| 24 March 2010
We're at the business end of the season. If teams aren't playing for keepsies at this point, they damn well should be.
Will there be much change between now and the Playoffs? For the most part, the top 8s look settled... but within them there could be a bit of movement. Could get very interesting...
Rankings
1 Cleveland Cavaliers (same) - Do you realise how much it pains me to have them here?
2 LA Lakers (same) - I keep looking for that signature win, but I think what's going to happen is a slow build, getting some steam up for the playoffs. I'm satisified with that. The reality of the situation is that LA's not going to catch Cleveland for the #1 the NBA. But nor are Denver & co. going to catch LA. Relax, and play 'ball. Get ready for the Playoffs.
3 Orlando Magic (up 1) - Orlando are really starting to play some good basketball. Whoops... Charlotte.
4 Denver Nuggets (down 1) - Yeah, I know. Dissing Dallas. But I still don't believe in their ability to beat pretty much ANY team across a seven game series. Hey, Denver are GO
OD.
OD.5 Utah Jazz (same) - The Jazz will be in for a tough play-off match up against Phoenix, should it all stay the same. LA? Not so much...
6 Atlanta Hawks (up 1) - What's the over/under on the Hawks catching/passing Boston? They'd better, do they want to face the Bucks in the first round?
7 Milwaukee Bucks (up 6) - You can't accuse me of hopping on the bandwagon... I've been drinking their koolaide for quite a while now!
8 OKC Thunder (up 2) - Forget the two losses... this team will be a TOUGH first round match-up for someone (I'm looking at you, Denver).
9 Dallas Mavericks (same) - I know a LOT of people will be upset with this placement... wait... checking to see if I care. Still no. Again? Ummm... nuh-uh. I don't buy this.
10 Boston Celtics (down 4) - Loving this.
11 Phoenix Suns (up 8) - Actually playing some VERY high octane basketball at the moment, but they STILL can't spell D-E-F-E-N-S-E... much less play it.
12 Portland Trail Blazers (up 6) - How on earth can this roster be playing this well?
13 San Antonio Spurs (up 1) - Playing well, but how soon before the legs are hurtin'?
14 Charlotte Bobcats (down 3) - Ok, they'll be a difficult match-up for whoever gets 'em first round. But not insurmountably so. The big question is: MJ. Boon/burden?
15 Memphis Grizzlies (same) - Wave bye-bye to the playoffs, but this is a team better than a few who'll be in.
16 Miami Heat (same) - One man show that'll be playing for a very short time in the playoffs.
17 New Orleans Hornets (same) - Praying for Chris Paul.
18 Houston Rockets (up 3) - This is more about other teams sucking than any improvement on Houston's part.
19 Indiana Pacers (up 3) - I have no idea what to say on the Pacers. Neither does their own front office.
20 Chicago Bulls (down 9) - Making life easy for the Raptors. Time to call it a day and look to the draft.
21 Toronto Raptors (down 14) - Is there a worse team currently playoff-bound?
22 Sacramento Kings (up 2) - Yes, they have the Rookie-of-the-Year to be. Has anyone else noticed how awful his defense is?23 New York Knicks (up 4) - Completely, utterly focused on 2010. Has any team ever taken a greater roll of the dice?
24 LA Clippers (down 1) - Completely, and utterly disinterested. Will it get better? C'mon: the owner's Donald Sterling.
25 Philadelphia 76ers (down 5) - This is a team that a few years ago, was supposed to be becoming elite. What the #%$&!! happened?
26 Detroit Pistons (down 2) - Ben Gordon, Charlie Villenueva. What the hell were you thinking Joe?
27 Golden State Warriors (up 2) - Amazing that a team peopled by D-Leaguers is not at the bottom of a rankings, but that's just testament to how truly awful Washington/Minnesota/New Jersey have been this season.
28 Washington Wizards (same) - Have performed beyond themselves at times this season, but the future looks bleaker for the Wiz than for any other team in the NBA. They have created a roster that's simply terrible.
29 Minnesota Timberwolves (down 3) - But for some strange quirk that has the Nets (with a not-awful roster) in pursuit of the worst record of all time... the T-Wolves would be having a near historically awful season themselves. And their roster? Well, it's ugly on a Roseanne Barr scale.
30 New Jersey Nets (same) - Chasing a date with history now. My money says they get it (history).
