Rest of West chasing Hornets
Chris Paul figures to get his first All-Star nod Thursday, but until then he'll have to settle for sitting atop the latest Powerless Rankings. A nine-game winning streak, which included Saturday's road rout of the San Antonio Spurs, also left Paul and the rest of the New Orleans Hornets staring down at the rest of the Western Conference.
The Los Angeles Lakers continued to drop without Andrew Bynum, the Boston Celtics didn't look much better with Kevin Garnett last week than they did without him and neither the Dallas Mavericks nor the Phoenix Suns have played as well as the Hornets have of late.
The Miami Heat, meanwhile, broke through with their first victory in 16 games, good enough to make the Seattle SuperSonics our new Lottery Leader.
As usual, rankings are judged on games from Tuesday through Monday. Previous standing for each team follows current ranking.
PARADE PLANNERS
1. (2)New Orleans Hornets – Anyone else hoping for a Byron Scott-Baron Davis reunion at the All-Star Game?
2. (5)Dallas Mavericks – Devin Harris went down with an ankle sprain and Earl Boykins immediately surfaced as a possible replacement. When was the last time Avery Johnson had someone to post up in practice?
3. (1)Boston Celtics – Did Kevin Garnett suffer his abdominal strain during the Minnesota game? Or later when he was running around the court, popping his jersey and screaming about having beaten a seven-win team?
4. (3)Phoenix Suns – This week Suns fans get their first chance to greet Robert Horry since his hip check on Steve Nash. The only person possibly more despised among Phoenix faithful: NBA commissioner David Stern.
5. (6)Detroit Pistons – After Tuesday's game in Indy, the Pistons head into the All-Star break with six of seven at home. With a 15-4 record at the Palace, Detroit could make up some ground on Boston.
6. (11)Cleveland Cavaliers – Cavaliers finally on a roll only to lose Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao. The no-Pavlovic-no-Varejao combination didn't work so well at the season's start.
STILL DREAMING
7. (12)Utah Jazz – Early vote for unlikeliest headline goes to the Salt Lake Tribune's "Kirilenko emerges as offensive force."
8. (7)San Antonio Spurs – Presenting your clubhouse leader for "Least Timely Ejection of the Season:" Ime Udoka.
9. (4)Los Angeles Lakers – Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum go from "(bleeping) ship his ass out" to can't-live-without-him in less than a year. Who says it's hard to find a good relationship counselor in Hollywood these days?
10. (9)Golden State Warriors – Also good to see Chris Webber and Don Nelson kiss and make up – yet another example of how money can, indeed, buy happiness.
11. (8)Portland Trail Blazers – Longtime Oregonian beat writer Jason Quick just did an entertaining story and five-part blog series on the Trail Blazers' improved chemistry. This is believed to be the first time in franchise history that a story containing "Trail Blazers" and "chemistry" didn't include a single legal term.
12. (13)Orlando Magic – Did someone forget to pass along the memo that explained how Hedo Turkoglu's job description went from "role player" to "Dr. Clutch?"
13. (10)Denver Nuggets – Was that Marcus Camby's All-Star credentials that Tyson Chandler swatted away Monday?
14. (15)Houston Rockets – Carl Landry and Aaron Brooks becoming productive rotation members. Mike James and Steve Francis? Not so much.
15. (16)Toronto Raptors – Raptors have won seven of past nine games, including one over Celtics, which means Sam Mitchell has now gone 15 full minutes without questioning someone's toughness.
16. (14)Washington Wizards – Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison will find out their All-Star status Thursday, but is it too early to suggest Eddie Jordan will be picking up a few Coach of the Year votes by season's end?
17. (17)Sacramento Kings – Ron Artest was ejected Friday in Utah, prompting the Sacramento Bee's Sam Amick to write, "It was the latest in a fiery week for Artest, who has taken to stoking opposing crowds …" "Stoking opposing crowds," as most remember, hasn't worked all that well for Artest in the past.
18. (21)Atlanta Hawks – Isn't it about that time of year when Hawks GM Billy Knight tries to explain why he passed over Chris Paul and Deron Williams?
GET THOSE TEE TIMES READY
19. (25)Milwaukee Bucks – Bucks went 2-2 last week. In Eastern Conference that qualifies as a playoff push.
20. (23)Philadelphia 76ers – This from Andre Iguodala after victory over Charlotte: "I think it's good for us to win, period." Nice to get that cleared up.
21. (19)Charlotte Bobcats – Coach Sam Vincent after loss to Philadelphia: "I stand over there and scream and yell the whole time, motivate guys to play. I need to see that from the guys on the floor. The coaching staff cares an awful lot about winning, but the guys on the floor have to care about winning more than the coaching staff. We need that fire, we need that passion from the players. We need them to really want to win." Just a guess, but it sounds like all that screaming and yelling Vincent claims to be doing may not be all that motivating.
22. (18)Indiana Pacers – Pacers center David Harrison wasn't too happy about his recent suspension for testing positive three times for marijuana. "I don't understand how they have a right to look into our lives on any level besides performance-enhancing drugs," Harrison told The Indianapolis Star. "It's not a rule made by government and it's not a rule made by God; it's made by an organization (the NBA). I guess they feel it will benefit that organization." This falls under the category of "Making The Least Of Your Contract Year."
23. (28)Minnesota Timberwolves – As if Al Jefferson's recent 39-and-15 and 40-and-19 performances weren't reason enough to love him, the Wolves' talented young forward apparently is just as sharp with his wit. According to the Pioneer Press, Kevin Garnett made a point of reminding Jefferson of his many All-Star selections by shouting "Eleven years! Eleven years!" during their encounter last week. Jefferson's response? "I told him we both have one thing in common – no championships. He didn't like that too much."
24. (26)New York Knicks – Isiah Thomas continues to insist he likes his team. Well, that makes one person.
SECAUCUS SIX
25. (20)New Jersey Nets – So Jason Kidd wants to be traded to Dallas. Nets president Rod Thorn has vowed to only do deal if he gets back talented young players, draft picks, expiring contracts and Toni Braxton.
26. (24)Chicago Bulls – Bulls struggling with Luol Deng and Ben Gordon sidelined, which isn't much different than what they were doing with both players on the floor.
27. (22)Memphis Grizzlies – Rudy Gay is soliciting online suggestions to aid him in the dunk contest. Finding someone who can teach the Grizzlies to defend? Apparently not even cyberspace can help with that venture.
28. (27)Los Angeles Clippers – Sign No. 17 your season isn't going so well: The word "embattled" begins appearing in front of your coach's name in newspaper stories.
29. (30)Miami Heat – Dorell Wright, after Heat ended 15-game losing streak Saturday: "To tell you the truth, it feels like we won a championship." No word yet on a parade date.
30. (29)Seattle SuperSonics– Is it too early for Derrick Rose to begin house hunting in Oklahoma City?
