Dime NBA Power Ranking: Mavs, Celtics, Heat cited for streaking
Dirk Nowitzki (photo. Monte Isom)
10. Orlando Magic (16-8)
Last week — Lost to Atlanta, lost at Portland, lost at Utah, won at L.A. Clippers
The Clippers were the cure for the common slump. Dwight Howard scored 22 as Orlando snapped its four-game skid.
9. New York Knicks (16-9)
Last week — Beat Minnesota, beat Toronto, won at Washington, beat Denver
Is this the part where we start talking about how Amar’e Stoudemire actually made Steve Nash look All-World? Because Ray Felton (18.3 ppg, 8.4 apg, 2.1 spg) is making a solid All-Star bid, and the Knicks have won eight straight while Nash’s Suns are struggling.
8. Oklahoma City Thunder (17-8)
Last week — Lost at Chicago, won at Minnesota, won at New Orleans, beat Cleveland
Challenging week ahead for Thabo Sefolosha, who gets Kevin Martin, Tyreke Evans and Jason Richardson on the schedule. Three pure scorers, three different styles. Good thing Thabo doesn’t have to worry about playing offense.
7. Utah Jazz (17-8)
Last week — Beat Memphis, lost to Miami, beat Orlando, lost at Dallas
If I had to pick right now, Deron Williams (22.7 ppg, 9.8 apg) would be starting for the Western Conference All-Star team, edging out Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook.
6. Chicago Bulls (14-8)
Last week — Beat Oklahoma City, won at Cleveland, beat L.A. Lakers, beat Minnesota
And if I had to pick the other side, Derrick Rose (25.1 ppg, 8.1 apg) would be starting for the East. Meanwhile, nine months ago I wrote that D-Will and D-Rose would be the top two PG’s in the League in a short matter of time.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (17-7)
Last week — Beat Washington, won at L.A. Clippers, lost at Chicago, won at New Jersey
All the off-court quirks and admirable charity acts have almost covered up the fact that Ron Artest kinda stinks right now. He’s averaging a career-low 7.6 points on a career-low 37% shooting from the field.
4. Miami Heat (17-8)
Last week — Won at Milwaukee, won at Utah, won at Golden State, won at Sacramento
During Miami’s eight-game win streak, Dwyane Wade has averaged 26.6 points, 7.7 boards and 5.1 assists.
3. Boston Celtics (19-4)
Last week — Beat Denver, won at Philadelphia, won at Charlotte
Ray Allen is never going to get old. He’s been allegedly “slowing down” for about three years, yet is still averaging 16.6 points on a balanced offensive team and sticking 43% beyond the arc, his highest percentage since 2002.
2. San Antonio Spurs (20-3)
Last week — Beat Golden State, beat Atlanta, beat Portland
Tony Parker (17.0 ppg, 7.0 apg, 52% FG) is having a horrible year and he’s lucky George Hill doesn’t have his job. (Let’s see how many people miss the sarcasm this week.)
1. Dallas Mavericks (19-4)
Last week — Beat Golden State, beat New Jersey, beat Utah
Three more home games this week as they try to keep the win streak, now at 12, going. Not to get too far ahead of myself, but if the Mavs take care of the Bucks, Blazers and Suns, Dallas at Miami on Dec. 20 is going to be a barn-barner.
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December 13th, 2010 at 9:48 am
Rangerjohn says:
Ha, the sarcasm is awesome!
Dime needs to add a like/dislike and go back to 1 page
December 13th, 2010 at 9:56 am
Rizwan says:
What to do about the Suns?
Season so far has aged me. Letting Amare go was the one of the stupidest decisions Robert Sarver has ever made, but you can just add that to the list.
I dont agree with the Steve Nash point. Steve Nash is still putting up numbers (10+ apg on a team with one scorer) but Amare is killing it right now. That was hard to right.
I think if we get Anderson Varejao, and someone to take Hedo off our hands, we can go deep in the playoffs. That alone solves our rebounding and defense somewhat.
Man, Robert Sarver is the stupidest MF’er I have ever seen, His penny pinching ruined a team that ought to have won at least 1 chip if not more. Finally, the team was in a good rhythm last season and he goes and fucks that up too. If the NBA can take over the Hornets, cant they do something about incompetency in owners like Sarver and Sterling at the Clips?
Ultimately, I think we owe it to Steve Nash to trade him.
And how good are the Knicks at the moment? Game with the Nuggets was terrific. Great atmosphere and entertaining game. Good luck to them. I feel some allegiance to them seeing as they are Suns 2004-07 2.0
December 13th, 2010 at 10:28 am
Stunnaboy2K11 says:
Lol at the sarcasm sign haha
Yeah Stoudamire is making Felton look legit. Damn the Knicks are son fire. Feels good to be Spike Lee around now lol.
December 13th, 2010 at 10:50 am
Jay10do says:
jus look at those Cavs… Dan Gilberts ah funny man, they will win a title b4 Lebron will haha! 7-17 good one Dan. Go Heat!!!!!!!!
