Rank (Last Wk) Team Rec. Comment
1 (3) Timberwolves 30-12 At this rate, Sam I Am is going to L.A. for sure
with KG and they just might be bringing Flip with them. Now 24-7 since
starting 5-5.
2 (6) Mavericks 28-16 Make that 8-3 vs. Wolves, Kings, Lakers and Spurs.
Mavs suddenly look like a team trying to convince their bosses that they
don't need another trade.
3 (2) Kings 30-12 Can't say schedule is easy anymore, in midst of a stretch
with 12 of 17 games on the road. A 2-3 start to that stretch also means
(again) that you can't spew ridiculous stuff about Kings not needing Webber.
4 (1) Pacers 33-13 Can't help but admit that it's somewhat humbling to see
that the Power Rankings jinx can still hang with the Men's Fitness jinx. As
Pacers can now testify.
5 (7) Lakers 26-15 Recent results haven't been great, and Mailman's
prognosis is getting worse by the day, but it's a fine week when Kobe returns
and Shaq announces he'll also be back soon.
6 (5) Spurs 29-16 Remember when you could just blame everything on the
free-throwing? At 3-5 since a 16-1 run, it's obviously more than FTs.
7 (4) Pistons 29-16 Power Rankings jinx is still so potent that merely
hinting Pistons were closing in on the top three resulted in an 0-3 stretch
after a 13-game win streak.
8 (9) Rockets 26-17 Yao is hushing doubters on a daily basis now. Houston's
only real problem these days is the lack of success vs. West: 11-13.
9 (12) Grizzlies 25-18 Best of the rest? Grizz can certainly make the
argument after passing up Nuggets, Bucks and Jazz on Surprise Team-O-Meter.
10 (13) Hornets 25-19 Comeback in SA sans Baron was inspiring. News that
Baron and Mash could be back this week is even more of a lift.
11 (10) Nuggets 26-20 Not sure why they want Quentin Richardson, with 'Melo
doing just fine, but that's the story in circulation: Nugs targeting Q and
his fist-tapping buddy D-Miles (to help lure Q) in free agency.
12 (14) Bucks 24-19 Not that we're running out of Redd propaganda -- he just
had a 40-pointer, after all -- but there's apparently a whole team in
Milwaukee, judging by Bucks' 46-36 pace..
13 (15) SuperSonics 22-20 Here's another chance for Supes to prove us wrong,
as we inch them closer to top 10 yet again. I'm listening, Seattle: Is
another immediate drop inevitable?
14 (8) Nets 22-20 Despite best efforts to keep sliding and forfeit this
status, the Nets are one of only eight teams outside Midwest Division with a
record above .500. Midwest has six such teams.
15 (11) Jazz 21-22 Maybe the muppet knew what he was talking about. Or maybe
what we should have written is that there's no way Jazz can lose Harpring AND
Kirilenko after losing Stockton-to-Malone.
16 (17) Knicks 20-26 It's a safe guess that, since committee (of one) took
over before last season, Knicks have never been this high. Agreed?
17 (19) Celtics 22-24 No one else in the league is .500 or better on the
road (11-11) and sub-.500 at home (11-13). Throw in the success against the
West (9-7) and the Vin Man situation and it's a confusing team to assess.
18 (18) Clippers 18-23 Can't complain too much about a 36-win pace after
losing more key free agents than they kept (four to two) and losing Brand
early to injury.
19 (16) Raptors 20-22 This just in: Raps apparently not quite the same squad
when Vinsanity is unavailable. To date: Raps are 20-51 all time when VC is
out.
20 (21) Suns 16-29 For a second there, it looked like new Suns were on the
rise. Then came three painful losses (Nuggets, Spurs, Wolves) by total of 11
points.
21 (22) Warriors 18-25 Van Exel and Muss weren't exactly harmonious, but
Warriors would rather have a debate about who's the go-to guy rather than see
Nick hobble away to IR.
22 (24) Cavaliers 15-28 Miles will be remembered fondly for at least one
contribution ... as one of the anchors on the team bad enough to land LeBron
in the draft.
23 (25) Heat 18-25 Back to .500 if you throw out the 0-7 start. More
importantly, Wade is back to help All-Star hopeful Odom.
24 (23) Trail Blazers 17-24 They're the anti-Mavs at present, losing 10 of
12 and looking like they're waiting for a big trade. First-ever trip to the
lottery beckons.
25 (20) 76ers 19-25 Everyone's getting a bit testy in Philly, after five
losses in six games and four straight losses when Iverson scores 30.
26 (26) Hawks 14-31 Surprised Pistons on Sunday, and surprised Spurs before
that, but still waiting for first win streak (0-13 after a win) and a
100-point game (O for last 20).
27 (28) Wizards 13-29 It's not like getting Webber or Mash back, because the
season is already lost, but Coach Jordan is praying -- for his own sanity --
that Stack and Arenas really return after All-Star Weekend.
28 (29) Magic 12-33 It can't help Magic's outlook to see D. Armstrong, a guy
they drove out of town, carry Hornets to a victory in San Antonio without
Baron and Mash.
29 (27) Bulls 13-31 At 9-19 under Skiles, the Bulls are inverse of the
Grizz. And Nuggets. And Bucks. They're a wrong-way Surprise Team.
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