3afan
11-30-2005, 06:56 PM
from Yahoo!
1. Detroit Pistons (10-2, Last week: 1) – Despite a bad home loss to the Wizards, the Pistons remain the best team in the NBA.
2. Dallas Mavericks (9-3, Last week: 2) – The Mavs were close to taking the top spot, but losing to Memphis – and losing Josh Howard for a week or so – keeps them at No. 2.
3. San Antonio Spurs (10-3, Last week: 3) – Losing to Chicago was just a hiccup. The Spurs are as solid as any team in the league.
4. Indiana Pacers (8-4, Last week: 7) – Jekyll and Hyde? The Pacers pound Cleveland, then lose to the Hawks.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-4, Last week: 4) – Larry Hughes and Eric Snow have taken much of the playmaking burden off LeBron James' shoulders, which is one reason James has scored 30 or more points seven times already this season.
6. Los Angeles Clippers (9-4, Last week: 5) – After two straight losses, the Clips face their first adversity of the season. Their next four games are against Minnesota, Cleveland (twice) and Miami.
7. Memphis Grizzlies (9-5, Last week: 8) – A rout of the Mavericks in Dallas vaults the Grizzlies a notch higher in the top 10.
8. Denver Nuggets (8-6, Last week: 9) – Marcus Camby is the top rebounder (13.9) in the NBA and the second-best shot blocker (3.31).
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (7-5, Last week: 16) – The Wolves are very efficient offensively. They're among the league leaders in assists and field-goal percentage.
10. Chicago Bulls (6-5, Last week: 20) – Reverting to his rookie form, Ben Gordon produced big fourth quarters to help knock off San Antonio and Houston.
11. Golden State Warriors (9-6, Last week: 11) – Ike Diogu is back from a broken left hand, and he's giving the Warriors an inside threat.
12. Phoenix Suns (7-5, Last week: 15) – Don't look now, but the Suns have held opponents under 100 points five straight times.
13. Miami Heat (7-6, Last week: 12) – Wasn't this revamped roster supposed to be able to carry the Heat in case Shaquille O'Neal got hurt?
14. Philadelphia 76ers (7-7, Last week: 14) – The Sixers have changed their image under Maurice Cheeks. They're running, gunning and not exactly defending. They're giving up 105 points a night.
15. Milwaukee Bucks (6-6, Last week: 6) – The hot start is over, and the Bucks suddenly find themselves in last place in the Central Division. A little defense will help them considerably.
16. Sacramento Kings (6-7, Last week: 19) – No Peja Stojakovic, but Mike Bibby has taken over the offense. He's averaging 27 points over his last four games.
17. New Jersey Nets (6-7, Last week: 13) – The Nets averted an 0-4 start on their West Coast swing with Sunday's win over the Lakers.
18. Boston Celtics (5-7, Last week: 18) – Only the Knicks turn the ball over more. The Celtics' 17 miscues a game are costing Doc Rivers' young team.
19. New Orleans Hornets (6-6, Last week: 21) – The Hornets are no gimme. They play with energy, they're young and their home crowd in Oklahoma City is a factor.
20. Orlando Magic (6-6, Last week: 27) – The defense is kicking in. Three wins in a row give the Magic a spark.
21. Washington Wizards (6-7, Last week: 10) – It doesn't make sense. The Wizards have lost six of seven, with the lone win coming in Detroit.
22. Los Angeles Lakers (5-7, Last week: 24) – Kobe Bryant's offensive displays are so impressive even his teammates seem to stand around and watch.
23. Utah Jazz (6-8, Last week: 23) – The Jazz are shooting 41.5 percent, which would be the worst mark in team history.
24. Charlotte Bobcats (5-9, Last week: 26) – The Bobcats will get after it. They lead the NBA in steals at a whopping 11.6 per game.
25. Portland Trail Blazers (5-7, Last week: 25) – The Blazers have to be relieved. Zach Randolph is averaging 18 and 10 coming off microfracture knee surgery.
26. New York Knicks (4-8, Last week: 28) – Twelve players are averaging 13 or more minutes. Either that means they have great depth, or Larry Brown is trying to figure out a rotation.
27. Seattle SuperSonics (5-8, Last week: 17) – Poof: Last year's magic is gone.
28. Houston Rockets (3-11, Last week: 22) – "Tracy McGrady, we have a problem."
29. Atlanta Hawks (2-10, Last week: 30) – Al Harrington is a matchup nightmare. He's too quick for forwards and too big for guards.
30. Toronto Raptors (1-13, Last week: 29) – The Raptors better not look past Dallas and Memphis as they anticipate Friday night's big matchup with Atlanta.
