| SI.com's Marty Burns |
| Rank |
LW |
|
Team |
| 1 |
1 |
 |
Los Angeles Lakers (5-1)
They looked old and tired in losing to the Hornets on second night of back-to-back Friday, their first defeat of the season. But Kobe Bryant is getting in shape, and they're still the toughest foe out there right now.
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| 2 |
2 |
 |
San Antonio Spurs (3-4)
Look out, Lakers! Despite not having Tim Duncan and Tony Parker last week, they took both L.A. and Dallas to the wire. With Duncan and Parker expected back this week, things now get interesting at the top.
|
| 3 |
11 |
 |
Indiana Pacers (6-1)
Sunday's win over the Sixers had them at 6-1, even though they're still getting used to new coach Rick Carlisle. Think Larry Bird isn't looking forward to Wednesday's showdown with the Celtics and Danny Ainge?
|
| 4 |
4 |
 |
Detroit Pistons (5-1)
They beat the Nets on Sunday to make it five straight wins heading into to four-game Western road trip. New coach Larry Brown has already made a difference in their rebounding; at week's end they ranked 12th in the NBA.
|
| 5 |
5 |
 |
Minnesota Timberwolves (4-3)
They still don't have injured Wally Szczerbiak and Troy Hudson, but KG and Co. won't need them for awhile. Saturday's win at Miami kicked off a stretch in which eight of next 10 are against '03 lottery teams.
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| 6 |
7 |
 |
Dallas Mavericks (4-3)
Mark Cuban says there's no truth to those Rasheed Wallace/Bonzi Wells trade rumors. We believe him. Michael Finley is too valuable ... and with six of their next seven at home, they're primed to get on a roll.
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| 7 |
9 |
 |
New Orleans Hornets (5-2)
Tim Floyd's bittersweet week: he beats Phil Jackson's Lakers, but loses to Bill Cartwright's Bulls. Still, Floyd's uptempo attack and Baron Davis's strong play have kept them sailing without Jamal Mashburn.
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| 8 |
6 |
 |
Sacramento Kings (3-3)
Yes, Chris Webber is out. But does that give them an excuse not to play defense? Sunday's loss at Boston left them 1-3 on Eastern road trip, and only the Clippers are allowing more than their 102.7 ppg.
|
| 9 |
3 |
 |
New Jersey Nets (3-4)
They've struggled without Kenyon Martin (ankle), falling under. 500 for the first time since the end of the 2000-01 season. The good news is he might be back for Wednesday's Finals rematch with the Spurs at the Swamp.
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| 10 |
12 |
 |
Houston Rockets (6-1)
Don't look now, but Jeff Van Gundy has them off to a 4-1 start. Still, Maurice Taylor's 10-game drug suspension and Eddie Griffin's indefinite suspension leaves them thin at power forward.
|
| 11 |
8 |
 |
Phoenix Suns (2-3)
Newly acquired Jahidi White had 13 points (6-of-7 shooting) and five rebounds in Saturday's debut win over Grizzlies. OK, so he's no Alvan Adams, but he should at least give them some presence in the middle.
|
| 12 |
19 |
 |
Seattle SuperSonics (3-1)
The last of the NBA's unbeatens until they fell at home to the Hawks on Sunday. Still, let's give it up for Ray Allen's replacement, Ronald "Flip" Murray, who has gone for over 20 in each of his first four.
|
| 13 |
14 |
 |
Toronto Raptors (4-2)
Through Monday they were 4-0 at home and holding foes to 78.7 ppg., second only to the Rockets. But they're 0-2 on road, and their next three are at Blazers, Lakers and Kings.
|
| 14 |
15 |
 |
Boston Celtics (3-3)
Gotta be the shoes. Either that, or the return of Eric Williams (bruised knee). Whatever, they looked OK Sunday in those new white sneakers while running past the Kings to snap a three-game losing streak.
