RK LAST WK
1 (1) INDIANA 12-1
2 (2) SAN ANTONIO 12-1
3 (3) MIAMI 10-3
4 (4) PORTLAND 12-2
5 (7) OKLAHOMA CITY 9-3
6 (5) LA CLIPPERS 10-5
7 (9) HOUSTON 9-5
8 (11) DALLAS 9-5
9 (6) GOLDEN STATE 8-6
10 (10) MINNESOTA 8-7
11 (13) ATLANTA 8-6
12 (14) PHOENIX 7-6
13 (15) DENVER 6-6
14 (8) CHICAGO 6-6
15 (12) MEMPHIS
16 (20) NEW ORLEANS 6-6
17 (16) LA LAKERS 7-7
18 (17) CHARLOTTE 7-7
19 (25) TORONTO 6-7
20 (26) DETROIT 5-8
21 (27) WASHINGTON 5-8
22 (18) PHILADELPHIA 6-9
23 (23) CLEVELAND 4-10
24 (24) BOSTON 5-10
25 (28) SACRAMENTO 4-9
BOTTOM FEEDERS
26 (22) ORLANDO 4-9
27 (19) BROOKLYN 3-10
28 (21) NEW YORK 3-9
29 (29) MILWAUKEE 2-10
30 (30) UTAH 1-14
Monday, November 25, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
NBA WIZARD 2013-2014 POWER RANKING: WEEK 3
RK LAST WK
1 (1) INDIANA 9-1
The Pacers are still number one, because they have the best defense in the league led by Roy Hibbert, the leading candidate for the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award. If you have to nitpick one thing, it would be the Pacers 95.7ppg season average, which ranks at 21st overall in the league.
2 (2) SAN ANTONIO 9-1
Year in and year out the Spurs always seems to be at the top of the Western Conference, so the fact that they are tied for the best record after ten games doesn't surprise me one bit. The good news is Spurs defense are allowing their opponents only 89.3ppg, which is the second best in the league. The bad news is Tim Duncan's age may finally be catching up with him. Timmy is averaging career lows in points, rebounds and field goal percentage with 12ppg, 7.1rpg and .394 respectively.
3 (4) MIAMI 7-3
After two subpar weeks, the Heat finally played with some consistency led by Lebron James, who averaged 34ppg on .7017 percent shooting from the field. After a 3-and-0 week, it's fair to say that Lebron is once again the leading candidate for the NBA's MVP award. The bad news out of Miami though, has to be the health of D-Wade, who averaged only 9.6ppg on .4285 percent shooting last week.
4 (11) PORTLAND 8-2
The Portland Trail Blazers are definitely the surprise team of the NBA early on this season. The Blazers are one of the hottest team in the league and are currently sporting a 6-game winning streak. LaMarcus Aldridge prediction that his team will make the playoffs, seems to be intact, because if the season ended today, the Blazers would be the second seeded team in the Western Conference.
5 (6) LA CLIPPERS 7-3
After of sluggish 3-3 start, the Clippers have been on a nice little roll, winning their last four games. During the streak, Blake Griffin has led the way with 24.75ppg and 10.3rpg and seems to be clearly benefiting from the tutelage of new head coach Doc Rivers. As I mention before, the Clippers will go as far as Griffin can take them.
6 (8) GOLDEN STATE 7-3
The Warriors are sporting a 3-game winning streak thanks to wins over the underachieving Pistons and the Jazz, the NBA's worst team. So basically, the winning streak is somewhat tainted however, a 116-115 win over the Thunder give the win streak some credence. Newcomer Andre Iguodala stole the show by hitting a game winning 20-footer as the buzzer expired against the Thunder. The shot was the fourth game winner of Iguodala's career.
7 (3) OKLAHOMA CITY 6-3
The Thunder came into last week riding a 4-game winning streak, but were brought down to earth with back-to-back losses on the road against the Clippers and GSW. A win against the lottery bound Milwaukee Bucks helped them get back on track to finish the week with a 1-2 record.
8 (13) CHICAGO 5-3
After starting the season 1-and-3, the Bulls have quietly gone on a 4-game winning streak. The Bulls extended the streak by handing the Pacers their first lost in a very impressive 110-94 win in Chicago. The bad news out of Chicago had to do with Rose hamstring injury, but fortunately for the Bulls, Derrick was only out for one game.
9 (7) HOUSTON 7-4
The Rockets are at the end of both spectrum as far as points goes, in terms of scoring and points allowed. They are the second highest scoring team in the league at 108.8ppg, but they are 29th in points allowed, giving up 106.3ppg to their opponents. The good news is as a team, they lead the league in rebounds with 47.5 a game, but if this team expects to pose a serious challenge in the Western Conference, they must improve defensively.
10 (5) MINNESOTA 7-4
The Timberwolves are obviously led by Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio, but there's a new kid on the block and his name is Kevin Martin. After a short stint with the Thunder last season, where he was pretty much a none factor, Martin has emerged as a major factor with the Wolves this season. He is the team's second leading scorer with a very impressive 24.4ppg.
11 (9) DALLAS 6-4
Monte Ellis is sure glad to be out of Milwaukee and the Dallas Mavericks are ecstatic to have him on board. Ellis is leading the Mavs in scoring with 22.1ppg and is a major reason why his team is in playoff contention.
12 (12) MEMPHIS 5-5
The Grizzlies are led by point guard Mike Conley, but this team will go as far as Z-Bo takes them. Last week for instance, the Grizzlies lost their first two games with Z-Bo averaging 11ppg and won their last two with him averaging 25ppg. For the Grizz to really make a playoff push, the team will need him to average 20-and-11, as in points and rebounds.
13 (15) ATLANTA 6-4
As a team, the Hawks assists totals have dipped a bit, but they are still the league's top assist team with 26.3 a game. Leading the way is point Jeff Teague who is averaging 19.4ppg, a team high 9apg and looks to be on his way to his first all star appearance.
14 (10) PHOENIX 5-4
The Suns had a light week playing two games and though they lost both, it was by a combined total of only three points, including a 90-89 nail biter against red hot Trail Blazers in Portland. My early season prediction was that the Suns would miss the playoffs and though I still don't see them making it, it's clear that this team will be competitive under new head coach Jeff Hornacek.
