Blackjack
01-03-2010, 01:50 AM
NBA power rankings: Jan. 3, 2009 (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/NBA_power_rankings_Jan_3_2009.html)
By Mike Monroe - Express-News
TOP 10
(Last rank in parentheses; through Friday’s games)
1. Cavaliers (2): Six-game win streak included back-to-backs over Hawks, but they had to cheat to get one of them.
2. Lakers (3): As long as Kobe’s going to make every game-winning buzzer-beater, they’ll stay atop West.
3. Magic (7): Have to wonder why they keep rushing Jameer Nelson back from injury when they’ve got J. Will.
4. Celtics (1): Uh, oh ... Rasheed Wallace Book Club picks its first selection: Tim Donaghy’s “Personal Foul.”
5. Suns (10): They blasted Celtics, but the big news in the desert: Steve Nash slipped behind McGrady in latest All-Star starter vote totals.
6. Spurs (13): Winning 10 of 12 got them back where everyone expected them to be — among Western elite.
7. Mavericks (8): Jason Terry on difference in coach Rick Carlisle in Year 2: “He’s kicking more things.”
8. Nuggets (6): How badly do they miss Billups, out with groin strain? They went into 2010 having lost four of five.
9. Rockets (11): Watch out for Rockets now because Battier is finally making shots. Says Shane: “I’m a post-Christmas shooter.”
10. Hawks (5): Rough patch includes a protested loss in Cleveland and Nate Robinson dropping 41 on them in his first game in weeks.
THE REST
11. Thunder (14)
12. Blazers (4)
13. Heat (9)
14. Jazz (12)
15. Grizzlies (16)
16. Raptors (18)
17. Kings (17)
18. Hornets (15)
19. Knicks (19)
20. Clippers (22)
21. Bulls (24)
22. Bobcats (20)
23. 76ers (27)
24. Bucks (23)
25. Wizards (21)
26. Pacers (25)
27. Pistons (26)
28. Wolves (28)
29. Warriors (29)
30. Nets (30)
By Mike Monroe - Express-News
TOP 10
(Last rank in parentheses; through Friday’s games)
1. Cavaliers (2): Six-game win streak included back-to-backs over Hawks, but they had to cheat to get one of them.
2. Lakers (3): As long as Kobe’s going to make every game-winning buzzer-beater, they’ll stay atop West.
3. Magic (7): Have to wonder why they keep rushing Jameer Nelson back from injury when they’ve got J. Will.
4. Celtics (1): Uh, oh ... Rasheed Wallace Book Club picks its first selection: Tim Donaghy’s “Personal Foul.”
5. Suns (10): They blasted Celtics, but the big news in the desert: Steve Nash slipped behind McGrady in latest All-Star starter vote totals.
6. Spurs (13): Winning 10 of 12 got them back where everyone expected them to be — among Western elite.
7. Mavericks (8): Jason Terry on difference in coach Rick Carlisle in Year 2: “He’s kicking more things.”
8. Nuggets (6): How badly do they miss Billups, out with groin strain? They went into 2010 having lost four of five.
9. Rockets (11): Watch out for Rockets now because Battier is finally making shots. Says Shane: “I’m a post-Christmas shooter.”
10. Hawks (5): Rough patch includes a protested loss in Cleveland and Nate Robinson dropping 41 on them in his first game in weeks.
THE REST
11. Thunder (14)
12. Blazers (4)
13. Heat (9)
14. Jazz (12)
15. Grizzlies (16)
16. Raptors (18)
17. Kings (17)
18. Hornets (15)
19. Knicks (19)
20. Clippers (22)
21. Bulls (24)
22. Bobcats (20)
23. 76ers (27)
24. Bucks (23)
25. Wizards (21)
26. Pacers (25)
27. Pistons (26)
28. Wolves (28)
29. Warriors (29)
30. Nets (30)