Manu20
12-02-2004, 04:45 PM
By Rob Peterson
High jump of the week: Clippers (+10)
Free fall of the week: Grizzlies (-9)
TEAM (LAST WK) REC. BREAKDOWN
1 Phoenix (2)
13-2 Quibble with our fourth No. 1 in as many weeks, will you? Check this -- They've won nine straight, Amaré's playing like an All-Star and Nash was Player of the Month. That's what I'm talkin' aboot!
2 Seattle (1)
14-3 Only No. 2 because the Suns have been tanning hides as of late. We can't flog this stat enough: .395. That is what the Sonics are shooting from behind the arc -- as a team!
3 San Antonio (3)
13-3 Four wins last week -- and five in a row overall -- by an average of 16.5 points. Next up: The defending NBA champion Pistons with Ben Wallace back.
4 Sacramento (5)
10-5 They said the Kings were dead. Who are they? They are obviously the people who haven't seen Sacramento win nine of its last 10 games.
5 Orlando (8)
9-5 They've averaged 113 ppg in their last four to vault past Miami to the top of the Southeast Division. Kudos to coach Davis, who was named the East's Coach of the Month for Nov.
6 Minnesota (7)
9-5 Lost to the undermanned Pacers on Thanksgiving, but have been perfect since, gorging themselves to the tune of 114.3 ppg in their three consecutive wins.
7 Dallas (6)
10-6 Nowitzki's digits in the last three games: 25.3 ppg and 15.0 rpg. Got waxed in San Antonio as asst. coach Avery Johnson took the helm for an evening in a strange Don Nelson "experiment."
8 Miami (4)
10-6 The last two times Shaq has led the Heat in scoring, the Heat have lost. The last time in the last week D-Wade led Heat in scoring: A win. Make of that what you will.
9 Cleveland (11)
9-6 He's third in the league in scoring (25.5), he has more total steals than anyone (36) and he was the East's Player of the Month for Nov. And to think, Bron is only 19. So good, so soon.
10 Indiana (12)
10-5 Let's just give it up right now for Rick Carlisle. (Applause!) I mean, please, to have this team at 10-5 without O'Neal, Jackson and Artest, in addition to all the injuries is just amazing.
11 L.A. Clippers (21)
10-6 They've won five consecutive games and no one's been larger than Brand, who has averaged 27.3 ppg in his last three games. Schedule's nice too: Next four are at home.
12 Detroit (10)
7-7 He may not get the hardware, but is there any player more valuable to his team than Big Ben? They went 3-3 while he was away. He returns in time to take on the Spurs on Fri.
13 Washington (15)
8-5 They're spankin' folks. Their only loss in their last six games was a 116-114 OT thriller to Philly. Three starters -- Jamison, Arenas, Hughes -- average more than 19.5 ppg.
14 L.A. Lakers (13)
9-7 Brian Cook had a career night in Milwaukee on Tue. (25 pts., 11 rebs.), only the second time Kobe hasn't led the team in scoring this season. Losing to the Bulls on Wed. drops 'em a notch.
15 Portland (17)
8-6 Handed the Sonics their only loss in last six games on Tuesday. They have three days to prepare for the rematch at Key Arena in Seattle on Sat.
16 Denver (16)
8-6 Have won six of their last seven, but are still fourth in the rugged Northwest. Five guys average double-figure scoring and five different players have led them in the last five games.
17 New York (18)
8-6 Their record may not stand out, but it's good enough to lead the Atlantic. They've won three straight but head out on the road for four of their next five.
18 Utah (9)
8-8 Facing at least a month without their Mr. Everything -- Kirilenko -- who's out with a sprained knee. And it doesn't get easier with Mavs, Heat and Magic on the docket.
19 Philadelphia (23)
6-8 A.I.'s having his best season since his MVP year (2001) as he's in third in the NBA in scoring (25.5 ppg), fifth in assists (7.7 apg) and ninth in steals (1.85 spg).
20 Boston (20)
6-8 Ricky Davis has flourished off the bench in the Hub averaging 16.3 ppg as a sixth man. After the Raptors on Fri., the C's are looking at a killer five-game trip West starting Sun.