15 (28) DENVER 4-5
For a minute there I was worried about new head coach Brian Shaw as the Nuggets got off to a 1-4 start, but then they went on to win three straight before losing to the Rockets in Houston to finish the week with a 3-1 record. From here on out I think the Nuggets will be competitive, but I must admit I'm not as high on the Nuggets as I was when the season started. This team must improve defensively if they expect to be competitive, but with starting center Javale McGee out indefinitely, I simply don't see this happening without a trade.
16 (20) LA LAKERS 5-7
The good new out of L.A is that Kobe Bryant has been cleared by doctors, so I expect him to be back with the team before Christmas. The bad news is even if and when Kobe return, the Lakers will not make the playoffs with Paul Gasol averaging 13ppg on less than 40 percent shooting from the field.
17 (19) CHARLOTTE 5-5
Wins over sub .500 teams like the Cavs and Celtics and losses to playoff teams like the Bulls and Hawks, is a clear indication of where the Bobcats are at early on this season and that is at the top of the bottom half of the league. If the season ended today, the Bobcats would be in the playoffs, but there's still 72 more games to go, with the Knicks, and Nets lurking. I still have them missing the playoff and their only chance of making it would be if Al Jefferson, the team's $14 million a year investment turns into a 20-and-10 player. So far, he's only played in 3 of the team's 10 games this season due to nagging injuries.
18 (14) PHILADELPHIA 5-6
The Sixers are the worst defensive team in the league, which is probably why many pundits had them ranked at as the worst team entering the season. Overall they are not the worst team obviously, but unless their defense improve, they will definitely be lottery bound. After a very impressive 3-and-0 start, the Sixers have lost six of their last eight games.
19 (21) BROOKLYN 3-6
The Nets are the perfect example of just how disappointing the Eastern Conference is right now. Entering the season, the Eastern Conference was considered to be better than the West and the new and improved Brooklyn Nets was one of the main reasons for this claim. So far, this team has been a complete disappointment! I mean, how else do you explain a 107-86 loss to the Sacramento Kings. It's still early and I still expect this team to make the playoffs, but something needs to change in a hurry.
20 (16) NEW ORLEANS 4-6
After starting the season with losses against the Lakers and the Jazz, the NBA's worst team, the Pelicans ended the week with an impressive 135-98 win against the slumping Sixers. Power forward Ryan Anderson who had been out all season with a toe injury, returned and provided some much needed scoring off the bench with 26 points in 27 minutes. Now that Anderson is back, his outside shooting should help open up the middle for Anthony Davis.
21 (26) NEW YORK 3-6
Things have been so bad in New York, that Knicks owner Dolan had to come out a guarantee a win against the Hawks. The Knicks did win that game, but followed it up with two straight losses. Melo has been taking a lot of heat for shooting too much; 25.4ppg on 21.9 shot attempts, but if he wasn't shooting, who would? The Knicks have only 3 other players averaging double figures, so Melo has no choice. The Knicks are rumored to be trying to move Iman Shumpert to Denver for the Nuggets super energetic power forward Kenneth Faried. If I were the Knicks, I would make that trade in heartbeat if Faried is really available.
22 (23) ORLANDO 4-6
And so it begins, the Victor Oladipo era in Orlando. The Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn opted to go with Oladipo over starting point guard Jameer Nelson, for the last 17-minutes of the Magic-Mavericks game. The Magic eventually lost the game 108-100, but this could be the beginning of the Oladipo and the end of the Nelson era in Orlando.
23 (17) CLEVELAND 4-7
The Cavs have been a model of inconsistency this season, but in all fairness, you can't beat this team up for losing on the road to Minnesota and Chicago last week. Kyrie Irving has been on a tear recently, averaging 26.8ppg over his last 5 games, but the kid needs help. Andrew Bynum has played in only seven games this season and looks like his healthy days are far behind him and Anthony Bennett, the number one overall pick in the draft this summer is averaging a pathetic 1.4ppg in 11.7 minutes per game. I know it's still very early, but as of now he's beating out Kwame Brown as the worst number one pick in the NBA's history. Unfortunately these are the kind of help that Irving has to rely on.
24 (18) BOSTON 4-7
Danny Ainge emphatically denied that he's shopping Rondo, but if you know Ainge, you know he's trying to make moves to put the Celtics in position to hopefully land one of the top three picks in next year's draft. The Celtics are not going to make the playoffs, so trading Rondo will ensure more draft picks in addition to having one of their own, due to having a terrible record.
25 (22) TORONTO 4-7
The Raptors are the worst passing team in the league. The entire team is collectively averaging a depressing16.5 assist per game. Hanging on to Rudy Gay; who is averaging a team leading 20.6ppg, should keep in Raptors in the playoff chase, but I doubt this team wants to make the playoff. Their hopes are on drafting one of the top picks in next year's draft, which is why I fully expect Gay to be moved before the trading deadline.
BOTTOM FEEDERS
26 (24) DETROIT 3-6
Along with the Brooklyn Nets and the Washington Wizards, this team has to be one of the most disappointing early on this season. Signing Brandon Jennings might have been a mistake that could end up costing the Pistons dearly for years to come. Jennings is averaging 18.3ppg on 17.6 shot attempts with a terrible .382 shooting percentage. The Pistons needs to develop their bigs, Drummond and Monroe, so a more prototypical point guard would have been a better fit for this group.
27 (27) WASHINGTON 2-7
Wrapping up the top three most disappointing teams of the early season is the Washington Wizards. I predicted that this team would make the playoffs, but so far they have been a total disappointment. John Wall continues to disappoint me. He was averaging 20.3ppg on 44 percent shooting in his first 4 games of the season, but over the last five has averaged 12.8ppg on .290 percent shooting. I understand he has an ailing back, but 16.1ppg on .365 percent shooting for the season is just atrocious. The Wizards have absolutely no chance of making the playoffs if Wall continues playing horrible.
28 (29) SACRAMENTO
DeMarcus Cousins continues to lead his team in every statistical category except for assist, but outside of that the Kings only aspiration this season is to develop their young players and obviously tank the season in hopes of drafting a savior next summer.
29 (25) MILWAUKEE
Nothing new to report out of Milwaukee except the obvious, this team is lottery bound. The Bucks had the hardest schedule last week with match ups against the Heat, Magic, Pacers and Thunder, which obviously led to an 0-and-4 week.
