3afan
01-10-2006, 03:55 PM
1. Detroit Pistons (26-5, Last week: 1) – Good thing the Pistons don't have to play Utah anymore.
2. San Antonio Spurs (26-8, Last week: 2) – Big week for the Spurs: They host the red-hot Nets, then play Detroit and Memphis.
3. Dallas Mavericks (25-9, Last week: 3) – These aren't your father's Mavs, or even your older brother's. They are holding opponents to 94.3 points per game on 44.5 percent shooting.
4. Phoenix Suns (22-11, Last week: 6) – Shawn Marion continues his sizzling play as the Suns go 3-1 on the week, including wins over Miami and San Antonio.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (20-11, Last week: 4) – The Cavaliers are good, but the loss to Houston shows they're not ready for prime time.
6. New Jersey Nets (19-12, Last week: 8) – It was a good week to be named Vince. Young leads the Longhorns past USC, and Carter leads the Nets to their 10th straight win.
7. Memphis Grizzlies (21-11, Last week: 7) – The Grizzlies are in search of a point guard. Could Earl Watson be on his way back?
8. Miami Heat (20-15, Last week: 5) – In the midst of a seven-game road swing, the Heat are still struggling to find health and continuity.
9. Indiana Pacers (18-13, Last week: 12) – Stephen Jackson is coming up big. He's averaging 26 points per game on the Pacers' current road trip.
10. Milwaukee Bucks (17-14, Last week: 10) – Life is a little tougher without T.J. Ford. The Bucks have averaged 88 points on 41-percent shooting during a three-game losing streak.
11. Utah Jazz (17-17, Last week: 13) – The Jazz are 2-0 against Detroit this season. How strange is that? Not as strange as Utah leading the Northwest Division.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (17-14, Last week: 9) – What happened to the D? The Clips are giving up an average of 109 points in their last five games.
13. Los Angeles Lakers (17-16, Last week: 16) – Kobe Bryant has led the Lakers in scoring in his last 13 games.
14. Golden State Warriors (17-16, Last week: 11) – Ron Artest makes a lot of sense for this team. The Warriors give up almost 100 points a game, and opponents are shooting about 46 percent.
15. Denver Nuggets (17-18, Last week: 17) – Andre Miller is quietly having a nice season. He has led the Nuggets in assists for 19 consecutive games.
16. Philadelphia 76ers (16-17, Last week: 14) – Allen Iverson is shooting 45 percent (46.1 is his career best) and scoring 33 points a game.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-16, Last week: 15) – The Wolves can't score. They've lost four of five and only cracked 90 points once during that span.
18. New Orleans Hornets (15-18, Last week: 21) – It's tough to match up with the Hornets' speed and quickness. They're averaging almost eight steals a game.
19. Chicago Bulls (14-19, Last week: 24) – The Bulls are "off the schneid" (whatever that means). Big wins in Milwaukee and Memphis could get Chicago back on track.
20. Washington Wizards (13-18, Last week: 19) – When the Wizards hold an opponent under 100 points, mark it down. It won't happen again for a while.
21. Seattle SuperSonics (14-19, Last week: 20) – New coach, same results. The Sonics can't stop anyone.
22. Orlando Magic (13-18, Last week: 18) – Tough week for the normally defensive-minded Magic. They go 1-3 and give up 108.5 points a game.
23. Sacramento Kings (13-19, Last week: 22) – Whatever I wrote for Washington and Seattle, apply it here.
24. Boston Celtics (13-20, Last week: 23) – The Celtics can't catch a break. A tough call sent Gilbert Arenas to the line for the winning free throws on Saturday, dealing Boston its sixth loss in eight games.
25. Toronto Raptors (11-23, Last week: 28) – The Raptors are putting points on the board, thanks to Chris Bosh, Mike James and Charlie Villanueva.
26. New York Knicks (10-21, Last week: 30) – What a week for Stephon Marbury. He averaged 23.7 points and 12 assists as the Knicks won three straight.
27. Houston Rockets (12-20, Last week: 25) – Tracy McGrady is hospitalized with back spasms. The Rockets are one losing streak away from a trip to the lottery.
28. Charlotte Bobcats (10-20, Last week: 26) – Tough to win without at least one go-to scorer. The Bobcats have lost four in a row.
29. Atlanta Hawks (9-22, Last week: 29) – Al Harrington's name continues to come up in trade rumors with Indiana, but he's almost playing too well for the Hawks to deal him.
30. Portland Trail Blazers (10-24, Last week: 27) – The Blazers play their next seven in Portland. With a six-game losing streak, they better give the home crowd something to cheer about.
