Story Created:
Jan 25, 2010
Story Updated:
Jan 25, 2010
PK BLOG
1. Cleveland Cavs
Impressive win over the Lakers allows LeBron and his gang of nobodies – excluding The Big Old Man – to reclaim the top spot in the nation’s most prestigious power poll. Last week: 2.
2. Los Angeles Lakers.
These boots are made for plantar fasciitis. Phil Jackson blames Ron Artest’s foot problems on his shoes. "I've called his shoes concrete boots for about the last month. Those shoes look like they are made for the Hudson River.” Last week: 1
3. Denver Nuggets
What is it with guys named J.R. is this league? First it was Rider and now it’s Smith. Unbeaten week (4-0) still isn’t enough to prevent J.R. Smith from pouting. Two words: Cut him. Last week: 3
4. Dallas Mavericks
50-point beat down of Knicks accounts for something, especially considering two starters were missing. They are 8-0 this season when scoring over 110 points. Last week: 4.
5. Orlando Magic
Followed up close loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles with three consecutive wins, including in overtime at Charlotte. They are 2-0 on the Bobcats’ home floor, while rest of the league is 3-18. Last week: 7.
6. Boston Celtics
The Big Ticket has a new nickname. Kevin Garnett returns after missing 10 games with knee injury and says: "I felt good. I thought I had some decent energy. The old '76 Pinto got banged up a little bit. But I just kept hitting the gas and kept going." Last week: 5.
7. Atlanta Hawks
This week is most important to date,, with a home game against Boston and road games against Houston, San Antonio and Orlando. Last week: 9
8. Oklahoma City
Despite current two-game losing streak, this team is still on the rise and is only going to keep getting better. Their last four losses have come by a combined five points. Last week: 8
9 Utah Jazz
This is what we expected all along. This team has too much talent not to contend for top four seed in the West. Last week: 11.
10. San Antonio Spurs
What is going on down there? In two home losses, they gave up 105 points to Utah and 116 to Houston. “We're scoring more points than we've ever scored in our lives, but our defense is really sub-par and it's killing us," said Gregg Popovich said. Last week: 6
11. Portland Trail Blazers
Are injuries about to take its toll? With Brandon Roy (hamstring) and Jerryd Bayless (ankle) out, the starters are playing big minutes. With four games in six nights this week, they may run out of gas. Last week: 10.
12. Memphis Grizzlies
Have won 5 of their last 7, with the losses coming by two points each at Charlotte and at New Orleans. Watch out for Rudy Gay – in last three games he’s scored 31, 26 and 25 points. Last week: 13.
13. Phoenix Suns
14-3 is nothing but a distant memory. But at least somebody remembers – Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire voted as All-Star starters. Last week: 12
14. Houston Rockets
Table is set for a good run, as 6 of next 7 are at home. But they may never be better than they are right now. Last week: 14.
15. New Orleans.
Great week for James Posey, who hit buzzer-beaters in two-point wins over Memphis and Minnesota. But luck ran out in overtime loss at Denver. Last week: 15.
