30. Cleveland Cavaliers (Last week’s ranking: 30): It’s now 24 losses and counting for the Cavs, who officially became the owners of the worst streak in NBA history with a loss at home to Portland on Saturday. It’s only a matter of time before they pick up win number nine, but then again – it’s only a matter of time before they embark on yet another depressing string of losses.
29. Washington Wizards (27): Most people probably don’t realize that the Wizards are currently riding an eight-game losing streak. Why is that? Because they are more focused on their other less-than-successful string of losses on the road – 25 consecutive to be exact. John Wall and Co. are undoubtedly down right now, but the Wiz have to be happy knowing that their chances of getting a high draft pick to place next to Wall as they look to build for the future.
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28. Sacramento Kings (25): Back-to-back wins over the Lakers and Hornets last week was impressive, but this week wasn’t any easier, as they were faced with Boston and San Antonio – both losses. Who do they have next week? Utah, Dallas, Oklahoma City and Phoenix. Looks like it’s going to be another grueling week for the young and erratic kids up in Sac-town.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves (28): In honor of K-Love’s all-star “selection,” we’ll let the T-Pups out of the cellar for this week. Unfortunately for them, they might have the chance to send a player named “Kevin” to the all-star game for much longer if they continue to reside among the NBA’s bottom-dwellers.
26. Toronto Raptors (29): They broke a 13-game losing streak with an 11-point win over Minnesota on Friday; however, what was even more inspiring for the Raptors was Andrea Bargnani’s 30 points and Jose Calderon’s 19 assists in the victory. The talent is there, but the Raptors either need Bargnani to evolve into Dirk Nowitzki overnight or trade for a true superstar if they ever want to separate themselves from the league’s worst.
NEXT: 25-21
25. New Jersey Nets (26): Now that the “Melodrama” is over, the Nets have to decide if they are going to fight for a playoff spot (it’s still very likely that they could nab the eighth-seed) or settle for the lottery in a very weak NBA draft. With no future core intact, they should opt for the latter, as one “four games and out” playoff set is not going to leave any positive ramifications for next year.
24. Los Angeles Clippers (21): It’s actually sad to see this team drop so low after showing so much promise to start the new year. However, the “Blakers” are going to to continue being one of the league’s most exciting teams; when Eric Gordon returns in the next couple of weeks, they’ll probably be too far out of the playoffs, but they will unquestionably be the Thunder of 2009-10 in 2011-12.
23. Detroit Pistons (24): Winning two of three games was a great way to start the month of February, but what has been the most impressive about this young ball club, is the quickly improving play of 2010 lottery pick, Greg Monroe, who has registered six double-doubles in 2011, after failing to post one in 2010. After capping off the month of January with a 15-point/17-rebound effort against the Knicks, “G-Money” is averaging 12.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game so far this month.
22. Milwaukee Bucks (22): They boast the league’s fourth-best defense (93.1 points allowed per game) but still cannot seem to use that to their advantage as they are constantly struggling to outscore their opponent – averaging a league-worst 91.3 points per game. They’ve dropped four in a row, but with two gimmes against Toronto and Washington coming up, they should be able to end that streak soon.
21. Charlotte Bobcats (19): While they commenced their week with back-to-back losses against Miami and Dallas, this week isn’t going to start off any easier for the Bobcats, as they host the Boston Celtics tonight. At 21-29, they really only need to go .500 the rest of the way if they want to make the playoffs, but with trade rumors surrounding Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson, they might decide to write the season off and hope for better luck next year.
NEXT: 20-16
20. Indiana Pacers (23): The Pacers continue to pick up wins after firing now-former Head Coach Jim O’Brien. With their streak up to four consecutive victories, Indiana is quickly putting it’s name in the hat for the East’s final playoff spot. Given, three of the Pacers’ four wins have come against Toronto, Cleveland and New Jersey, but to make the playoffs in the East, that’s really all you need to do – beat the team’s that are worse than you and occasionally pick up an upset win.
