Three's company
Maybe the East isn't a two-team race after all.
The Nets went 4-0 last week to run their winning streak to 12 games and, in the process, let Miami and Detroit know that they'll have company when the playoffs begin in three weeks.
For New Jersey, the current stretch is its second double-digit win streak of the season. (The Nets won 10 in a row from Dec. 16 to Jan. 8). What makes the current run more impressive, however, is that it includes victories over Dallas, Washington, Detroit (at the Palace), Phoenix and Memphis.
Lawrence Frank's club is defending well and getting great play from Vince Carter and Jason Kidd. New Jersey is also peaking at the right time.
The Nets' stellar play has vaulted them all the way to the No. 3 spot. Here are the latest rankings (records and statistics are through April 3):
1.Detroit Pistons (59-14, Last ranking: 1) – Chauncey Billups may be rekindling his MVP bid. He scored 35 points and made several huge shots in the fourth quarter in a win over Steve Nash and the Suns.
2.San Antonio Spurs (57-16, Last ranking: 2) – The Spurs are doing what they always seem to do in April: peaking.
3.New Jersey Nets (44-28, Last ranking: 7) – Should the Nets face Miami in the second round of the playoffs, the Heat should ponder this: Vince Carter has averaged 38.5 points against them, including games of 43 and 51, to help New Jersey win three of the four meetings.
4.Dallas Mavericks (55-19, Last ranking: 3) – Will injuries keep this club from a long playoff run? Keith Van Horn is the latest Maverick to be sidelined after breaking his hand last week and will most likely miss the postseason.
5.Phoenix Suns (49-24, Last ranking: 4) – It appears Amare Stoudemire's return was a short-lived experiment. He'll probably be put on the shelf for the remainder of the season.
6.Miami Heat (48-25, Last ranking: 5) – The Heat would like to finish the season strongly and secure the No. 2 seed in the East. They don't want to give up the second-round home-court advantage to New Jersey by stumbling over their last 11 games.
7.Cleveland Cavaliers (44-29, Last ranking: 10) – What LeBron James has done during the Cavaliers' eight-game winning streak is sublime. It will be a joy to watch him play in the postseason for the first time in his career.
8.Los Angeles Clippers (42-30, Last ranking: 6) – The Clips play their final 10 games against Western Conference teams, seven of them against playoff clubs. It'll be a pretty good tuneup for the postseason.
9.Memphis Grizzlies (42-32, Last ranking: 9) – Mike Miller continues his push for the Sixth Man Award. Since scoring a franchise-record 41 points, he has averaged 15 in his last nine games.
10.Denver Nuggets (41-33, Last ranking: 8) – Three-point shooting continues to be a problem for the Nuggets. They've made 158 fewer threes than their opponents this season.
11.Washington Wizards (37-35, Last ranking: 11) – With New York, Boston and Atlanta on the schedule this week, the Wizards have a chance to extend their lead on Milwaukee for the fifth seed in the East.
12.Los Angeles Lakers (40-35, Last ranking: 12) – Kobe Bryant has scored 40 or more points in 23 games this season. One more and he'll break Elgin Baylor's all-time Lakers record.
13.Sacramento Kings (38-36, Last ranking:13) – Finally, Sacramento is healthy. Bonzi Wells is back in the starting lineup, and with Shareef Abdur-Rahim playing well off the bench, the Kings are deep and talented.
14.Milwaukee Bucks (37-36, Last ranking: 15) – Michael Redd has led the Bucks in scoring in eight straight games, averaging 30 points during that span.
15.Utah Jazz (35-38, Last ranking: 17) – Now that he's healthy, Andrei Kirilenko is on a roll and playing out of his mind. Over the past five games, he's averaged 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists and six blocks.
16.Philadelphia 76ers (34-38, Last ranking: 16) – Nothing like two meetings with the Knicks to cure what's ailing you. The Sixers had lost 10 of 12 before two victories over New York stopped the bleeding.
17.New Orleans Hornets (35-37, Last ranking: 18) – Regardless of what happens, it's been a great season for the Hornets. Three straight wins last week kept them in the playoff race. Who would have thought they'd be anywhere near the eighth spot in the West at this point?
18.Indiana Pacers (35-37, Last ranking: 14) – Jermaine O'Neal's 27-point night against Milwaukee was the lone bright spot in an 0-4 week. The Pacers will need him to play well down the stretch if they want any momentum heading into the postseason.
19.Chicago Bulls (33-40, Last ranking: 20) – Somehow, the Bulls are still in the playoff hunt. Two games against Philadelphia this week will go a long way in determining whether or not they'll make it.
20.Houston Rockets (32-41, Last ranking: 23) – Yao Ming has emerged since his early-season injury and enjoyed the best year of his career. He's averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds on 52-percent shooting.
21.Seattle SuperSonics (30-43, Last ranking: 21) – The Sonics are no longer an easy W. They've won 10 of 19 and beaten some good teams. Chris Wilcox and Earl Watson have been great additions.
22.Orlando Magic (29-44, Last ranking: 24) – What will happen with Grant Hill next year? He has one year remaining on his contract, but his latest injury (a sports hernia) has him contemplating retirement.
23.Minnesota Timberwolves (31-42, Last ranking: 22) – Marcus Banks is making the most of his opportunity since being traded from Boston. He's averaging 12 points and five assists with the Wolves.
24.Golden State Warriors (30-42, Last ranking: 19) – Monta Ellis has been the best of the last crop of high school players to enter the NBA. In his last four games, he's averaged 11 points, shot 50 percent from the field and been on the floor more than 20 minutes a night.
25.Boston Celtics (30-43, Last ranking: 25) – Two losses to Chicago last week sealed the Celtics' fate. For Boston fans, it's time to start thinking about the Red Sox.
26.Toronto Raptors (26-47, Last ranking: 26) – They say a shooter never stops shooting. I guess Mike James is a shooter. He shot 5-for-25 from the field in a loss to New Orleans.
27.Atlanta Hawks (22-50, Last ranking: 27) – Too bad the Hawks can't play Indiana every night. Atlanta is 4-0 against the Pacers but 18-50 against the rest of the league.
28.Charlotte Bobcats (20-54, Last ranking: 30) – Brevin Knight and Raymond Felton have been starting together, but it's tough to win with such a small tandem. It might make sense to move Knight this summer. He could be a valuable asset in a trade.
29.New York Knicks (19-53, Last ranking: 28) – Eight in a row and counting for the Knicks. Will they win a game the rest of the season?
30.Portland Trail Blazers (20-53, Last ranking: 29) – Eleven in a row and counting for the Blazers. Will they win a game the rest of the season?
