Hit List / Mar 11, 2008 / 10:24 am

NBA Hit List Power Ranking

IMAGE DESCRIPTIONT-Mac (photo. Marc Morrison)

There’s no shame in being completely wrong about the Rockets. When Yao was shut down for the season, no one thought they’d keep winning let alone hold status as the best team in the NBA. The win streak is at 19 as T-Mac’s crew assumes the top spot this week…

1. Houston Rockets (43-20) — Meet Luis Scola and Carl Landy, a.k.a. “Smoke” and “Mirrors.” Seriously, we’re not even gonna pretend like we saw this one coming. A 19-game winning streak by a Yao-less Rockets? So improbable.

2. Boston Celtics (50-12) — Weak link? Kendrick Perkins has averaged 12.3 points, 12.1 boards and 3.8 blocks over his last six games. The C’s, meanwhile, have won nine in a row.

3. Los Angeles Lakers (44-19) — Looking at the possibility of a Lakers/Suns conference final and a Lakers/Celtics championship series, David Stern has reportedly taken to wearing an L.A. cap and Luke Walton jersey around the NBA headquarters.

4. Detroit Pistons (46-17) — In losing the regular-season series to Boston, 1-2, Detroit has handed over the psychological edge to the Celtics should these two meet up in the playoffs.

5. San Antonio Spurs (44-19) — Just when you think they’re slipping, Tim Duncan does something like throw up a 23-point, 18-board, 3-block stat line against the Nuggets on Monday and remind everyone why the defending champs are still the team to beat.

6. New Orleans Hornets (42-20) — The bench was bolstered by picking up Birdman. But between second-unit guards Jannero Pargo, Mike James and Bonzi Wells, who’s going to pass him the ball?

7. Utah Jazz (42-22) — While everyone’s focusing on Boozer and Deron, let’s talk about Mehmet Okur. He’s dropped 20-plus points in three of his last four games, hitting 10-of-15 beyond the arc in those contests and pulling down at least 11 boards.

8. Phoenix Suns (41-22) — Sunday’s win over the Spurs was bigger than you know. The Suns have a mental hurdle to get over when it comes to San Antonio, as well as a point to prove as to why they got Shaq. The Diesel did what he was brought in for against the Spurs: 16 boards, 2 blocks and helping hold Duncan to 6-for-19 shooting.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers (37-27) — So in the last week we’ve seen LeBron channel MJ (50 in the Garden), Shawn Kemp (this dunk) and Magic (triple-double on Monday). Who’s next?

10. Dallas Mavericks (41-23) — A relatively easy week (Knicks, ‘Cats, Pacers, Heat) before next week’s heavyweight schedule: Lakers, Celtics, Spurs.

11. Golden State Warriors (39-23) — How talented is this team that its best shooter, Marco Belinelli, can’t even get off the bench? Marco has appeared in 22 games this year and played a total of 15 minutes since the beginning of February.

12. Orlando Magic (41-24) — If you were among those waiting for Hedo Turkoglu to slow down, know this much: His post-All-Star numbers (20.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.8 apg, 46% FG’s, 42% 3PA, 86% FT’s) are better than his pre-All-Star numbers (19.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.6 apg, 44% FG’s, 38% 3PA, 82% FT’s).

13. Denver Nuggets (37-26) — It feels like we’re tempting fate, but we’ll ask anyway: If someone had told you in October than Kenyon Martin would play in 83 percent of Denver’s games, be a full-time starter and play just under 30 minutes a night, would you have believed them?

14. Portland Trail Blazers (33-31) — There are a good five or six guys on this team who aren’t scared to take a big shot in crunch time. That’s a good problem to have when you’re making a playoff push and will have close games on the regular.

15. Philadelphia 76ers (30-34) — Go ahead, name 10 point guards playing better than Andre Miller (16.8 ppg, 6.8 apg) this season.

16. Toronto Raptors (34-28) — Since Chris Bosh got hurt, Toronto’s only wins have come against Miami and Seattle. The Raps need to get their ship right before an upcoming West Coast road swing that takes them through L.A., the Bay, Denver, Sacramento and Utah.

