NBA Playoffs 2011, Game Two Recaps

In spite of the Knicks' crushing loss, Carmelo Anthony was the league's top Game Two performer

In spite of everything that’s happened through the first 16 games of the 2011 NBA postseason, all of the top seeds are either in command of their respective series, or just evened things up in the past few days. So basically, we’re exactly where we started on Saturday morning. Odd how that works.

Five teams are down 2 games to none. Of those, two have still managed to impress. The Knicks and Pacers, despite inabilities to close, have fought impressively against their more well-regarded adversaries. In fact, some would claim the Pacers are the more impressive of the two, specifically because of how small of a chance they had coming in. The Knicks have two of the 10 best players in the NBA, and though they weren’t favored against the Celtics, few would be surprised if they took their series to seven games. However, Indiana’s physicality against Chicago has been nothing short of astounding. Besides Derrick Rose, the Bulls have looked outmatched against the inferior Pacers — a far cry from the juggernaut they’ve been since January 1. A lot of basketball left to play though.

Chicago Bulls 96, Indiana Pacers 90 (Bulls lead series 2-0)
Time will tell how long the Bulls can withstand the ineptitude of Rose’s supporting cast, but somehow they remain up two games to zero at the moment. Once again, we find it disconcerting that Boozer, Deng, Noah, etc. can all be made to look terrible against the likes of mostly Danny Granger and Tyler Hansbrough. But pundits did say that winning a series would be the first test for this Bulls team — and so far it appears that they were right.

Miami Heat 94, Philadelphia 76ers 73 (Heat lead series 2-0)
The Sixers looked as overmatched as we knew they would be on Monday, with LeBron James putting his foot on the gas pedal from the opening seconds and refusing to brake until the game was well in hand. What’s been surprising all season, and this series particularly, is how pedestrian the Heat have looked even in pure dominance though. James only had 29, Bosh just 21. As much as the second half was in cruise control, there’s just a glimmer missing from this team’s eyes. They’ll need it in round two, because it won’t be this easy.

Boston Celtics 96, New York Knicks 93 (Celtics lead series 2-0)
As a Knicks fan, the immediate reaction to Tuesday’s final result is that of a gut punch. No Amar’e, no Billups and yet this team was within 19 seconds of beating the Celtics at pretty much full strength (just sans Shaq). It’s the type of loss that we’ll regret for awhile, but hopefully it doesn’t cloud our view of the performance put in by Carmelo Anthony. Looking for redemption after a disastrous Game One, ‘Melo hushed the critics to the tune of 42 points, 17 rebounds (!) and six assists. His game was (Bernard) King-esque, made more legendary by the fact that he was basically playing with benchwarmers the entire second half. If the Knicks had won, it would have gone down in NBA history. Now though, it sits comfortably in New York basketball lore until the next chapters of this series are written.

Orlando Magic 88, Atlanta Hawks 82 (Series tied 1-1)
Confused as to why Jason Collins doesn’t play as many minutes as possible for Atlanta. Shutting down Howard like seemingly no one else can, Collins makes the three-time DPOY seem merely average. Couple that with Orlando’s terribly streaky shooters (always the case), and the Hawks should be up 2-0, right? Not so much. With Collins playing limited minutes, and the Hawks having their own shooting problems (Jamal Crawford’s been their best player through two games), the Magic can still let Howard loose and thus stay in the series. So maybe that whole “give D12 his points and guard the wings” strategy wasn’t as effective as I thought…

San Antonio Spurs 93, Memphis Grizzlies 87 (Series tied 1-1)
It wasn’t easy, but the Spurs managed to even their series tonight with a hard-fought, gutsy effort. Manu Ginobili’s return ended up being the difference-maker as he put up 17 points, tied with Memphis’s Sam Young for the game high. Still, the Grizz never looked overmatched until the last minute, and could have very well left the building tonight up two to none. Something tells me this loss will be galvanizing for the young Grizzlies team. It needs to be said though that a Rudy Gay surely comes in handy over Sam Young when you need someone to deliver in the fourth quarter. This is where Zach Randolph/O.J. Mayo must step up.

Los Angeles Lakers 87, New Orleans Hornets 78 (Series tied 1-1)
Andrew Bynum has become the X-factor for the Lakers — as his defensive presence goes, so do the Lakers. As Game Two’s best performer, Bynum delivered on both ends and facilitated contributions by Lamar Odom, which allowed the Lakers to come out victorious in spite of a rare playoff no-show by Kobe Bryant. In spite of the win though, there’s just something wrong with this Lakers team. Has Kobe hit the upper limit of his mileage? Has Phil Jackson run out of tricks? Is the team just unable to fight complacency anymore? Regardless, 87 points against a team without its core paint presence (David West) just doesn’t feel right. Keep an eye on these themes.

Dallas Mavericks 101, Portland Trail Blazers 89 (Mavericks lead series 2-0)
The Mavericks are playing like a team with something to prove (which is true), taking the naysaying all season to heart. Whether it’s a chip on their shoulder or not, the results have been difficult to argue against — specifically when looking at Dirk Nowitzki’s (and the team’s) dominant fourth quarter performances during the first two games. The Blazers have no answer to Dirk, and the Mavs’ D appear prepared for whatever Portland throws at them. Though all hope’s not lost in Rip City, few expected them to look as downtrodden as this squad does right now.

Oklahoma City Thunder 106, Denver Nuggets 89 (Thunder lead series 2-0)
Denver didn’t have a chance in this one. Down by 16 after one quarter, I doubt anyone stuck around to watch the result. What this Thunder team can do better than any young team I’ve watched in awhile is go for that knockout punch early. If Westrbook and Durant weren’t enough to deflate a team, Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka guarding the middle surely is. Believe me, I’ve felt this team was ready to win an NBA title THIS YEAR. Based on what we’ve seen, they may very well be on their way. Two elite scorers, two excellent defenders down low and a hunger to prove something. OKC is starting to resemble another team Perkins was on back in 2008. The rest of the league should be very, very scared.

-John

Tags: Amar'e Stoudemire, Andrew Bynum, Atlanta Hawks, Bernard King, Boston Celtics, Carlos Boozer, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Chicago Bulls, Chris Bosh, Dallas Mavericks, Danny Granger, David West, Denver Nuggets, Derrick Rose, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Howard, Indiana Pacers, Jamal Crawford, Jason Collins, Joakim Noah, Kendrick Perkins, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Luol Deng, Manu Ginobili, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Playoffs, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, O.J. Mayo, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Phil Jackson, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Rudy Gay, Russell Westbrook, Sam Young, San Antonio Spurs, Serge Ibaka, Tyler Hansbrough, Zach Randolph

NBA Playoffs 2011, Game One Recaps

Kevin Durant, the MVP of this first weekend of the NBA Playoffs

Upsets abound, these playoffs, much like the regular season, promise to be anything but predictable. After eight games — none of which disappointed — we see ourselves in the midst of the deepest 16-team field in years (maybe ever), with a host of matchups all looking even at first glance. So though the book on whether or not this is the “great NBA playoffs ever” will not be complete for another two months, we as fans can already take solace in what we’ve seen so far, with the promise it continues.

The following are short recaps from the Game One of each of the eight first-round playoff series. Though these may not always seem like the most important points to the games, they were the most notable storylines to this viewer.

Chicago Bulls 104, Indiana Pacers 99
Was Saturday’s torrid finish the stuff of champions, or a sign of terrible things to come for this young Bulls team with virtually no postseason experience past their recent first-round exits? If presumptive MVP Derrick Rose has anything to do with it (and believe me, he does), it shows off the moxy of a Chicago squad he’ll gladly carry on his back to the Finals. There is some reason for concern however. For much of the game, Danny Granger, and to some degree Tyler Hansbrough, had their way with the Bulls D. These are not the best players Chicago will see in these playoffs by any means. The failure to correct the glaring holes going forward could spell trouble.

Miami Heat 97, Philadelphia 76ers 89
Unlike Chicago, Miami did not need a flurry of clutch shots to bury the 76ers in their first game, but rather just methodically executed come the waning minutes. Philadelphia played better than expected, but Miami, with their piles of playoff experience completely overwhelmed when it counted. This win was definitely more impressive than the Bulls’, but the Heat can’t think of it that way. The only way the Heat advance in the playoffs is with LeBron James doing his best impression of the 2007 Cavs-Pistons Eastern Conference Finals. He’s not there… yet.

