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Team/Record
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Prev rank/
Last week
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ESPN.com skinny
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BIG FIVE, AND VERY TIGHT |
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1. Lakers 24-6
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2/3-0 |
You had your chance to beat this team when Shaq was out. But Samaki Walker (pictured) held the fort and now there won't be any more losses to the Warriors or Raps. |
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2. Kings 26-9
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3/3-0
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You had your chance to beat this team when CWebb was out. Of course, the team has won seven straight now and they get six days off this week to relax.
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3. Spurs 24-8
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4/3-1
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You had your chance ... OK, so each member of the top eight here has played every game. But they are breaking in a new point guard, after all... |
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4. Wolves 24-9
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5/4-0
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The top two players in the league in assist-turnover ratio: Terrell Brandon and Chauncey Billups. So Billups is playing well, but so is Joe Smith's replacement, Gary Trent. |
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5. Mavericks 22-11
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1/1-2 |
Hey, you screw up a week, you pay the price. OK, losing in OT to New York and by two to the Spurs is no disgrace. But that's enough to drop when you have 11 losses. Now let's see them overcome Michael Finley's absence. |
| FINALLY, THE EAST PRESENCE
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6. Nets 21-11
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8/2-1
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Still playing good ball, but there's little depth here. If Kenyon Martin continues with the thuggery, they can't replace him. |
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7. Bucks 18-13
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6/0-3
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No, a winless week is not good, but on the road at Sacramento, Minnesota and Clipperville isn't a disgrace. Note that Milwaukee is pretty much done out West. |
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8. Celtics 20-13
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7/2-2
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Still very vulnerable, considering that two players score all the points. At least Tony Battie and Kenny Anderson have played well recently. |
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9. Pacers 20-15
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15/2-0
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Solid win at the Alamo, and another in Francis-led Houston. Pacers are a win off the East lead, believe it or not. |
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JORDAN (AND LUE) SECTION
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10. Wizards 17-14
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11/1-0
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Beating the Bulls at home is not a big deal; wait until Saturday the 19th when he's in Chicago. Wizards still have tough schedule to deal with.
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DON'T GIVE UP ON US, BABY
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11. Raptors 18-15
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12/2-1
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Hakeem comes back, which is great, but check out Keon Clark's numbers in his absence. Maybe Antonio Davis should hit the bench. |
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12. Clippers 18-16
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10/3-2
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Time to get off the bandwagon; Clips got clubbed in Philly, and there's more road games (a lot more) this month. |
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13. Suns 18-16
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9/0-3
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You know, the top five West teams may be terrific, but after that it's pretty wide open. Are the Suns that much better than a .500 team? Nope. |
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14. Sonics 18-16
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14/2-1
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Wow, we'd like to play Memphis and Chicago in the same week as well. Keep an eye on future Vin Baker replacement Vlad Radmanovic. Has a nice game. |
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STILL COULD MAKE IT
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15. Jazz 17-16
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13/1-1
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Winning in OT against the Bulls shouldn't count as a win. Mailman's shooting .458 for the season (career .522). That's not good. |
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16. Magic 18-18
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17/3-1
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You can't like your chances with Pat Garrity and Horace Grant playing almost 40 minutes, but Doc is finding a way to hold on. |
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17. 76ers 15-19
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21/3-1
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Well, we've written this five times already this season, but Sixers appear to have turned the corner. At least until the next swoon. |
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18. Blazers 15-18
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18/2-2
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Team dysfunction says it wants to move Rasheed, but would Portland fans approve of a rebuilding process? |
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19. Pistons 16-16
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16/1-3
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Now we see why Phoenix moved Clifford so easily: 11.3 ppg, .333 field goal shooting in December. |
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20. Hornets 15-18
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20/2-1
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We're no doctors, but to lose nearly an entire season for an abdominal strain? Of course, Hornets fans aren't even aware Jamal Mashburn is out. |
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21. Knicks 14-19
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19/1-2
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Now this is the Marcus Camby the Knicks need: 21 points, 22 boards and 6 blocks. Now if only the Knicks could win on the road. |
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ONE WORD: LOTTERY
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22. Hawks 12-20
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25/1-1
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This Jason Terry at the point thing hasn't worked yet, but why not try again? Also, Theo Ratliff is back this week, and that will help. |
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23. Cavaliers 13-21
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23/1-3
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Cavs shot 34 percent in Monday HOME loss to Portland; But hey, there was a DeSagana Diop sighting as he went 3 for 3! |
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24. Rockets 10-23
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27/1-1
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Eddie Griffin didn't go back to the bench when Stevie returned, and frankly, lottery-bound Rockets should give Eddie 30 minutes a night. |
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25. Grizzlies 9-24
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24/0-3
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Ah, the beginning of the end as JDub says the team sucks. Think the other JDub (at Duke) will do that next season? |
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MAKE US CRINGE |
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26. Nuggets 10-22
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26/0-3
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What a disappointment. Sure, Antonio McDyess is out, but Nick Van Exel is doing more harm with his mouth than good with his play. |
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27. Heat 8-23
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29/2-0
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Say what you want about a miserable start, but can you be sure Miami won't make the playoffs. The No. 8 seeded Magic are only 7.5 games ahead! |
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28. Warriors 12-22
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22/0-4
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Now this is what we're used to. Antawn Jamison scoring 25 a night and the team getting waxed. |
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29. Bulls 6-27
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28/0-4
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Back where they belong. All the Bill Cartwright goodwill ended with a four-game bender. And -- gasp -- now Brad Miller is out!
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