17. Sacramento Kings (28-35) — Is Beno Udrih (13 ppg, 4 apg) the NBA’s Most Improved Player? Hanging 25 points and 10 dimes in an upset win over the Lakers this weekend definitely does a lot for his case.

18. Washington Wizards (30-32) — If any more of Eddie Jordan’s players get injured, he’ll need to break out the Rolodex. Anybody know what Tracy Murray is up to these days? Calbert Cheaney? Michael Adams? Don MacLean?

19. Charlotte Bobcats (24-39) — The ‘Cats current five-game win streak has been sparked by the guys who’ve carried the load all season (minus Gerald Wallace): J-Rich has averaged 28.8 points a night during the streak, Emeka Okafor has put up 14.8 points and 12.2 boards, and Ray Felton has been good for 18 points and 9.4 assists a night.

20. Atlanta Hawks (26-36) — If the Hawks added up the Phillips Arena attendance from the unfinished Dec. 19 game against Miami and from last Saturday’s 51-second replay against the Heat, they still wouldn’t have a sellout.

21. Chicago Bulls (25-38) — A season-long process of internally falling apart seems to be coming to a head, with everyone from Chris Duhon to Aaron Gray making negative headlines already this week. And it’s only Tuesday.

22. New Jersey Nets (26-38) — It’s not Devin Harris’ fault that Jersey is 1-6 since he debuted. But it doesn’t necessarily look good on his resume, either.

23. Indiana Pacers (24-39) — After taking consecutive beatings from the Rockets, Spurs and Cavs, the Pacers get a bit of a break (Seattle) before going back on the road to face Dallas and Orlando.

24. Milwaukee Bucks (23-40) — If you saw Charlie Villanueva hang 32 points and 11 boards on the Sonics and 25-8 on the Sixers last week, you were probably wondering where that guy’s been all season. It’s a simple matter of opportunity. Those two games were the first in which Charlie V had managed 20 shot attempts all year.

25. Los Angeles Clippers (21-41) — How’s that Sam Cassell-for-Andre Barrett swap going? Danny Ainge could have at least given the Clips Gabe Pruitt as a loaner for a few weeks as thanks for being handed Cassell.

26. New York Knicks (18-46) — Derek Harper and Hubie Brown have a better chance than Steph and Isiah of being the Knicks’ point guard/coach combo in ‘08-09. Or at least you’d assume so.

27. Seattle Supersonics (16-47) — When the Wolves come to KeyArena this Friday, how many fans will show up? 100? 200?

28. Minnesota Timberwolves (14-48) — Ryan Gomes is the type of guy who’s most effective as a role player on a good team; his talents are going to waste in Minnesota. Meanwhile, Sebastian Telfair is the type who’s only effective as a feature guy on a bad team; he’s in his element with the Wolves.

29. Memphis Grizzlies (15-47) — How do we know Mike Miller’s been operating in a vacuum? No one around here even noticed that he missed seven games during Memphis’ latest hope-crushing losing streak. Mike will be so happy he won’t even know what to do with himself once he gets back on the court with the guys at Team USA practice this summer.

30. Miami Heat (11-51) — Did Pat Riley really just quit on his team like that? No one is buying the whole “scouting trip” nonsense; that’s what they have scouts and assistant coaches for. How does Riley ever get into a player’s face again preaching commitment and taking one for the team?

43 Responses to “NBA Hit List Power Ranking”

  1. control says:

    Woah, Kenyon Martin has been playing? I thought the guy was still out…guess he’s not getting noticed with Melo, AI and Camby doing their thing…

  2. E$ says:

    If only we can get that #1 spot in the West, the hell with Power Rankings - we know we’re playing the best ball in the “L”

  3. Mike says:

    The Bulls are only 1 game out of the playoffs right now…

  4. E$ says:

    The Kings shot 70% on the Lakers & they still in the Top 5??

  5. GEE...Yeaaaaaaaaa....just like GEE says:

    2nd to none baby!
    Houston up!

    They may lose this spot and who knows what the playoffs will bring. For right now, this moment in time. Houston is number 1 folks!

    Only GOD can stop em…well and of course whatever team he decides to allow to stop em lol.

  6. Prof. TX says:

    Ha. Smoke and mirrors, I like that. Scola/Landry has been a nice suprise combination at PF.
    Maybe that Wells&James for Jackson trade wasn’t so bad after all.

