Jason Richardson and the Suns put together an impressive road trip that included a win in Boston on Friday night. (AP)

1. (10 LW): Disclaimer City: The Suns won’t be here at the end of the season, or even the end of the month, and I still don’t think they can D anybody up, and I still think Jason Richardson is a great scorer with the knucklehead gene. But with all that said, they had a five-game trip East and went 4-1, knocking off the Celtics and Heat along the way.

2. (1) : Yes, I’m liking the Sheed signing. I like that he can spread the floor with the 3 ball. But he relies on the 3 too much and, wow, the one rebound he had in 22 minutes against the Jazz isn’t nearly good enough.

3. (3): A couple of things I was thinking about the other day: 1. When Lamar Odom is hanging out with his Kardashian in-laws, has he ever been caught, you know, just taking a peek at the well-proportioned Kim while Khloe isn’t looking? 2. If the Lakers can be this good now, what’s gonna happen when Pau Gasol returns?

4. (8): I’m sorry, Donny Marshall, I just can’t let this one go: Hell, yeah, I’d take D-Wade and LeBron on the same team. And if I had them both, I think my team would beat yours. (For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, check out last week’s rankings.)

5. (5): Al Horford says Paul Pierce owes him 10 grand from an in-game bet two years ago. A couple of thoughts: David Stern, don’t you feel dumb for focusing on “menacing gestures” when your players were betting 10 large before your eyes? 2. Let’s make the pot 20 grand, and the “losing” player in Friday’s game actually spends that money on kids/disadvantaged families for the holidays.

6. (12): The Blazers are young, so they’re gonna tease you all season. Get used to it.

7. (2): Did you catch the brief name game the other day? J.R. Smith said he wanted to be called by his given name, which is Earl (really?). Then he was back to J.R. I don’t know what Linas Kleiza wants to be called in Greece, but the Nuggets will miss him all season.

8. (7): I never bought that the addition of Shaq would hurt LeBron. The real guy getting screwed is Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Look at him, his game is a mess.

9. (4): I love listening to the Van Gundys talk basketball, but Stan is going to find out just how much of a player’s league this is if he continues to suggest that his team plays soft.

10. (22): Come on. Throw ‘em a bone. They’re not this good, but this may be their one and only shot at the top 10 this season.

11. (6): The Spurs are that smart kid who will bring home a what-the-hell-is-this C or D every now and then and still wind up headlining the honor roll. But still it’s hard to believe they haven’t won a road game yet.

12. (9): Anybody want some Mavericks stock? I’m cashing out.

13. (11): Coincidence? Yahoo! reported that Tracy McGrady might return earlier than expected from microfracture surgery, and the Rockets promptly went out and got drilled by the Mavericks. The guy’s a bad influence on the team even when his name is mentioned.

14. (25): Let’s say the Kings continue to play .500 ball the next eight weeks without Kevin Martin. Well, the Coach of the Year award goes to Paul Westphal. Hands down.

15. (20): They jumped five slots from last week, but they’ll probably be heading south again with injuries to Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.

16. (24): I hated all the 3’s the Celtics took when Jim O’Brien coached them, but say this for Jimmy: leave him alone and he’ll get the maximum out of what your team has. In other words, if you have a shred of playoff talent, Jimmy will get you to the playoffs. If you lose 50, it won’t be due to his coaching. It’ll simply mean the roster isn’t any good.

17. (15): The ideal middle-of-the-pack team. The Raptors score and allow the same amount of points: 108.

18. (19): I love these guys. I look at all those fresh faces (10 players 25 or younger) and constantly have to remind myself that I’m not watching a Midwest regional final.

19. (18): More on Joakim Noah: As I watched him the other night against the Nuggets, it hit me that as sports fans we love hustle, but not TOO much hustle. I used to hate when Pete Rose took ball four and sprinted to first. If Noah were a baseball player, he’d absolutely do the same thing.

20. (16): Next time you watch them play, remind yourself that Eddie Jordan is a fine offensive coach. Now imagine how unwatchable they’d be if they didn’t have Eddie coaching them.

21. (14): They’re in deep, deep trouble. And I’m not exactly sure why. Here’s the difference between Team 21 and Team 22: If 21 continues to struggle, the coach will be out before the All-Star break.

22. (21): Jerry Sloan isn’t going anywhere that he doesn’t want to go, but this team looks awful, too. The Jazz have top-10 talent and a top-three point guard, but they always look sleepy when it’s time to execute.

23. (17): All that stuff I said about the Kitty Cats “not being that bad” and Larry Brown the “turnaround specialist?” Sorry about that.

24. (13): I smell a scandal. Seriously. This team is far too talented to be playing like this. I’ll throw it out there: Either guys are fighting with each other behind the scenes, or they’re all plotting to throw Flip Saunders overboard.

25. (28): I broke my own rule. I watched them for a few minutes and was mildly impressed by Chris Kaman. But you know what? I’d rather watch that Blake Griffin commercial on ESPN than watch Blake Griffin’s team without him.