1. Detroit Pistons (10-2, Last week: 1) – Despite a bad home loss to the Wizards, the Pistons remain the best team in the NBA.
2. Dallas Mavericks (9-3, Last week: 2) – The Mavs were close to taking the top spot, but losing to Memphis – and losing Josh Howard for a week or so – keeps them at No. 2.
3. San Antonio Spurs (10-3, Last week: 3) – Losing to Chicago was just a hiccup. The Spurs are as solid as any team in the league.
4. Indiana Pacers (8-4, Last week: 7) – Jekyll and Hyde? The Pacers pound Cleveland, then lose to the Hawks.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-4, Last week: 4) – Larry Hughes and Eric Snow have taken much of the playmaking burden off LeBron James' shoulders, which is one reason James has scored 30 or more points seven times already this season.
6. Los Angeles Clippers (9-4, Last week: 5) – After two straight losses, the Clips face their first adversity of the season. Their next four games are against Minnesota, Cleveland (twice) and Miami.
7. Memphis Grizzlies (9-5, Last week: 8) – A rout of the Mavericks in Dallas vaults the Grizzlies a notch higher in the top 10.
8. Denver Nuggets (8-6, Last week: 9) – Marcus Camby is the top rebounder (13.9) in the NBA and the second-best shot blocker (3.31).
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (7-5, Last week: 16) – The Wolves are very efficient offensively. They're among the league leaders in assists and field-goal percentage.
10. Chicago Bulls (6-5, Last week: 20) – Reverting to his rookie form, Ben Gordon produced big fourth quarters to help knock off San Antonio and Houston.
11. Golden State Warriors (9-6, Last week: 11) – Ike Diogu is back from a broken left hand, and he's giving the Warriors an inside threat.
12. Phoenix Suns (7-5, Last week: 15) – Don't look now, but the Suns have held opponents under 100 points five straight times.
13. Miami Heat (7-6, Last week: 12) – Wasn't this revamped roster supposed to be able to carry the Heat in case Shaquille O'Neal got hurt?
14. Philadelphia 76ers (7-7, Last week: 14) – The Sixers have changed their image under Maurice Cheeks. They're running, gunning and not exactly defending. They're giving up 105 points a night.
15. Milwaukee Bucks (6-6, Last week: 6) – The hot start is over, and the Bucks suddenly find themselves in last place in the Central Division. A little defense will help them considerably.
16. Sacramento Kings (6-7, Last week: 19) – No Peja Stojakovic, but Mike Bibby has taken over the offense. He's averaging 27 points over his last four games.
17. New Jersey Nets (6-7, Last week: 13) – The Nets averted an 0-4 start on their West Coast swing with Sunday's win over the Lakers.
18. Boston Celtics (5-7, Last week: 18) – Only the Knicks turn the ball over more. The Celtics' 17 miscues a game are costing Doc Rivers' young team.
19. New Orleans Hornets (6-6, Last week: 21) – The Hornets are no gimme. They play with energy, they're young and their home crowd in Oklahoma City is a factor.
20. Orlando Magic (6-6, Last week: 27) – The defense is kicking in. Three wins in a row give the Magic a spark.
21. Washington Wizards (6-7, Last week: 10) – It doesn't make sense. The Wizards have lost six of seven, with the lone win coming in Detroit.
22. Los Angeles Lakers (5-7, Last week: 24) – Kobe Bryant's offensive displays are so impressive even his teammates seem to stand around and watch.
23. Utah Jazz (6-8, Last week: 23) – The Jazz are shooting 41.5 percent, which would be the worst mark in team history.
24. Charlotte Bobcats (5-9, Last week: 26) – The Bobcats will get after it. They lead the NBA in steals at a whopping 11.6 per game.
25. Portland Trail Blazers (5-7, Last week: 25) – The Blazers have to be relieved. Zach Randolph is averaging 18 and 10 coming off microfracture knee surgery.
26. New York Knicks (4-8, Last week: 28) – Twelve players are averaging 13 or more minutes. Either that means they have great depth, or Larry Brown is trying to figure out a rotation.
27. Seattle SuperSonics (5-8, Last week: 17) – Poof: Last year's magic is gone.
28. Houston Rockets (3-11, Last week: 22) – "Tracy McGrady, we have a problem."
29. Atlanta Hawks (2-10, Last week: 30) – Al Harrington is a matchup nightmare. He's too quick for forwards and too big for guards.
30. Toronto Raptors (1-13, Last week: 29) – The Raptors better not look past Dallas and Memphis as they anticipate Friday night's big matchup with Atlanta.