Suns had absolutely no chance of making the playoffs, but Nash is definitely making a believer out of me.
17 (15) JAZZ 32-28
The Jazz general manager Larry O’Conner pulled off a brilliant move by trading all-star point guard Deron Williams to the Nets for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and two 1st round picks. His rationale was he did not want to go through what the Nuggets went through with Carmelo and to a deeper extent what the Cavs went through with Lebron, so he went on the offensive. I know losing Williams may seem like a lot, but the Jazz got enough assets to make the trade worth it.
18 (20) ROCKETS 30-31
The Rockets were busy during the deadline pulling off two deals to strengthen their team. First they traded Shane Battier for Hasheem Thabeet, an underachieving center who was drafted with the 2nd pick by the Grizzlies. Then the Rockets went on to trade Brooks to the Suns for Dragic. The Rationale behind the trade is that the Rockets are hoping that Thabeet will emerge into a defensive center in Houston. As far as Brooks, the team was not going to re-sign him, so they felt that Dragic would be the perfect replacement.
19 (19) PACERS 26-32
According to reports, the Pacers were not able to complete their trade by the deadline for O.J. Mayo causing the league to revoke the trade. I think the real reason for the trade not going through is because the Grizzlies probably got cold feet. Trading for Mayo would have put the Pacers over the hump and almost certainly assured them of making the playoffs, unfortunately they will now have to battle the Bobcats for the last seed in the East.
20 (18) WARRIORS 26-32
The Warriors were on a roll and were only 3 games below .500 before running into the Celtics and Hawks. The team is now sporting a 3-game losing streak, but even before their current slide I still didn’t expect the Warriors to make the playoffs. Trading for Troy Murphy was simply a way to shed salary because the team is expected to buyout Murphy’s contract.
21 (21) BOBCATS 26-33
The Bobcats traded away Gerald Wallace for Joel Pryzbilla because the team wanted to save more money, similar to what they did when they traded center Tyson Chandler to Dallas. I think the Bobcats team owner Michael Jordan believes they are still good enough to make the playoffs since they are in a bottom weak Eastern Conference. By trading Wallace, the team is off the hook for the remainder 2 year/$22 million left on his contract after this season, while still hanging on to their playoff hopes. Currently the team is only a ½ game behind the Pacers for the eighth and final playoffs spot in the Eastern Conference.
22 (23) BUCKS 22-36
The Bucks stayed pat and decided to keep their current roster in tack which was definitely a mistake. I thought they would move Michael Redd’s $18 million expiring contract, but they didn’t. I think their decision to stay pat will eventually caused them to miss the playoffs this season.
23 (24) PISTONS 22-39
The Pistons organization is in total disarray and peaceful grounds don’t seem to be anywhere in sight. They were unsuccessful in their attempts to trade Rip Hamilton and ended up staying pat only to have several players strike even though the team claimed that was not the case. Either way, there is a major communication gap between the players and their head coach.
24 (22) CLIPPERS 21-39
The Clippers welcomed back center Chris Kaman and will also soon have their leading scorer Eric Gordon (24.1ppg) back in the lineup. The team also traded Baron Davis and their first round pick this upcoming summer to the Cavaliers for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon. From what I gather, this season is all but salvaged and the Clippers are now turning their attention to next season and beyound
25 (25) NETS 17-42
After spending six long months trying to acquire Carmelo Anthony, the Nets got a great consolation price in Deron Williams after losing Carmelo to the Knicks. Signing Williams to an extension will be the Nets biggest concern, but they must improve as a team if they expect to keep Williams. Three things must happen if the Nets expect to keep Williams. First, center Brook Lopez must improve, especially his rebounding and start looking like a potential all-star. Second, the Nets must sign another big name free agent and third, head coach Avery Johnson must form an alliance with Williams within the next year.
26 (27) RAPTORS 16-44
The Raptors are looking to the future, but every now and then they show how promising their future could by beating really good teams like they did recently in a 118-112 defeat against the Bulls. If they continue to improve and have some luck in the draft this summer, things could change in a hurry for them especially since they are in the Eastern Conference.
27 (26) WIZARDS 15-43
The Wizards Nick Young and John Wall could be one of the most dominant backcourts in the league if they continue to improve at their current rapid pace that they are one, especially Nick. Everyone knows John Wall is going to be a stud, but Young has been taking the league by storm in recent weeks and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
28 (28) TIMBERWOLVES 14-46
The Wolves have been playing the role of facilitators in helping teams complete trades while trying to improve their own roster. They did that when they traded for Michael Beasley and very recently aided the Carmelo Anthony trade to New York by getting Anthony Randolph and Eddy Curry from the Knicks. Obviously this team isn’t going anywhere this season, but their fortunes could change as early as next season.
29 (28) KINGS 14-43
At this point, the Kings future in Sacramento looks really bleak, so I guess they figure why not make some cash in process which is exactly what they did when they traded Carl Landry to the Hornets for Marcus Thorton. The team will not make the playoffs and could be playing their final games in Sacramento before heading to Anaheim, which seems to be the consensus around the league.
30 (30) CAVALIERS 11-48
The Cavaliers will have two lottery picks this summer, thanks to their trade with the Clippers for Baron Davis. Imagine if they ended up with the top two picks in the draft this summer, while possessing the $15 million expiring contract of Antawn Jamison and the $14.2 million trade exception brought on by Lebron? The Cavs could add several players via trades while having the top two picks to go with Baron Davis, J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varajao. They could be a completely different team. That would be a blessing to rise back up only one season after losing Lebron.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
NBA WIZARD 2010-11 NBA POWER RANKING WEEK 18
RK (LW) TEAM REC
1 (1) SPURS 46-10
Fresh of their all-star appearance, the Spurs Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili might take a back seat to Tony Parker in the second half of the season. I believe Parker will use his all-star snubbing as motivation and will be the Spurs best player in the second half of the season.
2 (2) CELTICS 40-14
The Celtics are confident and believe they can make it to the NBA Finals without having home court advantage in the Eastern Conference which is why I expect them to focus on staying healthy in the second half of the season as oppose to challenging Miami for the best record in the East.
3 (3) HEAT 41-15
The Miami Heat will finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference by the end of the season, but it may not matter as much because they are much better on the road then at home. I expect Lebron to have a better second half than he did before the all-star break which should result in him winning his third straight MVP Award.
4 (4) MAVERICKS 40-16
The Mavericks will be without forward Caron Butler for the rest of the season, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see the team trade him and his $10.6 milliion expiring contract. In an effort to improve their chances of competing with the Lakers and Spurs, a trade might be imperative.
5 (5) BULLS 38-16
The Bulls Joakim Noah is expected to be back on Wednesday and his return will certainly bolster the Bulls interior defense and increase Derrick Rose’s chance of winning the MVP Award. However, I think the Bulls will still finish third in the East and I don’t expect them to continue winning at their current (.7037) percentage, considering half of their remaining games will be against teams with .500 or better records.
6 (7) THUNDER 35-19
The Oklahoma City Thunder are tied with the Lakers in the loss column and are on track to win 53 games, which I believe they might end up winning. I expect them to finish with the fourth seed behind the Spurs, Mavericks and Lakers. I believe Kevin Durant will also finish fourth in the MVP voting behind Lebron, D-Rose and Dwight Howard.
7 (8) MAGIC 36-21
The Orlando Magic will finish the season seeded fourth in the Eastern Conference and will have a first round match up with either the Hawks or the Knicks if they end up trading for Carmelo Anthony. I expect the Magic to be very relentless in their pursuit of Eddy Curry or Todd Murphy, if and when either player is traded and have their contract bought out by their new team.
8 (6) LAKERS 38-19
I think it’s fair to say that the Lakers have conceded the top seed in the West to San Antonio, but I definitely expect them to end up with the second seed. Like Kobe said, the Lakers were bored with familiar roles in the first half of the season, especially after coming of back to back championships. Their boredom will turn to seriousness by mid April, at which time they will be ready to defend their championship.
9 (9) HAWKS 34-21
The Hawks are the fifth best team in the East and could be the sixth if Carmelo gets traded to New York. I think management has to be aware of this, which is why I wouldn’t be surprised if the Hawks were to make a trade before the deadline. Marvin Williams is the most likely candidate to be traded with Josh Smith being next in line.
10 (10) TRAIL BLAZERS 32-24
Rumor has it that the Blazers are trying to trade Andre Miller; a player I consider to be a very solid point guard, to the Nets for Devin Harris. The belief is Harris, Matthews and Roy once he returns should give the Blazers a formidable backcourt trio that should be able to compete with just about any backcourt in the league. The Blazers are looking to speed up the tempo and must believe that Harris would be better suited for that task, whereas Miller is more of a prototype point guard.