December 13th, 2010 at 10:52 am
Fabian says:
Sorry to say so, but I couldn’t help but thinking throughout all of the Power Rankings that everything was rushed to be published and it was not given too much thought.
December 13th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
control says:
Rizwan
You are the first, and probably ONLY person in the world who has said anything indicating that they’d want Anderson Valgina. Even his mom, over in Braziland or whatever god forsaken place he was spawned in, wouldn’t want him to come home for an xmas dinner (every time he tries to eat something, he flops off the tables and it makes a mess while scaring the family dog).
December 13th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
S.A.C. says:
@Dime
One of those guard spots gotta/should go to the Knicks point guard Felton, unless I’m forgetting somebody.
But I know, I know, you guys said there were only 3 locks.
We’ll see?
December 13th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
S.A.C. says:
@Dime
I know this is all for fun, but how do you guys put the Heat and Bulls where you have them (especially the Bulls ahead of the Orlando, Utah, The Knicks and OKC)? And are the Heat really the 4th best team now? Wow! That was quick!
I can even see DIME putting San Antonio and Dallas ahead of Boston, but for some reason I don’t think either one of them (especially San Antonio) will be there at the end.
I just don’t see either one of those two teams making it out the Western conference (like I said especially San Antonio). They have no legit size. On the other hand, Dallas has legit size, but no legit scoring. We’ll see?
December 13th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
David says:
S.A.C.
you are an idiot. Your obvious jealousy od San Antonio, (especially San Antonio) is sickening.
December 13th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
hakasan says:
@SAC,
not sure what you mean by ‘being there at the end’ i thought weekly rankings are to mark current progress instead of projecting future play? besides, (sarcasm alert) spurs and mavs can’t be in the eastern conference playoffs because they’re in the west!
also not sure why you say spurs got no size when they still have duncan, working in splitter, and have 12 fouls between bonner and dejuan…
also not sure why you say mavs got no O when dirk is red hot, with jason terry and caron butler finally showing some size… don’t forget they still have a passing jkidd who can’t score or play d anymore, but can still push a basketball to the right spot at the right time… they also have a very decent bench with matrix, the other jj, and beaubois (who was capable of scoring 40 as a rookie) coming back…
but alas, i agree with you, only time will tell, we’ll see… go lakers! haha
December 13th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Rizwan says:
@ Control
I say because he’s very good at what he does, rebounding and defense. The Suns need that. I would only hate him if he is on another team, but his intangibles are pretty important for us right now.
Trust me, I’m no fan, I’m a fan of players like him.
December 13th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
KCL says:
Not to take anything away from the knicks cuz theyre playing some of the most energized basketball Ive ever seen from them, but Mike D is the reason for Felton blowing up and Amare still being a beast. Nash certainly made Amare a beast in phoenix when Mike D left but ppl are forgetting the knicks are feeding Amare on nearly every possesion, of course he’s gonna be dropping 30 points cuz he’s nearly unguardable on the block with his talent and atheleticism compare it to kobe when he should have won mvp during Nash’s rain, if Kobe didn’t get credit no way Amare should. I’m still very impressed by him and he’s actually playing a lil defense which I never saw from him ever but the MVP chatter is a lil unwarranted especially with players like D-will, Dwight, and even D-rose absolutly carrying their teams right now while I see Amare more of taking advantage of Mike D’s offensive genius i’d like to see the knicks knock some more quality opponents beating denver was a good start.
December 13th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Mt. Pleasant says:
Nash’s stats from this year:
PPG 18.4 RPG 3.70 APG 10.2 on 51.3% shooting. Assists dropped by about 1 a game from last year and he’s scoring about 2 more points a game on a way worse team. How did Amare make him look all world? He looks more all world now because the talent around him is worse.
December 13th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
S.A.C. says:
@Hakasan & David
I know I may sound harsh, but except for Duncan (who’s admittedly not what he used to be), are there any other LEGIT big men on San Antonio roster to battle the Lakers? I’ll admit, that San Antonio can beat Dallas. It’s the lakers, they’d have a hard time beating.
As far as Dallas, it’s the same ol, same ol. Yeah, they can win a bunch in the regular season ( I know they playing defense now); but is Butler, Terry and Chandler going to be able to fill up the baskets after Dirk in a Western Conference final? Yeah. Dirk is great!!!
J Kidd better be working overtime.
And I’m not picking on these two teams. Cause, I feel the same way about New Orleans, I just think that none of you guys feel they’re getting out of the west either at this stage, so I haven’t said anything about them. Lol.
But I certainly love how they both play basketball and respect the jobs their coaches and teams have done so far. It’s been incredible!
December 13th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
QQ says:
Good to see that we’re still top 10, but daaaaaaamn, we’re just playing so damn below the level of where we want to be, it’s not even funny.
*reads comment number 4, which is obviously NOT a bandwagon heat fan*
Ahhh… I feel better.