1. (5): It was a hell of a week for the young Hawks, who outworked the Celtics at the Garden and then swept through home games against the rudderless Hornets, the Blazers and the Heat. By the way, Josh Smith scares me to death. He was never a bad player, yet he’s twice as good now as he was three years ago.

2. (1): The fact that Steve Nash is averaging 12 assists per game is impressive enough, but to be doing it at 35 years old is ridiculous. If Nash can maintain this pace — and he can’t — his numbers will be better than his MVP seasons. Look at the top 15 assist men in league history and none of them has had an assist season close to this at 35.

3. (9): I wonder which Magic player has the most entertaining, profane material on Stan Van Gundy. I’m telling you, despite the wins, they hate this guy. Van Gundy is right not to obsess over stats, but Rashard Lewis won’t soon forget that his head coach held him out the entire fourth quarter when he was a measly assist shy of a triple double.

4. (12): Oh, I know I can be stubborn, but this ranking is also proof that I can prop up teams that I don’t like. It’s not personal. I would never trust this group in a big game.

5. (2): At this point, it has to be mental for Rajon Rondo. He’s missed 12 of his last 13 at the line, a stunning streak for a point guard. I think I’ve heard about 500 commentators say that Rondo can’t shoot, which is irrelevant at the line: it’s possible to be a mediocre shooter and a respectable free-throw shooter (see Jason Kidd). Rondo, at minimum, should be nailing 70 percent of his freebies.

6. (7): Can’t think of many teams who have what the Nuggets do in Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith: two guys, one a starter and the other a reserve, who are absolutely unguardable.

7. (3): You have to give it to Phil Jackson. He may be an opportunist, manipulator, and world-class B.S.-er, but he’s a master at teaching a championship team how to defend a title. The Lakers have looked as good as you could reasonably expect without their second-best player (Pau), who returns next week.

8. (6): Is it too soon on Greg Oden? The kid is just 21. But I can’t help it: every time I see him play I think, “Good player. Special shot-blocker…but he’ll never live up to being the top pick in the draft.”

9. (8): The Lakers and Celtics will have a stronghold on the top 2 spots by the All-Star break, but why do I get the feeling the Cavs will be right here all year? Last year they were an exceptional regular-season team that got exposed in the playoffs. Now, to quote Denny Green, they are who we thought they were: some average to good players riding the coattails of the King.

10. (10): Write this down: December 8th. That’s when the Bucks play the Celtics at the Garden. You have to see Brandon Jennings play.

11. (13): I’ve got a few NBA pet peeves. One of them is how GMs go out of their way to tell you either how bad an entire draft is or how there isn’t much outside of the lottery. Nonsense. My theory is that there are seven good to great players in ANY draft. The Rockets found their second- and third-leading scorers, Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry, in the same draft. Brooks was at the back of the first round and Landry was at the top of the second.

12. (19): They’ll find themselves in a Catch 22 come playoff time. They can defend like the top teams in the league, which is good. But they won’t make Round One nearly as exciting as last year if they don’t find someone who can stick it like Ben Gordon could.

13. (4): Rough week for the D-Wades: A 1-point win over the Jokes in Jersey, and double-digit losses to the Thunder and Hawks. Well, I guess it wasn’t all bad for Wade. At least he gets to hang out with Gabrielle Union.

14. (16): And they’re most likely moving up. Danny Granger will be an All-Star until he doesn’t feel like playing anymore, and it looks like Larry Bird got him some help in the draft. Tyler Hansbrough is a player.

15. (14): When will they figure out that they’re not supposed to be here?

16. (18): Pick about 20 games. The Thunder will win 10 that they shouldn’t…and lose 10 that they shouldn’t. Along the way, you’ll thoroughly enjoy watching them. They have become what I thought the Grizzlies were ready to be.

17. (22): Now, that’s more like it. I still think they’d be ecstatic if they could get a taker for Carlos Boozer.

18. (20): Okay, it’s a character flaw. But I get as weepy as Rex Ryan when I see a star player who can’t get it done anymore. That’s why it’s hard for me to watch Elton Brand try to catch his shadow.

19. (11): Speaking of not being what they used to be…the Spurs no longer have dominance in them, but they won’t be this bad by the spring. Gregg Popovich usually starts pacing these guys in March. Maybe he’s started early this year.

20. (17): They’ll keep sliding back this way. They’re not talented enough to play the way they do (no D) and win.

21. It’s going to get worse before it gets better. With roadies at Utah and Phoenix and a home game against the Cavs, the next win is likely to come after Thanksgiving.

22. (21): It’s always heartbreaking to see an old Laker get fired, isn’t it? Seriously, GM/interim coach Jeff Bower loses all credibility by bringing Tim Floyd in as a top assistant. Floyd is one of the worst pro coaches in history. He’s 141 games under .500, which is more than twice as much as M.L. Carr’s 68.

23. (24): It always amazes me when teams give monster contracts to players they know they can’t coach. Manny Ramirez comes to mind. So does Gilbert Arenas.

