3afan
01-06-2006, 09:25 AM
(from Yahoo!) ::
1. Detroit Pistons (24-4, Last week: 1) – The Pistons fell back to earth in Cleveland, but they're playing with great confidence. Another winning streak is likely.
2. San Antonio Spurs (24-7, Last week: 2) – Manu Ginobili is back, and so is the Spurs' offense. San Antonio has averaged 103 points in the three games since his return.
3. Dallas Mavericks (22-8, Last week: 3) – Jerry Stackhouse's return gives the Mavericks the best bench in the NBA.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-10, Last week: 5) – The big victory over Detroit was the franchise's biggest in years.
5. Miami Heat (19-13, Last week: 6) – The Heat have to figure out how to get Shaquille O'Neal involved late in games.
6. Phoenix Suns (19-10, Last week: 10) – Steve Nash and Shawn Marion continue to carry the Suns, who will get Amare Stoudemire back in February.
7. Memphis Grizzlies (19-10, Last week: 4) – A 3-0 week is nice, but losing Damon Stoudamire leaves the Grizzlies in a bind at point guard.
8. New Jersey Nets (17-12, Last week: 11) – Richard Jefferson is sizzling. He made 21 of 26 shots and averaged 24 points in a 3-0 week for the Nets.
9. Los Angeles Clippers (17-12, Last week: 7) – Injuries and poor defense have plagued the reeling Clips, who gave up an average of 105 points last week.
10. Milwaukee Bucks (16-11, Last week: 9) – The Bucks will have to hang on for a few weeks until T.J. Ford's foot heals.
11. Golden State Warriors (17-14, Last week: 15) – The Warriors picked up two much-needed wins in Texas.
12. Indiana Pacers (15-12, Last week: 8) – The schedule caught up with the Pacers. Road losses to Cleveland, San Antonio and Dallas were understandable, but the home loss to Toronto? Ouch.
13. Utah Jazz (15-16, Last week: 25) – Don't look now, but the Jazz are the best team in the Northwest Division.
14. Philadelphia 76ers (15-15, Last week: 13) – The roller coaster continues. The Sixers can score, but they can't stop anybody.
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (14-14, Last week: 14) – The Wolves have lost eight of their last 10. There's just not enough help for Kevin Garnett and Wally Szczerbiak.
16. Los Angeles Lakers (15-15, Last week: 12) – Just when it appears the Lakers are onto something, they implode. Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom can't get along.
17. Denver Nuggets (14-17, Last week: 17) – No Marcus Camby, no Nene, no interior defense. With the Nuggets freefalling, the Ron Artest trade talk will escalate.
18. Orlando Magic (12-15, Last week: 24) – A 3-0 week has the Magic right back in the thick of things. Grant Hill is scoring 17 points a game on 52.5-percent shooting – so much for rust.
19. Washington Wizards (12-16, Last week: 16) – Antawn Jamison is averaging a career-high 10.4 rebounds a night, but his shooting is down – just 40.1 percent.
20. Seattle SuperSonics (13-16, Last week: 21) – Rashard Lewis has shot 10 more three-pointers than free throws this season. He's too big and strong to settle for long jumpers.
21. New Orleans Hornets (12-17, Last week: 20) – Chris Paul is running away with the Rookie of the Year award, and David West could be in line for Most Improved.
22. Sacramento Kings (12-17, Last week: 23) – After five losses in a row, Mike Bibby decided to take over, scoring a combined 71 points in wins over the Clippers and Celtics.
23. Boston Celtics (12-17, Last week: 22) – Where's the D? The Celtics averaged 111 points and shot better than 50 percent in all four games last week … and they went 1-3.
24. Chicago Bulls (12-17, Last week: 19) – With no inside game, the Bulls rely on jump shots. And with the defense not playing at the level of last season's team, Chicago can't get a win.
25. Houston Rockets (10-18, Last week: 18) – The Rockets would love to have a do-over on the Mike James trade. They could use his fire.
26. Charlotte Bobcats (10-20, Last week: 27) – They have no superstars, but nine players are averaging between 7.3 and 13.5 points. They've won four of their last six.
27. Portland Trail Blazers (10-20, Last week: 28) – The Blazers have played better with their Terrapins backcourt of Steve Blake and Juan Dixon. Both are starting and producing.
28. Toronto Raptors (8-22, Last week: 30) – Chris Bosh had 37, 11 and five against Detroit. He's close to becoming an All-Star, but can the Raptors convince him to stick around?
29. Atlanta Hawks (7-21, Last week: 26) – Now's the time to make a move: The Hawks' next eight games come against teams with losing records.
30. New York Knicks (7-21, Last week: 29) – Larry Brown says Nate Robinson "isn't a point guard – he's a highlight film." Is that a compliment?