2. San Antonio Spurs (26-8, Last week: 2) – Big week for the Spurs: They host the red-hot Nets, then play Detroit and Memphis.
3. Dallas Mavericks (25-9, Last week: 3) – These aren't your father's Mavs, or even your older brother's. They are holding opponents to 94.3 points per game on 44.5 percent shooting.
4. Phoenix Suns (22-11, Last week: 6) – Shawn Marion continues his sizzling play as the Suns go 3-1 on the week, including wins over Miami and San Antonio.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (20-11, Last week: 4) – The Cavaliers are good, but the loss to Houston shows they're not ready for prime time.
6. New Jersey Nets (19-12, Last week: 8) – It was a good week to be named Vince. Young leads the Longhorns past USC, and Carter leads the Nets to their 10th straight win.
7. Memphis Grizzlies (21-11, Last week: 7) – The Grizzlies are in search of a point guard. Could Earl Watson be on his way back?
8. Miami Heat (20-15, Last week: 5) – In the midst of a seven-game road swing, the Heat are still struggling to find health and continuity.
9. Indiana Pacers (18-13, Last week: 12) – Stephen Jackson is coming up big. He's averaging 26 points per game on the Pacers' current road trip.
10. Milwaukee Bucks (17-14, Last week: 10) – Life is a little tougher without T.J. Ford. The Bucks have averaged 88 points on 41-percent shooting during a three-game losing streak.
11. Utah Jazz (17-17, Last week: 13) – The Jazz are 2-0 against Detroit this season. How strange is that? Not as strange as Utah leading the Northwest Division.
12. Los Angeles Clippers (17-14, Last week: 9) – What happened to the D? The Clips are giving up an average of 109 points in their last five games.
13. Los Angeles Lakers (17-16, Last week: 16) – Kobe Bryant has led the Lakers in scoring in his last 13 games.
14. Golden State Warriors (17-16, Last week: 11) – Ron Artest makes a lot of sense for this team. The Warriors give up almost 100 points a game, and opponents are shooting about 46 percent.
15. Denver Nuggets (17-18, Last week: 17) – Andre Miller is quietly having a nice season. He has led the Nuggets in assists for 19 consecutive games.
16. Philadelphia 76ers (16-17, Last week: 14) – Allen Iverson is shooting 45 percent (46.1 is his career best) and scoring 33 points a game.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-16, Last week: 15) – The Wolves can't score. They've lost four of five and only cracked 90 points once during that span.
18. New Orleans Hornets (15-18, Last week: 21) – It's tough to match up with the Hornets' speed and quickness. They're averaging almost eight steals a game.
19. Chicago Bulls (14-19, Last week: 24) – The Bulls are "off the schneid" (whatever that means). Big wins in Milwaukee and Memphis could get Chicago back on track.
20. Washington Wizards (13-18, Last week: 19) – When the Wizards hold an opponent under 100 points, mark it down. It won't happen again for a while.
21. Seattle SuperSonics (14-19, Last week: 20) – New coach, same results. The Sonics can't stop anyone.
22. Orlando Magic (13-18, Last week: 18) – Tough week for the normally defensive-minded Magic. They go 1-3 and give up 108.5 points a game.
23. Sacramento Kings (13-19, Last week: 22) – Whatever I wrote for Washington and Seattle, apply it here.
24. Boston Celtics (13-20, Last week: 23) – The Celtics can't catch a break. A tough call sent Gilbert Arenas to the line for the winning free throws on Saturday, dealing Boston its sixth loss in eight games.
25. Toronto Raptors (11-23, Last week: 28) – The Raptors are putting points on the board, thanks to Chris Bosh, Mike James and Charlie Villanueva.
26. New York Knicks (10-21, Last week: 30) – What a week for Stephon Marbury. He averaged 23.7 points and 12 assists as the Knicks won three straight.
27. Houston Rockets (12-20, Last week: 25) – Tracy McGrady is hospitalized with back spasms. The Rockets are one losing streak away from a trip to the lottery.
28. Charlotte Bobcats (10-20, Last week: 26) – Tough to win without at least one go-to scorer. The Bobcats have lost four in a row.
29. Atlanta Hawks (9-22, Last week: 29) – Al Harrington's name continues to come up in trade rumors with Indiana, but he's almost playing too well for the Hawks to deal him.
30. Portland Trail Blazers (10-24, Last week: 27) – The Blazers play their next seven in Portland. With a six-game losing streak, they better give the home crowd something to cheer about.