MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016 SPORTS

KUWAIT TIMES NBA POWER RANKINGS

By Ahmad Jabr KUWAIT: In addition to its usual coverage of the NBA, Kuwait Times introduces a new feature this year: the NBA Power Rankings. It is a weekly list ranking each team based on its performance during the week. The actual record for each team (put between brackets, for games played as of Sunday morning in Kuwait’s local time) plays a role in the assessment process but is not the main factor for deciding each team’s ranking, thus making it different from traditional league standings. In this week’s edition, the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers lead the pack ahead of their highly anticipated finals’ rematch in this year’s Christmas Day specials. (For any comments or suggestions, e-mail the writer at: [email protected]) 1- Golden State Warriors (27 - 4) Last week: agent-to-be forward Paul Millsap remains with 1 - During their ongoing seven-game winning the team or gets traded before then. streak, the Warriors have shown the type of the offensive juggernaut it was feared to 16- Indiana Pacers (15 - 16) Last week: 15 - become when Kevin Durant joined the team The Pacers entered Sunday holding on to the Kuwait Team seen in action at the GCC wheelchair basketball championship.—KUNA this past offseason. Their narrow win over the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference stand- Pistons on Friday brought them down to earth ings, ahead of their matchup against ninth- a little, and set up for an exciting Christmas place Chicago. Their up-and-down season has Day clash against the Cavs. led star Paul George to proclaim that inconsis- Kuwait wins GCC wheelchair tency has become synonymous with his 2- Cleveland Cavaliers (22 - 5) Last week: 4 - team’s identity. basketball championship Speaking of the defending champs, the Cavs entered Sunday’s showdown riding their own 17- Washington Wizards (13 - 16) Last ABU DHABI: The Kuwaiti team on wave of momentum behind their own four- week: 18 - The Wizards had a doubtful result Saturday won the 8th GCC Wheelchair game winning streak, winning nine of their in its early test against fellow Eastern Basketball Championship in a row last 10, and fresh off seeing LeBron James sur- Conference playoff contenders, losing to the after beating Saudi Arabia 62-56 in pass Moses Malone to become eighth in the Bucks and Pacers and beating the struggling the final. The winners are likely to be list of the NBA’s career leaders for points. Bulls last week. The test continues with match- honored later in Abu Dhabi following es against the Bucks and Pacers tonight and the match between UAE and Bahrain 3- San Antonio Spurs (24 - 6) Last week: 2 - Wednesday respectively. for the third and fourth places. Saudi The Spurs ended the Rockets’ 10-game win- Arabia dominated today’s game at the ning streak with a road win over Houston 18- Detroit Pistons (14 - 18) Last week: 16 - beginning, but the Kuwaiti players Tuesday, before losing to the Clippers in Los During their current five-game losing streak, managed to perform well in the sec- Angeles two nights later; only their second the Pistons allowed their opponents to score ond half, raising their points until the road loss this season. Strong performance out- an average of 117.5, and their defensive woes end of the match. side of their home court will come especially have drawn the ire of outspoken coach Stan There were a number of counter- valuable come playoffs time. Van Gundy. They pushed the Warriors to the attacks made by both teams, but limit on Friday but came up short of securing a Kuwaitis could at the end of the 4- Toronto Raptors (21 - 8) Last week: 5 - victory in the end. match outperform the rivals. The Raptors found some success last week Following the win, Shafi Al-Hajri, tournament as well as technical skills the technical and administrative behind solid play from Player-of-the-Week 19- (13 - 17) Last week: president of Kuwait Disabled Sport of Kuwaitis, he said. Fahad Abdullah, a teams that contributed to wining the DeMar DeRozan, but it was fellow backcourt 21 - The Kings have won three straight games Club, extolled Kuwaiti players’ per- member of Kuwaiti administrative match. The training camp held in teammate Kyle Lowry’s heroics that were and six of their last 10, but most importantly, formance during today’s competition team, told KUNA in a statement that Turkey in preparation for the game instrumental in his team’s last three wins; DeMarcus Cousins has been unstoppable as so as to maintain the title for the 8th the players won