Time for this week’s NBA Power Poll
Music to listen to: Mass Appeal by Gang Starr
Let’s get to the teams
30- Sacramento Kings (4-14): I’ve been on the DeMarcus Cousins train since the Draft but him getting kicked out of practice and being a malcontent has to be concerning for a Kings franchise that has built good will towards its fans in the past year or so.
29- Cleveland Cavs (7-13): The Cavs losing to Miami last Thursday wasn’t surprising. Cleveland has one of the five-worst squads in relation to talent this year. There were two problems with the Cavs this past week. First was the lack of fight from the team. They could have at least knocked LeBron James down once, for the fans at least, more for their own pride. The second one was losing at Minnesota by 34 points in the next game. That shouldn’t ever happen.
28- Washington Wizards (6-13): The Wizards haven’t won a road contest yet this season (0-10).
27- New Jersey Nets (6-15): If the Nets expect to improve as a franchise, they at least have to win their division games, specifically against the Knicks.
26- Minnesota Timberwolves (5-15): How can you be first in the NBA in rebounds (47.3), yet be last in points allowed per game (108.8)?
25- Los Angeles Clippers (4-17): I recently looked up when the Atlanta Hawks are playing the Clippers so I can get an upclose look at Blake Griffin. I’ve NEVER done that for a Clipper so their fans at least have that to look forward to 41 times a year.
24- Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons (tie): I wonder which of these following players will be traded first. Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Tayshawn Prince, Rip Hamilton or Ben Gordon? Discuss
22- Golden State Warriors (8-12): Started the season strong but injuries, particularly David Lee hurt them. Lee finally is back playing but the next four games are against Dallas, San Antonio, Miami and Utah, three of which are the top-five teams in the NBA so far this season.
21- Charlotte Bobcats (7-13): Still can’t score points, currently 23rd in the NBA at 94.9 ppg but has seen its defense slip up the past few weeks. The Bobcats are only 10th in the league in points allowed per game at 97.0, which is trouble for a weak offensive squad. Plus, being 1-9 against winning squads this season isn’t helping things as well.
20- Toronto Raptors (8-12): You’re looking at the current 8th seed in the East if the playoffs started today. Yes, things are that rough.
19- Houston Rockets (7-13): Luis Scola is playing at an All-Star level but needs more offensive help if the Rockets want to reach .500.
18- Milwaukee Bucks (7-12): I’ve been bullish on the Bucks since the start of the season but do have some concerns with Andrew Bogut’s durability. He came back this past week from a setback from his injured right arm and put up 31 and 18 against Orlando so that’s a positive.
17- Portland Trailblazers (9-11): Brandon Roy isn’t right and will struggle to even make the playoffs.
16- Memphis Grizzlies (8-13): They have the talent to be a playoff team but need to resolve the OJ Mayo situation.
15- Atlanta Hawks (13-8): Joe Johnson is out for close to two months for the Hawks, yet Atlanta is still winning. Looks like the franchise could have saved itself $123 million. Just saying…
14- Indiana Pacers (9-9): Interesting past week for the Pacers. Lost at Utah and Phoenx, yet won at the Lakers and Kings. Arguably the most surprising Eastern squad this season in a positive way.
13- Phoenix Suns (11-9): Currently 8th in the West but have the same problem that prevented them from reaching the highest levels of the Conference. The Suns are first in points per game (109.8) but last in points allowed (110.4).
12- New York Knicks (12-9): Break up the Knicks! I’m a fan of the team so its good seeing the squad being above .500 at this stage of the year. What I like even more is that they’re 9-4 on the road this season.
11- New Orleans Hornets (13-7): Uncertain times in the Crescent City. The NBA is going to take over the franchise, leaving the future in New Orleans for the Hornets unknown, but on the court, the team has been 2-6 in its last eight games.
10- Chicago Bulls (10-8): Finally have Carlos Boozer back and this will allow everyone else to slot into their normal spots, which can be scary for the rest of the Eastern Conference with Derrick Rose only averaging 26 points and eight assists per game.
9- Miami Heat (13-8): The Heat are starting to look better but their lack of an effective point guard will hinder the team in a major way. I don’t think Carlos Arroyo is the answer.
8- Denver Nuggets (13-6): The Nuggets are on a seven-game winning streak, George Karl thankfully seems to be healthy and minimal talk about Carmelo Anthony being traded. Good times for the Nuggets which is helpful because seeing the debacle that the Denver Broncos have become.
7- Oklahoma City Thunder (14-7): I didn’t see how people expected this team to be the top team in the West or even have a 60+ win season. The core is too young and has holes in it. However, the emergence of Russell Westbrook may help the Thunder get close to those goals many expected possible earlier in the season.
6- Orlando Magic (15-5): Maybe Dwight Howard has been the MVP of the league so far this season. The Magic lost to Milwaukee without him and even lost to Atlanta tonight at home with his struggles.
5- Los Angeles Lakers (14-6): The Lakers go through these types of struggles every season but find a way to figure it out. However, the four-game losing streak showed that its imperative that they get Andrew Bynum back healthy if they expect to win a third consecutive NBA title.
4- Utah Jazz (15-6): My sleeper team to contend to win the West is off to an excellent start but two things concern me. First, the Jazz fall behind too many times in games and expect to come back. A top team is going to hurt them, which brings me to point two. I saw Utah’s game against Dallas on Friday and the lack of outside shooting is going to hurt the Jazz as well.
3- San Antonio Spurs (17-3): Have a league-high 17 wins but losses are to New Orleans, Dallas and at the Clippers.
2- Boston Celtics (16-4): Top team in the East and no one seems close to topping them.
1- Dallas Mavs (16-4): Have wins over San Antonio, Boston and Utah so far this season. They looked potentially dominant in their performance over Utah on Friday. Dirk was doing his usual MVP-level performance, Jason Kidd was hitting his open shots and Tyson Chandler was providing the essential presence inside, etc. If Caron Butler rounds into form, they can finish with the best record in the league.
Those are my thoughts, what are yours?
The Sports Inquirer 
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