24. (25): If Baron Davis, a serious moviemaker, were to put together a Michael Moore-type documentary on why the Clippers are the Clippers, would you watch it? I would.

25. (27): You’re not paid by this team and neither am I. But couldn’t you have seen the Iverson thing coming in the summer? Is anyone at all surprised that things didn’t work out? As an aside, I had this thought the other day: if there were a prison for Coach Killers, AI would be on Skid Row right now. Since he came into the league in 1996, AI has gone through coaches the same way James Bond goes through women. He’s had nine coaches, an amazing number when you consider that he actually had the same coach (Larry Brown) for six consecutive seasons.

26. (29): Perfect seque. The Knicks are now interested in signing free agent Iverson. Isn’t it fascinating to watch this organization work its way out of an Isiah/Marbury/Francis hole, only to jump back in? They’re sick puppies, these Knicks. They’ve cornered the market on dysfunctional point guards, whether it’s in the front office, on the court, or in courtside seats.

27. (26): Save your breath, Nellie. When you talk, the team doesn’t listen. Take the money and run.

28. (23): All right, so we know this without a doubt: the only thing Michael Jordan struggles with on a basketball court is, well, putting a competitive team on a basketball court. I wonder what he sees. Seriously. He didn’t miss anything as a player. As an executive, he can’t get anything right.

29. (28): Since November 1st, the Vikings have played 2 games and the Wolves have played 11. Wins for Vikings since then: 2. Wins for Wolves: 0.

30. (30): There’s a perverse joy in rooting for them to lose as much as I do. I sweat like a degenerate gambler when they’re involved in close games. I know I need help…but I don’t want it.

9 Comments for “NBA POWER RANKINGS - 11/19”

1. Mark Says:
   November 19th, 2009 at 1:37 pm

   $55 million contract and the guy can’t shoot FTs and won’t use his left hand–like ever.

2. Jon Says:
   November 19th, 2009 at 5:21 pm

   You’ve got it WAY off! You should print each time you change your power rankings and watch at the end of the year what happens.

   Lakers will be up top
   Dallas will be a playoff team but will not go far
   Atlanta? Really… because they are playing good right now? Horrible.

   I’ll just stop now… HORRIBLE.

3. Red Hot Mama Says:
   November 19th, 2009 at 7:56 pm

   Jon, you’re a fool. That’s what power rankings are!! Teams at the top are those that have played well up to this point. The Hawks and Suns have been, hands down, the best squads in the league from game 1 til now. Holley is right on. It doesn’t matter who will be there at the end of the season. If that’s all we did, why would we bother having weekly power rankings? Think, son!

4. Bill Breen Says:
   November 19th, 2009 at 10:03 pm

   Please print the team names on your NBA Power Rankings List.

5. Chris Says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 1:23 am

   I understand the concept of the weekly power rankings, but I could not put Dallas ahead of the Celtics. I don’t care if Boston goes on a 5 game losing streak, they should still be in front of the Mavericks. While I agree the Hawks & Suns had great weeks, there is no way they will remain where they are. I know that the Hawks have been a dangerous team for a few years, but I need to see some consistency & have them prove their worth in the playoffs. Dallas? Really? They could reel off 15 wins in a row & I still wouldn’t drink their Kool-Aid. I know, these are weekly power rankings, but I still can’t help but imagine how these teams would perform in big game situations when things really mattered. That factor has to be taken into account until these teams prove it, and since these rankings are partially subjective, I don’t see why it shouldn’t. Plus, I never thought I’d see the day when the Milwaukee Bucks would outrank San Antonio and agree with the decision…

6. Paul Says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 10:22 am

   Hey Mike, longtime reader - first time blogger. It’s not just Rondo’s foul line troubles. It’s been No D from KG lately, same for Rasheed. Eddie House’s shot has left the house (or as some might say “outhouse”). I still feel they’re a better team than Dallas and they should win 70 if they all stay healthy.

7. Boston Sports Desk Says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 12:30 pm

   Mike…Dallas ??? Come on. The Suns looked terrible last night but I looked at when this was published so you’re off the hook for that. But Dallas ? And as far as the Celtics are concerned, Rondo’s FT shooting is the last thing you need to be writing about. How about the team defense or lack there of ? As far as the Cavs are concerned, I don’t think they will be around at the end. Boston, Orlando, Atlanta in the East !! Cavs will fade and look for The King to get out of Cleveland !!

8. Danny Boy Says:
   November 20th, 2009 at 3:03 pm

   My GAWD, I think the New Jersey Nets are about as bad as any NBA team in the past fifteen years. The only thing that could make them even more of a losing team is if Jay-Z himself puts on a uni and plays point guard. Hey Jay, what an investment!!

9. Lone Star Fan Says:
   November 21st, 2009 at 11:15 am

   Let’s consider the facts. Dallas is has tied for the best record in the Western Conference and they have won five in a row with three of their starters out the line-up. We all know about Dallas’ history, but I think it is time we give the Mavericks a little respect. They have earned it!

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