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NBA

NBA Power Rankings: Hornets on the Rise, Celtics in a Free Fall

Posted Jan 07, 2009 9:00AM By Brett Pollakoff (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Cavaliers, Celtics, Hornets, Lakers, NBA Power Rankings

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NBA Power Rankings: Ours is much more of an emotional look than most. Recent events matter, and long-term projections are (mostly) ignored. After all, no one wants to simply read the Vegas odds for winning the title each week, right?

In this week's edition, the New Orleans Hornets make the biggest jump, leaping into the top three after winning five of their last six, and taking out the Lakers last night in Los Angeles. The Lakers aren't the only top team with a recent loss, however: let's not forget LeBron and the Crab Dribble Caper that went down the other day in Washington. And then, of course, we have the Celtics.

There's no other way to say it: Boston is in a complete free fall. After losing to the sub-.500 Bobcats last night, they're just 2-5 in their last seven after starting the season with that glowing 27-2 record. It's unclear whether the losses of James Posey and P.J. Brown are starting to catch up with them, or whether teams are no longer intimidated by the Celtics' questionable tactics. But something's not right with them right now, and the Rankings reflect that.

How far did the Hornets rise? How far did the Celtics drop? Only one way to find out, and that's by checking out where we've placed all 30 teams, after the jump.


  • 1. Lakers (27-6) | Prev.: 1
    What, just because they lost to a solid Hornets team you expected a drop from the top spot? Not with Cleveland losing to the Wizards and the Celtics in a free fall. But if Lamar Odom's knee injury keeps him out for any length of time, the Lakers' upcoming schedule will drop them soon enough. (BP)
  • 2. Cavaliers (27-6) | Prev.: 2
    Don't look now, but the Cavs have overtaken the Celtics for best record in the East. Can they keep it up with Big Z on the shelf for the net four weeks? (Matt Watson)
  • 3. Hornets (21-10) | Prev.: 13
    The timing of them finding their ceiling is a pretty delicate matter. If they hit in February, it's too early, if they hit in April, it might be too late due to homecourt advantage. One thing I can tell you is that David West has rediscovered how to play basketball. The storm clouds are gathering. (Matt Moore)
  • 4. Spurs (23-11) | Prev.: 4
    I keep waiting for them to run out of ridiculous strokes of good fortune. Then you see things like the ball bouncing directly to Tony Parker in the Philadelphia game with a second left and you realize Pop's got a few more rabbit feet in his pockets. (MM)
  • 5. Magic (27--8) | Prev.: 7
    Dwight Howard had his biggest game of the year in Toronto, putting up 39 points and grabbing eight rebounds ... and his team lost to the Raptors in spite of it. (BP)
  • 6. Pistons (21-11) | Prev.: 4
    How far has Rodney Stuckey come this year? If he opened the season in the starting lineup, he'd be an All-Star this year. Believe it. (MW)
  • 7. Hawks (22-11) | Prev.: 4
    Only loss in their last eight was on that 35-foot three-pointer from Vince Carter, at the buzzer, in overtime, on the road. I think they can deal with that. (BP)
  • 8. Celtics (29-7) | Prev.: 3
    This is that scene in the movie where the invincible villain discovers he's mortal and is bleeding from the mouth. (MM)
  • 9. Mavericks (21-13) | Prev.: 10
    Apparently, Memphis on a Saturday night is extremely detrimental to a visiting NBA team. How else do you explain a 20-point loss to the Grizzlies? (BP)
  • 10. Suns (19-12) | Prev.: 8
    Played just a single game in the past week, and it was at home against the undermanned (understatement) Clippers. I'd say idle hands and all that, but the J-Rich thing actually went down before Christmas. (BP)

