Monday will mark the return of Allen Iverson, I for one am ecstatic. Hopefully Iverson will play a few more seasons in the NBA and these recent events with Memphis and retiring will just be a blip in his Hall of Fame career.


Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson smiles during an NBA basketball team practice Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

The Lakers remain atop of the Power Ranking. They are at full strength and look unbeatable especially after Friday's win over the Miami Heat where Kobe made a ridiculous three pointer over Dwayne Wade for the Lakers to get the win. The Celtics look like they are back on track. They continue to sport the NBA's largest point differential at 9.5 but you have to be somewhat puzzled that they are 29th in the NBA in rebounding. Let’s get into it:

(1)1. LA Lakers (16-3)
The Lakers have won nine games in a row but they have only played four road games the lowest among all NBA teams. The Lakers play two more home games before embarking on a five game road trip.

(3)2. Boston (16-4)
The Celtics have won seven in a row which includes five road wins. Garnett has looked very sharp during the win streak averaging 17.7ppg while shooting 65.8% from the field.

(4)3. Orlando (16-4)
The Magic have won five in a row and 10 of their last 11. Dwight Howard is beginning to impose his will after a slow start. Howard is averaging 21.4ppg and 14.2rpg in the last five wins.

(5)4. Cleveland (15-5)
The Cavs have won four games in a row and in each of those four wins Lebron James (Eastern Conference Player of the month for November) dished out ten or more assists.

(8)5. Denver (15-5)
Carmelo Anthony was named the Western Conference player of the month. Melo averaged 30.4ppg and 5.9rpg in the month of November. Nuggets have won seven of eight and play three road games this week against Sixers, Bobcats and Pistons.

(2)6. Phoenix (15-6)
Earlier in the year the Suns were at the top of the rankings then they lost badly to the Lakers and we moved them down significantly. Last week they made it all the way up to number two and again they disappoint losing three out of four last week.

(9)7. Atlanta (14-6)
Hawks had their best offensive night since January 1993, on Wednesday versus the Raptors when they put up 146 points. The Hawks followed that up by losing to the Knicks but then they wrapped up the week with a very impressive win in Dallas.

(6)8. Dallas (14-7)
The Mavericks recorded a season low in scoring Friday in a 98 to 82 loss to the Grizzlies. They followed that loss up by setting a new season low in Saturday's loss to the Hawks 80 to 75.

(11)9. Utah (11-8)
Jerry Sloan signed an extension to coach the Jazz through the 2010-11 season, good for him. Not so good for the Jazz, is having their four game win streak snapped by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

(10)10. Portland (13-8)
What a sad ending to the season for Greg Oden. Oden will most likely miss the remainder of the season with a patella tendon injury to his left knee. Oden's right knee is what kept him out for the season his entire rookie year.

(13)11. Oklahoma (10-9)
Kevin Durant is managing to keep the Thunder above .500 by having the best season of his career. Durant has led the Thunder in scoring in all but three games this season.

(14)12. Houston (11-9)
The Rockets went 3-1 on their four game road trip. They play the Cavs at home then go back on the road with games at 76ers and Raptors.

(12)13. Miami (11-9)
The Heat went a respectable 2-2 on their four game road trip. They play their next six games at home.

(7)14. San Antonio (9-8)
The Spurs have dropped their last two in a row and at home nonetheless. I don't see any scenario, unless a trade of course, where the Spurs don't get booted out of the playoffs in the first round.

(20)15. Sacramento (9-10)
Anybody who believes that Brandon Jennings has the rookie of the year award all sewn up is sadly mistaken. Tyreke Evans is having a brilliant rookie campaign 19.4ppg 5.1rpg and 4.9apg. As the season continues expect the rest of the media to take notice of Evans.

(15)16. Milwaukee (9-10)
Brandon Jennings had 24 points in a 101 to 86 loss to the Cavs. Jennings 24 points broke his streak of seven games without registering 20 or more points. Bucks have lost seven of eight.

(16)17. Charlotte (8-11)
The Bobcats are 5-5 with Stephen Jackson in the line-up. DJ Augustin has seemed too fallen out of the rotation with two DNPs in a row.

(21)18. LA Clippers (9-11)
The Clips have won five of their last seven and a huge piece to their recent success can be attributed to the play of Marcus Camby who has grabbed 98 rebounds and blocked 16 shots in his last six games.

(19)19. New Orleans (8-11)
Chris Paul is back which is great for the Hornets. Paul had 16 points 15 asts 6 rebounds and 8 steals in his return a 98 to 89 win over the T-Wolves. Darren Collison only played 18 minutes in the win hopefully he will be able to receive more playing time after playing well in CP3's absence.

(22)20. Toronto (9-13)
After embarrassing themselves and their country with a 146 to 115 loss to the Hawks. The Raptors won their last two games both on the road over the Wizards and Bulls.

(23)21. Memphis (8-12)
After starting the season 1-8 the Grizzlies have gone a surprising 7-4. It took them a while but it appears that this young talented roster is coming together.

(24)22. Detroit (8-12)
The Pistons have won two in a row but you know things are bad when during the pre-game show on NBATV they are highlighting Ben Wallace's stats 4.5ppg and 9.8rpg.

(17)23. Chicago (7-11)
Tough weekend for Joakim Noah, on Friday he got into it with Lebron James and was subsequently berated by James during a post game interview. Saturday Noah was ejected during the Bulls blowout loss to the Toronto Raptors 110 to 78. The Bulls have lost seven of their last eight games.

(25)24. Washington (7-12)
The Wiz drop two in a row losing to Toronto and Detroit. Just when you thought Gilbert Arenas was back to his old self he puts up a stinker against Detroit. Eights points on 3-9 shooting from the field.

(29)25. New York (6-15)
The Knicks had their best week of the season winning three out of four with notable wins against the Suns and the Hawks.

(18)26. Indiana (6-12)
Losers of nine out of their last ten games the Pacers are in serious trouble. Danny Granger left the Saturday's game versus the Clippers with a heal injury and will need an MRI.

(26)27. Philadelphia (5-15)
It is weird how the Allen Iverson situation has unfolded, it seems like everything that happened is leading up to a story book ending for the guard. Allen Iverson and Grizzlies part ways, Lou Williams goes down, 76ers sign Iverson; Jrue Holiday goes down, 76ers lose nine in a row and Iverson returns today versus his former team the Nuggets.

(27)28. Golden State (6-13)
The Warriors have lost five of their last six games and its no wonder their style of play is so selfish one pass, one on one move go for a shot.

(28)29. Minnesota (3-17)
Kevin Love is back and has already posted two double doubles in his first two games of the season. Ryan Gomes has averaged 21.3ppg in his last four games and it will be very intriguing to see if he is able to provide them with scoring that they so desperately need.

(30)30. New Jersey (1-19)
They broke their 18 game losing streak with a win over the Bobcats 97 to 91. They are still on their way to being the worst team in NBA history.