| CNNSI.com Power Rankings |
| Rank | LW | Team |
| 1 | 3 |  | San Antonio Spurs |
| Tim Duncan is still not back at full speed, but bench has risen to the occasion.
|
2 | 6 |  | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Shaq is feeling better, and so is L.A. after four straight
victories. |
3 | 5 |  | Utah Jazz |
| Kicked off five-game road trip with a win Sunday at Detroit. |
4 | 1 |  | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Return home to First Union should revive sputtering
offense. |
5 | 2 |  | Phoenix Suns |
| Kings, Blazers will test their stout defense this
week. |
6 | 4 |  | Sacramento Kings |
| Leading the NBA in points-per-game
differential.
|
7 | 7 |  | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Survived longest road trip in 22 years, and Arvydas Sabonis
is
back.
|
8 | 14 |  | Charlotte Hornets |
| Holding opponents to 40.3% FG shooting, second-best in
the NBA.
|
9 | 10 |  | Dallas Mavericks |
| Off to franchise's best start (9-5) since 1983-84
season. |
10 | 8 |  | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Through Monday, one of just three teams unbeaten at
home.
|
11 | 15 |  | Toronto Raptors |
| Keeping fingers crossed over Vince Carter's strained-calf
injury. |
12 | 9 |  | New York Knicks |
| Charlie Ward (right knee) is the latest casualty for
banged-up
Knicks. |
13 | 13 |  | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Even KG hasn't been able to plug up leaky interior D. |
14 | 17 |  | Houston Rockets |
| Won six of first seven games at Compaq
Center. |
15 | 11 |  | Indiana Pacers |
| Recent four-game slide was longest in almost seven years.
|
16 | 12 |  | Miami Heat |
| Pat Riley suffers first sub-.500 November in 19-year coaching
career. |
17 | 20 |  | Denver Nuggets |
| Nick Van Exel had 27 points, 13 assists in Friday's win
over
Spurs.
|
18 | 18 |  | New Jersey Nets |
| Rookie Kenyon Martin showing more consistency.
|
19 | 19 |  | Seattle SuperSonics |
| Blazers, Lakers will give new coach Nate McMillan baptism
by
fire. |
20 | 24 |  | Boston Celtics |
| Paul Pierce poured in 41 points in Friday's OT win over
Magic.
|
21 | 21 |  | Orlando Magic |
| Lack of inside presence has Doc's crew fading fast. |
22 | 22 |  | Detroit Pistons |
| Joe Smith put up 20 points in a victorious debut against
the
Grizzlies. |
23 | 16 |  | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Defense has regressed, and they're not making
shots. |
24 | 25 |  | Vancouver Grizzlies |
| Win at Boston on Monday snapped seven-game losing
skid.
|
25 | 26 |  | Golden State Warriors |
| Dave Cowens gives Bob Sura/Larry Hughes backcourt a long
look.
|
26 | 23 |  | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Turnovers, poor shooting have spoiled their fresh
start. |
27 | 27 |  | Washington Wizards |
| Rip Hamilton put up a combined 43 points in two games last
week. |
28 | 29 |  | Atlanta Hawks |
| Can't wait for Thursday's showdown with Bulls at Philips
Arena. |
29 | 28 |  | Chicago Bulls |
| Lost all seven games of recently concluded road trip.
|