1. Detroit Pistons (24-4, Last week: 1) – The Pistons fell back to earth in Cleveland, but they're playing with great confidence. Another winning streak is likely.
2. San Antonio Spurs (24-7, Last week: 2) – Manu Ginobili is back, and so is the Spurs' offense. San Antonio has averaged 103 points in the three games since his return.
3. Dallas Mavericks (22-8, Last week: 3) – Jerry Stackhouse's return gives the Mavericks the best bench in the NBA.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-10, Last week: 5) – The big victory over Detroit was the franchise's biggest in years.
5. Miami Heat (19-13, Last week: 6) – The Heat have to figure out how to get Shaquille O'Neal involved late in games.
6. Phoenix Suns (19-10, Last week: 10) – Steve Nash and Shawn Marion continue to carry the Suns, who will get Amare Stoudemire back in February.
7. Memphis Grizzlies (19-10, Last week: 4) – A 3-0 week is nice, but losing Damon Stoudamire leaves the Grizzlies in a bind at point guard.
8. New Jersey Nets (17-12, Last week: 11) – Richard Jefferson is sizzling. He made 21 of 26 shots and averaged 24 points in a 3-0 week for the Nets.
9. Los Angeles Clippers (17-12, Last week: 7) – Injuries and poor defense have plagued the reeling Clips, who gave up an average of 105 points last week.
10. Milwaukee Bucks (16-11, Last week: 9) – The Bucks will have to hang on for a few weeks until T.J. Ford's foot heals.
11. Golden State Warriors (17-14, Last week: 15) – The Warriors picked up two much-needed wins in Texas.
12. Indiana Pacers (15-12, Last week: 8) – The schedule caught up with the Pacers. Road losses to Cleveland, San Antonio and Dallas were understandable, but the home loss to Toronto? Ouch.
13. Utah Jazz (15-16, Last week: 25) – Don't look now, but the Jazz are the best team in the Northwest Division.
14. Philadelphia 76ers (15-15, Last week: 13) – The roller coaster continues. The Sixers can score, but they can't stop anybody.
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (14-14, Last week: 14) – The Wolves have lost eight of their last 10. There's just not enough help for Kevin Garnett and Wally Szczerbiak.
16. Los Angeles Lakers (15-15, Last week: 12) – Just when it appears the Lakers are onto something, they implode. Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom can't get along.
17. Denver Nuggets (14-17, Last week: 17) – No Marcus Camby, no Nene, no interior defense. With the Nuggets freefalling, the Ron Artest trade talk will escalate.
18. Orlando Magic (12-15, Last week: 24) – A 3-0 week has the Magic right back in the thick of things. Grant Hill is scoring 17 points a game on 52.5-percent shooting – so much for rust.
19. Washington Wizards (12-16, Last week: 16) – Antawn Jamison is averaging a career-high 10.4 rebounds a night, but his shooting is down – just 40.1 percent.
20. Seattle SuperSonics (13-16, Last week: 21) – Rashard Lewis has shot 10 more three-pointers than free throws this season. He's too big and strong to settle for long jumpers.
21. New Orleans Hornets (12-17, Last week: 20) – Chris Paul is running away with the Rookie of the Year award, and David West could be in line for Most Improved.
22. Sacramento Kings (12-17, Last week: 23) – After five losses in a row, Mike Bibby decided to take over, scoring a combined 71 points in wins over the Clippers and Celtics.
23. Boston Celtics (12-17, Last week: 22) – Where's the D? The Celtics averaged 111 points and shot better than 50 percent in all four games last week … and they went 1-3.
24. Chicago Bulls (12-17, Last week: 19) – With no inside game, the Bulls rely on jump shots. And with the defense not playing at the level of last season's team, Chicago can't get a win.
25. Houston Rockets (10-18, Last week: 18) – The Rockets would love to have a do-over on the Mike James trade. They could use his fire.
26. Charlotte Bobcats (10-20, Last week: 27) – They have no superstars, but nine players are averaging between 7.3 and 13.5 points. They've won four of their last six.
27. Portland Trail Blazers (10-20, Last week: 28) – The Blazers have played better with their Terrapins backcourt of Steve Blake and Juan Dixon. Both are starting and producing.
28. Toronto Raptors (8-22, Last week: 30) – Chris Bosh had 37, 11 and five against Detroit. He's close to becoming an All-Star, but can the Raptors convince him to stick around?
29. Atlanta Hawks (7-21, Last week: 26) – Now's the time to make a move: The Hawks' next eight games come against teams with losing records.
30. New York Knicks (7-21, Last week: 29) – Larry Brown says Nate Robinson "isn't a point guard – he's a highlight film." Is that a compliment?