Boston Celtics 87, New York Knicks 85
A fierce game from start to finish, this matchup is what playoff basketball is all about. Putting aside the questionable call against Carmelo Anthony on the offensive end, the Knicks truly lost this game for themselves by playing inferior basketball in the second half. I counted less than five set shots throughout the final 24 minutes. Anthony’s final heave was also not one of them. As was the problem during the season, this team must make a definitive call on who the alpha dog is in those last seconds. Amar’e Stoudemire had the hot hand tonight, and thus should have been that guy. I’m hoping they take notes moving forward.

Atlanta Hawks 103, Orlando Magic 93
Why has no one ever tried out the Hawks’ defensive strategy against Orlando before? The Hawks aren’t even that sound on D, and yet they still pulled it off flawlessly — allow Dwight Howard to have his way in the middle, and blanket the wings. None of Orlando’s shooters are good enough to overcome end-to-end pressure, which was apparent on Saturday. Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, the formula to stop the Magic has been written. The ride’s over. Orlando can now say goodbye to Dwight Howard when free agency rolls around.

Memphis Grizzlies 101, San Antonio Spurs 98
Though many have decried Memphis for tanking for the eighth seed (something they’ve denied), I thought this matchup was their best-case scenario. Game one seemed to prove this fact, as Memphis’s style of play was just too much for the Spurs’ mostly undersized squad. Between Tony Allen’s stifling defense, and the clutch play of Shane Battier and Zach Randolph, there was little the Spurs could do to contain the Grizz. It won’t be easy, but we could be on the way to one of this tournament’s biggest upsets in years.

New Orleans Hornets 109, Los Angeles Lakers 100
For as much hope as I believed the Grizzlies had, I thought the Hornets had none. Losing their leading scorer David West, and facing the two-time defending champs had to be the nail in the coffin, right? Well so far, it appears the Lakers’ biggest problem is their own hubris. Of course Kobe Bryant showed up (to the tune of 34 points), but everyone else was a non-factor. All-star Pau Gasol may as well have stayed home and L.A.’s point guards will be methodically shredded by Chris Paul for as many games as this one lasts. I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but Phil Jackson’s 13 rings for 13 games plan may have been premature.

Dallas Mavericks 89, Portland Trail Blazers 81
When the Mavs needed Dirk Nowitzki, he delivered in a big way, romping through the fourth quarter en route to a game one win. As encouraging as that was, viewers were just as puzzled as to his whereabouts the first three quarters. The seven-foot German’s inconsistency for much of the game is what kept Portland in it, and with his worst supporting cast in years, Dirk will need his cohorts now more than ever. While defense won’t be a problem, Dallas will struggle to find offensive output besides Dirk, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry. As the latter two can never be relied upon, this may end up being a long series for Dallas.

Oklahoma City Thunder 107, Denver Nuggets 103
The Nuggets were the one team the Thunder did not want to face, and vice versa. But as good as Denver’s been post-Carmelo trade, they do not have an answer for Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook. The duo’s 72 combined points in this shootout appear to spell out the story for this team’s exciting postseason future. Yes, most teams play better D than Denver, but Durant’s 41 points on his own are impressive nonetheless. I honestly pity whoever is assigned KD from here on out. As long as OKC doesn’t wear themselves out against the Nuggets (not improbable), they’ll be a frightening matchup problem for the next two months.

-John

Tags: Amar'e Stoudemire, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Carmelo Anthony, Chicago Bulls, Chris Paul, Dallas Mavericks, Danny Granger, Denver Nuggets, Derrick Rose, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Howard, Indiana Pacers, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Playoffs, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Pau Gasol, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Russell Westbrook, San Antonio Spurs, Shane Battier, Tony Allen, Tyler Hansbrough, Zach Randolph

NBA Power Rankings, week of 4/11

The Bulls have been flying high, and look like title favorites as we head toward the playoffs.

A month removed from our previous power rankings, and a lot has happened. The 16 teams of the playoffs have been decided. Seemingly every contender has experienced a tailspin — save the one that this blog has regrettably put a lot of faith in for months, the Chicago Bulls. With just two games remaining, the young Bulls have risen as the class of this exciting season — a machine which fires on all cylinders every night, not unlike Chicago teams of the 90s. Needless to say, they’re a frightening group, one which I’m pleased to say my Knicks will not be facing in the opening round (or, God willing, until the Eastern Conference Finals). So how does the Association look with just a couple games left on the schedule? Something like this:

1. Chicago Bulls (60-20) (LW: 1): The Bulls are 7-1 against their closest competition in the East (Miami and Boston). Ludicrous. Yet, here we are. Though an Eastern Conference title is anything but a certainty, you’ve got to like Chicago’s odds with a resume like that.

2. Miami Heat (57-24) (LW: 6): Somehow, myself and everyone else have managed to underrate this team. Maybe we wanted to, given the way they handed South Beach the title back in July. Still, for their flaws, no one else has a one-two punch on any given night quite like LBJ and Wade.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (55-26) (LW: 7): If OKC manages to take home this year’s NBA title, their trade for Kendrick Perkins will become one of the best-remembered deadline deals of all time. The toughness this young team has inherited is phenomenal, and paired with Durant and Westbrook’s shooting, the Thunder suddenly smell like the best team in the West.

4. San Antonio Spurs (61-19) (LW: 2): Rarely has a squad looked less impressive in racking up this many wins. Though I may have belabored the point throughout this season, it can’t be denied that the Spurs have been exposed of late, and given the right opponent in round one (Memphis), their postseason could end pretty quickly.

5. Dallas Mavericks (56-25) (LW: 5): Going down to the wire nightly, it’s amazing that the Mavs just played in their first overtime game of the season, with just one more contest remaining. There’s a lot to like out of Dirk, and unlike past Dallas squads, that’s all this edition has going for it. Still, 56 wins in the Western Conference on one guy’s back?

6. Los Angeles Lakers (55-25) (LW: 4): Anyone who doubts the Lakers right now is a complete fool. As we’ll address directly below as well, this is a team that knows what it wants (another title), and the path to get there (being healthy headed toward the playoffs). Of course, the turnovers are a bit discouraging. But does anyone want to see Kobe spotting up for a three late in the fourth quarter of a playoff game? Exactly.

7. Boston Celtics (55-26) (LW: 3): The Celtics have the playoff experience to overcome their recent woes. That goes without saying. However, what troubles Boston is much different than the Lakers’ lack of effort. This Celtics team lacks the toughness of past squads, and it’ll be interesting to see how they handle a physical team in the paint (Orlando, specifically).

8. Denver Nuggets (50-31) (LW: 9): It’s sad that the Nuggets’ wild ride will end with a first-round shellacking at the hands of the Thunder, because the feel good story of the second half could do a lot of damage otherwise. Only two teams are equipped to handle Denver (Thunder, Grizzlies), which is why we’ll all be so bitter they don’t make the West Finals where they’d beat the Lakers in 7.

9. Orlando Magic (51-30) (LW: 8): Orlando is not an elite team. This is obvious. As much as they can prey on the bottom half of the East, once the playoffs roll around, they’ll be exposed. Is it a coincidence though that the only elite team they’re equipped to beat has free-fallen from a top seed (and potential second round matchup with the Magic) to a third seed? Conspiracy theory…

10. Portland Trail Blazers (47-33) (LW: 12): Unlike the Magic, the Blazers are highly capable of beating all of their conference’s elite (save the Thunder). Like Denver, they play a mixed bag offense, however unlike the Nuggets, they actually play defense (just under 95 points allowed per game). How they’ll perform in a seven-game set is anyone’s guess, but it’s guaranteed to be entertaining.

11. Memphis Grizzlies (46-34) (LW: 14): We could very well assume this is the best Grizzlies team in the franchise’s 16-year history. And with good reason. Offseason pickup Tony Allen has put in a performance worthy of the DPOY award, and he’s encouraged a ragtag group of young guys to truly believe they can beat anyone. In the year of Blake Griffin, the Grizz were actually the league’s most entertaining squad, and I kind of hope they stick around this postseason for awhile.

