duncan228
12-07-2008, 02:09 AM
Mike Monroe's NBA power rankings: Dec. 7, 2008 (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Mike_Monroes_NBA_power_rankings_Dec_7_2008.html)
TOP 10
(Last week’s rank in parentheses)
1. Lakers (1): If you had 81 in the “How many games will the Lakers win?” pool, well, you’re out of luck. Seventy-something still seems likely winner.
2. Celtics (2): Rondo’s triple-double in Wednesday’s win won’t be his last. They took Friday’s game against the red-hot Blazers as a challenge, then dominated.
3. Cavaliers (3): They’re still unbeaten at home, and off to the best start in franchise history. Varejao is now eligible to be traded, but nothing’s brewing.
4. Magic (4): Count Otis Smith among the many GMs surprised to learn from NYC rumor mill that he wants Stephon Marbury.
5. Trail Blazers (8): Celtics snapped their six-game winning streak, but they’re still off to their best start since 1999-2000, and 7-1 vs. the Eastern Conference.
6. SPURS (5): No. 1 question heard floating around Pepsi Center on Thursday night: “Who’s Matt Bonner, and why isn’t anyone guarding him?”
7. Mavericks (14): Don’t laugh, but they’re getting a big lift from backup point guard J.J. Barea. The win over the Suns was their first over a team above .500 that was at full strength.
8. Pistons (7): Rasheed rescued them against Spurs, but they’re still out of sync, post-trade. McDyess will be back this week.
9. Rockets (9): Believe it or not: Stevie Franchise was in uniform, on the bench, last week. T-Mac? Maybe next week.
10. Nuggets (6): Fourth-quarter dunkfest vs. Raptors hastened firing of Sam Mitchell and set them up to get crushed by Spurs. J.R. Smith and George Karl still not talking.
THE REST
11. Hornets (13)
12. Jazz (11)
13. Suns (10)
14. Hawks (15)
15. Heat (16)
16. Raptors (12)
17. Nets (17)
18. 76ers (18)
19. Pacers (22)
20. Bucks (23)
21. Bobcats (21)
22. Bulls (19)
23. Knicks (20)
24. Wizards (28)
25. Warriors (24)
26. Kings (25)
27. T-wolves (26)
28. Grizzlies (27)
29. Clippers (29)
30. Thunder (30)
TOP 10
(Last week’s rank in parentheses)
1. Lakers (1): If you had 81 in the “How many games will the Lakers win?” pool, well, you’re out of luck. Seventy-something still seems likely winner.
2. Celtics (2): Rondo’s triple-double in Wednesday’s win won’t be his last. They took Friday’s game against the red-hot Blazers as a challenge, then dominated.
3. Cavaliers (3): They’re still unbeaten at home, and off to the best start in franchise history. Varejao is now eligible to be traded, but nothing’s brewing.
4. Magic (4): Count Otis Smith among the many GMs surprised to learn from NYC rumor mill that he wants Stephon Marbury.
5. Trail Blazers (8): Celtics snapped their six-game winning streak, but they’re still off to their best start since 1999-2000, and 7-1 vs. the Eastern Conference.
6. SPURS (5): No. 1 question heard floating around Pepsi Center on Thursday night: “Who’s Matt Bonner, and why isn’t anyone guarding him?”
7. Mavericks (14): Don’t laugh, but they’re getting a big lift from backup point guard J.J. Barea. The win over the Suns was their first over a team above .500 that was at full strength.
8. Pistons (7): Rasheed rescued them against Spurs, but they’re still out of sync, post-trade. McDyess will be back this week.
9. Rockets (9): Believe it or not: Stevie Franchise was in uniform, on the bench, last week. T-Mac? Maybe next week.
10. Nuggets (6): Fourth-quarter dunkfest vs. Raptors hastened firing of Sam Mitchell and set them up to get crushed by Spurs. J.R. Smith and George Karl still not talking.
THE REST
11. Hornets (13)
12. Jazz (11)
13. Suns (10)
14. Hawks (15)
15. Heat (16)
16. Raptors (12)
17. Nets (17)
18. 76ers (18)
19. Pacers (22)
20. Bucks (23)
21. Bobcats (21)
22. Bulls (19)
23. Knicks (20)
24. Wizards (28)
25. Warriors (24)
26. Kings (25)
27. T-wolves (26)
28. Grizzlies (27)
29. Clippers (29)
30. Thunder (30)