Power Rankings Week 5
Jan 1, 2014 18:36:53 GMT
Post by runsNgoses on Jan 1, 2014 18:36:53 GMT
Biggest Rise: Denver Nuggets +7, Chicago Bulls +6
Free Falling: Houston Rockets -6, Sacramento Kings -4, Dallas Mavericks -4, Orlando Magic -4
1) Boston Celtics (2) (6-1)
The Celtics finally see themselves back on top of the Power Rankings, and rightfully so I think. Currently the best record in the league without a starter, LBJ for MVP.
2) Brooklyn Nets (1) (5-1)
The only reason Brooklyn moved down a spot, was because the Celts won a game more. Otherwise, the 2nd best team in the league is looking real nice. The Bucks sneaked a win from the Nets.
3) New Orleans Pelicans (-) (4-2)
With losses to the Clippers and Nuggets...it wasn't a good week for the Pels, no notable wins in my opinion, should have been an undefeated week for them but slip ups happen.
4) Atlanta Hawks (-) (4-2)
Some easy wins this week and a shocking loss to the Suns keeps the Hawks right at number 4. They were also blown out by the Nets too and then blew out their next 3 games.
5) Philadelphia 76ers (6) (3-3)
They go up a spot for beating the team that had this spot in the Hornets...and a great much needed win for them too to help salvage a disappointing week.
6) Charlotte Hornets (5) (3-3)
A couple of tough games against the Celts and '6ers roughed up the team a bit as injuries hit. Kidd is back in the starting lineup and got a win for it. Who starts? Devin Harris or Jason Kidd?
7) Chicago Bulls (13) (5-1)
An easy schedule slingshot the Bulls up the rankings. A disappointing loss to the Thunder prevented an undefeated week but the Bulls will take the wins and the rise up.
8) Golden State Warriors (9) (3-2)
After exploding onto the scene and grabbing a firm grasp on the Pacific division, the Warriors are flying under the radar right now, winning games they should be.
9) Milwaukee Bucks (7) (4-3)
A very up and down week for the Bucks, who are dealing with injuries at the moment. 3 of their wins came against the Hornets, 76ers, and Nets while the Hornets avanged the loss in the process.
10) Denver Nuggets (17) (6-0)
Another team that had an easy week (other than the Pels) that's been catapulted up the rankings and into the top 10. Currently riding a 6 game win streak and a huge morale boost in the locker room.
11) Minnesota Timberwolves (-) (4-2)
Hate not moving them up after a winning week, so I'm sorry about that. No Eric Gordon right now either for the next month due to a broken foot.
12) Sacramento Kings (8) (3-4)
After dropping four straight, they go and win three straight to salvage what was looking to be a disasterous week. All in blow out wins too might I add.
13) Los Angeles Lakers (15) (5-2)
The Lakers have been clawing their way up the ranking ladder, slowly but surely. Getting Chris Bosh back has worked wonders (and no one was surprised).
14) Dallas Mavericks (10) (3-4)
They beat the 76ers at home...that's the only bright spot of the week for the Mavs. They were blown out by the Kings (40 points) and lost a heart breaker to a red hot Nuggets team.
15) Cleveland Cavaliers (12) (2-3)
Well, they beat the Celtics at home, so that's always a plus, no matter where it's at. But a pretty quite week for the Cavs, who slipped a few spots down, due to injury it looks like.
16) San Antonio Spurs (19) (3-2)
A bit of a jump for the young Spurs. The good news, is that fellow rookie John Henson isn't outperforming the first overall pick from the bench anymore. He's slowly getting there.
17) Washington Wizards (14) (3-4)
A couple of wins over the Hornets and Bucks always looks good, but it seems as if the injury bug isn't letting up on this team at the moment.
18) New York Knicks (16) (3-3)
Had some tough losses to the Celts and Pelicans. Fighting in the Atlantic is proving to hurt the Knicks and perhaps their chances of making the post season.
