What a crazy week for Boston. The Celtics nearly lost their second game of the season Saturday but got saved with an amazingly lucky three pointer by Ray Allen. Last night they weren't so lucky as the Cavaliers outlasted Boston in overtime thanks to LeBron James who had 38 points and 13 assists. The Cavs' thrilling win vaulted them into the top 10 and left my rankings with a new No. 1, though I'm not sure how long either will last. It's still early enough in the NBA season where anything can happen and every team is alive. But some teams are starting to show their true colors while others are starting make what was once thought as irregular, something to expect. Here is my rundown for the final week of November.
BIGGEST RISE: Indiana Pacers from 25nd to 16th.
BIGGEST FALL: Washington Wizards from 14th to 20th.
(Editor's note: "LW" indicates each team's ranking from CheChe23's previous week. —RTW)
| CheChe23's Power Rankings: November 28, 2007 | |||
| TEAM | RK (LW) | W-L | COMMENT |
 | 1 (2) | 12-3 | I have to admit, San Antonio would have been a close second to Boston if my rankings came out yesterday. The Spurs had won five straight (including an 18 point win vs ORL) before losing the second game of a road back-to-back Monday to Sacramento. But because Boston lost last night and I'm going to the Spurs/Wolves game at the Target Center on Friday, I can't help but to move them up (who doesn't want to see first play worst?). The Spurs are still unbeaten at home (8-0). |
 | 2 (1) | 11-2 | Boston's overtime loss to the Cavaliers along with their close call against Charlotte Saturday is enough to let San Antonio slip ahead. If Ray Allen and Paul Pierce can match Kevin Garnett's emotion, the Celtics will reclaim the top spot. |
 | 3 (3) | 11-3 | The Suns have scored over 100 in all but two games this season and had won eight straight before losing to Golden State on Monday. My third best team is good enough to be ranked first in ESPN's Marc Stein's Power Rankings. Even though Phoenix is able to match any big three in the NBA with Nash, Marion and Amare, it still doesn't appear they warrant a ranking above Boston or San Antonio -- yet. |
 | 4 (6) | 13-3 | The Magic have won eight of their last nine and seem to be the biggest surprise in the NBA. A match-up against Phoenix on Friday will clear things up in the rankings, not to mention make for a great early season clash of the leagues best. |
 | 5 (7) | 10-5 | The Jazz won't go away and keep producing wins. Despite dropping the second game on a road back-to-back in New York, Utah moves up in my rankings thanks to wins over New Jersey and two of my top 10 teams (NO, DET). I can't help to see a glimpse of Josh Howard in Ronnie Brewer. Brewer, a 14th overall pick in 2006, is breaking out and propelling the Jazz at the same time. He's scored in double figures in all but one game this season (only hit double figures seven times all last season) and he is also contributing in multiple ways (13.3 points, 2.3 assists, 2.6 steals, 2.7 rebounds, 52.3 FG% and 85.5 FT%). |
 | 6 (4) | 9-5 | Dallas didn't look good this past week. After winning five in a row, the Mavs have lost the last three. A match-up with the Timberwolves this evening should get the Mavericks back on track. Devin Harris is averaging 15.6 points and 5.5 assists per game. |
 | 7 (13) | 9-6 | Thank you MOJO, the original HD programming tailored to the lifestyle interests of the modern man, for airing the Cavaliers/Celtics game last night. What a great game and what a great seven game series that would be. Lucky for us game two of the regular season series is Sunday, this time in Boston. Something nice to see: Against Boston Tuesday, LeBron was 14/15 from the stripe. |
 | 8 (8) | 10-6 | The Hornets have lost four of their last five including giving the Timberwolves a win, ouch. But a fast start and a roster healing from recent injuries keeps the Hornets at 8th overall for the second straight week. Three days off then Atlanta on Friday should help. |
 | 9 (10) | 8-5 | Detroit will move further up the rankings if they can win against conference rival Cleveland tonight at home. Detroit hasn't had to face any of my top three teams, but their schedule gets tougher over the next two weeks. Some confidence was lost when Rasheed Wallace went down Sunday, but he is expected to play against the Cavs -- although he was expected to play in the other two games he's missed. |
 | 10 (5) | 9-6 | Denver lost a nail-biter to the Pacers last night but is still playing great despite the setbacks. Kenyon Martin is the most recent Nugget to go down. Before losing Martin Sunday the Nuggets saw injuries to Chucky Atkins (out through December), Nene (out another four weeks) and Steven Hunter (out six weeks). Iverson (23.6) and Carmelo (25.2) continue to score and Camby continues to rebound (15.0) and block (3.4) at some of the highest averages in the NBA. |
OUTSIDE THE TOP 10:
11. Houston Rockets (8-7): The Rockets have good depth and leaders at the top. If Houston can capture convincing wins over Phoenix tonight and Golden State tomorrow, it might make up for dropping six straight in the middle of this month.
