Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Week 2 NBA Rankings
1. San Antonio Spurs (6-1). The Spurs look like the consistent team you’d expect to win a championship. They have speed, size, power, finesse, determination, grit and a feeling they can win every game they play. At one point in last night’s win in Houston, the Spurs went on a 28-3 run to win the game in a walk. Included in that run was a great block from Tim Duncan on Yao Ming, which pretty much sums up the season they are on top this week.
2. Utah Jazz (7-1). Is this just a good start by the Jazz? Are they just pumped up that they have most of their players at 100%? Or is this the real deal? Deron Williams has been a big help, averaging 17 points per game and 8.5 assists. He’s also shooting better than 50% from the floor and leading the normally half-court Jazz on fast breaks. The Jazz have a bit of a tough schedule this week so let’s see where they end up whenever I get around to writing another one of these.
3. Los Angeles Clippers (5-2). I am not yet sold on the Clippers but have put them up this high because I am not sold on too many other teams either. All of their wins have come at home and they haven’t looked too pretty on the road. Sam Cassell is proving he is of alien blood by leading the team in points and assists at age 54.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (5-2). I’m not putting the Cavaliers up this high so much as I am LeBron James. I think you could give him five players from the Washington Generals and he’d still win 60% of his games. Please God, give this guy one more stud player so he can win 10 Championships in a row.
5. Sacramento Kings (4-2). OK, this is more from the heart than the head, but I’m not sure I will ever get the chance to rank them this high for the rest of the season. Kevin Martin is still the surprise this year averaging nearly 24 ppg, Ron Artest is putting the same enthusiasm in his rebounding (10 per game) as he is his defense (4.5 steals per game) and, the best news, Brad Miller is still hurt, meaning the Kings don’t have a big, stiff who can’t rebound or play defense to fill up the key.
6. Los Angeles Lakers (5-3). Kobe isn’t at full speed yet, but Lamar Odom is. He looks focused and showing his versatility. There may even come a day when people will say the Lakers got the better end of the deal by trading Shaq for Odom and essentially Kwame Brown, especially if Odom stays healthy and sane.
7. Houston Rockets (5-3). Blowing a 16-point lead at home to San Antonio keeps the Rockets from rising to the top four this week. McGrady and Ming are the two studs but are getting ample help from the role players like Battier and Alston.
8. NO/OK Hornets (5-3). The Hornets are showing they haven’t learned how to win yet, winning their first three, losing the next three, and now on a two-game winning streak. Peja finally showed why he was worth the money by scoring 42 against Adam Morrison and the Charlotte Bobcats. Of course Laz Jr. said he could score 42 against Morrison.
9. Orlando Magic (5-3). A bit of a surprise this year but Dwight Howard is playing like an all-star, Hedo and Jameer Nelson take turns having good games and, in the feel-good story of the year, Grant Hill is actually playing most of the game for the first time in six years. Maybe it’s the contract-year focus that’s helping Hill?
10. Golden State Warriors (5-3). Notice there are three California teams in the top 10? Might not see that again. Maybe it’s the yearning for two of the teams to get out of their ancient sports arenas. Anyway, the Warriors are playing a bit of Nellie Ball and outscoring their opponents but still giving up more than 100 per game. Wait until they run into a few defensive teams and we’ll see how they look after.
11. Indiana Pacers (4-3). Strange team, full of strange players. They are only up this high because every other team is that low.
12. New Jersey Nets (3-3). The Nets always prove me wrong and I was just getting ready to put them in the top 10 when Richard Jefferson goes down with an injury. Now Jason Kidd will have to score and rebound and pass the ball and one has to wonder if he has the desire and the kneecaps to do it. Also, it’s not a contract year for Vince Carter, so what incentive does he have?
13. Atlanta Hawks (4-3). Joe Johnson is averaging nearly 30 points per game and leading the resurgence for the usually crummy Hawks. Even Tyronn Lue is getting into the act with 29 points last night. Maybe AI will have to straighten Lue out.
14. Detroit Pistons (3-4). The Pistons are probably better than this ranking but they’re not showing it on the court. Richard Hamilton is playing hurt, Rasheed is attempting to be the first player to average more technical fouls than points and, even though they would never admit it, they miss the intensity that Ben Wallace brought to the team. In the end, though, the Pistons should end up on top of their division.
15. Chicago Bulls (3-4). A lot of preseason hype and hysteria and it appears for now the Bulls do better when nobody is watching. With the exception of their two-headed point guard in Hinrich and Gordon, they don’t look too impressive. Wallace, who wanted to leave Detroit to get more shot opportunities, is averaging only 5 shots per game with most coming from offensive rebounds.
16. Miami Heat (3-4). They have Dwayne Wade.
17. Washington Wizards (3-3). They have Gilbert Arenas.
18. Philadelphia 76ers (3-3). They have Allen Iverson and occasionally Iggy and Korver. Now they also have Webber complaining he’s not getting any minutes in the fourth quarter. Interestingly enough, power forwards around the League are encouraging Webber to get more minutes in the 4th.
