Coach Maurice Cheeks called a team meeting the following day, perhaps the earliest such damage control measure in NBA history. It didn’t help. The next night out the Blazers played like zombies in an embarrasing home loss to the lowly Nuggets.
As NBA fan Bruce Hornsby once sang, "That’s just the way it is. Some
things will never change."
At least there are some changes in the first week’s Power Rankings. Keep in mind, injuries have taken some teams like the Lakers and Kings down a few notches. But like the BCS, it will all work itself out.
| Marty Burns' Power Rankings |
|---|
| Rank |
LW |
|
Team |
| 1 |
5 |
 |
New Jersey Nets
Jamaal Tinsley isn't the only one getting cuffed around by Jason Kidd & Co. With Dikembe Mutombo and Richard Jefferson fitting nicely into their new roles, the Nets' defense is the NBA’s best right now. |
| 2 |
3 |
 |
Dallas Mavericks
Trick-or-treat in Big D. Trick: Don Nelson and Son, suspended by the NBA, dressing in old-style prison garb. Treat: Shawn Bradley blocking shots, diving on the floor for a loose ball. |
| 3 |
20 |
 |
Seattle SuperSonics
As of Monday, Seattle is one of only three remaining unbeatens. However, the Glove is about to come off. The Sonics' next five games are on the road against Houston, New Orleans, Orlando, Miami and Washington. |
| 4 |
2 |
 |
Sacramento Kings
The NBA’s deepest team, the Kings won their first three games by an average margin of 24 points -- despite not having Chris Webber (abdominal strain), Mike Bibby (foot) and/or Doug Christie (suspension) -- before losing Sunday at Miami. |
| 5 |
4 |
 |
San Antonio Spurs
Injuries to Speedy Claxton (shoulder) and Steve Smith (groin) won’t help their struggling offense. Fortunately, the Admiral has stepped up to keep the ship from sinking. |
| 6 |
13 |
 |
Indiana Pacers
Just call them the anti-Clippers. Ron Artest and Jon Bender get contract extensions as the young team tips off its season by winning two of the first three without Reggie Miller. |
| 7 |
21 |
 |
Detroit Pistons
So far, Richard Hamilton (23.3 points) is doing a pretty good Jerry Stackhouse impersonation. With three winnable road games this week (at Phoenix, Utah and Denver), they need to take advantage. |
| 8 |
14 |
 |
Orlando Magic
Take that, George Karl! Doc Rivers watches with glee as Tracy McGrady bags a career-high 47 points in the Magic's win over the Bucks. But Grant Hill’s sore ankle has put a cloud over his promising start. |
| 9 |
17 |
 |
Atlanta Hawks
Take that, George Karl! Glenn Robinson is averaging 31.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.3 steals in the Hawks' first three games. If Theo Ratliff can stay healthy, they could keep rolling. |
| 10 |
11 |
 |
Minnesota Timberwolves
Troy Hudson (18.3 points) and Kendall Gill (10.0 points) have helped pick up the slack for the injured Wally Szczerbiak. But KG needs Joe Smith back to shore up the front court |
| 11 |
18 |
 |
Houston Rockets
Forget Yao Ming. Their best rookie after three games has been Juaquin Hawkins (5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds), an undrafted 6-foot-7 forward out of Long Beach State who played in the ABA last year. |
| 12 |
8 |
 |
Philadelphia 76ers
Be Like Allen: Keith Van Horn averaged 17.3 points and 10.0 rebounds in the first three games but shot just 34.7 percent from the floor. Even Iverson can do better than that. |
| 13 |
26 |
 |
Chicago Bulls
Break up the Bulls! Jalen Rose, Jay Williams and Donyell Marshall led them past the Celtics and Hornets for a 2-1 start, the franchise’s best since ’98. Next up: the injured Raptors on Monday night. |
| 14 |
6 |
 |
New Orleans Hornets