21 Toronto (22)
7-10 Though they've lost three of their last four, you can't say they're boring as they've scored 103.5 ppg in that stretch. Unfortunately, they've also given up 110.8 ppg in those four.
22 Houston (19)
6-10 Struggled mightily of late, losing their last four games. T-Mac's averaging 20.2 ppg this season, almost eight fewer than last, and only 18.0 ppg during the losing streak.
23 Memphis (14)
5-11 Set adrift by Hubie's retirement last week, the Grizz have lost six in a row. Sources say new coach Mike Fratello, the Czar of the Telestrator, has tremendous upside.
24 Milwaukee (24)
4-9 Turnovers, missed shots, offensive fouls. Coaches don't like these, especially in the closing moments of close games. Bucks have had their share in their last two ugly losses.
25 Golden State (25)
3-11 Dunleavy Jr. and Co. got it handed to them by dad and the Clips twice last week. Good news: Looks like Troy Murphy's back. Murph had 25 and 17 in loss to Wolves on Wed.
26 Charlotte (26)
3-10 Led by Keith Bogans, they have six players averaging double figures in scoring. Have won two of last four, but head out on rugged four-game West swing starting Mon.
27 New Jersey (27)
3-12 Scored 99 in win over Bobcats on Tue., the closest they've come to scoring 100 points in regulation this season. At 21.2 ppg, R-Jeff leads team in scoring by more than 10 points.
28 Atlanta (28)
2-12 Have lost seven straight games. How unlucky have the Hawks been? A Knick who had gone 1-11 from deep hits game-winning 3-pointer in OT on Wed. despite 'Toine's 36 and 13.
29 Chicago (30)
2-10 Nice win against the Lakers in their first home game since Nov. 13. Positive: Won two of last three. Negative: They give up 9.41 ppg more than they score (90.0 ppg).
30 New Orleans (29)
1-13 They have the worst record in the league and their All-Star center, Jamaal Magloire, will miss three months with a dislocated finger. Ouch! (On so many levels.)
http://www.nba.com/features/power_rankings_041202.html (http://)
High jump of the week: Clippers (+10)
Free fall of the week: Grizzlies (-9)
TEAM (LAST WK) REC. BREAKDOWN
1 Phoenix (2)
13-2 Quibble with our fourth No. 1 in as many weeks, will you? Check this -- They've won nine straight, Amaré's playing like an All-Star and Nash was Player of the Month. That's what I'm talkin' aboot!
2 Seattle (1)
14-3 Only No. 2 because the Suns have been tanning hides as of late. We can't flog this stat enough: .395. That is what the Sonics are shooting from behind the arc -- as a team!
3 San Antonio (3)
13-3 Four wins last week -- and five in a row overall -- by an average of 16.5 points. Next up: The defending NBA champion Pistons with Ben Wallace back.
4 Sacramento (5)
10-5 They said the Kings were dead. Who are they? They are obviously the people who haven't seen Sacramento win nine of its last 10 games.
5 Orlando (8)
9-5 They've averaged 113 ppg in their last four to vault past Miami to the top of the Southeast Division. Kudos to coach Davis, who was named the East's Coach of the Month for Nov.
6 Minnesota (7)
9-5 Lost to the undermanned Pacers on Thanksgiving, but have been perfect since, gorging themselves to the tune of 114.3 ppg in their three consecutive wins.
7 Dallas (6)
10-6 Nowitzki's digits in the last three games: 25.3 ppg and 15.0 rpg. Got waxed in San Antonio as asst. coach Avery Johnson took the helm for an evening in a strange Don Nelson "experiment."
8 Miami (4)
10-6 The last two times Shaq has led the Heat in scoring, the Heat have lost. The last time in the last week D-Wade led Heat in scoring: A win. Make of that what you will.
9 Cleveland (11)
9-6 He's third in the league in scoring (25.5), he has more total steals than anyone (36) and he was the East's Player of the Month for Nov. And to think, Bron is only 19. So good, so soon.
10 Indiana (12)
10-5 Let's just give it up right now for Rick Carlisle. (Applause!) I mean, please, to have this team at 10-5 without O'Neal, Jackson and Artest, in addition to all the injuries is just amazing.