19. Golden State Warriors (20): Have the Warriors caught a little wind? They are 6-4 over their last 10 games and ended the week with a big, 11-point win over the Bulls. However, a tough stretch of games this week will reveal if the Warriors are for real or if they are just pretenders. Monta Ellis may not have been the biggest snub from all-star weekend, but he’s dropping 25.3 PPG on opposing teams, which is hard to do – even on a less-than-stellar team.
18. Houston Rockets (18): The Rockets knocked off the streaking Grizzlies in OT on Saturday, but what’s even more promising about this team – aside from their potential – is the fact that they are fourth in the league in scoring (104.8 PPG), 10th in rebounds per game (42.4 RPG) and third in assists (23.1 APG). Unfortunately, they can’t stop their opponent from doing they same, as they allow almost as many points as they score, which is never a good stat to have.
17. Philadelphia 76ers (17): Basketball isn’t revived in Philly quite yet, however, the resurrection of one player’s career is definitely taking place. In a 100-98 win over the Knicks on Friday night, former all-star Elton Brand posted 33 points and 16 boards – the first time Brand has broken the 30-point plateau since April 12, 2007.
16. New York Knicks (15): After making everyone in New York forget that they had lost out on LeBron this past summer with stellar play, the Knicks have continued to struggle. Losers of six of their last 10 games and they inch closer and closer to the dreaded .500-mark – a mark they have avoided since Nov. 24. Amare’s still beastin’ it for the Knicks, but if Steve Nash and Stoudemire couldn’t be more than a high-octane offense, there’s no way Raymond Felton running the point is going to change that, let alone make an Amare-led team better.
NEXT: 15-11
15. Phoenix Suns (16): Are the Suns on the rise? They lost by only four points to OKC on Friday night – but before that they were on a three-game winning streak after picking up big time wins over Boston and New Orleans. With Steve Nash running point they definitely have a shot at the playoffs, but with Memphis playing at the level they are right now, it might be tough for the Sun to shine in the spring time.
14. Portland Trail Blazers (13): LaMarcus Aldridge’s career-high 40 points and 11 rebounds propelled the Blazers to a 13-point victory over the Spurs at the onset of the week; unfortunately for the Blazers, they followed up a possibly momentum building win with two stinkers against Denver and Indiana. They ended the week by barely eeking by the lowly Cavs, however, if they want to fight for a playoff spot, they are going to have to battle, because Memphis and Phoenix are within striking distance.
13. Memphis Grizzlies (14): Although they ended the week with an OT loss to Houston, the Grizzlies have been the NBA’s hottest team as of late. Before the loss, the Grizz had won five-straight and eight of their last nine. Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay are one of the best forward tandems in the league, and although OJ Mayo’s status with the team remains up in the air, Memphis is going to continue to battle all the way until April.
12. Utah Jazz (12): The Jazz have had a tough schedule, and if wasn’t for their 27-13 start, they would be looking much worse than they do now. Don’t expect them to fall to .500 or below, but if they don’t step up their play soon, they could be leapfrogged by some of the West’s streaking teams.
11. New Orleans Hornets (8): Was their rise to the third-best record in the West a fluke? Not necessarily. However, they surely weren’t going to remain among the West’s elite, especially with recent injuries to starters Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza. On the other hand, If Chris Paul can keep the Hornets among the top-three teams in the conference by season’s end, he’s got my vote for MVP, because there is no way this Hornets team has any business messing around with first-round homecourt advantage. Not at all.
NEXT: 10-6
10. Denver Nuggets (11): I don’t think a week can go by without a “MeloDrama” joke being made. Until Carmelo Anthony gets traded or the deadline passes and he’s still sitting in the Mile High City, the Nuggets are going to be plagued with uncertainty and anticipation. Unfortunately for them, the uncertainty surrounds losing the face of their franchise for likely nothing; and the anticipation is built around them becoming less-than-garbage following the trade. Lose-lose situation right now for the Nuggs.
