I felt some heat for moving the Suns down last week, but after dropping games to Miami and Minnesota, Phoenix fell even further. Boston and San Antonio remain on top, led by early MVP favorites Kevin Garnett and Manu Ginobili. Other potential MVP candidates also find their teams in the top 10. MVP candidate Deron Williams is averaging 21.2 points and 8.9 assists while his teammate, Carlos Boozer is another candidate scoring 25.1 points and grabbing 11.4 rebounds a game for the Jazz. Allen Iverson is making his case for MVP in Denver scoring 25.3 and adding 7.5 assists while his teammate Carmelo Anthony is giving his best effort (24.7 ppg, 4.2 apg, 5.2 rpg) as well. Other top 10 teams supporting a candidate for MVP are Orlando (Dwight Howard), Phoenix (Steve Nash), New Orleans (Chris Paul) and Golden State (Baron Davis). As always, let me know which teams need to get more love and what teams should move down the list -- on top of it, comment with your MVP candidates.
BIGGEST RISE: Portland Trail Blazers from 25th to 17th.
BIGGEST FALL: Milwaukee Bucks from 21st to 27th.
(Editor's note: "LW" indicates each team's ranking from CheChe23's previous week. —RTW)
| CheChe23's Power Rankings: December 12, 2007 | |||
| TEAM | RK (LW) | W-L | COMMENT |
 | 1 (1) | 17-2 | The Celtics are getting 59.1 points, 12.4 assists and 20.7 rebounds per game from the Big Three. Boston is still leading the NBA in point, rebound and field goal percentage differential. It's hard not to put Kevin Garnett as the front runner for MVP for everything he's done to the Timberwolves -- and the Celtics. |
 | 2 (2) | 17-4 | I'm starting to get sick of hearing about the Spurs being so perfect; they are turning into the Patriots of the NBA -- it's only a matter of time before the Cowboys (Celtics) are ousted as the No. 1 team. San Antonio's Big Three is averaging 59.4 points, 14 assists and 17.4 rebounds per game. The Warriors were able to create more possessions (out-shot the Spurs by 19) and got beat the Spurs by 12 on Tuesday. Dictating the style of play is something that the Spurs do great, especially when Tim Duncan is the pace setter. The one game letdown was inevitable; Duncan should be back by Friday's game against Denver. Phoenix visits Monday. |
 | 3 (6) | 15-6 | It is good to see Tayshaun Prince playing well again. After three straight games of poor shooting and low scoring, Prince got back on track with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists last night against the Grizzlies. Prince and Chauncey Billups combined to go 18/18 from the free throw line and Detroit won the seventh of eight. Don't look too far ahead, but next Wednesday the Pistons visit Boston. |
 | 4 (3) | 16-6 | The Magic had just two games this past week and they lost both. Orlando will need to get better production from Jameer Nelson at point if they want to remain a top three team. Even though Nelson is averaging a career best 6.1 assists per game this year, Orlando needs more like 8.1 from him. The Magic are fourth in the NBA in rebounds, thanks to Dwight Howard's league leading 15.2 per night. |
 | 5 (7) | 14-8 | Dallas has won two in a row after losing back-to-back games in San Antonio and against Denver. The Mavericks have been coming up in whispers about possibly going after Jason Kidd -- that would make for a crazy threesome in Dirk, Josh Howard and Kidd. But the Big Three they are boasting right now (Dirk, Jo-Ho, Jason Terry) isn't all that bad averaging 60.7 points, 10.1 assists and 18.3 rebounds pre game. The Mavericks play their next five games against five playoff teams, how they do will over that stretch will determine which way they will move in my rankings. |
 | 6 (4) | 16-6 | Phoenix must have been looking ahead when dropping back-to-back games to the Heat and Wolves because the Suns are looking at six straight games against playoff bound teams. Utah tonight, in New Orleans Saturday followed by San Antonio and Dallas in Texas, then Toronto at home before the Lakers in Los Angeles. The Nash/Amare/Marion Big Three is averaging 54.9 points, 15.2 assists and 22.8 rebounds per game. |
 | 7 (5) | 13-9 | Maybe the Jazz got caught looking past Portland because they are preparing to out gun the Suns tonight in Phoenix (2nd and 4th in points per game). Utah has lost four in a row, but they have the talent to remain in the Top 10 for the entire season. Utah's Big Three of Boozer, Williams and AK47 average 56.6 points, 16 assists and 20.8 rebounds per game. |
 | 8 (8) | 14-7 | Chris Paul is looking like an MVP with 21.0 points, nearly 10 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game. His Hornets are playing consistent and sit eighth overall for the third week in a row. I can't move them up or down, but a developing Big Three of Paul, Tyson Chandler and David West is forming and they average 50.7 points, 12.8 assists and 24.0 rebounds per game. |
 | 9 (10) | 13-8 | Denver has a date with New Orleans tonight and the Spurs on Saturday which will help shape up the rankings. Allen Iverson is hoping to give the Spurs a better showing than the one he gave them in the playoffs last season. The Nuggets won game one and stole home court advantage from the Spurs before losing the next four in a row and eventually the NBA title. Either Iverson or Carmelo Anthony have been the leading scorers and Camby has been the leading rebounder in every game for the Nuggets this season. The Nugget Big Three is averaging 58.8 points, 14.9 assists and 23.0 rebounds per game. |
 | 10 (11) | 12-9 | Golden State cracks the top 10 for the first time this year after beating the Spurs. Before Tuesday night's game even started I had the Warriors penciled in ahead of the Lakers and Raptors in my rankings. And after the result last night, the "Starting Eight" of Davis, Ellis, Biedrins, Harrington, Jackson, Pietrus, Barnes and Azubuike are showing they deserve a spot in the top 10. |
OUTSIDE THE TOP 10:
11. Los Angeles Lakers (12-8): Three wins in a row for LA almost vaults them into the Top 10. Derek Fisher is playing the best basketball he's ever played as a Laker (this is his ninth year as a Laker, 12th in the NBA).