30 (30) UTAH
The Jazz finally ended their 8-game losing streak by beating the Pelicans 111-105, for their first win of the season. If you are a Jazz fan, just forget about this season, but be very optimistic because next season compared to this one, could be like night and day. If the Jazz land a top three pick in next year's draft, Jerry Sloan comes back and their bigs continue to improve, this team could be a playoff team by next season.
Monday, November 11, 2013
NBA WIZARD 2013-2014 POWER RANKING: WEEK 2
RK LAST WK
1 (1) INDIANA 7-0
The Pacers 7-0 start is the best in franchise history and the team's success can be attributed to three things. The Pacers league leading defense allows opponent only 85.3ppg. Hibbert's 4.29 blocks per game is the second highest and he has emerged early on as the leading candidate for the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award. Lastly, after a solid series against the Heat in last year's Eastern Conference Finals, Paul George is having a breakout season averaging 25.1ppg.
2 (9) SAN ANTONIO 6-1
The Spurs are back to their old ways, leading the Western Conference with the best record once again. The Spurs are only allowing their opponents to score 92.4ppg, which is second in the league.
3 (7) OKLAHOMA CITY 5-1
Kevin Durant is leading the league in scoring with 30.2ppg and appears to be on his way to winning his third scoring title in four season. His counterpart Russell Westbrook is averaging only19ppg since returning from his injury and shooting a miserable .338 percent from the field, but his presence has created opportunities for the entire team, which is why the Thunder are sporting a 4-game winning streak since his return.
4 (4) MIAMI 4-3
One-point losses to the Nets and Celtics along with a four-point loss to the Sixers in the team's first seven games, is an indication that the Miami Heat are not prepared to defend their title. The Heat won championships using defense as their staple, but this current team is allowing their opponents 100.9ppg, which is 21st in the league and this is the key reason for their sluggish start.
5 (3) MINNESOTA 5-2
The Timberwolves are averaging 106.1ppg, which is third overall in the league. Kevin Love is leading the way with 26.9ppg and 14.4rpg and his sidekick Ricky Rubio is also having a great year averaging 8.7apg and a league leading 3.3spg. However, the Wolves success has to be attributed to the reemergence of Kevin Martin, who is the team's second leading scorer with 23.9ppg.
6 (5) LA CLIPPERS 4-3
Two wins in one week over the upstart Houston Rockets should be a great week for any team and this was what the Clippers accomplished last week. At 110ppg the Clippers are leading the league in scoring, but they have a 4-3 record because they can't stop anyone from scoring. Despite having a defensive presence like DeAndre Jordan and a pest like CP3 on the perimeter, this team is allowing their opponents 106.3ppg, which is 27th in the league. New head coach Doc Rivers who hangs his hat on defense is definitely unhappy about this, but that's the trade off when you load a team with mostly shooters, i.e. J.J. Reddck and Jared Dudley.
7 (2) HOUSTON 4-3
The Rockets were off to a great start before dropping 1-3 in week two, including two losses to the L.A. Clippers. The surprising stat for me, has to be the 1.43 blocks that Dwight Howard is averaging early on. His 13.6rpg is impressive, but his low block totals has a lot to do with why the Rockets are allowing their opponents 103.6ppg for 24th in the league.
8 (6) GOLDEN STATE 4-3
The Warriors ended a tough 4-game road trips with losses in San Antonio and Memphis and Steph Curry was not at full strength due to soreness in his ankle. The good new is, four of the Warriors next five games will be in Oakland, so I expect them to return to their winning ways.
9 (8) DALLAS 4-3
Dirk is having a sub par year averaging 18.1ppg, but his new sidekick Monte Ellis is leading the team in scoring with 23ppg for the league's second highest scoring team. The Mavs are averaging 107ppg, but defensively is where this team is struggling. They are currently allowing their opponents 104.4ppg, which is currently 25th in the league.
10 (15) PHOENIX 5-2
The Phoenix Suns are definitely getting a bargain for the $2.6 million the team is paying Eric Bledsoe, who is looking to cash in on a contract extension next season. Bledsoe is having a breakout season averaging 20.9ppg with 7.3apg and doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Had it not been for the monster year Anthony Davis is having, Bledsoe would probably have a shot at winning the NBA's Most Improved Player (MIP) Award.
11 (12) PORTLAND 4-2
The Blazers had a 4-1 week thanks to back-to-back wins against the lottery bound Sacramento Kings. While Damien Lillard may have come down to earth a bit, LaMarcus Aldridge continues to lead the team with 23.3ppg and is in the midst of an all-star season.
12 (17) MEMPHIS 3-3
The Grizzlies played four of their five games at home last week and managed to win three of those games, however, it's still too early to gauge whether this team has an upside. Five of their next six games will be on the road, by then it should be clear what direction this team is heading.
13 (13) CHICAGO 2-3
It's way to early to panic if you're a Bulls fan, but one has to be concern about the health of Derrick Rose. 14.4ppg on 15 shot attempts is simply not going to get it done. To make matter worst, Rose is averaging only 4apg. I expect the Bulls to turn their fortunes around because they are still a great defensive team. Their 45.6 rebounds is third overall in the league and they only give up 93ppg to their opponents, which is fifth, but the team's ultimate success still rest on the healthy, or not so healthy knees of Derrick Rose.
14 (11) PHILADELPHIA 4-3
The Sixers started the season 3-0, but came back down to earth last week by posting a 1-3 record. Evan Turner is having a great year averaging 23.4ppg on .521 percent shooting from the field, while rookie Michael Carter-Williams; the Eastern Conference Player of the Week in week one, seems to be settling into a high volume, low percentage shooter. For the season, Carter-Williams is down to 18.7ppg on .409 percent shooting from the field.
15 (20) ATLANTA 3-3
The Hawks are having a surprisingly good year especially Paul Millsap, who is currently leading the team in scoring with 20.2ppg and second in rebounds at 8.2rpg. For years, the Hawks were considered to be a selfish team, but all that has changed this season. The Hawks are leading the league in assists with 28apg led by point guard Jeff Teague's 9.8apg, who is second in the league behind the Clippers Chris Paul. T
16 (19) NEW ORLEANS 3-4
MIP Anthony Davis update: 21.7ppg, 11.6rpg, 3.9bpg, 2.3spg with a 29.6 PER, is leading the league's fifth best defense. The Pelicans are only giving up 94.7ppg to their opponents and if they ever landed a a solid perimeter defender like a Tony Allen, they would easily be the best defensive team in the league.
