1. Los Angeles Lakers: Amazingly still #1 after losses to Clippers and Trailblazers. The Lakers have suffered 9 straight loses to Blazers at Rose Garden. Better hurry and get Pau Gasol back before they head to Texas for back-to-back against Spurs and Mavericks this week. Bynum looked better then usual against Milwaukee Bucks finishing with 17 points 18 boards, and 3 blocks Last Week: 1
2. Cleveland Cavs: Win against Denver would have moved them up in the rankings…alas they played “Lets watch what LeBron does” and lost. Played much better early against Trailblazers in the daunting Rose Garden. Lebron finished with 41. Still perplexed how Mike Brown got coach of the year, last year. Next 3 on road against the West. Last Week: 2
3. Boston Celtics: After a remarkable win in OT on the road against Miami, the Celtics sputter on offense against Hawks. They can get revenge today at home against Hawks. Rajon Rondo 11 points and 10 dimes against Hawks, and was perfect (2-2) from deep for first time this season. Rajon Rondo (22 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds) recorded his first triple-double of the season and the third of his regular-season career to help the Celtics win their seventh straight game against the Raptors…can you say All-Star reserve? Last Week: 3
4. Dallas Mavericks: Still leading the Southwest, otherwise known as the toughest division in the NBA. Big comeback win against the Spurs on the road, then a lost to the Jazz at home was a let down. Owner Mark Cuban had the nerve to take shots at NFL for scheduling Dallas Cowboys playoff game same time as the Mavs-Jazz game. Cowboys won, Mavs lost….sit down Cuban! Last Week: 4
5. Denver Nuggets: Billups returns in win against Cavs at home, then they lose against Kings. Nuggets need Melo, then they need to play defense against everyone, not just the elite teams.Last Week: 5
6. Orlando Magic: Magic had lost four straight games — all to teams that had losing records — for the first time since February 2007. Then the Magic walloped the Hawks 113-81. Now they hit the road against Kings, Nuggets, Blazers, and ending with Finals rematch against Lakers. I’ll say it again FEED HOWARD!! Last Week: 6
7. San Antonio Spurs: Spurs showed there age against Mavs on Friday. Coach Gregg Popovich had seen enough and got himself ejected. Still having a hard time understanding why Richard Jefferson keeps diverting his shots to others…FIRE IT UP RJ!!
8. Portland Trail Blazers: Once again beat Lakers at home then fought back against Cavaliers, but fell short. Brandon Roy could possibly be MVP if Blazers continue playing this good. Unfortunately they have no big man, and we all know what happens when you live by the jumper!
9. Atlanta Hawks: What’s with you Atlanta? You cant beat Cavs, Magic(what an ass-whopping that was) or KNICKS? Jamal Crawford solid off bench against Celtics in win at home. Has to stop the roller-coaster season before fans begin to vomit!
10. Phoenix Suns: Beat Miami at home on Friday, and play Milwaukee today, then hit the road for 4 games. Steve Nash 3,000 votes behind Tracy McGrady for starting spot in All-Star game….shame-shame Phoenix!
11. Houston Rockets: The HARDEST WORKING TEAM in the NBA. Ended 3 game skid with defeat of NY Knicks. In trade talks for Raptors Chris Bosh. No one in the Western Conference wants this to happen!
12. Oklahoma City: 7-3 over last ten games. Kevin Durant went for 40 against Indiana. He and Russell Westbrook are becoming quite a duo, surrounded by solid players(Green, Harden, Maynor)
13. Utah Jazz: Convincing win against Dallas with Deron Williams returning from injury. Jazz are above .500 and if can get some consistency can become a threat in the West.
14. New Orleans Hornets: 6 wins in a rows, the margin of victory in each of those wins: 4, 4, 4, 5, 4, 5., almost forgot this team existed, should change name to New Orleans Chris Paul’s. New Orleans is 16-10 under Jeff Bower after starting 3-6 under Byron Scott.
15. Los Angeles Clippers: Beat the Lakers for first time in 3 years, on a 4-game winning streak, and Chris Kaman looks as if he is headed to the All-Star game. Chris Kaman (22 points, 14 rebounds) had his 11th game with 20+ points and 10+ rebounds this season, tying a single-season career high set in the 2007-08 season. I must dreaming!!
