NBA Power Rankings

WEEK 3 - ATLANTA ON TOP?

by: Eric Pincus - 5461 times read

11/16/09 - Ranking the top 10 was very, very difficult this week. The Phoenix Suns, with the best record in the Western Conference, was flat out waxed by the Los Angeles Lakers who themselves have lost two straight. The Portland Trail Blazers have the second best record in the conference but who have they beaten? The Denver Nuggets spanked the Lakers but have dropped three of their last five games. The Dallas Mavericks not only beat the Lakers, but did it in LA . . . yet they have just that one impressive victory on their schedule.

In the East, the Boston Celtics have also lost two straight. While the Cleveland Cavaliers opened the season with a loss at home to the Celtics, they just won on back-to-back nights in Orlando and Miami. The HEAT have a win over the Nuggets but who else in the top 10? The Magic have lost two of four including games to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers. That leaves the Atlanta Hawks as the surprise pick at #1 with wins over the Blazers, Nuggets and Celtics. Injuries and illnesses have played a role across the board but that's the NBA three weeks in . . .

RANK(LAST WK)		TEAM	REC.	COMMENT
	1 (7)	Atlanta Hawks	8 - 2	The Hawks may not stay at number one long but if they can get through the week with games against the Blazers, HEAT, Rockets and Hornets without a loss, they won't fall.
	2 (9)	Cleveland Cavaliers	7 - 3	It's understandable that the Cavaliers needed a little time to adjust to the big addition of Shaquille O'Neal. While their foundation still may be a little shaky, they've won four straight. Cleveland should be able to pad their schedule over the coming weeks before facing another top 10 team.
	3 (4)	Denver Nuggets	7 - 3	The Nuggets climb a spot by virtue of their dominating third quarter over the Lakers. After a busy early stretch (seven road games already), Denver should feast on the schedule until early December.
	4 (3)	Orlando Magic	7 - 3	This Magic have had a difficult time fielding a full roster but the injuries are abating and Rashard Lewis finally makes his return from suspension this week. The big game this week is on Friday night in Boston.
	5 (5)	Dallas Mavericks	7 - 3	Dallas hasn't faced any elite competition since beating the Lakers on November 30th (other than the 4-4 Spurs). The Mavs don't face a top ten team until the 28th in Cleveland on the second night of a back-to-back.
	6 (1)	Los Angeles Lakers	7 - 3	The Lakers have limited upside with Pau Gasol sidelined (hamstring). Now Kobe Bryant is hobbled with a groin injury. The schedule is very favorable over the next couple of weeks; they can't afford to continue on as they have the last two games.
	7 (6)	Phoenix Suns	9 - 2	Despite impressing through a road-heavy start (seven of 11), this week the Suns have their ceiling set to one below the Lakers. Were it not for that loss, they'd probably be ranked #1 ahead of the Hawks. You'd think they'd have a stretch at home but eight of the next 11 are away games.
	8 (2)	Boston Celtics	8 - 3	The Celtics fall one behind the Suns after losing at home to Phoenix - and dropping two straight to the Hawks and Pacers. That's three losses in five games but #7 may be as low as Boston goes this season.
	9 (8)	Miami Heat	7 - 2	The HEAT at 7-2 probably don't deserve to drop a spot, but this week is tricky to rank. They've lost to the Suns and Cavaliers but beat a road-weary Nuggets team. Until Miami gets another elite win, they'll be underappreciated. They won't get that chance until the 25th when they visit Orlando.
	10 (10)	Portland Trail Blazers	8 - 3	The Blazers are carrying a six-game win streak but don't move in the rankings. Other than their win against the Spurs, they've beaten up on teams like the Grizzlies, Wolves, Hornets and Bobcats. The one for Portland to get would be Monday night in Atlanta.
	11 (11)	Houston Rockets	6 - 4	The Rockets have proven that they're a real team this year despite Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady out with injury. They draw both the Suns and Hawks this week.
	12 (12)	Chicago Bulls	5 - 4	It was a tough loss against the Nuggets, but that ball was clearly on Brad Miller's fingertips when the clock expired.
	13 (20)	Milwaukee Bucks	5 - 2	Brandon Jennings.
	14 (13)	San Antonio Spurs	4 - 4	What's with winning while Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are out - and then losing to the Thunder when they return?
	15 (15)	Oklahoma City Thunder	5 - 5	The Thunder are young an inconsistent but they're dangerous. The big question in Oklahoma City is whether or not Russell Westbrook is a point guard. While his 7.6 assists a game suggest that's the case, he's got to work on turnovers (3.7).
	16 (14)	Toronto Raptors	5 - 5	This is a team that really needs to get Reggie Evans on the floor. He's out indefinitely with a foot injury . . . but the hope is he'll be back soon. The Raptors badly miss his toughness.
	17 (22)	Sacramento Kings	5 - 4	The Rookie of the Year race is on - Tyreke Evans vs. Brandon Jennings. The Kings are actually at 5-4 after winning just 17 games all of last season.
	18 (24)	Indiana Pacers	4 - 3	The Pacers start Danny Granger at four against Kevin Garnett and the Celtics and win by nine. Indiana has won four straight despite a number of injuries (Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy, Tyler Hansbrough, Jeff Foster, etc).
	19 (17)	Utah Jazz	4 - 6	The Jazz have probably played more elite teams than anyone, so there's some upside when the schedule cools - which it does for most of the next three weeks.
	20 (23)	Detroit Pistons	5 - 5	Four games in five nights for the Pistons this week with visits to the Lakers, Blazers, Jazz and Suns. Good luck - and for good measure they host the Cavaliers when they get home on the 25th.
	21 (16)	Philadelphia 76ers	4 - 6	Losing Marresse Speights for a couple of months is going to hurt - but maybe Elton Brand can fill that void. Speights is getting $1.7 mil this year - Brand $14.9 . . . he better.
	22 (19)	New Orleans Hornets	3 - 8	The Hornets looked thin coming into the season but now it seems like the wheels are have completely fallen off. Was it fired Coach Byron Scott's fault?
	23 (18)	Los Angeles Clippers	4 - 7	The Clippers were trying to hang on without Blake Griffin but now no Eric Gordon (groin)? Back-to-back nights in New Orleans and Memphis look especially daunting.
	24 (26)	Golden State Warriors	3 - 6	The Warriors finally unload Stephen Jackson. We'll soon learn if he was the problem in Golden State - or just the scapegoat.
	25 (21)	Charlotte Bobcats	3 - 6	Interesting. Stephen Jackson? We'll see . . .
	26 (25)	Washington Wizards	2 - 7	The Wizards have lost six straight. Will it turn around now that Antawn Jamison is readying for a return?
	27 (27)	Memphis Grizzlies	2 - 8	Interesting. Jamaal Tinsley? We'll see . . .
	28 (28)	New York Knicks	1 - 9	Wait, why did they pass on Brandon Jennings?
	29 (29)	Minnesota Timberwolves	1 - 10	The Wolves opened the season with a win. They've since lost 10 straight. Who'd they beat? The Nets.
	30 (30)	New Jersey Nets	0 - 10	I can't see raising NJ up a spot until they at least win a game.

Check out HOOPSWORLD's Weekly Stat Leaders here