26. (27): OK, we all know Stephen Jackson is crazy. But his agent does have a point about Don Nelson: How’s it possible to coach so long and win so many games without ever appearing in the Finals? Every other coach on the top 10 wins list has won a title or competed for one. But Nellie started coaching when he was 36, he’s 69 now, and he’s never won squat. Weird.

27. (23): I have no interest in doing a book, or even an article, on the Grizzlies. But I would like to know how the meeting — assuming there was a meeting — on the pros and cons of signing Allen Iverson went. Was anyone opposed to it? Did someone’s kid suggest it? Was it a lost bet? Hello?

28. (26): You ever been to Minneapolis in the winter? Awful. You’re just looking for a little glimpse of warmth, literal or figurative, and yet you have a team that actually makes the winter seem longer.

29. (29): Come on, Stephon. Give us something. Go to a game and make a scene. Come up with another all-night chat in which you speak in riddles and anagrams. (”They’re tryin’ to put me in a box!”) Entertain us, dude. The Knicks can’t do it alone.

30. (30): I said 19 and 63 last week. I said I was sticking with it. I lied. I’d like something in the 13 to 16 range, if you don’t mind. The lower the better.

9 Comments for “NBA Power Rankings 11/12”

1. Bob Says:
   November 12th, 2009 at 12:08 pm

   Smoke another one Holley! Just because the Suns pulled a horsehoe out of their a$$ in the game against the Celtics by shooting lights out beyond the 3 point line does not justify them leapfrogging the Celtics in the power rankings. So what that they beat the Heat as well…granted they had a decent record to start out…but the Suns and Heat will be nowhere near playing for the NBA Championship come next June!

2. Mark Says:
   November 12th, 2009 at 12:20 pm

   Michael, you’re better than this. The Nuggets are a top 5 team right now. Putting the Bucks and Kings ahead of the Thunder is ridiculous. And even with only 8 healthy players, the Nets are better than the Knicks and Grizzlies. And yes, I know NJ hasn’t won a game yet but this early in the season won/loss doesn’t tell the whole story. The Nets compete, as we saw last weekend against the C’s, even when totally outmanned. The Knicks and Grizz, no way. Finally, as much as it pains me to say it about a team with Chris Paul and James Posey on it, the Hornets are ranked too high on this list.

3. jaytf25 Says:
   November 12th, 2009 at 12:39 pm

   This is obviuosly tounge in cheek. The Cavs are no lower then 3 or 4. The Lakers are better then the Suns even without Gasol.

4. Joe Carvalho Says:
   November 12th, 2009 at 1:05 pm

   Michael, I don’t think our good friend “Bob” (see above) truly uinderstands your concept for weekly power rankings. This is a week to week “thang” and as of Last week, the week that wuz!, the suns earned that top spot. Now…will they be there a week from now…I doubt it….but as you constantly point out in one way or another the ball bounces in mysterious ways from week to week based upon the health of a team, whether players “show up” or not in a game, whether thney had a long road trip or a number of games in a row, player health/injuries, you name it.
   What’s really interesting for fans who follow your (excellent..by the way) insight into the game is how these powerranking articles really capture the ebb and flow of the season. I save these and look backwards from time to time to piece together the progress or decline of certain teams (moreso for teams other than the Celtics…I follow them game to game and I’m usually pretty much up to speed with them) in that way I can get a good “take” on the Celtics opposition when those teams pop up on the schedule.
   Anyways, thanks for all of your insight into these teams. They are all “moving targets” and need constant scrutiny to really understand where they are during the season. You have become one of the sports world’s best source for that!!

5. Phil Says:
   November 12th, 2009 at 1:14 pm

   The Nets really are hilariously bad.

6. Brad Says:
   November 12th, 2009 at 1:23 pm

   Equal parts dip and Sh*# you are. If Wallace is “relying too much on the 3″, it’s because the coach is telling him to stay out there. That’s what coaches do. And how many boards did Utah’s bench players give them? You know who shoots too many 3’s AND is a starter? Try Mehmet Okur!
   You hated all the 3’s the Celtics took under O’Brien? Hmmm, and he only got to the ECF! And hating ANYTHING about Pete Rose’s game shows how clueless and unappreciative you are. And to prove it even more, you actually “like” Jeff
   Van Gundy calling games. That’s utterly pathetic and sad. Only Walton is worse than Van Gundy. He is a constant whiny annoyance.

7. Ed Giguere Says:
   November 12th, 2009 at 5:07 pm

   Gee Michael, Your Crystal Ball works real well Byron Scott F I R E D.
   So What’s the Lottery Number Tonight?

8. Bill Lambert Says:
   November 12th, 2009 at 5:43 pm

   Nice goin’, Michael. On the mark and entertaining.

9. Nate Says:
   November 12th, 2009 at 7:22 pm

   Good read Mike and also VERY good to have something to read from you KEEP WRITING BRO!!!!!!!!!!!

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