Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 30, 2009 18:25:18 GMT -5
Cream rising to top of Power Rankings
PER Diem: Nov. 30, 2009Comment Email Print Share By John Hollinger
ESPN.com
Archive
Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Images
Hollinger's Power Rankings are coming into focus with Kobe's Lakers making their way up the charts.
Much as the Saturday of a golf tournament is called "moving day" because it's the day when players prepare for a push to the top, this past holiday weekend could be thought of as "moving week" in the NBA. For the first month of the season, we didn't have much power to rank, as there was no dominant team in sight. In the past week, however, that's changed quickly, and suddenly the usual suspects have made their way toward the apex of the Power Rankings.
Most notably, the defending champion Lakers climbed to second in the Power Rankings with their sixth straight double-figure win, a string that coincides with the return of All-Star power forward Pau Gasol from injury. It seems only a matter of time until they claim the top spot, as Phoenix, the only team ranked ahead of them this week, already lost to L.A. by 19 points. The two clubs will meet again Sunday at the Staples Center.
Meanwhile, over in the east, defending conference champ Orlando claimed the top Eastern Conference ranking this week thanks to a huge second-half rally in Atlanta on Thanksgiving night. Winners of eight of nine since a home loss to Cleveland that spurred coach Stan Van Gundy to declare "We're not a very good team right now," the Magic won their sixth straight road game on Sunday night in New York.
Other contenders made similarly strong moves. San Antonio has quietly ascended to the top 10 despite a spate of early-season injuries, while No. 11 Utah is climbing after a rough start. Back in the East, Cleveland and Boston now stand in the top eight despite scuffling starts, while the once top-ranked Hawks have slipped to No. 5 after losses to the Magic and Pistons.
Perhaps the biggest news, however, is that the gap between conferences seems wider than ever. Much as it did last season, the East appears to be shaking out as a top-heavy conference that will see a quartet of second-rate teams join its four elites in the postseason. Only four Eastern teams rate in the top 13; in fact, only eight rank in the top 20. Based on the Power Rankings, No. 20 Toronto -- standing at 7-11 after losing its past three games by a combined 67 points -- would slip into the postseason because, well, somebody has to. Charlotte, Milwaukee and Detroit would join it in what one suspects would be a rather brief first round.
In contrast, No. 13 Portland wouldn't make it in the West -- partly because the Blazers have been a slight disappointment thus far but mostly because virtually every other Western team has been better than expected. Both Oklahoma City and Houston have kept their heads above water despite brutal early-season schedules. Expected to be lottery clubs, each appears headed for win totals in the mid-40s. New Orleans and Sacramento also have outperformed despite extended absences by the star player on each squad, making the West a much deeper conference than most projected at the start of the season.
And then there's Phoenix. Yes, we still have one genuine surprise at the top of the Power Rankings, and it's the Suns. They are 14-3 -- the league's best record -- and own the league's top ranking after marching out of Toronto with a 19-point win Sunday. Here's the most amazing part: The Suns have played only six home games. They're 8-3 on the road, including wins in Boston and Houston, and despite all the travel the league's top offense has hit the century mark in all 17 games this season.
Nevertheless, I don't expect the Suns to continue holding off the Lakers and Magic. L.A. and Orlando had injury problems to start the season, but now that they're healthy, the NBA's cream is quickly rising to the top. In that sense, moving week is just the start. In the coming weeks, the operative question won't be whether the likes of the Lakers, Magic, Cavs and Celtics can stay at the top of the Power Rankings but rather whether upstarts such as Phoenix, Oklahoma City and Houston can keep up with them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Could this be the season the Bobcats finally make the playoffs? All the signs seem to point in their favor. For one, the awfulness of the East makes it possible that a team with roughly 38 wins could reach the postseason. More important, however, is the unexpected fact that the Bobcats' defense has been good enough to offset their ineptitude on offense.
Through 16 games, it's the surprising Bobcats who lead the NBA in defensive efficiency, making up for an anemic offense that stands just 28th -- only the league's two doormats, Minnesota and New Jersey, are worse. Nonetheless, the recent trade for Stephen Jackson has made the Bobcats a bit more potent offensively. When combined with their defensive prowess, that enables them to be the East's fifth-ranked team in the Power Rankings.
The Bobcats' stout D shouldn't come as too big a shock, as Charlotte ranked seventh last season in its first full season under Larry Brown and has several strong defensive players (Gerald Wallace, Boris Diaw, Tyson Chandler, DeSagana Diop). The Bobcats may not stay on top all season, but they shouldn't stray too far down the leaderboard, either. Although they have little depth, they may finally break the franchise's playoff hex if they can stay healthy.
Rodriguez
• Longtime readers know I'm a big Sergio Rodriguez supporter, so I was heartened to see him blow up for 24 points in 24 minutes Sunday night in the Kings' victory over the Hornets. That's on the heels of his exploding for 16 points and seven dimes in 18 minutes in a loss to Memphis last week. In his limited minutes, he sports a monstrous 22.96 player efficiency rating for the season.
Given my long-held position that Tyreke Evans is a 2, I think Rodriguez would be a great complement in the Kings' backcourt of the future, and after seldom playing in the Kings' first dozen games, I'm hoping he gets more chances to prove it. He's had one of the highest assist rates in basketball throughout his career, but cold shooting and a crowded Portland backcourt conspired to limit his minutes the past three seasons. With Rodriguez hitting shots, at least for the moment, and more opportunity available in Sacramento, he seems ready to blossom.