11 (13) NUGGETS 32-25
The Nuggets will have a completely different team within less than a week and from the looks of things the Knicks may be emerging as their ultimate trade partner for Carmelo Anthony. Either way, it appears that the Carmelo Anthony trade saga may be coming to an end.
12 (12) GRIZZLIES 31-26
The Grizzlies are tied with the slumping Jazz for the eighth and final playoff spot. I expect the Griz to eventually beat out the Jazz for the final spot. Trading O.J. Mayo appears less likely now that Rudy Gay is out with an injury. Mayo should replace Rudy in the starting lineup and considering all his recent troubles, I expect him to use that to his advantage and play a lot better than he did in the first half of the season.
13 (11) HORNETS 33-25
The Hornets have been consistently inconsistent and I expect that trend to continue in the second half of the season. The reality is the Hornets are not a very talented team, compounded to that is the fact that the team is owned by the league and without a regular owner calling the shots, player movements will be highly unlikely before the trade deadline.
14 (16) KNICKS 28-26
The Knicks and the entire city of New York for that matter are sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation of Carmelo Anthony’s arrival. Clueless reporters are writing that the Knicks are giving up too much for Carmelo so let me set the record straight. If the trade goes through, the Knicks would be swapping Felton for Billups, which is fine by me. Eddy contract is expiring and the Knicks were not going to re-sign him anyway. Basically, the Knicks would be trading Gallinari and Chandler for Carmelo. Please explain to me why would any general manager pass up that trade? This trade is an absolute ‘no brainer.’
15 (14) JAZZ 31-26
The Jazz are winless since the resignation of Jerry Sloan and I am going on record to say that they will not make the playoffs this season. The sad conclusion to the story is that in an effort to appease Deron Williams, the Jazz forced Sloan into early retirement and when it’s all said and done, Williams will leave Utah when he becomes a free agent in 2012.
16 (15) 76ERS 27-29
I anticipate the Sixers holding on to the seventh spot in the East. I don’t see them surpassing the Hawks or the Knicks if they get Carmelo, but I will say they will be a nightmare matchup in the first round for either the Bulls or Celtics. I will be very surprised if the Sixers trade Iguodala, because quite frankly, I don’t see them getting equal value in return so why pull the trigger.
17 (18) SUNS 27-27
The Suns are currently right at .500, but making the playoffs will take an absolute miracle and I just don’t see that happening with the Grizzlies and Blazers playing so well. I know they are only 2.5 games out of the eighth spot, but for them to make it, the Grizzlies or Blazers will have to fall and without the Suns making a trade to bolster their roster, the likelihood of that happening will be very slim. The problem with making a trade is that the Suns don’t have any tradable assets outside of Steve Nash and trading him would be an indication that they are looking to rebuild.
18 (20) WARRIORS 26-29
My hometown Warriors have come on strong as of late winning 7 of their last 10 games, but it might be a case of a little too late, as far as making the playoffs is concern. Word out of Oakland is that the Warriors will be looking to go after the Blazers Oden or the Rockets Yao Ming, with the latter being their preference considering the strong Bay Area Asian Community.
19 (17) PACERS 24-30
I was very impressed with the Pacers new head coach Frank Vogel’s proclamation that teams best beware of facing the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs. I believe it was simply his way of motivating his team, because I doubt any of the top teams in the East got the message. The team is 7-3 under their new head coach with two of their losses coming against the Heat in two very close games. The Pacers primary focus in the second half of the season however, should be holding off the Bobcats for the eighth and final spot in the East. Currently, they are only one game ahead.
20 (19) ROCKETS 26-31
The Rockets are not going to make the playoffs, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see them make a trade before the deadline. If they do make one, it would be to improve the team’s future and will not have anything to do with increasing their chances of making the playoffs this year. Could a trade be brewing with the Warriors for Yao?
21 (21) BOBCATS 24-32
The Bobcats are only one game behind the Pacers and I know their owner Michael Jordan will do everything he can to increase his team chances of making it. M.J is going to make a trade and rumor has it that either Stephen Jackson or Gerald Wallace might be on the move.
22 (23) CLIPPERS 21-35
All the Clippers can hope for is to improve as a team in the second half of the season. Those improvements may not be determined by the wins, rather by the continuous developing chemistry between their young stars. Once Gordon returns, the rotation should return back to normal and hopefully Griffin will use the second half to improve his post game and his jump shot.
23 (22) BUCKS 21-34
The Bucks shooting guard and former all-star Michael Redd is close to returning after being out for 13 months due to a severe knee injury. I doubt he can return to his old form, but if he’s anything close to that, the Bucks will have a great chance of making the playoffs. A more likely scenario would be for the Bucks to trade Redd, whose $18.3 million expiring contract makes him very attractive. The trading deadline is shaping into a very exciting one and the Bucks should be very active if they intend to salvage their season.
24 (24) PISTONS 21-36
The sale of the Detroit Pistons is closed to being finalized and until it’s completed, everything will be at a standstill. I don’t expect the deal to be consummated before the trade deadline on Thursday and if in fact that is the case the Pistons will not make any trades.
25 (25) NETS 17-40
The Nets got back into the Carmelo Anthony sweepstake and even struck a deal, but Melo will not be going to New Jersey. The Nets are rumored to be engaging the Nuggets for another trade that should land them the Knicks Gallinari and Felton if indeed those players are traded to the Nuggets. If that happens, Devin Harris could be on his way out.
26 (26) WIZARDS 15-39
The Wizards future looks really bright with JaVale McGee, John Wall and Nick Young aboard, not to mention the high draft pick that they are sure to get considering their terrible record. In McGee and Wall, the Wizards have their center and point guard of the future, two positions that are considered the hardest and most important to fill.
27 (28) RAPTORS 15-41
Second year guard Demar DeRozan showed a glimpse of why the Raptors are so high on him during the slam dunk competition. He’s currently the Raptors second leading scorer with 15.9ppg, but he has an incredible upside. The Raptors could be a completely different team if DeRozan continues to improve along with center Andrea Bargnani and the team is fortunate to add a top 3 lottery pick.
28 (27) KINGS 13-40
The Kings DeMarcus Cousins has a boatload of talent and could be a star in this league if he can get his temper under control. He should average 20/10 by next season, by which time the Kings could be playing in Anaheim, California.
29 (29) TIMBERWOLVES 13-43
The Timberwolves are playing the role of facilitator which is why I expect them to be very active before the trade deadline. I don’t expect them to make any significant trades, but I do expect them to add a player or two from teams looking to shed salaries, similar to what they did when they acquired Michael Beasley from the Heat last summer.
30 (30) CAVALIERS 10-46
The Cavs are not going to make any major moves, unless a team is willing to take on Jamison contract that has $15 million left after this season, while providing them with future draft picks, because the team is not really looking to improve this season. The team’s primary concern is to hopefully land a high draft pick and to add as many future first round picks as they look to rebuild through draft.
1 (1) SPURS 46-10
Fresh of their all-star appearance, the Spurs Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili might take a back seat to Tony Parker in the second half of the season. I believe Parker will use his all-star snubbing as motivation and will be the Spurs best player in the second half of the season.
2 (2) CELTICS 40-14
The Celtics are confident and believe they can make it to the NBA Finals without having home court advantage in the Eastern Conference which is why I expect them to focus on staying healthy in the second half of the season as oppose to challenging Miami for the best record in the East.
3 (3) HEAT 41-15
The Miami Heat will finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference by the end of the season, but it may not matter as much because they are much better on the road then at home. I expect Lebron to have a better second half than he did before the all-star break which should result in him winning his third straight MVP Award.
4 (4) MAVERICKS 40-16
The Mavericks will be without forward Caron Butler for the rest of the season, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see the team trade him and his $10.6 milliion expiring contract. In an effort to improve their chances of competing with the Lakers and Spurs, a trade might be imperative.
5 (5) BULLS 38-16
The Bulls Joakim Noah is expected to be back on Wednesday and his return will certainly bolster the Bulls interior defense and increase Derrick Rose’s chance of winning the MVP Award. However, I think the Bulls will still finish third in the East and I don’t expect them to continue winning at their current (.7037) percentage, considering half of their remaining games will be against teams with .500 or better records.
