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Team/Record
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Prev rank/Last wk.
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ESPN.com skinny
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THE BEST |
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1. Lakers 8-1
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1/2-1 |
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Little slipup against Suns, but understandable. Came back with solid win against Kings. Lindsey Hunter (right) remains very capable at the point even if Fisher returns this or next week. |
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2. Kings 8-3
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3/3-1
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Hey, Sacramento's loss wasn't at home to the Cavaliers, for Lamond Murray's sake. And the Kings destroyed top-10 worthy Houston. |
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3. Wolves 8-1
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2/2-1 |
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Bounced back well from Cadaver loss with wins over Indy and Orlando. Wally's world is just a great place to be right now (19.3 ppg). |
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4. Bucks 6-1
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4/2-0
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Have played fewer games than any other team, and still no East team has two more wins than them. |
| CLOSING IN
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5. Spurs 7-2
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6/2-0
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Steve Smith either hits a bunch of threes (14 in two games) or barely any (8 in the other 7 games). |
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6. 76ers 5-5
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14/4-0
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Hey, we told you so. You gonna pick against them winning the Atlantic now? |
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7. Raptors 7-4
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11/3-1
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Nice start, and just wait until Antonio Davis (.387 FG) and Alvin Williams get going. |
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NOT QUITE FINALS-READY
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8. Pistons 6-2
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10/2-0
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Is it too early to peg this as a playoff team? Not if it keeps playing defense and Clifford keeps scoring. |
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9. Mavs 6-4
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5/1-2
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It's not just that they lost to the Pistons and Rockets, it's that they allowed 115 and 124 points in those games. Wow. |
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10. Nets 7-3
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8/2-2
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This West road trip could really hurt them. Another thing, no matter how good Kidd is, that .310 field goal is horrible. |
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11. Rockets 6-5
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7/1-3
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Apparently that lack of inside presence is too much to overcome. It might be time to forget about Kelvin Cato doing anything. |
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12. Celtics 5-3
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15/1-1
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Proved nothing this week, but brutal Pacers, Jazz and Hornets drop below them. So Boston fans can rejoice after all. |
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13. Magic 5-6
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17/2-1
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Solid wins in Arizona and Colorado. Outlaw trade might give some the wring impression, though. |
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14. Hornets 4-5
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12/1-2
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This is one team that cannot afford injuries, and Mashburn and Wesley are banged up. You think they can just throw Moiso in there? |
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WE'RE NOT CONVINCED
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15. Suns 5-6
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20/2-2
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Beat two West teams, including Lakers, but lost to two East teams at home? |
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16. Pacers 6-6
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9/0-4
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Nice week, boys. When Tinsley leads the team in rebounding, that's not a great sign. |
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17. Blazers 6-5
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18/2-1
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Three guys score 18 points a night, and Dale Davis is getting the boards. They should win more. |
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18. Nuggets 6-5
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22/3-1
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Yes, better than the Jazz. Nicky is playing outta his mind still. If only McDyess could return now. |
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19. Warriors 6-5
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16/1-2
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Hey, Antawn, it's called sharing. And it's called winning. Six players scoring in double figures. Far cry from last year. |
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HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE... |
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20. Jazz 4-7
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13/1-2
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Don't wanna kick a team when it's down, but the Jazz aren't very good. Stockton's turning the ball over, Russell's out, bench stinks. |
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21. Clippers 5-5
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21/2-1
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Odom as sixth man? Boys are playing well without him. Six score in double figures here and we could see a .500 record for awhile. |
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22. Sonics 4-7
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19/1-2
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Depth starting to take its toll. Desmond isn't a small forward, Barry's slowing down and Baker and Booth are out. |
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23. Knicks 4-7
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24/2-2
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They won the Riley battle, but they're still winless on the road. Career 50 percent shooter Kurt Thomas is struggling at 40 percent. |
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24. Hawks 3-7
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26/2-1
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No reason for this team to not win half its games, even with Theo out. Look for a hot streak to come soon. |
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JUST HORRIBLE (& THE MJ SECTION)
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25. Cavaliers 2-9
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27/1-3
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Impossible to explain win in Minnesota, especially when Cavs lose to winless Grizzlies. This is a 60-loss team. |
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26. Heat 2-7
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23/0-3
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All you need to know is this: Riley started Vlad Stepania and Eddie House the last game. Does he want to win? |
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27. Grizzlies 1-8
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28/1-1
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MJ's better than any Grizz, but four or five Grizz are better than any other non-MJ Wiz. |
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28. Wizards 2-7
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25/0-2
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Have lost four straight at home. Didn't take this team long to lose and embarrass its star. |
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29. Bulls 1-9
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29/0-4
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Yes, they're still in the league. MJ could be a Bull again, kind of: Contract the Wiz and Bulls and form the Wizabulls. |
