Thanks for all the support in last week’s rankings. Here’s the latest. As usual, keep the
comments and complaints coming.
Rank(Pv) |
Team |
Record |
Comments |
| 1(1) |  |
34-10 | Well, I wont fault the Spurs for that letdown in Portland last night. Not right now. The Spurs proved this weekend (in their wins over Phoenix and Sacramento) that they are the best team in the league. I’ll let this little Portland loss slide. |
| 2(4) |  |
32-10 | Alls well in Phoenix with Steve Nash back. Picking up Jim Jackson could be very big for the Suns. Jackson will be able to play meaningful minutes allowing guys like Nash, Quentin, and Johnson to rest their legs for the stretch run to the playoffs. |
| 3(2) |  |
28-11 | The Sonics are looking less and less elite with each week. They are a pedestrian 5-5 in their last 10 and lost to both underachieving Minnesota and Denver last week. Their top 5 days could be numbered |
| 4(3) |  |
30-13 | As we near the end of January, we sorta expected the Heat to be running away with the conference. Well it hasn’t happened yet. Problem is, they followed up their 14-1 December with a 6-6 January (3 games to go). They’ll still win the East but the longer it takes means more minutes for Shaq before the playoffs start. |
| 5(7) |  |
27-13 | Anybody looking for proof about Erick Dampier being a great pickup, look no further. The Mavs defense ppg game is down from 100.8 last season to 96.5 this season. I`d say money well spent. |
| 6(5) |  |
27-12 | The Kings learned Sunday what its gonna take to get out of the West. Here’s a hint, it starts with a D and ends with efense. To the Kings credit, Chris Webber went down with an injury but they still lost by 30 at home. Hopefully the Kings can regroup and make it a game in the rematch Thursday night. |
| 7(11) |  |
25-15 | The Wiz have played better than expected since Larry Hughes went down. Not only by the improved play of Arenas, but Juan Dixon and Anthony Peeler as well. Dixon scored 26 in Fridays win over Toronto and Anthony Peeler hit 7 total 3 pointers in wins over Indiana and Cleveland. |
| 8(8) |  |
24-16 | I wanna be the 1st to say it, Lebron James will one day average a triple double. After having two last week and barely missing several throughout the season, I am convinced he’ll do it for a full season. |
| 9(9) |  |
23-19 | Here’s a stat that’s gonna hurt the Grizzlies in the fun and gun west. They are currently ranked #29 in the NBA in rebounding. That’s going to be their downfall against teams like the Lakers, Dallas, Seattle and Sacramento. All of whom are currently in the top 10. |
| 10(12) |  |
22-16 | The LA Kobes..errr Lakers are 3-1 without number 8 and that’s a credit to the other guys carrying the load. The play of Chucky Atkins has been very good. Atkins has averaged 22 in their last 4 games and has hit double figures in assists during their current 2 game winning streak. |
| 11(10) |  |
23-19 | Tracy McGrady’s scoring average has slowly come up and its currently 25.3 ppg. Its not an accident that the Rockets have improved since T-Mac starting taking more shots. |
| 12(6) |  |
23-18 | Screeeeecccchhhhh!! That was painful. The Pistons have lost 4 straight. What makes it worse is that they were all winnable games. It took a game in Indiana to break them out of their funk earlier this season, and whaddya know they go to Indiana Thursday night. |
| 13(13) |  |
22-19 | Maybe their back…maybe not…We’ll find out Sunday when the Kings come to town. I do know that their improved play has everything to do with Eddie Griffin’s defense. He’s had 14 blocks in their current 3 game winning streak. |
| 14(14) |  |
22-18 | Magic fans may think that because they lost twice to Houston, that the Magic got the short end of the off-season trade. Untrue statement. This time last year, the Magic had 12 wins. I’d say the trade was more even than anything else. |
| 15(15) |  |
20-19 | 1st just have to give a congratulations to the Bulls for passing the .500 mark. They haven’t been above .500 this late in the season since Phil and Mike were running the team. Also believe it or not, but they are only 3.5 games out of the Division lead. Shocking. |
| 16(16) |  |
20-19 | As the Pacers get back to a 100% roster, the key for them will be consistency. Winning in Houston then losing in New Orleans is not consistency. Neither was winning in Miami then losing at home to Washington. A win over Detroit Thursday should get them going back up their division standings. |
| 17(20) |  |
19-21 | Maybe its just me, but the Eagles got a louder ovation at the Heat game, than any thing the Sixers have mustered this season. Good luck to the Eagles. |
| 18(22) |  |
18-24 | The Raptors have won 8 of 11 and are right in the thick of things in the Atlantic division. A lot of credit should be going to Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall. These guys obviously aren’t the future of this squad, but they have been playing great basketball recently. They might not win the division, but they are definitely gonna give it a run. |
| 19(17) |  |
18-22 | The Red Sox won the World Series and the Patriots are in the Super Bowl. Well Boston, you can’t win them all. |
| 20(19) |  |
19-22 | The Clippers better enjoy their next couple of home games, because they start February with a 9 game road trip. That road trip is going to give a good indication of how strong the Clips will and determination is. |
| 21(24) |  |
17-23 | Hey the Nuggets have won two of three. It is getting very difficult to say something good about these guys. |
| 22(25) |  |
15-25 | Even without RJ, the Nets have a chance at this division. Currently 4 games back of the division leading 76ers, the Nets are very much in it. The question is though, should they throw away a lottery choice for a chance to get ran in the playoffs. I say no. |
| 23(26) |  |
15-24 | Every now and then the Bucks win a couple games and start to show signs of life. But then they’ll go on a losing streak and decline again. They’ve won 3 of 4, with their next 4 games being Phoenix, Denver, Cleveland, and Minnesota expect another losing streak. |
| 24(21) |  |
16-24 | The Blazers ended their 6 game losing streak by beating the Spurs last night. That brings up an old saying, “Sun shines on a dog’s ass every now and then”. |
| 25(23) |  |
14-28 | Its obvious that the Carlos Arroyo deal was for the future. It also means that the Jazz are gonna mail in the rest of the season. Unless Elden Campbell comes out balling. Nah didn’t think so. |
| 26(18) |  |
17-23 | Now I am not gonna say Phil Jackson is an overrated coach. Its not my place, but I will use the word fortunate. If he is even considering taking this Knick job, we’ll all see how fortunate he was. |
| 27(27) |  |
12-29 | They can thank the Nuggets from keeping them from going 0-for January. But 1 win in January isn’t that much better and with their final 3 games being New Jersey, Seattle, and the Clippers, it looks highly possible. |
| 28(29) |  |
7-33 | After getting 2 combined wins in November and December, the Hornets have won 5 during January. That’s not really important as far as this season goes but it does show that the players haven’t quit on Byron Scott. |
| 29(28) |  |
8-29 | The worst record for any expansion team is 15-67 and it was done by a few teams. If the Cats don’t scrape together a few more wins, they’ll join that list. |
| 30(30) |  |
8-31 | I think right around now is when teams start trading their over paid above average players, to teams who are in playoff contention. So Antoine Walker should start packing his bags. |