9. Orlando Magic (6): The Magic have played three games so far in February. Their opponents: Miami, Washington and Boston. Their record: 1-2. While they Magic are by no means a bad team, and Howard is likely on his way to his third-consecutive DPOY award, the Magic just simply don’t have the talent on the perimeter to contend with teams such as Miami and Boston.
8. Atlanta Hawks (10): Yes, the Hawks have had the luxury of an easy schedule lately. Nevertheless, they are doing what successful team’s must do: beat up on all the weak teams, so that they can afford a loss to stronger teams every now and then. The Hawks are often overlooked for their lack of star power, but their trio of Josh Smith, Joe Johnson and Al Horford (not to mention Jamal Crawford off the bench) is pretty tough in its own right. They’ve won seven of 10, and with a fairly easy schedule for the rest of the month, don’t expect the Hawks to slide any time soon.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (7): The Thunder have won all three of their games so far this month and Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook continue to be the yin to each other’s yang. KD and Russ are tied with LeBron and Wade for the highest scoring duo in the NBA (51.5 PPG), but with their fountain of youth and freakish athleticism – they cause massive problems night in and night out for their opponents.
6. Los Angeles Lakers (4): An OT win over the Rockets was nice, and so was a road victory over the Hornets. However, it was the buzzer-beating loss to the Spurs at home in between those games that makes you just want to shake your head. The Lakers allowed three offensive rebounds on the last possession of the game, and it’s tough not to get frustrated with the fact that, if one ball had ended up in a Lakers player’s hands, the Purple and Gold would be riding a three-game winning streak into their seven-game road trip. They play in Memphis on Friday, but the game everyone’s thinking about is their road matchup with Boston on Thursday evening. I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t either, but the Lakers need to take each game one at a time, especially on long road trips – if they don’t, they will fall flat onto their faces.
NEXT: 5-1
5. Chicago Bulls (5): The Bulls are for real. And until people start to realize this, I’m going to keep saying it. They might not have the star power of Miami or the playoff experience of Boston – instead, they have the best point guard in the NBA in Derrick Rose (among other things), and they will not only be a challenging opponent in the postseason, but a contender for the championship as well.
4. Dallas Mavericks (9): The Mavs struggled mightily throughout January – starting the month off 24-7 and finishing it 32-15; however, they didn’t let an 8-8 month get them down, and they have now one eight straight, including a win over Boston – IN BOSTON – on Friday night. If the Lakers were worried about not getting the first seed, they better start worrying about not getting the second seed, because Dallas is playing really tough basketball right now.
3. Boston Celtics (2): They are going to beat you up; they are going to knock down their open shots, and they are going to frustrate the hell out of you – that’s what Boston does. They are sending four players to the All-Star game (and rightfully so), and despite their old age and battered bodies, they look stronger and tougher than ever. Watch out league.
2. Miami Heat (3): Even with injuries and no depth whatsoever to supplement their losses, the Heat keep winning. LeBron and Wade are easily the most unstoppable one-two-punch since Jordan and Pippen. Yes, they don’t have the six rings yet (or one ring for that matter), but they are nearly impossible to shut down at the same time. Even with Wade putting up 25 points a night, LeBron still owns this league – which was evident in his 51-point, 11-rebound and eight-assist effort against Orlando on Thursday. Now that was an inhuman performance.
1. San Antonio Spurs (1): There’s not much more to say about the Spurs other than the fact that they get the job done. Tim Duncan is playing a career-low in minutes, yet the Spurs still find ways to come out victorious on a regular basis. With only eight L’s in the loss column, they still have a shot at the Bulls 72-10 record, but I don’t see Poppovich letting this team tire out so they can break that record. Poppovich plays for rings and he always has. He is not going to sacrifice the Spurs shot at a title for 70+ wins. They did it in dramatic fashion, but the Spurs win over the Lakers on Thursday was just a testament to how mentally tough this team is.