17 (22) CLEVELAND 3-4
Word out of Cleveland is that point guard superstar Kyrie Irving and new head coach Mike Brown are not on the same page offensively, especially at the end of games. The irony is, coach Brown has never been known for coaching offense and the team's 94.1ppg average, which is 23rd in the league is a clear indication that Brown is still not an offensive coach.
18 (29) BOSTON 3-4
After starting the season 0 and 4, the Celtics spend last week reeling off three straight wins including a 1-point nail bitter in Miami against the two-time defending champs, thanks to a fortunate 3-pointer by Jeff Green at the buzzer. What does this means? Well, absolutely nothing, because the Celtics are still lottery bound.
19 (25) CHARLOTTE 3-3
The Bobcats are 3-3, but like I said before the season, this team best chance of improving is getting lucky through the draft. Can you imaging if they had drafted Anthony Davis? Well, that didn't happen so their next best shot is to hopefully land Parker or Wiggins in next year's draft. At 90.3ppg, the Bobcats are 29th in the league in scoring and dead last in assist at only 17 a game. With those numbers, there's no way I see this team making the playoffs.
20 (16) LA LAKERS 3-5
Jodie Meeks is leading the Lakers in scoring with 12.8ppg and that should tell you how bad the Lakers are. I predicted that Pau Gasol would have an all-star season and I know it's still early, but 11.9ppg on 36 percent shooting, seriously Pau? If I were the Lakers, I would buyout Kobe's contract, trade Pau and tank the season for more lottery picks, because the best case for the Lakers this season is a First-Round exit.
21 (14) BROOKLYN 2-4
Brook Lopez 20.2ppg and 2.33bpg are solid numbers, so he's off the hook, but Deron Williams is not. Williams is averaging 10.8ppg and 7.5spg and if he continues at that pace, the Nets would end up being the most disappointing and expensive experiment in the history of the NBA. Williams will have to average over 20ppg and 10 or more assists, for the Nets to be a contender.
22 (23) TORONTO 3-4
Wins over Boston, Milwaukee and Utah; three lottery bound teams, only leads to false hope. The Raptors led by Rudy Gay's 17.9ppg has a chance to make the playoffs because they're surprisingly a decent defensive team. Fourth to be exact in opponents points allowed at 93.9ppg. Making the playoffs could be a possibility if they hang on to Gay, so if they really plan on joining the Wiggins-Parker sweepstakes the only logical option would be to trade Rudy Gay.
23 (21) ORLANDO 3-4
The Magic are leading the league in rebounds with 47.7 per game and Nikola Vucevic is leading the way with 12.1rpg. Rebounding is a key ingredient to winning games and with rookie sensation like Oladipo on board, the Magic making the playoffs may not be as far fetched as I initially thought.
24 (10) DETROIT 2-3
Losing to the red hot Pacers and the Thunder didn't do anything to change my prediction that the Detroit Pistons will make the playoffs this year. The only player that concerns me is Brandon Jennings, a high volume, low percentage shooter. Currently Jennings is averaging 17.7ppg on 16.3 shot attempts, while making only .367 percent of his shots in 3 games for the Pistons this season.
25 (24) MILWAUKEE 2-3
O.J. Mayo is leading the Bucks in scoring with 18.6ppg this season and those numbers will probably increase as the season progresses. He and Monte Ellis; who is having a fantastic year in Dallas, would've made a great backcourt, but my guess is the Bucks decided to completely rebuild.
BOTTOM FEEDERS
26 (18) NEW YORK 2-4
As the saying goes, "when it rains, it pours," and in the Knicks case, everything seems to be falling apart right now. The team's only true post defender Tyson Chandler, recently went down with a fractured right fibula and is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks. Things are so bad in New York that head coach Mike Woodson questioned his team's effort and that was followed by Knicks owner Jim Dolan guaranteeing that the Knicks would win their next game against the Hawks. I expect the Knicks to recover, but the pressure is on and Woodson should be feeling the heat.
27 (30) WASHINGTON 2-4
The Wizards defense are currently 29th in the league, giving up 106.8ppg to their opponents this season. After starting the season 0-and-3, the Wizards have gone on to win 2 of their last 3 games and their one defeat was a 106-105 loss in overtime to the Thunder in Oklahoma City. Second year stud Bradley Beal posted a 31.5ppg average over the last two games and is leading the team in scoring with 21ppg this season.
28 (26) DENVER 1-4
JaVale McGee is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his left tibia which will definitely hurt an already terrible defense that gives up 105.2ppg. Ty Lawson is having a breakout year averaging 22.6ppg and 6.8apg, but his Nuggets team that was once known for scoring, is only averaging 98.4ppg which is 17th overall. New head coach B-Shaw is off to a rough start.
29 (27) SACRAMENTO 1-5
DeMarcus Cousins is having a breakout season, but his numbers doesn't hold much weight considering how terrible the Kings are. Yes he's averaging 23.5ppg, 9.7rpg, 2.2spg and 1.2bpg, but the Kings have the second worst record in the league.
30 (28) UTAH 0-7
Word out of Utah is that former head coach Jerry Sloan might be on his way back to coach the Jazz and after and 0-7 start, which means the Jazz current head coach Ty Corbin could be the first coach fired this season. The Jazz is the NBA's lowest scoring team, with an 87.7ppg average. A change is definitely coming and it wouldn't surprise me to see Corbin out and Sloan in sooner, rather than later.
Monday, November 4, 2013
NBA WIZARD 2013-2014 POWER RANKING: WEEK 1
RK LAST WK
1 (3) INDIANA 3-0
After week one, the Pacers have emerged as the league's best defensive team. Roy Hibbert is leading the league with 4.7 blocks per game and Paul George is off to a breakout season with his 25.7ppg after week one. The dynamic duo led their team to a 3-0 start and all off this happened without Danny Granger, who may out of the lineup for another two weeks.
2 (8) HOUSTON 3-0
The Dwight Howard liftoff is cruising at a 35,000 feet altitude with absolute no turbulence early on, as the Rockets jump off to a 3-0 start in week one. James Harden is the NBA's 4th leading scorer at 26ppg and Howard is leading the league in rebounds with 17rpg. This is a long season, but if week one is any indication of what's to come, well, let's just say the future looks bright in Houston.