|
| 15 |
18 |
 |
Golden State Warriors (3-2)
Eric Musselman is working his magic again. Despite wholesale roster changes and early injuries, he has them playing solid D and sharing the ball. Even Jason Richardson says the chemistry is better than a year ago.
|
| 16 |
16 |
 |
Philadelphia 76ers (3-4)
Allen Iverson isn't making his threes (26.3 percent), but he's doing everything else. At week's end he led the NBA in scoring (28.9 points) and minutes (43.7), while ranking second in steals (3.57) and ninth in assists (7.8).
|
| 17 |
10 |
 |
Portland Trail Blazers (3-3)
They're giving up too many easy baskets, and the natives are getting restless. One game after Bonzi Wells flipped off a fan, they drew 14,634 to the 19,980-seat Rose Garden -- their smallest crowd ever there.
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| 18 |
17 |
 |
Denver Nuggets (3-4)
Carmelo Anthony takes Round One in his battle with LeBron James, thanks to some help from Earl Boykins. But unless they start making some shots, Anthony's squad might end up as bad as LeBron's.
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| 19 |
23 |
 |
Utah Jazz (4-2)
Like the Warriors, they're giving foes fits with team ball and a new style. But Keon Clark (ankle surgery) is out 6-to-8 weeks, and their next four are toughies at Spurs, Hornets, T'wolves and Bucks.
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| 20 |
21 |
 |
Milwaukee Bucks (4-3)
New coach Terry Porter has them running with abandon, and so far it has worked. Also, Toni Kukoc and the bench had outscored the opposition in six of seven games, by an average of 33.9 to 21.0.
|
| 21 |
20 |
 |
Memphis Grizzlies (2-4)
After big wins over Spurs and Rockets, they had dropped three straight through Sunday. With the Lakers, Mavs and Pistons next up at the Pyramid, they are going to need some home cooking.
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| 22 |
22 |
 |
Washington Wizards (3-3)
Gilbert Arenas hurled the ball into the stands during a loss at Cleveland, then got benched for the third quarter of his team's loss. Still, they were 3-3 at week's end and holding the fort without Jerry Stackhouse (knee).
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| 23 |
24 |
 |
Chicago Bulls (3-4)
They won at Hornets on Saturday to ease the calls for Bill Cartwright's scalp, but Jalen Rose/Jamal Crawford situation bears watching. Are they becoming this year's version of talented-but-clueless Clippers?
|
| 24 |
13 |
 |
Orlando Magic (1-6)
What's up, Doc? After five straight home losses to start the season, coach Doc Rivers is feeling the heat. With a five-game Western Conference road trip ahead, it might take them awhile to turn it around.
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| 25 |
25 |
 |
New York Knicks (3-4)
Once again they seem to have a problem with back-to-backs. They beat the Kings on Friday but lost to the Bucks on Saturday. Last year, they were 2-17 on the second game of back-to-backs.
|
| 26 |
28 |
 |
Atlanta Hawks (2-5)
Welcome back! Seattle native Jason Terry scored 23 points to help them down the Sonics on Sunday. Coach Terry Stotts, a former Sonics assistant, even got Washington native Dan Dickau his first action of the season.
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| 27 |
25 |
 |
Cleveland Cavaliers (1-5)
LeBron James went for 17-9-8 as they beat the Wizards on Saturday to snap a season-opening five-game losing skid. But he's already lost more games than in his entire high school career.
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| 28 |
27 |
 |
Los Angeles Clippers (1-2)
Take that, Nuggets! Corey Maggette racked up 29 points (on 11-of-14) and 10 boards Friday in Denver to give them their first victory and gain revenge on the team that passed him up over the summer.
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| 29 |
29 |
 |
Miami Heat (0-6)
Brother, can you spare a win? Stan Van Gundy hopes to get his first win at brother Jeff's expense Tuesday in Houston. If not, Wednesday at home against the Cavs just might do the trick.
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