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Celtics replace Lakers atop rankings
By Johnny Ludden, Yahoo! Sports
January 22, 2008
After a hiccup last week, the Boston Celtics, as expected, moved atop the latest version of the Completely Meaningless (and Certainly Not Very Powerful) NBA Rankings.
The Celtics reeled off wins over Portland, Philadelphia and New York, a solid-enough stretch – especially considering the iffy health of their lone point guard – to vault them above the rest of the contenders.
New Orleans made the week’s biggest jump. Riding a five-game winning streak, the Hornets soared from No. 7 to No. 2, and seem intent on making sure Byron Scott joins Chris Paul in New Orleans at the All-Star Game. Both deserve to play in front of a sold-out crowd at home at least once this season.
As usual no strength-of-schedule or point-differential stats were used (or harmed) in the making of these rankings, which are judged on games from Tuesday through Monday. Previous standing for each team follows current ranking.
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PARADE PLANNERS
1. (2) Boston Celtics – In less than a week, the Celtics were linked to Damon Stoudamire, Sam Cassell and Gary Payton. At this rate Bob Cousy will be back in uniform by mid February. ***(my local moles here in Boton also have Dana Barros working out hard trying to get a signing)***
2. (7) New Orleans Hornets – The Hornets played in front of an announced crowd of 9,882 last week against Seattle, leading Chris Paul to shout to Kevin Durant: “First one to Oklahoma City wins!”
3. (5) Phoenix Suns – Let’s get this straight: Steve Kerr and Mike D’Antoni reportedly are at odds; Amare Stoudemire is miffed over his shot count; Shawn Marion wants to be traded; Boris Diaw forgot how to play; Grant Hill just had an appendectomy; Steve Nash claims the Suns haven’t had “that same joy” as previous seasons; and Phoenix continues to lead the Western Conference? Maybe there’s still hope for the Knicks, after all.
4. (1) Los Angeles Lakers – Kwame Brown told teammates he was sorry for his seven-turnover performance against Phoenix on Thursday. To which Wizards fans shook their heads and said, “We never got an apology.”
5. (4) Dallas Mavericks – Swept by Washington for the first time in 11 seasons, the Mavericks retained this glass-half-full optimism: No matter what else happens, the Wizards can’t bounce them out of the first round of the playoffs.
6. (3) Detroit Pistons – With losses in four of their past five games, including three in a row, the Pistons have officially entered their wake-me-when-it’s-May stretch.
STILL DREAMING
7. (6) San Antonio Spurs – If it’s late January and it smells like a barnyard around the AT&T Center, the rodeo must be coming to town. Either that or someone just caught whiff of the Spurs’ road record.
8. (8) Portland Trail Blazers – Blazers center Joel Przybilla fouled Boston’s Paul Pierce last week only to incur the wrath of Kevin Garnett. Shouted Garnett: “I’ll chop his head off on the other end!” The NBA…where decapitation happens.
9. (10) Golden State Warriors – Not to say the Warriors were overlooking the Timberwolves or anything, but after spending the previous day at the Sundance Film Festival screening his new movie, Baron Davis showed up for the opening tip Monday with a Junior Mint stuck to his jersey.
10. (9) Denver Nuggets – Nuggets continue to ride Hard Luck Express. With Nene, Kenyon Martin, Eduardo Najera and Chucky Atkins all recently sidelined, Carmelo Anthony left Monday’s loss to Lakers with what coach George Karl called a “substantial” ankle sprain.
11. (13) Cleveland Cavaliers – For all the talk of the Cavs’ much-maligned supporting cast, Monday’s victory in Miami re-raised this question: Who would you rather be, LeBron James or Dwyane Wade?
12. (11)Utah Jazz– Jazz tied for fewest home losses in league while playing in arena named for radioactive waste management company. Home, it seems, is where the glowing heart is.
13. (12) Orlando Magic – Triple victory for Magic fans: Back-to-back wins over Portland and Detroit – the last of which ended with Rashard Lewis’ buzzer-beating heroics – and Dwight Howard’s decision to re-enter dunk contest.
14. (15) Washington Wizards – Wizards improved to 19-12 since losing Gilbert Arenas. If Arenas makes good on his vow and becomes a free agent at the end of the season, Washington might have to free up cap room to sign another blogger.