19. Phoenix Suns (2-5). They look about as sharp as white socks and a black tuxedo right now, but they are trying to work Amare Stoudemire back into the starting rotation which, in the long run, will make them a better team. Boris Diaw looks fat and tired so the sooner Amare can move Diaw’s big French butt to the bench, the better.
20. Seattle Supersonics (4-4). For a team without a home court advantage for the entire season, they’re not doing too badly. Ray Allen along with Luke Ridnour, Rashard Lewis and even Chris Wilcox are playing like all-stars.
21. Portland Trailblazers (4-4). They have Zach Randolf and he’s nuts.
22. Denver Nuggets (3-3). Kenyon Martin is out for the season, Nene doesn’t look as quick as he did before his injury, Marcus Camby is one year older so the Nuggets have big problems at their power positions. Carmello Anthony may not be enough to get his team in the playoffs, especially in the West, unless he can keep getting strong performances from Andre Miller who may win the dubious most improved award this year (or course you have to stink the year before to qualify).
23. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-4). They have KG and don’t have Wally Ball anymore. They also don’t have Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell, both thought to be over the hill but would still help this team out right about now.
24. Dallas Mavericks (3-4). I feel great putting the Mavs down here if only by chance Mark Cuban is Googling his name right now. You should have bought You Tube, O Wise One. You also should have held on to Steve Nash since your team really, really needs a true point guard and a little toughness.
25. Milwaukee Bucks (3-5). On paper this team should be doing better. Of course on paper I should be doing better. They have Michael Redd and a team full of future, and nobody plays defense. Perhaps they can make a run before the year is up. I may have kept T.J. Ford too.
26. Toronto Raptors (2-5). You have to feel sorry for this team. They take what Europe has to offer, win a few games and then hit the road for a two-month west coast road swing.
27. New York Knicks (2-6). They have Isiah who actually has to write out a check for $18.5 million to a coach who is better than he is.
28. Boston Celtics (1-6). They have Wally Ball and that’s why they stink. Enough said.
29. Memphis Grizzlies (1-5). The Grizzlies may not win again until Pau Gasol comes back from injury as they head out on a long road trip.
30. Charlotte Bobcats (1-6). Rookie Adam Morrison equaled a career high with 21 last not being guarded by Peja Stojakovic. Laz Jr. said he could score 21 being guarded by Peja. Head coach Bernie Bickerstaff may end up being the first coach to go this year as his team is far from meeting expectation.
2. Utah Jazz (7-1). Is this just a good start by the Jazz? Are they just pumped up that they have most of their players at 100%? Or is this the real deal? Deron Williams has been a big help, averaging 17 points per game and 8.5 assists. He’s also shooting better than 50% from the floor and leading the normally half-court Jazz on fast breaks. The Jazz have a bit of a tough schedule this week so let’s see where they end up whenever I get around to writing another one of these.
3. Los Angeles Clippers (5-2). I am not yet sold on the Clippers but have put them up this high because I am not sold on too many other teams either. All of their wins have come at home and they haven’t looked too pretty on the road. Sam Cassell is proving he is of alien blood by leading the team in points and assists at age 54.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (5-2). I’m not putting the Cavaliers up this high so much as I am LeBron James. I think you could give him five players from the Washington Generals and he’d still win 60% of his games. Please God, give this guy one more stud player so he can win 10 Championships in a row.
5. Sacramento Kings (4-2). OK, this is more from the heart than the head, but I’m not sure I will ever get the chance to rank them this high for the rest of the season. Kevin Martin is still the surprise this year averaging nearly 24 ppg, Ron Artest is putting the same enthusiasm in his rebounding (10 per game) as he is his defense (4.5 steals per game) and, the best news, Brad Miller is still hurt, meaning the Kings don’t have a big, stiff who can’t rebound or play defense to fill up the key.
6. Los Angeles Lakers (5-3). Kobe isn’t at full speed yet, but Lamar Odom is. He looks focused and showing his versatility. There may even come a day when people will say the Lakers got the better end of the deal by trading Shaq for Odom and essentially Kwame Brown, especially if Odom stays healthy and sane.
7. Houston Rockets (5-3). Blowing a 16-point lead at home to San Antonio keeps the Rockets from rising to the top four this week. McGrady and Ming are the two studs but are getting ample help from the role players like Battier and Alston.
8. NO/OK Hornets (5-3). The Hornets are showing they haven’t learned how to win yet, winning their first three, losing the next three, and now on a two-game winning streak. Peja finally showed why he was worth the money by scoring 42 against Adam Morrison and the Charlotte Bobcats. Of course Laz Jr. said he could score 42 against Morrison.
9. Orlando Magic (5-3). A bit of a surprise this year but Dwight Howard is playing like an all-star, Hedo and Jameer Nelson take turns having good games and, in the feel-good story of the year, Grant Hill is actually playing most of the game for the first time in six years. Maybe it’s the contract-year focus that’s helping Hill?
