WeNeedLength
01-03-2011, 12:46 PM
2010-11 Power Rankings:
Week 10
RK (LW) TEAM REC COMMENT
1 (3)Spurs (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/sa/san-antonio-spurs) 29-4
Something that has to worry the rest of the league on top of the Spurs'
well-chronicled new identity offensively and D that can still get into you
(ask Kobe): How well will they be flowin' after the magical Rodeo Road Trip?
2 (4)Heat (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mia/miami-heat) 26-9
How did the Heat become the first team in history to go 10-0 on the road
over the course of a month? Stifling D and a resurgent D-Wade were the
two keys next to LeBron's ridiculous December: 25.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 6.8 apg.
3 (2)Celtics (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/bos/boston-celtics) 25-7
Injuries are the obvious issue, but the numbers are still startling: Boston
lost seven of its first nine games starting with Christmas 2008, eight of 13
starting with Christmas 2009 and three of four starting with Christmas
2010.
4 (1)Mavericks (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/dal/dallas-mavericks) 25-8
Received a tweet asserting that the famed Power Rankings jinx, after the
Mavs' rise to No. 1 last Monday, is what caused Dirk's knee injury that night
in OKC. Someone out there wants to hurt the committee (of one) bad.
5 (5)Bulls (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/chi/chicago-bulls) 22-10
Only Miami and San Antonio can top the Bulls' 13-2 record since Dec. 4.
And we've barely seen Boozer and Noah together yet. And they still might
upgrade at SG before the trade deadline. This team was not overhyped.
6 (6)Magic (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/orl/orlando-magic) 21-12
Five straight W's by an average of 14 points catch the eye, but the
following development has to hearten Orlando even more: Hedo is already
looking more like 2009 Hedo, averaging nearly 15, 5 and 5 during the 5-0
run.
7 (7)Lakers (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers) 23-11
No flow on O. Their transition D is AWOL. Three of the worst four home Ls
in Pau Gasol's nearly three years as a Laker have been witnessed just since
Christmas. Can't pin all that on mere boredom/complacency, can we?
8 (9)Thunder (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/okc/oklahoma-city-thunder) 23-12
You knew this season couldn't possibly go as smoothly as last season for
the Thunder. And here's more proof: Scotty Brooks has used five starting
lineups already after needing just three different combinations in 2009-10.
9 (10)Hornets (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/no/new-orleans-hornets) 20-14
Does a W in Boston, even when KG or Rondo are out, cancel out an L four
nights earlier at 'Sota? Better question: Did you see how much harder Ariza
made the Dunk of the Year race with that hammer over JaVale McGee?
10 (8)Jazz (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/utah/utah-jazz) 23-11
You surely weren't surprised to see Utah sneak in one more double-digit
comeback -- its 11th this season -- before the end of 2010 with
Wednesday's road rally from 12 points down to beat the Clips. Were you?
11 (13)Nuggets (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/den/denver-nuggets) 19-13
With Melo back from compassionate leave and Al Harrington looking like he
might be able to shake off a dislocated thumb and play again as soon as
this week, Denver could have its full squad for the first time all season.
12 (11)Hawks (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/atl/atlanta-hawks) 22-14
The Hawks, for the first time in nine years, won their first game of a new
calendar year with Sunday's comeback in Clipperland. Next project? Spruce
up that 3-9 mark against .500-or-better teams if you want to move up.
13 (16)Trail Blazers (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/por/portland-trail-blazers) 18-16
The two wins over the Jazz to close out 2010 weren't just a pick-me-up
Portland needed because of all its injury torture. The Blazers were also 0-8
against the rest of the West's top eight before sweeping Utah sans B-Roy.
14 (14)Rockets (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/hou/houston-rockets) 16-17
Some of their turnaround is schedule-related, but it's happened before with
the Rockets and happened again this season: They do tend to play better
once they know for sure Yao isn't coming back. Cruel as it sounds.
15 (12)Knicks (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/ny/new-york-knicks) 19-14
Have they fluttered back to Earth after that 13-2 joyride? Sure. Did the
Knicks pass around a copy of the standings at practice to fully soak in the
six-game cushion they've already got on No. 9 Philly? Presumably.