By Johnny Ludden, Yahoo! Sports
January 22, 2008
After a hiccup last week, the Boston Celtics, as expected, moved atop the latest version of the Completely Meaningless (and Certainly Not Very Powerful) NBA Rankings.
The Celtics reeled off wins over Portland, Philadelphia and New York, a solid-enough stretch – especially considering the iffy health of their lone point guard – to vault them above the rest of the contenders.
New Orleans made the week’s biggest jump. Riding a five-game winning streak, the Hornets soared from No. 7 to No. 2, and seem intent on making sure Byron Scott joins Chris Paul in New Orleans at the All-Star Game. Both deserve to play in front of a sold-out crowd at home at least once this season.
As usual no strength-of-schedule or point-differential stats were used (or harmed) in the making of these rankings, which are judged on games from Tuesday through Monday. Previous standing for each team follows current ranking.
ADVERTISEMENT
PARADE PLANNERS
1. (2) Boston Celtics – In less than a week, the Celtics were linked to Damon Stoudamire, Sam Cassell and Gary Payton. At this rate Bob Cousy will be back in uniform by mid February. ***(my local moles here in Boton also have Dana Barros working out hard trying to get a signing)***
2. (7) New Orleans Hornets – The Hornets played in front of an announced crowd of 9,882 last week against Seattle, leading Chris Paul to shout to Kevin Durant: “First one to Oklahoma City wins!”
3. (5) Phoenix Suns – Let’s get this straight: Steve Kerr and Mike D’Antoni reportedly are at odds; Amare Stoudemire is miffed over his shot count; Shawn Marion wants to be traded; Boris Diaw forgot how to play; Grant Hill just had an appendectomy; Steve Nash claims the Suns haven’t had “that same joy” as previous seasons; and Phoenix continues to lead the Western Conference? Maybe there’s still hope for the Knicks, after all.
4. (1) Los Angeles Lakers – Kwame Brown told teammates he was sorry for his seven-turnover performance against Phoenix on Thursday. To which Wizards fans shook their heads and said, “We never got an apology.”
5. (4) Dallas Mavericks – Swept by Washington for the first time in 11 seasons, the Mavericks retained this glass-half-full optimism: No matter what else happens, the Wizards can’t bounce them out of the first round of the playoffs.
6. (3) Detroit Pistons – With losses in four of their past five games, including three in a row, the Pistons have officially entered their wake-me-when-it’s-May stretch.
STILL DREAMING
7. (6) San Antonio Spurs – If it’s late January and it smells like a barnyard around the AT&T Center, the rodeo must be coming to town. Either that or someone just caught whiff of the Spurs’ road record.
8. (8) Portland Trail Blazers – Blazers center Joel Przybilla fouled Boston’s Paul Pierce last week only to incur the wrath of Kevin Garnett. Shouted Garnett: “I’ll chop his head off on the other end!” The NBA…where decapitation happens.
9. (10) Golden State Warriors – Not to say the Warriors were overlooking the Timberwolves or anything, but after spending the previous day at the Sundance Film Festival screening his new movie, Baron Davis showed up for the opening tip Monday with a Junior Mint stuck to his jersey.
10. (9) Denver Nuggets – Nuggets continue to ride Hard Luck Express. With Nene, Kenyon Martin, Eduardo Najera and Chucky Atkins all recently sidelined, Carmelo Anthony left Monday’s loss to Lakers with what coach George Karl called a “substantial” ankle sprain.
11. (13) Cleveland Cavaliers – For all the talk of the Cavs’ much-maligned supporting cast, Monday’s victory in Miami re-raised this question: Who would you rather be, LeBron James or Dwyane Wade?
12. (11)Utah Jazz– Jazz tied for fewest home losses in league while playing in arena named for radioactive waste management company. Home, it seems, is where the glowing heart is.
13. (12) Orlando Magic – Triple victory for Magic fans: Back-to-back wins over Portland and Detroit – the last of which ended with Rashard Lewis’ buzzer-beating heroics – and Dwight Howard’s decision to re-enter dunk contest.
14. (15) Washington Wizards – Wizards improved to 19-12 since losing Gilbert Arenas. If Arenas makes good on his vow and becomes a free agent at the end of the season, Washington might have to free up cap room to sign another blogger.