6 (7) THUNDER 35-19
The Oklahoma City Thunder are tied with the Lakers in the loss column and are on track to win 53 games, which I believe they might end up winning. I expect them to finish with the fourth seed behind the Spurs, Mavericks and Lakers. I believe Kevin Durant will also finish fourth in the MVP voting behind Lebron, D-Rose and Dwight Howard.
7 (8) MAGIC 36-21
The Orlando Magic will finish the season seeded fourth in the Eastern Conference and will have a first round match up with either the Hawks or the Knicks if they end up trading for Carmelo Anthony. I expect the Magic to be very relentless in their pursuit of Eddy Curry or Todd Murphy, if and when either player is traded and have their contract bought out by their new team.
8 (6) LAKERS 38-19
I think it’s fair to say that the Lakers have conceded the top seed in the West to San Antonio, but I definitely expect them to end up with the second seed. Like Kobe said, the Lakers were bored with familiar roles in the first half of the season, especially after coming of back to back championships. Their boredom will turn to seriousness by mid April, at which time they will be ready to defend their championship.
9 (9) HAWKS 34-21
The Hawks are the fifth best team in the East and could be the sixth if Carmelo gets traded to New York. I think management has to be aware of this, which is why I wouldn’t be surprised if the Hawks were to make a trade before the deadline. Marvin Williams is the most likely candidate to be traded with Josh Smith being next in line.
10 (10) TRAIL BLAZERS 32-24
Rumor has it that the Blazers are trying to trade Andre Miller; a player I consider to be a very solid point guard, to the Nets for Devin Harris. The belief is Harris, Matthews and Roy once he returns should give the Blazers a formidable backcourt trio that should be able to compete with just about any backcourt in the league. The Blazers are looking to speed up the tempo and must believe that Harris would be better suited for that task, whereas Miller is more of a prototype point guard.
11 (13) NUGGETS 32-25
The Nuggets will have a completely different team within less than a week and from the looks of things the Knicks may be emerging as their ultimate trade partner for Carmelo Anthony. Either way, it appears that the Carmelo Anthony trade saga may be coming to an end.
12 (12) GRIZZLIES 31-26
The Grizzlies are tied with the slumping Jazz for the eighth and final playoff spot. I expect the Griz to eventually beat out the Jazz for the final spot. Trading O.J. Mayo appears less likely now that Rudy Gay is out with an injury. Mayo should replace Rudy in the starting lineup and considering all his recent troubles, I expect him to use that to his advantage and play a lot better than he did in the first half of the season.
13 (11) HORNETS 33-25
The Hornets have been consistently inconsistent and I expect that trend to continue in the second half of the season. The reality is the Hornets are not a very talented team, compounded to that is the fact that the team is owned by the league and without a regular owner calling the shots, player movements will be highly unlikely before the trade deadline.
14 (16) KNICKS 28-26
The Knicks and the entire city of New York for that matter are sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation of Carmelo Anthony’s arrival. Clueless reporters are writing that the Knicks are giving up too much for Carmelo so let me set the record straight. If the trade goes through, the Knicks would be swapping Felton for Billups, which is fine by me. Eddy contract is expiring and the Knicks were not going to re-sign him anyway. Basically, the Knicks would be trading Gallinari and Chandler for Carmelo. Please explain to me why would any general manager pass up that trade? This trade is an absolute ‘no brainer.’
15 (14) JAZZ 31-26
The Jazz are winless since the resignation of Jerry Sloan and I am going on record to say that they will not make the playoffs this season. The sad conclusion to the story is that in an effort to appease Deron Williams, the Jazz forced Sloan into early retirement and when it’s all said and done, Williams will leave Utah when he becomes a free agent in 2012.
16 (15) 76ERS 27-29
I anticipate the Sixers holding on to the seventh spot in the East. I don’t see them surpassing the Hawks or the Knicks if they get Carmelo, but I will say they will be a nightmare matchup in the first round for either the Bulls or Celtics. I will be very surprised if the Sixers trade Iguodala, because quite frankly, I don’t see them getting equal value in return so why pull the trigger.
17 (18) SUNS 27-27
The Suns are currently right at .500, but making the playoffs will take an absolute miracle and I just don’t see that happening with the Grizzlies and Blazers playing so well. I know they are only 2.5 games out of the eighth spot, but for them to make it, the Grizzlies or Blazers will have to fall and without the Suns making a trade to bolster their roster, the likelihood of that happening will be very slim. The problem with making a trade is that the Suns don’t have any tradable assets outside of Steve Nash and trading him would be an indication that they are looking to rebuild.
18 (20) WARRIORS 26-29
My hometown Warriors have come on strong as of late winning 7 of their last 10 games, but it might be a case of a little too late, as far as making the playoffs is concern. Word out of Oakland is that the Warriors will be looking to go after the Blazers Oden or the Rockets Yao Ming, with the latter being their preference considering the strong Bay Area Asian Community.
19 (17) PACERS 24-30
I was very impressed with the Pacers new head coach Frank Vogel’s proclamation that teams best beware of facing the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs. I believe it was simply his way of motivating his team, because I doubt any of the top teams in the East got the message. The team is 7-3 under their new head coach with two of their losses coming against the Heat in two very close games. The Pacers primary focus in the second half of the season however, should be holding off the Bobcats for the eighth and final spot in the East. Currently, they are only one game ahead.
20 (19) ROCKETS 26-31
The Rockets are not going to make the playoffs, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see them make a trade before the deadline. If they do make one, it would be to improve the team’s future and will not have anything to do with increasing their chances of making the playoffs this year. Could a trade be brewing with the Warriors for Yao?
21 (21) BOBCATS 24-32
The Bobcats are only one game behind the Pacers and I know their owner Michael Jordan will do everything he can to increase his team chances of making it. M.J is going to make a trade and rumor has it that either Stephen Jackson or Gerald Wallace might be on the move.
22 (23) CLIPPERS 21-35
All the Clippers can hope for is to improve as a team in the second half of the season. Those improvements may not be determined by the wins, rather by the continuous developing chemistry between their young stars. Once Gordon returns, the rotation should return back to normal and hopefully Griffin will use the second half to improve his post game and his jump shot.
23 (22) BUCKS 21-34
The Bucks shooting guard and former all-star Michael Redd is close to returning after being out for 13 months due to a severe knee injury. I doubt he can return to his old form, but if he’s anything close to that, the Bucks will have a great chance of making the playoffs. A more likely scenario would be for the Bucks to trade Redd, whose $18.3 million expiring contract makes him very attractive. The trading deadline is shaping into a very exciting one and the Bucks should be very active if they intend to salvage their season.
24 (24) PISTONS 21-36
The sale of the Detroit Pistons is closed to being finalized and until it’s completed, everything will be at a standstill. I don’t expect the deal to be consummated before the trade deadline on Thursday and if in fact that is the case the Pistons will not make any trades.
25 (25) NETS 17-40
The Nets got back into the Carmelo Anthony sweepstake and even struck a deal, but Melo will not be going to New Jersey. The Nets are rumored to be engaging the Nuggets for another trade that should land them the Knicks Gallinari and Felton if indeed those players are traded to the Nuggets. If that happens, Devin Harris could be on his way out.
26 (26) WIZARDS 15-39
The Wizards future looks really bright with JaVale McGee, John Wall and Nick Young aboard, not to mention the high draft pick that they are sure to get considering their terrible record. In McGee and Wall, the Wizards have their center and point guard of the future, two positions that are considered the hardest and most important to fill.
27 (28) RAPTORS 15-41
Second year guard Demar DeRozan showed a glimpse of why the Raptors are so high on him during the slam dunk competition. He’s currently the Raptors second leading scorer with 15.9ppg, but he has an incredible upside. The Raptors could be a completely different team if DeRozan continues to improve along with center Andrea Bargnani and the team is fortunate to add a top 3 lottery pick.
28 (27) KINGS 13-40
The Kings DeMarcus Cousins has a boatload of talent and could be a star in this league if he can get his temper under control. He should average 20/10 by next season, by which time the Kings could be playing in Anaheim, California.
29 (29) TIMBERWOLVES 13-43
The Timberwolves are playing the role of facilitator which is why I expect them to be very active before the trade deadline. I don’t expect them to make any significant trades, but I do expect them to add a player or two from teams looking to shed salaries, similar to what they did when they acquired Michael Beasley from the Heat last summer.
30 (30) CAVALIERS 10-46
The Cavs are not going to make any major moves, unless a team is willing to take on Jamison contract that has $15 million left after this season, while providing them with future draft picks, because the team is not really looking to improve this season. The team’s primary concern is to hopefully land a high draft pick and to add as many future first round picks as they look to rebuild through draft.