12. Toronto Raptors (12-10): The Raptors need to regain focus after watching T.J. Ford go down last night, they play the Mavericks tonight and have the Celtics coming to town on Sunday.
13. Houston Rockets (11-11): The Rockets play four straight against playoff teams, they need to show they belong if they want to flirt with the top 10 again. A .500-team won't cut it in the West.
14. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-12) : A LeBron-less Cavaliers team would probably rank near the bottom. The Cavaliers with everyone healthy is a top 10 team. A Cavaliers team after acquiring Jason Kidd from New Jersey could be as good as any.
15. Indiana Pacers (10-11): The Pacers have six players averaging in double figures and two others putting in nine a game -- the "Team" concept could be working for Indiana. Upcoming games against Miami and Chicago this week will be a potential playoff play-in before we know it.
16. Atlanta Hawks (10-11): Slow and steady wins the race to the playoffs in the East. Atlanta is starting to show they are legit winning four of six games so far this month. A game versus Detroit on Friday will be a good measuring stick to see where the Hawks belong.
17. Washington Wizards (11-10): Caron Butler is averaging 24.0 points per game in the month of December and should carry this team through the winter. With or without Arenas the Wizards will be hunting for a playoff spot -- Nick Young has been playing well when he's given the chance (7.6 ppg on 13 mins a game).
18. Portland Trail Blazers (9-12): The Blazers will have to bench LaMarcus Aldridge for at least the next week because of plantar fasciitis. Which is too bad because Aldridge has been playing up to his 2nd overall pick potential recently, he had scored 20 or more in six of his last eight games before missing last night's game. Aldridge has nearly doubled his points per game average from his rookie season and is grabbing nearly eight rebounds a game (up for just 5.0 a year ago). Martell Webster is a baller and the Blazers are on fire -- they are the biggest riser in the rankings this week.
19. Chicago Bulls (7-12): The Bulls should work on starting a win streak after beating Seattle last night. Chicago is in Indianapolis tonight and hosts the Knicks Friday which could help get the ball rolling.
20. Miami Heat (6-15): The Heat are glad to see that Dwyane Wade can still play like the old Wade. Wade had three straight games of 30 + this week and has double digit assists in three of his last five (one game he had 9 assists, but 10 rebounds) -- could have easily been a pick for HOT HOT HOT.
21. New Jersey Nets (9-13): The Big Three in New Jersey averages 56.9 points, 17.3 assists and 18.5 rebounds per game -- the problem is the rest of the team (10 players) averages just 33.6 points, 5.0 assists and 21.9 rebounds.
22. Los Angeles Clippers (8-12): Chris Kaman continues to rebound like a madman and before Corey Maggette scored 13 points last night he had scored 18 or more in seven games since returning from injury. Tim Thomas is taking over as the second best offensive option having scored in double figures in all but four games this season. Thomas averages 13.7 points per game this season, his most since 2003-04.
23. Sacramento Kings (8-12): At this point it's about survival for the Kings having Mike Bibby and now Kevin Martin on the bench with injuries.
24. Philadelphia 76ers (8-13): Philadelphia went 2-0 against New York and then beat Houston to start a three game win streak which should continue through Minnesota tonight. A match-up against the Kings on Friday will sure-up the rankings.
25. Memphis Grizzlies (6-15): The Grizzlies have dropped six of their last seven only beating Minnesota.
26. Charlotte Bobcats (6-10): Charlotte snuck by the LeBron-less Cavaliers Saturday, but the Bobcats have lost eight of their last nine.
27. Milwaukee Bucks (8-8): Also equally as pathetic as the Bobcats, the Bucks have lost eight of their last nine.
28. New York Knicks (6-14): Fill in the blank -- because I don't know what to say.
29. Seattle Sonics (5-17): Damien Wilkins is having the best season of his career: 13.1 points, 2.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game.
30. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-14): With Randy Foye likely out until late January if not later, the Wolves will have to rely on Marko Jaric and Sebastian Telfair. And that's why they're last.
HOT HOT HOT
1. Deron Williams - Much of the credit for the Jazz being an NBA title contender should be given to Deron Williams. Let me take a minute to let you know that I was first introduced to Williams prior to his career at Illinois when my older brother fell in love with his swagger, his deadly shot and his ability to find the open man as a High School senior. D-Will has done a whole lot more than I had ever expected since then and his career has just begun.
2. Manu Ginobili - The Spurs leading scorer is playing beyond Sixth Man of the Year caliber and is eyeing the MVP. Career numbers in almost all statistical categories, Manu has put up 37 points in two straight and 30 plus in three of his last four. This all while starting just one game this season.
3. Craig Smith - The Rhino broke out last night scoring nearly 40 points (36), but he's been heating up before his big game. He averaged 8.5 ppg in November and has improved to 13.5 ppg in December. Smith has scored in double figures in seven of his last eight while shooting over 60% from the floor in each game. Not to mention his shooting touch (58.8 FG%), beastly defensive presence (272 lbs) and rebounding skills (4.6 rpg).
NOT NOT NOT
2. Eddy Curry - Curry has been disappointing lately only averaging 8.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game over the last three. His rebound average is as low as it has ever been as a Knick.
3. Walter Herrmann - After an April scoring nearly 20 points per game, expectations were high coming into the season for second year forward Walter Herrmann. Herrmann's minutes have been limited and his season scoring high is 16 (he's averaging just 4.2 ppg). The Bobcats will need more from their bench if they expect to turn things around in Charlotte.
No comments:
Post a Comment