12. Los Angeles Lakers (8-6): I can't figure this team out. They took a dive in my rankings after dropping three in a row before last night's win over Seattle.
13. New Jersey Nets (7-8): Jason Kidd is closer to averaging a triple-double than LeBron James. Kidd averages 11.4 points per game, 10.4 assists and 8.4 rebounds.
14. Toronto Raptors (7-7): Injuries don't seem to bother this team because they are 15 players deep. The Jason Kapono offseason pick-up is looking pretty good with Garbajosa sidelined for the season. Bryan Colangelo is unreal.
15. Milwaukee Bucks (7-5): I'm not going to over estimate the Bucks chances just yet. Michael Redd is on fire scoring 24.5 points per game good enough for seventh best in the NBA.
16. Indiana Pacers (7-8): Mike Dunleavy (15.4 points) and Danny Granger (18.8) lead the Pacers in scoring and they looked great in a win over the Nuggets last night -- Dunleavy had 30 points, Granger had 9 points and 9 rebounds. Respect might be due.
17. Charlotte Bobcats (6-8): Four straight losses doesn't move them up, chemistry is an issue.
18. Golden State Warriors (6-7): The Warriors have won six of their last seven, but need to prove they are for real in back-to-back games against Sacramento and Houston.
19. Atlanta Hawks (5-8): Josh Smith is a fantasy stud and Al Horford is averaging nearly 10 rebounds per game, but this team needs a better game face to be taken seriously.
20. Washington Wizards (7-7): The biggest rise of last week is the biggest fall this week. The Wizards are a .500 team without Gilbert Arenas, but Caron Butler might be able to keep their playoff hopes alive.
21. Memphis Grizzlies (5-9): Losing Mike Conley for at least two weeks might hurt his rookie start, but it will give a chance for Kyle Lowry to prove he's the best of the bunch. Lowry is averaging 10 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists per game this season.
22. Sacramento Kings (5-9): I still think that the Kings are a lot better than their record suggests. They are a hard team to match-up against and won't go down easy to any team. The Kings are winless away from Arco Arena (0-7).
23. Portland Trail Blazers (5-9): Happy Birthday Taurean Green (he's 23 today), you are projected to be the least talented of the Gator Boy's (still plenty of time left), but regardless, you are one of my favorite college guards ever. Thanks for accepting my facebook invitation before you became popular, I understand why you removed me.
24. Miami Heat (4-10): Shaq, not Wade, looks like the leader, but the Heat need to put together a couple of win streaks to make up for their terrible start.
25. Chicago Bulls (3-10): Well, I am starting to see the Bulls as a bottom feeder. This team is desperate for a shake up, a potential trade for Kobe Braynt or Pau Gasol might have to be my next Rumor Mill post.
26. Los Angeles Clippers (6-7): A hamstring tweak sidelined the Clippers leading scorer Corey Maggette for four games, but he returned Monday to score 25. I still like the rebounding the Clippers are getting from Chris Kaman, but as the only big man -- he might need some more help.
27. Philadelphia 76ers (4-9): Louis Williams looks like he watched J.J. Reddick's Better Basketball Shooting II training video -- Williams leads the Sixers in field goal percentage (52.0), free throw percentage (75.8) and three point percentage (50.0). Andre Iguodala leads the team in the more important categories: points (18.2), assists (5.0) and steals (1.8).
28. New York Knicks (4-9): The fact that everyone hates the Knicks might be enough motivation to start winning.
29. Seattle Sonics (2-13): I don't really care for the majority of the Sonics roster, but Jeff Green could be a player. Green had 14 rebounds in back to back games last week and he's averaging nearly 10 points a game.
30. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-10): Corey Brewer can't dribble, he has no confidence, he doesn't have a good shot and his potential is questionable.
HOT HOT HOT
1. Steve Nash - Nash is having an MVP type season, 19.2 points/11.0 assists. Nash has tallied a double-double in 10 of the 14 games this season.
2. Andrew Bynum - The 20 year old kid has had a double-double in five of his last six and is averaging one for the season (11.0 points, 10.2 rebounds).
3. Kevin Durant - Last season's NCAA Player of the Year and early favorite for this season's NBA Rookie of the Year, Kevin Durant has scored 25 points in consecutive games. Durant is averaging almost 19 points per game, tops for all rookies.
NOT NOT NOT
2. Jamaal Magloire - What was supposed to be the replacement to Mikki Moore has been a big disappointment. Once this season he played 28 minutes and pulled in 12 rebounds, but the for the season he's averaging less than two points per game.
3. Tyson Chandler - Chandler might not be ice cold, but he sure isn't himself lately. You have to have high standards for Chandler, something I developed last season when he averaged 12.4 rebounds per game. Chandler hasn't reach double digit rebounds in his last five games and hasn't scored more than 15 points all season -- the output he had in his first game.
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