  7. YOUNGFED says:

    “In losing the regular-season series to Boston, 1-2, Detroit has handed over the psychological edge ” - Dime

    How? Sheed when Sheed only played one quarter, plus the Pistons don’t even care about regular season anymore, get it right or get gone.

    Houston and Lakers in Finals thats all I gotta say.

  8. control says:

    YOUNGFED, how are two west teams going to play each other in the finals?

  9. Bron42 says:

    I prefer to call them thunder and lightening instead of smoke and mirrors lol…plus all the tmac fans saw it coming…course now that i said that, hes gonna get injured.

    Control, i’m sure he meant west finals.

    is gerald green the new harold miner?

  10. djKianoosh says:

    houston and lakers? in the finals? oh, you mean the west finals? ehhh, let me think about that, no. tmac will get hurt at some point. j/k. i just dont see them beating a number of teams in the playoffs. dont let them draw phoenix in the first round, cause Shaq will punish Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean Jacque Wamutombo and all his ancestors one more time like in 2001. LOL

    again, people love to sleep on Utah. they got to the west finals last year and are playing better than that right now. Even Sir Charles picked Utah a few weeks back to win the West.

  11. Bron42 says:

    and who will lebron channel next? how about karl malone by never winnin a ring? ooo cheap shot lol

    And if the rockets get one of the top 4 seeds, i think they can take some of the lower seeded teams, even the suns since tmac will put 50 on nash or raja and shaq doesnt get the ball enough to punhish mutumbo.

  12. YOUNGFED says:

    Control you gotta be kidding me right? Western Conference Finals I though you could figure that out, come on dude.

  13. Captain America says:

    Telfair will be coming off the bench next year behind Foye or Rose.

    Gomes is an able journeyman who at times disappears on the floor.

  14. Kobeef says:

    Miami shouldn’t even be on this list. They should get demoted to the D-League for this tank-fest….even the Knicks still try to win games.

    Great streak for Houston - before the streak started it looked like T-mac was about to wrap us his career and seal his reputation as an underachiever. Now? He looks like the Orlando vintage T-mac..killing everyone.

  15. YallAllReadyKnow says:

    30. pat riles is a punk ass puss
    29. what? dime proof read your shit befor eyou post it. this don’t even make sense
    28. i thought every player on minny has been bought out…lol
    27. sonics suck, but they fans are cool. they’ll be there
    26. where is derek harper anyway? didnt he go missing a few yrs ago?
    hubie brown cannot even open his eyes. leave that lame out of conversation.
    25. danny ainge has done noe work. he’s been handed all he allstar players. andre barrett sucks and should be back in the wnba.
    24. charlie v has no hair and mo williams has all the hair. yuck.
    23. after granger and dunleavy, can anyone name active players on the pacers? i didnt think so.
    22. why is new jersey ranked this high? they suck.
    21. bulls are trash. relocate the team to ok city
    20. hawks havent had a sellout in atl since jordan’s gamewinner in his ‘95 comeback
    19. i really thought the cats would be better. at least they trying unlike other teams that have already given up and quit.
    18. wow. michael adams and calbert chaney. remember mike adams shaking up magic in the ‘92 allstar game? he looked like a lil mouse running around. always did like that mike.
    17. beno what? beno who? lil spic spainard on toronto got this mip award
    16. raps are the new new jersey nets. too strong to miss the playoffs, too weak to advance
    15. paul, williams, kidd, nash, parker, billups, davis, roy, calderon, farmar, beno, rondo..would you like me to continue?
    14. already a successful season. and they will get two lottery picks to add to the mix. how long before players get jealous of roy?
    13. this squad should be ashamed of themselves. all the talent and cant do shit right. gave up 200pts to utah and 300pts to chicago last week alone
    12. im not a fan of hedo, but cat is ballin this yr. how is that rashard lewis signing working out for them tho?
    $110million decoy
    11. who said marco is the best shooter on that team?
    10. they dont appear tough no more. and they seem to have no weapons anymore; except Diggler
    9. wellready know lebron is the shit. get off his sack dime. i bet that dude who ran on the court in ny works in ur office
    8. Phoenix looks lost. they should be happy they ranked 8th. they aint that good no more
    7. bout time memo start doing something. but can he defend?
    6. pass birdman the ball? what for? he cant even complete his dunks
    5. boring as all hell. they will leave a mark on the league and the least entertaining dynasty in history
    4. Pistons psyche is strong. they know they can win a playoff game or two in boston. aint nothing for them boys. how many techs does rip have this yr?
    3. what if andrew bynum don’t come back? will kobe have to avg jerry west numbers for them to get out the 1st round?
    2. damn. celts are 50-12. 50 and 12!
    1. is jvg happy or bitter?

