It was nice while it lasted, but the Knicks’ meteoric rise in our weely NBA power rankings is over.
Their current free-fall - from a season-high No. 7 ranking, all the way down to No. 16 - hasn’t been totally unexpected. It’s been a combination of Carmelo Anthony’s return to the lineup, Jeremy Lin’s return to Earth and playing against better competition. Add it all up and the Knicks have lost six of their last nine games going into Friday's contest against the Bucks in Milwaukee.
Linsanity, it was nice knowing ya.
How we see the NBA, from top to bottom:
1. Miami (Last Week: 1)
Big stretch for LeBron James and Co. to get a grip on the top spot in the East. Starting Saturday, the Heat’s next five games over six days: Home for Indiana, at Orlando, at Chicago, at Philadelphia and home for Orlando.
2. Chicago (LW: 2)
Bulls didn’t get six-game homestand off to a good start, losing to Orlando. Knicks and Heat visit United Center next week.
3. Oklahoma City (LW: 3)
Thunder gets its one and only look of the season at Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving on Friday night in OKC.
4. San Antonio (LW: 4)
When the Spurs get to play a crippled team like the Knicks - without Tyson Chandler and Jared Jeffries - they look like they can take anyone.
5.? Orlando (LW: 8)
After posting a critical win in Chicago, Magic get to tackle the Pacers, Heat, Spurs (on the road), Heat (in Miami) and Chicago over next 10 days.
6.? Memphis (LW: 11)
What are they doing this high? Their five-game winning streak has vaulted the Grizzlies into third place in the West.
7.? L.A. Clippers (LW: 5)
Chris Paul had it right after more defensive lapses killed his team in an embarrassing loss to the Nets in Newark: “There’s no reason for us to get down to this team by 18.’’
8. Indiana (LW: 6)
George Hill has never looked better for the Pacers than since returning from an ankle injury.
9. Philadelphia (LW: 14)
The Sixers have to take care of Utah at home before they can solidify their hold on the Atlantic Division with a win over the Knicks on Sunday in the Garden.
10.? Dallas (LW: 12)
The struggling Lamar Odom is not getting along with the most important person on the Mavs: owner Mark Cuban. That’s not good for Mr. Kardashian.
11. Atlanta (LW: 13)
Sure the Celtics want Josh Smith. Why wouldn’t they? But the Hawks are not making major changes until the off-season.
12.? Lakers (LW: 9)
Getting ready for their showdown Sunday vs. the Celtics, it’s all about how Kobe Bryant and Co. can’t score. The Lakers averaged 101.5 points last season under Phil Jackson, ninth in the NBA. They’re at 93.9 ppg under Mike Brown, 21st in the NBA.
13. Minnesota (LW: 17)
With Kevin Love playing like an MVP candidate, the T-wolves are two games over .500 for the first time this late in the season since 2004-05.
14. Boston (LW: 18)
Check out Sunday’s game in L.A. because it will be the Big Three’s last one against the Lakers.
15. Houston (LW: 10)
Rockets are 0-for-March entering Saturday’s game in Newark. They’ve lost five straight, with their last victory Feb. 28 vs. Toronto.
16. Knicks (LW: 7)
Nothing lasts forever, or even two months: Lin has gone from the cover of Sports Illustrated two weeks in a row to a potential entry in Faces in the Crowd.
17.? Denver (LW: 15)
When they lost to the Cavs, allowing Kyrie Irving’s fullcourt dash and layup in the last seconds, the Nuggets saw the end of their perfect record vs. Eastern Conference teams. They’re now 9-1.
18. Portland (LW: 16)
Blazers have lost eight of 12 and are on the road for six more games. You bet the ship is sinking.
19. Utah (LW: 20)
The party is over for the Jazz on their Eastern Conference swing. After wins in Cleveland and Charlotte, the competition gets tougher with a back-to-back in Philly Friday and Chicago on Saturday.
20. Phoenix (LW: 21)
To get the final playoff spot in the West, the Suns are going to have to make a major trade before next week’s deadline and that’s not happening
21. Cleveland (LW: 23)
If the Cavs didn’t have to play teams in the East, they’d be OK. They’re 6-6 vs. the West, only 8-17 in their own conference.
22. Golden State (LW: 19)
After seeing his team mail in their game against Memphis, Mark Jackson went on the attack, saying about his team’s woeful effort: “You don’t want to have to coach energy, effort and passion.’’ Perfectly said.
23. Milwaukee (LW: 22)
The Bucks lost the season series to the Bulls, 4-0, when they had no one to stop Derrick Rose at the buzzer.
24. Nets (LW: 24)
I’ll be stunned - and so will everyone else, starting with Avery Johnson - if Dwight Howard is in a Net uniform the day after the trading deadline, playing his old Magic team down in Orlando.
25.? Detroit (LW: 26)
Lawrence Frank getting high marks from his boss, Joe Dumars, on changing the culture in Piston-land. That’s yet to be reflected in the record, of course.
26.? Sacramento (LW: 25)
They’re getting a new arena in Sacramento, at least that’s the plan. Now they just need a new team to sell the place out.
27. Toronto (LW: 27)
They’re the best team in Canada, if that’s any consolation.
28. Washington (LW: 29)
They used a bunch of backups to snap their nine-game losing streak to the Lakers.
29. New Orleans (LW: 28)
Since returning from the All-Star break, the Hornets have lost five of six.
30. Charlotte (LW: 30)
When Charles Barkley starts criticizing his best buddy, Michael Jordan, then you know Jordan has done a rotten job with his Bobcats.
Wright By:kevin,Tags:ed hardyed hardy clothingChristian Audigier
No comments:
Post a Comment