Power Rankings - Week 3

The Way of the Hornets



Chris Paul and the Hornets move to the top after torching the Spurs Saturday night.
Who would have thought?







Hero Team of the Week: New Orleans Hornets (8 straight wins)
Zero Team of the Week: Seattle Supersonics (14 straight losses)

High Jumps of the Week: +5 Magic, +3 Knicks
Free Falls of the Week: -5 Blazers, -5 Warriors

1) New Orleans Hornets (3) - After a 24-point win over the home of the Spurs, I was thinking: The Hornets are the best team in the West. Tough schedule this week, as they fight 3 of the high-powered teams in the West.

2) Phoenix Suns (1) - Steve Nash and co. marred their perfect week at an ugly loss in Minnesota. That dropped them to the second spot.


3) Boston Celtics (2) - The Boston Celtics had lost to Toronto and Magic(w/o Garnett due to abdominal strain) this week, and a one-point win over Minnesota wasn't convincing on the part of the league's best team.


4) Dallas Mavericks (4) - After their most lop-sided loss of the season against the Wizards, they came back with three straight wins against Charlotte, LA, and Denver.


5) San Antonio Spurs (6) - The Spurs are still thinking about their latest loss. Maybe it's not the right time as they fight the Boozer-powered Jazz and the Nash-ty Suns this week.

6) Los Angeles Lakers (4) - Three straight losses to the league's most gifted teams, and the frontcourt needs more than a bunch of turnovers. And oh, passing when open is not good.

7) Detroit Pistons (9) - Detroit is regaining its veteran-team mentality as they held Orlando and Sixers under 100 points this week.

8) Orlando Magic (13) - Very tough games played this week, but they both won over Detroit and Boston.

9) Cleveland Cavaliers (12) - Winners of 8 of their last 10 games, the Cavs are bringing themselves up into the rankings again.

10) Denver Nuggets - They are 2-1 without Carmelo Anthony, the only loss coming against Dallas. But what's alarming is that they would lose another big man, Nene, who was known to have cancer.

11) Portland Trailblazers (6) - The Blazers are coming back down to earth and fighting Cleveland and New York won't help them to stay in the top next week.

12) Golden State Warriors (7) - Nothing could be more ugly than losing to Minnesota. Fighting the Rockets, New Orleans, and Charlotte would mean one word: "declination".

13) Utah Jazz - The Jazz are jelling very well and no one would want to face this team that's on a streak right now.

14) Washington Wizards (10) - Maybe they don't need Gilbert Arenas now, they are getting stronger and stronger and they are not afraid to play as a team. But the test this week is against Toronto and Utah.

15) Houston Rockets (16) - McGrady is back, and they are playing like the same team with energy this season. Expect the Rockets to play their best basketball of their lives.

16) Toronto Raptors (17) - A win against Boston proved to be the best win they had all season. This week would be another acid test for them as they square both the Arenas-less Wizards and the Bynum-less Lakers.

17) Charlotte Bobcats (17) - Saturday's loss to the Sixers made their coach question their hearts about basketball. Maybe it was the intangibles to blame?

18) New York Knicks (21) - If anyone would be a surprise next season, it would be this Knicks squad. They have been playing well since Marbury went out. And they don't need him, really.

19) Atlanta Hawks (18) - After an impressive first half start of the season, they are now on the brink of losing games again.

20) New Jersey Nets (19) - Nine-game losing streak. Make it 10, and expect re-shuffling of the team.

21) Sacramento Kings (20) - Kevin Martin, Mike Bibby, and Ron Artest are proving they can win against teams above .500. Charlotte and New Orleans would be a good test.

22) Chicago Bulls (20) - The Bulls are not doing much. Fire Boylan.

23) Philadelphia 76ers (25) - The Sixers are proving their worth, but not this year.

24) Milwaukee Bucks - It's very boring writing when you're in the bottom 10.

25) Indiana Pacers (23) - Like i said.

26) Memphis Grizzlies (27) - Refer to the 24.

27) Los Angeles Clippers (26) - *sleeps*

28) Minnesota Timberwolves (29) - The Wolves won 4 of the last 10 games. Maybe it seems ugly. But they already won half of their 1st ones.

29) Miami Heat (30) - At last they won. But right now, I think most Heat fans would like them to get the 1st pick.

30) Seattle Supersonics (29) - They are on pace to lose 60 games this season. Oh no. not another 1st round pick.