  16. GEE...Yeaaaaaaaaa....just like GEE says:

    Wi-Fi going fast in that trailer park today lame or what? Awww bwess his lil heart he tryna get a comment on his little 30. Guess what? People around here don’t like you. So sorry you took your time up in last period trying to type all that, but no one really cares pimpin. You a lame anyway you lil poster child for abortion. Git on before you get spit on!

  17. Myrie says:

    GEE–

    Wassup with this thread from yesterday? “DO WE HAVE A PROBLEM”?

    read on:

    March 10th, 2008 at 12:47 pm

    GEE says:

    Myrie, you asshole, what is so different about Jay Williams and Chris Duhon being at the game at Duke, than Raymond Felton and Sean May being at the game at UNC, that was just a regular season game too!!

    March 10th, 2008 at 1:17 pm

    Myrie says:

    Gee-

    Word? ‘asshole’?
    Thats does not sound like you. Imposter.

    March 10th, 2008 at 1:32 pm

    GEE says:

    Believe it.

  18. Peter D. Rumm MD says:

    Now why exactly are the Lakers above the Spurs after a bad loss to the Kings? Oh they are flashier and softer, guess that sells. Lakers are a talented young team, with one superstar* but no match defensively for SAS with or without Bynum, and got hammered by them last time with Parker out.

    *However the Spurs stil take the floor nightly with Duncan who shapes games more than even the supremely talented Bryant, as Duncan quietly as the “Anti-Slam, gets it counts inside and on the defensive end. It is no accident his teams have had and continue to have the highest winning percentage of any superstar ever in any major sport over at least a decade.

  19. GEE...Yeaaaaaaaaa....just like GEE says:

    LOL Myrie I didn’t even post yesterday at all. It was probably “Yall All Ready Know (he’s gay)”

    Don’t fall fo it.

    I don’t have no beef with anyone and I don’t even come at anybody, unless they come at me first. So naw that wasn’t me.

    You gets respect Myrie I am sorry someone even used my name to come at you like that. Wish there was some way DIME could keep that from taking place.

    Anyway it wasn’t the real.

  20. YallAllReadyKnow says:

    gee/myrie
    trouble in paradise? lol. yall two bitchboys should hug it out; correction suck it out. lames.

  21. Daquan Hill says:

    Sorry guys but the Rockets and the Lakers are fakers. I smell another Spurs vs. Pistons matchup. The only team that can change that matchup is the Celtics.

  22. YallAllReadyKnow says:

    Peter D. Rumm MD
    u lil puss. why you crying over a meaningless ranking? fine bitch, we’ll make the spurs honorary #1. you happy now mr md?
    just to let you know….kobe sells more jerseys/tix, he’s box office and has 3 rings. flashy and has style. timmy is as boring as your med practice
    get outta here

  23. YallAllReadyKnow says:

    bitch i aint post that nonesense.
    i dont even like you myrie. you niether gee. both of yall are immature and have weak posts.
    and if i were to call either of you out as assholes, trust me you’ll know cause i would mos def cosign on that. in caps.
    some other bitch ass lame wrote that. maybe dagwaller since he was tripping yesterday. leave me out of it

  24. Myrie says:

    Gee–

    Aight. We cool. Nuff respect. Sounds like a yallallreadyknow post all the way.

    I know everyone (even him) has the right to post here, but we do need to orchestrate some kind of council on this board. Certain posters/reads and message should be banned. Starting with him.

    I didn’t believe it anyway Gee. Sounded like a front. But just had to check. We straight.

  25. What is this!? says:

    Houston doing all that and still probably won’t make it out the first round again this year. LOL!!!

