NBA.com ranks Rockets #8

I can't believe they are putting Rockets at #8, while Rockets lead the leage in standing and 7 other team stats. Will beating up Mavs and Suns this week wake people up?


TEAM (LAST WK) REC. BREAKDOWN
1 L.A. Lakers (1)
5-2 Allowing 100-plus points per game and losing two straight to Hornets and Grizz, Dream Team remains on top at least partly by virtue of injuries and mediocrity thus far out West.
2 San Antonio (3)
4-4 Shorthanded and overmatched Spurs took Lakers to double-OT and fell to Mavs by three. Now that they've got Duncan and Parker back, the fun really begins.
3 Indiana (7)
6-1 That's right, an East team at No. 3. Not only has Indy won five in a row, but Ron Artest, last year's maligned king of the flagrant foul, grabbed Player of the Week honors.
4 Detroit (8)
5-1 Still playing their trademark defense, Pistons now have offense rolling with seven different players -- compared to four in 2002-03 -- averaging more than nine points.
5 Dallas (2)
4-3 Posted a very un-Mavs-like 80.7 points per game during three-city road trip, including ugly loss to Raptors, but ended on high note with victory at San Antonio.
6 New Orleans (10)
5-2 Enigmatic Hornets beat Lakers and Sixers last week but lost to lowly Hawks and Bulls. Meanwhile, Baron is putting up nasty numbers: 26.0 ppg, 8.6 apg and 4.71 spg.
7 Minnesota (5)
4-3 Wins at Miami and Orlando have Wolves clicking, but never mind the big-name starters -- reserve Gary Trent is playing his best ball in five years, shooting .574, fifth in the NBA.
8 Houston (12)
4-1 Rockets have a strength-of-schedule issue in that they haven't beaten big-time squads, but their stingy defense is serious, allowing a league-low 78.2 points per game.
9 Sacramento (4)
3-3 Road trip has not been kind to Kings with losses at Denver, New York and Boston. Worse, they're allowing 102.7 points per game, more than every team but the Clippers.
10 Phoenix (9)
3-3 While working Jahidi White into the rotation at center, Suns are poised to make a move with five of their next six games at home against some struggling East squads.
11 New Jersey (6)
3-4 Still without K-Mart, Nets are starting Jason Collins and Aaron Williams on the front line during a brutal run against Pacers, Pistons and Spurs over four games.
12 Philadelphia (11)
3-4 Iverson's energy appears more boundless than usual -- he's tops in the NBA in scoring (28.9 ppg) and minutes (43.7 mpg) and second in steals (3.57 spg).
13 Portland (13)
3-3 They may be only six games in, but Zach Randolph looks like an All-Star, averaging a double-double -- 20.3 ppg, 11.2 rpg -- to lead the Blazers (and Rasheed) in both categories.
14 Golden State (15)
3-3 Mishmash Warriors lineup is producing: Erick Dampier leads league in rebounds (14.5 rpg), Calbert Cheaney is shooting .551 and seven players are averaging double-figures.
15 Boston (14)
3-3 Slim Vin Baker continues to surprise and delight as an interior complement to Paul Pierce, ranking second on the team to Pierce in scoring, rebounds and minutes.
16 Milwaukee (23)
4-3 The Bucks' current winning record is incredible enough even if you don't consider the fact that their three losses were to Wolves, Lakers and Pistons, who are a combined 14-6.
17 Toronto (20)
4-2 Credit the Raps' defense -- which held even mighty Dallas to just 71 points -- for their four wins, because that offense (league-low 75.7 ppg, 25.2 from Vince) needs help.
18 Utah (22)
4-3 Like Milwaukee, Utah's 4-3 record is a surprise, but the market correction on this team looks imminent -- the Jazz allow more points than they score, and are winless on the road.
19 Seattle (18)
3-1 Running, gunning, feisty Sonics compensate for their lack of inside presence with speed and accuracy: Rashard Lewis and Ronald Murray are shooting a combined .527.
20 Denver (17)
4-4 Nugs have been uneven as they develop their style, struggling from the field (.372 shooting), but 5-5 Earl Boykins has been huge off the bench, averaging 14.1 points.
21 Washington (25)
3-3 Finally, finally Larry Hughes is asserting himself into the offense (16.3 ppg), while rookie Jarvis Hayes has logged big minutes and solid scoring.
22 Memphis (16)
3-4 Halted three-game skid with victory over Lakers behind Pau's best performance of the season (22 points, 11 boards). Still need more from Mike Miller, who's shooting just .382
23 Cleveland (24)
2-5 Coming around after rough 0-5 start with wins over Wizards and Knicks as LeBron continues to dazzle with his all-around skills (16.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 6.6 apg).
24 New York (21)
2-5 Followed up impressive win over Sacramento with losses at Bucks and Cavs; Allan Houston is on fire, averaging 31 points over last four games.
25 Chicago (26)
3-5 Bill Cartwright has shuffled lineup, bringing his best two players, Rose and Crawford, off the bench in an attempt to kick-start Bulls. Strange rotation beat Hornets, then fell to Nuggets.
26 Atlanta (27)
2-5 Jason Terry made the most of his Seattle homecoming, dropping 23 points on the Sonics to hand the Hawks their first win of a five-game West trip.
27 Orlando (19)
1-6 Magic are reeling with six consecutive losses and T-Mac is not himself, scoring four points against Minnesota and 14 against Houston on a combined 7-of-31 shooting.
28 L.A. Clippers (26)
1-2 Clips returned to the States after two blowouts in Japan and earned first win over Denver. Starting for the injured Elton Brand, Chris Wilcox posted 12 points and 12 boards.
29 Miami (28)
0-6 Just getting outplayed in all facets of the game, winless Heat are losing by an average of 12.6 points.


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