Monday, February 14, 2011
NBA WIZARD 2010-11 NBA POWER RANKING WEEK 17
RK (LW) TEAM REC
1 (1) SPURS 45-9
The Spurs have been so impressive this season with only 9 losses. With 17 weeks into the season, the Spurs are averaging a loss every other week, so when it does happens it gives us something else to talk about other than constantly glorifying how well they’ve played. Last week’s 77-71 loss against the Sixers was as ugly as it gets, but like I said, one bad game every other week is very acceptable.
2 (2) CELTICS 39-14
The Celtics definitely have the Miami Heat number and this trend will continue unless two things changes. One, Miami figures out a way to slow down Rondo, doubtful or, D-Wade figures out how to be as effective as Lebron against the Cs. For now, the Celtics are clearly the best team in the Eastern Conference.
3 (3) HEAT 39-15
The Heat would have made a major statement by beating the Celtics in Boston, but with a chance to tie with seconds left, Lebron made only one of two free throws which led to an 85-82 loss to the Celtics. I think for the Heat to beat the Celtics in a 7-game series, their backcourt will have to outplay the Celtics backcourt or, Lebron will have to be super human against the Celtics, which I believe he is capable of being once Haslem returns. As for Wade dominating Boston, I just don’t see that happening.
4 (5) MAVERICKS 38-16
The Mavs have won 11 of the last 12 with their lone loss being a come from behind victory by the Nuggets. The good news for the Mavs is that only 3 of their next 10 games will be against teams with over .500 records so I expect their winning ways to continue.
5 (4) BULLS 36-16
I did not expect the Bulls to go 3-2 on their current 5-game road trip, especially after starting 1-2, but to win their last two against the Jazz and Hornets clearly helped boost Derrick Rose MVP chances. What made the Bulls last two wins even more impressive is because Rose went up against arguable the top two point guards in the league and beat them on their courts.
6 (6) LAKERS 38-17
The biggest news out of L.A these days is whether or not the Lakers will trade Andrew Bynum for Carmelo Anthony and either way makes sense depending on what the objective is. If Bynum and Artest are both healthy and play well, the Lakers chances of 3-peating will be very high, but Kobe is getting older so winning more rings may be highly unlikely especially with the Heat in the mix. However, trading for Carmelo makes the Lakers formidable for years to come, but such a move will decrease their chances of winning this year.
7 (8) THUNDER 34-19
The Oklahoma City Thunder are on track to win 53 games this year, but I still don’t see them defeating the Lakers or Spurs in a seven game series. Jeff Green and James Hardin hold the key to the Thunder’s future, but the new Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA) will make it very difficult for the Thunder to keep both players in the long run.
8 (9) MAGIC 35-21
The Magic made a long overdue stand with their convincing 89-75 win over the defeating champions L.A. Lakers in Orlando. I think the win was even more important to the Magic, because they needed a confidence booster to prove to themselves that they could beat a title contender.
9 (7) HAWKS 33-20
The Hawks all-star Joe Johnson scored a combined 17 points over the last two games, which explains why they are sporting a 2-game losing streak. Johnson must play at a high level every night in order for the Hawks to be successful.
10 (13) TRAIL BLAZERS 30-24
LaMarcus Aldridge is playing like a man possessed since his all-star snub and has been an absolute monster over the Blazers last four games, averaging 33.5ppg per game to help his team go 4-0. After a season rocked by injuries, the Blazers received news that guard Brandon Roy may be returning before the playoffs after having two successful arthroscopic knee surgeries. The guy is a true warrior!
11 (10) HORNETS 33-23
I watched the Hornets game against the Bulls and was surprise to see Derrick Rose pretty much have his way with CP3. More than his playmaking ability, what sets CP3 apart is his ability to defend, but against Rose, he was really a non factor. I am not going to make too much of this, because I still consider Paul the best point guard in the league. Rose may be explosive, but his defense is suspect at best.
12 (15) GRIZZLIES 30-26
The Memphis Grizzlies are winners of three straight and eight of their last ten. They are only a game behind the Blazers and are making a strong challenge for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. I expect them to battle the Blazers all the way to the finish line, which should be a very exciting race to watch.
13 (11) NUGGETS 31-24
The Nuggets have a 2-3 record over their last 5 games, but their losses have clearly not been because of Carmelo Anthony who has been an absolute beast! Melo averaged 34.8ppg on 61.2 percent shooting, including a 50 point game against the Rockets in a loss. As far as trades goes, the latest rumors have the Lakers contemplating a trade that would send starting center Bynum to the Nuggets for Melo.
14 (12) JAZZ 31-24
After 23 seasons with the Jazz, Jerry Sloan was forced to quit, at least that’s how former Jazz hall of famer Karl Malone sees it. This move was done in an effort to appease Jazz all-star point guard Deron Williams, at least that’s the rumor. I am sure everything will unfold over the coming weeks in regards to Sloan abruptly quitting. The Jazz are 0-2 in the Sloan-less era.
15 (19) 76ERS 26-28
The Sixers have won 3 straight and winners of 7 of their last 10 games. Their 77-71 win over the Spurs, the team with the league’s best record more than confirmed that they are for real. This team has upset written all over them and whoever is matched up against them in the first round of the playoffs will be in for a dog fight.
16 (14) KNICKS 27-26
Since starting the season 21-14 the Knicks have posted a 6-12 record and are currently only a game above the .500 mark with a 27-26 record. They are really fortunate to be in the Eastern Conference because they are still seeded in the sixth spot even with the recent slide over their last 18 games. The bad news is the Bobcats whom are currently out of the playoffs are only 4.5 games behind them. It will be really sad if the Knicks don’t make the playoffs especially after such a good start.
17 (18) PACERS 24-28
The Pacers have climbed back up to the eighth seed in the East with a 7-1 record under new interim head coach Frank Vogel, with their lone loss being a 117-112 nail bitter to the Heat in Miami. Former head coach Jim O’Brien’s firing may have been a good thing after all.
18 (16) SUNS 26-26
The Suns have a 6-2 record over their last 8 games, but it’s going to take a miracle for them to surpass the Grizzlies and Blazers whom are both on fire right now. I am really curious to see what the Suns do with Steve Nash by the trade deadline, because by then it should be pretty clear that the Suns will not make the playoffs.
19 (17) ROCKETS 23-30
The Rockets may be willing to trade for Melo without having him sign an extension and this might be a smart move because the Rockets were one of the teams Melo said he wouldn’t mind being traded to. However, I don’t think trading for Melo will help them secure a playoff spot with only 29 games left, but going into next season they could be a very formidable squad.
20 (21) WARRIORS 24-29
I don’t expect the Warriors to make the playoffs either, but they have certainly made improvements under new head coach Keith Smart. They are currently on track to win 37 games, but unless they make a trade or get lucky in the draft, I don’t see them as a team with any real upside based on their current.
21 (20) BOBCATS 23-31
Yes we all heard the news about Michael Jordan joining his team for full court scrimmages and Paul Silas claim that he could still score 20ppg today in the NBA, but Jordan is not coming back. First of all, he will need to sell his shares in the team, which is highly unlikely. Secondly, a 50 year old Michael Jordan is not what the NBA needs. I think the Bobcats real concern should be making the playoffs as they are currently two games out.
22 (23) BUCKS 20-33
The Bucks are sporting a 3-game losing streak with a 3-7 record over the last 10 outings. They have definitely been a disappointment this season and I don’t see them fixing their scoring issue over the next 29 games. I think they have no chance of making the playoffs unless they make a drastic trade before the deadline.
23 (22) CLIPPERS 20-34
The Clippers were not that good to begin with, but after losing their leading scorer Eric Gordon (24.1ppg) to an injury, they’ve gone on to win only 3 of their last 11 games without him in the lineup. It’s fair to say they will not make the playoffs this season, but if they are fortunate to add another lottery pick and Griffins develops a post game, watch out!
24 (24) PISTONS 20-35
The new Pistons owners are finalizing the purchase of the team which should be concluding just before the trade deadline. My guess is the new ownership might decide to hold off on trades until next season since it appears that they will not be making the playoff this year.
25 (25) NETS 17-38
The Nets are in the best position of any young team in the league, which is why I don’t expect any changes to be made this season, unless of course, Carmelo Anthony agrees to sign an extension with them which seems highly doubtful. The immediate goal at this point is winning 30 games this season and hopefully landing a high lottery pick this summer.