3 (17) MINNESOTA 3-0
The Timberwolves made the third biggest jump from 17th to 3rd, thanks to their former all star Kevin Love, who averaged a league leading 29.7ppg in week one. Yes, I expected this team to make a push for one of the final playoff seeds in the West, but no, I definitely didn't expect them to be off to such a start.
4 (1) MIAMI 2-2
I expected this team to make a serious push for a 70-win season, but unfortunately they are off to a very mediocre 2-2 start. The reality is, this team is full of themselves and according to Dwyane Wade, have minor chemistry issues, but don't put too much stock into week one. Against the Sixers they came out lackluster and were down 19-0 to start the game, but came all the way back and even took an 8-point lead before eventually losing down the stretch as Lebron went 0-4 from the field with 2 turnovers in the final 2:53 in a game they should have won. In their next game against the Nets, they lost by a point in what was another winnable game in Brooklyn. Regardless of what could have happened, the Heat are off to a slow start and they need to fix it immediately. The Pacers are out to get the best record this season, so that if there is a game 7, it will be in Indiana and not Miami. The Heat better be mindful of this.
5 (6) LA CLIPPERS 2-1
The Clippers followed a surprise loss against the Kobe-less Lakers with back-to-back wins against the surging Warriors and the rebuilding Kings. CP3 was phenomenal against the Warriors, posting 42 points, 15 assists and 5 rebounds and is currently off to a monster year. He's currently leading the league with 12.2apg and is third in points and steals with 27.7ppg and 3.7spg. Obviously I don't expect CP3 to continue averaging those filthy numbers, especially not his current league leading 41.2 PER (Player Efficiency Rating), but by the end of this season, there will be no question who the best point guard in the league is.
6 (7) GOLDEN STATE 2-1
The Clippers needed a career night from Chris Paul in L.A. and that was the recipe needed to defeat the Warriors. Klay Thompson is averaging 25ppg and shooting over 65 percent from the field and his counter part Steph Curry is averaging 23.3ppg and 9apg while also shooting an impressive 56.5 percent from the field. The Warriors may not have the best individual guard, but the Curry-Thompson backcourt is definitely the best in the league and they are both off to great starts this year.
7 (9) OKLAHOMA CITY 2-1
I thought it would take 4-6 weeks for the Thunder to get Russell Westbrook back, but it only took 2 games, because the guy is a true Warrior. Westbrook returned in only the Thunder's third game of the season and scored 21 points in 33 minutes. If he's truly healthy, then the Western Conference just got really interesting. As expected, Durant is one of the league's top scorers after week one and his 29.3ppg is currently second right behind the Wolves Kevin Love's 29.7ppg. The only knock in his game after the first week would be his 1apg average.
8 (16) DALLAS 2-1
I predicted that Dirk Nowitzki will return to his all star form and lead the Mavericks to the playoffs this year, but the Monte Ellis acquisition is going to ensure the Mavericks a playoff berth. So far both players are averaging an identical 23.3ppg and if they continue to average those numbers, the Mavericks will not only make the playoffs, but could be the scariest team in a wide opened Western Conference.
9 (28) SAN ANTONIO 2-1
The Spurs dropped in the rankings due to Tim Duncan chest contusion, but Timmy's a warrior so I expect him to be in the lineup shortly. If any team can bounce back from an epic failure, it's this San Antonio team, but regardless of how well they play this season; and they might even end up with the best record again, I don't see this team getting out of the Western Conference this year.
10 (18) DETROIT 2-1
By next season, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond will be the most dominate post playing teammates, even though some may argue they already are. The duo averaged a combined 29.3ppg, 23.3rpg and 2bpg to lead their team to a 2-1 record to start the season.
11 (28) PHILADELPHIA 3-0
Unlike most pundits who ranked the Sixers last in the rankings to start the season, I felt they were a little better, but definitely not good enough to beat both the Heat and Bulls in the same week. Rookie Michael Carter-Williams had a surprising week averaging 20.7ppg, 9apg and 4.33 steals including nine against the Heat to lead his team to a 3-0 week. He will not continue at that pace, but he will average over 14 shot attempts this season, which should be enough to earn him an all-rookie first team spot.
12 (22) PORTLAND 2-1
LaMarcus Aldridge predicted that his team would make the playoffs this season and started the year putting his money where is mouth is, or stats where his mouth is by averaging 25.7ppg to lead his team to a 2-1 record. However, Aldridge is not the only Blazers who had a good week. Point guard Damian Lillard; the NBA's reigning ROY, is off to a monster second season. He averaged 25ppg, 5.0rpg and 5.3apg in week one and if he and Aldridge maintains those numbers, the Blazers one-two punch may eventually lead them to the playoffs.
13 (4) CHICAGO 1-2
Sometimes you just have to shut up and play ball and Derrick Rose spend the entire preseason and first week of the season doing the opposite. I definitely expect this team to finish with one of the best records in the East, but the Bulls will only go as far as Rose will take them. Rose 14.3ppg and 4.3apg average on a miserable .288 shooting in week one were so bad, that it prompted him to issue yet another statement; an obvious one this time, claiming he's playing bad and takes full responsibility for his team's poor play. Hopefully week one humbled Rose to the point where we will start seeing a better player moving forward.
14 (5) BROOKLYN 1-2
On paper, the Nets have the best starting lineup in the league, but as the famous saying goes, Rome was not built in a day. You have a bunch of veterans that don't want to step on each other's toes, but for this team to be successful, someone will have to take the lead. Will it be new head coach Jason Kidd, or new comer Paul Pierce, or point guard Deron Williams, who handles the ball more than 50 percent of the time? I believe this team will bounce back, but as I stated last week, I don't see them cracking the top 3 in the Eastern Conference.
15 (30) PHOENIX 2-1
I ranked the Suns 30th to start the season, but I underestimated Eric Bledsoe, the Suns newly acquired point guard from the L.A. Clippers. Bledsoe, backed up CP3 last season, but was considered a starting point guard by many pundits including myself and the young fellow is off to a great start. Bledsoe averaged 22ppg and 8.7apg in week one and for the season, I expect him to average 20 or more points and over 9 assist, which should make him a candidate for MIP Award (Most Improved Player). Being realistically though, I still can't imagine the Suns making the playoffs with Bledsoe being their best player.