10. Golden State Warriors (5-3). Notice there are three California teams in the top 10? Might not see that again. Maybe it’s the yearning for two of the teams to get out of their ancient sports arenas. Anyway, the Warriors are playing a bit of Nellie Ball and outscoring their opponents but still giving up more than 100 per game. Wait until they run into a few defensive teams and we’ll see how they look after.
11. Indiana Pacers (4-3). Strange team, full of strange players. They are only up this high because every other team is that low.
12. New Jersey Nets (3-3). The Nets always prove me wrong and I was just getting ready to put them in the top 10 when Richard Jefferson goes down with an injury. Now Jason Kidd will have to score and rebound and pass the ball and one has to wonder if he has the desire and the kneecaps to do it. Also, it’s not a contract year for Vince Carter, so what incentive does he have?
13. Atlanta Hawks (4-3). Joe Johnson is averaging nearly 30 points per game and leading the resurgence for the usually crummy Hawks. Even Tyronn Lue is getting into the act with 29 points last night. Maybe AI will have to straighten Lue out.
14. Detroit Pistons (3-4). The Pistons are probably better than this ranking but they’re not showing it on the court. Richard Hamilton is playing hurt, Rasheed is attempting to be the first player to average more technical fouls than points and, even though they would never admit it, they miss the intensity that Ben Wallace brought to the team. In the end, though, the Pistons should end up on top of their division.
15. Chicago Bulls (3-4). A lot of preseason hype and hysteria and it appears for now the Bulls do better when nobody is watching. With the exception of their two-headed point guard in Hinrich and Gordon, they don’t look too impressive. Wallace, who wanted to leave Detroit to get more shot opportunities, is averaging only 5 shots per game with most coming from offensive rebounds.
16. Miami Heat (3-4). They have Dwayne Wade.
17. Washington Wizards (3-3). They have Gilbert Arenas.
18. Philadelphia 76ers (3-3). They have Allen Iverson and occasionally Iggy and Korver. Now they also have Webber complaining he’s not getting any minutes in the fourth quarter. Interestingly enough, power forwards around the League are encouraging Webber to get more minutes in the 4th.
19. Phoenix Suns (2-5). They look about as sharp as white socks and a black tuxedo right now, but they are trying to work Amare Stoudemire back into the starting rotation which, in the long run, will make them a better team. Boris Diaw looks fat and tired so the sooner Amare can move Diaw’s big French butt to the bench, the better.
20. Seattle Supersonics (4-4). For a team without a home court advantage for the entire season, they’re not doing too badly. Ray Allen along with Luke Ridnour, Rashard Lewis and even Chris Wilcox are playing like all-stars.
21. Portland Trailblazers (4-4). They have Zach Randolf and he’s nuts.
22. Denver Nuggets (3-3). Kenyon Martin is out for the season, Nene doesn’t look as quick as he did before his injury, Marcus Camby is one year older so the Nuggets have big problems at their power positions. Carmello Anthony may not be enough to get his team in the playoffs, especially in the West, unless he can keep getting strong performances from Andre Miller who may win the dubious most improved award this year (or course you have to stink the year before to qualify).
23. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-4). They have KG and don’t have Wally Ball anymore. They also don’t have Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell, both thought to be over the hill but would still help this team out right about now.
24. Dallas Mavericks (3-4). I feel great putting the Mavs down here if only by chance Mark Cuban is Googling his name right now. You should have bought You Tube, O Wise One. You also should have held on to Steve Nash since your team really, really needs a true point guard and a little toughness.
25. Milwaukee Bucks (3-5). On paper this team should be doing better. Of course on paper I should be doing better. They have Michael Redd and a team full of future, and nobody plays defense. Perhaps they can make a run before the year is up. I may have kept T.J. Ford too.
26. Toronto Raptors (2-5). You have to feel sorry for this team. They take what Europe has to offer, win a few games and then hit the road for a two-month west coast road swing.
27. New York Knicks (2-6). They have Isiah who actually has to write out a check for $18.5 million to a coach who is better than he is.
28. Boston Celtics (1-6). They have Wally Ball and that’s why they stink. Enough said.
29. Memphis Grizzlies (1-5). The Grizzlies may not win again until Pau Gasol comes back from injury as they head out on a long road trip.
30. Charlotte Bobcats (1-6). Rookie Adam Morrison equaled a career high with 21 last not being guarded by Peja Stojakovic. Laz Jr. said he could score 21 being guarded by Peja. Head coach Bernie Bickerstaff may end up being the first coach to go this year as his team is far from meeting expectation.
# posted by Laz @ 7:14 PM 
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You need to be worrying more about Michigan this week than the NBA. Besides, what team is really trying during the first half of the exhibition season?
Why worry about Michigan? If they win, they play for the BCS championship. If they lose by just a few points on the road, then there will probably be a rematch for the BS championship, and if they lose by a lot and SC somehow gets by Cal and Notre Dame, they deserve to be playing for the title and Hank is a crazy and happy man. And my friends are happy too.
I'll be the first one to say the Lakers got the better end of the deal. With Shaq being out 4 - 6 weeks, that is the minimum for him. It will take him another four weeks+ to play back into shape. Miami will not be repeating. Sorry Pat Rilley.
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