| 1. Dallas Mavericks (12-4) | (↑ 1)
Since playing the Spurs, Avery Johnson and his men have simply brushed their opponents aside. As long as they can keep themselves from being too complacent, this streak shouldn’t end for at least two more games after which Detroit, Denver, Utah and the Lakers await. This stretch should determine the Mavs’ legitimacy. |
 | 2. Orlando Magic (13-4) | (↑ 3)
Dwight Howard and Brian Hill both collected hardware for their efforts last month whilst in the midst of a western roadtrip in which they’ve yet to lose. Dwight now has two eastern conference POTM awards and he doesn’t turn 21 until the Pistons head into O-town on Friday. Hopefully he’ll stay away from the alcohol. |
 | 3. Utah Jazz (14-4) | (↓ 2)
The Jazz finally looked like a team comprised of normal humans this week as manchild Dwight Howard left his imprint on EnergySolutions Arena and the one and only Kobe Bryant toyed with the bevy of Jazz defenders who had the unenviable task of trying to guard him. The Sonics stuck around too but fell 1.6 seconds short. |
 | 4. LA Lakers (11-5) | (↑ 2)
Arthroscopic what? Kobe turned in a KB8-esque performance against human spider Andrei Kirilenko and company in a dreamy end to the month of November. On a non-Kobe note; Luke Walton and his 63% three point shooting have made him the Lakers’ third best player. |
 | 5. San Antonio Spurs (12-5) | (↓ 2)
Old man parity had a tea-party with Tim Duncan this week as Andris Biedrins basically matched him point-for-point, rebound for rebound, assist for assist and block for block. Tony Parker had a good week for reasons even everybody’s grandmother would know. |
 | 6. Houston Rockets (11-5) | (↓ 2)
The Rockets had a good week going 2-1 but have yet to prove that they belong. The Rockets won all the games they were supposed to win last month but the only significant win against an “elite” squad they’ve had to date is their thumping of Dallas a month ago. Is there anybody on this planet who doesn’t like Chuck Hayes? |
 | 7. Detroit Pistons (11-5) | (↑ 1)
Winning eight games on the trot is pretty impressive even in the east but the list of victims isn’t so impressive. Two back-to-back road games against Dallas and Orlando aren’t going to be fun at all but it’s an opportunity to win some big-time respect.
|
 | 8. Denver Nuggets (10-5) | (↓ 1)
The league’s highest powered offense continues to roll, with Andre Miller, Marcus Camby and JR Smith impressing in Melo’s now-gigantic shadow. Reggie Evans is grabbing the right kind of balls too this season and is still the NBA’s best per minute glass cleaner. |
 | 9. Phoenix Suns (9-6) | (↑ 6)
Welcome back Amare and he looks like he’s going to be delivering some of that 20/10 love for a long time to come. Raja Bell is obviously sick…44 treys on the season and 29 of those came in the last six games. Not surprisingly, Phoenix has won their last six games. |
 | 10. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-7) | (↓ 1)
What does a guy need to do to get some help? Larry Hughes and Zydrunas Ilgauskas are averaging one point per million dollars they are being paid and Larry Hughes barely plays at all. Luckily, LeBron James is still putting up King James numbers and keeping the Cavs in what is currently a three-horse race. |
 | 11. Sacramento Kings (8-7) | (↓ 1)
After a Gilbert Arenas like one of eight, two point, three TO performance; everybody’s favorite beanpole player; Kevin Martin bounced back shooting like his efficient self. Funnily enough, the Kings won in Martin’s two point effort but came up short the other two nights. |
 | 12. Golden State Warriors (9-8) | (↓ 1)
Losing to Milwaukee and Indiana at home, Don Nelson is still one win short of 1,200 wins mostly because he’s not getting consistent production from his players.