  • 11. Nuggets (24-12) | Prev.: 12
    Missing Carmelo Anthony for three weeks will not only hurt -- it's going to make Linas Kleiza a lot more expensive this summer. (TZ)
  • 12. Blazers (20-14) | Prev.: 9
    Smoke this, smoke that -- just know there's no way we get through a full season without some tinkering from Kevin Pritchard. Last trade deadline saw only minor activity, but all these underused assets pray for salvation by trade, and no GM is more active. (TZ)
  • 13. Rockets (21-15) | Prev.: 11
    There once was a man named McGrady. Who's immune system was certainly shady. He couldn't get well, and the playoffs were hell, so the media all piled on him and Ron Artest started pointing fingers and the fans turned on him and life just kind of sucked. What? Even a limerick about McGrady can't end right. (MM)
  • 14. Heat (18-15) | Prev.: 14
    Begin a seven-game roadie tonight in Denver (on ESPN, no less). Could return with a record under .500, or with a swagger that carries them the rest of the season. You know, either way. (BP)
  • 15. Jazz (20-15) | Prev.: 15
    Paul Millsap's a hero, but without Carlos Boozer the Jazz can't approach the domination we've seen the last two seasons. Even then, it's hard to imagine Utah challenging a Lakers team that whomped them last year and has gotten better. (TZ)
  • 16. Bucks (17-19) | Prev.: 16
    Maybe the Bucks are better than their record suggests, but until they win a game against the Cavaliers or Pistons, it's tough to take them seriously. (MW)
  • 17. Nets (17-18) | Prev.: 17
    Must... stay above water... until... Devin Harris' hamstring...heals... (MM)
  • 18. Bulls (15-20) | Prev.: 18
    Banning pre-game peanut butter sandwiches may seem like an odd way to spark this team, but it's better than Scott Skiles' old trick: benching Ben Gordon. (MW)
  • 19. Knicks (13-20) | Prev.: 19
    You know, if the universe ends in early June, 2010, there's going to be a lot of pissed off Knicks fans in heaven (or otherwise). (MM)
  • 20. Bobcats (13-22) | Prev.: 24
    Is beating the Celtics even a big deal anymore? When MJ shows up for the game and you're nine games under .500, um, yeah, it is. (BP)

  • 21. Raptors (14-21) | Prev.: 22
    This team needs its own in-depth novel detailing how it went from a possible Eastern Conference contender with an MVP candidate to a desperate mess in less than a month. (MM)
  • 22. Pacers (12-22) | Prev.: 21
    Danny Granger is the only thing keeping Conseco Fieldhouse from imploding in a vacuum of suck. (MW)
  • 23. Sixers (14-20) | Prev.: 20
    Hey, Philly. I can tell you why can't you now. (MM)
  • 24. Grizzlies (11-24) | Prev.: 23
    Realize this. They're hanging with good teams. They're being competitive. They're improving. They have multiple stars. They're exciting to watch. Their coach is figuring out how to coach. And it will be hard for them to go wrong in the draft plus they'll have a top pick. Losin' ain't so bad in a city with that much blues, especially with brighter times ahead. (MM)
  • 25. Kings (8-28) | Prev.: 25
    The Kings were pretty much unwatchable for a month. But with Kevin Martin threatening to drop 50 any given night, Sacramento has gotten back to its expected "terrible but fun" form. (TZ)
  • 26. Clippers (8-26) | Prev.: 26
    Losers of eight straight, but anyone chanting "fire Dunleavy" has no idea what's going on. This team has a D-League roster and has taken teams like Detroit and Dallas down to the wire. Eric Gordon has put up career highs of 31 and 32 in his last two games. If and when Clippers fans, if and when. (BP)
  • 27. Wizards (7-26) | Prev.: 28
    Love the fact that no matter how bad this team has been, they stepped up and beat the Cavaliers -- for rivalry's sake -- while mocking the whole "crab dribble" thing. Just fantastic. (BP)
  • 28. Warriors (10-26) | Prev.: 27
    They've won their last two home games against Toronto and Boston. Problem? They've lost eight of their last nine on the road. (BP)
  • 29. Thunder (5-30) | Prev.: 29
    It's sad that while Boston leaves its Trail to 70, OKC can't shake its pace. Ah well. Nenad Krstic will be starting before the week ends. (TZ)
  • 30. Timberwolves (9-25) | Prev.: 30
    Just close your eyes and dream of the future, when Nikola Perovic will be destroying the St. Paul club scene. (TZ)

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