  26. Bron42 says:

    I stop postin for a few days and this plays goes to hell…ya’ll argue back and fourth like your knicks players. Gee, someone has been posin as you but anyone wit a right mind knows its not u cuz while odd, your posts are usually catchy and u can do better than callin someone a asshole lol. is it just me or do mad people come on here just to talk nonsense and be internet thugs? Step away from the keyboard, take a few deep breaths and proceed to writing comments hatin on people you’ve never met..day in the life of a internet gangbang.

    p.s: doesnt timmy have just as many rings, if not more than kobe? and hasn’t kobe not won shit since shaq left? so lets not hate on the spurs THAT much unless you got a better reason other than their boring.

  27. brian says:

    i think the raptors are # 16 every single time.

  28. E$ says:

    djKianoosh says: Even Sir Charles picked Utah a few weeks back to win the West.

    ————————————————

    yeah, it’s not like Sir Charles is ever wrong - lol

  29. YallAllReadyKnow says:

    bron42
    is that a tag name for jockin lebron james?
    i aint never see ur name on this site b4, so you must be new. well, learn ya place lil new bitch b4 u start commenting on my posts.
    internet thugs? i dont even know what that is. maybe ur guilty of being one ur damn self. u new to this board, so dont be trying to police it. lame. ur complete paragraph doesnt even make complete sense. spell check and proof read before you submit comment. helpful hints for your future son.

    as for timmy d, he’s great no one can argue that. but he boring and so is his team and thats all the reason i need. punk bitch.

  30. Alf says:

    I totally agree with Kobeef…Riley’s absence is unexcuseable………….

    and to think they were only champs 2 years ago….

  31. SWAT says:

    lol…yallinternetthugib. Nice to see you back son. Man i can’t wait for Bron 2 school you. Better yet why are you even here? Or even still better yet why do we respond 2 this clown? You obviously a and1 type baller who just watches espn and copies what some reporter says. Bron new…lmao. Don’t hurt the kid Bron, he doesn’t know any better.

  32. djKianoosh says:

    E$, haha, you’re right. good point.

  33. Bron42 says:

    lol hurt him? I’m new remember lol Shows how young this homo thug is. Hes not even worth the response. Me arguin wit this kid is like JayZ battling soulja boy…why bother…Cuz he may be “yallallreadyknow” but Bron42 will always be REMEMBER WHERE YOU HEARD IT FIRST aka global-4A-Reason. Kid do ya research and recognize the OGs of this site before u start frontin. I got more basketball credentials than some of the guys dime writes their articles about, so go tell ya friends about me.

    p.s: as for timmy, don’t gotta be flashy when ur winning. Kiss the rings bitch

  34. YallAllReadyKnow says:

    bron42
    so you say you aint new. i never seen nor heard of you on here, so you new to me bitchboy.
    nah man, i aint no homothug. remember, you called me out by challenging me personally in one of my posts. YOU CAME AT ME. so know your place.
    ur like a pubie hair that wont flush down the drain.
    jayz and souldja boy?..ur more like a description by 50, i bet you got two sets of lips and bleed for 7 days.

    research?…ok chump. whats ur credentials? did you play d1 hoops? d2? d3? could you even get off the intramural squad? did you play pro ball? did you ever write for national press? so please tell me what exactly are ur credentials u raving about?
    i aint got no friends and aint ashamed of it. so no one will ever hear of you.
    kiss the rings….yeah aight. as if you can even afford a ring pop bitch.
    iholla

  35. GEE...Yeaaaaaaaaa....just like GEE says:

    LOL @ Bron 4 two reasons.

    1. Odd and catchy. As Redman use to say though..”I’ll be that”.

    2. Jay-Z vs. Soulja Boy (cracking up) Yea Yallallreadyknow pretty much amounts to a lil soulja boy.

    Bron is like a triple OG triple OG triple on here Yallall you really should try to find more time to post besides the trailerpark and highschool then you would know that pimpin.

    Plus what type of lame admits they “aint got no friends” wow. Are you beggin for some?

    Seriously you pretty sad pimpin. Be very clear homeboy, you real lame for trying to be hard on the net and imitate my style.