12. New York Knicks (42-38) (LW: 13): They’re streaky. They’re frustrating to watch. Yet, the Knicks, on the back of Carmelo Anthony have met each and every test for the past seven games. As much as this doesn’t make up for the 1-9 streak prior, it’s a good sign going into the playoffs that this team is hitting its stride. Boston may be hearing footsteps — it’s playoff time at the Garden again.

13. Philadelphia 76ers (41-40) (LW: 15): Did the Sixers run out of gas, or were they just overmatched far too many times of late? Regardless, this team was only built to beat one top seed (Boston), but now that chance will go the Knicks. Can Philly hang with Miami? No. But if they win by some miracle, neither Boston or New York would be thrilled to see them in round two.

14. New Orleans Hornets (46-34) (LW: 10): David West’s injury will prevent the Hornets from getting out of round one, so now the West’s top seeds get to play Russian Roulette to see who lucks out. Winner faces a depleted New Orleans, losers face dangerous Blazers and Grizzlies squads. Not the best alternatives, really.

15. Atlanta Hawks (44-37) (LW:11): Orlando has to be salivating right now. Owners of a five-game losing streak and a negative point margin, the Hawks are a team in a tailspin entering the season’s final week. Chances are Howard will abuse Atlanta whenever possible, and the Hawks will be short work this season.

16. Houston Rockets (42-39) (LW: 17): The Rockets did this to themselves, so I have no sympathy.And I also don’t think they’re better than the West’s top eight — another reason they aren’t in the playoffs. Still, I’ll commend them for fighting to get over .500 all season, even if it kills their lottery chances.

17. Phoenix Suns (39-42) (LW: 16): Steve Nash is too nice of a guy to express how pissed he is about this season, but I’d imagine he’d be bitter. From Western Conference Finals to 10th in your conference is a tough pill to swallow for a real competitor like Nash. I hope he’s traded to the Knicks this summer. Or anyone other legitimate location (save the Lakers or Miami).

18. Indiana Pacers (37-44) (LW: 21): Prior to their recent play, the Pacers were destined to be the worst team to ever make the NBA playoffs. Lucky for them, the Hawks of 2008 will still hold that distinction. No, Indiana won’t win a game against the Bulls, but having the historic, small market of Indianapolis back in the playoffs is great for the league (I think).

19. Golden State Warriors (35-46) (LW: 18): Does Keith Smart deserve to keep his job? Probably not. He was never supposed to be a head coach this year anyway. And as much as he won’t admit it, this squad was just as good as Portland, New Orleans and Memphis, and could have made the playoffs with some effort on D. Now? We’ll just remember this team for Monta Ellis’s all-star snub.

20. Milwaukee Bucks (34-47) (LW: 23): That whole “fear the deer” thing seems pretty silly now, doesn’t it? Some will argue that the Bucks could’ve made the playoffs if Brandon Jennings hadn’t been injured, but this team was inept from the start. No scoring ability, Corey Maggette playing too many minutes, lack of cohesion — a disaster, for sure.

21. Los Angeles Clippers (31-50) (LW: 22): No, they were never the same after the Baron Davis trade, which is sad because it was one of the league’s best stories. Still, the pieces are in place for what should be the most exciting few seasons in the Clippers’ very underwhelming history. Blake Griffin has no ceiling whatsoever, and the only thing that will stop this team is the Lakers and Anaheim Royals outselling them at the box office.

22. Charlotte Bobcats (33-48) (LW: 20): Thank God this team did not qualify for the postseason. Does anyone really feel bad for a team that is miserably bad by its own accord? No, we’re definitely not. But competitive basketball in North Carolina would be a big boost for the league, and for that, we hope MJ takes on a salary or two.

23. Utah Jazz (38-43) (LW: 19): I don’t think the Jazz could beat most of the teams below them on their best night, which is an insult to the legacy Utah’s built as a well-drafted, rebuild-on-the-fly small market monster. This team has no pieces to rebuild, unless you want to sell playing with Paul Millsap as a bargaining chip for moving to Salt Lake City. Needless to say, they’re screwed in the short-term.

24. Detroit Pistons (29-52) (LW: 26): Once again, I can’t remember a single game the 2010-2011 Pistons won. Yet, they’re on the cusp of winning 30 games (just seven removed from a playoff spot). This is baffling until I remember that both Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva play on Detroit. Though that doesn’t make you a number-one seed, it should net you about 35 wins or so.

25. Washington Wizards (23-58) (LW: 28): The John Wall pity parade can end for now as the Wiz have actually rescued themselves from one of their worst seasons in franchise history (not that this one was all that good either). Still, like many teams in this portion of the poll, they’ve hurt their lottery number, which is puzzling, yet commendable to most observers (this one included).

26. Sacramento Kings (24-57) (LW: 29): Through all the tumult, both on and off the court, the Kings have actually won more of their last 17 games (9) than they’ve lost (8), including one against a sleep-walking Lakers team.No matter where they play next year, the Kings have some (but far from all) of the pieces to contend at some point in the future. As long as these players don’t leave, of course.

27. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-63) (LW: 30): When Antawn Jamison’s the best player on your team by about a mile, the results are never expected to be all that great. But the lows this team hit during this season were startling. Still, if they win one more, those 19 wins will be about 10 more than we all thought they’d have at this point.

28. Toronto Raptors (22-59) (LW: 27): Give the Raptors credit for going down in flames time and time again during the 2010-11 season. Scoring almost 100 ppg with Andrea Bargnani and a bunch of corpses is no small feat, and even in utterly disgraceful defeat (a 131-118 loss to the Knicks comes to mind), they were at least a bit entertaining.

29. New Jersey Nets (24-57) (LW: 24): The countdown for the Nets departure is going just as fast as the timer on D-Will’s tenure in New Jersey. Even with money wrapped up in Jordan Farmar and Travis Outlaw, there’s still money available, but who will show up? Just because you’re near NY at the moment, doesn’t mean you’re actually there. I’d be shocked to see any elite players show up to play a season with Deron.

30. Minnesota Timberwolves (17-64) (LW: 25): I was in denial about how bad the T-Wolves really were. Without Keven Love, they’d lose to most of the D-League. It’s horrendous. Between Beasley’s second-half fade, Wes Johnson’s ghost act and Jonny Flynn’s general tomfoolery on the court, it’s tough to see the potential the young squad might have once possessed.

** I’ll also take this time to pay respects to Free Darko, which closed its doors today. As the web’s best basketball blog, it will be sorely missed. A fantastic publication, and a real shame to see it go.

-John

Tags: NBA, NBA Power Rankings

Ranking the NCAA Tournament teams, 1 through 68

Gene Smith's explanations to this year's NCAA Tournament seeds just aren't good enough.

Every year there are questions about the NCAA Tournament Committee’s selection process. There are always one or two squads who are doubted, and another few that everyone thought should have been included. This year however, it seems the committee has left more questions than ever before. Rather than the extra three at-large bids going to those deserving few sitting on the outside looking in, VCU and UAB were included, much to the bewilderment of every fan and commentator around.

If this wasn’t enough, various teams (i.e.- Florida, Michigan, Utah State, Penn State) were mis-seeded in such an egregious way that the tournament’s results will be directly, and greatly affected. In a year that was already a crapshoot (at least 12 teams could conceivably win it all), why add to the headaches and make the regular season virtually irrelevant? Call it whatever you want, but very few people watching Selection Sunday agreed with the majority of what they saw on the screen. That said, I’ve compiled my own rankings of all 68 NCAA Tournament squads. This doesn’t necessarily dictate who will win each contest, but it should provide some insight as to how far off things were this year.