16 (15) LA LAKERS 2-2
There's nothing new to report out of Lakerland and this probably wouldn't change until Kobe returns. Pau Gasol is averaging 15.8ppg and 11rpg, and shooting guard Xavier Henry is the team's second leading scorer with 14.3ppg. The Lakers have a 2-2 record and you can expect them to hover around .500 ball until
Kobe's return.
17 (10) MEMPHIS 1-2
The Grizzlies will make the playoffs this year, so be don't alarmed by their 1-2 start. Their two losses came against the Spurs and Mavericks on the road and most teams would've suffered the same fate. I'm sure losing former head coach Hollins will be felt on the defensive end, but it's still too early to gauge how far the Grizzlies will slide.
18 (11) NEW YORK 1-2
Carmelo Anthony is averaging 21ppg and 11rpg, but shooting only .377 from the field. Carmelo is a beast, so I expect his scoring and field goal percentage to increase, but the Knicks are doomed if Raymond Felton (13ppg) continues to be the team second leading scorer. The Knicks acquired scoring forward/center Andrea Bargnani to bolster their offense this offseason, but so far, he's only averaging 9.7ppg and with Stoudemire ailing, Bargnani has to be the Knicks second best offensive players in order for them to be successful this season.
19 (14) NEW ORLEANS 1-2
The Pelicans are off to somewhat of a disappointing 1-2 start, but I can't help but appreciate the numbers Anthony Davis is putting up so far this season. He is obviously my pick for the MIP Award, but a 23.7ppg, 12.3rpg, 4bpg and 2.7spg with a 35 PER, is just too juicy to not be in awe. I don't see him continuing at this pace, but he should average 20ppg, 11rpg, 2spg and around 3bpg and win the MIP Award.
20 (21) ATLANTA 1-2
Jeff Teague and Al Horford are leading the Hawks in all 5 statistical categories and Paul Millsap is the team's second leading scorer with 16.3ppg, but the Hawks do not have a bench. The starting lineup is decent enough to compete on most nights, but their lack of a bench will be the key reason why I see the Hawks missing the playoffs this season.
21 (29) ORLANDO 2-2
Arron Afflalo is leading the way with 20.8ppg, but the real drama brewing in Magicland is between Jameer Nelson and Victor Oladipo. Nelson is in the starting lineup for now, but it's been rumored that Nelson may be on the move. It wouldn't surprise me to see Oladipo in the starting lineup and Nelson traded way before the trading deadline in February.
22 (20) CLEVELAND 1-2
The Cavaliers are off to a poor start, particularly Kyrie Irving who is averaging 15.3ppg on a miserable 34 percent shooting from the field. Then you have Andrew Bynum, who may not be as healthy as many Cavs fans might have hoped, evidently he's only averaging four points in 9 minutes per game this season. I expect things to turn around mainly because Irving numbers will improve and if Bynum can return to even 85 percent of his post injury form, the Cavs will be in good shape.
23 (23) TORONTO 2-1
A win over the lottery-bound Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks doesn't count for much in my book, so the Raptors 2-1 start is deceiving. Rumor has it that Rudy Gay will be the next Raptors players to be moved in an effort to tank the season to increase their odds of landing Toronto's native Andrew Wiggins, the consensus first pick in next year's draft.
24 (26) MILWAUKEE 1-2
Zaza Pachulia is the Bucks leading scorer at 13ppg. Pachulia will be a bench player on at least 25 teams in the league, so for him to be leading the Bucks is indicative of their future and that is to end up with one of the worst records in the league this season. This team is definitely lottery bound.
25 (25) CHARLOTTE 1-2
The Bobcats are once again, one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, 29th to be exact at 85.7ppg. The addition of Jefferson hasn't helped in the rebounding department either. At 38.3rpg, this team currently ranks 28th in the league. The Bobcats are definitely lottery bound and with owners like Prokhorov willing to pay $75 million in luxury tax penalties this year, an owner like Michael Jordan is probably set to earn over $60 million as a result of that.
BOTTOM FEEDERS
26 (12) DENVER 0-2
It's still very early, but new head coach Byron Scott is off to a slow start. The Nuggets are 0-2, but if you're a Nuggets fan, you need to be optimistic because at 48 rebound per game, the Nuggets ranks 3rd overall in the league. Rebounding is one of the key stats attached to defense, which ultimately win games, so if the Nuggets continue rebounding the ball at this level, there's no way I see them missing the playoffs.
27 (24) SACRAMENTO 1-2
DeMarcus Cousins is off to a 20/10 season and Isaiah Thomas is leading the bench with 19ppg, but what more can one expect from the Sacramento Kings. Actually there's Ben McLemore, a ROY candidate, but at 8.3ppg on .385 percent shooting, McLemore has yet to impress and barely deserves mentioning at this point.
28 (19) UTAH 0-3
The Jazz are off to terrible 0-3 start, but next to the Sixers, this team has had the toughest schedule early on. They lost to Phoenix on the road and also had two tough losses against two Western Conference giants, the Rockets and Thunder at home. I can't really beat them up for being 0-3, but they are winless, so I can't rank them any higher than 28th at this point.
29 (28) BOSTON 0-3
The Celtics were already a bad team, so imagine not having Rondo; who hasn't even been cleared for contact, in the lineup, disaster is the only thing you can expect. The result of this is the Celtics are dead last in assist at 14.3 per game and 28th in scoring at 87.3 points. This might actually work in the Celtics favor, especially if they end up drafting Andrew Wiggins.
30 (13) WASHINGTON 0-3
The Wizards had the largest drop and are clearly the worst team in the league after week one. So far this team hasn't been able to guard a little puppy trying to enter a closed door, which is why their 29th ranked defense is allowing their opponents to score 108.3ppg. I'm really shocked to see this team playing so poorly, especially after acquiring Marcin Gortat. I predicted that they would make the playoffs, so I don't think Wizard fans should panic quite yet.
1 (3) INDIANA 3-0
After week one, the Pacers have emerged as the league's best defensive team. Roy Hibbert is leading the league with 4.7 blocks per game and Paul George is off to a breakout season with his 25.7ppg after week one. The dynamic duo led their team to a 3-0 start and all off this happened without Danny Granger, who may out of the lineup for another two weeks.