  36. GEE...Yeaaaaaaaaa....just like GEE says:

    For real he is obviously sad no one responded to his lil 30 he typed. You know it took him some hours, that is why we ain’t seen him earlier today. Lame, lame, lame.

  37. word says:

    9. wellready know lebron is the shit. get off his sack dime. i bet that dude who ran on the court in ny works in ur office

    lmao ^^^

    I fully agree with number 5, spurs are the most unentertaining bunch of old ass men who nobody wants to see in the finals. They make me not want to watch ball. I swear I rather watch a shitty team and get some laughs than see that pussy ass pansy whining team on the court.

  38. yallallreadyknow says:

    gee
    u must love me huh? for a guy who always saying i’m gay and saying how much you despise me, it seems my name is always coming out ur mouth. why son?
    i’m scared to ask what else of mine you want coming in your mouth.
    lemme guess, you got john amechi’s jersey over your bed huh?

  39. Bron42 says:

    hmmm lets see…2 high school state chamos, played D1 at UNLV, played overseas, run one of the top sports training sites on the net, strength trainer for a few pro and college teams and my pay check looks something like a 1-800 hotline number so ya, should I keep goin with the credentails? And trust, i’m the last person you wanna get on a money topic wit cuz my sneakers alone could bail half ya family outta jail.

    Me new? please, I just quick comin that much cuz I got shit to do and clowns like you who seem to have no real basketball knowledge but stay talkin out their asses we cloggin up the page and makin it not worth readin but ask anyone here, bron been pimpin since been pimpin since been pimpin..

    Secondly i wasn’t even talkin shots at you..I could of cause you made it hella easy but I was talkin about people on the site in general arguin..so hows the sayin go? my name aint dick so try and keep it out ya mouth. I mean serious, how gangsta can you act when you call someone pubic hair? if that aint some homo shit I dunno what is. So i’m done beefin wit lil kids, hit me up when you got somethin worth sayin and aint just callin people out so you can say “look ma guys online talk to me”. I’m about the dolla what the fuck is 50 cents

  40. yallallreadyknow says:

    bron42
    i thought you might try to sneak in a late night comment. i was right.
    “im about a dolla who da fuck is 50 cent”…ah. a funny line no doubt back in 97-98. i bet even 50 laughed. question is…who’s laughing now? $600 million later, i think 50 is sitting pretty and i don’t even like that punk ass mofo. so you are like jigga lips…talked yo shit early and found out the truth late. u were throwing down sick lobs, now you just chucking up airballs. yeah, that seems to describe u best.

    well, unlike jigga lips, i will school you now and you can get a true lesson and correct yourself when you talking to me.

    congrats on a marvelous career. was all those accomplishments on the mens teams or womens teams? you still aint amount to shit, but at least u tried. my fam aint in jail, so keep ya pocket change to get urself thru rehab bitch. i yawn at ur internet bragging.

    i played d1 ball too (football) georgia tech; early 90s thru mid 90s. feel free to look it up. as for the bundles, bitch i own my own business, 2 in fact. so you can keep your weak webpage and health center that teaches your parents and they old ass friends how to do situps.

    tax advisor still got the papaerwork, but projections will show a net worth of $3 million for both my businesses combined at the end of the 1st quater of 2009. $3 million (will have the docs to prove it by the end of this month; i can send to ur efax if you like). I will take your lil 1-900 number charity check and wipe my girls ass with it. but again….at least you tried.

    you can talk tough on a keyboard like all the rest if you like, but check my pedigree before you try to come at me playa. ur no match.

    ur the chris mullin to my larry bird
    iholla

  41. Bron42 says:

    hmmm lets see….2x state champ in high school, D1 basketball at UNLV, Played overseas, professional sports trainer with pro teams, run one of the top basketball sites on the net

  42. one66soul says:

    20. Not true from my visible eye. I attended both games. and if its true please provide the actual stats and an accessible source.

    20. Atlanta Hawks (26-36) — If the Hawks added up the Phillips Arena attendance from the unfinished Dec. 19 game against Miami and from last Saturday’s 51-second replay against the Heat, they still wouldn’t have a sellout

    Hawks fan til the day I die!!

  43. Bron42 says:

    lol not even worth the comment

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