19) Detroit Pistons (18) (3-3)
On paper, this team looks good, but something isn't working like it should be. I feel this team should be in the mix to make the post season, without question.
20) Phoenix Suns (22) (2-3)
The Suns benefit from other teams having train wrecks of a week and they go up two spots. If this team can slip into the playoffs, I wouldn't want to face them.
21) Utah Jazz (-) (2-3)
Rajon Rondo cooled down a bit, he's still having a monster year but clearly, it's not enough to help this Jazz team. They need a better center to help out in the paint.
22) Memphis Grizzlies (24) (3-3)
The Grizzlies have also benefitted from other teams having much worse weeks, so they get a two spot jump. Wait until next year and this team will be fun to watch turn into something special.
23) Los Angeles Clippers (25) (3-3)
Sub-par week sees the Clipps go up due to other teams faulting badly. I see some lineup experimentation going on, I always like that. We'll see how it works out for them (Griffin at the 3).
24) Toronto Raptors (27) (4-3)
At least they won more games than they lost. Two of the three came against LeBron and the Celtics so I can't fault them too much for that even if they gave up 144 points in regulation to Boston.
25) Oklahoma City Thunder (29) (3-3)
A pretty inconsistent week for the Thunder but they go up 4 spots due to some bad weeks by the bottom 5 teams. They ruined Chicago's perfect week too, so that's always nice to be able to say.
26) Houston Rockets (20) (1-6)
Well...they beat the team right above...but that's about it. None of their other games were even close to wins for the Rockets...very very rough week for them.
27) Orlando Magic (23) (1-6)
Down goes Kris Humphries and the team in the Power Rankings. Their only win was against the Heat, and no other games were remotely close either. It'll be a long rest of the year for Orlando.
28) Indiana Pacers (26) (1-6)
Got a big win against the Kings and had a close game against the Warriors. But outside of that, they were also handled pretty badly during the week.
29) Portland Trail Blazers (28) (0-5)
Who finishes worse in the league? The Pacers, Blazers, or Heat? Kendall Marshall better pay off...
30) Miami Heat (-) (0-7)
Not two wins, not three wins, not four wins, not five wins, not six wins.......(17 in a row).
Free Falling: Houston Rockets -6, Sacramento Kings -4, Dallas Mavericks -4, Orlando Magic -4
1) Boston Celtics (2) (6-1)
The Celtics finally see themselves back on top of the Power Rankings, and rightfully so I think. Currently the best record in the league without a starter, LBJ for MVP.
2) Brooklyn Nets (1) (5-1)
The only reason Brooklyn moved down a spot, was because the Celts won a game more. Otherwise, the 2nd best team in the league is looking real nice. The Bucks sneaked a win from the Nets.
3) New Orleans Pelicans (-) (4-2)
With losses to the Clippers and Nuggets...it wasn't a good week for the Pels, no notable wins in my opinion, should have been an undefeated week for them but slip ups happen.
4) Atlanta Hawks (-) (4-2)
Some easy wins this week and a shocking loss to the Suns keeps the Hawks right at number 4. They were also blown out by the Nets too and then blew out their next 3 games.
5) Philadelphia 76ers (6) (3-3)
They go up a spot for beating the team that had this spot in the Hornets...and a great much needed win for them too to help salvage a disappointing week.
6) Charlotte Hornets (5) (3-3)
A couple of tough games against the Celts and '6ers roughed up the team a bit as injuries hit. Kidd is back in the starting lineup and got a win for it. Who starts? Devin Harris or Jason Kidd?
7) Chicago Bulls (13) (5-1)
An easy schedule slingshot the Bulls up the rankings. A disappointing loss to the Thunder prevented an undefeated week but the Bulls will take the wins and the rise up.
8) Golden State Warriors (9) (3-2)
After exploding onto the scene and grabbing a firm grasp on the Pacific division, the Warriors are flying under the radar right now, winning games they should be.
9) Milwaukee Bucks (7) (4-3)
A very up and down week for the Bucks, who are dealing with injuries at the moment. 3 of their wins came against the Hornets, 76ers, and Nets while the Hornets avanged the loss in the process.
