Monroe's NBA Power Rankings And Hot Topics: Nov 2

[duncan228]

Mike Monroe's NBA power rankings: Nov. 2, 2008
Mike Monroe

TOP 10

1. Lakers: Will anyone even come close to giving them a game? Bynum’s making an impact, and he’s rich(er), too.

2. Hornets: They got a road win over Shaq and Suns with Tyson Chandler sitting out, injured. That’s impressive.

3. Celtics: Pierce can score big, even with tears in his eyes. Tony Allen may make Bostonians forget James Posey.

4. Rockets: Rockets may have discovered a way to survive T-Mac’s inevitable injury: With Artest, they don’t really need him, even in crunch time.

5. Raptors: For at least the first week, Bosh qualifies as legit MVP candidate. O’Neal may give Bosh a boost if he’s still a candidate in April.

6. Jazz: Sloan closing in on 1,000-win milestone, which matters to most Utahans a lot more than it matters to Sloan.

7. Spurs: Proof of how tough it is to get by with only three legitimate big men, even when one of them is named Duncan.

8. Cavaliers: Yes, that really is a Batman logo shaved into Boobie Gibson’s head. Why do you think he’s called Boobie?

9. Pistons: For now, new coach Curry is willing to live or die with Amir Johnson as his starting center.

10. Suns: Shaq seems to be in better shape, and his sense of humor is as sharp as ever.

THE REST

11. Mavericks
12. Magic
13. Sixers
14. Hawks
15. Nuggets
16. Trail Blazers
17. Heat
18. Nets
19. Wizards
20. Wolves
21. Bulls
22. Knicks
23. Bucks
24. Grizzlies
25. Pacers
26. Warriors
27. Bobcats
28. Thunder
29. Clippers
30. Kings


NBA hot topics: Nov. 2, 2008
Mike Monroe

The news that caught our attention in the opening week of a season that began without the SuperSonics, the reigning Sixth Man Award winner, Big Shot Rob and — gasp — Dikembe Mutombo.

Truly scary

The most frightening aspect of Halloween Week in the NBA?

The Lakers won their first two games by a total of 58 points, and it could have been more. Phil Jackson, who looks more like a drill sergeant than a guru these days, ran his toughest camp ever. The Lakers look like a lean, mean winning machine.

Cloud over the Thunder?

The Oklahoman last week reported that some NBA fans in Seattle, angry about the Sonics’ demise in the great Northwest and departure for Oklahoma City, have placed a curse on the team, now known as the Thunder. If the curse works, the Thunder will be doomed to Clippers-like failure. You say you don’t believe in curses? Well, when the Thunder’s new court arrived from Michigan, just a couple of days before the regular-season opener, the 3-point line was a foot short, at 22 feet, 9 inches. Ford Center officials had to spend the night sanding and repainting 3-point lines the night before the opener against Milwaukee.

In and Out

Trail Blazers fans, and NBA fans everywhere, had been waiting a full season for the debut of Greg Oden, the 7-foot man-child from Ohio State. It lasted less than one full game, and now Blazers fans must wait about a month to find out if Oden will be Bill Walton or LaRue Martin.

The green machine

The Celtics, in their first two games, looked entirely capable of repeating as NBA champions, something no Boston team has done since 1968 and 1969. Matched on ring night against Cleveland, the team Doc Rivers has said gave them their toughest test of the postseason, the Celtics were unfocused, and pretty awful, in the first half after getting their championship rings. Then they looked like the champions. It was reminiscent — dare we say it — of the Spurs.

Only in The Apple

New Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni’s decision to keep Stephon Marbury on the bench in his team’s regular-season opener at Madison Square Garden turned into a media feeding frenzy when a video camera caught D’Antoni muttering curses at the fans who were chanting, “We want Steph.” Now, D’Antoni intends to keep Marbury on the inactive list indefinitely.

What? Did he think his primary job was to guide a bad team to wins, as he did on opening night?

Games that should catch our attention this week:

Mavericks at Spurs

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, FSN Southwest

The Spurs had chances to win their opener against the Suns, despite playing soft defense all night. They were one Michael Finley miss away from getting their first victory Friday in Portland. Think they want to avoid opening the season 0-3?

Celtics at Rockets

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, NBA TV

If you weren’t already committed to watching the Spurs and Mavericks, this would be an outstanding use of NBA TV, which is letting viewers vote online for which game they would like to see Tuesdays. Who wouldn’t vote for this one?

Pistons at Raptors

6 p.m. Wednesday, NBA League Pass

It’s going to be interesting to watch the Pistons in the early going under new coach Michael Curry. They’ve been to the Eastern Conference finals six straight seasons. The Raptors are poised to block their path this season.

[duncan228]

NBA award watch: Rookie of the year
Mike Monroe

Nothing we saw in Week 1 changed our view that this could be the most wide-open Rookie of the Year race ever. In fact, the ankle sprain that will keep Greg Oden sidelined for about four weeks opens it up more.

Here is a look at the rookies who caught our eye in Week 1, when most rookies are overwhelmed.

Derrick Rose, Bulls: He won the starting point guard spot from Kirk Hinrich and opened with 11 points and nine assists in a victory over the Bucks. He had 18 points against the defending champion Celtics, too. He is the real deal, with greatness predicted by most who have seen him.

Michael Beasley, Heat: Dreadful (4 for 14) in opening loss to Knicks, he bounced back nicely with 17 points, nine boards in a victory over the Kings.

Mario Chalmers, Heat: Another rookie starting at point guard, he opened with 17 points, eight assists, seven rebounds in loss to Knicks. He was very rookie-like vs. Kings with three points and two assists, but his team got a victory.

O.J. Mayo, Grizzlies: After going 5 for 20 in his debut, popped 17 in victory over Magic on Friday.

Nicolas Batum, Trail Blazers: Ask the Spurs what this Frenchman is capable of. He may be most explosive of all rookies, and with Oden out, he will get even more time.

Jason Thompson, Kings: The Kings are awful, and with Brad Miller suspended for five games, they’re in need of big bodies. Combined, that likely means lots of time for Thompson. He has 28 points and 17 rebounds in two games, a fine start.

Greg Oden, Trail Blazers: He concluded his horrid night in his much-anticipated debut by suffering an ankle sprain.

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