NCAA Tournament Power Rankings (actual seed/adjusted seed)

1. Ohio State (32-2) (1/1)

2. Kansas (32-2) (1/1)

3. Pittsburgh (27-5) (1/1)

4. Duke (30-4) (1/1)

5. Notre Dame (26-6) (2/2)

6. San Diego State (32-2) (2/2)

7. North Carolina (26-7) (2/2)

8. Connecticut (26-9) (3/2)

9. Syracuse (26-7) (3/3)

10. Kentucky (25-8) (4/3)

11. Louisville (25-9) (4/3)

12. Purdue (25-7) (3/3)

13. Florida (26-7) (2/4)

14. BYU (30-4) (3/4)

15. Texas (27-7) (4/4)

16. Arizona (27-7) (5/4)

17. Texas A&M (24-8) (7/5)

18. Wisconsin (23-8) (4/5)

19. St. John’s (21-11) (6/5)

20. Georgetown (23-10) (6/5)

21. West Virginia (20-11) (5/6)

22. Kansas State (22-10) (5/6)

23. Vanderbilt (23-10) (5/6)

24. UCLA (22-10) (7/6)

25. Cincinnati (25-8) (6/7)

26. Villanova (21-11) (9/7)

27. George Mason (26-6) (8/7)

28. Washington (23-10) (7/7)

29. Missouri (23-10) (11/8)

30. Utah State (30-3) (12/8)

31. Temple (25-7) (7/8)

32. Xavier (24-7) (6/8)

33. Butler (23-9) (8/9)

34. Old Dominion (27-6) (9/9)

35. UNLV (24-8) (8/9)

36. Marquette (20-14) (11/9)

37. Gonzaga (24-9) (11/10)

38. Michigan State (19-14) (10/10)

39. Richmond (27-7) (12/10)

40. Georgia (21-11) (10/10)

41. Clemson (21-11) (12/11)

42. Tennessee (19-14) (9/11)

43. Michigan (20-13) (8/11)

44. Bucknell (25-8) (14/11)

45. Belmont (30-4) (13/12)

46. Florida State (21-10) (10/12)

47. Memphis (25-9) (12/12)

48. Illinois (19-13) (9/12)

49. USC (19-14) (11/13)

50. Penn State (19-14) (10/13)

51. UAB (22-8) (12/13)

52. VCU (23-11) (11/13)

53. Oakland (25-9) (13/14)

54. Princeton (25-6) (13/14)

55. Morehead State (24-9) (13/14)

56. Wofford (24-12) (14/14)

57. Long Island (27-5) (15/15)

58. Indiana State (20-13) (14/15)

59. Akron (23-12) (15/15)

60. Northern Colorado (21-10) (15/15)

61. Hampton (24-8) (16/15)

62. Boston University (21-13) (16/16)

63. St. Peter’s (20-13) (14/16)

64. UC-Santa Barbara (18-13) (15/16)

65. Texas-San Antonio (19-13) (16/16)

66. UNC-Asheville (19-13) (16/16)

67. Arkansas-Little Rock (19-16) (16/16)

68. Alabama A&M (17-17) (16/16)

-John

Tags: NCAA Basketball, NCAA Tournament

NBA Power Rankings, week of 3/14

At this point in the 2010-2011 NBA season, I am sure of just one thing: the New York Knicks will aggravate from night to night. And most outside of New York can’t be too surprised by this fact. We saw what happened when three young stars united in Miami (nothing all that great), so why would things be any different for the Knicks when putting together two superstars and one former star (Billups)? This isn’t to say that they can’t get it together, but at this point, the team either needs to put up or shut up as contenders out of a very competitive Eastern Conference. Despite my optimism, I’m tending to think it’s just not in the cards this season, especially after such sorry displays as they’ve put on against the Mavericks (fair) and Pacers (potentially catastrophic). Only time will tell…

1. Chicago Bulls (47-18) (LW: 1): For Chicago’s sake, we’d hope Jerry Reinsdorf and Michael Jordan’s tough talk on Rose and the Bulls doesn’t get to their heads. A team is dangerous when it doesn’t know how good it is (theoretically). We’ll stay tuned to see how the Bulls’ young squad reacts to having a visible target on their backs.

2. San Antonio Spurs (54-12) (LW: 2): Will it be safe to trust the Spurs once they hit 60 wins? For some, the coast is already clear, but I’m not necessarily sold on a team relying on Tim Duncan’s old knees, and the likes of Parker and Ginobili. They’ve proved me wrong before though, so this team could be for real this postseason.

3. Boston Celtics (47-17) (LW: 3): In spite of the torrid pace they’ve kept all season, the C’s seem to be lacking something since the Perkins trade. Did the trade take away their edge, or just their chemistry? This team may have a crisis of confidence on their hands if faced with the likes of Chicago or the Knicks in round 2.

4. Los Angeles Lakers (47-20) (LW: 4): Besides the slight gaffe against the Heat last week, the Lakers have been on fire since the All-Star break. From all accounts, the swagger’s back, and this team is looking like they’re the two-time defending champs. Still, they rise and fall with Kobe Bryant (obviously).

5. Dallas Mavericks (47-19) (LW: 5): Putting aside the less-than-impressive week they just logged, the Mavericks have been phenomenal since Dirk’s return from injury. Still, their lack of gas against a CP3-less Hornets team is a bit disconcerting, especially as they’re a potential first round foe.

6. Miami Heat (45-21) (LW: 7): We’ll reserve talk of the Heat being “back” until they defeat an elite squad other than the Lakers. One also can’t discount their dominance of the defending champs, however. They obviously have the ability to win every night, now it’s just about execution. Stay tuned.

7. Oklahoma City Thunder (42-23) (LW: 6): The buzz that this Thunder team was inferior to last year’s has died down for now, but it’s far from gone. In spite of having a better record than last season at this point, there’s still a certain edge missing from the entire team, save Westbrook.

8. Orlando Magic (42-25) (LW: 8): Losing to Golden State, and then running over Phoenix in the same weekend will do nothing to help those of us who still can’t figure out the Magic. Unfortunately for them, there’s not much time left for convincing. The Arenas experiment will be judged on this postseason for sure.

9. Denver Nuggets (39-27) (LW: 9): Yes, they’re completely frightening to the fans at home, but do the Thunder fear Denver? If not, it’s about time they did. Without a dominant scorer, the Nuggets have been able to attack unlike any other contender, which gives way to the league’s most high-risk, high-reward method of play.

10. New Orleans Hornets (39-29) (LW: 14): Calling the Hornets streaky is an understatement. But in the past week, New Orleans has impressed both with and without Chris Paul in the lineup. Regardless of who they face, they’ll be a tough, and unpredictable out, which could very much work in their favor.

11. Atlanta Hawks (38-28) (LW: 10): Who is this Hawks team? With a point differential hovering around 0 ppg, it’s tough to get a read if they truly are a squad capable of winning a first-round matchup with anyone. Josh Powell’s off-court issues won’t proceed to help matters either, as it just adds a distraction.

12. Portland Trail Blazers (37-29) (LW: 12): The Blazers have proven they can beat any Western team from the fifth seed on down. The rest? Not so much. So excuse me for being skeptical of their potential when the team will likely end up facing one of those elite clubs in the postseason.

13. New York Knicks (34-31) (LW: 11): No one’s worried about Stoudemire and Anthony. It’s everyone else that has the MSG faithful concerned. Unsure of which versions of BIllups, Douglas and Jeffries they’ll get each night, this Knicks team still has a lot of work to do prior to the playoffs.

14. Memphis Grizzlies (36-31) (LW: 13): The league’s most exciting team for weeks, Memphis has seemingly cooled these past seven days or so. It’s not the best news for a young squad facing a parade of title contenders from now until the end of the regular season.

15. Philadelphia 76ers (34-32) (LW: 15): Presented with every opportunity to improve their playoff seeding of late, the Sixers have appeared to take their foot off the pedal. Though a comfortable six games in front of Indiana, the Knicks (and even Atlanta) are still well within reach.

16. Phoenix Suns (33-31) (LW: 16): Too many questions and not enough answers out of Phoenix. If they did make the postseason (not inconceivable), would they be competitive against the Spurs or Mavs? I say Memphis provides the better series, and thus, should be the prohibitive favorite as the eighth seed for now.

17. Houston Rockets (33-34) (LW: 17): The Rockets would be much more competitive than Phoenix in a seven-game series, but likely won’t surpass .500 this year. Still, since their 1-6 start, they’re 32-28, something which can’t be overlooked as we head down the home stretch.

18. Golden State Warriors (30-36) (LW: 20): Don’t get your hopes up yet, Warriors fans. Just wait until next year. This season’s edition is a simple tease for next year’s squad, which, if they learn to play ANY defense, could potentially win 40-45 games, and give the well-deserving fan base a postseason berth.