10) Denver Nuggets (17) (6-0)
Another team that had an easy week (other than the Pels) that's been catapulted up the rankings and into the top 10. Currently riding a 6 game win streak and a huge morale boost in the locker room.
11) Minnesota Timberwolves (-) (4-2)
Hate not moving them up after a winning week, so I'm sorry about that. No Eric Gordon right now either for the next month due to a broken foot.
12) Sacramento Kings (8) (3-4)
After dropping four straight, they go and win three straight to salvage what was looking to be a disasterous week. All in blow out wins too might I add.
13) Los Angeles Lakers (15) (5-2)
The Lakers have been clawing their way up the ranking ladder, slowly but surely. Getting Chris Bosh back has worked wonders (and no one was surprised).
14) Dallas Mavericks (10) (3-4)
They beat the 76ers at home...that's the only bright spot of the week for the Mavs. They were blown out by the Kings (40 points) and lost a heart breaker to a red hot Nuggets team.
15) Cleveland Cavaliers (12) (2-3)
Well, they beat the Celtics at home, so that's always a plus, no matter where it's at. But a pretty quite week for the Cavs, who slipped a few spots down, due to injury it looks like.
16) San Antonio Spurs (19) (3-2)
A bit of a jump for the young Spurs. The good news, is that fellow rookie John Henson isn't outperforming the first overall pick from the bench anymore. He's slowly getting there.
17) Washington Wizards (14) (3-4)
A couple of wins over the Hornets and Bucks always looks good, but it seems as if the injury bug isn't letting up on this team at the moment.
18) New York Knicks (16) (3-3)
Had some tough losses to the Celts and Pelicans. Fighting in the Atlantic is proving to hurt the Knicks and perhaps their chances of making the post season.
19) Detroit Pistons (18) (3-3)
On paper, this team looks good, but something isn't working like it should be. I feel this team should be in the mix to make the post season, without question.
20) Phoenix Suns (22) (2-3)
The Suns benefit from other teams having train wrecks of a week and they go up two spots. If this team can slip into the playoffs, I wouldn't want to face them.
21) Utah Jazz (-) (2-3)
Rajon Rondo cooled down a bit, he's still having a monster year but clearly, it's not enough to help this Jazz team. They need a better center to help out in the paint.
22) Memphis Grizzlies (24) (3-3)
The Grizzlies have also benefitted from other teams having much worse weeks, so they get a two spot jump. Wait until next year and this team will be fun to watch turn into something special.
23) Los Angeles Clippers (25) (3-3)
Sub-par week sees the Clipps go up due to other teams faulting badly. I see some lineup experimentation going on, I always like that. We'll see how it works out for them (Griffin at the 3).
24) Toronto Raptors (27) (4-3)
At least they won more games than they lost. Two of the three came against LeBron and the Celtics so I can't fault them too much for that even if they gave up 144 points in regulation to Boston.
25) Oklahoma City Thunder (29) (3-3)
A pretty inconsistent week for the Thunder but they go up 4 spots due to some bad weeks by the bottom 5 teams. They ruined Chicago's perfect week too, so that's always nice to be able to say.
26) Houston Rockets (20) (1-6)
Well...they beat the team right above...but that's about it. None of their other games were even close to wins for the Rockets...very very rough week for them.
27) Orlando Magic (23) (1-6)
Down goes Kris Humphries and the team in the Power Rankings. Their only win was against the Heat, and no other games were remotely close either. It'll be a long rest of the year for Orlando.
28) Indiana Pacers (26) (1-6)
Got a big win against the Kings and had a close game against the Warriors. But outside of that, they were also handled pretty badly during the week.
29) Portland Trail Blazers (28) (0-5)
Who finishes worse in the league? The Pacers, Blazers, or Heat? Kendall Marshall better pay off...
30) Miami Heat (-) (0-7)
Not two wins, not three wins, not four wins, not five wins, not six wins.......(17 in a row).