16 (19)Grizzlies (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mem/memphis-grizzlies) 15-19
As if the Tyreke Evans heave from half court wasn't a sufficiently stunning
way for the Grizz to lose one, be advised that those same Grizzlies just
became the only team in the league this season to beat the champs twice.
17 (18)Bucks (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mil/milwaukee-bucks) 13-18
Still like the Bucks better than any team outside the East's top four ... and
still can't figure out if their schedule will ever ease up ... and still chuckle
every Monday when I check to see if they've fallen out of the top eight
yet.
18 (17)76ers (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/phi/philadelphia-76ers) 13-20
Even without Iguodala, Philly can finish 4-4 on that monster eight-game trip
if it can steal a win Monday night in New Orleans ... against the same
Hornets who scored 23 points in the first half at Philly on Dec. 12.
19 (15)Suns (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/phx/phoenix-suns) 14-18
The bad news? Loss No. 5 in six games was sealed by giving up 19 of the
final 21 points in an epic collapse at lowly Sactown. Worse news? Amare
makes his return to Phoenix on Friday night. Somewhat triumphantly, too.
20 (22)Warriors (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/gs/golden-state-warriors) 13-20
The focus is naturally on the 20-point lead they blew in Miami. The closest
thing to consolation is the fact the Dubs won by a point the night before in
Charlotte ... only their second one-point W in the past four seasons.
21 (21)Pacers (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/ind/indiana-pacers) 14-18
Remember November? Indy beat the Heat, then beat the Lakers in L.A. and
generally reveled in Hibbert's darling status. Since then? The Pacers are 0-9
on the road and just watched Hibbert average 11 and 7 in December.
22 (20)Clippers (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/lac/los-angeles-clippers) 10-24
The Clips are 6-7 since Kaman last played, with Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon
accounting for nearly 50 percent of L.A.'s points during that span. More
evidence, in other words, that I still owe Gordon an apology or three.
23 (27)Bobcats (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/cha/charlotte-bobcats) 11-20
Only with his fourth team -- after coaching the Clips, Hornets and Cavs --
does Paul Silas know how it feels to start 2-0. Then came a one-point L to
a Golden State team that doesn't win close games to halt the honeymoon.
24 (26)Timberwolves (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/min/minnesota-timberwolves) 9-25
The Wolves are 70-210 since the KG trade for an NBA-low winning
percentage of .250. The C's? An NBA-best .730 (203-75). Apologies, 'Sota:
Had to bring it up with your kids in Boston on Monday. Even with KG out.
25 (25)Raptors (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/tor/toronto-raptors) 11-22
The Mavs were Dirk-less, but Toronto -- also on the second night of a
back-to-back -- had no Bargnani, Calderon, Evans or Peja and lost Kleiza
(ejection) and Bayless (ankle) in the second half. We're still tipping our hat.
26 (23)Pistons (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/det/detroit-pistons) 11-22
Only four players ever have scored 40 on New Year's Eve: Wilt, MJ, Quentin
Richardson and T-Mac. So what happens to T-Mac's Pistons in PHX? First
team in 389 games (you can look it up) to score only 75 against the Suns.
27 (30)Kings (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/sac/sacramento-kings) 7-24
Tyreke celebrated that buzzer-beater like a guy well aware that the Kings
have had the easiest schedule in the league so far (http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerrankings/_/sort/sos) based on opponent
winning percentage ... which is to say things are only bound to get
tougher.
28 (24)Nets (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/nj/new-jersey-nets) 9-25
Elias somehow found a stat that might make the Nets feel a hair better
about themselves: New Jersey's three Ls by 15 points or more since Dec.
21 don't lead the league in that span. Not when the Lakers (wow) have
four.
29 (28)Wizards (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/wsh/washington-wizards) 8-24
Even with all the injury woes, J-Wall had four 25-point games before Jan. 1.
Which is a major deal because that equals the total for Wiz rooks over the
previous 25 seasons: Three for Googs in '92, one by A.J. English in '90.
30 (29)Cavaliers (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/cle/cleveland-cavaliers) 8-26
Time for B-Scott to dig out all those preseason picks again that made the
Cavs so mad and allegedly fueled their 7-9 start. They went 1-14 in Dec.
and got outscored by 13 a game ... compared to Miami's 15-1 month.
