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Team/Record
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Prev rank/
Last week
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ESPN.com skinny
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CLASS BY THEMSELVES |
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1. Lakers 15-1
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1/3-0 |
No more questions please. The hot Bucks lost to 'em by 19; the hot Wolves scored 76; the team that owned them last year, Seattle, got drubbed. Heck, even Devean George had a four-block game. Next up for LA: Mavs, Kings and Sonics. |
| STILL PRETTY GOOD
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2. Kings 13-5
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4/3-1
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First off, the Wolves and Bucks (combined 0-7) drop a lot. Then look at Sactown, which completed the very tough Texas triple (wins at Houston, Dallas and Spurs). |
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3. Spurs 11-4
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5/2-1 |
Even with that loss, Spurs warrant the jump over winless teams. |
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4. Pistons 11-5
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6/2-1
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Not sure we think the Pistons will stay here for too long, though. But things fell right this week. If they lose Tuesday to Cleveland... |
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5. Mavericks 12-6
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7/3-1
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So desperate for big men not named Shawn Bradley that Wang Zhi Zhi will be hack-a-Shacking this week. |
| UM, WHAT HAPPENED?
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6. Wolves 10-5
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2/0-3
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Don't totally give up on them yet. But the telling stat is scoring 76 and 75 points in losses at the L.A. teams. |
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7. Bucks 9-5
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3/0-4
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Mason's grumbling. The over/under was probably not five weeks. Of course, maybe he just wants to win. |
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NOT QUITE FINALS-READY
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8. Raptors 11-7
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8/2-1
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Avoided losing to Memphis, but then allowed defensive juggernaut Boston to hold them to 69 points? Holy Hakeem!
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9. Suns 12-7
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14/4-0
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Admit it, you thought this team wouldn't be good. Now the Suns and Nets are both playing .600 ball. |
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WHOLE LOTTA EAST
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10. Celtics 9-6
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16/4-0
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Won at Orlando, Jersey and Toronto. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't playoff bound, but that's a nice week. |
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11. Nets 10-6
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10/1-1
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Slow week getting ready for Marbury-Kidd I (post trade). |
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12. Magic 9-9
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11/2-1
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They can play without Hill as long as Pat Garrity keeps putting up 18 and 7. |
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13. 76ers 8-8
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9/1-2
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OK, you explain home losses to Memphis and Washington, teams with two road wins at the time. |
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14. Pacers 10-10
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15/2-2
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Jamaal Tinsley gets 15 and 12 when Travis Best doesn't play. Um, it's only 7 and 7 when Best does. And Best is back. |
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WE'RE NOT CONVINCED
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15. Blazers 9-8
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17/2-1
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Dale Davis dropped 25 and 16 on the Bucks. So, still think Ervin Johnson is enough? Back to Blazers: Rick Brunson is not better than Damon. |
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16. Sonics 9-10
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18/2-2
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Hard to explain why Vin Baker is playing so well. When they said he was in shape, admit it, you didn't listen either. |
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17. Knicks 9-9
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19/2-1
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With Camby back this team is much better. Sprewell appears the most rejuvenated. |
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18. Rockets 7-11
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12/0-4
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What did you expect? Francis does it all for them. Moochie? Oscar Torres? C'mon. |
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19. Hornets 7-9
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13/1-2
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The Cleveland loss convinced us we were misranking them. Playing Lee Nailon 35 minutes was more proof. |
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PLAYOFFS? FUH-GET ABOUT IT |
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20. Nuggets 7-9
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21/1-1
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Amazing. Issel can't figure out why LaFrentz is in trade talks. Maybe if he were signed long-term... |
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21. Clippers 8-9
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23/2-1
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Still can't figure out why Odom's been so average, but apparently Olowokandi getting in trouble is good for his game. |
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22. Jazz 6-11
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22/1-2
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OK, Karl, do you wanna finish your career in Salt Lake or not? This team is no different than last year, and it won 50 games. Just win, Mailman. |
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23. Hawks 6-12
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24/1-2
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Hey, was that actually a Toni Kukoc sighting? Man, where did he come from after that first month? |
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24. Cavaliers 6-11
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25/2-1
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Speaking of sightings, what's the over/under on Zydrunas zy-breaking one of those feet again? Zy week? Zy month? |
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JUST HORRIBLE (& THE MJ SECTION)
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25. Grizzlies 4-13
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26/2-2
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Won two games this week. Will there be more? Well, it took a 16-for-28 shooting night from JDub to win one of them, which is like Haley's Comet. Think that will ever happen again? |
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26. Wizards 5-11
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27/2-1
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Won at Philly and Miami, and now that that Jordan guy is finally out, let's see Rip and Courtney beat the Spurs, Rockets and Mavs. No chance. |
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27. Warriors 7-11
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20/0-4
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Now this is more like it. Antawn misses all 11 shots in a game, there's internal griping, and oh yeah, lots of losing. |
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28. Bulls 2-13
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29/1-2
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Out of last, and it feels so good. Of course, Tim Floyd doesn't seem happy to us. What does he want, a top-10 ranking? |
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29. Heat 2-13
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28/0-3
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Heat fans can't complain: Riley's lackluster crew lost to the Bulls and at home to the Wizards. Lose to Memphis (not until after Christmas) for the triple. |
