http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerranking?season=2005&week=11 We have jump up 3 spot from last week, but I was hoping to be in the top 10. I also think we should be above the Grizzilies and the struggling T-wolves. The bright side is that we ahead of the Lakers and the Magic, so I'm happy for that. Here's the top 15: 1 (2) Spurs 30-9 The upsetting development, for Spurs fans, is not the 2-2 week. It's that now people will say SA is getting interesting ... just because Parker is dating a Desperate Housewife. 2 (3) SuperSonics 27-9 The good news: Sonics have six victories since Dec. 1 in which they've trailed in the fourth quarter. The bad news: Seattle still can't figure out how to beat Clips in L.A. 3 (1) Suns 31-7 D'Antoni said it best after Nash was so cruelly whacked in the thigh: ''Some people said we needed some adversity to become a good team. Well, there's some adversity for you.'' 4 (4) Heat 28-11 Considering what circus-enforced road trips have done to Bulls -- who are 1-38 on such trips since MJ quit -- Heat can handle going 2-3 out West while Ringling Bros. invaded Miami. 5 (6) Pistons 22-14 Pistons are finally starting to roll, but here's the new concern: Detroit's starters are playing as much as the Phoenix starters. Which can't be good for their playoff preparations. 6 (10) Kings 24-11 Two reasons to like the Christie-Mobley deal better for Sac: Mo Evans has shown enough promise to warrant more minutes, and Petrie hasn't made many bad deals we can remember. 7 (5) Mavericks 23-12 A warning: When they visit Charlotte on Friday, Mavs will be outside the state of Texas for the first time since Dec. 26. That game starts a 14-game stretch with 10 roadies for Dallas. 8 (8) Wizards 22-13 Things were going too well, obviously. Wiz haven't been this far over .500 since 1979, so inevitably something harsh had to happen. But we'll delay the drop as long as we can. 9 (9) Grizzlies 20-18 The only thing not to like about the Czar Fratello era -- with a record of 15-7 and counting -- is the new home unis. Especially compared to those sweet new road unis. 10 (7) Cavaliers 22-14 To all who've asked why Detroit is always ahead of Cleveland, here's the answer: Thursday. Big game, national TV, Kobe exits early ... and still Cavs stumble at statement time. 11 (11) Timberwolves 19-17 Wolves are the last team you'll see knee-jerk the coach out of his seat. If they can handle seven straight first-round exits, KG-McHale-Flip can get through a regular-season blip. 12 (15) Rockets 20-17 Looks like Houston's roster revamping will deemphasize Yao's role on offense a bit. Which probably isn't the worst idea for a guy who's still only fit enough to play 31 mpg. 13 (12) Magic 20-16 If Stevie Franchise is going to miss Cat Mobley as much as he suggests, then this trade was a must. He really needs to toughen up -- on his own. 14 (13) Pacers 18-17 Pacers are only 6-5 since the return of J. O'Neal. But it ain't his fault: JO is the league's leading scorer this month, at 33.9 ppg. 15 (14) Lakers 20-15 If it's going to take a long-term injury to Kobe to convince Rudy T. to run the offense through Odom in the post, then it will be worth whatever suffering awaits LA in the short-term.
You didn't need to give me a reason to dislike Parker EVEN more. But him dating Eva Longoria is one. Man I hate Parker
13 (12) Magic 20-16 If Stevie Franchise is going to miss Cat Mobley as much as he suggests, then this trade was a must. He really needs to toughen up -- on his own. Ouch...
I agree - Minn has struggled a lot recently against teams they should be beating... yet they didn't change in their standing (11 last week. 11 this week.) And though Houston is on a 4-game winning streak and has beaten tough teams like Dallas and San Antonio, and has a better record than Minn, AND is breathing down the necks of the Kobe-less Lakers for 6th best in the West... after all that, they still rank Minn ahead of us. Rockets never get no respect. ESPN is on crack (as usual). -- droxford
I think CNNSI's power ranking is a little better - they have us ranked #9: CBS Sportsline has not yet updated their power rankings. -- droxford