Courtesy ESPN.COM
Discuss. :hat
Week 10
RK (LW) TEAM REC COMMENT
1 (3)Spurs (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/sa/san-antonio-spurs) 29-4
Something that has to worry the rest of the league on top of the Spurs'
well-chronicled new identity offensively and D that can still get into you
(ask Kobe): How well will they be flowin' after the magical Rodeo Road Trip?
2 (4)Heat (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mia/miami-heat) 26-9
How did the Heat become the first team in history to go 10-0 on the road
over the course of a month? Stifling D and a resurgent D-Wade were the
two keys next to LeBron's ridiculous December: 25.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 6.8 apg.
3 (2)Celtics (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/bos/boston-celtics) 25-7
Injuries are the obvious issue, but the numbers are still startling: Boston
lost seven of its first nine games starting with Christmas 2008, eight of 13
starting with Christmas 2009 and three of four starting with Christmas
2010.
4 (1)Mavericks (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/dal/dallas-mavericks) 25-8
Received a tweet asserting that the famed Power Rankings jinx, after the
Mavs' rise to No. 1 last Monday, is what caused Dirk's knee injury that night
in OKC. Someone out there wants to hurt the committee (of one) bad.
5 (5)Bulls (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/chi/chicago-bulls) 22-10
Only Miami and San Antonio can top the Bulls' 13-2 record since Dec. 4.
And we've barely seen Boozer and Noah together yet. And they still might
upgrade at SG before the trade deadline. This team was not overhyped.
6 (6)Magic (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/orl/orlando-magic) 21-12
Five straight W's by an average of 14 points catch the eye, but the
following development has to hearten Orlando even more: Hedo is already
looking more like 2009 Hedo, averaging nearly 15, 5 and 5 during the 5-0
run.
7 (7)Lakers (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers) 23-11
No flow on O. Their transition D is AWOL. Three of the worst four home Ls
in Pau Gasol's nearly three years as a Laker have been witnessed just since
Christmas. Can't pin all that on mere boredom/complacency, can we?
8 (9)Thunder (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/okc/oklahoma-city-thunder) 23-12
You knew this season couldn't possibly go as smoothly as last season for
the Thunder. And here's more proof: Scotty Brooks has used five starting
lineups already after needing just three different combinations in 2009-10.
9 (10)Hornets (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/no/new-orleans-hornets) 20-14
Does a W in Boston, even when KG or Rondo are out, cancel out an L four
nights earlier at 'Sota? Better question: Did you see how much harder Ariza
made the Dunk of the Year race with that hammer over JaVale McGee?
10 (8)Jazz (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/utah/utah-jazz) 23-11
You surely weren't surprised to see Utah sneak in one more double-digit
comeback -- its 11th this season -- before the end of 2010 with
Wednesday's road rally from 12 points down to beat the Clips. Were you?
11 (13)Nuggets (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/den/denver-nuggets) 19-13
With Melo back from compassionate leave and Al Harrington looking like he
might be able to shake off a dislocated thumb and play again as soon as
this week, Denver could have its full squad for the first time all season.
12 (11)Hawks (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/atl/atlanta-hawks) 22-14
The Hawks, for the first time in nine years, won their first game of a new
calendar year with Sunday's comeback in Clipperland. Next project? Spruce
up that 3-9 mark against .500-or-better teams if you want to move up.
13 (16)Trail Blazers (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/por/portland-trail-blazers) 18-16
The two wins over the Jazz to close out 2010 weren't just a pick-me-up
Portland needed because of all its injury torture. The Blazers were also 0-8
against the rest of the West's top eight before sweeping Utah sans B-Roy.
14 (14)Rockets (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/hou/houston-rockets) 16-17
Some of their turnaround is schedule-related, but it's happened before with
the Rockets and happened again this season: They do tend to play better
once they know for sure Yao isn't coming back. Cruel as it sounds.
15 (12)Knicks (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/ny/new-york-knicks) 19-14
Have they fluttered back to Earth after that 13-2 joyride? Sure. Did the
Knicks pass around a copy of the standings at practice to fully soak in the
six-game cushion they've already got on No. 9 Philly? Presumably.