the tournament, helped the team achieve its goals, he especially on Friday against Utah. of late, averaging around 29 points per game year in a row. He told KUNA in a state- thanks to excellent exercises and stressed. Abdul-Elah Al-Megren, head in December, and even scoring 32 points ment that the Kuwaiti players made a training. He said the team was deter- of Saudi team’s delegation, congratu- 5- Houston Rockets (22 - 9) Last week: 3 - (including three 3-pointers) against the brilliant show, despite the difficulty of mined to snatch the championship lated the Kuwaiti team on maintaining Losing to the Spurs at home and seeing their Wolves’ frontcourt of Karl-Anthony Towns and the competition and the developed and return home with the trophy. the title, noting that his country’s 10-game winning streak get snapped did not Gorgui Dieng on Friday. levels of the Gulf teams in this tourna- For his part, Ahmad Al-Shatti, the team was about to win the game, but probably hurt as much as their loss to the ment in particular. Today’s achieve- team’s assistant coach, lauded the failed as Kuwaitis were determined to Grizzlies on Friday, which gave them a glim- 20- Denver Nuggets (12 - 18) Last week: 20 ment was made due to excellent Kuwaiti team for adherence by the snatch the title. Bahrain defeated mer of the tough defense they are surely to - The Nuggets gave up an eight-point lead team-work and experiences for the directions and instructions made by Oman 54-49 today. — KUNA expect and will have to figure out a way to with less than two minutes remaining on deal with should they intend to make a deep Friday, and allowed the Hawks to go on a 9-0 playoff run. run and snatch a 109-108 victory. A win there would have made Denver winners of four of 6- Los Angeles Clippers (22 - 9) Last week: 6 their last five games. - The Clippers beat the Spurs on Thursday despite playing without injured forward Blake 21- Orlando Magic (14 - 18) Last week: 24 - Griffin, then lost to the Mavs the following The Magic blocked a franchise-record nine night when Chris Paul sat out for injury as well. shots in the first quarter alone (11 total) in While they hope to stay competitive as Griffin their victory over the Lakers on Friday, which is recovers from his mandatory annual long-term a testimony to their recently improved injury, the Clippers know for sure they are defense that ranked eighth in the league in going nowhere without their star point guard. the last five games.

7- Memphis Grizzlies (20 - 12) Last week: 8 - 22- Portland Trail Blazers (13 - 19) Last week: Memphis’ gritty defense returned to form as of 19 - Damian Lillard played well for the Blazers late. The Grizzlies entered Sunday’s Christmas over the past couple of weeks, but there is little Day games ranked first in the NBA in defensive that he could do when his team allowed their ratings, allowing their opponents to score only opponents to score an average of 122 (!) points an average of 99.7 points so far this season. in its last five games - all losses. They will need a And while the same cannot be said about their lot of luck when they host the league’s best offense, they had no problem outshooting the offense, the Raptors, on Wednesday. Rockets in their 115-109 victory on Friday. Prized trio from same high 23- (10 - 21) Last week: 23 - 8- Oklahoma City Thunder (18 - 12) Last There is no doubt that Shaquille O’Neal school finally together at BYU week: 9 - ‘Mr Triple Double’ is back at it again. deserves to have his no. 32 jersey retired in In Oklahoma’s Friday win over Boston, Russell Miami, as he played an extremely important PROVO: BYU coach Dave Rose has aspirations of where we wanted to play, Westbrook recorded his 14th triple-double role in the team’s first title win and in setting been waiting for this moment for four but ultimately we just wanted to play this season and 51st in his career, while also up a winning culture for the franchise. In four years. The program struck recruiting with each other. And find a good school snapping the Celtics’ streak of 230 straight seasons with the Heat, O’Neal averaged 19.6 gold when it landed the major pieces that fits within what we do offensively.” games without allowing a triple-double. points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. from the 2012-13 Lone Peak High The plan may have been laid out years School national championship team - ago, but all parties had to be patient. 