| 22 December 2008
Yes, that time again. Power Rankings - and quite a bit of movement throughout the list! Ups, downs and move 'em arounds!
With Malice Pawaa Rannkingu!
2. Cleveland Cavaliers - LeBron just seems like Superman at the moment. Is there nothing he can't do? January 9th looms as a Lex Luthor moment: Boston come to town.
3. Orlando Magic - A new power rises in the East... and it's name is Orlando.
4. LA Lakers - For those hoping for an epic clash the likes of Batman vs Superman, don't give up hope. LA are down at the moment, but nothing's changed on that roster - they're just not feeling it at the moment.
5. San Antonio Spurs - Team Bela Lugosi just keep on comin' atcha.
6. Denver Nuggets - Had the Nuggs ranked higher... until I had a good hard look at them. Just cannot put them higher than 6th this week. As much as I like them, they're not better than anyone ranked above them.
7. New Orleans - Another team I'm finding it difficult to give much love to. They're playing some damn fine basketball at times. And they've beaten some good teams... but there's something not quite right at NOLA. If I were Byron Scott, I'd be feeling a little less nervous than a few weeks ago, but I'm sure he's watching over his shoulder.
8. Portland Trail Blazers - Darius Miles aside, this team's one of the feel-good stories of the new millenium.
In the hoopla surrounding Old Man Oden, we forgot that Brandon Roy is one helluva basketballer.
9. Houston Rockets - There have been games when this roster looks exactly the way most expected it to look... but then we catch a glimpse of the frailty that's becoming as much a hallmark of Houston's as the Rocket logo.
10. Atlanta Hawks - A young team, full of the energy and enthusiasm youth brings. Unfortunately, also possessing the wild erratic nature of a juvenile too.
11. Dallas Mavericks - Slowly on the rise. Perhaps Mark Cuban should be spiking the gatorade with Viagra.
12. Utah Jazz - Slipped worse than Phil Jackson's disk. Going .500 over the last 10 isn't something that Jerry Sloan, a man not noted for his 'carebear' attitude, will be enjoying.13. Phoenix Suns - Almost weekly, we get reminders that this is not the Suns of "7 seconds or less". And they - and we - are the worse for it.
14. Detroit Pistons - Amazing that the Pistons are really in search of an identity at the moment. Are they the superteam with no superstars? Or a support group for AI?
15. Miami Heat - Dwayne Wade looks every bit as good as he ever has. But no Big Fella in support any more. And the team he has got around him needs a shot. Carlos Boozer will be a nice addition.
16. New Jersey Nets - The Nets have slipped quite a bit after getting well into the top 10. Stuff's not happening quite as easy in December.
17. Milwaukee Bucks - Still a team that could press come late spring. There's a good nucleus there, and a lot to like in the work Scott Skiles is doing there. There's a toughness forming that hasn't been present for years.
18. Memphis Grizzlies - There's a bit to like about this team. OJ Mayo's looking like maybe he's the ROY, and at home, this 9-17 team are 7-7. Have them visit you, break out the bubbly. Visit them? Make sure you brought your gatorade.
19. Philadelphia 76ers - Just as this team started to look as if they'd turned a corner, Brand blows out his shoulder. Prepare to dive.
20. New York Knicks - All about 2010, any wins now are just sugar.
21. Chicago Bulls - Derrick Rose needs help. As good as he is, this is a team in a hole. If Jerry Reinsdorf is at all smart, then John Paxton Paxson's job's in jeopardy.23. Toronto Raptors - The only truly dizzying thing about the Raptors is the speed with which they've capitulated. This is a team that should be better.
24. LA Clippers - In what's become a bit of a thematic within the NBA this season, the Clippers should be better than they've shown thus far.
25. Charlotte Bobcats - There are elements to this team that aren't entirely bad. There defense at times is reasonably good. But their offense stinks. 2 wins in their last 10 games just isn't going to cut it.
26. Golden State Warriors - Praying for the return of a guy who already don't trust, and pay too much money.
27. Sacramento Kings - Just a highlight of the fact that whilst there are many very good teams in the West, there are many very, very bad ones too.
28. Washington Wizards - Stick a fork in 'em, they're done.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder - Only a superhuman effort in sucktitude by the T-Wolves moved OKC up a notch. Barely.
30. Minnesota Timberwolves - It's amazing. One would think it's impossible to go any lower when you're already grovelling on your belly, but the T-Wolves have surprised, and found a way to be even more inept.
Never thought this would happen (displacing the Thunder), but a 12 game losing streak has made this so. Kevin McHale, you've done it again!