19. Utah Jazz (34-33) (LW: 18): It just gets worse and worse in Utah. Those campaigns for Paul Milsap to get write-in votes for the all-star game were fun, weren’t they? It’s going to be a long road back in Salt Lake City, which is suddenly in hyper-rebuilding mode, and could be one of the NBA’s worst teams.

20. Charlotte Bobcats (28-38) (LW: 21): The Bobcats’ outlook only improves this week because of the Pacers’ pitiful play of late. If they do end up making the playoffs, Charlotte will be the NBA’s worst postseason team in history, and a quick out for the Bulls or Celtics.

21. Indiana Pacers (28-38) (LW: 19): Without that win against the Knicks, the past couple weeks have been a loss for Indiana. If they can beat New York again on Tuesday, then maybe they’ve got something. Still, it would be a minor miracle if this team finishes with any more than 35 victories.

22. Los Angeles Clippers (26-41) (LW: 23): The end of the Clippers season will be a fantastic preview for next year, when they’ll hopefully play competitive basketball to go along with their exciting brand of shenanigans from this season. Wins against teams like Boston make some of us think there’s hope.

23. Milwaukee Bucks (26-39) (LW: 22): The Bucks are still very much in playoff contention because the East is terrible after Philly, and I’m pretty sure none of these teams wants to get carpet bombed by Chicago or the Celtics for four straight games. Though I can’t blame them, one must be that victim.

24. New Jersey Nets (21-43) (LW: 24): The New Jersey Nets have an outside shot at making the playoffs. As unlikely as it seems, it’s not nearly as unlikely as it was prior to the Deron Williams trade, which has rejuvenated a franchise I’d have forgotten about if I wasn’t from the tri-state area. The future may actually be bright.

25. Minnesota Timberwolves (17-51) (LW: 26): An impressive week of work for Minnesota, as Kevin Love also breaks Moses Malone’s single-season consecutive double-doubles streak (post-merger). As with several teams down in this part of the rankings, the future is looking up.

26. Detroit Pistons (23-44) (LW: 25): Nothing is looking up in Detroit, as the Pistons have made a concerted effort to make everyone forget about those seven straight trips to the Eastern Conference Finals just a few years ago. Going nowhere fast, the East’s wider ineptitude is all that keeps them from losing every game.

27. Toronto Raptors (18-48) (LW:27): Can anyone honestly name a single game Toronto has won this season? It must have been by pure luck. It’s also come to my attention they’re scoring almost 100 ppg. How is this possible when no one besides Bargnani is even noticeable on this team? Puzzling.

28. Washington Wizards (16-48) (LW: 28): I’d spare D.C. the inevitable “The Decision, Part II: John Wall edition” and just let the kid walk now. I’m sure he and the rest of his Kentucky counterparts already have a pact to unite in Orlando once Howard leaves in a few years.

29. Sacramento Kings (15-49) (LW: 29): Well, if you were looking for any other reasons why the Kings may leave Sac-town, I point you to the W-L record. How long will Tyreke Evans stick around for this? It really depends on if/when they relocate I suppose.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-53) (LW: 30): Biggest decline in one season in league history? I believe so. Also, has any team ever been outscored by an average of 10 ppg? The Cavs are on pace to do so, along with various other dubious marks I’m currently unaware of. Crygate may be their season highlight.

-John

Tags: NBA, NBA Power Rankings

NBA Power Rankings, week of 3/7

The Bulls are looking more and more like a title contender.

The separation from the pack continued during this past week, as teams begin jockeying for the all-important home-court advantage during the playoffs. There are currently about eight teams who could conceivably win the title, yet all of them have a fatal flaw. In what will be the league’s most entertaining post season since the mid-90s, we’ll see whose Achilles heel will be exposed first. Until then, however, strap yourselves in for a wild race to the finish.

1. Chicago Bulls (43-18) (LW: 4): The Bulls keep beating elite competition, especially now with Rose, Boozer and Noah all in the lineup. Their win against Miami showed off a lot of heart, which is sure to come in handy (along with a severe youth advantage over their main competition in the East — the Heat and Boston.

2. San Antonio Spurs (51-12) (LW: 1): Yes, the Spurs dismantled the Heat this past week, but they’re not the first team to do so. Besides that win though, this squad appears to be losing some steam. Playing two straight close games (one, a loss) against Memphis, and another against Cleveland will make people believe that.

3. Boston Celtics (46-15) (LW: 3): No, they can’t beat the Bulls, but beside Chicago, the Celtics are beyond capable of handling the rest of the East’s elite. The question will come down to KG and Shaq’s knees now. If they hold, the C’s go far. Otherwise, this year could end in another disappointment.

4. Los Angeles Lakers (45-19) (LW: 6): Just when folks started doubting the Lakers, they regain the form that made them such a threat to three-peat to begin with. Kobe Bryant has taken charge, yes, but as always, it’s about the other contributors (not just Odom and Gasol) stepping up and putting in quality minutes.

5. Dallas Mavericks (45-17) (LW: 2): The Mavs fall this week more due to the play of others than their own. Still, what do we focus on here: several long winning streaks, or a meager four-point differential? I’d go with the streaks, but only as long as Dirk’s on the court.

6. Oklahoma City Thunder (39-22) (LW: 8): Like the Bulls, the Thunder’s largest issue is youth. However, OKC also has a lingering issue on D that doesn’t plague Chicago. As Perkins gets more assimilated, we’ll really see what this team is capable of, but I’d be scared of them as a four-seed regardless.

7. Miami Heat (43-20) (LW: 5): Does everyone remember when people thought this team could win 70 games? It’s all a distant memory now as this dysfunctional squad has lost four straight and continues to struggle against the league’s elite (1-8 against top-5 squads).

8. Orlando Magic (40-23) (LW: 7): The Magic still have plenty of time to gain on their Florida brethren, and could conceivably catch them if their respective trajectories hold. Orlando’s proven themselves against elite competition, and their experience will pay dividends down the stretch.

9. Denver Nuggets (37-27) (LW: 13): More than anything, I’m just impressed with what this team has done since the Carmelo Anthony trade. Though a slightly favorable schedule has helped, this star-less squad has performed admirably, and could be a tough out for OKC in round one if the current seeds hold.

10. Atlanta Hawks (37-26) (LW: 9): The only thing that can stop Atlanta is themselves as they continue a streak of erratic games. In their past two meetings, the Knicks have exposed the team on defense, and teams will surely continue to follow that blueprint. The five-seed may not be completely safe.

11. New York Knicks (32-29) (LW: 11): Save the two vastly underwhelming efforts against the Cavaliers, this has been a very improved team on both ends with Carmelo in the lineup. The key however, may be Chauncey Billups. We’ll learn if it’s true when he returns from a thigh injury this week.

12. Portland Trail Blazers (35-27) (LW: 10): As much as Portland’s ceiling probably sits as the five-seed in the West, you can’t help but think this team could relish in a spoiler role. A size advantage over OKC could be the difference-maker in a first-round matchup, though not as much against the Lakers.

13. Memphis Grizzlies (35-29) (LW: 14): Now six games over .500, the Grizz have become an enigma. Have they feasted on inferior competition, or are they merely a sure out in the playoffs. Their wins against Dallas may have given us a glimpse of a tougher, scarier Memphis team than originally thought.

14. New Orleans Hornets (37-28) (LW: 12): Failing to be overly impressive, the Hornets have hung on largely due to the efforts of Chris Paul. If his injury tonight was serious, their fall will be swift, especially given the Suns’ play of late.

15. Philadelphia 76ers (32-30) (LW: 16): Philly has become a team no one wants to play on any given night — a frightening proposition for inconsistent top seeds (Orlando, Miami) who can’t necessarily keep up with the young squad for a full game. Who knows whether they catch the Knicks, but they will make playoff noise regardless.

16. Phoenix Suns (32-29) (LW: 15): The Suns are barely impressive against inferior teams, and lack the tenacity to hang with any of the West’s best. So how are they right outside the playoff picture? Mostly because of the Deron Williams trade, but Steve Nash is turning in another great performance as well this season.