26 (29) WIZARDS 15-38
Last week was a week of ending streaks and the Wizards and Cavs were bind to the hips on both ends. The Wizards were losers of 25 straight road games to start the season as they began the match against the Cavaliers whom had ended their 26 games losing streak against the Clippers a game earlier, but the Wizards would not be denied as they defeated the Cavs 115-100 to end their road losing streak in Cleveland.
27 (27) KINGS 13-38
DeMarcus Cousins threw a tantrum fit for not getting the ball in the post from Dante Greene who opted to pass the ball to Tyreke Evans. Evans missed the game winning 3-pointer and the Kings lost 99-97 to the Thunder at home. Cousins continued his tirade after the game and was suspending for fighting Dante Greene in the locker room. Cousins have a lot of potential, but if he continues down this path, he could be out of the league by the time he’s eligible for a contract extension.
28 (26) RAPTORS 15-40
The Raptors are either lottery or contraction bound, but this season is pretty much over for them. I expect them to blow up this team during the summer and I expect the blowup to be done by a new general manager.
29 (28) TIMBERWOLVES 13-41
I’m still griping over Kevin Love being selected to the all-star team over the Blazers LaMarcus Aldridge, especially since the Wolves only have 13 wins.
30 (30) CAVALIERS 9-46
The Cavaliers needed an overtime win against the struggling L.A. Clippers in Cleveland to snap their 26-game losing streak, a mark that tied them with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the most consecutive losses in American professional team history. In the Cavs defense, they’ve been without starting center Varejao who is out for the season and Mo Williams, who returned for the game against the Clippers after being out for 13 straight games. In all honesty, there is no way the Cavaliers would have lost 26 straight if they had both players healthy.
1 (1) SPURS 45-9
The Spurs have been so impressive this season with only 9 losses. With 17 weeks into the season, the Spurs are averaging a loss every other week, so when it does happens it gives us something else to talk about other than constantly glorifying how well they’ve played. Last week’s 77-71 loss against the Sixers was as ugly as it gets, but like I said, one bad game every other week is very acceptable.
2 (2) CELTICS 39-14
The Celtics definitely have the Miami Heat number and this trend will continue unless two things changes. One, Miami figures out a way to slow down Rondo, doubtful or, D-Wade figures out how to be as effective as Lebron against the Cs. For now, the Celtics are clearly the best team in the Eastern Conference.
3 (3) HEAT 39-15
The Heat would have made a major statement by beating the Celtics in Boston, but with a chance to tie with seconds left, Lebron made only one of two free throws which led to an 85-82 loss to the Celtics. I think for the Heat to beat the Celtics in a 7-game series, their backcourt will have to outplay the Celtics backcourt or, Lebron will have to be super human against the Celtics, which I believe he is capable of being once Haslem returns. As for Wade dominating Boston, I just don’t see that happening.
4 (5) MAVERICKS 38-16
The Mavs have won 11 of the last 12 with their lone loss being a come from behind victory by the Nuggets. The good news for the Mavs is that only 3 of their next 10 games will be against teams with over .500 records so I expect their winning ways to continue.
5 (4) BULLS 36-16
I did not expect the Bulls to go 3-2 on their current 5-game road trip, especially after starting 1-2, but to win their last two against the Jazz and Hornets clearly helped boost Derrick Rose MVP chances. What made the Bulls last two wins even more impressive is because Rose went up against arguable the top two point guards in the league and beat them on their courts.
6 (6) LAKERS 38-17
The biggest news out of L.A these days is whether or not the Lakers will trade Andrew Bynum for Carmelo Anthony and either way makes sense depending on what the objective is. If Bynum and Artest are both healthy and play well, the Lakers chances of 3-peating will be very high, but Kobe is getting older so winning more rings may be highly unlikely especially with the Heat in the mix. However, trading for Carmelo makes the Lakers formidable for years to come, but such a move will decrease their chances of winning this year.
7 (8) THUNDER 34-19
The Oklahoma City Thunder are on track to win 53 games this year, but I still don’t see them defeating the Lakers or Spurs in a seven game series. Jeff Green and James Hardin hold the key to the Thunder’s future, but the new Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA) will make it very difficult for the Thunder to keep both players in the long run.
8 (9) MAGIC 35-21
The Magic made a long overdue stand with their convincing 89-75 win over the defeating champions L.A. Lakers in Orlando. I think the win was even more important to the Magic, because they needed a confidence booster to prove to themselves that they could beat a title contender.
9 (7) HAWKS 33-20
The Hawks all-star Joe Johnson scored a combined 17 points over the last two games, which explains why they are sporting a 2-game losing streak. Johnson must play at a high level every night in order for the Hawks to be successful.
10 (13) TRAIL BLAZERS 30-24
LaMarcus Aldridge is playing like a man possessed since his all-star snub and has been an absolute monster over the Blazers last four games, averaging 33.5ppg per game to help his team go 4-0. After a season rocked by injuries, the Blazers received news that guard Brandon Roy may be returning before the playoffs after having two successful arthroscopic knee surgeries. The guy is a true warrior!
11 (10) HORNETS 33-23
I watched the Hornets game against the Bulls and was surprise to see Derrick Rose pretty much have his way with CP3. More than his playmaking ability, what sets CP3 apart is his ability to defend, but against Rose, he was really a non factor. I am not going to make too much of this, because I still consider Paul the best point guard in the league. Rose may be explosive, but his defense is suspect at best.
12 (15) GRIZZLIES 30-26
The Memphis Grizzlies are winners of three straight and eight of their last ten. They are only a game behind the Blazers and are making a strong challenge for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. I expect them to battle the Blazers all the way to the finish line, which should be a very exciting race to watch.
13 (11) NUGGETS 31-24
The Nuggets have a 2-3 record over their last 5 games, but their losses have clearly not been because of Carmelo Anthony who has been an absolute beast! Melo averaged 34.8ppg on 61.2 percent shooting, including a 50 point game against the Rockets in a loss. As far as trades goes, the latest rumors have the Lakers contemplating a trade that would send starting center Bynum to the Nuggets for Melo.
14 (12) JAZZ 31-24
After 23 seasons with the Jazz, Jerry Sloan was forced to quit, at least that’s how former Jazz hall of famer Karl Malone sees it. This move was done in an effort to appease Jazz all-star point guard Deron Williams, at least that’s the rumor. I am sure everything will unfold over the coming weeks in regards to Sloan abruptly quitting. The Jazz are 0-2 in the Sloan-less era.
15 (19) 76ERS 26-28
The Sixers have won 3 straight and winners of 7 of their last 10 games. Their 77-71 win over the Spurs, the team with the league’s best record more than confirmed that they are for real. This team has upset written all over them and whoever is matched up against them in the first round of the playoffs will be in for a dog fight.
16 (14) KNICKS 27-26
Since starting the season 21-14 the Knicks have posted a 6-12 record and are currently only a game above the .500 mark with a 27-26 record. They are really fortunate to be in the Eastern Conference because they are still seeded in the sixth spot even with the recent slide over their last 18 games. The bad news is the Bobcats whom are currently out of the playoffs are only 4.5 games behind them. It will be really sad if the Knicks don’t make the playoffs especially after such a good start.
17 (18) PACERS 24-28
The Pacers have climbed back up to the eighth seed in the East with a 7-1 record under new interim head coach Frank Vogel, with their lone loss being a 117-112 nail bitter to the Heat in Miami. Former head coach Jim O’Brien’s firing may have been a good thing after all.
18 (16) SUNS 26-26
The Suns have a 6-2 record over their last 8 games, but it’s going to take a miracle for them to surpass the Grizzlies and Blazers whom are both on fire right now. I am really curious to see what the Suns do with Steve Nash by the trade deadline, because by then it should be pretty clear that the Suns will not make the playoffs.
19 (17) ROCKETS 23-30
The Rockets may be willing to trade for Melo without having him sign an extension and this might be a smart move because the Rockets were one of the teams Melo said he wouldn’t mind being traded to. However, I don’t think trading for Melo will help them secure a playoff spot with only 29 games left, but going into next season they could be a very formidable squad.
20 (21) WARRIORS 24-29
I don’t expect the Warriors to make the playoffs either, but they have certainly made improvements under new head coach Keith Smart. They are currently on track to win 37 games, but unless they make a trade or get lucky in the draft, I don’t see them as a team with any real upside based on their current.
21 (20) BOBCATS 23-31
Yes we all heard the news about Michael Jordan joining his team for full court scrimmages and Paul Silas claim that he could still score 20ppg today in the NBA, but Jordan is not coming back. First of all, he will need to sell his shares in the team, which is highly unlikely. Secondly, a 50 year old Michael Jordan is not what the NBA needs. I think the Bobcats real concern should be making the playoffs as they are currently two games out.