9- Utah Jazz (18 - 13) Last week: 7 - Injuries 24- Minnesota Timberwolves (9 - 20) Last four-star recruits Nick Emery, Eric Mika Mika was a senior on the national have left a dent on an otherwise very solid week: 27 - With Zach LaVine’s 40 points in and T.J. Haws. But then the challenges of championship team, then averaged 11.8 season so far for the Jazz, leaving us to only Friday’s loss against the Kings, the recruiting to BYU kicked in and all three points and 6.4 rebounds as a BYU fresh- wonder where they would have been today Timberwolves became the first team in NBA went on Mormon church missions at dif- man in 2013-14. He served a two-year with a healthy squad. They entered Sunday history to have three players under the age of ferent times. mission in Spain after his freshman sea- ranked eighth in offensive ratings, fourth in 22 score 40 points in a game (the two others That left Rose waiting for this season, son and returned in late April. Mika now defensive ratings and seventh in net ratings. being Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony hoping none of them changed their leads the team in scoring and - Towns), per the Elias Sports Bureau. minds and trying to recruit other elite ing. Emery served his mission in 10- Boston Celtics (17 - 13) Last week: 12 - players who knew the Lone Peak trio Germany straight out of high school The Celtics won four of their last five games, 25- New Orleans Pelicans (11 - 21) Last would be returning. The crew is finally in and was All-West Coast Conference sec- with their only loss coming at the hands of week: 25 - Friday’s win over the Heat was Provo together, starting for the Cougars ond team as a freshman last year after Russell Westbrook and the Thunder. more about Anthony Davis’ dominant per- and facing high expectations after years averaging 16.3 points per game and set- Meanwhile, Isaiah Thomas has fared well in formance rather than the team’s much-need- of anticipation. “Our patience has paid ting several BYU freshman records. He that span against elite point guards, including ed victory. Going against one of the league’s off,” Rose said. “Sometimes you wonder won three state titles in high school. PROVO: In this Dec. 22, 2016 file Westbrook, Indiana’s Jeff Teague, and best shot-blockers in Hassan Whiteside, Davis if you made the right decisions in your Haws won four titles at Lone Peak photo, BYU guard Nick Emery (4) Memphis’ Mike Conley. finished with 28 points on 10-17 shooting recruiting process, but I’m glad we got then immediately served his mission in celebrates a 3-pointer against Cal (including 2-3 from the three-point line), 22 all three of these guys. That’s the whole France. He is averaging 12.5 points as a State Bakersfield during an NCAA 11- Charlotte Hornets (17 - 13) Last week: rebounds (a career high) and four blocks. process at BYU. You worry about it until freshman, BYU’s third-leading scorer college basketball game in Provo, 13 - After missing his team’s loss to the Celtics you get them here.” behind Mika (20.5 points) and Emery Utah. —AP on Dec 17, Kimba Walker returned to the line- 26- Dallas Mavericks (9 - 12) Last week: 28 - Lone Peak, which is 30 minutes from (16.0). The three are the headliners, but up to lead the Hornets to a three-game win- Dirk Nowitzki returned for the Mavs against the BYU campus, has won eight state Rose also hired their high school coach ning streak and key victories over fellow the Clippers on Friday after missing 14 games titles since 2001 and won a national title Quincy Lewis as an assistant last year. Eastern Conference playoffs contenders in the for injury, and his 17 points in 15 minutes pro- in 2012-13 with Emery, Mika and Haws. BYU freshman Zach Frampton was also Hawks and Bulls. vided the spark that ignited Dallas’ victory over The three also played AAU together and on those Lone Peak teams, and was a the team with the league’s fifth best record. traveled the country. Emery and Haws senior in 2013-14 before serving a mis- 12- Milwaukee Bucks (14 - 14) Last week: 10 had been playing together well before sion in Chile. - Two back-to-back losses to the Cavs prevent- 27- (11 - 22) Last week: high school and the two guards com- “This is an opportunity, for me, that I ed the Bucks from having a five-game win- 22 - The Lakers entered the Christmas Day mitted on the same day when Emery never really planned on,” Lewis said. “It is ning streak, which would have been their match against the Lakers on a four-game los- was a junior and Haws a sophomore. neat to see those guys again and guys I longest this season. They rebounded from ing streak, and losing 12 of their last 13 games. Haws’ older brother Tyler is BYU’s career never thought I’d really coach again. You those loses with a statement win over the Their main issue