So far so good for Jamal Mashburn. But this is what happens when you go for a cheap PR ploy like retiring Pete Maravich’s number even though he didn’t play for your franchise: You lose to the Bulls. |
| 15 |
1 |
 |
L.A. Lakers
Shaq is back at practice. Good thing, too, because Kobe Bryant can’t get a triple-double every night. But will Shaq be ready in time for the Friday showdown with Jordan’s Wizards? |
| 16 |
10 |
 |
Washington Wizards
Election Day in the nation’s capital? Forget MJ as Sixth Man. How about casting your Most Improved ballot for Kwame Brown (12.0 points, 12.7 rebounds, 4.3 blocks)? |
| 17 |
9 |
 |
Boston Celtics
Gang Green turns red with embarrassment after losing by 45 points to the Wizards, the worst defeat in franchise history. Fortunately, the Knicks were around to help Paul Pierce (46 points) make them feel better again. |
| 18 |
19 |
 |
L.A. Clippers
The Clippers finally got on board with a win over the Pistons. After a summer of discontent and myriad training camp injuries, a slow start was inevitable. Now comes a four-game Eastern road trip. |
| 19 |
22 |
 |
Phoenix Suns
Stephon Marbury has been dishing, but it looks like it’s going to take time for them to learn coach Frank Johnson’s new motion offense. Meanwhile, rookie Amare Stoudemire continues to impress. |
| 20 |
23 |
 |
Miami Heat
Call him “The Amityville Horror.” Mike James, a 6-foot-2 guard out of Amityville, N.Y. (by way of Duquesne University), shoots down the Kings to help Pat Riley avoid the first 0-3 start of his career. |
| 21 |
16 |
 |
Toronto Raptors
Vince Carter (left quad tendon) is listed as day-to-day, and Antonio Davis (rib cage muscle) is expected to miss one-to-two weeks. Morris Peterson and Jerome Williams are going to have to carry the load. |
| 22 |
28 |
 |
Cleveland Cavaliers
Ricky Davis is picking up where he left off last season, averaging 21 points in the first three games. His 25 points (including clutch free throws) and eight assists keyed the Cavs' win over the Clippers. |
| 23 |
15 |
 |
Utah Jazz
Rocky start in the Wasatch: First the schedule-maker has them play four games in five nights over three time zones. Then the Mailman, battling a head cold, goes scoreless for the first time in his 18-year career. |
| 24 |
27 |
 |
Golden State Warriors
Antawn Jamison (27.7 points) is hot, and they spanked the Spurs in the debut for new coach Eric Musselman. But they lost to the Jazz on Saturday to kick off a season-long six-game road trip. |
| 25 |
29 |
 |
Denver Nuggets
James Posey records a triple-double (19 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists) as the Nuggets, sans Juwan, rip the Blazers in Portland. OK, so maybe it was the erratic Blazers, but, hey, it’s a victory. |
| 26 |
7 |
 |
Portland Trail Blazers
They lost at home to the lowly Nuggets. Then redefined “dumb” in blowing a lead against the Shaq-less Lakers. Meanwhile, Arvydas Sabonis is already out with a hamstring injury. The more things change … |
| 27 |
12 |
 |
Milwaukee Bucks
Losses to the Sixers and the Magic are no reason for George Karl to panic yet. But a loss at New York on Monday might cause him to pull out what little hair he has left, especially with a date at Minnesota up next. |
| 28 |
25 |
 |
Memphis Grizzlies
Who needs Michael Dickerson? Rookie Gordan Giricek, a 6-foot-5 forward from Croatia, averaged 16.3 points (on 50 percent shooting) and 4.0 rebounds in 29 minutes in the first three games. |
| 29 |
29 |
 |
New York Knicks
Bad news: Three games, three blown fourth-quarter leads. Good news: They’re in midseason form already. Bad news: Their NBA-best sellout streak (433 straight games, since ‘93) is expected to end Monday night. Good news: At least they’re honest. |
| |