|
 | 13. Indiana Pacers (9-9) | (↑ 3)
Default. It’s a word that only works two ways; either it hurts you or it doesn’t. Indiana moved up this week despite going 2-3 on a grueling road trip thanks to the poor play of other teams hovering around 0.500. |
 | 14. LA Clippers (7-8) | (↓ 1)
The Clippers don’t look like a contending team and have resumed their role as the Lakers’ lesser counterparts. Elton Brand is averaging a career low in points and shooting from the charity stripe. |
 | 15. New Orleans Hornets (8-8) | (↓ 3)
They haven’t won in almost two weeks despite Chris Paul dropping a 25, 11, 18, 5 steal, 1 block (7 TO) performance on the Bulls. The Hornets can’t afford to wait till their next home game for another W. |
 | 16. Chicago Bulls (7-9) | (↑ 9)
It must be the headband (or lack of one). Ben Wallace hasn’t averaged less than 10 boards and 2 blocks per since the 2000-2001 season. Whether he likes it not, the other Ben plays much better off the pine. |
 | 17. New Jersey Nets (7-9) | (↑ 3)
If there’s ever a good time for the Nets to get rolling; it’s now. Their next five games are at home, Josh Boone has 1:38 more NBA experience than he did last week and Jason Kidd is pushing his rebound and assist averages closer and closer to 10 per. |
 | 18. Miami Heat (7-9) | (↑ 5)
They still aren’t playing like champions should be but managed to go 2-1 for the week. Dwyane Wade out-battled Allen Iverson’s 45 point outburst by stuffing the statsheet in typical Dwyane fashion. |
 | 19. Atlanta Hawks (6-8) | (-)
Joe Johnson had the best statistical week of probably almost every single NBA player but you know something’s not right when two of your top three scorers are called Tyronn Lue and Zaza Pachulia. All those first-rounders need to start delivering.
|
 | 20. Minnesota Timberwolves (6-9) | (↓ 6)
Dallas, Houston and Denver aren’t going to top anybody’s list of favorite teams to play so we can’t blame anybody. What’s up with Ricky Davis taking only 12 shots per game? He and Kobe must be having some kind of “who can win the most games with the least shots” competition.
|
 | 21. Toronto Raptors (7-10) | (↑ 7)
The Raptors had a phenomenal 4-1 week with Chris Bosh continuing his Kevin Garnett impersonations and Andrea Bargnani is actually playing meaningful minutes on a nightly basis. |
 | 22. Seattle Supersonics (7-11) | (↓ 4)
Well, the Sonics didn’t have as bad a week as the drop suggests since losing to San Antonio, Orlando and coming within two points of Utah isn’t much to be ashamed about these days. |
 | 23. Milwaukee Bucks (6-10) | (↑ 4)
Mo Williams deserves a bit of love. He’s filling up the boxscore and is relishing his role as the Bucks’ second best player while fans wait for Bogut to breakout and CV to return. |
 | 24. Washington Wizards (6-10) | (↑ 6)
Forget the Gilbert Arenas hoopla; Caron Butler is kicking ass. 18.4 points, 8.3 boards and 3 dimes per gets him some serious H4L love. Too bad the Wizards aren’t really winning.
|
 | 25. Boston Celtics (5-10) | (↓ 3)
Well, just imagine if Al Jefferson, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Rajon Rondo all break out at the same time. Not likely but it must be the only thought that keeps Paul Pierce sane. |
 | 26. New York Knicks (6-13) | (-)
They’re in their prime but Steph and Steve combined are averagining numbers that one of them probably could have put up on their own three years ago. |
 | 27. Portland Trailblazers (6-12) | (↓ 10)
Zach Randolph is a beast and deserves an All-Star berth but the young Blazers will have to elevate their game if they want to help ZBo get in. |
 | 28. Philadelphia 76ers (5-11) | (↓ 7)
Veteran AI is still going on strong ten years after entering the NBA but it’s about time the younger AI was given the keys to the franchise. |
 | 29. Memphis Grizzlies (4-12) | (↓ 5)
Whilst Pau Gasol was missing, we were able to learn that Hakim Warrick was able to transfer his inner beast from Syracuse to Memphis and the Rudy Gay is going to make Jerry West’s GM status more legendary than it already is. |
 | 30. Charlotte Bobcats (4-12) | (↓ 1)
At least somebody from the Bobcats is winning something. Congrats to Ammo for being the least worst of the east’s rooks. |
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