2005-06 Power Rankings: Week 11
RANK (LAST WK) TEAM REC. COMMENT
1 (1) Pistons 29-5 Only thing left for Pistons to prove now, after spanking Spurs again, is that their iron-man starting five can stay healthy for the rest of the season.
2 (2) Spurs 28-9 The real scares? Detroit's board domination in the two games (113-62) and fears that Duncan's mobility won't get any better until he gets offseason rest.
3 (3) Mavericks 27-10 Judging by the win margin in Game 1 after the big demotion in Big D -- 33 points over Jersey -- Mavs players were as fed up with Dampier's lethargy as their fans.
4 (5) Suns 24-12 If you want to beat these guys these days, take them to triple overtime. Suns' only two losses in the past 11 games came in three OTs (Knicks and Nuggets).
5 (6) Grizzlies 23-12 Not sure if it's Kobe's elbow or trade rumors, but Miller has been sparked into some monster numbers lately for a Grizz group on pace to win a whopping 54.
6 (9) Heat 23-15 With the focus on Artest, Francis and Pistons v. Spurs/Kobe v. LeBron, Heat quietly assembled their best week all season, capped by the win at red-hot Utah.
7 (8) Pacers 20-15 Pacers are 10-6 against the West and getting Stephen Jackson's best without Artest: 20-plus points in six of his past seven games -- after just four previously all season.
8 (10) Jazz 19-18 The way Jazz are flowing, on an 8-1 run until Saturday's home setback to Miami, perhaps it's better that Boozer needs more time before making his comeback.
9 (4) Nets 19-15 Three straight losses to bring a thudding end to their hot streak, all without Jefferson, reconfirm that two out of three of their stars ain't enough for Nets.
10 (12) Lakers 20-17 Kobe's critics have quieted down because now he's racking up wins, too. But why should he shoot less when Lakers are 0-7 when Odom takes 15 or more shots?
11 (7) Cavaliers 20-15 The last time Hughes played, Cavs beat Detroit. Without him, Cavs posted an 0-4 week with a bad home loss to Knicks and three discouraging road near-misses.
12 (11) Bucks 19-16 It's gotten to the (worrying) point that Bucks are winning only the close ones. They're up to 9-0 in games decided by three points or fewer, but mired in a 4-7 funk overall.
13 (13) Clippers 19-14 As if the evaporation of their darling status wasn't sufficiently problematic, Clips (mainly their coach) have to mend fences with Maggette after the near-trade to Indy.
14 (15) Nuggets 19-19 It might not be enough to get him to the All-Star Game in a crowded West frontcourt, but 'Melo's ongoing surge has Camby-less Nuggets at a healthy 5-2 in 2006.
15 (16) 76ers 18-18 One more shot from Iverson on Dec. 18 and he'd have broken Rick Barry's record for most consecutive games to start a season with at least 20 shots: 35 in 1974-75.
16 (17) Hornets 17-19 I don't know if it was the prudent course, but C-Paul's speedy return from torn thumb ligaments -- after sitting out just one game -- will only spawn more ROY fawning.
17 (18) Timberwolves 17-17 Call them our anti-Bucks. Wolves have clawed back to .500, but they're a demoralizing 0-5 in games decided by three points or fewer.
18 (20) Wizards 16-19 The lineup shakeup of the under-fire Jordan seems to be working. But before anyone gets too carried away, remember that two of those three wins came against Atlanta.
19 (19) Raptors 13-24 Didn't really expect Raps to make it two straight weeks in the teens. But they have -- helped by this week's upbeat words from Bosh about sticking around.
20 (14) Warriors 17-19 The way they're sliding now, with the team's effort perhaps waning as well, Montgomery is in trouble whether or not Warriors can complete an Artest deal.
21 (25) Knicks 13-22 After a rough 2005, the new year is going so well that even the famously pessimistic Larry Brown has to smile. Wins over Suns, Cavs and Mavs will do that.
22 (21) Bulls 15-21 All the fuss about Gordon's role (starting or sixth man?) and future (on the block or not?) has spared Chandler from a national inquest into his anemic production.
23 (23) Kings 15-21 Kings used to be virtually automatic at home. The norm at Arco now is giving up 100 points, which, for the first time since '93, has happened in 10 straight home dates.
24 (29) Trail Blazers 13-24 Don't like to nitpick after three straight wins, but Portland is still just 8-4 when Zach scores 20. Which means Zach hasn't had a 20-point game since 2005. Why?
25 (26) Celtics 14-22 If you like speculation above all else, this is your team. Because now, on top of the never-ending Pierce chatter, calls for a coaching change are a constant, too.
26 (24) SuperSonics 15-22 If Sonics don't have Ray Allen in uniform -- or Jesus Shuttlesworth -- let's face it. Probably doesn't matter who the coach is in those circumstances.
27 (22) Magic 13-22 As more than one Magic fan has reminded me in the wake of the Francis suspension, the locals don't refer to this franchise as the Orlando Tragic without good cause.
28 (30) Bobcats 11-26 When you miss eight games, then reaggravate your ankle injury in your first game back like Okafor did, you will find it hard to hush the sophomore jinx talk.
29 (27) Rockets 12-23 It doesn't show in the standings, with Rockets now 0-13 in games McGrady misses or can't finish, but Juwan has averaged a game 25 and 12 since T-Mac's latest setback.
30 (28) Hawks 9-26 Only one team has fewer than 10 victories and this is it. But here's a surprise: Hawks were somehow leading the league in 3-point percentage until this week.
