By Paul M. Banks
The Milwaukee Bucks and their hot start led by uber-rookie Brandon Jennings are the talk of the NBA. So how far did they move up in this week’s power rankings?
1. Boston Celtics (9-3)
Kevin Garnett is their centerpiece, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce the main sidekicks. But if you really want to see the barometer of the Celtics, look at Rajon Rondo. His statistical measures of productivity correlate best with their record.
2. Atlanta Hawks (10-2)
They are for real, even though they donโt get the national publicity the deserve. Hawks basketball would be a bigger brand if they didnโt seemingly change their logo and team colors every three seasons. In Joe Johnson they have a closer, and in Josh Smith they have a go-to defender.
3. Orlando Magic (9-3)
I guess weโll really see what theyโre made off now that Jameer Nelson is out 4-6 weeks with a knee injury.
4. Miami Heat (7-4)
I couldnโt agree more with this insight from a Heat blog entitled โHot Hot Hoopsโ โUnfortunately, the guy who gets lost in the Wade fray is Udonis Haslem, who has absolutely taken to his sixth-man role.โ Haslem is an underrated gem.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (8-4)
The Sunsโ Jason Richardson has taken up Lebronโs cause to retire #23 for every NBA team. I donโt think it will ever happen, but I do agree with the idea. Shaq will miss a few games with a shoulder injuryโฆwell, you knew when they made this deal he was inevitably going to miss some time.
6. Milwaukee Bucks (6-3)
Despite the hot start, they are still the Bucks right? Maybe not now that they have that Brandon Jennings guy. You might have heard a thing or two, or twelve about his 55 point game last Saturday. And donโt look now, but Andrew Bogut has 5 double doubles already.
7. Chicago Bulls (6-4)
Derrick Rose is clearly not 100%. His injury is worse than the league is leading on. Joakim Noah is indeed making โthe leapโ this year heโs been a double-double machine so far. And itโs believably hilarious that he didnโt know why the current Bulls road trip is called โthe circus tripโ
8. Philadelphia 76ers (5-6)
How awesome is it that they went back to their retro 80s logo? How mediocre and inconsistent will they be this season due to their up-and-down guard play? Answer to both: VERY
9. Detroit Pistons (5-7)
Iโll admit it: the signings of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva are working well for the Pistonsโฆso far.
10. Indiana Pacers (5-4)
A summation of Indianaโs season can be found at the Pacers blog 8 points, 9 seconds. โIn a larger sense, Tyler is already the teams fourth-best non-injured player after Danny, Roy and Dahntay. Luther Head is ineffective, and Iโm being polite here.โ
11. Toronto Raptors (5-7)
Chris Bosh might have to have 20-15 every night if theyโre going to reach the postseason
12. Charlotte Bobcats (3-8)
Under Larry Brown, theyโll figure some type of rotation that works out. Or maybe heโs finally nearing the end of his storied career?
13. Washington Wizards (3-7)
Things should get a lot better now that they have Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, and Gilbert Arenas all on the floor at the same time now. Jamison is especially crucial because he can play both the three and the four so well.
14. New York Knicks (2-9)
They have a grasp on the concept of defenseโฆitโs right up there with Sarah Palinโs stranglehold on reality; and knowledge of basic science. How much longer can they blame Isaish for this mess? A while actually.
15. New Jersey Nets (0-12)
Closing in on one of the most embarrassing records a NBA team can have. But they will get healthy, and be better, eventually. Someday soon they wonโt have to take the floor with Brook Lopez and CDR as their โgo-to-guys.โ
