TheHoopsForum Power Ranking
By Ron Campbell
12/1/2008
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The Boston Celtics have tied an NBA record with their 22 and 2 start but Rajon Rondo on the all star team, I don't know about that one. The Cavs dominating 11 game winning streak came to an end on Saturday night with a loss in Atlanta. San Antonio breaks the top five for the first time this season after winning six in a row. Portland free falled this week dropping 9 spots, I must admit, that I too was very high on the young Blazers. The Nets had a very disappointing week, losing three in a row. The Clippers won to very big games against the Blazers and the Rockets and I think these guys have the roster to turn their season around. Look for the Clippers to build off the momentum of winning two in a row this week. The Grizz are on a surprising 4 game win streak and my favorite terrible team is not so terrible, here are the rankings :
(1)1. Boston (22-2)
The Celtics are winners of 14 in a row, the Celtics have a point differential of plus 10.4. The trio of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are a combined 88-18 in the regular season and the Celtics 22-2 mark ties an NBA record for best start.
(3)2. Lakers (20-3)
Pau Gasol is having a terrific season averaging 18.0ppg and 9.3rpg for the season but Kobe Bryant still has led this team in scoring, 18 out of 23
outings this season.
(2)3. Cleveland (20-4)
The Cavs 11 game win streak came to a halt Saturday when they loss 92 to 97 to the Hawks, I for one was not surprised, the best team the Cavs beat during their streak was the Atlanta Hawks and they were without Josh Smith at the time.
(4)4. Orlando (18-6)
The Magic defeated the Jazz on Saturday despite the absence of Dwight Howard who missed his first game as a pro with a sore left knee, Howard is questionable for Monday's game against the Warriors.
(10)5. San Antonio (15-8)
With all the talk of the NBA season being a race between Boston, LA and Cleveland everybody has forgotten about San Antonio who after starting the season at 5 and 6 have gone 10 and 2 and are winners of 6 in a row. We will know where San Antonio is at after this week where they have two huge road games against the Hornets and Magic.
(7)6. Denver (16-7)
Carmelo Anthony tied an NBA record last Wednesday by scoring 33 points in the third quarter against the Timberwolves he followed that up with a 27 point outing against the Warriors on Saturday.
(6)7. New Orleans (13-7)
Tough loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday but you got like the move the Hornets made to get Antonio Daniels who will be better suited to play their system then Mike James was.
(8)8. Houston (15-9)
Rafer Alston is doubtful for Tuesday game against the Nuggets after straining his left hamstring Saturday, but the good news is Ron Artest should be ready to go.
(13)9. Dallas (13-9)
The Mavs are 11 and 2 after starting the season 2 and 7, they have a huge game Monday versus the Nuggets but go on a three game road trip in which they should be favored in every contest. They will face the Raptors, Nets and Wizards on the road next week.
(9)10. Atlanta (14-9)
Atlanta lost every game on its Texas triangle road trip but won its final road game against the Heat and then the Hawks returned home to stun the Cavs at home and end their week on a positive note.
(11)11. Phoenix (14-10)
I really like the move by Steve Kerr to add Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley, Richardson is a more reliable scorer than both Raja Bell and
Boris Diaw. Jared Dudley in time will be able to fill the role of Boris Diaw. Bell was unhappy that he didn't get a contract extension.
(12)12. Utah (15-10)
Gotta give Utah Jazz props for remaining very competitive with Deron Williams not 100% and Carlos Boozer missing the last 13 games. With Booz the Jazz are 7 and 6 but Boozer may play today against the Celtics.
(15)13. Detroit (13-9)
The Pistons haven't shown much consistency losing to the Wizards winning against Pacers and blowing a huge lead to Bobcats before escaping with a win, but Antonio McDyess is back and has looked
good.
(5)14. Portland (15-10)
The Blazers have silenced all the "are they for real talk" by dropping three games in a row, what’s disturbing about the losses is that Brandon Roy had over 30 points in each loss. The Blazers were without Travis Outlaw for last game and Outlaw was injured during the loss to Utah.
(16)15. Miami (12-11)
Dwayne Wade couldn't find his shot this weekend. Friday in a loss to the Hawks Wade shot 9 for 24 and against the Grizzlies he shot 5 for 16 from the field in another ugly loss.
(13)16. New Jersey (11-11)
Last week I said these guys had a very favorable schedule coming up and they lose all three games to the Knicks, Raptors and Bulls. Very poor showing for Nets you gotta assume they would win at least one of those games, the Nets have the Raps, Jazz, Mavs and Heat this week.
(17)17. New York (11-12)
The Knicks are 2-1 on their five game road trip, they lost at Chicago won at New Jersey and Sacramento. Today’s game will provide an emotional reunion for Mike D'Antoni and his former club the Phoenix Suns and a not so warm welcome with Phil Jackson and the Lakers on Tuesday.