11 L.A. Clippers (21)
10-6 They've won five consecutive games and no one's been larger than Brand, who has averaged 27.3 ppg in his last three games. Schedule's nice too: Next four are at home.
12 Detroit (10)
7-7 He may not get the hardware, but is there any player more valuable to his team than Big Ben? They went 3-3 while he was away. He returns in time to take on the Spurs on Fri.
13 Washington (15)
8-5 They're spankin' folks. Their only loss in their last six games was a 116-114 OT thriller to Philly. Three starters -- Jamison, Arenas, Hughes -- average more than 19.5 ppg.
14 L.A. Lakers (13)
9-7 Brian Cook had a career night in Milwaukee on Tue. (25 pts., 11 rebs.), only the second time Kobe hasn't led the team in scoring this season. Losing to the Bulls on Wed. drops 'em a notch.
15 Portland (17)
8-6 Handed the Sonics their only loss in last six games on Tuesday. They have three days to prepare for the rematch at Key Arena in Seattle on Sat.
16 Denver (16)
8-6 Have won six of their last seven, but are still fourth in the rugged Northwest. Five guys average double-figure scoring and five different players have led them in the last five games.
17 New York (18)
8-6 Their record may not stand out, but it's good enough to lead the Atlantic. They've won three straight but head out on the road for four of their next five.
18 Utah (9)
8-8 Facing at least a month without their Mr. Everything -- Kirilenko -- who's out with a sprained knee. And it doesn't get easier with Mavs, Heat and Magic on the docket.
19 Philadelphia (23)
6-8 A.I.'s having his best season since his MVP year (2001) as he's in third in the NBA in scoring (25.5 ppg), fifth in assists (7.7 apg) and ninth in steals (1.85 spg).
20 Boston (20)
6-8 Ricky Davis has flourished off the bench in the Hub averaging 16.3 ppg as a sixth man. After the Raptors on Fri., the C's are looking at a killer five-game trip West starting Sun.
21 Toronto (22)
7-10 Though they've lost three of their last four, you can't say they're boring as they've scored 103.5 ppg in that stretch. Unfortunately, they've also given up 110.8 ppg in those four.
22 Houston (19)
6-10 Struggled mightily of late, losing their last four games. T-Mac's averaging 20.2 ppg this season, almost eight fewer than last, and only 18.0 ppg during the losing streak.
23 Memphis (14)
5-11 Set adrift by Hubie's retirement last week, the Grizz have lost six in a row. Sources say new coach Mike Fratello, the Czar of the Telestrator, has tremendous upside.
24 Milwaukee (24)
4-9 Turnovers, missed shots, offensive fouls. Coaches don't like these, especially in the closing moments of close games. Bucks have had their share in their last two ugly losses.
25 Golden State (25)
3-11 Dunleavy Jr. and Co. got it handed to them by dad and the Clips twice last week. Good news: Looks like Troy Murphy's back. Murph had 25 and 17 in loss to Wolves on Wed.
26 Charlotte (26)
3-10 Led by Keith Bogans, they have six players averaging double figures in scoring. Have won two of last four, but head out on rugged four-game West swing starting Mon.
27 New Jersey (27)
3-12 Scored 99 in win over Bobcats on Tue., the closest they've come to scoring 100 points in regulation this season. At 21.2 ppg, R-Jeff leads team in scoring by more than 10 points.
28 Atlanta (28)
2-12 Have lost seven straight games. How unlucky have the Hawks been? A Knick who had gone 1-11 from deep hits game-winning 3-pointer in OT on Wed. despite 'Toine's 36 and 13.
29 Chicago (30)
2-10 Nice win against the Lakers in their first home game since Nov. 13. Positive: Won two of last three. Negative: They give up 9.41 ppg more than they score (90.0 ppg).
30 New Orleans (29)
1-13 They have the worst record in the league and their All-Star center, Jamaal Magloire, will miss three months with a dislocated finger. Ouch! (On so many levels.)
http://www.nba.com/features/power_rankings_041202.html (http://)