16 (19)Grizzlies (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mem/memphis-grizzlies) 15-19
As if the Tyreke Evans heave from half court wasn't a sufficiently stunning
way for the Grizz to lose one, be advised that those same Grizzlies just
became the only team in the league this season to beat the champs twice.
17 (18)Bucks (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/mil/milwaukee-bucks) 13-18
Still like the Bucks better than any team outside the East's top four ... and
still can't figure out if their schedule will ever ease up ... and still chuckle
every Monday when I check to see if they've fallen out of the top eight
yet.
18 (17)76ers (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/phi/philadelphia-76ers) 13-20
Even without Iguodala, Philly can finish 4-4 on that monster eight-game trip
if it can steal a win Monday night in New Orleans ... against the same
Hornets who scored 23 points in the first half at Philly on Dec. 12.
19 (15)Suns (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/phx/phoenix-suns) 14-18
The bad news? Loss No. 5 in six games was sealed by giving up 19 of the
final 21 points in an epic collapse at lowly Sactown. Worse news? Amare
makes his return to Phoenix on Friday night. Somewhat triumphantly, too.
20 (22)Warriors (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/gs/golden-state-warriors) 13-20
The focus is naturally on the 20-point lead they blew in Miami. The closest
thing to consolation is the fact the Dubs won by a point the night before in
Charlotte ... only their second one-point W in the past four seasons.
21 (21)Pacers (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/ind/indiana-pacers) 14-18
Remember November? Indy beat the Heat, then beat the Lakers in L.A. and
generally reveled in Hibbert's darling status. Since then? The Pacers are 0-9
on the road and just watched Hibbert average 11 and 7 in December.
22 (20)Clippers (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/lac/los-angeles-clippers) 10-24
The Clips are 6-7 since Kaman last played, with Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon
accounting for nearly 50 percent of L.A.'s points during that span. More
evidence, in other words, that I still owe Gordon an apology or three.
23 (27)Bobcats (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/cha/charlotte-bobcats) 11-20
Only with his fourth team -- after coaching the Clips, Hornets and Cavs --
does Paul Silas know how it feels to start 2-0. Then came a one-point L to
a Golden State team that doesn't win close games to halt the honeymoon.
24 (26)Timberwolves (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/min/minnesota-timberwolves) 9-25
The Wolves are 70-210 since the KG trade for an NBA-low winning
percentage of .250. The C's? An NBA-best .730 (203-75). Apologies, 'Sota:
Had to bring it up with your kids in Boston on Monday. Even with KG out.
25 (25)Raptors (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/tor/toronto-raptors) 11-22
The Mavs were Dirk-less, but Toronto -- also on the second night of a
back-to-back -- had no Bargnani, Calderon, Evans or Peja and lost Kleiza
(ejection) and Bayless (ankle) in the second half. We're still tipping our hat.
26 (23)Pistons (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/det/detroit-pistons) 11-22
Only four players ever have scored 40 on New Year's Eve: Wilt, MJ, Quentin
Richardson and T-Mac. So what happens to T-Mac's Pistons in PHX? First
team in 389 games (you can look it up) to score only 75 against the Suns.
27 (30)Kings (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/sac/sacramento-kings) 7-24
Tyreke celebrated that buzzer-beater like a guy well aware that the Kings
have had the easiest schedule in the league so far (http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerrankings/_/sort/sos) based on opponent
winning percentage ... which is to say things are only bound to get
tougher.
28 (24)Nets (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/nj/new-jersey-nets) 9-25
Elias somehow found a stat that might make the Nets feel a hair better
about themselves: New Jersey's three Ls by 15 points or more since Dec.
21 don't lead the league in that span. Not when the Lakers (wow) have
four.
29 (28)Wizards (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/wsh/washington-wizards) 8-24
Even with all the injury woes, J-Wall had four 25-point games before Jan. 1.
Which is a major deal because that equals the total for Wiz rooks over the
previous 25 seasons: Three for Googs in '92, one by A.J. English in '90.
30 (29)Cavaliers (http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/cle/cleveland-cavaliers) 8-26
Time for B-Scott to dig out all those preseason picks again that made the
Cavs so mad and allegedly fueled their 7-9 start. They went 1-14 in Dec.
and got outscored by 13 a game ... compared to Miami's 15-1 month.
Courtesy ESPN.COM
Discuss. :hat