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Team/Record
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Last week
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Skinny
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CLOSE AT THE TOP |
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1. Kings 40-13
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1/4-2 |
Still strolling along with league's top mark, and incredible 28-2 home record (yeah, so they lost another one). Right now there's nothing to do but get the top record. And maybe give some old guys like Vlade a break. Actually, he's the only old one. |
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2. Wolves 36-17
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6/4-1
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Big jump from 6, but we'll explain. Lakers and Nets slumped and Wolves won at Dallas without Mr. Garnett. With Brandon out Billups is really enjoying playing lead guard. |
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3. Lakers 35-16
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2/2-4
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OK, no excuses any more. No more of the 'we'll turn it on in the playoffs.' The free ride is over. You can't lose at home to Chicago, Atlanta and Boston. You just can't. |
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4. Mavericks 37-17
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4/4-3
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Still a first-place team, but you get the feeling Cuban knows he needs more help in the paint. Especially when Dirk and Finley combine to shoot 5 for 29. |
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5. Spurs 31-16
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5/3-2 |
Basically, other than Duncan, nobody on this team is playing well lately. Once in a while Admiral does something, but the guards, the Smiths, everyone looks tired. That said, they've won three straight thanks to Duncan. |
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6. Nets 35-17
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3/3-3
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A bit of a bump in the road, but we probably should have expected it. They end up here, with the fifth-best record, at No. 6, and still five games up for East's top mark. |
| CHALLENGERS TO THE THRONE
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7. Jazz 30-24
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13/5-1
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Wow, where did this come from? Mailman looks like he's 30 again! Jazz went East and feasted, winning in Indy, Philly, Toronto and showing that this three-week trip from home is no big deal. |
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8. Celtics 31-23
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10/4-3
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Great win in L.A., combined with win at Portland highlights up-and-down fortnight (loss to Warriors). |
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9. Blazers 28-24
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11/3-3
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What will they do before the trade deadline? Many players in the news, but we think they'll stand pat, especially since they look like a safe playoff team. Imagine if Bonzi was on the Bulls, how many points would he score? |
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10. 76ers 26-26
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8/2-3
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Definitely a cold team, but certainly playing better than Milwaukee. Sixers need to be healthy, and Iverson, Coleman and others aren't. |
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11. Bucks 29-22
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9/2-4
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Home losses to everyone who visits (Charlotte, Miami, Cleveland) is not a good way to show George Karl you care. |
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JORDAN SECTION
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12. Wizards 27-24
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12/3-3
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Beat the Kings, lost to Rockets among noteworthy games, but the most important thing is the situation with Jordan's knee. If he's out for more than a game or two, forget it. This isn't like the Wolves winning without KG. |
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NOT REALLY HORRIBLE |
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13. Raptors 29-26
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7/1-6
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Let's put it this way: In the 19 games before Vince Carter hit the injured list, he led the team in scoring 17 times. Since he's been out, the team has lost every game. Something about the words Alvin Williams and go-to guy don't mesh. |
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14. Pistons 29-22
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18/5-1
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Hottest team in the East and suddenly tied for first in the Central, they won at Jersey and beat Philly. People gave up on them, but they can be dangerous. |
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15. Magic 27-25
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14/3-1
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Nice schedule (Cavs, Knicks, Rockets) but Magic are going to be up and down all season. One of numerous probable East playoff teams that could be a 3 seed or lottery bound. |
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16. Sonics 28-25
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16/5-2
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Playing inspired ball, although two of those wins were over dying Phoenix and one over Golden State. The losses: Mavs and Lakers. |
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17. Clippers 26-28
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15/2-3
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We hate to keep harping on this, but that 20-10 home mark is wonderful (and the 20 wins is third-most in West) but a 6-18 road record is almost the same as Memphis, Cleveland and Golden State. |
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18. Heat 21-30
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17/3-2
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Lost in the recovery of this team, with all the talk of Riley and Zo and whatever else is the top-20 play of Eddie Jones. |
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19. Hornets 26-26
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20/3-3
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Jamal is back! Jamal is back! Now the Hornets have to prove to a nonexistent fan base that having Mashburn back actually matters. |
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20. Pacers 26-27
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19/1-3
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They certainly looked like they had to do something. And really, with Jermaine putting up 18 and 10, how much better does getting Brad Miller really make him? Can he score 22 a night? |
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21. Suns 25-28
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21/1-5
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We wanted to drop them, but which team deserves to pass them? Exactly. Suns gave up on Skiles and then Skiles gave up on them. And they, not the Pacers, really need a shake-'em-up trade. |
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ONE WORD: LOTTERY
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22. Rockets 18-34
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23/2-2
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In the Monday afternoon game against Washington, Francis was a game-time decision. Then he played great and the Rockets won. If he doesn't play, just forget it. Doug Collins called this a playoff team with Francis. Not sure about that. |
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23. Knicks 20-31
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22/2-4
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Um, no, they haven't exactly turned the corner yet. The Kurt Thomas-Weatherspoon pairing is nice, except not at center and probably not for a starting spot. |
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24. Hawks 19-34
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24/4-2
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Check out Shareef's numbers in February. They're Jordan-like. Um, the old Jordan. Meanwhile, it's official: Theo is about as brittle as it gets. |
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25. Cavaliers 18-34
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26/4-2
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Apparently there is life in this team. And thanks for showing up, Tyrone Hill. We didn't want our last memory of you being your horrid play in the NBA Finals. |
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MAKE US CRINGE |
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26. Nuggets 16-34
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25/3-3
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We can understand trying to deal away Van Exel, but isn't LaFrentz one of the top five centers in the league, considering his total game. Can any other center get five blocks and five threes in the same game? |
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27. Bulls 12-40
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27/2-4
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You've gotta like the Rose deal from Chicago's perspective. Rose and Best will always have the ball and should end up scoring at least 35 points a night and maybe more. And now the kiddies really can take it easy. We do feel a bit badly for Charles Oakley, though. Just let the poor guy go already. |
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28. Grizzlies 15-38
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29/2-4
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They're better with Brevin at point, face it. The guy can get double-digit dimes off the bench. |
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29. Warriors 15-35
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28/1-4
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Not sure if you should feel bad for Marc Jackson or the Warriors here. Bottom line is, this situation isn't working and a decent player isn't playing. And JRich definitely has a future.
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