22 (23) BUCKS 20-33
The Bucks are sporting a 3-game losing streak with a 3-7 record over the last 10 outings. They have definitely been a disappointment this season and I don’t see them fixing their scoring issue over the next 29 games. I think they have no chance of making the playoffs unless they make a drastic trade before the deadline.
23 (22) CLIPPERS 20-34
The Clippers were not that good to begin with, but after losing their leading scorer Eric Gordon (24.1ppg) to an injury, they’ve gone on to win only 3 of their last 11 games without him in the lineup. It’s fair to say they will not make the playoffs this season, but if they are fortunate to add another lottery pick and Griffins develops a post game, watch out!
24 (24) PISTONS 20-35
The new Pistons owners are finalizing the purchase of the team which should be concluding just before the trade deadline. My guess is the new ownership might decide to hold off on trades until next season since it appears that they will not be making the playoff this year.
25 (25) NETS 17-38
The Nets are in the best position of any young team in the league, which is why I don’t expect any changes to be made this season, unless of course, Carmelo Anthony agrees to sign an extension with them which seems highly doubtful. The immediate goal at this point is winning 30 games this season and hopefully landing a high lottery pick this summer.
26 (29) WIZARDS 15-38
Last week was a week of ending streaks and the Wizards and Cavs were bind to the hips on both ends. The Wizards were losers of 25 straight road games to start the season as they began the match against the Cavaliers whom had ended their 26 games losing streak against the Clippers a game earlier, but the Wizards would not be denied as they defeated the Cavs 115-100 to end their road losing streak in Cleveland.
27 (27) KINGS 13-38
DeMarcus Cousins threw a tantrum fit for not getting the ball in the post from Dante Greene who opted to pass the ball to Tyreke Evans. Evans missed the game winning 3-pointer and the Kings lost 99-97 to the Thunder at home. Cousins continued his tirade after the game and was suspending for fighting Dante Greene in the locker room. Cousins have a lot of potential, but if he continues down this path, he could be out of the league by the time he’s eligible for a contract extension.
28 (26) RAPTORS 15-40
The Raptors are either lottery or contraction bound, but this season is pretty much over for them. I expect them to blow up this team during the summer and I expect the blowup to be done by a new general manager.
29 (28) TIMBERWOLVES 13-41
I’m still griping over Kevin Love being selected to the all-star team over the Blazers LaMarcus Aldridge, especially since the Wolves only have 13 wins.
30 (30) CAVALIERS 9-46
The Cavaliers needed an overtime win against the struggling L.A. Clippers in Cleveland to snap their 26-game losing streak, a mark that tied them with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the most consecutive losses in American professional team history. In the Cavs defense, they’ve been without starting center Varejao who is out for the season and Mo Williams, who returned for the game against the Clippers after being out for 13 straight games. In all honesty, there is no way the Cavaliers would have lost 26 straight if they had both players healthy.
Monday, February 7, 2011
NBA WIZARD 2010-11 NBA POWER RANKING WEEK 16
RK (LW) TEAM REC
1 (1) SPURS 42-8
The Spurs will be represented in the all-star game by Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, but Tony Parker will not make the team despite the Spurs NBA best 42-8 record. I don’t think the Spurs need any motivation, but I expect Parker to use his all-star snubbing as a driving force in being the Spurs best player for the remainder of the regular season.
2 (2) CELTICS 38-12
The Celtics are at full strength for the first time in a long time. Even though none of their players were voted by the fans, the NBA coaches voted for the Celtics ‘big 4’ of Garnett, Rondo, Allen and Pierce to make the all-star reserve team. This should definitely serve as motivation, for teams like the Bulls and Magic who will only be represented by a single player that were voted by the fans.
3 (3) HEAT 37-14
The Heat are winners of their last six games, but Lebron James enigmatic tendencies are worth noting. Please explain to me how a player can score 51 points against the Magic, but follows up his brilliant performance by scoring only 28 points combined in the next two games. It’s like the entire world knows he’s the best player, but somehow he seems afraid to embrace that role in fear of not taking over what used to be D-Wade’s team. Maybe it’s their strategy, or maybe I’m just reading too much into it, but it seems like D-Wade dominates at home, while Lebron dominates on the road.
4 (5) MAVERICKS 35-15
The Mavs are sporting an 8-game winning streak, with their last three being all road wins including an impressive 101-97 win over the Celtics in Boston. Dirk seems to have found his mojo back and though he is still hurting, he has clearly bolstered his MVP chances with his recent play.
5 (4) BULLS 34-15
Derrick Rose has been asked to do a lot for the Bulls, but sometimes even the great ones as Rose currently is can run out of gas. Fortunately for the Bulls, Joakim Noah has taking his cast off, meaning he’s probably close to rejoining the team. Along with Boozer, Noah should help Rose push for the NBA’s MVP Award. Hopefully he’s back soon enough, because 9 of the Bulls next 12 games are on the road and if the Bulls slip in the standings Rose’s chance of winning the MVP Award will diminish along with it.
6 (6) LAKERS 36-16
The Lakers 35-16 record doesn’t bother me, because last year this time the Lakers were only 3 games better at 38-13 and as we know, they went on to repeat as champions. What bothers me though is the fact that the Lakers have a 1-6 record against the Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Mavs and Spurs.
7 (9) HAWKS 33-18
The Hawks will be represented at the all-star game by Joe Johnson and Al Harford which meant Josh Smith had to be snubbed, because the coaches could not vote for three Hawks players, especially with the team having only the fourth best record in the East. As with all all-star snubs, I expect Josh Smith to really step it up a notch in the second half of the season.
8 (10) THUNDER 33-17
Kevin Durant MVP chances has gained grounds as of late, but I always like to refer back to PER (Player’s Efficiency Ratings) in which case Durant’s teammate Russell Westbrook has a slight lead over Durant (Westbrook PER 24.3, Durant PER 24.2). Over the Thunder’s last 5 games however, Durant has been an absolute monster averaging 32.2ppg and 10rpg and would probably finish fourth if the MVP votes came in today behind Lebron, Rose and Dirk.
9 (7) MAGIC 32-20
Don’t be fooled into thinking the Magic 104-100 loss to the Heat was a close one, because it really wasn’t. Had it not been for a Heat letdown in the last six minutes, the Magic would have lost the game by 20 at home. Their 91-80 loss to the Celtics came in Boston, making it more justifiable. However, what I gathered from those two defeats is that the Magic is without question a notch below both teams, which brings me to what I’ve been saying since the trade which is Dwight Howards needs help in the middle.
10 (8) HORNETS 32-20
Before getting alarmed by the Hornets 2-game skid, or 4 losses in their last 5 games, I think it’s key to note that this team has a 32-20 record. CP3 is my sentimental favorite to win the MVP Award even though his chances of winning it are very slim. This team along with the Utah Jazz has clearly overachieved and in the Hornets case are on track to win 50 games thanks to Chris Paul (CP3), the best pure point guard in basketball.
11 (11) NUGGETS 30-21
Sometimes when you think you’re too smart, you outsmart yourself and that is exactly what the Nuggets new general manager and owner have done. No team wants to trade for Carmelo because he’s made it clear he only wants to play for the Knicks leaving the Nuggets only two options. Trade him to a team that is willing to rent him, which means they will get far less in return or, trade him to the Knicks for a lesser offer than what was on the table a few months ago. Either way, the Nuggets had the Nets right where they wanted them, but greed and inexperience caused them the best trade they had available.
12 (13) JAZZ 30-22
The Jazz have been going through a slump recently and are 4-6 over their last 10 games. All-star point guard Deron Williams who is really the key to the Jazz success missed a few games recently, but is back in the lineup even though his wrist may not be fully healed.
13 (12) TRAIL BLAZERS 27-24
I think the biggest and most deserving all-star snub has to be the Blazers LaMarcus Aldridge. I really thought that NBA Commissioner Stern would have selected Aldridge to fill in the spot left by the injured Yao Ming, but he opted to go with Kevin Love, the NBA leading rebounder. I expect Aldridge to have the biggest impact of any snub in the second half of the season.
14 (14) KNICKS 26-24
The Knicks will make the playoff and Amare will get the most credit for that, but I expect the Knicks to make a quick playoff exit unless they trade for Carmelo. From the looks of things, the probability of that happening seems very high right now.