during that stretch has been leading scorer and Emery’s older broth- reminisce because you’re like old Wizards behind Giannis Antetokounmpo’s their inability to protect double-digit leads, er, Jackson, is the Cougars’ all-time steals friends.” The anticipation of having this career-high 39 points. blowing a 19-point lead in both of their losses leader. Mika transferred into Lone Peak group together wasn’t just a feel-good to the Heat and Hornets last week. and the power forward committed later. story of high school buddies playing 13- New York Knicks (16 - 13) Last week: 14 “It was definitely a process for sure,” together. There are high expectations to - Following the fiasco involving Phil Jackson’s 28- Phoenix Suns (9 - 21) Last week: 26 - Emery said. “We had our dreams and win big after missing the NCAA controversial statements, Carmelo Anthony Coach Earl Watson is still trying to figure out a Tournament last season. This season is again found himself in the spotlight with neg- way to insert Dragan Bender into the rotation, or off to a roller coaster start, with BYU ative comments made about him by his for- at least give him any meaningful minutes. The winning four straight at the beginning STOCKTON: In this Feb. 13, 2014 file mer coach George Karl in his latest book. lottery pick prospect played only two (garbage then losing three of four, including an photo, BYU’s T.J. Haws (3) lays up a Meanwhile, Derrick Rose has been very active time) minutes in the Suns’ last three games. upset loss to Utah Valley. The Cougars shot over Pacific’s T.J. Wallace (2) in in fueling his team’s latest victories over the are now 9-4. the first half of an NCAA college bas- Pacers and Magic. 29- Philadelphia 76ers (7 - 22) Last week: “There’s an excitement around this ketball game in Stockton, Calif. —AP team from the outside, definitely, but 30 - Coach Brett Brown might want to ponder practice, then we’ll be all right.” also from within with this group of 14- Chicago Bulls (14 - 15) Last week: 11 - pairing Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel together The Cougars roster is stocked overall guys,” Mika said. “There’s an excitement, Frustration is sinking in in the Windy City, as the in the frontcourt as both centers mutually with newcomers, with Kyle Davis and Bulls scramble to find answers for their recent desire; at least since Jahlil Okafor has mostly an atmosphere and culture that we’re L.J. Rose the lone seniors. Transfer Elijah underwhelming performance that saw them been overshadowed playing alongside rookie creating that I don’t think there’s ever Bryant was the Colonial Athletic lose five of their last six games. Matches against standout Embiid. been. ... It’s more exciting than just any Association Rookie of the Year in 2014- the Pacers (twice) and Bucks this week offer a regular season because we’ve been 15 and Rose transferred in after stops at chance for Chicago to rebound and reestablish 30- Brooklyn Nets (7 - 22) Last week: 29 - At waiting for it for a long time. Baylor and Houston. Since the Lone its position in the East’s playoffs race. last teams with bad records like the 76ers and “With all the quote-unquote pres- Peak trio has played extensively with Mavs can look up to a deep NBA Draft class this sure there is to perform well this year, if each other, the hope is that it will expe- 15- Atlanta Hawks (15 - 15) Last week: 17 - upcoming offseason. The Nets, who currently we can just stay within ourselves and dite the growth of the entire team. “In The Hawks are 2-1 since losing Dwight share the league’s worst record with not worry about the outside and worry high school, Nick and I were comple- Howard to injury, including a key win over the Philadelphia, are most likely going to lose their CHICAGO: In this Dec. 17, 2016 file about performing to the level that peo- ments of each other,” Haws said. “I felt Thunder. But whether they can find a way to lottery pick to Boston, who has the right to swap photo, BYU forward Eric Mika reacts ple think we should, and put that pres- like we really made each other better, as keep winning or not before the Feb 23 trade first round picks in the 2017 Draft, courtesy of after a foul during the second half of sure on ourselves. ... It’s definitely there well as Eric. Right when we got back deadline is likely going to determine if free- the 2013 Kevin Garnett - Paul Pierce trade. an NCAA college basketball game and we can’t just completely ignore it, together, it was kind of like, ‘OK, it’s here. against Illinois in Chicago. — AP but if we just play hard and play like we Let’s do this thing.’” — AP