17. Houston Rockets (32-32) (LW: 32-32): A team built for the future, yet they just might win a few games now. The Rockets have flirted with .500 all season, now they must prove they can get over the hump. Of the teams outside of the playoffs right now, they’ve got the best shot to crash the party.

18. Utah Jazz (33-30) (LW: 17): All those last-minute comebacks and exciting finishes seem like such a distant memory now. As predicted, this team has steepened its free fall without WIlliams, and will only continue to sink deeper. A sad state of affairs in Utah, indeed.

19. Indiana Pacers (27-35) (LW: 19): The Pacers’ ineptitude is only surpassed by the teams chasing them for the East’s final seed. In a horrific, yet very real scenario, this squad could make the playoffs with 33 wins or so, while Houston, Utah and Phoenix all stay home.

20. Golden State Warriors (27-35) (LW: 20): Of course their record doesn’t reflect it, but the Warriors have been playing some impressive basketball of late. Down to the wire games against Boston and Philly this past week are glimpses as a potentially bright future in Oakland.

21. Charlotte Bobcats (26-36) (LW: 21): As horrifying as it’d be to see the Pacers in the playoffs, the Bobcats are the bigger nightmare. More often than not, they seem lost or disoriented. Whatever Michael Jordan’s plan for the team is, I hope he enacts it sooner rather than later.

22. Milwaukee Bucks (23-38) (LW: 23): The Bucks have been involved in a lot of close games this year, so the record may be deceptive. Still, things have simply failed to come together this season for Milwaukee as they face slim hopes to return to the postseason after last year’s surprise visit. I do not fear the deer at all.

23. Los Angeles Clippers (23-40) (LW: 22): The putrid record on the road is a big factor here, and time will tell what the Baron Davis trade ends up meaning. But the doubts about how long the Blake Griffin Show can last sans success must be lingering in more than a few fans’ minds.

24. New Jersey Nets (19-43) (LW: 25): Maybe there is hope in New Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn) after all. No, they’re not going to win more than 40 games with this squad right now, but Williams could attract the other pieces necessary. The Nets have about 100 games left to stop him from leaving.

25. Detroit Pistons (23-41) (LW: 24): Remind me again if this team has beaten a single squad not among the league’s bottom 10? If this season wasn’t filled with such an especially awful collection of teams, Detroit would be trying to avoid losing 70 games this year.

26. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-49) (LW: 28): Until this team employs a real PG (sorry, Jonny Flynn, you’re not it), Love and Beasley’s talents will continue to be wasted. As much as I enjoyed Wes Johnson’s play in college, I’m just never saw his game translate to the pros very well.

27. Toronto Raptors (17-46) (LW: 26): The Raptors have won just 26 games since one year ago today. And this team wonders why Chris Bosh wanted out. In other news, people want Vancouver to have a team again. As if this squad and the Grizzlies’ tenure there weren’t enough.

28. Washington Wizards (16-46) (LW: 27): One road win, one division win all season. Does John Wall become a pariah by halfway through next season? Also, at what point does D.C. start to be included in the conversation for most-tortured sports cities? Their recent run of futility has been a joke for a four-sport town.

29. Sacramento Kings (15-45) (LW: 29): Another week they haven’t been relocated is probably a good thing, I suppose. Still, until the Kings improve the product on the court (I know they’re trying), it’ll be hard to sell any fanbase on spending their money to watch games.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers (12-50) (LW: 30): Were their wins against the Knicks pure luck, or some sort of glimpse of potential? A matchup problem, I’d assume at best. But that will be the highlight for Cavs fans this season. A first pick overall will get them Duke’s Nolan Smith in a very best-case scenario.

-John

Tags: NBA, NBA Power Rankings

NBA Power Rankings, Week of 2/28

What was the Knicks' victory in Miami worth in this week's power rankings?

About a month has gone by since last visiting this space, and a lot has happened to change the NBA landscape. Many might have heard about a certain Syracuse University alumnus coming back home to play for the New York Knicks. The dividends of which have become immediately evident as that same alumnus, Carmelo Anthony, was a force against the Miami Heat tonight in the Knicks’ win. Several other superstars also switched teams, a phenomenon the likes of which we’ve rarely seen at the NBA trade deadline. While early returns will be inconclusive on future results, we can still evaluate what each franchise looks like at current. Trust me, lots of changes are in store.

1. San Antonio Spurs (49-10) (LW: 1): I’d love to place another team here, but with the nearest challenger five games back, it’s tough to legitimize. That said, the Spurs have some real weaknesses inside and they are getting exposed regularly. Several contenders are capable of beating them in a seven game series.

2. Dallas Mavericks (43-16) (LW: 4): Dirk Nowitzki’s effect on this team is undeniable, as they’ve yet to lose their tenth game with him in the lineup. Yes, they too look off from time to time, but the Mavs have dominated the league’s elite, which is what matters most in the end.

3. Boston Celtics (42-15) (LW: 2): Who knows if this will hold as the season progresses. The loss of Perkins creates a real size issue in the middle, but with everyone but Orlando and Chicago going small, it could be an advantage (especially against the Heat and Knicks).

4. Chicago Bulls (40-17) (LW: 3): As it stands, this team will win the Eastern Conference if they continue the level of play they’ve held for the past two months. Physical, defensive-minded and out to prove something, the young squad has proven themselves against the league’s elite over and over again.

5. Miami Heat (43-17) (LW: 5): At this point, no one honestly believes they’re the fifth-best team in basketball. The Heat’s performance against their fellow top teams has been laughable, most notably against the Knicks tonight. If this continues (hint: it will), they could be into a real surprise come the postseason.

6. Los Angeles Lakers (42-19) (LW: 7): It would appear that whatever funk the Lakers were in prior to the All-Star break, they’ve managed to get over it in a hurry. Still, they’re showing their age, and are very much behind San Antonio and Dallas out west.

7. Orlando Magic (38-22) (LW: 6): Inconsistency still reigns supreme for the Magic, as Dwight Howard remains the only legitimate threat on both ends night in and night out. If that doesn’t change, A first-round loss is a real possibility.

8. Oklahoma City Thunder (36-22) (LW: 8): They’ll be given the benefit of the doubt that Perkins and Robinson will click within the week. If not, however, they may vacate the top 10. Still lazy on defense, some options beside Durant and Westbrook must develop before season’s end.

9. Atlanta Hawks (36-23) (LW: 9): If you’re expecting Joe Johnson to take you past round two, it’s just doubtful. That said, with the right matchups (Boston, maybe Miami), the team’s limited offensive options could be less of a hinderance.

10. Portland Trail Blazers (33-26) (LW: 15): The Blazers’ bold move for Gerald Wallace at the deadline should only work out if they give him starters’ minutes. That said, they may end up the biggest beneficiaries of Denver and Utah’s moves at the deadline.

11. New York Knicks (30-27) (LW: 12): No, this isn’t all based on tonight’s win against the Heat. That said, the Knicks showed several glimpses of what could be a reality sooner rather than later. If they actually focused on the defensive end, they’d be a frightening matchup for any team.

12. New Orleans Hornets (35-26) (LW: 10): Can we agree that the Hornets win very few games without Chris Paul? Even more frustrating than the Magic are, they’re a team that looks absolutely dominant against teams like the Spurs, yet so pedestrian against cellar teams. If they weren’t a playoff team, CP3 would be in LA right now.

13. Denver Nuggets (34-26) (LW: 11): How much was the Carmelo Anthony situation weighing this team down? Quite a bit, so it seems. Denver seems re-energized since his departure, as the new pieces are contributing immediately.

14. Memphis Grizzlies (33-28) (LW: 14): If the Blazers weren’t the biggest Western winners of the Williams and Anthony trades, then the Grizzlies could also take the mantle. As Utah continues their freefall, Memphis just plays exciting basketball and will vault up the standings with Battier now back in the mix.

15. Phoenix Suns (30-27) (LW: 16): Don’t hold your breath on the Suns either. Their chances rise and fall with how well Utah performs. Barely outscoring your opponents (+.1 differential) isn’t all that impressive, and regularly reveals itself against elite competition.

