| | Rankings as of Nov. 15
|  | | The Celtics lost to the winless Bulls, and pay the price. |
OK, so maybe the Milwaukee Bucks aren't the second-best team in the NBA. It was worth a shot. And maybe the lack of defense Phoenix plays makes it impossible for the Suns to be No. 3. Now here comes some controversy: Hey, Knicks fans, still think your team should be No. 1? How many straight have they lost?
As always, the ESPN.com Power Rankings cause a stir, and they will this week. For starters, we've kept the Blazers at No. 1 above the Spurs because, well, we want to. The Blazers lost to Utah, a pretty good team. Then they took it out on an admittedly bad Hawks team, winning by 36. The Spurs struggled with the Clippers this week. 'Nuff said.
Anyway, enjoy these Power Rankings, and look for a new one every Monday. And when you don't agree with our rankings, which we expect, let us know your thoughts by clicking here and giving us a few Rank Comments of your own. But please remember that these rankings were compiled Monday morning and anything that happens tonight will not be reflected. And check out NBA 2Night on Tuesday when Jason Jackson and Fred Carter discuss our Power Rankings on the air.
|
Team (Record)
|
Last week
|
Pvs.
|
ESPN.com skinny
|
|
1. Blazers (6-1)
|
2-1
|
1
|
They had to lose sometime; Drubbing JR and the Hawks had to be sweet
|
|
2. Spurs (6-1)
|
3-1
|
4
|
We apologize; they shouldn't have left the No. 2 spot, but they're still not No. 1
|
|
3. Heat (6-1)
|
4-0
|
9
|
No offense, Pat, but your offense is all of a sudden pretty darn good
|
|
4. Lakers (6-2)
|
3-1
|
6
|
Hey, Shaq; they can't win if you don't play. Rematch with Barkley in January
|
|
5. Wolves (3-1)
|
2-0
|
12
|
So far, no signs of post-Tokyo trauma; Szczerbiak really has game
|
|
6. Kings (3-1)
|
2-0
|
10
|
Jazz win was impressive, and bench guys are proving themselves valuable
|
|
7. Pacers (4-2)
|
2-1
|
13
|
Get this ranking only because everyone else lost so badly; Check out Big Al
|
|
8. Sonics (5-2)
|
2-2
|
8
|
Went 2-2 on the road, so we'll give 'em a break; Underrated team
|
|
9. Suns (4-3)
|
2-2
|
3
|
Kidd has 41 assists, 33 turnovers; Was the Penny addition bad for Kidd?
|
|
10. Knicks (4-4)
|
1-3
|
5
|
This is a kind ranking; Losses weren't bad ones, really, but still...
|
|
11. Raptors (4-2)
|
1-1
|
11
|
Would be higher except for way Philly went to their house and won
|
|
12. Jazz (3-3)
|
2-1
|
16
|
Props for Portland win; Frankly, this team can be top 5 if Karl, Stockton really want
|
|
13. Cavs (4-2)
|
1-1
|
15
|
Where did Brevin get such game? And Sura and Ferry, too. What's going on?
|
|
14. Hornets (4-3)
|
2-1
|
14
|
Got bombed by Spurs in a prove-to-me-what-you-got game
|
|
15. Bucks (4-3)
|
1-3
|
2
|
Apparently, George Karl was right; Live by the outside shot, die by ...
|
|
16. 76ers (3-4)
|
3-1
|
25
|
Hope Larry Brown knows what he's doing with Larry Hughes
|
|
17. Celtics (4-3)
|
1-2
|
7
|
Lost to Bulls without Kukoc, which is horrible. Knicks win was good
|
|
18. Rockets (2-5)
|
2-2
|
21
|
Chuckwagon proved it; team may be better when he's not around
|
|
19. Pistons (2-5)
|
2-1
|
26
|
Kinda good, kinda bad, just like much of the Eastern Conference
|
|
20. Mavs (3-4)
|
1-2
|
24
|
Scored 125 against Magic; Hey, even Shawn managed to score!
|
|
21. Magic (4-4)
|
2-2
|
17
|
Things going so well, then what? You lose to Dallas? That hurts.
|
|
22. Nuggets (2-4)
|
1-2
|
23
|
To be fair, they haven't had an easy schedule; Is this a 35-win team?
|
|
23. Nets (1-5)
|
0-2
|
19
|
Maybe they're just waiting for Kerry and Jayson to come back
|
|
24. Grizz (3-3)
|
2-1
|
27
|
Beat the Hawks and Clips; we're not quite ready to say they're good
|
|
25. Clippers (1-5)
|
0-3
|
20
|
Schedule gets no easier; Heck, they're the Clips, the sked's never easy
|
|
26. Hawks (1-6)
|
0-4
|
18
|
At least they made a comeback in that Laker game; otherwise, it's No. 27
|
|
27. Bulls (1-5)
|
1-2
|
30
|
Now you know how bad the Wiz and Warriors are; Kukoc who? Deal the bum.
|
|
28. Wizards (1-6)
|
0-3
|
22
|
Now are you convinced? Ike Austin is not a good player, not at all
|
|
29. Warriors (1-5)
|
1-2
|
28
|
Big battle with the Bulls on Tuesday; Marshall update: FG % at .310
|
| |
ALSO SEE
NBA Power Rankings, Nov. 8
|