(18)18. Chicago (11-12)
The Bulls have won 3 out of 4 games and during that stretch Ben Gordon has hit 15 of 30 three pointers and made 35 of 69 field goal attempts.
(20)19. Toronto (10-13)
New Raptors head coach Jay Triano started Jason Kapono despite Anthony Parker returning from injury, Kapono played well in Raps previous two wins against Pacers and Nets but only shot 3 for 14 from the field against the Hornets.
(25)20. Memphis (9-15)
The Grizz have won four in a row which is their longest winning streak since the 2005-06 season.
(19)21. Philadelphia (10-14)
Mo Cheeks was fired Saturday morning and I personally never thought he was that good of a coach, this team just wasn't cohesive on the offensive end and Andre Igoudola and Andre Miller were not playing
any where near the level they did last year.
(21)22. Milwaukee (10-15)
The Bucks lost all three of their games against the West losing to Lakers, Suns, and Warriors but they were able to win at home Saturday. The Bucks play the Heat, 76ers and Knicks on the road this week.
(22)23. Indiana (7-16)
The Pacers are 2 and 8 in their last 10 games with the only two wins coming against the Rockets and Lakers, go figure.
(24)24. Charlotte (7-17)
The Bobcats have lost six games in a row but the trade brings Larry Brown two solid veterans in Raja Bell and Boris Diaw.
They should provide some veteran leadership to this very wet behind the ears team.
(25)25. Golden State (7-17)
Monta Ellis won't be able to participate in on court activities for at least another month, Don Nelson was right when he said this isn't a playoff team.
(26)26. LA Clippers (6-17)
Zach Randolph was huge in the Clippers win against his former team
the Portland Trailblazer, Randolph posted 38 points and 11 rebounds and he followed up that effort with 30 points and 13 boards versus Houston.
(28)27. Sacramento (6-18)
Naturally you have to assume that Reggie Theus will be the next coach to be fired as all the rest of the coaches at the bottom of this ranking have been let go.
(29)28. Washington (4-17)
Mike James scored 16 points in 24 minutes off the bench in a loss at Philadelphia. You have to wonder when we will see Gilbert Arenas with the Wizards trading for Mike James and Javaris Crittendon.
(27)29. Minnesota (4-15)
Kevin McHale is 0 and 4 since taking over Head coaching duties and the Wolves are on a 9 game losing streak which marks the NBA's longest losing streak.
(30)30. Oklahoma City (2-23)
The Thunder have lost seven in a row but their are signs of improvement as they have lost their last 3 games by only six or less points.
| Name | Comment |
| Stu Parker | wow. after reading this blog....You are spot on. I do not deny Kevin Garnett's ability as a player but HATE the BS stuff he does...All negative crap. |
| | This is a very unfair article. Garnett is an Olympic Gold Medalist, an MVP, an ALL STAR MVP, an ALL NBA member and an NBA Champion... you know how many current players can say that? 2 others (Shaq & Kobe) and they are all considered among the best players at their respected positions in the HISTORY of basketball. The same should be said for K.G. |
| | This is a very unfair article. Garnett is an Olympic Gold Medalist, an MVP, an ALL STAR MVP, an ALL NBA member and an NBA Champion... you know how many current players can say that? 2 others (Shaq & Kobe) and they are all considered among the best players at their respected positions in the HISTORY of basketball. The same should be said for K.G. |
| Ra | This is blasphemy. I hope a Celtics fan did not write this article. |
| KWAPT | How old is that clip of KG? C'mon..of course that was a punk move, but what was that, 10 years ago? It's simple: KG is a fierce competitor who uses intimiadation and mental toughness to strike fear in the heart of his opponents. If he is on your team, you LOVE him. If he is not, you may loathe him. But either way, he is a great player. You cannot deny that. |
| Alex | Wow, now we are going to call an Olympic Gold Medalist, an MVP, an ALL STAR MVP, an ALL NBA member, an NBA Champion, a player that has more 20-10-5 seasons than Larry Bird, Defender of the Year (2008 and most likely, this year) overrated? Hmm, right now I'm kind of smelling a bit of jealousy mixed with stupidity in this article. |
| Tweedster | This blog is poorly written, scattered and incoherent. Thankfully, someone else already tackled the inconsistencies and leaps of logic. Check it out hear:
http://celticshub.com/2009/10/22/did-you-hear-kg-is-overrated/ |
| Tweedster | Some actual statistics, and not just conjecture and strange conclusions based on the number of 'chips KG has.
http://www.celticstown.com/is-kevin-garnett-clutch.html |
| SP | ron campbell must love the Lakers. Or the Cav's. Or the Magic. but he doesn't know @$@@ about basketball! |
| Ed The Sports Fan | I'm sorry, there's no way in life Allen Iverson isn't in the starting 5, especially ahead of Nash. Give a damn about MVP's, Iverson's done more with much much MUCH less and totally revolutionized the game. Other than that, I think your decade team is cool.
-Ed. |
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