16. Philadelphia 76ers (30-29) (LW: 17): Any team should be horrified at the prospect of facing the Sixers in a first-round series. A rejuvenated Elton Brand can seemingly go off for 25 points at any moment again, and they’ve been one of the league’s most successful teams of the past couple months.

17. Utah Jazz (32-28) (LW: 13): This season is absolutely over in Utah. When you trade your franchise for picks and projects, it’s safe to say you’re planning for the future. Unlike Denver however, the future cannot conceivably be “now,” but a couple years down the road.

18. Houston Rockets (30-31) (LW: 22): Credit the Rockets for not being content with their recent improved play, and instead trying to make the future a bit brighter. No, they won’t be a playoff team this season, but they possess a cellar of picks and younger assets to do what they wish from here.

19. Indiana Pacers (26-32) (LW: 23): Whether or not the coaching change was successful was debatable until Charlotte decided to start a firesale. Still, this is an underperforming team that needed the O.J. Mayo deal to prevent a four-game sweep in round one.

20. Golden State Warriors (26-32) (LW: 19): When watching this team in person, you find a squad with a future, which is more than most teams below the Warriors can say. The missing piece (beside the obvious lack of D) is a postseason veteran to give them that final push at the end of games.

21. Charlotte Bobcats (26-33) (LW: 20): Are we really supposed to believe that Jordan wants to spend money on this team? It just seems inconceivable at this point, after dumping as many quality players as he has in the past few seasons. I’d like them moved to Seattle ASAP.

22. Los Angeles Clippers (21-39) (LW: 18): The Clips are only this high for Blake Griffin’s entertainment value. As interesting as this squad seemed destined to be, they’ve got a lot of work ahead of them, specifically when it comes to starting the second half strong– rather than getting blown out of the gates as they’ve been doing.

23. Milwaukee Bucks (22-36) (LW: 21): This team made the playoffs with pretty much the same team last season, right? Then what are we watching now? An overvalued Salmons and several role players getting carried by Brandon Jennings. And that’s pretty much it.

24. Detroit Pistons (22-39) (LW: 24): With or without that player revolt from this past week, the Pistons are a terrible team in need of an absolute overhaul. Sadly, this draft is putrid, and no free agents want to play in Detroit, so it appears the end of this nightmare may be a ways out.

25. New Jersey Nets (17-42) (LW: 26): The Nets will be better with Deron Williams. That time may just be next season though. Expect some downtrodden and depressed performances from here on out, as the Nets continuously prove how little they intend to matter to NBA audiences.

26. Toronto Raptors (16-44) (LW: 29): Bargnani is the only bright spot in Toronto for awhile, unless they convince Steve Nash to finish out his career in his native Canada. Otherwise, The Raptors will play whipping boy to the Knicks and Celtics until further notice.

27. Washington Wizards (15-43) (LW: 28): Owning just one win on the road, with the amount of talent on this team (Blatche, Lewis, Wall) is simply terrible. John Wall’s upside is going to be severely hindered if the Wiz can’t get him anyone to pass the ball to on a regular basis.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (14-46) (LW: 27): Another team with mountains of talented players, yet it just seems as if they’re incompatible. Love, Darko, Flynn, Beasley, Wes Johnson, Randolph and Curry sounds like a decent rotation, yet it’s horrendous. For K. Love’s sake, let’s hope his supporting cast improves.

29. Sacramento Kings (14-43) (LW: 25): What’s worse than possibly getting relocated? Getting relocated to another city within your own state. If the Kings move to Anaheim, they’ll be infinitely more marketable, but without a product to watch, they’d fail anywhere.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers (11-48) (LW: 30): If Baron Davis puts forth an effort, maybe the Cavs win another nine games. If he doesn’t, perhaps only five. There’s little intriguing going on in Cleveland now that they win two or three out of every ten games they play. Just a horrendous squad to watch.

-John

Tags: NBA, NBA Power Rankings

NBA Power Rankings, week of 1/31

Critics are running out of reasons to discount the Spurs this year.

I think Sunday nights are when these will be happening… maybe. For now, let’s go with that.

Like this blog, consistency appears to be the main issue for the NBA’s top teams as well. One night the Celtics can be absolutely trounced by the mediocre Suns, and then follow that up by beating the Lakers (overrated, but a good team nonetheless). So where does that leave us? In the same place as last week, with no discernible number one team, and at least five contenders to that title. One thing we do know — this Cavaliers team may be one of the worst to ever see NBA action. Seriously.

1. San Antonio Spurs (40-7) (LW: 2): I hate rewarding teams for simply getting through a week unscathed, but due to Boston’s gaffe against Phoenix, the methodical Spurs reclaim the top spot.

2. Boston Celtics (36-11) (LW: 1): This team’s one constant: defense. The Celtics are the league’s stingiest defenders, allowing a paltry 91.6 ppg. If they return to the Finals, it will be because of that alone.

3. Chicago Bulls (33-14) (LW: 3): The machine just keeps on rolling through games. Chicago’s best team since Jordan retired the second time appears unstoppable on most nights — a scary reality for the youth-impaired Celtics and Heat.

4. Dallas Mavericks (31-15) (LW: 9): Things appear to be getting back on track in Dallas of late. However, the team desperately needs another consistent scorer to compliment Dirk. Roddy Beaubois is not that guy.

5. Miami Heat (33-14) (LW: 4): Miami is not better than Dallas, even at full strength. We’ve seen that proven already. That said, LeBron can still carry a team on his back when called upon, as he’s done in the face of injuries lately.

6. Orlando Magic (31-17) (LW: 8): How good are the Magic? We’ve yet to figure that out unfortunately, as they struggle to find consistent play night-to-night against quality competition. No one knows how this one will play out.

7. Los Angeles Lakers (33-15) (LW: 6): The fire is gone as the Lakers are regularly sleep-walking through games of late. Going down to the Kings is unforgivable for a team looking for its third consecutive title. Mark my words, they’re pretenders.

8. Oklahoma City Thunder (30-17) (LW: 10): No, I don’t want to condone technical fouls. However, maybe a situation like the Bosh-Durant tiff tonight is just what this team needs. Their star player needs to have a fire under him, and he hasn’t this year.

9. Atlanta Hawks (30-18) (LW: 7): The Hawks are a good basketball team that wins the game it’s supposed to. If they can get over the hump and collect some more victories over the league’s elite however, the division title is within reach.

10. New Orleans Hornets (31-18) (LW: 5): Losing to the Kings and Suns doesn’t really help pad a resume. As much as the 10-game winning streak did for this team’s cred, they walked away from this with very few believers after two losses.

11. Denver Nuggets (28-19) (LW: 12): If Carmelo Anthony stays, this team loses in the first round. If he goes, they miss the postseason. So I can understand why he wants to leave. I like the effort his supporting cast has put in lately nonetheless though.

12. New York Knicks (25-22) (LW: 14): The Knicks lack defensive commitment, and consistent scoring beside Amar’e Stoudemire. Though Carmelo wouldn’t help the first problem, he surely fixes issue number two. They need to act now.

13. Utah Jazz (28-20) (LW: 11): The Jazz are probably better than the Knicks. That said, the Knicks wouldn’t have been run out of the building by a Warriors team largely without Monta Ellis. So there’s that. This team needs to regain its mojo.

14. Memphis Grizzlies (24-24) (LW: 15): One of the NBA’s best teams over the past month or so. We’ll see how they respond to the O.J. Mayo substance controversy. if it’s positive, you can bet this team makes the postseason.

15. Portland Trail Blazers (25-22) (LW: 13): They’re a .500-team with very little chance to make it past the first round of the playoffs. They have injury issues and no identity. Tell me why anyone cares about this team right now.

16. Phoenix Suns (22-24) (LW: 21): The Suns have been playing well over their last 10 (7-3), but I’m still skeptical. Their big win against Boston the other night definitely made me believe a bit more though.

17. Philadelphia 76ers (21-26) (LW: 19): The Sixers are still hanging around past the midway point, which makes me think they’ll sneak into the playoffs. Something to look out for — they could match up very well with Boston in a postseason series.

18. Los Angeles Clippers (18-28) (LW: 16): The league would be crushed if the Blake Griffin Show doesn’t make the playoffs. As much as I want it to happen, this team still has a lot of holes (defense, for one). We may have to wait ’till next year, sadly.

