Red, White, and Blue Power Rankings: 11/25-12/1
By Dante Nelson
Well November is over and done with. We’ve got lawsuits, first wins of the season, players returning from injury, and more jokes from yours truly! I guess I just decided to change the layout for the rankings today. You’ll still get your regular content; just delivered a different way.
Are ya ready? Okay well let’s go!
Nov 30, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Philadelphia 76ers point guard Jrue Holiday (11) shoots the ball against the Charlotte Bobcats during the second half at Time Warner Cable Arena. The 76ers defeated the Bobcats 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE
Sixers: 1 (3)
Week Record: 3-1 (I predicted 2-2)
RWB Record: 0-1
Stats Leader:
Team News: Andrew Bynum is facing a lawsuit from his former neighbors in California. It’s just not his year.
Week Review: The Sixers didn’t match my predictions this time. And that’s a good thing. They beat the Suns like I figured and beat the Mavericks. The Bobcats game was scary but the Sixers won that. The game I was convinced that the Sixers would lose was vs the Bulls. Their tired legs betrayed them that night. Still, this was a good week for the team and I give them the top spot.
Week Preview: This week is their last “easy” week. They face the Timberwolves first and then meet the Celtics two nights in a row. Sixers beat the Celtics earlier this season and the C’s haven’t been looking too well to start the season. I’m still convinced the Celtics will be able to turn things around as the playoffs approach. Just like the Cavaliers, I do think those games will split. Meanwhile, the T-Wolves are a team trying to stay afloat while their stars heal. Sixers are home so I’ll give it to them. 2-1 for the week.
Clippers: 2 (2)
Week Record: 2-1 (I predicted 3-0)
RWB Record: 1-1
Stats Leader:
Team News: Billups returns from injury and helps Clippers win game vs T-Wolves. I for one, thought Billups may be done but he played well and Clippers are going to have Mr. Big Shot in the playoffs. Watch out everybody else.
Week Review: Clippers had a decent week. After losing 4 straight, they won two in row. Concerning this week, perhaps the return of Billups sparked the winning ways again for the Clips. After losing to the Hornets, they beat the T-Wolves and blew out the Kings. Clippers remain the best offensive team in this division in terms of scoring and Billups only adds to that.
Week Preview: Clippers have 3 games this week. All 3 are very winnable. Jazz, Mavericks, and Suns. If they had to lose one, I imagine it would be to the Mavs. Yeah, I’ll go 2-1. Last week, I felt a loss coming that week too but called for a sweep. This time, I’ll play it safe.
Hawks: 3 (1)
Week Record: 1-1 (I predicted 2-0)
RWB Record: 2-1
Stats Leader:
Team News: Al Horford was named East player of the week. Congrats. The games are from the 19th of November through the 25th so technically it doesn’t have much to do with his play of this past week even though one of the games is clustered in.
Week Review: Two games this week. They barely beat the Bobcats and they barely lost to the Cavs. Put it like this: The Hawks scored only one more point than their opponents this week.
Week Preview: Last week was quiet but this week has tough games. Nuggets, Wizards, and Grizzlies. Let’s make this short: 1-2 with the only win coming vs the Wizards. I will admit though, I didn’t think the Hawks would be playing this well. They could surprise me.
Pistons: 4 (4)
Week Record: 2-3 (I predicted 2-3!)
RWB Record: 1-0
Stats Leader:
Team News: News is kinda dry. Corey Maggette is considering Front Office position when he retires.
Week Review: After starting the season 0-8, the Pistons have actually been okay going 5-5. This week saw them blowout a Suns team while they got blown out themselves. Pistons literally blowing it. But seriously, they beat the Suns by 40. Forty. Four. Zero. Ouch! I wish I saw that game. Everything has to go wrong for you to start trailing by 30+ points.
Week Preview: Pistons may end up going 7-7 after that 0-8 start. They have the Cavs twice, Warriors and Bulls. I say they split the Cavs games and beat the Warriors while losing to the Bulls. 2-2. Scratch that. Lose to the Warriors. 1-3. 1-3 is the official prediction.
Wizards: 5 (5)
Week Record: 1-2 (I predicted 1-2!)
RWB Record: 0-1
Stats Leader:
Team News: Former player Andray Blatche decides his situation is much better than Wizards’ and bashes them. The link’s 3rd paragraph does all the talking for me.
Week Review: Wizards got blown right the heck out vs the Spurs. Then they won vs the Blazers and I kinda thought, well maybe they are starting to get themselves together. But the even worse blowout vs the Knicks proved otherwise. Wizards are a bad team and in these rankings, they may never move up.
Week Preview: They have 3 games this week. Heat, Hawks, and Warriors. 0-3 for the week. At this point, the only reason why I think they avoid being the worst team in NBA history is because John Wall is yet to play. He’d better get here soon though.
So that’s it for the week. I got it right on two predictions after getting one prediction last week. I guess I’m pretty decent in the NBA IQ department. Nice new layout too right? Each team gets one big block instead 3 small areas. Thanks for reading!