TheHoopsForum NBA Power Rankings
By Marlon Benjamin 02/01/10
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The C's are looking older than the invention of the wheel, the Mamba does it again, Lebron has his Cavs rolling and Mr. Big Shot Billups is playing with a chip on his shoulder after being snubbed as an All Star Reserve. These are just a few of the recent headlines in the NBA. Now on to this weeks rankings.
(1)1. Cleveland(38-11)
The Cavs hit 11 of 13 three point field goals in the 1st quarter of Sundays blowout win against the Clippers. Clippers coach said he would put all his money up that if the Cavs were naked and had no one defending them they could not make the shots they made in that quarter ever again. After watching the highlights he might be right. Talk about a game of H.O.R.S.E.
(2)2. LA Lakers(37-11)
Kobe Bryant hit a tough foul line jumper over Ray Allen with under 10 seconds left in the game to propel the Lakers to victory in a re-match of the 2008 NBA Finals. Talk about teams going in opposite directions.
(5)3. Denver(32-15)
Although it certainly does not have the same luster as it once did, the Nuggets went into San Antonio and beat down the Parker-less Spurs. Denver's heart and soul, Mr. Big Shot Billups was up to his usual big game antics going off for 25 points and 11 assist. He also hit a 3 pointer in the face of Richard Jefferson with S.A. up 2 points late in the 4th quarter that essentially sent everyone home for the afternoon.
(3)4. Atlanta(30-16)
Atlanta finished a tough week 2-2 which included sweeping the season series from the Celtics for the first time in 11 years. Center Al Horford was named to his 1st All Star team snubbing his more deserving teammate Josh Smith in the process.
(8)5. Orlando(32-16)
The Magic are finally giving the ball to Dwight Howard and are realizing that good things will happen (3 wins in a row) when they do.
(4)6. Boston(29-16)
The Celtics finished up a 1-3 week in embarrassing fashion by losing to Orlando, Atlanta and the Lakers by stumbling down the stretch in each and every game. The C's are looking like they are two or three steps behind the elite teams in the league.
(10)7. Utah(28-18)
The Jazz have the 2nd longest winning streak in the NBA (5 games) and may have finally come to the realization of what they have speculated for a couple years now… Paul Milsap is BETTER than Carlos Boozer.
(6)8. Dallas(30-17)
The Mavericks are still as soft aa paper tissue but they still win 60% of their games. It should come as no surprise to anyone this team won more regular season games in the last decade than any team other than San Antonio.
(9)9. San Antonio(27-19)
The Spurs need to make a move and make a move soon or they will waste away the last productive days of the greatest power forward the game has ever seen.
(8)10. Portland(28-21)
Andre Miller scored 52 points including 25 in the 4th quarter and overtime to lift Portland to a 114-112 victory over the Mavericks on Saturday night. I am waiting to hear how Miller is now a top 5 point guard in the NBA after this performance. Think not? I heard it before this season.
(17)11. Oklahoma City(26-21)
Kevin Durant is second in the NBA with a scoring average of 29.6. He scored 45 points Sunday evening against Golden State. That was his 21st game scoring more than 25 points which is an NBA record for any player under the age of 22.
(12)12. Phoenix(28-21)
Every time Ama're throws up a stinker (12 pts 5 to's vs. Charlotte on Tues) he reminds many GM's and scouts why he is still as coveted a free agent big man as there is (36 pts and 11 rebs at Houston last night). That being said the Suns are best to cut ties immediately if not sooner.
(11)13. Memphis(25-21)
Zach Randolph was rewarded for his stellar play on Thursday as he was named a reserve on the Western Conference All Star team. The team has not won a game since but I digress.
(16)14. Toronto(26-22)
Chris Bosh's boys are within 4.5 games of the division leading Celtics. It is funny because I do not think too many people remember these Raptors won this division a couple years ago.
(18)15. Charlotte(24-22)
The Bobcats are playing extremely well and if healthy this team led by All Star forward Gerald Wallace will be playing in the post season. No one and I mean NO ONE wants to see this team in round one.
(15)16. Houston(25-22)
I have been waiting for this team to collapse all year but coach of the year candidate Rick Adelman is not going to let it happen.
(19)17. Chicago(23-22)
All Star point guard Derrick Rose is playing as well at the point guard position as anyone in all of basketball. The Bulls have won 5 in a row and are right back in the Eastern Conference playoff race. After watching what they did to the Celtics in round 1 last season do you think anyone wants to play them either?
(13)18. New Orleans(26-21)
With Chris Paul out (knee surgery) for the next month and a half (at least), look for the Hornets to plunge faster than the Dow circa 2008.
(15)19. Miami(24-23)
At least when D. Wade had Beasley you could give him a fighters chance but even if you added Buster Douglas to this line up the Heat have no shot to compete with the big boys.
(22)20. Milwaukee(20-25)
Andrew Bogut is on the verge of becoming a star. He is already one of the top 5 centers in the NBA (which really is not saying much) but he is a nightly double double with a few blocks thrown in for good measure.
(20)21. LA Clippers(20-27)
It is a simple as this, when Chris Kaman does not play the Clippers have NO CHANCE. Sounds weird huh? But it is true. They are 0-6 this season without him.
(22)22. New York(18-29)
David Lee got snubbed from the All Star team. That is the ONLY gripe that I can agree with coming from the average New Yorker.
(26)23. Washington(16-30)
There was a Mike Miller sighting on Saturday night in a win against New York (25 points, 7 3's, 8 asts and 9 rebs).
(24)24. Philadelphia(16-31)
The Sixers have turned things around slightly since the arrival of Iverson. They are just bad instead of terrible.
(25)25. Indiana(16-32)
Danny Granger has clearly taken a step back from his All Star season of a year ago and consequently this team is headed nowhere fast.
(29)26. Sacramento(16-30)
The K Mart Ty experiment is not working… so K Mart has got to go.
(26)27. Detroit(15-31)
I expect Detroit to move on from the Tayshaun Prince era and try to add more toughness to their starting line-up.
(28)28. Minnesota(11-38)
I never thought I would be saying this but the Wolves have got to trade Al Jefferson.
(27)29. Golden State(13-33)
Stephen Curry has been excellent as of late. If the Warriors were serious about winning Monta Ellis would have been sent packing months ago.
(30)30. New Jersey(4-42)
One word - CONTRACTION.
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