15 (15) GRIZZLIES 27-25
The only thing that will stop the Grizzlies from making the playoff would be the exceptional play of Aldridge, whose Blazer is currently in eighth place. The Grizzlies are trying to increase their chances of making the playoffs by trading O.J. Mayo, but their asking price may be too high, but regardless of that, they still have any excellent chance of making the playoff.
16 (16) SUNS 23-25
I know Steve Nash was recently quoted saying he wants to finish out his contract and play for the Suns through next season, but I believe he will welcome the opportunity to play for a winner, rather than not making the playoff this season. The Suns are only a few games out, but I don’t see them overtaking the Grizzlies and Blazers, whom will be battling like cats and dogs for the eighth and final spot in the West. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Suns trade Nash by the deadline, especially if the likelihood of them making the playoffs remains slim around the deadline.
17 (19) ROCKETS 24-28
The Rockets still have a chance of making the playoffs, but in order to do that they will need a healthy Aaron Brooks and from the looks of things, he may not be fully healthy until next season. The Rockets could get another lift in the form of a trade for Carmelo Anthony, but the likelihood of that happening seems slim as well.
18 (23) PACERS 21-27
Well, I guess we have another ‘casualty of war’ meaning another head coach was fired because of his team’s subpar performance. The good news is the Pacers have not lost a game since firing former head coach Jim O’Brien. The Pacers are currently sporting a 4-game winning streak and are currently hanging on to the eighth seed in the East.
19 (17) 76ERS 23-27
The Sixers are currently seeded seventh in the East thanks to a 6-2 record over their last eight games. I strongly believe the Sixers have what it takes to upset a very good team in the playoffs. Coach Doug Collins has his team playing hard nose defense and even their losses seem like winnable games.
20 (18) BOBCATS 21-29
Former all-star forward Gerald Wallace is regaining his form, but the real news out of Charlotte involves point guard, D.J. Augustin. He has really flourished under new head coach Paul Silas. Since being released from the handcuffs of the Bobcats former coach Larry Brown, D.J. is averaging over 18ppg and has been very instrumental in the Bobcats newfound up tempo style under coach Silas. The key to their success though, lies in the play of Gerald Wallace.
21 (22) WARRIORS 22-27
I think if LaMarcus Aldridge is the biggest all-star snub, then Golden State’s Monte Ellis has to be second biggest snub. I know he leads the league in shot attempts with over 20 a game, but the guy is averaging 25ppg a game. I would argue that he didn’t make it because the Warriors are not a playoff team, but the addition of Kevin Love by no other than the commissioner himself makes that a moot point.
22 (21) CLIPPERS 19-31
The all-star game will be in L.A. so of course I expected Blake Griffin to make the team. Let’s face it, 23ppg and 12.7rpg will get just about anyone an all star invite, not to mention the home town kid is also going to be a slam dunk contest participant. The bad news for the Clippers is they will be without their leading scorer Eric Gordon for another month.
23 (20) BUCKS 19-30
I don’t think it’s any secret that the Bucks Achilles heels is scoring, which is why I was excited to see Brandon Jennings rejoin the team after being out for a month due to injury, I was even more excited to see Carlos Delfino back from injury because I thought his offense would have made a difference, but it hasn’t. Since returning Delfino is averaging 11.1ppg in 10 games, but has shot the ball terribly (33 percent) from the field. The Bucks are also 4-6 since Delfino returned.
24 (24) PISTONS 19-32
It was nice to see Rip Hamilton back in the lineup after being benched for 13 straight games for apparently no reason. Actually, for being excited about being traded to the Nets to play with Carmelo and his previous back court mate, Chauncey Billups, a trade that never materialized. My guess is the Pistons realized that they could not trade Rip and were probably surprised by the support he was getting from his teammates hence, he’s back for now.
25 (26) NETS 15-37
Nets center Brook Lopez numbers have steadily improve this season, but his 5.5rpg is perhaps his most depressing stat and is one of the key reasons why the Nets keep piling on losses like pancakes. This team has to make a trade, or maybe they might just salvage the season and start thinking lottery. Personally I think looking to trade will be the best move to make.
26 (29) RAPTORS 14-37
14 games ago the Raptors were 13-24 and clearly in the hunt for a playoff berth in a watered down bottom weak Eastern Conference. Since then, there’s been only one team worse than the Raptors who are 1-13 in their last 14 games. This team is definitely lottery bound. The only question is whether or not general manager Bryan Colangelo will be allowed to continue what has clearly been an absolute failure.
27 (25) KINGS 12-35
With all the hype going to Griffins, Fields and Walls, the Kings DeMarcus Cousins has gone on to post some very impressive numbers for the Kings. His 13.8ppg and 7.9rpg in only 26 minutes per game has to be commended. What else is there to say about a team with a 12-35 record?
28 (27) TIMBERWOLVES 11-39
I was absolutely shocked to see NBA commissioner David Stern select Kevin Love to replace the injured Yao Ming on the all-star team. With the coaches already picking Griffin from a losing Clippers team, I was almost certain LaMarcus Aldridge would have been selected. I guess the commissioner was trying to reward the blue collar Love for leading the NBA with 15.5rpg.
29 (28) WIZARDS 13-37
When the Wizards traded Gilbert Arenas, I really thought it would give rookie sensation John Wall the room to blossom, but that simply hasn’t pane out. Quite frankly, even with averages of 14.8ppg and 9.1apg, I would have to say Wall has been a disappointment thus far in the first half of the season.
30 (30) CAVALIERS 8-43
The Cleveland Cavaliers set a record for futility by losing an NBA record 24 straight games in a row when they lost to the Portland Trail Blazers. The unfortunate thing is no team wants to be the one that lose to the Cavs which means until this streak ends, they will probably be getting the best out of every opponent, every single night. The good news is, this season was over months ago and if they end up with the first pick and trade Jamison’s expiring contract for a solid player, they could be right back in the swing of things.
1 (1) SPURS 42-8
The Spurs will be represented in the all-star game by Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, but Tony Parker will not make the team despite the Spurs NBA best 42-8 record. I don’t think the Spurs need any motivation, but I expect Parker to use his all-star snubbing as a driving force in being the Spurs best player for the remainder of the regular season.
2 (2) CELTICS 38-12
The Celtics are at full strength for the first time in a long time. Even though none of their players were voted by the fans, the NBA coaches voted for the Celtics ‘big 4’ of Garnett, Rondo, Allen and Pierce to make the all-star reserve team. This should definitely serve as motivation, for teams like the Bulls and Magic who will only be represented by a single player that were voted by the fans.
3 (3) HEAT 37-14
The Heat are winners of their last six games, but Lebron James enigmatic tendencies are worth noting. Please explain to me how a player can score 51 points against the Magic, but follows up his brilliant performance by scoring only 28 points combined in the next two games. It’s like the entire world knows he’s the best player, but somehow he seems afraid to embrace that role in fear of not taking over what used to be D-Wade’s team. Maybe it’s their strategy, or maybe I’m just reading too much into it, but it seems like D-Wade dominates at home, while Lebron dominates on the road.
4 (5) MAVERICKS 35-15
The Mavs are sporting an 8-game winning streak, with their last three being all road wins including an impressive 101-97 win over the Celtics in Boston. Dirk seems to have found his mojo back and though he is still hurting, he has clearly bolstered his MVP chances with his recent play.
5 (4) BULLS 34-15
Derrick Rose has been asked to do a lot for the Bulls, but sometimes even the great ones as Rose currently is can run out of gas. Fortunately for the Bulls, Joakim Noah has taking his cast off, meaning he’s probably close to rejoining the team. Along with Boozer, Noah should help Rose push for the NBA’s MVP Award. Hopefully he’s back soon enough, because 9 of the Bulls next 12 games are on the road and if the Bulls slip in the standings Rose’s chance of winning the MVP Award will diminish along with it.
6 (6) LAKERS 36-16
The Lakers 35-16 record doesn’t bother me, because last year this time the Lakers were only 3 games better at 38-13 and as we know, they went on to repeat as champions. What bothers me though is the fact that the Lakers have a 1-6 record against the Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Mavs and Spurs.
7 (9) HAWKS 33-18
The Hawks will be represented at the all-star game by Joe Johnson and Al Harford which meant Josh Smith had to be snubbed, because the coaches could not vote for three Hawks players, especially with the team having only the fourth best record in the East. As with all all-star snubs, I expect Josh Smith to really step it up a notch in the second half of the season.
