Knicks take top spot, Mavs drop, Wizards are who we thought they were.
1. New York Knicks 5-0 (#2 last week 3-0)
An easy week of just two games in the last week has kept the Knicks on this amazing run to open the season. Their best opening since the 93-94 season when the Knicks made it to the Finals. Too early to say that history will repeat itself, but Knick fans can hope.
2. San Antonio Spurs 7-1 (#4 last week 4-1)
Spurs continue to be a great regular season team with yet another great start to the season. Two tough close victories against the Trailblazers & Lakers have the Spurs ranked second this week.
3. Memphis Grizzlies 6-1 (#5 last week 3-1)
A runaway win against the Miami Heat followed by a double digit win on national T.V. against the Thunder has the Grizzlies up to 3rd place. No O.J. Mayo, no problem. Insert Wayne Ellington & Quincy Pointdexter. No, seriously!
4. Los Angeles Clippers 6-2 (#8 last week 3-2)
Jamal Crawford, who looked so lost last year with Portland, has found his "swagger" (as the kids say) and it's showing. Crawford is leading the Clippers in scoring off the bench with 20.5 ppg while shooting over 51% from the field. Tough week ahead for the Clippers tho
5. Miami Heat 6-3 (#1 last week 4-1)
After opening the season winning 5 of their first 6 games, the Heat have lost 2 of the last 3 including a blow-out to the Grizzlies. Dwayne Wade sprained his left foot against the Rockets & has struggled since then including a miserable 2-10 fg, 5 turnover performance last night in a loss to the Clippers.
6. Oklahoma Thunder 6-3 (#13 last week 2-2)
Since starting the season at .500, the Thunder have won 4 of their last 5. While two of those wins came against the lowly Detroit Pistons, the Thunder are back in the top 4 in the Western conference. Keep an eye on Russell Westbrook who's currently shooting 39% & his worst scoring average (19 ppg) since his second year in the league (16.1). Westbrook must get his game back together as they approach the first quarter of the season, the 20 game mark.
7. Boston Celtics 5-3 (#12 last week 2-2)
Celtics won 3 of the 4 games they played last week including avenging their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks the week before. However Rondo rolled his ankle in last night's win vs the Jazz. As of now, Rondo has been listed as "day to day", we shall see.
8. Milwaukee Bucks 5-2 (#11 last week 2-1)
An exciting backcourt of Monte Ellis & Brandon Jennings have kept the Bucks achieving more this season than most expected. While still early in the season, Monte has exploded for 32 pts (vs Celtics) & Jennings for 33 (vs 76ers) & the Bucks are worth watching again. Catch them when you can. Ignore Coach Scott Skiles mean glare, he's always like that
9. Brooklyn Nets 4-2 (#26 last week 1-2)
After an unimpressive start as the Brooklyn Nets, the chants of "BROOOOKKLYN" can now be heard as the the Nets have won 3 games straight. While the opponents they faced were not of the highest caliber (Magic twice, Cavs), it's always important to start off the season strong. Especially with so much hype as the Nets have received in their new digs.
10. Chicago Bulls 5-3 (#6 last week 2-1)
Joakim Noah is healthy and wants to remind everyone that he is one of the best power forward/centers who's name does not come up enough but should! With 4 double-doubles out of 8 games so far, Noah has been an important piece for the Bulls as they wait for the return of Derrick Rose. Gotta love Noah's floppy, long hair too!
11. Minnesota Timberwolves 5-3 (#7 last week 2-1)
Whoever's plunging pins into voodoo doll versions of the Timberwolves, please stop. The 'Wolves continue to play well despite starting the season without Kevin Love & Ricky Rubio. Eight games into the season the Wolves have now lost Chase Budinger for 3-4 months, as well as Brandon Roy, Nikola Pekovic & J.J. Barea who have all missed games due to injury. Ouch
12. Charlotte Bobcats 4-3 (#25 last week 1-2)
Were the Mayans right about this being the end of the world? I'm not sure if they follow the NBA, but if they did the Bobcats going 3-1 this past week would probably be one of the signs. Victories against the Mavericks & Timberwolves have put the Bobcats on the radar again & owner Michael Jordan glad he doesn't have to come out of retirement.....again.