PER Diem: Nov. 30, 2009Comment Email Print Share By John Hollinger
ESPN.com
Archive
Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Images
Hollinger's Power Rankings are coming into focus with Kobe's Lakers making their way up the charts.
Much as the Saturday of a golf tournament is called "moving day" because it's the day when players prepare for a push to the top, this past holiday weekend could be thought of as "moving week" in the NBA. For the first month of the season, we didn't have much power to rank, as there was no dominant team in sight. In the past week, however, that's changed quickly, and suddenly the usual suspects have made their way toward the apex of the Power Rankings.
Most notably, the defending champion Lakers climbed to second in the Power Rankings with their sixth straight double-figure win, a string that coincides with the return of All-Star power forward Pau Gasol from injury. It seems only a matter of time until they claim the top spot, as Phoenix, the only team ranked ahead of them this week, already lost to L.A. by 19 points. The two clubs will meet again Sunday at the Staples Center.
Meanwhile, over in the east, defending conference champ Orlando claimed the top Eastern Conference ranking this week thanks to a huge second-half rally in Atlanta on Thanksgiving night. Winners of eight of nine since a home loss to Cleveland that spurred coach Stan Van Gundy to declare "We're not a very good team right now," the Magic won their sixth straight road game on Sunday night in New York.
Other contenders made similarly strong moves. San Antonio has quietly ascended to the top 10 despite a spate of early-season injuries, while No. 11 Utah is climbing after a rough start. Back in the East, Cleveland and Boston now stand in the top eight despite scuffling starts, while the once top-ranked Hawks have slipped to No. 5 after losses to the Magic and Pistons.
Perhaps the biggest news, however, is that the gap between conferences seems wider than ever. Much as it did last season, the East appears to be shaking out as a top-heavy conference that will see a quartet of second-rate teams join its four elites in the postseason. Only four Eastern teams rate in the top 13; in fact, only eight rank in the top 20. Based on the Power Rankings, No. 20 Toronto -- standing at 7-11 after losing its past three games by a combined 67 points -- would slip into the postseason because, well, somebody has to. Charlotte, Milwaukee and Detroit would join it in what one suspects would be a rather brief first round.
In contrast, No. 13 Portland wouldn't make it in the West -- partly because the Blazers have been a slight disappointment thus far but mostly because virtually every other Western team has been better than expected. Both Oklahoma City and Houston have kept their heads above water despite brutal early-season schedules. Expected to be lottery clubs, each appears headed for win totals in the mid-40s. New Orleans and Sacramento also have outperformed despite extended absences by the star player on each squad, making the West a much deeper conference than most projected at the start of the season.
And then there's Phoenix. Yes, we still have one genuine surprise at the top of the Power Rankings, and it's the Suns. They are 14-3 -- the league's best record -- and own the league's top ranking after marching out of Toronto with a 19-point win Sunday. Here's the most amazing part: The Suns have played only six home games. They're 8-3 on the road, including wins in Boston and Houston, and despite all the travel the league's top offense has hit the century mark in all 17 games this season.
Nevertheless, I don't expect the Suns to continue holding off the Lakers and Magic. L.A. and Orlando had injury problems to start the season, but now that they're healthy, the NBA's cream is quickly rising to the top. In that sense, moving week is just the start. In the coming weeks, the operative question won't be whether the likes of the Lakers, Magic, Cavs and Celtics can stay at the top of the Power Rankings but rather whether upstarts such as Phoenix, Oklahoma City and Houston can keep up with them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Could this be the season the Bobcats finally make the playoffs? All the signs seem to point in their favor. For one, the awfulness of the East makes it possible that a team with roughly 38 wins could reach the postseason. More important, however, is the unexpected fact that the Bobcats' defense has been good enough to offset their ineptitude on offense.
Through 16 games, it's the surprising Bobcats who lead the NBA in defensive efficiency, making up for an anemic offense that stands just 28th -- only the league's two doormats, Minnesota and New Jersey, are worse. Nonetheless, the recent trade for Stephen Jackson has made the Bobcats a bit more potent offensively. When combined with their defensive prowess, that enables them to be the East's fifth-ranked team in the Power Rankings.
The Bobcats' stout D shouldn't come as too big a shock, as Charlotte ranked seventh last season in its first full season under Larry Brown and has several strong defensive players (Gerald Wallace, Boris Diaw, Tyson Chandler, DeSagana Diop). The Bobcats may not stay on top all season, but they shouldn't stray too far down the leaderboard, either. Although they have little depth, they may finally break the franchise's playoff hex if they can stay healthy.
Rodriguez
• Longtime readers know I'm a big Sergio Rodriguez supporter, so I was heartened to see him blow up for 24 points in 24 minutes Sunday night in the Kings' victory over the Hornets. That's on the heels of his exploding for 16 points and seven dimes in 18 minutes in a loss to Memphis last week. In his limited minutes, he sports a monstrous 22.96 player efficiency rating for the season.
Given my long-held position that Tyreke Evans is a 2, I think Rodriguez would be a great complement in the Kings' backcourt of the future, and after seldom playing in the Kings' first dozen games, I'm hoping he gets more chances to prove it. He's had one of the highest assist rates in basketball throughout his career, but cold shooting and a crowded Portland backcourt conspired to limit his minutes the past three seasons. With Rodriguez hitting shots, at least for the moment, and more opportunity available in Sacramento, he seems ready to blossom.