8 (10) THUNDER 33-17
Kevin Durant MVP chances has gained grounds as of late, but I always like to refer back to PER (Player’s Efficiency Ratings) in which case Durant’s teammate Russell Westbrook has a slight lead over Durant (Westbrook PER 24.3, Durant PER 24.2). Over the Thunder’s last 5 games however, Durant has been an absolute monster averaging 32.2ppg and 10rpg and would probably finish fourth if the MVP votes came in today behind Lebron, Rose and Dirk.
9 (7) MAGIC 32-20
Don’t be fooled into thinking the Magic 104-100 loss to the Heat was a close one, because it really wasn’t. Had it not been for a Heat letdown in the last six minutes, the Magic would have lost the game by 20 at home. Their 91-80 loss to the Celtics came in Boston, making it more justifiable. However, what I gathered from those two defeats is that the Magic is without question a notch below both teams, which brings me to what I’ve been saying since the trade which is Dwight Howards needs help in the middle.
10 (8) HORNETS 32-20
Before getting alarmed by the Hornets 2-game skid, or 4 losses in their last 5 games, I think it’s key to note that this team has a 32-20 record. CP3 is my sentimental favorite to win the MVP Award even though his chances of winning it are very slim. This team along with the Utah Jazz has clearly overachieved and in the Hornets case are on track to win 50 games thanks to Chris Paul (CP3), the best pure point guard in basketball.
11 (11) NUGGETS 30-21
Sometimes when you think you’re too smart, you outsmart yourself and that is exactly what the Nuggets new general manager and owner have done. No team wants to trade for Carmelo because he’s made it clear he only wants to play for the Knicks leaving the Nuggets only two options. Trade him to a team that is willing to rent him, which means they will get far less in return or, trade him to the Knicks for a lesser offer than what was on the table a few months ago. Either way, the Nuggets had the Nets right where they wanted them, but greed and inexperience caused them the best trade they had available.
12 (13) JAZZ 30-22
The Jazz have been going through a slump recently and are 4-6 over their last 10 games. All-star point guard Deron Williams who is really the key to the Jazz success missed a few games recently, but is back in the lineup even though his wrist may not be fully healed.
13 (12) TRAIL BLAZERS 27-24
I think the biggest and most deserving all-star snub has to be the Blazers LaMarcus Aldridge. I really thought that NBA Commissioner Stern would have selected Aldridge to fill in the spot left by the injured Yao Ming, but he opted to go with Kevin Love, the NBA leading rebounder. I expect Aldridge to have the biggest impact of any snub in the second half of the season.
14 (14) KNICKS 26-24
The Knicks will make the playoff and Amare will get the most credit for that, but I expect the Knicks to make a quick playoff exit unless they trade for Carmelo. From the looks of things, the probability of that happening seems very high right now.
15 (15) GRIZZLIES 27-25
The only thing that will stop the Grizzlies from making the playoff would be the exceptional play of Aldridge, whose Blazer is currently in eighth place. The Grizzlies are trying to increase their chances of making the playoffs by trading O.J. Mayo, but their asking price may be too high, but regardless of that, they still have any excellent chance of making the playoff.
16 (16) SUNS 23-25
I know Steve Nash was recently quoted saying he wants to finish out his contract and play for the Suns through next season, but I believe he will welcome the opportunity to play for a winner, rather than not making the playoff this season. The Suns are only a few games out, but I don’t see them overtaking the Grizzlies and Blazers, whom will be battling like cats and dogs for the eighth and final spot in the West. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Suns trade Nash by the deadline, especially if the likelihood of them making the playoffs remains slim around the deadline.
17 (19) ROCKETS 24-28
The Rockets still have a chance of making the playoffs, but in order to do that they will need a healthy Aaron Brooks and from the looks of things, he may not be fully healthy until next season. The Rockets could get another lift in the form of a trade for Carmelo Anthony, but the likelihood of that happening seems slim as well.
18 (23) PACERS 21-27
Well, I guess we have another ‘casualty of war’ meaning another head coach was fired because of his team’s subpar performance. The good news is the Pacers have not lost a game since firing former head coach Jim O’Brien. The Pacers are currently sporting a 4-game winning streak and are currently hanging on to the eighth seed in the East.
19 (17) 76ERS 23-27
The Sixers are currently seeded seventh in the East thanks to a 6-2 record over their last eight games. I strongly believe the Sixers have what it takes to upset a very good team in the playoffs. Coach Doug Collins has his team playing hard nose defense and even their losses seem like winnable games.
20 (18) BOBCATS 21-29
Former all-star forward Gerald Wallace is regaining his form, but the real news out of Charlotte involves point guard, D.J. Augustin. He has really flourished under new head coach Paul Silas. Since being released from the handcuffs of the Bobcats former coach Larry Brown, D.J. is averaging over 18ppg and has been very instrumental in the Bobcats newfound up tempo style under coach Silas. The key to their success though, lies in the play of Gerald Wallace.
21 (22) WARRIORS 22-27
I think if LaMarcus Aldridge is the biggest all-star snub, then Golden State’s Monte Ellis has to be second biggest snub. I know he leads the league in shot attempts with over 20 a game, but the guy is averaging 25ppg a game. I would argue that he didn’t make it because the Warriors are not a playoff team, but the addition of Kevin Love by no other than the commissioner himself makes that a moot point.
22 (21) CLIPPERS 19-31
The all-star game will be in L.A. so of course I expected Blake Griffin to make the team. Let’s face it, 23ppg and 12.7rpg will get just about anyone an all star invite, not to mention the home town kid is also going to be a slam dunk contest participant. The bad news for the Clippers is they will be without their leading scorer Eric Gordon for another month.
23 (20) BUCKS 19-30
I don’t think it’s any secret that the Bucks Achilles heels is scoring, which is why I was excited to see Brandon Jennings rejoin the team after being out for a month due to injury, I was even more excited to see Carlos Delfino back from injury because I thought his offense would have made a difference, but it hasn’t. Since returning Delfino is averaging 11.1ppg in 10 games, but has shot the ball terribly (33 percent) from the field. The Bucks are also 4-6 since Delfino returned.
24 (24) PISTONS 19-32
It was nice to see Rip Hamilton back in the lineup after being benched for 13 straight games for apparently no reason. Actually, for being excited about being traded to the Nets to play with Carmelo and his previous back court mate, Chauncey Billups, a trade that never materialized. My guess is the Pistons realized that they could not trade Rip and were probably surprised by the support he was getting from his teammates hence, he’s back for now.
25 (26) NETS 15-37
Nets center Brook Lopez numbers have steadily improve this season, but his 5.5rpg is perhaps his most depressing stat and is one of the key reasons why the Nets keep piling on losses like pancakes. This team has to make a trade, or maybe they might just salvage the season and start thinking lottery. Personally I think looking to trade will be the best move to make.
26 (29) RAPTORS 14-37
14 games ago the Raptors were 13-24 and clearly in the hunt for a playoff berth in a watered down bottom weak Eastern Conference. Since then, there’s been only one team worse than the Raptors who are 1-13 in their last 14 games. This team is definitely lottery bound. The only question is whether or not general manager Bryan Colangelo will be allowed to continue what has clearly been an absolute failure.
27 (25) KINGS 12-35
With all the hype going to Griffins, Fields and Walls, the Kings DeMarcus Cousins has gone on to post some very impressive numbers for the Kings. His 13.8ppg and 7.9rpg in only 26 minutes per game has to be commended. What else is there to say about a team with a 12-35 record?
28 (27) TIMBERWOLVES 11-39
I was absolutely shocked to see NBA commissioner David Stern select Kevin Love to replace the injured Yao Ming on the all-star team. With the coaches already picking Griffin from a losing Clippers team, I was almost certain LaMarcus Aldridge would have been selected. I guess the commissioner was trying to reward the blue collar Love for leading the NBA with 15.5rpg.
29 (28) WIZARDS 13-37
When the Wizards traded Gilbert Arenas, I really thought it would give rookie sensation John Wall the room to blossom, but that simply hasn’t pane out. Quite frankly, even with averages of 14.8ppg and 9.1apg, I would have to say Wall has been a disappointment thus far in the first half of the season.
30 (30) CAVALIERS 8-43
The Cleveland Cavaliers set a record for futility by losing an NBA record 24 straight games in a row when they lost to the Portland Trail Blazers. The unfortunate thing is no team wants to be the one that lose to the Cavs which means until this streak ends, they will probably be getting the best out of every opponent, every single night. The good news is, this season was over months ago and if they end up with the first pick and trade Jamison’s expiring contract for a solid player, they could be right back in the swing of things.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)