13. Dallas Mavericks 5-4 (#4 last week 4-1)
"It was all good just a week ago" is a line from a classic Jay Z song & fits the Mavericks perfectly. After a strong start, tho against weak opponents, the past week was a disaster. Losing 3 of 4 with the only victory coming against the win-less Washington Wizards. Dirk, come back soon!
14. Golden State Warriors 4-4 (#9 last week 3-2)
After starting off the season 6th in the league in scoring, the Warriors have dropped to 21st & the next four games on the schedule could have them falling way below .500 if they can't get the scoring back up soon.
15. Denver Nuggets 4-4 (#19 last week 2-3)
Denver won 2 of the 3 games they played this past week and not surprisingly , Kenneth Faried had double-doubles in all three games. A strong performance from the whole team will be needed this coming week as they have 4 tough games starting with the Heat tonight.
16. Philadelphia 76ers 4-4 (#14 last week 2-2)
Philly continues to maintain at .500 as they hope to get Bynum back, but with recent reports suggesting that Bynum will not be back till January 2013 , it's looking grim.
17. Houston Rockets 4-4 (#16 last week 2-2)
There's been no sign of "Linsanity" thus far in Houston as Jeremy Lin struggles more and more with each game. In the last 3 games, Lin hasn't even broken double-digits in scoring, including a pathetic 2-10 in a win last night to the mediocre Hornets. Harden has picked up his shooting again tho he is shooting a miserable 2-13 from the 3pt line in his last two games combined. Maybe "Linsanity" just hasn't been unpacked yet since arriving in Houston. Better hope so
18. New Orleans Hornets 3-3 (#17 last week 2-2)
26th in scoring (89.5 ppg) & yet 3rd in points allowed (89.5) explains how a team who can't score is still at .500 . Four games this coming week including the Knicks and Thunder will test how long they can last with great defense & paltry offense.
19. Phoenix Suns 4-5 (#22 last week 2-3)
Despite being 8th in scoring (99 ppg) the Suns are under .500, why? They're second to last in points allowed (104 ppg). Newly signed point guard Goran Dragic has had a nice season thus far with 16.1 ppg & 7.2 assists.
20. Utah Jazz 4-5 (#20 last week 2-3)
A team with two talented post scorers who avg double-doubles in Al Jeffereson & Paul Milsap should be better than 4-5, but I still believe the Jazz will end up making the playoffs. Mo Williams has done a nice job, they are right on the edge of breaking through.
21. Atlanta Hawks 3-4 (#10 last week 2-1)
General Manager Danny Ferry blew up the Hawks roster by getting rid of Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams, while waiting to see how summer of 2013 works out for them in free agency with all the salary cap that will be available for the Hawks. However, it's still Fall & 2012 where the Hawks have lost 3 of their last 4 games while not breaking 100 pts in any of those games. Long way to Summer.
22. Los Angeles Lakers 3-5 (#27 last week 1-4)
After losing their coach, Mike Brown, & while awaiting for their new coach, Mike D'Antoni, the Lakers have won 2 of their last 3 games. In reality, they had a chance to win their game against the Spurs, but Pau Gasol ended up taking a 3 pointer with no time left...........Hurry up Coach!
23. Portland Trailblazers 3-5 (#15 last week 2-2)
Giving up 101 points a game will get you under .500 every time
24. Indiana Pacers 3-6 (#21 last week 2-3)
With Danny Granger out for three months & Paul George yet to step up as a scorer, it's not looking good for Indiana after showing so much promise during last year's playoff run.
25. Orlando Magic 2-5 (#18 last week 2-2)
The Magic have seen enough of teams from the tri-state area after last week. Two losses to the Nets & a loss to the Knicks has them falling fast.
26. Cleveland Cavaliers 2-6 (#24 last week 2-3)
Despite Anderson Varejao's effort (15.9 ppg & 13.7 reb), the Cavs lost three games straight & don't look like they will be getting any better anytime soon.
27. Sacramento Kings 2-6 (#23 last week 2-3)
The Kings have only broken a 100 points once thus far. That's probably all you need to know
28. Toronto Raptors 2-6 (#28 last week 1-4)
Not having Kyle Lowry the last four games has really taken the air out of the Raptors. Demar DeRozan has had a nice breakout season
29. Detroit Pistons 1-8 (#30 0-5 last week)
30. Washington Wizards 0-7 (#29 0-3)
The most excitement in Washington was the presidential election.......other than that.
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