19. Golden State Warriors (20-27) (LW: 18): This is a competitive group, contrary to popular belief. Never to be counted out of games, the Warriors have been immensely entertaining, and are laying some groundwork for a bright future.

20. Charlotte Bobcats (20-26) (LW: 20): What woke this team up a few weeks ago? If the Bobcats play .500-ball the rest of the way, the could conceivably take a playoff spot. Of course, they’ll proceed to lose that series in four games. But that’s their ceiling.

21. Milwaukee Bucks (19-26) (LW: 23): They’ve won three straight with limited contributions from Brandon Jennings. He’ll have to be 100% healthy though for the Bucks to make it back to the postseason.

22. Houston Rockets (22-27) (LW: 17): The Rockets have the pieces and the market to have a contender — time to make it happen. Otherwise, they’re doomed to irrelevance in a state with two of the league’s best already.

23. Indiana Pacers (17-27) (LW: 24): The Pacers are here for lack of a better option. Hopefully tonight’s coaching change brings about the result this franchise desperately needs to return to profitability and relevance.

24. Detroit Pistons (17-31) (LW: 22): The Pistons win the ones they’re supposed to win, and lose the ones they’re supposed to lose. With that said, there’s nothing to see here. Please move along, and hope next year’s a better outcome.

25. Sacramento Kings (12-33) (LW: 28): Big wins against the Hornets and Lakers will do a lot for the young squad’s confidence going forward. If Evans is on his shooting game, they’re competitive. Otherwise, a complete and utter disaster in Sactown.

26. New Jersey Nets (14-34) (LW: 26): I’d almost rather they didn’t move to New York now. This is a franchise that will struggle for years to come if they don’t try and correct their future today, while they can.

27. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-36) (LW: 29): They’re better than their record indicates, as evidenced by their scoring average of over 103 ppg. Don’t discount .500-level play the rest of the way from the young squad.

28. Washington Wizards (13-33) (LW: 25): When you’ve dropped all 23 road games you’ve played this season, it’s very difficult to find any value in your franchise. The Wiz are terrible, but hopefully John Wall can become a consistent bright spot.

29. Toronto Raptors (13-35) (LW: 27): If you had told me in October two teams would be in the middle of 10+ game losing streaks at this point, I would have said the Raptors and Cavs. Obviously I bring this up because I’d have been correct.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers (8-39) (LW: 30): We knew the Cavaliers would have a tough time without LeBron James. But this tough? Ugh. I mean, this is a miserable squad, destined to fail whenever they take the floor. I feel for you here, Cleveland. I do.

-John

Tags: NBA, NBA Power Rankings

Projected NBA All-Stars, week of 1/26

Could Blake Griffin start for the Western Conference All-Stars?

Three weeks removed from our first look at potential NBA all-stars, we’re taking a second crack at predicting who will represent the East and West in Los Angeles this February. Though not a ton has changed since early January, there are still some differences, especially given recent injuries, plus hot/cold streaks.

What hasn’t changed however, is that Blake Griffin should not only be in the game, but should possibly start for the Western Conference. Alas, since this isn’t realistic, we’ll have to watch the league’s most entertaining player come in off the bench for what will surely be the most exciting reserve minutes the contest has seen in years.

Just as last time, I’ve picked 12 players from each conference by actual position, rather than the arbitrary assignments you see on the league’s official ballots. These choices are based on who I think deserves to start and be selected respectively, rather than who actually will end up at the game based on current vote counts.

Italics = starter

Eastern Conference
C Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
C Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors
PF Amar’e Stoudemire, New York Knicks
PF Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks
PF Chris Bosh, Miami Heat
SF LeBron James, Miami Heat
SF Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers
SF Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
SG Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat
PG Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
PG Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
PG Raymond Felton, New York Knicks

Western Conference
C Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
PF Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
PF Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
PF Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
SF Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
SF Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies
SG Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors
SG Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
SG Eric Gordon, Los Angeles Clippers
PG Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
PG Deron Williams, Utah Jazz
PG Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

As you’ll probably notice, some crucial executive decisions were made in order to make sure the league’s best make the roster, without ignoring the selection rules of course. So the Western Conference will carry six guards and three power forwards, but just one center. At least two of the PFs can play center (Dirk and Love for sure, Blake maybe). And honestly, how can you legitimize leaving any of those guards off? Gordon and Ellis are averaging a combined 50ppg, and every other name is self-explanatory. Ideally, one of those players would just take Ray Felton’s slightly undeserved spot on the Eastern team, but since that can’t happen, we’ll proceed.

My top five players left off in each conference:

Eastern Conference
C Brook Lopez, New Jersey Nets
PF Antawn Jamison, Cleveland Cavaliers
SF Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls
SF Wilson Chandler, New York Knicks
SG Stephen Jackson, Charlotte Bobcats

Western Conference
C Al Jefferson, Utah Jazz
PF Lamarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
SF Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
SG Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
PG Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Let’s face it: None of those players on the East’s reserve list deserve to play in this all-star game, or any before it. But the West? A different story entirely. There are no players from the Spurs (the team with the league’s best record) on my all-star list (though two honorable mention nods). Carmelo Anthony isn’t a selection. Players like Zach Randolph, Michael Beasley, David West and Luis Scola, among others, are turning in stellar seasons yet can’t even be considered among the top 17 players in their own conference. A shame, yes. But those are the rules of the game.

-John

Tags: Blake Griffin, Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki, Eric Gordon, Kevin Love, Monta Ellis, NBA, NBA All-Star Game, Raymond Felton

NCAA Men’s Power Rankings, week of 1/25

Thad Matta has OSU unbeaten and #1, but for how long?

After another week of conference play, very little is apparent besides the following: Every team will lose one, if not more games. And the Big East will be the death of itself.

The behemoth conference that I had the pleasure of watching live for four years while at Syracuse is already busy hurting itself by letting its top teams run amok on each other. SU beats Notre Dame, Notre Dame beats Pitt, Pitt beats SU, Villanova beats SU, UConn beats Villanova. This all happened pretty quickly, and it’s not even over yet. With so many teams being considered highly by coaches and media (ESPN’s Joe Lunardi says 11 BE teams will be in this March’s tournament), no team can hope to escape with less than three or four league losses.

But now on to this week’s rankings:

NCAA Basketball Power Rankings, week of 1/25

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (20-0) (LW: 4)

2. Kansas Jayhawks (18-1) (LW: 2)

3. Duke Blue Devils (18-1) (LW: 3)

4. Pittsburgh Panthers (19-2) (LW: 5)

5. San Diego State Aztecs (20-0) (LW: 6)

6. Connecticut Huskies (16-2) (LW: 9)

7. Villanova Wildcats (17-2) (LW: 8 )

8. Syracuse Orange (18-2) (LW: 3)

9. Texas Longhorns (16-3) (LW: 12)

10. Brigham Young Cougars (19-1) (LW: 11)

11. Texas A&M Aggies (17-2) (LW: 10)

12. Missouri Tigers (17-3) (LW: 14)

13. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (17-4) (LW: 17)

14. Purdue Boilermakers (17-3) (LW: 7)

15. Kentucky Wildcats (15-4) (LW: 13)

16. Wisconsin Badgers (15-4) (LW: 24)

17. Washington Huskies (15-4) (LW: 15)

18. Minnesota Golden Gophers (14-4) (LW: 25)

19. Florida State Seminoles (15-5) (LW: NR)

20. Vanderbilt Commodores (14-4) (LW: NR)

21. Georgetown Hoyas (14-5) (LW: 22)

22. Louisville Cardinals (15-4) (LW: 16)

23. Florida Gators (15-4) (LW: NR)

24. Utah State Aggies (18-2) (LW: NR)

25. Arizona Wildcats (16-4) (LW: NR)

First Five Out: Cincinnati, Illinois, West Virginia, St. Mary’s, Michigan State
Next Five Out: Georgia, Baylor, Xavier, Memphis, Virginia Tech

Top 25 Conference-by-Conference breakdown
Big East – 7
Big Ten – 4
Big 12 – 4
SEC – 3
ACC – 2
MWC – 2
Pac-10 – 2
WAC – 1

-John

Tags: NCAA Basketball, NCAA Power Rankings