2 (8) HOUSTON 3-0
The Dwight Howard liftoff is cruising at a 35,000 feet altitude with absolute no turbulence early on, as the Rockets jump off to a 3-0 start in week one. James Harden is the NBA's 4th leading scorer at 26ppg and Howard is leading the league in rebounds with 17rpg. This is a long season, but if week one is any indication of what's to come, well, let's just say the future looks bright in Houston.
3 (17) MINNESOTA 3-0
The Timberwolves made the third biggest jump from 17th to 3rd, thanks to their former all star Kevin Love, who averaged a league leading 29.7ppg in week one. Yes, I expected this team to make a push for one of the final playoff seeds in the West, but no, I definitely didn't expect them to be off to such a start.
4 (1) MIAMI 2-2
I expected this team to make a serious push for a 70-win season, but unfortunately they are off to a very mediocre 2-2 start. The reality is, this team is full of themselves and according to Dwyane Wade, have minor chemistry issues, but don't put too much stock into week one. Against the Sixers they came out lackluster and were down 19-0 to start the game, but came all the way back and even took an 8-point lead before eventually losing down the stretch as Lebron went 0-4 from the field with 2 turnovers in the final 2:53 in a game they should have won. In their next game against the Nets, they lost by a point in what was another winnable game in Brooklyn. Regardless of what could have happened, the Heat are off to a slow start and they need to fix it immediately. The Pacers are out to get the best record this season, so that if there is a game 7, it will be in Indiana and not Miami. The Heat better be mindful of this.
5 (6) LA CLIPPERS 2-1
The Clippers followed a surprise loss against the Kobe-less Lakers with back-to-back wins against the surging Warriors and the rebuilding Kings. CP3 was phenomenal against the Warriors, posting 42 points, 15 assists and 5 rebounds and is currently off to a monster year. He's currently leading the league with 12.2apg and is third in points and steals with 27.7ppg and 3.7spg. Obviously I don't expect CP3 to continue averaging those filthy numbers, especially not his current league leading 41.2 PER (Player Efficiency Rating), but by the end of this season, there will be no question who the best point guard in the league is.
6 (7) GOLDEN STATE 2-1
The Clippers needed a career night from Chris Paul in L.A. and that was the recipe needed to defeat the Warriors. Klay Thompson is averaging 25ppg and shooting over 65 percent from the field and his counter part Steph Curry is averaging 23.3ppg and 9apg while also shooting an impressive 56.5 percent from the field. The Warriors may not have the best individual guard, but the Curry-Thompson backcourt is definitely the best in the league and they are both off to great starts this year.
7 (9) OKLAHOMA CITY 2-1
I thought it would take 4-6 weeks for the Thunder to get Russell Westbrook back, but it only took 2 games, because the guy is a true Warrior. Westbrook returned in only the Thunder's third game of the season and scored 21 points in 33 minutes. If he's truly healthy, then the Western Conference just got really interesting. As expected, Durant is one of the league's top scorers after week one and his 29.3ppg is currently second right behind the Wolves Kevin Love's 29.7ppg. The only knock in his game after the first week would be his 1apg average.
8 (16) DALLAS 2-1
I predicted that Dirk Nowitzki will return to his all star form and lead the Mavericks to the playoffs this year, but the Monte Ellis acquisition is going to ensure the Mavericks a playoff berth. So far both players are averaging an identical 23.3ppg and if they continue to average those numbers, the Mavericks will not only make the playoffs, but could be the scariest team in a wide opened Western Conference.
9 (28) SAN ANTONIO 2-1
The Spurs dropped in the rankings due to Tim Duncan chest contusion, but Timmy's a warrior so I expect him to be in the lineup shortly. If any team can bounce back from an epic failure, it's this San Antonio team, but regardless of how well they play this season; and they might even end up with the best record again, I don't see this team getting out of the Western Conference this year.
10 (18) DETROIT 2-1
By next season, Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond will be the most dominate post playing teammates, even though some may argue they already are. The duo averaged a combined 29.3ppg, 23.3rpg and 2bpg to lead their team to a 2-1 record to start the season.
11 (28) PHILADELPHIA 3-0
Unlike most pundits who ranked the Sixers last in the rankings to start the season, I felt they were a little better, but definitely not good enough to beat both the Heat and Bulls in the same week. Rookie Michael Carter-Williams had a surprising week averaging 20.7ppg, 9apg and 4.33 steals including nine against the Heat to lead his team to a 3-0 week. He will not continue at that pace, but he will average over 14 shot attempts this season, which should be enough to earn him an all-rookie first team spot.
12 (22) PORTLAND 2-1
LaMarcus Aldridge predicted that his team would make the playoffs this season and started the year putting his money where is mouth is, or stats where his mouth is by averaging 25.7ppg to lead his team to a 2-1 record. However, Aldridge is not the only Blazers who had a good week. Point guard Damian Lillard; the NBA's reigning ROY, is off to a monster second season. He averaged 25ppg, 5.0rpg and 5.3apg in week one and if he and Aldridge maintains those numbers, the Blazers one-two punch may eventually lead them to the playoffs.
13 (4) CHICAGO 1-2
Sometimes you just have to shut up and play ball and Derrick Rose spend the entire preseason and first week of the season doing the opposite. I definitely expect this team to finish with one of the best records in the East, but the Bulls will only go as far as Rose will take them. Rose 14.3ppg and 4.3apg average on a miserable .288 shooting in week one were so bad, that it prompted him to issue yet another statement; an obvious one this time, claiming he's playing bad and takes full responsibility for his team's poor play. Hopefully week one humbled Rose to the point where we will start seeing a better player moving forward.
14 (5) BROOKLYN 1-2
On paper, the Nets have the best starting lineup in the league, but as the famous saying goes, Rome was not built in a day. You have a bunch of veterans that don't want to step on each other's toes, but for this team to be successful, someone will have to take the lead. Will it be new head coach Jason Kidd, or new comer Paul Pierce, or point guard Deron Williams, who handles the ball more than 50 percent of the time? I believe this team will bounce back, but as I stated last week, I don't see them cracking the top 3 in the Eastern Conference.
15 (30) PHOENIX 2-1
I ranked the Suns 30th to start the season, but I underestimated Eric Bledsoe, the Suns newly acquired point guard from the L.A. Clippers. Bledsoe, backed up CP3 last season, but was considered a starting point guard by many pundits including myself and the young fellow is off to a great start. Bledsoe averaged 22ppg and 8.7apg in week one and for the season, I expect him to average 20 or more points and over 9 assist, which should make him a candidate for MIP Award (Most Improved Player). Being realistically though, I still can't imagine the Suns making the playoffs with Bledsoe being their best player.
16 (15) LA LAKERS 2-2
There's nothing new to report out of Lakerland and this probably wouldn't change until Kobe returns. Pau Gasol is averaging 15.8ppg and 11rpg, and shooting guard Xavier Henry is the team's second leading scorer with 14.3ppg. The Lakers have a 2-2 record and you can expect them to hover around .500 ball until
Kobe's return.
17 (10) MEMPHIS 1-2
The Grizzlies will make the playoffs this year, so be don't alarmed by their 1-2 start. Their two losses came against the Spurs and Mavericks on the road and most teams would've suffered the same fate. I'm sure losing former head coach Hollins will be felt on the defensive end, but it's still too early to gauge how far the Grizzlies will slide.
18 (11) NEW YORK 1-2
Carmelo Anthony is averaging 21ppg and 11rpg, but shooting only .377 from the field. Carmelo is a beast, so I expect his scoring and field goal percentage to increase, but the Knicks are doomed if Raymond Felton (13ppg) continues to be the team second leading scorer. The Knicks acquired scoring forward/center Andrea Bargnani to bolster their offense this offseason, but so far, he's only averaging 9.7ppg and with Stoudemire ailing, Bargnani has to be the Knicks second best offensive players in order for them to be successful this season.
19 (14) NEW ORLEANS 1-2
The Pelicans are off to somewhat of a disappointing 1-2 start, but I can't help but appreciate the numbers Anthony Davis is putting up so far this season. He is obviously my pick for the MIP Award, but a 23.7ppg, 12.3rpg, 4bpg and 2.7spg with a 35 PER, is just too juicy to not be in awe. I don't see him continuing at this pace, but he should average 20ppg, 11rpg, 2spg and around 3bpg and win the MIP Award.
20 (21) ATLANTA 1-2
Jeff Teague and Al Horford are leading the Hawks in all 5 statistical categories and Paul Millsap is the team's second leading scorer with 16.3ppg, but the Hawks do not have a bench. The starting lineup is decent enough to compete on most nights, but their lack of a bench will be the key reason why I see the Hawks missing the playoffs this season.
21 (29) ORLANDO 2-2
Arron Afflalo is leading the way with 20.8ppg, but the real drama brewing in Magicland is between Jameer Nelson and Victor Oladipo. Nelson is in the starting lineup for now, but it's been rumored that Nelson may be on the move. It wouldn't surprise me to see Oladipo in the starting lineup and Nelson traded way before the trading deadline in February.
22 (20) CLEVELAND 1-2
The Cavaliers are off to a poor start, particularly Kyrie Irving who is averaging 15.3ppg on a miserable 34 percent shooting from the field. Then you have Andrew Bynum, who may not be as healthy as many Cavs fans might have hoped, evidently he's only averaging four points in 9 minutes per game this season. I expect things to turn around mainly because Irving numbers will improve and if Bynum can return to even 85 percent of his post injury form, the Cavs will be in good shape.
23 (23) TORONTO 2-1
A win over the lottery-bound Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks doesn't count for much in my book, so the Raptors 2-1 start is deceiving. Rumor has it that Rudy Gay will be the next Raptors players to be moved in an effort to tank the season to increase their odds of landing Toronto's native Andrew Wiggins, the consensus first pick in next year's draft.
24 (26) MILWAUKEE 1-2
Zaza Pachulia is the Bucks leading scorer at 13ppg. Pachulia will be a bench player on at least 25 teams in the league, so for him to be leading the Bucks is indicative of their future and that is to end up with one of the worst records in the league this season. This team is definitely lottery bound.
25 (25) CHARLOTTE 1-2
The Bobcats are once again, one of the lowest scoring teams in the league, 29th to be exact at 85.7ppg. The addition of Jefferson hasn't helped in the rebounding department either. At 38.3rpg, this team currently ranks 28th in the league. The Bobcats are definitely lottery bound and with owners like Prokhorov willing to pay $75 million in luxury tax penalties this year, an owner like Michael Jordan is probably set to earn over $60 million as a result of that.
BOTTOM FEEDERS
26 (12) DENVER 0-2
It's still very early, but new head coach Byron Scott is off to a slow start. The Nuggets are 0-2, but if you're a Nuggets fan, you need to be optimistic because at 48 rebound per game, the Nuggets ranks 3rd overall in the league. Rebounding is one of the key stats attached to defense, which ultimately win games, so if the Nuggets continue rebounding the ball at this level, there's no way I see them missing the playoffs.
27 (24) SACRAMENTO 1-2
DeMarcus Cousins is off to a 20/10 season and Isaiah Thomas is leading the bench with 19ppg, but what more can one expect from the Sacramento Kings. Actually there's Ben McLemore, a ROY candidate, but at 8.3ppg on .385 percent shooting, McLemore has yet to impress and barely deserves mentioning at this point.
28 (19) UTAH 0-3
The Jazz are off to terrible 0-3 start, but next to the Sixers, this team has had the toughest schedule early on. They lost to Phoenix on the road and also had two tough losses against two Western Conference giants, the Rockets and Thunder at home. I can't really beat them up for being 0-3, but they are winless, so I can't rank them any higher than 28th at this point.
29 (28) BOSTON 0-3
The Celtics were already a bad team, so imagine not having Rondo; who hasn't even been cleared for contact, in the lineup, disaster is the only thing you can expect. The result of this is the Celtics are dead last in assist at 14.3 per game and 28th in scoring at 87.3 points. This might actually work in the Celtics favor, especially if they end up drafting Andrew Wiggins.
30 (13) WASHINGTON 0-3
The Wizards had the largest drop and are clearly the worst team in the league after week one. So far this team hasn't been able to guard a little puppy trying to enter a closed door, which is why their 29th ranked defense is allowing their opponents to score 108.3ppg. I'm really shocked to see this team playing so poorly, especially after acquiring Marcin Gortat. I predicted that they would make the playoffs, so I don't think Wizard fans should panic quite yet.
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